I completely forgot to leave a note on the first chapter!
Let me thank you for reading. I've done a lot of research and playing and I have found a lot of things missing from the time when all the missing memories take place. So this is my way of fleshing out all the characters and putting in more emotion and backstory. Hopefully it will have more meaning and be less jumpy with the timeline that's laid out. Also, I could not for the life of me find how Link received the Master Sword the first time. He just seems to have it with no explanation in the first memory. So I came up with my own story behind how it happened.
Thank you!

"He is late..."

Zelda glanced at the small congregation of lords as they rumbled at each other and ruffled their garish robes, obviously displeased. She couldn't help but feel the same as the ache in her feet grew steadily worse. Giving in to her breach in etiquette, she shifted from foot to foot, swaying in her spot. Why was this taking so long? It had been nearly two hours and this mysterious guest had yet to arrive still.

"I don't believe it is proper for a princess to dance in place when she's impatient, milady," a soft voice whispered over her shoulder, just barely heard over the clatter of rain on the vaulted ceiling far above. The scent of cherry blossoms suddenly filled her senses and she knew who had snuck up behind her.

"You can hardly call for perfect etiquette when you have Daruk here, Impa," she answered and glanced over at the Goron champion who had just sat down with a loud thump and a yawn. "At this rate, you may as well just tell me who it is we're expecting. Everyone has been so very careful not to say anything. This is even the first time I've seen Daruk since everyone arrived. I'm guessing this is due to his inability to keep a secret." The sound of a muffled laugh reached her and she grinned.

"The secret shall stay as it is until arrival. Though I have good word from Rhenn that it should be soon. There is not much that would stop such a force and not for long if it did."

Following Impa's words, the gaggle of lords shuffled over to the king, whispering fiercely. With a loud sigh, he nodded, waving them away and placing the knighting sword back upon it's stand. He then turned to the few that remained in the sanctum. "It would seem we must delay the ceremony. The storm is fierce enough to halt our guest. Feel free to return to your chambers. I will have someone alert you when everyone has arrived and the ceremony will continue."

"Ha! I suppose we shouldn't be too terribly surprised that he is late. I would have flown through many a storm such as this without a single feather out of place," Revali snapped before turning in a rustle of feathers.

A thin thread of dread curled into her mind. She looked around the room again, taking in the finery, escaping nobles, Champions, and her father who was gently running a soft cloth over the royal blade. No. No! A hiss of curses escaped her lips as she threw every thread of decorum to the wind. She turned in a wave of fabric to face her father and readied her nerves to speak what was most likely a terrible idea.

Before a word could leave her lips, the heavy double doors to the south slammed open. Though the rain was coming down in sheets, a wet hooded figure emerged from the now pitch black evening and stopped with a squelch. Her father turned and let out a sigh of relief, leaving the half polished sword in lieu of walking down the red carpet runner towards the doors. "Young Link," he said just loud enough to travel across the large room. The guest pulled back the sopping cloth to show that same dark blonde hair and blue eyes she hadn't wished to see again. Him. The hero dropped to a knee just before the king, looking at the ground in proper fashion. "Enough with that. Everyone else has already left. Up with you." Following the king's word, he rose, looking past and right at Zelda. That stoic face grimaced slightly before going blank and he quickly looked away again.

It took everything inside of her not to run. How could she have been so stupid? Of course he would be here eventually. The legends always said the hero with the Sword that Seals the Darkness is to work beside the Champions to seal Calamity Ganon away. She turned away and glared at the four Champions that stood in a line behind her. Daruk at least had the gall to look embarrassed, rubbing his head with a huge hand and looked at the ceiling. Mipha did little to hide her absolute delight at seeing him, completely oblivious to the heated look Zelda sent their direction. Urbosa just shrugged and looked over at Revali, who had his back turned to the whole thing.

