Six months after the Twilight invasion
It was a beautiful winter evening in the Kingdom of Hyrule. It was getting cold enough for it to snow very soon. Today would mark her third term of officially being crowned Queen of Hyrule, but she knew the burden of it was wearing the crown, even as a princess.
During the invasion of Twilight was enough to prove that theory.
Queen Zelda had been restless for three days, after having some disturbing visions and night terrors that had kept her up until dawn. She sat in front of her vanity brushing her long auburn hair deep in thought about them. Normally she would be busy with leftover paperwork. She enjoyed getting ahead of work in order to give her enough leisurely time to drink her favorite honeydew tea and catch up on one of her novels by the fire.
Lately she couldn't focus, and such a routine wasn't enough to soothe her antsy nerves. The Hylian queen stood up making a decision to change her outfit into something warmer. She then grabbed her rapier and made her way into the courtyard stables.
Once there, she saw the many horses that belonged to the elite soldiers of Hyrule nibbling hay in their stalls peacefully.
Walking past them she headed toward one of the over-formal sheds. Zelda looked around to make sure nobody was looking and took out a mannequin made of ironwood having a red target painted in the center. She moved it towards the middle of the large cobblestone courtyard to have enough space in order for her not to startle the horses.
Zelda took a deep breath as she held her stance, using the point of her rapier flashing her steel against wood as it clanked against it.
The queen normally would sneak into the courtyard on late evenings when reading a simple book wasn't enough. She discovered the guards tailored dummy for new weaponry and decided to use it as an outlet for frazzled nerves.
Zelda grunted having trained for what felt like half an hour as she felt her breath slowly beginning to labor. It was a bit difficult in near frozen temperatures, but if anything it helped her feel numb. She nicked the chest of the wooden dummy pointing the tip at its 'neck' after practically dismantling it, no longer recognizable.
Zelda frowned to herself exhaling out a hot breath of smoke.
"Any last words?" she said under her breath to herself.
Suddenly a certain swordsman disarmed her momentarily as he took up his stance in front of her. Dazed, Zelda at first didn't know who it was until he spoke.
"Show mercy, your highness. Why not pick on someone who can actually fight back?" he said modestly.
After almost an hour, you would think at this point she would have already been burnt out from her wooden outlet. Instead frustration began to rise up.
"Very well" there was a precarious sound in her voice that was difficult for him to interpret.
Drawing their blades, they began. Sword against sword, his blade countered hers as she did with his. After locking swords, he blocked her incoming fist with his forearm as his leg came forward to kick her shins. Zelda dodged gracefully and stepped back holding her stance, but barely.
He took notice of this.
He moved in and blocked her incoming slice that ended the wooden dummy by disarming her hand of her weapon. He seized her wrist preventing her from punching him in the throat. They looked briefly into each other's eyes with nothing but the cold and a woman's frenzy.
Zelda grunted as he slid his leg under her ankle, tripping her to the side as she found herself suddenly looking to the blank white sky, falling with a thud. The tip of his blade pointed near her to show her defeat. Zelda stayed on the ground she landed on, panting trying to catch her breath, her body stung from the cold and from the forced work-out.
He pulled off the hood of his cloak to reveal his scruffy dirty blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, playful yet compassionate.
"Anything you'd like to share now that you've been detained?" He gave a small smile, holding a hand out to her.
"Don't look so smug, Link" Zelda rolled her eyes, avoiding his question as she accepted his hand to get up. She dusted off the wet dirt and icicles that began to form on her coat sheathing her rapier.
"I never knew I was one to be smug," sheathing his own blade, "I was merely curious as to what the queen of Hyrule is doing out here on a cold night slicing wood, when she could be warm in her chambers."
Zelda stayed silent. Her brows knitted avoiding eye contact with the Hero of Twilight.
Link had noticed, and grew concerned.
"Is everything alright?" he asked, drawing near her.
Normally, Zelda would fake her true state with some lighthearted conversations. Instead she quietly sniveled pulling a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"It's, everything and yet nothing at the same time" she replied,
"What do you mean?" Link was now confused,
Zelda shook her head walking past Link pacing away from the stables into the stone hallway that led inside the castle. She didn't know how to explain herself, nor did she want to trouble anyone around her, especially Link. He had already done more than enough for Hyrule.
