Hyrule: Great Plateau, Day…

Roxas' body trudged forward in a sluggish manner. His shoulders drooped and his arms hung limp at his sides. One of his keyblades, Oblivion, dangled precariously from his loose grip. The tip of the dark keyblade dragged through the dirt as he walked.

The Nobody's body ached and groaned from exhaustion. His feet and legs were silently pleading for their owner to stop. To sit and lean against one of the many trees he passed on his journey around this plateau elevated above the rest of the land.

He was hoping to find an easy way down; however, the only path down was blocked, and he had no magic to blast his way off. Thus far, he saw no other way off this place. He was beginning to think he'd have to find somewhere to bed down for the time being.

It'd probably help since he had nothing to restore his depleted magic supply, and his body was still recovering from his last battle. Throughout the entire day, he's had to fight these strange monsters. They kind of reminded him of Heartless.

Though, the absence of hearts flying off to Kingdom Hearts clearly denoted them as something else. In the end, he deduced that these were likely this world's equivalent of Heartless. Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw a blue goblin like monster coming over to him.

"Fantastic…" Roxas grumbled as the monster lunged at him with a club.

Instinct took over, and Roxas sidestepped to the left avoiding the oncoming claws as his arm brought down the keyblade on the back of the creature's neck. The monster's head rolled a couple times before being halted by a tree while his club clattered to the ground.

A few seconds later, the corpse began to dissipate into the sky leaving Roxas to wonder what purpose this served. Were those particles he saw going to feed something like Kingdom Hearts? Ultimately, Roxas got moving because he needed to find some place he could rest.

The only reason he didn't succumb to the exhaustion was because he kept running into these monsters. If he sat down to get a good nap in, he was certain that one of these monsters would attack when he was unconscious.

He would have summoned a dark corridor to leave if that were an option. After all, they were Organization XIII's thing, so they must have a way to track whoever uses them. Considering no one came for Roxas yet, he wasn't about to push his luck.

"An elixir would be great right about now…" Roxas mumbled to himself.

Eventually, he noticed a rather rundown temple ahead. From what Roxas could see, there weren't any of those monsters he'd been fighting around it. The keyblade wielder had his blade disappear since he decided this was somewhere he could rest for a bit.

Maybe even a place he could make his base of operations. He made his way up the decaying steps and into the temple which nature was slowly overtaking. Inside, it was barren with the only thing he could see being the statue of what looked like a woman. It seemed to be glowing.

"I haven't seen a Moogle Shop since I got here." Roxas thought as he approached it only to discover smaller version of it around the statue's base. "Could this be what they look like in this world, or are they this world's version of that shop?"

Roxas stopped before the statue. "Hello?"

"You who comes from a world not our own, what is your name?" A female voice spoke to him. "Do not try to cover your tracks for I saw you arrive in this world."

The Nobody wasn't expecting this, but he was starting to assume that maybe this was some god of this world akin to how Olympus Coliseum had their gods. This did present a problem. The first thing he had been taught in the Organization was to stay clear of the world's inhabitants.

Then again, he was no longer part of the Organization. If not talking with the locals was their rule, then surely it might be a good thing to do that. Especially since the Nobody didn't have any allies currently. What better ally to have than a goddess?

All that said, it didn't seem wise to open with, 'I opened a corridor to escape another world and ended up here. I'm currently on the run from an organization that wants me dead now that I betrayed them. Oh, there is also a silver haired boy who apparently wants me dead as well.'

The Nobody ultimately decided it'd be best to just respond to this being's question. "My name is Roxas… If I may ask, who are you?"

"I am the goddess, Hylia." Hylia responded. "I have been watching you since you appeared from that dark corridor of yours. The weapon you use isn't like any in this world. Where did you acquire it and your skills in dispatching monsters?"

Roxas remained quiet for several seconds since he was nervous. Fortunately. the tone in this goddess' voice felt serious, yet not hostile by any means.

Eventually, Roxas decided to scratch the surface of the truth. "I… I'm kind of on the run from some people."

"Who are these people chasing you?" Hylia asked.

"They are people like me." Roxas informed. "They wear coats like the one I'm wearing, and they were ones who kind of trained me. I ended up abandoning them, and anyone who abandons the Organization is hunted."

"Where exactly are you from?" Hylia asked.

