In a place consumed by darkness, a lone man gazed at me, haloed by a blinding light. His lips spoke urgently, but his voice did not reach me.

I sensed he was…not of this world.

Right now, for no particular reason, I am filled with a strange and undoubtful certainty that something is about to happen.

"Open your eyes."

Blue was an easy color to wake up to.

Blinking, once, twice, and a third time, I felt no hurry to shake the blurriness from my vision.

"Please, wake up."

Focused, I saw that the blue was coming from this…thing. A dome made of strange metal and holding a stunning light. It was unfamiliar. Alien.

I felt something cool and gushing all around me. I glanced down at my body to find it covered in an iridescent blue liquid, slowly receding. With the exception of my face, it completely submerged me. The liquid drained out and I could feel the its warmth disappearing with it. Then, I was bearing the full weight of my body – cold.

I looked down at myself and absently noted that my body was minimally clothed: a thin camisole and spandex shorts. Frowning, I considered the state of my decency a bit more. Why was I naked? I should be wearing clothes, shouldn't I?

I found myself mesmerized by the light scars that littered my complexion. They were relics of past injuries, but none of them seemed to span more than the width of my finger. However, there were a lot of them.

Taking a second to gather my wits, I found it within me to sit up. My muscles strained against the unfamiliar gravity. Oddly enough, my body did not ache from laying supine for quite a while – if the grogginess I felt alluded to how much time I was asleep. I moved smoothly and methodically. The fatigue I felt came from recently waking up, but definitely not from the act of sitting.

Why was I here? What is this place?

It was dark. There are blue lights. Using the shadows, I could see the strange markings etched along the wall. They were dull, gold spirals that rippled from one circle to the next. On the ceiling, little pinpricks of white light scattered aimlessly. Stars?

And the thing I was in – the best way I could describe it is a pool – was central to the room, almost enshrined. Its placement made me believe that it was this place's only purpose.

Where am I? Why am I here? How did I get here? Who—

An unbearable weight settled at my core. It's as I'm gazing down at unfamiliar hands that I recognize my chest rising and falling at an alarming rate. Inhaling and holding my breath, I scarcely remember wrapping my arms around myself in a futile attempt at comfort.

I let out my next exhale, long and slow.

My mind started listing things I knew, already analyzing my situation in order to find some semblance of control. Floodgates opened and knowledge flowed in: gravity makes things fall; if I touch fire, it will be hot; lighting is attracted to metal. This was irreputable knowledge. Useless, known facts were all I could recall.

There was not a single thought of personal information.

And yet…

I touched my cheek, finding it wet. There are droplets hanging on the edge of my chin, growing in size before dropping with a small splash on my lap.

Whose is this body?

What is it grieving?

…What did it lose?

I woke up alone, mourning something I can't remember.

And my first instinct was to move forward.

Swinging my legs over the edge of the empty pool, I eased myself out. My bare feet touch the ground. I fought the shiver that coursed through me.

I took stock of myself at that moment: two arms, two legs, an athletic build if the prominent muscles in my thighs and stomach were any evidence. My figure was definitely that of a woman, proven by the curve of my hips and the small of my back. My breasts were a bit on the smaller side. At least if I couldn't find a brassiere, it wouldn't be a problem. I felt my hair skimming the middle of my back. Reaching up, I grabbed a lock and brought it to my eyes.

Black. It curled a little, even when wet.

Releasing my hair, I narrowed my eyes to adapt to the darkness and came faced with a closed entryway. A little to the left of the door is a glowing blue pedestal. As I approached it, the strange contraption lets out a hum as if in recognition. Its center console then rises, twists, and presents me with a stone tablet, glowing orange and blue. In its center, an insignia of an eye.

I have never seen this device before and yet…there's something familiar about it.

"That is a Sheikah Slate."

There was that voice again – the same one that called for me to wake up. It sounded male; its pitch deep and soothing. I didn't recognize it.