Link of course, followed close behind catching up to her as Zelda felt his warmth to her right side. She felt him gently touching her shoulder for her to slow down.
"I knew the duties of being a princess to Hyrule, but," she sighed, "being a queen seems a lot more than what I had expected."
Zelda's gaze kept to the floor as they continued to walk together through the corridors. Although their time together had been mostly professional, they had spent a great many deal getting to know each other through training, meetings and just having nice lunches together. Link knew that wasn't the real reason of the queen's despair.
"Zelda," Link reached out and held her forearm, stepping in front to face her. Zelda turned her head away, the back of her throat hurt. She bit her lip to stop any incoming tears that threatened to trickle down. Despite the sting she couldn't face her weakness in front of Hyrule's hero.
"You know you could always talk to me, please, what's wrong?" Link whispered comforting to her.
Zelda swallowed, she inwardly restrained herself from her tears as she looked up at him. Link recognized it was the same sadness he saw when he first met her, locked away in the tower during the twilight invasion.
"I-it's true, the kingdom is still in need of many repairs and- " Before she could go on she looked at Link's expression at not being convinced.
Zelda pursed her lips while her eyes flickered. Link had this thing about him. It's as if the two had known each other all their lives, when really they had just met each other for the first time earlier this year.
"Whatever it is, Zelda, I hope you know you don't have to deal with this alone" his hand that held her forearm slithered down to her hand as he gently grasped it reassuring her.
Zelda bowed her head. She was weary and cold, and honestly wouldn't mind something warm to eat and just forget everything that just happened the past hour. She knew there was no other way around it. Regardless of her need to be strong, she had to tell him.
"I've been having strange dreams the past three days, and they've been rather intense but," Zelda paused taking another deep breath, "I fear Ganondorf is the cause of this"
Link's body suddenly tensed. His brows knitted with concern trying to fight the anger that was flaming up inside him.
"How do you know this to be true?" Link's tone was now serious.
"It's hard to explain, these visions," She swallowed, while fiddling with her gloved hand, "In my dreams, I see darkness and it's cold and all I can hear is this sinister laughter, one that has been haunting me for the past couple days" Zelda held her head as it began to ache.
Seeing Zelda in this state caused Link's anger to melt. He wrapped his arm around her back and held her close.
"Perhaps your dreams might just be something else causing these night time visions? We defeated Ganondorf and I ran the blade of evil's bane through him. There is no way he could have survived." Link reassured Zelda of this fact.
"It could be a yielding hunch, unfortunately since my youth these visions have almost never been wrong. However, I can't say for sure it is him but something lurks and I...I'm afraid" Zelda's voice shook at the last sentence, as she hesitated to admit such a thing.
They two remained silent only hearing the cold wind blow through them. Zelda wasn't one to likely admit something so petty. Even after the twilight invasion, she had to be nothing but strong for her people. Being a queen and being afraid are two things that don't mix.
"I'm sorry, I'm just," Zelda stifled a small sob feeling Link's grip tighten around her, "I at times feel like an outcast. To see these visions should be helpful to my people, but it only makes me feel more alone than wise" Zelda shook her head.
Link's heart broke. Whatever was troubling his queen, he wanted nothing more than to kill her sorrows and never for them to return. He shifted towards her and gently lifted her chin with one hand, his other arm still wrapped around her tenderly and closely.
"Zelda, despite our short time getting to know each other, don't let this visionary demon take away the joy I've seen you have" Like spoke every word with affection, "I must admit... I have felt a special connection with you these past months, the time we spent together were nothing short of amazing" he said with a smile that made her heart skip a beat.
Zelda exhaled as her lip quivered with emotion. "My duty as Hyrule's queen, I can't bear to fail them again as their ruler...not again." She repeated as her voice cracked.
Zelda's incoming tears finally trickled down her flushed cheeks. The first thing Link hated was injustice. The second thing he learned to hate was to see Zelda cry. Link fully embraced her in his arms. He held her head on him feeling Zelda quiver. Link kissed the top of her head lovingly. To Zelda, Link's company was soothing and warm, like hot chocolate.
"Despite our fears and failures, you are the light of Hyrule. As their queen, I strongly believe that is more than enough for your people,"He slightly pulled her away to see her face, oh, how he loved to see her face. Link held her close as their gazes locked.