Roxas shook his head. "I'd… rather not say right now."

"I would like to make a deal with you Roxas." Hylia spoke after a few minutes of deliberation. "Despite the darkness within you, I can feel that it is not malicious, and there is light within you. That is why I request that you accompany our world's hero."

"Why would I do that? Why would you want that?" Roxas asked honestly. "I just told you I'm being chased by people, and they are not the kind to be taken lightly. I don't know what your world is dealing with, but these guys know how to fight well."

"If you agree to accompany the chosen hero, you will face challenges that could very well help improve your skills." Hylia informed. "Additionally, I will extend the same help to you that I will give him in increasing your capabilities to stand a better chance against these people.

As for me, it's not about what I get. It's about what your presence might do for our hero. One hundred years ago, he fell to the calamity that plagues this world and had to be brought to a shrine nearby where he has been in the process of healing over these one hundred years.

With you attracting danger, or at least training with him, I feel our hero will stand a better chance in finally ending the calamity. What more you could get would be yours to discover through said journey. This world holds many secrets, so I'm positive something else out there can help you."

Considering Roxas everything Roxas has experienced, someone healing for 100 years didn't sound all that farfetched.

Now, the keyblade wielder was simply going over everything this goddess told him. "Potential power from a goddess, someone to train with, and whatever I could find out there to help me with my abilities. In return, all I got to do is follow some guy on his journey…"

"I don't mean to sound rude, but this hero you want me to travel with…" Roxas began. "…I was initially under the impression that he was somewhere out there. Then, I learned he's close by being healed. No offense, but he doesn't sound like he'd be a good training partner."

"This young man in question is a hero reborn throughout the ages whenever he's needed." Hylia informed. "He was chosen by goddesses that supersede my power. While he may come out not remembering who he was, I can assure you that he will grow stronger."

Roxas only nodded in response before thinking over everything he's just heard and learned. From what he knew, the Organization wasn't here currently meaning they may very well not know about this world. If that proved true, then he wanted to know why.

There was also the fact that he had no place to go really. Taking a Dark Corridor out might draw unwanted attention. He'd initially been planning on using his accumulated strength to take down the Organization, but that didn't seem viable after his battle with that silver haired boy.

Even though he wasn't a member of the Organization, perhaps his power was equal to or less than Xemnas'. Honestly, it'd be best to get something that could help him succeed. Could this be it? Maybe by traveling with this hero, he'd learn and/or acquire something.

Something that could help him face Xemnas and the Organization. Then, he would finally make things right again. He decided he would leave as soon as he didn't need this place anymore. As soon as he knew he was strong enough, he would go.

With a deep breath, Roxas came to his answer. "I accept."

"Even though you are doing this with the expectation of getting something out of it, I do thank you, Roxas. If what I saw is you exhausted, then I am certain you will be of help to the chosen hero, Link, for as long as you decide to travel with him." Hylia replied.

This confirmed what Roxas could assume. Hylia was keenly aware of him even if she didn't know what he was. If she didn't mind his intentions, he wasn't about to say anything on it.

"As I've alluded, the hero awakens the day after tomorrow." Hylia stated. "You can rest here until then for monsters never enter the temple. Come tomorrow, I shall tell you what I can of this world and what your role should entail."

"Whatever you want." Roxas stated before moving on over to an open section of the ground.

He immediately collapsed and passed out not needing to be told twice that this was a safe place to rest. Even if there were no beds, the Nobody could care less in the moment. All he was concerned with was recovering as much as possible from that day's ordeals.

Temple of Time: Next Evening…

Roxas had spent the entire day with Hylia as she taught him what she could about the world. Considering they only had a day, she stuck to everything pertaining to the present, and the Nobody was thankful. He didn't know if learning about this world's past would even stick.

Especially since he had to also learn how Hylia wanted him to meet with this hero. Ultimately, he was thankful this goddess wasn't going to leave him to figure things out. That didn't mean the day wasn't spent trying to grasp just what this world he ended up in was like.

He at least learned the different kinds of enemies and what their colors denoted. It was kind of like Heartless since they had differing variations that were stronger; however, there seemed to be more variations in color with these monsters.e

All this knowledge led Roxas to one thought. "Please let this hero be a decent fighter."

