Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Legend of Zelda characters portrayed within.
Preface: I hate having to do this, but this fic is going to need some explanation. Not too long ago, I stumbled upon a site that had an "official" sequence for the Legend of Zelda games. It listed Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask as taking place before A Link to the Past, then Legend of Zelda and LoZ 2. This didn't make sense at first, until you read through the stories to each of the games. A Link to the Past states that someone wielding the Triforce of Courage and using the Master Sword sealed away the thief Ganondorf with the help of seven wise men. This is precisely what happened in Ocarina... Then, in LoZ 2, it says Link has begun to show strange abilities, and is able to read ancient Hyrulian, a lost language. He also shows signs of having the Triforce of Courage, which was never mentioned in the first Legend of Zelda. My theory is that this Link is the reincarnation of Ocarina's Link. And as for Zelda, in LoZ 2, Impa tells Link a story about how the first Zelda was caught by a spell in a war and put to sleep, and that all the female children since in the family were named Zelda. In LoZ 2, Link is trying to awake the original Zelda, I think. This could be the Zelda from Ocarina.
This story takes the place of Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link. In that game, I think they were trying to revive Ganon using Link's blood - it's been too long since I've played it. Other than that, the story follows the game sequence I listed above. Further explanations will be within the story. Sorry if this is confusing; I hope it will become more clear as the story progresses. I'll try to address any questions asked.
And, I apologize for Link's personality. In the games, he practically has none, so I had to improvise. There was a cartoon about LoZ, where Link was a bit of a whiny, kiss-obsessed moron at times, and I've borrowed heavily from that to start with. However, I promise you that things will change. Also, I've taken some liberties with some of the dialogue from the game - I really can't remember what was said in some of the scenes, and I apologize.
Now, if you haven't been scared away, on with the story!
THE HERO REBORN
Prologue: Awakening Memories
It began just like many of Link's other dreams: He was in a green, grassy field, sitting on a blanket that had been set out for a picnic. Beside him, Princess Zelda relaxed, her eyes closed, blond hair blown away from her face by a gentle breeze. As if sensing his admiring gaze, she opened her eyes and smiled at him invitingly. "Hey, hero," she whispered, her voice low and husky. Link found himself drawn closer. He placed a hand on her chin, admiring her sparkling blue eyes, her perfect porcelain skin, and her delicate smile. "Do it," she encouraged. "You've wanted it since we've first met. Do it. Kiss me, Link!"
There was nothing he could do but oblige; after all, who was he to ignore a direct order from a princess? He brushed back a lock of his brown hair, and leaned forward. He moved in closer, and closer, until he could smell her sweet breath. He closed his eyes and prepared himself.
At this point, Link's dream always became something closer to reality. Just before their lips touched, Zelda let out a screech and slapped him across the cheek. "What do you think you're doing?" she cried. "You jerk!" Link backed away in confusion.
"Well, excuuuuse me, Princess!" he drawled in a wounded tone. "I was only obeying your orders!"
She stood up in a huff. "I don't believe you! I would never say anything to encourage you!" she snapped. With that, she whirled away, her angry strides taking her rapidly across the field. Link tried to follow, but lost sight of her. He growled in frustration.
"Stupid Princess," he muttered. "Always runs off at the best part."
If his dreams had been following their natural course, a horde of Moblins would have put in an appearance then, or a dragon, or even pig-faced Ganon himself would pop up out of the tall grass and attacked. Then Link would work out his frustrations fighting his foes before he woke up in the morning to face the real Zelda.
But what appeared in their stead was a young boy. He was about nine or ten years old, with blond hair and wide blue eyes. He was dressed in a green tunic and hat, similar to Link's own. What surprised Link, though, was the sword and shield slung casually over the boy's back. He carried these items easily, with the air of someone who could wield them confidently and competently. That seemed wrong to Link; the boy should be playing with friends, not fighting.
Link met the boy's sober eyes, and was startled at what he saw there. His eyes weren't full of the usual sparkle of mischief a boy his age should have, but seemed old and weary, and full of pain. What had this boy seen that made him so? Link wondered.