"And I promise, no matter where or when I am, I will fight for Hyrule and for you always, Zelda" he whispered compassionately over her.
Zelda couldn't help but slip in a genuine smile. Something Link had long for ever since he first met her that day in the tower. Her smile was the first thing he fell in love with.
From the pressure of his hands, Zelda could tell he was as sure as she was. In this moment, meeting each other was their destiny to always be together. Link leaned closer to her. Their foreheads touched, feeling each other's warm breath from the cold. As they shared a loving embrace, despite the fidget and wet weather, they had never felt more warmer.
It suddenly started to snow. The white frosted crystals had settled in that night leaving a blanket of white goodness all over the land, making it look rather picturesque.
Present Day
Not long until after Henry and Violet's revelation, the two spent time at Granny's diner as they were able to share lunch together. Even after discussing the possibility of what Henry saw it to be a simple yet beloved video game to now be a potential legend comes to life!
Henry couldn't fathom how Violet knew a legend to really exist. They knew they couldn't keep this sort of discovery to themselves as they made their way to Regina's house as Henry called Emma on his cell phone to meet him there.
A few minutes later, Henry's two mothers met up at the Mayor's house.
"What's up kid, you said you needed to talk about something crazy?" Emma placed her phone inside her back pocket entering the house.
"He told me something about one of his video games coming to life" Regina stood by one of her dining chairs with a skeptical look.
"A video game?" Emma said also not too convinced, "because the last thing I need right now is Mrs. Pac man eating the town" she said jokingly,
"Mom, I'm not kidding, look at the stuff on this booklet" Henry handed his mom the booklet to the game as Emma took it and looked at it back and forth and flipped through the pages briefly.
"The Legend of Zelda game? Huh, I remember this game, really hated that water level…but what, it's not a fairy tale, why would you be worried about that Henry?" Emma asked,
"Because it's real in my world, back in Camelot" Violet spoke up
Regina and Emma both looked at each other curiously,
"What do you mean real, Violet?" Regina asked closely,
"Yeah, it's a video game, how can it be real?" Emma asked as well,
"In Camelot they were many rumors about a hero who held unimaginable courage, it became tales based on strange people who have long ears and powerful magic in their kingdom, including very special relics like these." Violet pointed at a sword and royal blue ocarina in the booklet,
"So what, a fairy and an elf warrior might magically appear in Storybrooke?" Emma raised the question,
"I'm not sure but Henry and I believe it might just be a possibility" Violet answered,
Emma then closes the booklet becoming uninterested.
"Well unless we find these 'long eared' people in this town or whatever else, we'll know for sure."
"After all this sort of idea is a pretty far fetched theory Henry" Regina spoke,
"I know, but if Violet says it's true I believe her" looking back at Violet, who gave him a hopeful smile,
"Right, well, as Emma has said" Regina walked towards them, "We'll keep a look out, because right now our main issue is Mr. Hyde, he's on the prowl and the last thing we need is more problems in this town."
Henry nodded
Just outside, Emma got inside her yellow car and started it. Her hands remained on the wheel but did not drive just yet. Her thoughts still lingered on what Henry had stated. It was already enough trouble that Mr. Hyde was now here in Storybrooke and the possible other fairy tales she likely might've seen in a Disney cartoon as a kid.
But now a frigging video game? Including a particular one that had many magical entities in it!
One thing for sure, she needed to be on a look out for new fairy-tales and magical properties alike anyways.
Suddenly before she could drive off, not far down the street she saw a small group of people hoarding around in a circle in front of the clock tower.
Emma knitted her brows and stopped the engine of her car. She got out mentally preparing herself for the worse feeling her gun under her red jacket.
She jogged over there to hear a rapid bark that sounded like a …
"Wolf!"
Someone from the crowd yelled as they dispatched themselves in fear of it attacking them.
"What the hell" Emma looked wide-eyed at it as the people continued to bump into her fleeing for their safety.
The wolf snarled.
It couldn't have been Red, seeing as how she was currently in Oz and normally would carry her red cloak.
But Emma didn't recognize the wolf as Red what so ever. This wolf was completely different, and green! It bore a strange looking symbol on its forehead and…hoop earrings? Just what is this wolf from? Emma had thought,
Not to mention for a feral looking wolf it just stood there.