Originally, he wouldn't have minded anyone provided they weren't as rude as Larxene or Xigbar were on missions. Now, he was realizing that this hero had to be a decent fighter, at least progressing towards that, or it'd be up to him to babysit the guy.

"Basically, there's a lot I need to understand about the world I'm in now." Roxas stated.

"From what little you have told me; it wasn't common for you and this Organization to stay in one world." Hylia voiced. "That's not even accounting for how you say you've rarely interacting with anyone outside of said Organization."

"Yeah, I get it." Roxas sighed. "If I'm going to be staying for a while, I'll need to take up social interactions with others. Still, a world that needs someone who can fight is better than a world that really wouldn't help me improve." He shrugged. "Maybe this will all turn out alright."

"That is exactly why I've struck a deal with you." Hylia stated. "I'm hoping a combatant such as yourself can be of help to the hero… even if it is not for his entire journey."

Roxas couldn't really blame Hylia for simply hoping about him. After all, he did just pop into this world. Despite everything she couldtell about him, she didn't know his past. In that sense, she was taking a rather large gamble.

In the end, the Nobody had no intention of adding to the problems here. This Calamity Ganon he's heard about didn't really need any help in that area to begin with. Still, he supposed he'd have to get involved since he did agree to what Hylia wanted.

"I suppose I could just ditch the hero the moment I meet him and technically fulfill my word." Roxas contemplated. "That just doesn't sound right to me. For better or worse, I'll be traveling with this hero for at least a while." He stood. "If that's all, I still need rest before tomorrow."

"Of course." Hylia stated. "I've given you all the information that might have been odd had you not known it. Anything else you need to learn can be learned on your journey."

"Earlier, when I went to stretch, I spotted a ladder leading up." Roxas started to walk away. "I think I'll spend tonight up there."

Hylia didn't answer, so the Nobody took to climbing the ladder up to the roof before making it inside a steeple with windows that looked out in various directions. One was busted out completely giving a better view of what lay beyond the Great Plateau.

Just before he moved towards that opening, Roxas spotted a stick and noticed that it was rather dusty up here. Despite no longer having his journal, he still felt a compulsion to write about what happened. He grabbed the stick and began writing an entry.

Day 359: Hyrule

A lot has happened in the past few days. I fought the man who wore the same coat the Organization does. Just when I thought I had him beat, he summoned a darkness and gained a second wind that I wouldn't have been able to overcome.

Fortunately, I was able to recognize this fact in time and escape by fleeing to a new world, one I've never seen before. A lot happened here too. I've decided to stay for a time in hopes of garnering more strength. If I learned anything from that guy, it's that I need to be stronger.

Strong enough to defeat him, the Organization on my own, and to set Kingdom Hearts free. Once I do, I can only hope that things can go back to the way they were. We'll finally be able to sit at the clock tower and eat sea salt ice cream together again. Just Axel, Xion, and I.

Despite what I was told, my memory of Xion is still strong.

Roxas sighed, closed his eyes, and erased the entry before moving to the opening. He took a seat and gazed out at the land of Hyrule. He genuinely hopped that somewhere out there was a way to garner more strength. At this point, there just had to be.

Night…

A strange, ethereal green light washed over the steeple where Roxas now slept. When the light faded, the ghostly, former king of Hyrule was revealed to be standing there. Though the bright light from earlier had faded, the king still faintly glowed in the same light.

He stared right at Roxas' sleeping form with a firm eye before moving along the roof and floating down to the ground. He entered through the hole of the church before approaching the goddess' statue.

"Hylia, are you sure about this?" The king asked worriedly. "It is not too late to change your mind. We can still go with the original plan on guiding the hero."

"I am very uncertain about this choice; however, I do believe that something risky is needed to prevent history from repeating itself." Hylia informed. "You saw that boy out there. Even in an exhaustive state, he had no trouble with the monsters found on the plateau.

We can only imagine what he must be like at his full strength. If even a little of that can rub off on the hero, in the short time they may work together, then this will have been a success. Besides, if I didn't want to try this route, I'd have never offered that boy what I did."

"I understand." The king relented with a sigh before he began to vanish. "I suppose I can only hope that this new path will see my daughter finally freed of her burden."

Shrine of Resurrection: Next Day…

"Open your eyes..."

