The wide, welcoming halls of Hyrule Castle had never been much to Ganondorf's taste. They were too bright, too open. He was accustomed to the starkly lit stone passages of the Gerudos' fortress. They were warm, protected and enclosing.

Ganondorf's tawny eyes roamed the vaulted ceilings and the stately walls, decorated tastefully with art depicting Hyrule's history. This castle wasn't very pleasing to him aesthetically, but its sheer size and grandeur suited his personal ambitions much more than the cramped, semi-underground lodgings of his people.

Ambition was exactly what had brought him here. As the first man born to the Gerudo tribe in a century, his destiny had long been foretold. He had seen it himself—in a glorious vision bestowed upon him by the goddesses as he meditated in the Gerudos' most sacred place.

In keeping with his role, he'd made the long journey to Hyrule Castle Town, escorted by his most trusted lieutenants. He'd already met with the King several times to exchange pleasantries and discuss necessary business. But today Ganondorf wanted to discuss the reason he'd come so far. He would not be turned away.

The Gerudo leader and his lieutenants were asked to wait outside the throne room. Hiding his irritation—what gave the King the right to keep him waiting?—he stood stoically, keenly observing his surroundings from the corner of his eye.

At his side, Nabooru watched a group of Hyrule's soldiers clank past, shooting the Gerudos curious looks.

Nabooru raised her proud chin higher, ignoring the stares. "You would think they had never seen a Gerudo before," she commented dryly.

Ganondorf grunted. "They most likely haven't," he said sourly, glancing at his right-hand warrior. Her fingers tapped lightly on the hilt of her sword.

It was only courtesy, he knew, that Nabooru and the others had been allowed to enter the castle with their weapons still on. The thought irked him. Gerudo warriors never went anywhere without their weapon. No one could command her to remove it.

He watched the backs of the retreating soldiers, also knowing that seeing a Gerudo woman in the flesh was a novelty here. They seldom ventured out from the desert, both because their lands were becoming increasingly restricted and because they rarely had need to leave their home.

That would change soon. He turned to the imposing door; just beyond it, the King of Hyrule sat upon his gilded throne.

A minute later the doors were opened, and Ganondorf and his party were welcomed inside. After a brief announcement and the necessary pleasantries, he stepped up to the dais where the King sat waiting.

Sinking to one knee and inclining his head, one arm crossed over his heart, Ganondorf felt an unmistakeable prickle at the back of his neck. He was being watched.

From childhood, he had acknowledged his instinct as being far above that of any normal man. All eyes in the room were upon him, yet he knew that somewhere close by, someone unseen to him also observed him.

He did not move from his place, though the subservient position rankled him. Slowly, he tilted his head to the left, hawkish eyes searching. There; a small stained-glass window to his right.

Ganondorf caught a glimpse of two faces peering out at him before they vanished from the glass. Inexplicably, his heart let slip the faintest of stutters under his palm. The tickling sensation at his nape became an icy shiver.

He looked away from the window, but the feeling did not abate. He stood up, hiding his malaise as he met the King's gaze. The monarch hadn't noticed anything amiss. Ganondorf sensed Nabooru's puzzlement behind him, but did not turn around.

He had more important matters to attend to than those two small faces, spying on him shamelessly.

Ganondorf conducted his business with the King, ignoring the unwavering, irrepressible urge he felt to look back into the eyes of his destiny, staring at him from the stained-glass window.

~oOo~

Link wiped his hand over the dust coating the shop window, peering curiously inside. Castle Town was a great maze, full of shops and stalls holding all sorts of interesting things. He'd already wandered into some of these curious shops, hoping someone or something could lead him to the castle.

That morning he'd managed to rouse himself early and headed for the mysterious temple to meet Zelda. She hadn't shown up, much to his dismay.

Heeding Navi's advice that they should work on finding the castle rather than wait for her, Link had explored. Drawn by the darkened windows and colourful decorations hanging from the roof of a fortune teller's shop, he'd gone inside. While the robed mystic woman inside had been less than impressed with Link's lack of money, she had agreed to help him find his way in exchange for some Deku seeds from his pocket.