A hand landing on her back startled Zelda from her look. She glanced over and up at her father who had stepped up beside her, the oddly pleased look on his face so out of place. "Everyone, please come over and greet our newest Champion," he called to the others and frowned at his daughter as she struggled to keep the distaste from her face. The others moved over, each to a varying degree of excitement.

Mipha quickly took one of Link's hands in hers and smiled up at him. "It has been far too long, my friend. It is wonderful to see you!" she quipped and bounced a bit on her toes. It was almost too much to stomach, forcing Zelda to look up and over them both, meeting Urbosa's gaze. There was a sad and understanding look in those emerald green eyes as she returned the glance. Though the moment was ruined as Daruk slapped the young man on the back with a road of laughter, sending him stumbling forwards and gasping. He straightened up and turned to her, their eyes meeting again. Zelda swallowed thickly against the tightening of her chest and lifted her chin to put on a more regal expression. She could do this. She could handle speaking with him.

"Princess," Link said softly, bowing fully at the waist.

Zelda nodded at him and met his gaze again as he straightened up. "Hero," she replied. There was another flicker of emotion over his face. Regret perhaps? No, pain. She felt a faint hint of guilt. He had always been an open book as a child, every emotion clear as day in those bright eyes. They were dim, almost faded now. "I am pleased that you got here safely. Now, if you'll excuse me." Before anyone could say anything else, she turned and hurried from the room. Her duty was done.

With each step, her pace increased and her mind grew more crowded with unwanted thoughts and memories. Soon it was too much. Zelda gathered her skirts in a hand and ran, throwing the door to her chambers open as soon as she came too them. The sky was still dark and rain rapped on the windows with vigor, fitting her mood too well. Even the air in the room felt hot and stuffy, pushing her to throw the largest window open and lean out. Each cool drop that hit her face seemed to sooth, if only just a little. All she could do was stay there, trying to clear her mind.

"You're going to catch sick and ruin a perfectly good dress, Zelda." She pulled back with a sigh and looked over to find Urbosa perched cross legged atop her storage chest. Even in the low lantern light, her bright hair was easy to make out. The princess could feel how wet her shoulders and hair had become. She must have lost track of time in her distress.

"I don't give a damn about any of that, Urbosa," Zelda said, crossing her arms and looking at her slipper covered feet.. "Are you here to placate the rude princess?"

Her friend sighed and stood with casual grace. "No. I'm hear to listen. It was difficult to tell who was more apt to set the young knight on fire with their eyes. You or Revali." She paused, glancing down at the chest she had sat upon and back to Zelda. Even in the dim light, the fine engravings and vibrant colors dancing over the wood seemed to draw her eyes. The intent on her face was obvious.

"I will not," Zelda hissed and turned away to move behind her changing screen. She began to tug at the ties holding the back of her dress closed with haste.

"Will not what, dear? Remember? Have you so much as looked inside? I am sure she left you something inside that would help, even just a small-"

"Nothing can help me, Urbosa!" Zelda snapped, struggling with the ribbons in frustration. After a moment she gave up, slumping against the wall and let the tears come. Her friend came around and pulled her into a gentle embrace. "I-I cannot to do this. I have prayed and prayed, with nothing to show for it. It was easier when I wasn't alone. But everyone left me! First my mother, then Juta, then him!" The feeling of hopelessness enveloped her like a heavy blanket, smothering out any other emotion.

"You have us, dear," Urbosa whispered, stroking Zelda's hair. "Regardless of what happens, we will always protect you, support you. I have seen Daruk break down solid walls just to get to a tasty rock. Imagine what he would do for you?" The thought of such an act popped into her head, pulling a watery laugh from the princess. It was comforting to hear those words, to be held for the first time in over a year. "Yes, there, see? Now, calm yourself. I will help you change. Your maid is absolutely terrified of me and has refused to come inside when I entered."

The heavy wet dress was removed and replaced by a light nightgown with Urbosa's help. Zelda already felt a good deal lighter. Breathing wasn't a struggle. "Thank you..."she said, giving Urbosa a small smile. "I don't know what I did to deserve such care, but I thank you regardless."

