Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda or the idea for the timeline. Give me
suggestions on how to make this better and such; I wanna' write a good fic
for once. ^_^
Chapter 1
Homecoming
Link opened an eye, enjoying the feel of Epona's steady beat. He smiled to himself, watching as she galloped though the sweet forest that held such a bright taste of life. He felt homesick for a moment; the forest held the same feeling of life that the Lost Woods and the Kokiri Village had held. He was glad that he was going home.
The sun shone down on him, bathing him in a warm light. Link was almost tempted to take out his ocarina and play something, but after all, he was riding Epona. The wind brushed through his blond hair, making Links' childish face grin. A boy he was still, for the time spent in Termina had not aged him at all. Three days, repeated over and over again, had only aged his mind. It was because of this that Link felt he was hundreds of years older than he actually was.
As the trees slowly began to disperse, a familiar field came into view. Link could feel Epona sweat with anticipation of the field. He himself had been looking forward to the moment when he would be able to ride into Hyrule once again.
However, the field seemed a little different. Link stopped Epona, the young horse obeying, but protesting at the same time. "Easy girl, we are home. You can run in a moment," Link spoke to his mount lovingly. He silently remembered when she had been taken from him by the Skull Kid...but that was over with. The spirit inhabiting Majora's Mask was gone for good.
He surveyed the landscape. There was something missing. No, there were many things missing. For one, he could see no slight shape of a building where Lon Lon Ranch had stood last time he had seen it. Somehow worried, Link gave Epona a little tap, and she burst into speed once again.
She seemed to have the same feeling that Link had; maybe even more concerned than Link, for Lon Lon Ranch had been where she came from, and there was nothing there...
The ride there seemed shorter than any ride to Lon Lon Ranch had ever been. Epona was galloping at her fastest pace, which Link knew was faster than any normal horse. She leaped over some fences along the way, and Link could only smile at the fact that Epona was no ordinary horse.
The swift ride brought no reward. Link and Epona could only stare at the site where they had seen Lon Lon Ranch last. There was nothing there; no old building; no stable; no racetrack; no nothing. There was only a small green field with a huge tree standing in the middle. Epona neighed, trying to find some remainder of her old home.
Link was also shocked. With a quick look around, he dismounted Epona, patting her nose calmly. Running up to the tree, he found an engraving:
Lon Lon Ranch
Once home to Horses
Home of Epona
Faithful Mount of
The Hero of Time
Link stared at the engraving. So people did know about Lon Lon Ranch not being there, but how long ago had it happened? The tree was huge, and the engraving seemed as though it had been there for years. If Lon Lon Ranch had been demolished at one point, then why was there nothing left of it? He had only been gone for quite a few months at most, and his adventure in Termina had only had three days, repeating itself over and over...
A thought came to his mind. What if, he thought, time didn't actually start over from the three day period in Hyrule? Time simply went on? Link almost didn't want to think about it. If time had passed in Hyrule during his time in Termina, then who knew how many years had passed.
With a quick stare at the engraving once again, Link ran back to where Epona was still standing, still frozen at the thought of Lon Lon Ranch gone. Pulling himself on and nudging his mount, Link whispered, "Come on. Let's get to Kakariko and see what's going on."
Epona didn't quite listen, and only pawed at the grass beneath her feet. It was obvious that she wanted to stay for a little while longer. However, a light tap on the head reminded the pony of what Link had said, and she sped off towards where the mountain in the distance could be seen.
Link stared at Death Mountain. There was something strange about it too. The telltale cloud that always surrounded it was darker. In fact, the entire mountain was of a darker shade and feeling than when he had last left it.
Epona continued on, her breath coming off in quick pants. Link was almost worried for her well being. It was his responsibility to take care of his own mount, and so he slowed her to a trot. But once they reached the river that had always had bridge allowing people to pass over to visit Kakariko, the two were met with another shock.
There was no bridge.
This would have been no problem at all for Link normally, for he could swim and didn't mind getting wet. After the Water Temple and the Great Bay temple, this was nothing. But it was still disturbing how a bridge would stop communication, especially between the people of Kakariko, the Gorons, and the other races.