Turning away from the latest window he'd been looking in, Link retrieved the map the fortune teller had given him. It had been well worth it to part with a few Deku seeds. To Link they were common; to the mystic they were a rare treasure.

He squinted at the map, ducking into an alley so Navi could peek out from under his hat without notice. "This map is more confusing than the Lost Woods!"

Navi tutted. "We just don't know how to read it yet. Look here." She floated over the map, the glow from her wings illuminating the Hylian letters curving across it.

"There's that funny building!" Link pointed to a miniature drawing of the decrepit old building in the courtyard—the drawing was much more favourable. "Temple of Time…" he read. "Odd name."

The map divided Castle Town into vague sections: the east, west, and south all blended together. The area, which the map called East Wall, was a mess. The streets twisted around each other, cross over one another and turned into dead ends. No wonder he'd been so lost.

The marketplace and the other side of the map, the West Quarter, were more organized, decorated with colourful little drawings and symbols. Another drawing, larger than the rest, drew Link's gaze. It resembled the Temple of Time, but it covered the entire northernmost point of the map.

"That must be the castle," Link murmured in excited awe.

"We can get there through the marketplace," said Navi, tracing a path.

"Then let's go!" Link stuffed the map under his hat, allowing Navi to zip in after it.

After several dead ends and running down streets that weren't on the map, Link made it back to the busy center of town. His years of experience finding his way through the Lost Woods had given him a good sense of direction.

He located the great fountain—what use was there for that, he wondered—and spotted the north road. Link had taken only a few steps towards the castle when a musical voice called out to him.

"Are you going to the castle?"

A young girl, humming softly under her breath, was standing a few feet away. Her wide blue eyes took in his appearance with puzzlement.

"You're not from here, are you?" she asked. "Your clothes…"

Walking up to her, Link looked her over. She was wearing a simple white dress, faded from wear, and a yellow handkerchief tied about her neck. It complemented her small, freckled face and vibrant red hair. Smiling sunnily, she stood next to a small cart containing two small barrels. Stuck to these were two stickers featuring a drawing of a cow's head and the name 'Lon Lon Ranch'.

"My name is Malon," the girl told him, seeing him take interest in her cart. "My dad owns Lon Lon Ranch."

Link had no idea what a ranch might be, but he imagined it must be where cows came from. Occasionally, animals from outside the forest became lost in the woods; a small glimpse of the outside world.

Malon continued, "You're one of the fairy boys from the forest, aren't you?" Her voice was high and sweet as a song.

Link's jaw dropped. "How do you know that?"

Malon shrugged. "My mother told me stories about the forest before she died. When she was a little girl, she went into the forest and met other boys and girls. They all had fairies by their side, and they had clothes just like yours."

Stumbling over his shock, Link watched mutely as Malon grabbed a spoon from her cart and dipped it into the barrel. She offered the spoon to Link, full of chilled milk.

"Here, have some," she said with a smile.

Link took the spoon and sipped from it experimentally. "This is delicious!"

Malon nodded. "Lon Lon Ranch has the best milk, everyone knows that." She paused, picking up another spoon. "My dad went to the castle to deliver some milk, but he hasn't come back yet. If you're going to the castle, would you mind finding him for me?" she asked.

"Sure," he replied. "Why hasn't he come back?"

"He probably fell asleep, as usual. What a thing to do!"

Link snorted with laughter, choking on his milk. Malon giggled.

"They've posted more guards up at the castle," she told Link. "Someone tried to break in."

"I can get past them," Link assured her, thinking back to his run-in with the soldier at the gate. All that metal weighed him down, but Link was quick on his feet.

Malon smiled gratefully. "Thanks, fairy boy! Here, take this. It will help you wake up my dad when you find him." Reaching into the pocket of her dress, she produced a small, white egg. "A cucco egg," she said proudly. "I've been taking care of this one myself."

Link took the egg from her, examining it quizzically. "How will this help?" he said doubtfully.

Malon took back her spoons and put them in the cart. "My dad is a very heavy sleeper. Once the cucco hatches, its crowing will wake him up!"

Link pocketed the egg. He could feel Navi buzzing around inside his hat. He shook his head to stop her.

"Thanks," Malon said again. "When you're finished at the castle, you should come by the ranch. We could give you some more milk!"