"Hush, Zelda. You are my dearest friend." The older woman looked at the large clock tucked in the corner and clicked her tongue. "It is getting late. I suggest you try to sleep."

With one last hug, she left, seeming to take the warmth from the room with her. Zelda sat on the edge of her bed with a sigh. Perhaps Urbosa was right. Ignoring the past did little to help. It was the way of a true leader to know the history and to not make the same mistakes again. Her eyes were pulled to the small nightstand beside her. Yes. She would go through it, but not tonight. Zelda opened the drawer, pulled out a small key, and set it on the table top. Tomorrow.

"Juta, Juta, look at this!"

After weeks of begging and pleading, today was the day. Zelda had at last gotten her father to approve of a trip to see the mysterious sword of legend. Of course she had to also pay proper respect to the Great Deku Tree. It hadn't been done in years, leaving it up to her as princess to do her duty. "Perhaps this will show you just how true those tales are if you see the great sword in person." A great lesson in history and legend, another way to show the things her ancestors themselves used, as well to try and bring forth her powers.

That didn't mean she couldn't still have fun. In her hands she clasped a very wiggly and noisy frog. It's dark and splotched skin the best camouflage for the dark forest. With the greatest of joy, she held it up to her mentor, Juta. "Why, that is wonderful, Princess! Do you remember the properties that this good creature can bring when ingested?" The woman knelt down, taking the small beast into her own hands and stroking it's back to calm it.

"Of course! He is the main ingredient of an endurance elixir. Commonly taken by messengers and mail carriers to make the long trips for delivers," the young princess stated confidently, though her face scrunched up in thought right after. "Though the effects of ingesting it on its own without proper preparation has yet to be investigated more. I actually had it in my book to have Link test!"

"Hey!" Both the ladies looked up as said boy struggled through the brush up to them, a frog in each of his hands as well. "I never agreed to eat a frog," he grumbled and set the creatures back in a nearby puddle, hopefully close to where he had caught them. "I'm here to protect you. Not be your research experiment."

Juta laughed, a light and cheerful sound, like bells and brushed her light hair behind her ear. "Oh, dear. I'm sure the princess doesn't mean it. Yes?" Zelda sighed and nodded, putting her leather bound journal back into her pack. "Now, come here, son. You've dirt all over your face." Link scoffed and backed away as she stood with a kerchief in her hand. "Oh no you don't. You might fancy yourself a man, but you are still my boy!" Before Zelda could blink, Juta had his face in her hand and had wiped away the splatters of mud from his cheeks. It was almost impossible not to laugh as he turned red as a radish.

"Madam Juta, we must continue moving if we are to make it back to the castle before nightfall. The great tree is just ahead," one of the three guards escorting them said, shifting uneasily in place and grasping his sword hilt with a hand.

"Yes, yes, of course. Let us be on our way, children!" she replied and stood, brushing off her skirts. "Please take the lead, young Knight." At her word, Link straightened up and saluted, marching just ahead of the ladies and adjusting the dulled training blade on his back. Zelda giggled and followed suit, holding the proper lady posture and strolling behind.

The path through the forest was thankfully clear and fairly easy to see. It was just as her mother had written in her records. The Deku Tree really did have control over the whole forest. He must be clearing the path for them. After a few minutes of walking, she glanced up at Juta, face thoughtful. "Did you ever accompany my mother to visit the Deku Tree, Juta?"

Her mentor nodded, smiling sadly. "Yes, of course, princess. It was never quite this lively though. Lord Urlna always joined and as you know, he is very particular about decorum and proper manners. It was silent the entire way. Though the great forest spirit always loved it when she would sketch him."

"No!" Zelda gasped and laughed. "I haven't seen any sketch of a spirit from her."

"Oh, well, he always requested she leave them for him and the Koroks. They were great fans of her work. He told us that it was good to see his 'knotted old facade' to make sure he looked a proper old man," Juta said, laughing as well. "Perhaps they still have the sketches around. We will have to ask."

