The Legend Of Zelda

Destiny Reborn

Josh Thompson

1: Zeal's Awakening

He was trying with all his might to open his eyes. Breathing; breathing was not coming naturally, it was forced. Panicking; he panicked as he struggled to pry his eyes open against the bright blue glow, as he tried to breathe deeply, to get enough air, to move his fingers, his hands, his arms, his whole body to no avail. And then, just when he feared he might suffocate, the space around him seemed to shatter, an explosion of particles, dancing across his skin as he felt himself falling, dropping below, finally opening his eyes to reveal the floor beneath him growing rapidly closer. He attempted to land on his feet, but as he connected with the ground, he fell forward onto his hands and knees, coughing, choking, gasping to fill his lungs with the sweet commodity that was air.

"The time has finally come for you to awaken." Raspy and gruff, a voice spoke to him. Zeal stood and turned to face the voice. A short man stood on a higher pedestal, one of the many surrounding the central ground. His face was covered with a white mustache, running the length of his cheeks to meet at his sideburns, turning upward like a giant smile. His robes, dark brown in color, hung down below his hands and covered the floor around him, seeming to spill around his feet. Zeal looked him in the eye, and the man stared back with a gaze that was piercing, yet kind.

"I..." Zeal coughed, bringing his hand up to caress his throat. Attempting to speak caused a great deal of pain.

"For now, there is no need to speak," the old man assured him, and Zeal nodded with relief. "I am Rauru, the Sage of Light. This is the Chamber Of Sages, where you have been sleeping, your body encased in a powerful magic cast by Princess Zelda herself, shortly before the fall of Hyrule." Rauru raised a bushy eyebrow, noticing Zeal's look of complete and utter confusion. "Fear not, young warrior. I cannot expect you to remember these events. All shall be explained to you in due time, and once the effects of the magic have fully worn off, your memories will return to you. This place," he gestured gracefully to the chamber, "is where the Hero of Time has been to awaken and begin his journey to fulfill the prophecy. He and his descendants were to be the only mortals to set foot in this chamber, and yet, here you stand." Zeal shifted his stance slightly, scratching the back of his head nervously. "I am not the one to explain this to you in detail; that right belongs to Princess Zelda herself," Rauru spoke bluntly, "but I will tell you why you're awake now: The Goddesses have allowed you to heal here in the Chamber of Sages, and have answered the Princess's prayers asking to let you be given a purpose, a place in the prophecy, and to let you be awakened when that purpose revealed itself. Today is the day that you have a new purpose."

Zeal crossed his arms, looking down at the gray Triforce pedestal on which he stood, tossing Rauru's words around in his mind. The feeling of not remembering what brought him here was slightly unnerving; it wasn't that he didn't believe the old man's words, he simply needed to... know. To remember for himself.

"So," Zeal spoke now, the pain only minor as his deep yet still adolescent-sounding voice bounced off the walls of the chamber, "Shall I go speak with Princess Zelda?"

Rauru squinted slightly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You'll not find her easily, young Zeal. Though the magic kept your body untouched by time, you'll not find Hyrule in the same state," he paused, noticing a worried look on Zeal's face. "You've been sleeping, healing, for a decade. Much has happened in that time, including the disappearance of the Hero, and the Princess left to fight a losing battle on her own. She has since gone into hiding. Your first task, it seems, is to find her. I will tell you where to go to start your search, but that is all that I can do to help you."

Zeal ran his hand along the length of his jaw, his fingers passing over the short stubble on his chin as he pondered the situation. "How long... until I might recall the events that led to my being here?"

"With magic as powerful as this, we cannot know for certain. It could be days, or weeks. What we can know for sure, is that you will feel a stronger connection to the Princess once you finally remember. She could not be sure that you would ever awaken, and once you find her, she will surely be relieved to see you." Zeal was surprised, and he knew his face showed it. The Princess would be happy to see him. The thought was pleasant, and a look of determination was quickly present on his face.

"Where do I begin?"

Rauru nodded. "Go now, and make your way to Kokiri Forest. Speak with the Great Deku Tree Sprout and the Kokiri Children. They will surely send you in the right direction."

Zeal clenched his fists, unwavering, looking up at Rauru. "I'm ready. What of," he looked around the chamber, "... My weapons?"

"Ah," Rauru hesitated, disappointment in his voice. "Your sword and dagger were dropped before you were brought here. Surely it will not be an issue for you to find weapons in the Hyrule Castle Town Market." Zeal felt a twinge of sadness at these words; his mother had crafted a broadsword and dagger for him when he was just a boy, and once he came of age, he had carried them around with him anywhere he went.

"I will make do. I'm ready to begin my journey."

"Very well," Rauru spoke, firmly now, "but heed this warning: since the Hero of Time's disappearance and the Evil King having been imprisoned and sentenced to death, bandits and monsters run wild in the fields. Once outside of the castle walls, you must proceed with extreme caution. You are now chosen; you've been spared from death itself once, but you mustn't count on it to be this way again. Do you understand?" Zeal nodded proudly. "Then it is so. Go, warrior of the Goddesses, and seek the Princess." Rauru raised his hands into the air, and a white light engulfed the area. Zeal squinted, shielding his eyes from the flash as he felt his body becoming weightless, lifting off the ground. He felt that he would go blind from the searing white light, burning into his retinas as he was lost and floating and disoriented and dizzy and then-

Just as suddenly as it had started, it was over. He was on his feet, standing on the Triforce pedestal in the Temple of Time.