I should practice wariness, considering I don't remember anything. I didn't know who to trust. This voice could lead me to my death for all I knew.

But not trusting it…was something I was incapable of doing.

"Take it. It will help guide you after your long slumber."

Grasping the device from – what I assumed to be – its handle, I lifted it up to come face to face. The screen glowed blue, displaying the eye symbol as it whirred once more. The mechanical sounds ceased. I hung it to the side of my hip.

Taking the Sheikah Slate seemed to be the key. The pedestal's receptacle retreated back into its space and the entryway opened.

I crossed the threshold into the next room. There were two chests that – if judging from their position – were intended for me. Crouching down, I opened the first one which revealed an old shirt, thin and coming apart at the seams.

And a bra!

There was hardly any adjustment as it mimicked the style of a sports bra – without a pesky underwire. It felt comfortable as I twisted and made sure it wasn't constricting any movement or too tight. I pulled out the shirt next. Slipping my head through the bottom and arms through the sleeves, I found it a bit on the short side, but it was either this or going out in a flimsy tank.

Peeking closer into the chest, I laughed before picking up the small object.

A black hair tie.

Of all objects, this was the most vital.

Tying my hair into a high ponytail, I turn to face the other chest. I found worn trousers inside along with a pair of shoes. The shoes, thankfully, fit. However, the pants were also on the short side – reaching only my calves –and were threadbare in some areas. Still, they were comfortable and did the job until I found clothes that actually fit. I could only assume that whoever left me in here thought that I wouldn't grow, but they did their best.

The crates and barrels on the side didn't have a way for me to open them so I left them alone for now.

Past a small decline, there was another door and another strange pedestal. This time, it was glowing orange and the door had the eye symbol I was seeing so much of.

"Hold the Sheikah Slate up to the pedestal. That will show you the way."

I grabbed the Sheikah Slate from my waist and lined up the insignia on its screen to the same engraved image on the pedestal. It droned, turning from orange to blue as it confirmed the Sheikah Slate used to activate it.

The symbol on the door also glowed blue before parting.

Light flooded the room, blinding me immediately. I brought my hand up to shield from the glare but stood in the center of the rays. The bright sun and its yellow glow warmed me instantly. As confused as I was, the sun served to be my hope. A new day – my first day – into whatever this was.

"Zelda…you are the light – our light – that must shine upon Hyrule once again."

Zelda? Is that who I am?

Hyrule? Is that where we are?

I forced myself to remember, using the names as a trigger. As expected, nothing came to fruition. At least, I now had starting clues.

"Now go…"

Spurred on by the hope of day, I ran forward and up the small set of stairs. I came across a small wall to which I easily climbed upon. Then, I saw the green.

Slightly anxious and slightly excited to see where I was, I raced to the sun outside. My senses were sensitive, taking in stimulations in overwhelming amounts. They clashed and overtook each other. I felt the cool grass before I saw the dew, heard the birds before I saw the blue sky, smelled the crisp air before I tasted it.

My breath caught as an emotion close to awe encompassed me.

Before me, the world of Hyrule stretched beyond the horizons – fading into silhouettes in the far distance. It was forests and plains and vibrant greenery all around, untouched by manmade constructions. To the west, there was a great mountain covered by white snow. A peculiar semi-circle was seen on the peak. Northeast, I could see the shadow of an erupting volcano, outlined black except for the brilliant red erupting from the summit. Jagged orange lines highlighted the rocky terrain even from the distance. A little bit east from the volcano was a pair of mountains, the left smaller than the right. Between the two peaks was a valley. It was as if something had torn itself a path between the singular mountain, then making it two. Expanses of lush grass and hills as well as reflecting bodies of water lay between it all. Mountains and ridges served to be borders, but the land flowed, curved, and warped according to nature – abiding to the wild's wishes.

Except for the castle.

Directly in front of me, closer in view than the mountains and volcano, was a solitary castle. Its central spire rose above all the others. I had to squint to see it, but it looked to be surrounded by gigantic columns.