The voice pierced the black like a golden arrow. Where before there had been nothing but darkness and silence, suddenly there was light, sound, and awareness.

"Open your eyes..."

Slowly, he obeyed the voice, and the darkness gave way to a soft, blue light.

"Open your eyes."

The light coalesced. Focused. He saw… What he saw, he was not sure, but he saw… something. A dome of strange metal and blue lights.

"Wake up, Link."

There was more than a dome. He was on his back, lying in a pool of softly glowing blue liquid. His back rested on a hard surface leaving his face above the surface of the fluid. The strangely ethereal liquid began to drain and draw away from his body leaving him feeling chilled.

His eyes moved slowly and took in the glow of dome. Then, the larger chamber he was in. The ceiling and walls were stone or metal. They were covered with swirling patterns. Ripples and wrinkles in the walls that formed circular shapes.

Small lights interspersed around the chamber on the walls emanated a soft, orange light. They looked like stars in the night sky. Slowly, he sat up, but as he did so, his body protested. He felt stiff and heavy. He looked down at himself and absently noted that his body was unclothed.

He considered this with a frown. "Why am I wearing only underwear?"

He swung his legs over the lip of the now-empty basin he had been lying in and eased himself out. Again, his body protested as though it was not used to such simple acts as moving. Perhaps it wasn't.

"Why am I in here?" He contemplated. "What is this place?"

His feet touched the ground before he eased himself up to stand, and his spine popped crackled audibly as he straightened. Once upright, he took better stock of himself. Two arms, two legs. Thin yet muscular. He reached up, feeling at his head where he found Hair.

He plucked a few strands and brought it to his face. Dirty blonde. All as it should be… right? He looked around again while narrowing his eyes. He did not immediately see an exit out of the round chamber. He did see a small pedestal that glowed with a light.

He walked toward this pedestal and, as he approached, found that its surface was covered with patterns like those on the walls. They glowed blue rather than orange. There was a small recess in the center of the pedestal, and he frowned at what looked like a rectangular object within it.

Seeing no other option, he reached out to touch it. Before his fingers could brush its surface, the lights on the pedestal flashed. It then made a sound like stone grinding against stone. He stepped back, startled, as an inner ring in the pedestal rose several finger-widths.

The strange, rectangular object then stood up on its end and was illuminated by the pedestal allowing him to see what looked like a stylized eye The iris glowed a brilliant blue, while three pointed eyelashes glowed orange above it. Beneath the eye stretched a single teardrop.

"Take it." A feminine voice said.

He released a hoarse cry and stumbled back with wide eyes before looking around for the woman that had spoken. He couldn't see anyone else in the chamber, but his eyes fell on the strange pool he had been lying in.

He slowed his breathing and slowly crept around the room "Maybe the woman who had spoken is behind it?"

"Link, I am not with you, at the moment." The voice declared.

This time, he detected something new from it. It sounded distant and did not appear to originate from behind the pool. He continued around the room regardless. Only once he had completed his circumference did he respond.

"Where…" His voice came out as a rasp, so he cleared his throat. "Where are you?"

"I am speaking to your mind from far away." She replied.

The voice didn't just sound distant. It sounded… He tentatively plugged his ears with his fingers trying to block out the sound of the voice.

When she spoke again, her tone betrayed amusement. "I am communicating with you mentally, so that will not help." He lowered his hands. "I will explain more soon, I promise. For now, take the object upon the pedestal. It is called the Sheikah Slate, and I believe it will help you."

He looked around once more for the voice, but now that he was listening for it, he was aware that he was not hearing it. At least, not with his ears. Somehow, he could hear the woman in his mind. His eyes fell back on the object, Sheikah Slate.

After a moment's consideration, he reached out and picked it up. Frowning down at it, he turned it over in his hands and was surprised to find the back side of it to be smooth and black like polished stone. A new sound filled the chamber, and he looked up quickly for its source.

He found it a moment later as his eyes fell on the wall near him. The orange light from the room illuminated what he had originally thought to be just another swirl in the wall's pattern, but now he saw to be an archway. At least, now it was an archway.

He watched as the section of wall that had previously occupied the center of the arch now rose into the stone above it. It rumbled loudly as it rose until it stopped with a reverberating thud. Where there had been solid wall before, there was now a simple arch into a smaller chamber.