"Mother, look!" Zelda looked up at Link's exclamation and beamed, clapping her hands. Ahead was the enormous form of very old tree, looming out of the shadows. And just below it was the sword, lit from a small clearing just above. Both took her breath away.

Before anyone could say otherwise, she ran up and stopped upon the platform, gazing at the shining blade in awe. It was beautiful with the rich colors of the hilt and guard and the blade almost seeming to glow all on it's own. "Oh ho! Could it really be? I sensed a great power but I did not expect the Princess herself to arrive!"

Zelda jerked her head up and gaped as the knotted truck of the giant tree before her opened to eyes and a mouth. Of course she had expected there to be a spirit but not...not the actual tree itself! She suppressed the urge to smack her hand against her own face at her stupidity and moved forward to bow deeply. "Great Deku Tree! Yes, I am Princess Zelda. I apologize for the long wait since last we came to pay our respects but-"

"Say no more, my dear. It is understandable after the unfortunate loss of your mother," the tree replied, wood crackeling as his face slacked in sadness. "I am pleased that you have come nonetheless. And I see you brought another great soul along with you. Boy, step up here so I can get a look at you!" Behind her, Link let out a choke of surprise and jerked his hovering hand away from the hilt of the legendary sword. He quickly came up beside her, also bowing deeply. Too deep, actually. With a loud clatter, the training blade slide from it's sheath on his back and landed on the ground, causing them both too jump. The Deku Tree burst into loud booming laughter, his branches and roots shaking and swaying. Soon the Koroks began to emerge in response and added their own laughter as the boy's face darkened farther with red, almost the shade of a tomato. It was too much to not join in and Zelda began laughing as well.

After a few moments the tree finally stopped, smiling as broadly as his bark would allow. "Goodness, that was wonderful! I haven't laughed that hard in centuries! Thank you, young man! What is your name?"

Link stopped half hunched over, sword dangling in his fingers as he picked it up. He quickly ran his fingers through his hair. "Link, great spirit," he finally managed to choke out and straightened up.

"I do apologize for the laughter. It was just too much. I noticed your interest in the sword behind. I must ask. Do you feel anything from it?"

The question brought a complete silence to the entire clearing. Zelda turned and looked up at Link. Could it be possible? The boy shifted uncomfortably, looking down at his feet as he shift from one to the other. After a few moments, she poked him in the arm at the prolonged silence, earning a panicked look from her friend. With a gesture from her arm back at the tree, he finally looked back up and nodded. "Eh, yes, Great Deku Tree. I, uh, I thought I heard a whisper from it. I was just trying to see if it would be louder if I touched it," he finally managed, swallowing thickly as his nerves grew more obvious. Zelda couldn't help but smile and placed a hand on his arm, willing him to calm. It seemed to help as he visibly relaxed and gave her a quick, lopsided grin.

"Hmm. Most interesting. Please, go ahead. Touch the sword. Perhaps you can pull it from it's resting place."

The words seemed to floor Link as his eyes widened and Zelda felt her own heart give a lurch. The tree was giving him permission to try and pull out the sword? Did that mean...Could he think Link to be the reincarnated hero? Her fingers curled in the fabric of his sleeve as they both turned to look at the weapon, resting upright in the aged white stone. His hand came up to take hers, pulling his sleeve from her clutch, and drawing her gaze from the sword to him. His expression was one of determination and resolve, a bright gleam in his blue eyes. Zelda swallowed against the lump in her throat and nodded at him in encouragement. That crooked smile graced his lips and he gave her hand a quick squeeze before letting go and stepping up.

It seemed that the inch or two of height he had gained recently put him at just the right height to grasp the hilt fully with both hands. As soon as his fingers touched the deep violet leather, a crystalline tone chimed out and the sword erupted into blazing light. Everyone present gasped, taking a step back as he planted his feet firmly and began to pull. Zelda held up a hand to her face, squinting and leaning into the wave of power that burst out as the blade pulled up slowly. She looked past the almost blinding glare to see Juta clasping both hands to her chest, eyes wide and full of tears. The pride and joy of a mother radiated from her almost as bright as the sword.