A breeze came, ruffling the baby hairs not secured by the ponytail. As I pushed the strands back, I turned around to see that the place I had exited from was actually built into a cliff's face – hidden and the entrance unmarked except for the opening I had just made. There were some small birds perched on the tree beside the entrance of the cave. They took off, chirping merrily in the warm sun as their shadows eventually passed over me.

Following the birds' path to the horizon, I noticed that my immediate vicinity was not level with the rest of the world. I shouldn't be seeing the castle at this angle if I was equal with the ground – the ground I was looking down upon. There was a forest below the rocky cliff I was on top of. I followed the trees until it ended with an abrupt cliff, oddly marked by concrete walls. I followed the odd walls and found that they surrounded the entire field, sharply dropping and sanctioning off the area.

Ah, a plateau.

Turning right, I saw large stone structure. Easily, I was able to tell it was a temple – its imposing and ancient detailing giving it away. There was one large steeple placed before its rectangular hall. It was religious in design; except I don't know what religion its architects might have been worshipping.

I stared at it, hoping and willing it to trigger something – anything – familiar about it. Nature was already starting to reclaim it. Green ivy grew along its grey stone walls and its wooden roof was caving in – the beams of the skeletal structure could be seen from where I was standing. There are smaller stone structures before it, resembling large rooms or tinier houses. If they were also additional places of worship, I was none the wiser.

Should I recognize this temple?

Or is the lack of familiarity mean I'm not from here?

Surrounded by forest and green, the decrepit stone temple was begging to be investigated. Curiosity winning, I started down the hill and towards the distant structure. As I walked, I passed through a grove of trees with some red mushrooms growing at their feet. A purple beetle flew from the trunk of the tree I had just passed. My presence disturbed a red lizard which scurried off to find cover in much thicker bushes across the path. I found myself staring at the bushes for a length of time longer than necessary. Would I have to hunt for sustenance while on this plateau?

I placed a hand against my stomach. It growled in response.

That's when someone started chuckling from behind me.

I pivoted, my right-hand tightening into a fist as I brought the other one in some sort of defensive stance in front of me. When the adrenaline faded and my eyes fell on the source of the sound, I relaxed and eased my posture. It didn't seem to be an immediate threat.

Nestled into the crook of a small rock alcove, nursing a steady campfire, sat an old man with a heavy cloak. His hood concealed one half of his face, only allowing me to see one kind green eye and a long-pointed ear. He was a stocky, but probably large man from what I could tell. Had he been standing, he would have easily towered over me. The old man had large arms and a bushy grey beard growing well across his chest. How had I missed seeing him as I passed by?

His green eyes crinkled with delight and in turn, I approached him closer.

"Well met, stranger! It's rather unusual to meet another soul in these parts." His voice was deep, and he spoke with more regality than his general appearance would have otherwise suggested.

"Who are you?" I say in response.

"Me?" He chuckled, but I saw it more as a scoff. "I'll spare you my life's story." He motioned at the spot across from him and the campfire. I dutifully sat down.

"I'm just an old fool who has lived here, alone, for quite some time now," he continued. I noticed he had a staff, carved out of a dark wood with a lantern hung on by its handle at the top. He used it to point at me.

"What brings a bright-eyed, young woman like you to a place like this?"

Deciding that if he won't answer my questions, I wouldn't answer his.

"Where are we?"

"Ah, answering a question with a question. That's fair enough."

I inwardly cursed. Reverse psychology decidedly then was not my specialty.

He continued, easing himself to stand up, "As I cannot imagine our meeting to be a simple coincidence, I shall tell you."

The old man motioned to the great forest in front of us and the walkway. "This is the Great Plateau. According to legend, this is the birthplace of the entire kingdom of Hyrule."

"You are the light – our light – that must shine upon Hyrule once again."

I blinked, finally connecting the dots.