He approached the arch carefully while looking around in wonder. He touched the stone, finding it to be simple and solid. There was no sign that a wall even existed here. Before he could voice his wonder, he heard the woman speak again.

"I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you again, Link."

"See?" Link questioned.

He looked at himself in his underwear and suddenly felt like finding clothes was a more pressing matter to him. He straightened his back and looked around a final time for the source of the voice. The woman that seemed able to see and speak to him without being physically present.

From within his mind, he heard what might have been a chuckle. He grew aware that he had instinctively covered up his underwear with the Sheikah Slate. Feeling his face warm with a blush, he looked around the new room.

He was delighted to see what appeared to be a bundle of clothes draped over a similar pedestal in this room. Not caring where they came from or who left them, he quickly grabbed the clothes. Shirt and trousers, before setting the Sheikah Slate down on the pedestal.

He donned the trousers and was pleased to find that they fit him well enough. The trousers came with a simple rope belt which he cinched up. As he pulled his head through the neck of the shirt, he was surprised to see that the pedestal's lights had turned blue.

The Sheikah Slate had changed as well. The smooth black surface, which he had assumed to be a kind of stone, now showed a glowing blue eye in its center. He pulled his arms through the sleeves of the shirt before taking the Slate.

The pedestal flashed before another doorway, opposite the door he'd entered, began to open. A shaft of bright light streamed in from under the door as it lifted. As the door rose, he glanced back down at the Sheikah Slate surprised to see blue text written across the black surface.

It read, "Sheikah Slate confirmed."

The text remained for another few moments before disappearing. He placed the Sheikah Slate back down on the pedestal and watched it carefully for a moment. He then bent down and placed his feet into the boots that he'd only just seen. They fit surprisingly well.

His boots in place, he grabbed the Sheikah Slate again and approached the now-open doorway. He felt a stab of excitement as he saw the mouth of the cave some distance down what appeared to be a simple passage with rock walls.

He broke into a run splashing through a shallow puddle, but he didn't care about the water that soaked through his pantlegs. He didn't know why he'd woken up in that chamber. He couldn't remember where he was.

He couldn't remember what had led to his falling asleep in such a location. He couldn't remember… He couldn't remember anything. He stopped short as his eyes grew wide in alarm. He looked around for anything recognizable as his heart raced in his chest.

In front of him, he could see the brilliant light of day streaming in through the cave entrance, too bright to make out any details beyond the faint outline of vegetation. Behind him, the mysterious chamber remained open and dim.

"Where am I?" Link questioned shocked. "Why am I here? Who am I?"

"Link." She had called him that before.

"Is that my name?" Link whirled around once again hoping that he would see her this time.

She continued in her gentle voice. "I know you must have many questions, and I promise that answers will come in time." She sounded more distant now. "A partner has been arranged to help you for as long as he wishes. Please, you must keep going."

Stillness filled the cavern as the woman's voice faded.

Link finally found his voice again. "I… hello? Please, are you there? Where am I? I don't… I don't remember!" There was just silence. "You said Link! Is that my name? What's happening?

But she did not respond despite his pleas. It would seem as though she had left him. He—Link, she had called him—closed his eyes tightly to shut out the light streaming into the cave. He couldn't remember anything. Not his name, where he came from, nor where he was.

"How could that be?" Link thought confused.

He remained still for several minutes as he strained against the hole in his mind where he felt his memories should be.

Finally, he latched upon the last thing the voice had said. "A partner. I must find this partner."

Link's eyes shot open before he entered the light streaming in from the cave's entrance while using his hand to shield his eyes.

Great Plateau

As the light grew less oppressive, he found himself at the foot of a grassy hill. His eyes followed the hill as it rose until it terminated in what appeared to be a cliff. Beyond that, his eyes widened, and he broke into another run. He climbed the hill and reaching its zenith.

His breath caught as a lump of emotion lodged in his throat. Before him stretched majesty. The land before him was lush and green with forests and plains as far as the eye could see. In the west there were a series of brown plateaus. To the north a mountain range covered in snow.

To the northeast, hazy in the distance, a massive-looking volcano stood with magma forming jagged red-orange lines down its sides. A verdant expanse of grass, hills, and bodies of water lay between it all.