Patting Epona again, Link dismounted and automatically jumped into the small river. He easily swam to the other side and pulled himself up. Running up the stairs, his heart beat, for he was afraid of what he would see.
And he was right. There was practically no Kakariko. Now, it was pretty much barren, like the rest of the areas in Death Mountain. Link turned around slowly. So many things had happened...he didn't know what to say, or what to do.
A quick jump back into the river and across it, and back onto Epona once more, Link rode in another direction. He had made up his mind to go see Zelda, to see if his thoughts were true. He didn't know what was going on; he wasn't sure about everything.
Yet again, the ride was quick and quite uneventful. But there was also another shock that came to him when he got to the Hyrule Castle Town. Staying on Epona, he raised an eyebrow. "Why is the bridge up in the middle of the day?" He asked himself, before calling up. "Hello? Is there anyone up there?" he yelled, his childish voice ringing through the air. Silently, he remembered when he had had a different kind of voice; the time when he had had to save Hyrule from Gannon. He had been seventeen then...
Suddenly, he heard an answer to his question. "Your name, age, and race!!" a guard popped his head over the battlement of the town.
Link raised his eyebrow again, but called back up, "My name is Link. I'm almost eleven years old and I'm Hylian."
The guard nodded, before looking down to him. "Where are your parents? And what are you doing on that horse? And finally, why are you wearing a sword and a shield?"
Link knew the answer, but was also slightly worried as to what the technology of Hyrule was now. However, the guard looked just like the guards that Link remembered, plus more armor and a sword. "I have no parents. They were killed when I was younger. The horse is mine, and has been for a while. And I fight for my own survival, which should explain the weapons," Link simply told the truth about the questions that were asked. Not the whole truth of course.
The guard looked him over. "Let me talk to you face to face, Link, or whatever your name is." Motioning to someone behind him, the noise of the drawbridge being lowered was heard as it slowly came level with the ground over the moat. Link looked at where the people inside were staring at him. Relieved that not much had changed in the aspect of technology or clothing, Link looked back to the drawbridge where the guard was striding up to him.
"It would be preferred if you could please dismount your horse," the guard peered up more warmly at Link than he had before. A little confused, Link quietly dismounted. "Thank you. You have a lot of questions to answer before I will allow you inside. Firstly, where were you born?"
Link shook his head. "I don't know. I don't remember. I've lived most of my life in the Lost Woods."
The guard stared at him, then whistled. "Well then," the guard sighed, "No wonder you have a sword and a shield. That place is dangerous, although I would also like to know where you got your sword and shield."
Link wondered silently about how the Lost Woods could be dangerous. He knew that a lot of things were dangerous in the Lost Woods, but the Great Deku Tree had always watched over the entire forest and the Kokiri. But if his theory was correct, then danger could have grown in the Lost Woods. Remembering the question from the guard, he took a breath, knowing that he couldn't tell the whole truth. "I found my sword in the forest, hidden somewhere. And I left Hyrule about a year ago, and that was where I got my shield from." Link felt a little terrible about not telling completely, but knew that sometimes, it was required.
However, the guard took the news well. "Next, where did you get your horse from?"
Now, Link knew he would have to lie about the true reason how he got Epona. He decided to go with how he had found her and gotten her back in Termina. "Well," he began slowly, "I was in another land, and I helped a girl defend her home. She saw that my horse and I worked well as a team, and let me keep her."
Again, the guard nodded. "You seemed like a bit of a newcomer here. So it is true. You seem like a nice child." When Link gave the guard a slightly confused look, the guard chuckled. "There is a stable in the back of the town, where you can keep your horse. And," the guard looked over Link carefully, "You may stay with my family if you wish." Link stuttered in protest, but the guard only smiled. "It seemed to me as though you might need a place to stay. It's my pleasure."
Link stuttered again, "Th...thank you very much."
The guard smiled again. "In fact, after my shift ends, I'll give you a tour of Hyrule Castle Town." Link's eyes grew wide for a moment. "Oh, and you can call me Temron," the guard beckoned to Link. Not quite sure why the guard was so warm towards him now, but grateful anyway, Link took Epona's reigns and followed the guard into the town.