Before Emma could notice anything else about it, reinforcements came when they heard the news about a wild looking wolf prowling in the town.
Hook and David came to see if Emma needed back up after word got out about a wild beast on the loose in town.
"You alright there, love?" Killian asked as he stood next to her close to make sure she would be safe behind him,
"Yeah, yeah, but… don't you see that thing?" she mentioned,
"Yeah, we see it, it's a wolf and it looks like it could attack anyone at anytime" David mentioned being in a stance of defense.
Emma on the other hand felt something draw her to the wolf. Something warm, common and reminded her of sparks.
"No, that's not it, I think it's magic" Emma stated,
"A magic wolf?" David corresponded confusingly,
Emma then walked closer to the wolf, despite objections from the other two to stay back. She pulled the glove from her right hand and, slowly and carefully, held it out to the wolf.
While the wolf did in fact look wild and intimidating, it suddenly covered its teeth sniffing Emma's hand and licking as it wagged its tail, showing it meant no harm.
Emma, relieved her instinct was right, smirked as she looked back at David and Killian who had very confused expressions.
"See? He seems tamed enough" Emma stated while she pet the wolf.
She noticed it had stunning cerulean eyes and all around was pleasant to be with, "Nothing but a tough looking dog," Emma added,
David and Killian neared Emma and the wolf to see it was indeed friendly.
"What's a wolf doing out here in Storybrooke anyhow?" Killian asked Emma,
"I don't know…but, maybe we can find out" she stood up receiving that warm feeling again,
"What do you mean?" David asked,
"This wolf's under a transformation spell" she stated.
The wolf panted as it slightly whimpered.
Faron Woods (cursed)
Her legs thumped hard on the ground as she hurdled over large logs covered in moss. Her black cloak wiping behind as she looked back at the monsters who were only a few feet away chasing her.
Bulbins to be in fact, green skinned red-eyed looking trolls that hobbled fast after her, armed with spears and large clubs. These creatures that served under the King Bulbin now were ruled under the dark king, and became a wanted criminal.
She was glad they weren't mounted on boar-like beasts. Otherwise they would have caught up.
While running, she recognized the part of the woods on one of the tree's she had carved on. She smirked as she unsheathed her long dagger to a vine that connected to a trap. She had set up many in these parts, so with confidence she activated one causing the unsuspecting Bulbins to fall down a deep pit with a shrill yell.
After a while she did well at maneuvering the small hoard of Bulbins after ransacking their camps for some portions of supplies and their food.
She slowed her running into a fast pace walk, armed with a quiver full of arrows and a sword at her side underneath her black cloak. While walking past a dead tree, her eye caught a wanted poster on it revealing;
"Wanted: Dead or Alive" showing an inked picture of a woman and on the bottom displayed her name, "Bandit Zelda".
The girl then took off her hood revealing it to be the same woman on the poster.
Zelda's long auburn hair tied in a messy braid slung over her shoulder with loose strands sticking out in front of her long ears. For a bandit she had striking facial features, almost like a princess, having slender azure eyes and flushed lips.
Her eyes widened in fury and disbelief. She tore down the poster from the tree and scanned it reading the price to be "900 rupees".
"You'd think they would be refined enough to put a bigger reward" she scoffed out loud as she crumpled up the paper and started ripping it to shreds.
Was this really to be the definition of her life?
All her days, she had grown up into a world ruled by darkness, learning to fight and defend.
It all became insufferable.
Zelda wondered, even as a child, if she could choose to live another life it sure as hell wouldn't be this one.
The kingdom she lived in had been consumed by darkness and twilight, if you could believe a life with no daylight this would be the place. The royal families that once were kings and queens of this land had been overruled by Ganondorf for three generations.
Causing her to become the person she is today. She had vowed to overthrow darkness and twilight alike, and bring light back to the land that was once Hyrule.
Really been excited about this story a lot recently! Though it's been hard to find time from work, household responsibilities and being sick (and sleeping a lot due to it) at the same time.
Hopefully the format I'm planning on this story won't confuse you guys. I'm literally re-watching Once Upon A Time on netflix just to get a feel for the characters - so as usual if you find typos let me know and i'll fix it asap :)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Gabzgirl xoxo