He turned and motioned in front of him. I quickly stood and followed. The old man stopped before the end of a cliff. It dropped off to small lake with a small island in the center. Across from it was the temple and its surrounding ruins. Upon my closer view, I saw a hulking object lodged amidst the rubble. I wondered what it was.

"That temple there…Long ago, it was the site of many sacred ceremonies. Ever since the decline of the kingdom—" Here, he paused. The old man's expression grew crestfallen and words reverent. "—it has sat abandoned, in a state of decay. Yet another forgotten entity. A mere ghost of its former self…"

He moved to sit down. Once he did, he offered up an apple – one of many that had been resting near the flames.

"Please help yourself. An apple and an open flame make for a succulent treat," he advised. He then pointed to an apple tree behind me.

After stuffing my pockets with as many apples as the branches would yield, I made my way back to the old man. He regarded me with a nod but nonetheless, continued with his own musings.

"I shall be here for some time. Please let me know if I may be of service."

It seemed I had exhausted any information he could give me. Behind him, I saw an unused torch. He sensed my gaze and moved to hand me the item. Reaching out, I held it steady in my right hand.

"And how, may I ask, are you planning to use it?"

I gave it a few swings: a downward slash, outward slash, and finally an upward slash. These movements were second nature to me. My mind has lost its memories, but my body has clearly not.

"A weapon," I finally answer him, sheathing the torch on my back.

His eyebrows raised in great amusement.

"Innovative. However, that is probably best used to light fires. If you need a weapon, you can find something better." He took on a grave and serious tone. "Many beasts roam the land past this point. You can take my axe with you, if you please. Assuming you can find it."

He bit into a baked apple before continuing. "I suppose you don't need an old man like me to tell you how to fight. With your reflexes from earlier, I'd say your body was once the body of a swordsman."

He dismissed me with a poke at the campfire.

Moving down the path, I came across the axe he had offered, struck against a stump. It would serve as a two-handed weapon with a deadly swing. I took it with me.

Looking up, I was faced with the temple, across the small lake once again. My initial plan was to investigate the religious sanctuary anyways. As I prepared to take the shortcut by swimming across the small lake, a voice – the same voice – spoke out again.

"Zelda, head for the point marked on your Sheikah Slate."

I took the device from its place on my hip. Activating it, the interface glowed before showing me a blue matrix. I could see three icons. One was a blue dome. Hovering over it, the interface spelled out "Shrine of Resurrection". The second icon was a yellow triangle. After some quick spinning, I realized that the triangle was oriented with the slate and thus, it was showing my position. Finally, there was yellow circle, positioned a distance away from the two icons. It was hard to tell the location that the yellow circle was indicating. The map – which I guess is what the Sheikah Slate was attempting to show me – was not filled. The best I could do was follow my icon on this interface to the location.

But…I did say I wanted to explore the temple first.

Placing the Sheikah Slate back into its holster, I turned and eyed the distal steeple – curiosity overshadowing everything else.

A/N: Hello and thank you for reading the first chapter to my very first fanfic! So I said in the summary that this was a BoTW! Role Reversal AU but with a twist. Breath of the Wild was actually my very first Zelda game (I owned A Link to the Past, but never actually finished it so that doesn't count). In reality, this fic is the novelization of my gameplay experience! This is the big "what if we got character customization" early theories come to life.

I'm also super into the lore of the franchise and a big theory nerd. With the announcement of a BoTW Sequel, I further fanned those flames and the idea of a playable Zelda inspired this story. As the story goes on, some of you might recognize some theories and inspiration I've gathered from Zeltik, NintendoBlackCrisis, and CommonwealthRealm. As I post chapters, I'll point out specifically in the A/N what the inspiration was and who I got it from.

"Whose this body? What is it grieving?...What did it lose?" – scene inspired by lowlighter I'm Losing My Mind comic on Tumblr

So please review; it'll let me know that people are interested in what I'm writing and thus, give me more incentive to do so. I already have six updates ready for this story, but I'll release them as the story gains traction. Once again, thank you for reading!