Directly north, across the field, stood a solitary castle with a central spire rising above several others. Birds flew overhead, their small shadows passing over Link as they chirped merrily in the warm sun. A breeze blew past him bringing the fresh scents of grass, trees, and flowers.

The grass under his feet was cool and wet as it sparkled with dew. As he took in the view before him, he became aware that his immediate surroundings were not level with the remaining world around him. A forest stretched out at the bottom of the rocky cliff he stood on.

It was difficult to tell from his vantage, but it appeared that he was on a very large plateau, topped with fields and forests that didn't seem all that different than the others he saw further away. He gazed around at his more immediate surroundings.

Behind him was the cave he'd awoken in which was nestled into the base of yet another sheer cliff face. To his right, he spotted a large, stone structure. It appeared to be a kind of religious temple with a single steeple placed at the front of a large, rectangular building.

He stared at this building with a hope of finding something—anything—familiar about it. It was an old structure. Green vines grew up along its grey stone walls, and the wooden roof was faded and broken in places. Before the temple stood the ruins of some old buildings.

Whether they were houses or additional places of worship, he couldn't tell. Should he have recognized this temple? Was this his land? Did he struggle to recognize anything because he was far from home? He decided that he had no choice but to start there.

He began down the hill and towards the distant structure. As he walked, he passed a grove of trees in the shadow of the cliff. His presence disturbed a rabbit that had been among the trees, and it rushed into the cover of a bush.

He eyed the bush for a time and found himself wondering if he would need to hunt for sustenance while on this plateau. He placed a hand against his stomach which suddenly growled telling him he was hungry. Seeking to distract himself, he lifted the Sheikah Slate to his face.

He turned it over in his hands and determined that the smooth, black surface with the glowing blue eye was likely the front of the device. However, he could not tell exactly what it was supposed to do. He recalled writing had briefly appeared, but he didn't know what it meant.

Now, it seemed to do nothing. He did manage to find a hook on one end of it that could attach it to his belt freeing up both of his hands. Grateful for that, he looked up as he passed under an overhanging rock before noticing there was a fire here.

Suddenly, someone clearing their throat drew his attention. His muscles grew tense. His left hand closed into a fist, and he felt a sudden longing to have something with which to defend himself in hand. Even a stick, like the tree branches he had passed by, would be preferable to nothing.

When his eyes fell on the source of the sound, he wasn't certain if he should feel threatened or not. A teenage guy, in a black cloak with the hood down, had come up the path. He had spiky, dirty blond hair and blue eyes.

"Hey… I'm Roxas." Roxas waved awkwardly. "I guess we're supposed to be partners for now."

Link had been put off by the odd black cloak, but something about how this guy introduced himself helped put him at ease. He couldn't help but wonder if this was the partner that girl had mentioned. He hoped this was the case since he was rather lost and could use the help right now.

Firstly, let's discuss the characters. At this point in time, Link is the simplest. He has no memory, yet I do believe he still retains at some level of knowledge. Like he knows what the grass, sky, and types of animals are. Roxas is the more difficult member of this pair. Considering what his goal is, even if he has a good heart so to speak, I do not think he would have stuck with Link without outside intervention.

Without the promise of more strength, plus something potentially being out there, by sticking with this hero, I fully believe that Roxas would have left the plateau at the earliest point possible. As outlined in this chapter, Roxas has clear goals he wants to strive for. I think Hylia is the best person to convince him of this. Especially since in this game Hylia and Zelda appear to be two seperate people in the time of Breath of the Wild.

Yeah, maybe Hylia is reaching here, but the former hero did end up falling one hundred years ago. Honestly, I'd take a gamble like this in such a situation. Now, to better explain this chapter, I had considered having them meet earlier, but I wanted to give both characters that bit of extra time apart. In the ending, I think Roxas would have been socially awkward. The prologue to Kingdom Hearts 2 doesn't really count considering Diz's hands were all over that situation.

Note: The ending was also done to show how Link views Roxas because I plan to open next chapter with this meeting pretty much from Roxas' side. Thsi way it allows both characters to express what they think in this situation.

ultima-owner: Ah yeah

Guest: Those two videos were certainly informative, and at least one of them has given me ideas on material for this story.

DARKPHANTOM13: Glad to have you aboard for the ride.