"Sure!" Link agreed, waving goodbye to his new friend and hurrying on his way.

Soon enough, the road widened enough that Link could glimpse it. Hyrule Castle loomed above him, white stone towers and battlements gleaming. Somewhere inside, the princess of Hyrule waited.

~oOo~

"Princess?"

She tore her eyes from the window. The princess had been staring through it all morning, watching the patrols. It hadn't been her plan to miss her meeting with the boy from the forest, Link, but her attempt at sneaking out had been discovered.

Zelda turned to face her guardian and confidante, Impa. An imperious woman, her silver hair, crimson eyes and frightful skills caused many to fear her. As the last known remaining member of the Sheikah tribe, Impa possessed abilities no other person could boast.

"Yes, Impa?"

"I've spoken to your father."

Zelda's heart plummeted. She had tried to talk to her father, to warn him about the meaning behind her nightmares. But he'd dismissed their importance, thinking her dreams were nothing more than a young girl's fears coming to haunt her while she slept.

Zelda knew what her dreams truly were: a prophecy of what was to come.

Impa's face betrayed a hint of sympathy as she said, "I am sorry, my dear, but he will not heed my words."

"You've done all you can, Impa," Zelda said sadly. "So long as you believe me, there is still hope."

Impa laid her hand on the young princess's shoulder. "We should go. Ganondorf will be meeting with the king soon."

Zelda straightened her spine and clasped her hands before her, the image of a perfect queen-to-be.

"Zelda."

"Hmm?"

"Where were you trying to run off to this morning?"

Her fingers twitched. One of Impa's gifts was her uncanny ability to detect any sort of lie or deception.

"I wanted to meet someone," she admitted. "A friend."

Impa didn't seem surprised. "I see."

Reluctantly she pushed thoughts of Link from her mind. She had another mission to see to today. Still, Zelda had a strange feeling that the boy from the forest would prove to be more than he seemed.

~oOo~

The situation was not going at all well for Link. He'd climbed over the gate at the entrance and slipped past the guards there. Luckily the castle was surrounded by greenery where he could hide. Unluckily, he would soon discover that when cuccos hatch, they do tend to make a lot of noise.

The tiny egg began to wriggle, its shell cracking under the strain of trying to contain its occupant. The cucco's sharp beak punctured the shell, freeing itself by stretching its wings. Watching the miracle of birth with awe, Link panicked when the bird began to crow loud enough to wake the dead in the earth.

A pair of guards who had been strolling past startled at the abrupt noise. Link ducked out of sight.

He stuffed the thing into his shirt, muffling its crowing. The cucco shrieked loudly in protest.

"Quiet!" he hissed at the newborn cucco. "You'll give us away!"

The castle guards were getting closer, searching the bushes for the source of the noise. Link crawled on his knees and one hand, the other keeping the creature tucked in his shirt.

When the terrain rose and he came to the crest of a hill, Link spotted more guards standing before a second gate. Just beyond it, lay the outside wall of the castle, surrounded by water.

He looked at the guards, then back at the water. He was an agile swimmer, he could make it. The cucco clucked under his shirt, as if advising him of the foolishness of his next idea.

"The water will take you where we need to go," came Navi's voice from inside his hat.

Sliding down the hill, he slipped slowly into the water. It was cold, and the bird did not appreciate being dunked. It clucked irritably. Keeping one eye on the guards and one hand on the cucco, Link waded through the castle moat. Avoiding any splashing, he let it carry him around the perimeter.

Soon enough, he could hear the unholy rumble of someone snoring obnoxiously. When he was stopped from going further by a grate, Link clambered out of the moat, freeing the now soaked and angry cucco from his shirt. A man lay beside the moat, his snores powerful enough to shake the earth.

Link sunk to his haunches, watching the man curiously. "This must be Malon's father," he reasoned, arching a brow.

Navi, escaping from his hat, fluttered over to him. "I'd say so." She sniffed in disapproval.

Link eyed the cucco, who was busy searching the ground for worms. "Only one thing to do," he mused. He snatched up the bird, who squawked in alarm. "How do we make it crow?"