Chapter 1
Homecoming
Link opened an eye, enjoying the feel of Epona's steady beat. He smiled to himself, watching as she galloped though the sweet forest that held such a bright taste of life. He felt homesick for a moment; the forest held the same feeling of life that the Lost Woods and the Kokiri Village had held. He was glad that he was going home.
The sun shone down on him, bathing him in a warm light. Link was almost tempted to take out his ocarina and play something, but after all, he was riding Epona. The wind brushed through his blond hair, making Links' childish face grin. A boy he was still, for the time spent in Termina had not aged him at all. Three days, repeated over and over again, had only aged his mind. It was because of this that Link felt he was hundreds of years older than he actually was.
As the trees slowly began to disperse, a familiar field came into view. Link could feel Epona sweat with anticipation of the field. He himself had been looking forward to the moment when he would be able to ride into Hyrule once again.
However, the field seemed a little different. Link stopped Epona, the young horse obeying, but protesting at the same time. "Easy girl, we are home. You can run in a moment," Link spoke to his mount lovingly. He silently remembered when she had been taken from him by the Skull Kid...but that was over with. The spirit inhabiting Majora's Mask was gone for good.
He surveyed the landscape. There was something missing. No, there were many things missing. For one, he could see no slight shape of a building where Lon Lon Ranch had stood last time he had seen it. Somehow worried, Link gave Epona a little tap, and she burst into speed once again.
She seemed to have the same feeling that Link had; maybe even more concerned than Link, for Lon Lon Ranch had been where she came from, and there was nothing there...
The ride there seemed shorter than any ride to Lon Lon Ranch had ever been. Epona was galloping at her fastest pace, which Link knew was faster than any normal horse. She leaped over some fences along the way, and Link could only smile at the fact that Epona was no ordinary horse.
The swift ride brought no reward. Link and Epona could only stare at the site where they had seen Lon Lon Ranch last. There was nothing there; no old building; no stable; no racetrack; no nothing. There was only a small green field with a huge tree standing in the middle. Epona neighed, trying to find some remainder of her old home.
Link was also shocked. With a quick look around, he dismounted Epona, patting her nose calmly. Running up to the tree, he found an engraving:
Lon Lon Ranch
Once home to Horses
Home of Epona
Faithful Mount of
The Hero of Time
Link stared at the engraving. So people did know about Lon Lon Ranch not being there, but how long ago had it happened? The tree was huge, and the engraving seemed as though it had been there for years. If Lon Lon Ranch had been demolished at one point, then why was there nothing left of it? He had only been gone for quite a few months at most, and his adventure in Termina had only had three days, repeating itself over and over...
A thought came to his mind. What if, he thought, time didn't actually start over from the three day period in Hyrule? Time simply went on? Link almost didn't want to think about it. If time had passed in Hyrule during his time in Termina, then who knew how many years had passed.
With a quick stare at the engraving once again, Link ran back to where Epona was still standing, still frozen at the thought of Lon Lon Ranch gone. Pulling himself on and nudging his mount, Link whispered, "Come on. Let's get to Kakariko and see what's going on."
Epona didn't quite listen, and only pawed at the grass beneath her feet. It was obvious that she wanted to stay for a little while longer. However, a light tap on the head reminded the pony of what Link had said, and she sped off towards where the mountain in the distance could be seen.
Link stared at Death Mountain. There was something strange about it too. The telltale cloud that always surrounded it was darker. In fact, the entire mountain was of a darker shade and feeling than when he had last left it.
Epona continued on, her breath coming off in quick pants. Link was almost worried for her well being. It was his responsibility to take care of his own mount, and so he slowed her to a trot. But once they reached the river that had always had bridge allowing people to pass over to visit Kakariko, the two were met with another shock.
There was no bridge.
This would have been no problem at all for Link normally, for he could swim and didn't mind getting wet. After the Water Temple and the Great Bay temple, this was nothing. But it was still disturbing how a bridge would stop communication, especially between the people of Kakariko, the Gorons, and the other races.
