The first thing that registers is pain. Pain from my leg, pain from my head, and pain from the gash in my side. I moan, trying to open my eyes. What happened. Pain... I'm hurt. How'd I get hurt? I was just outside... then the storm. Storm.

Ganondorf!

I shoot up, eyes flying open, searching my surroundings to find out what's happened. Ow. Ow ow ow ow ow. No. Ignore the pain, find a way out. The princess. She can't be dead. She can't be.

I'm in a cell. I make out the bars blocking the door, though it takes a while in the dark. There's light coming from somewhere, most likely a torch somewhere down the hall. I'm in a dungeon. Hyrule castle's dungeon? Most likely. I look around the cell for an escape route, but besides the door and stone walls and floor, I can't make out anything.

"Are you alright?"

"Princess Zelda?" I've never felt more relieved.

"Yes. I heard you wake up."

"What happened?"

"Ganondorf locked us in the dungeon. Don't worry, your eyes will adjust to the dark in a bit."

I nod, then realize she might not be able to see it. "Why didn't he kill me?"

"I... I'm not sure. I've been trying to figure it out myself."

There's a silent pause, and through the dark, I can feel her studying me.

"Who are you?"

The question catches me off guard, but I recover quickly. "I'm Ralin."

"Besides that. You're related to him, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"He never mentioned you."

"That would make sense."

I wait for her to say something, than realize she's waiting for an explanation and sigh. "He doesn't know who I am."

"You look older than him."

"I am. By ten years. I'm his older sister."

"But he doesn't know who you are?"

"Yes."

Silence follows, and I can practically hear her trying to figure out how what I'm saying makes sense. Finally, I spare her the trouble and begin to explain.

"Did Link ever tell you about his life growing up?"

"Just that he was raised by the Kokiri and never knew his parents."

"Both are true." I take a deep breath. This is going to be hard. "Do you remember the last Great War?"

My eyes were adjusting now, and I could vaguely see her nod. "I was born just as it was ending."

"Well, Link was born the year before it ended. Our father was the captain of the guard back then, and was wounded and died just before Link was born. Mother wanted to try and get us away from the war, but was wounded while escaping from Castle Town, and barely managed to get us all to the Kokiri forest just before she passed away."

I pause, painful memories of my mother's last moments unlocking tears I thought I had locked away from use. I take a deep breath, calming myself to continue.

"Before she died, she told me that Link was destined to be the Hero of Time, and that he was going to face a lot of hardships. She told me never to let him know me, never let him see me, because he would have questions I couldn't answer. Questions he needed to find the answers to himself. She told me to just let the Great Deku Tree raise him."

"It must have been hard."

"It was. I respected my mother's wishes, mostly. He's never met me. Doesn't even know I exist. I suspect the Great Deku Tree knew I was there, might have even known who I was, because he never kicked me out. I watched him grow up. And, after he left the Lost Woods to start on his quest, I left and came here. I was twenty-one at the time. After that, I worked here as one of the knights. I was lucky to be here when Ganondorf showed up, but..."

"You don't understand why he didn't kill you."

"Yeah pretty much. And why didn't he die? I shoved a sword through his stomach."

"I can answer that one. He holds the Tri-Force of Power. It makes him pretty much invincible. The only thing that can kill him is the Master Sword, which holds the power to repel evil."

"Well where is that?"

I here the Princess sigh. "Link took it. He was moving it to a more secure temple out near Termina. That was a few days ago, and I still haven't heard back from him."

"Do you think something might have happened to him?"

"I don't know."

I nod, and the silence that fills the air is as stale as the dungeon.

"Have you ever heard of the TetraForce?"

I scan my brain, but nothing comes to mind. "Not that I remember. Why? What is it?"

The Princess takes her time answering, but when she does, I can hear she's struggling with how much she should tell me. "It's a legend... an old one, that the few people who know what it is don't even believe it. It's... it's said that when the Tri-Force was split into three pieces, there was a fourth piece that was lost. The TetraForce. No one knows what happened to it. No one is even sure if it exists."

Pieces fall into place as she speaks. "But you think it's real."

"I... I'm not sure what I think. All I know is that Ganondorf obviously sees some potential in you, and for that reason, you must escape."

"How will I do that?"

"Take this." She extends something towards me, and I take it, studying what appears to be an instrument, painted blue with a picture of the Tri-Force by the top. "What is it?"

"It's an old heirloom of the royal family, called the Ocarina of Time. I gave it to Link, what was it, eight years ago? He used it to open up the Temple of Time and retrieve the Master Sword."

"How's it supposed to help us get out?"

"Well, after he defeated Ganondorf, he went looking for Navi-"

"The fairy?"

"Yes."

"Figures. It's not like him to give up something he waited so long for."

'I know. He ended up in this place called Termina. He told me the greatest story about what happened while he was there, but he also taught me a song he learned while he was there called the Song of Soaring. He used it all the time while he was in Termina to teleport back and forth."

"will it get us out of here?"

"It'll take you to Clock Town in Termina. All I know from there is that Link was taking the Master Sword to a temple somewhere near a place called Woodfall. You'll have to ask around."

I nod, running my fingers over the smooth wood, running her words through my mind till something strikes me as odd.

"It'll take me to Termina?"

"Yes."

"What about you?"

"... The Ocarina will only transport it's user. I'm afraid I will stay here."

"Then you take it. I will not leave you here."

"Ralin, I couldn't possibly manage to find Link. This is your destiny. It was fate that got you to the castle before Ganondorf could seal the castle off. You are the chosen hero now. You have to find Link and the Master Sword, or all of Hyrule is lost."

'I'm sorry, Princess, but I can't leave you here. Not only because it is my duty to protect you, but because if Ganondorf were to get his hands on the Tri-Force of Wisdom, not even Link and I together could stop him from taking Hyrule."

"Ralin, Ganondorf is demented. His plan is in pieces, and now he's doing it more for revenge on your brother than anything. I'm sure he's waiting to kill me till he has your brother. Besides, I have a feeling you're harboring a power you don't even realize you have. If Ganondorf were to get his hands on that, then Hyrule is truly doomed."

"But..."

"Ralin, please. This is our last chance."

"...All right. How do I play this Song of Soaring?"

I can sense her smiling, and she takes the ocarina from me. Suddenly, a sweet melody fills the air, swirling around us. I feel like my soul is almost lifting from my body, as the notes swirl around our heads. I struggle to focus on the notes she is playing, hoping I can play it right. She suddenly stops, handing the Ocarina to me. Placing her finger over one of the holes, she whispers, "This is the final note. I couldn't play it, or it would teleport me instead of you."

I nod, taking the Ocarina, taking a deep breath and calming myself before bringing it to my lips. As I play, I focus every ounce of energy inside of me upon remembering the notes. Listening to the Ocarina was an unforgettable experience, but playing it... The notes are almost inside of me, ringing throughout my entire being. I play the final note, and suddenly, I feel wind, pelting me from all angles. My eyes fly open, but I see no sign of the wind, and it seems as if nothing in the cell is being effected. Suddenly, my body goes numb, and I feel as though I'm being lifted by nothing, total weightlessness taking over all other feelings. The cell starts spinning before my eyes, a blur of colors racing past my face. Slowly it all fades to black, and before I lose sight of everything, I hear the princess whisper,

"Good luck."

And with that, it all goes black.