Amid the clamor, the soldier standing away the rest drew his sword, grabbing Zelda's attention. Before a word could leave her lips, he struck down the other two soldiers from behind. A crazed look crumpled his face as he moved forward. "No!" she screamed, starting to rush forwards as he raised the blade over Juta. But it was too late.

"My lord cannot be stopped! I won't allow your pathetic hero to be! For Ganon!" the man shrieked and thrust the blade through the woman's neck. It was as if time had stopped. Those serene blue eyes met hers, dulling as a spurt of frothy blood spilled from her lips. Her body slowly fell to the ground as the blade was pulled back, splattering blood over the white stone before them. A shattering roar from the Deku Tree broke the spell. Zelda jerked her head back and looked over as Link let out his own scream, anger distorting his face and the gleaming sword in his hand. It glowed with a heavenly blue light as he stepped forward. He'd managed to pull it out. He was the hero.

Those thoughts fled her mind as the traitorous soldier stepped forward, crouching into a fighting stance to match Link. The two charged and clashed on the stand, both letting out guttural noises of fury over the screech of metal on metal. Zelda looked away with a sob and rushed over to the fallen form of her mentor. She was still alive, somehow. The girl blinked through the waves of tears and took Juta's shaking hand, clasping it tightly in her own. "No, no, no. Juta, please, don't leave! We need you!" Zelda cried out. Even though the pain, Juta managed one last smile before her body went limp, the last gleam of life gone from her eyes.

A cry of pain from behind forced her to turn from Juta. Link wrenched his new blade from the chest of the now fallen form of the soldier. A long gash across his chest was streaming blood, only made worse as he heaved breaths from exertion. It was almost terrifying to see the pure rage and hate still on his face as he spat on the corpse. Her chocked cries pulled his eyes to hers. It was like a switch had been flipped and the anger drained away, replaced by anguish. The sword clattered to the ground as he threw it away and stumbled over, falling to his knees and taking Juta's other hand. The warrior was gone and in his place was a young boy, sobbing over the body of his dead mother. Zelda wrapped her arms around him, letting out her own cries to join his.

"Princess!" The two friends started and looked up as a dark form landed before them. "What has happened?!" It was Rhenn. The sight of him was startling, the red Sheikah eye on his chest when before it had been a dark yukata. The older boy stumbled when he saw the scene, pulling his face mask down and showing the horror in his expression.

It took everything in her to bring her breathing back under control. Zelda weakly pushed herself to a sitting position, still clutching Links arm like a lifeline. She held up a hand to stop the warrior as he started moving forwards. "A-a traitor, Rhenn. One of our own royal guard killed the others and poor J-Juta," she managed, stopping to clutch her chest at another sob.

"Young master Link…?" Rhenn breathed, stepping around them and freezing at the sight of the now free sword of legend, drenched in blood and carelessly laying on the stained stone. "Oh Goddess, how-"

"I killed him," the boy croaked, finally looking up for his fallen mother. The brightness of innocence was gone from his eyes, leaving them bloodshot and wild as he turned to the Sheikah. "Who is he aligned with?"

Rhenn knelt down, shakily rummaging through the pouches and pockets of the fallen body. Before long, he withdrew a red charm with upside down Sheikah eye sloppily painted on the wood. "Yiga," Zelda breathed, putting a hand over her mouth.

Link jerked from Zelda's grasp and stood. It broke her heart to see the pain in his movements as he leaned out and took the charm from Rhenn's hand. The boy glared at the wood for a few moments then crushed it, letting the splitters fall between as his fingers as he opened his hand again. The other two were silent as he picked up the gleaming sword and shouldered his new duty.

Her cheerful and gullible friend was gone and in his place stood an angry and vengeful creature.