Patting Epona again, Link dismounted and automatically jumped into the small river. He easily swam to the other side and pulled himself up. Running up the stairs, his heart beat, for he was afraid of what he would see.
And he was right. There was practically no Kakariko. Now, it was pretty much barren, like the rest of the areas in Death Mountain. Link turned around slowly. So many things had happened...he didn't know what to say, or what to do.
A quick jump back into the river and across it, and back onto Epona once more, Link rode in another direction. He had made up his mind to go see Zelda, to see if his thoughts were true. He didn't know what was going on; he wasn't sure about everything.
Yet again, the ride was quick and quite uneventful. But there was also another shock that came to him when he got to the Hyrule Castle Town. Staying on Epona, he raised an eyebrow. "Why is the bridge up in the middle of the day?" He asked himself, before calling up. "Hello? Is there anyone up there?" he yelled, his childish voice ringing through the air. Silently, he remembered when he had had a different kind of voice; the time when he had had to save Hyrule from Gannon. He had been seventeen then...
Suddenly, he heard an answer to his question. "Your name, age, and race!!" a guard popped his head over the battlement of the town.
Link raised his eyebrow again, but called back up, "My name is Link. I'm almost eleven years old and I'm Hylian."
The guard nodded, before looking down to him. "Where are your parents? And what are you doing on that horse? And finally, why are you wearing a sword and a shield?"
Link knew the answer, but was also slightly worried as to what the technology of Hyrule was now. However, the guard looked just like the guards that Link remembered, plus more armor and a sword. "I have no parents. They were killed when I was younger. The horse is mine, and has been for a while. And I fight for my own survival, which should explain the weapons," Link simply told the truth about the questions that were asked. Not the whole truth of course.
The guard looked him over. "Let me talk to you face to face, Link, or whatever your name is." Motioning to someone behind him, the noise of the drawbridge being lowered was heard as it slowly came level with the ground over the moat. Link looked at where the people inside were staring at him. Relieved that not much had changed in the aspect of technology or clothing, Link looked back to the drawbridge where the guard was striding up to him.
"It would be preferred if you could please dismount your horse," the guard peered up more warmly at Link than he had before. A little confused, Link quietly dismounted. "Thank you. You have a lot of questions to answer before I will allow you inside. Firstly, where were you born?"
Link shook his head. "I don't know. I don't remember. I've lived most of my life in the Lost Woods."
The guard stared at him, then whistled. "Well then," the guard sighed, "No wonder you have a sword and a shield. That place is dangerous, although I would also like to know where you got your sword and shield."
Link wondered silently about how the Lost Woods could be dangerous. He knew that a lot of things were dangerous in the Lost Woods, but the Great Deku Tree had always watched over the entire forest and the Kokiri. But if his theory was correct, then danger could have grown in the Lost Woods. Remembering the question from the guard, he took a breath, knowing that he couldn't tell the whole truth. "I found my sword in the forest, hidden somewhere. And I left Hyrule about a year ago, and that was where I got my shield from." Link felt a little terrible about not telling completely, but knew that sometimes, it was required.
However, the guard took the news well. "Next, where did you get your horse from?"
Now, Link knew he would have to lie about the true reason how he got Epona. He decided to go with how he had found her and gotten her back in Termina. "Well," he began slowly, "I was in another land, and I helped a girl defend her home. She saw that my horse and I worked well as a team, and let me keep her."
Again, the guard nodded. "You seemed like a bit of a newcomer here. So it is true. You seem like a nice child." When Link gave the guard a slightly confused look, the guard chuckled. "There is a stable in the back of the town, where you can keep your horse. And," the guard looked over Link carefully, "You may stay with my family if you wish." Link stuttered in protest, but the guard only smiled. "It seemed to me as though you might need a place to stay. It's my pleasure."
Link stuttered again, "Th...thank you very much."
The guard smiled again. "In fact, after my shift ends, I'll give you a tour of Hyrule Castle Town." Link's eyes grew wide for a moment. "Oh, and you can call me Temron," the guard beckoned to Link. Not quite sure why the guard was so warm towards him now, but grateful anyway, Link took Epona's reigns and followed the guard into the town.