Navi shrugged her tiny shoulders, her wings fluttering. "No clue."

Link set the cucco in front of Malon's father tentatively. The bird clucked, cocked its head and observed the sleeping man, then let loose a piercing crow.

The man jolted awake, leaping to his feet and swinging his fists. Link ducked and scuttled backwards. The cucco, satisfied, resumed its search for food.

"What in tarnation!?"

"Are you Malon's father?" Link asked, just to be sure.

The man dusted off his backside with two meaty hands, then swung his head towards Link. "Aye. M' Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch. Malon's my daughter. Who're you?"

"I'm Link. Malon sent me to find you, she's—"

"M-malon sent you?" Talon asked, suddenly nervous. "I didn't mean to make her worry about me! Oh, she's going to be right ticked at me!" With a yelp, Talon took off running. For such a beefy man, he moved swiftly.

"Hey, Link, look at this!"

Navi was bobbing over the moat, examining a small hole in the outside wall. Water gushed gently from its mouth, emptying into the moat.

"A drain?" Link asked, dubious at the thought of climbing through it.

Navi shrugged. With no better option, Link clambered atop one of the milk crates Talon had left behind, using it to springboard himself across the gap. His nimble fingers caught the edge of the drain hole and he hoisted himself up.

It was a short and wet journey inside the castle walls. To his dismay, he found himself splashing into another fountain. He was in an area full of pruned trees and well-kept grass, more water features and handsome, white-stone pathways.

"It's so green in here," he marveled. "And bright."

Link followed the largest pathway, ignoring the urge to delve deeper into the courtyard's greenery. He couldn't afford to be lost.

A handful of bored soldiers patrolled the yard, moving in predictable patterns. Link slipped past them easily, carrying Navi in his hat. When the yard opened to a set of steps and a long, white hallway, he hesitated. A second pathway arced to his right, under an imposing archway.

The chatter of voices and metal footsteps down the hall made up his mind. A gang of soldiers rounded the corner at the far end of the hall, coming straight for him. Link ducked beneath a bush, stealing under the archway. The next room was even more strange than the courtyard full of trees and fountains.

Circular, it was empty save for a grassy meadow, bursting with beautiful blue flowers. The ceiling went on and on, ending in a point. Soft shapes of coloured light dotted the grass, pulled from the windows set high in the walls.

Distracted by the enchanting room, Link realized with a start that it was not empty.

A small figure stood at the smallest stained-glass window, across the room on a stone platform. They didn't hear Link climb the few steps or approach from behind.

"Hello," Link said. "What is this place?"

With a muffled shriek, the girl turned, one hand clutched over her heart. Link froze in shock.

"Zelda!?"

"Link! You scared me!" Zelda heaved a sigh. "How…how did you get past the guards?"

He took in her appearance, stunned. She was wearing a white and purple dress today, with gold hanging from her shoulders, neck and waist. Her hair had been secured under a matching bonnet, and the front of her dress bore the same symbol he'd spotted above the gate to Castle Town.

"I...I'm sneaky," he offered with a shrug, recovering. Zelda let out a shaky laugh. "Why are you dressed like that?" he blurted.

She flushed crimson. "Link," she said, "please forgive me for not meeting you this morning, and for keeping my real identity hidden. When I saw you at the Temple of Time, I thought…well, that can wait. Allow me to properly introduce myself: I am Zelda V, Princess of Hyrule."

Link gaped at her. "Are you really the princess?" She smiled nervously in reply.

Navi freed herself from Link's hat and buzzed around excitedly. "You're the one the Great Deku Tree wanted us to meet!"

Link tilted his head. "My guardian told me to find the princess," he explained, waving a hand at Navi. "He wanted me to give her this." He pulled the Kokiri's Emerald from its pouch on his belt and held the gem out to her.

Zelda's eyes went round as she accepted it. "You have the spiritual stone!?" At his puzzled look, she continued, "There is a legend passed down within the royal family of three magical stones, kept safe by the races of Hyrule. It is said that these spiritual stones are the keys to the Sacred Realm."

Link's face lit with understanding. "The Great Deku Tree told me about that. During the Creation, the Goddesses created the Sacred Realm as a way between their world and ours."

"Yes! The Sacred Realm is the doorway between worlds. The very spot where the Goddesses left our world," Zelda said with a smile.

On the other side of the window, a voice shouted a handful of words. Zelda spun with a gasp, tugging on Link's shirtfront to bring him hunched next to her.

She put a finger to her closed lips, then pointed through the window. They crouched, heads together, watching the scene play out before them. Link couldn't see much of the room beyond, but guards lined the walls like living statues.

Suddenly a very tall man appeared and bent to one knee, looking up at someone Link couldn't see. The man did not move at all, but a peculiar feeling slid down Link's spine. Abruptly, the man turned his head and stared straight at the pair of them.

Zelda gasped and drew back. He scrambled backwards, but for a second he'd met the man's eyes, and the haunting image of his gaze burned itself into Link's memory.

"His name is Ganondorf," Zelda murmured, sitting now with her knees drawn up to her chest. "The leader of the Gerudo tribe, far to the west of here."

Link knelt beside her, Navi floating silent at his side. "He feels…bad." Link frowned. He wasn't sure how to put into words the feelings of fear and dread that had washed over him.

Zelda clenched her fists in her lap. "I've been having dreams of dark clouds that gather on the horizon and then sweep over the land of Hyrule, consuming everything in their path." She took an unsteady breath, as if the memory itself caused her distress.

"I am always unable to stop the destruction." She whispered now, and Link strained to hear her. "But in the dream, I look towards the forest, and a bright, shining green light appears to chase away the darkness. At its center is a boy, followed by a fairy. He carries this stone in his hands." She held up the emerald, glowing mysteriously.

Link's brows rose. "When you saw me at the Temple, you knew who I was."

"Yes," she admitted. "I thought you might be the one from my dream. But I didn't want to scare you, so I didn't tell you. I'm sorry."

He laid a hand on her shoulder. She blinked in surprise. Standing, he offered her a hand up.

"That man in there…" Link trailed off.

"I believe he represents the dark clouds from my dream," she said. "I know it is really a prophecy of a darkness that is coming to Hyrule. I tried warning my father, the king, but he won't listen to me." Zelda grimaced.

"If the king won't listen we have to stop him!" Link said. Navi nodded in agreement. "We can't just let Ganondorf destroy Hyrule."

Zelda's face brightened with a smile. She clasped Link's hands in both of hers. He felt his own face redden. "Link, will you help me?" she asked. "I know how much I am asking of you, but I believe destiny has brought you here. We must find out what Ganondorf is up to and stop him before he brings ruin to Hyrule."

The silent plea in her expression urged him to believe her. The final words of the Great Deku Tree had been of a terrible threat to Hyrule, and they echoed in Link's head now, confirming her story.

Link met Zelda's eyes. "I believe you."

She seemed to collapse with her relief, and she let go of his hands. His fingers were warm where she'd touched him.

"Thank you," she murmured. "I wish I could tell you more, but the hour is late and my father is expecting me." She held out the emerald for him to take. He stowed it safely in his pouch again. "I promise we will meet again."

Link smiled, pleased. "Should I meet you at the temple?"

Zelda shook her head. "I have another way. First, let my attendant guide you safely out of the castle."

She gestured behind him; Link turned and yelped in shock when he saw a woman standing there. She'd easily crept up on them.

Tall and quite muscular, the woman sported silver hair that was pulled back sharply from her face. Her features were imposing, but her smile was friendly.

"This is Impa," Zelda explained. "She knows about everything. You can trust her."

Link resisted taking a step back. Impa's hawk-like eyes, their irises a strange scarlet, fastened on him.

"You're a brave one, aren't you lad?" she said. Impa uncrossed her arms from her chest, the movement making the metal armour she wore clink. "Come on, I'll show you the way out."

Link and Navi followed behind the imposing metal warrior woman, but he couldn't help but glance back. Over his shoulder he saw Zelda, still standing next to the little, colourful window.

As he watched her, bathed in multi-coloured shafts of light, he again had that strange feeling of remembrance. He couldn't help but think that they had shared this moment before. Yet no matter how hard he searched, there was nothing but hazy glimpses. Nothing but dreams of a time long past.