Link took a tentative step forward. "Hi," he said calmly, so as not to frighten his visitor. The boy continued to regard him silently. This threw Link off. "Um," he brilliantly continued, "what are you doing here?" The boy turned away. "Hey, wait!" Link cried, as the boy began to move off. The boy stopped obligingly, and gestured towards Link. "Do you want me to follow?" he asked hesitantly. The boy nodded and set off across the field again, a confused Link in tow.
The scenery abruptly changed around them. The field of grass was replaced by a long hall that seemed to extend forever. It was dark, the only light source Link could see was the odd globe of light that flitted about his young companion, which Link belatedly realized was a fairy.
"Where are we?" he asked. His voice echoed down the corridor. He met the boy's eyes. "Where have you taken me?" The boy's only response was that unnerving stare. Link shivered; what had he gotten himself into? Sure, maybe this was just a dream, but Link didn't like the direction it was taking.
The boy continued onward, and Link had no choice but to follow. As they moved on, Link realized the hallway wasn't as featureless as he'd originally thought. There were four mirrors spaced widely apart along one of the walls. As they passed the first one, the boy drew to a halt. Link looked at the mirror, his eyes tracing the frame. At the top was engraved a round, inhuman face, painted with sad orange eyes and a round, open mouth. Link turned to the boy's reflection and gasped. Instead of the green-clad blond boy, a small creature seemingly made of wood was staring back. It had an oversize head, and sorrowful, luminescent eyes. Its green clothing seemed painted onto its wooden body. It stared at Link pleadingly. Link backed away when he saw the unfamiliar creature, feeling uneasy. "What is it?" he asked his companion. He didn't expect an answer, and wasn't disappointed.
After a few moments, the boy waved them on. Link followed to the second mirror. This one also had a face carved into the frame, a wide brown one with a gentle expression. Again, Link looked at the boy's reflection, and again was surprised by what he saw. A large, round creature was filling the mirror frame. It had a mottled brown body, with a wide stomach. Its aged face with its white hair seemed harmless, though Link didn't doubt there was a lot of power in those muscular arms.
At the boy's urging, they continued to the next mirror. This one had a pale, oval face with fin-like ears at the top, and the reflection was a tall aquatic creature with blue and white skin, except for the long fin on the back of its head, which was green. Again, Link didn't recognize the species.
As they proceeded to the last mirror, Link tried to figure out what was going on. What was the boy trying to tell him? Why did he have these odd reflections? And why did Link find something about this vaguely... familiar?
At last, they reached the final mirror. This one didn't have a face carved into it; instead, it had the Triforce. The boy didn't stop in front of it as Link expected, but leaped through. The surface of the mirror rippled like water at his passing, but when Link touched the surface of the mirror, it felt solid.
"Great," he muttered. "Now what?" An image began to form in the mirror. At first, Link thought it was the boy, but the figure was larger. No, it was the boy, but older, Link realized, as he regarded a young blond man about his own age standing on the other side of the mirror. The two stared at each other silently for a moment, then the blonde's lips moved. He made no sound, but Link had understood what he was saying.
Come...
"Come where?" Link asked warily. In response, a red-gloved hand reached through the mirror and grabbed Link's tunic, and began to pull him in. Link squirmed desperately, but couldn't break the other's strong grip. Link cried out as he hit the mirror's surface.
The world became a series of broken images, moving to quickly for Link to make any sense of them.
...strange beings, some of them human, some not, wielding great power...
...a tree with life of its own...
...a young blond woman with regal features, wearing a pink and whit dress, handing him an odd blue instrument...
"What's going on?" Link tried to cry out, but couldn't.
...an enormous monster, with horns and snout like an ox, wielding two swords...
...an empty chamber, with a small floating dais carved with six symbols, the marks of the Sages...
...a being wearing a mask that resembled a heart lined with spikes...
All these images and more passed through Link's mind. He felt dizzy; this was too much to take in all at once! "Stop it!" he pleaded. "Leave me alone!"
Remember... a voice said softly into his mind.
"Remember what?!" he demanded, his voice cracking.
The images began to slow and solidify around him. Suddenly, he was outside an unfamiliar castle, crouching in the unnatural dark. There was a man on horseback before him. Link shivered with fear, but tried to hide it from this man before him. The man was scanning the horizon for something, then turned to Link. Link's heart froze as he truly saw the man for the first time. He was enormous, not just because he was on the back of his nightmarish steed. He must have been well over seven feet tall. His skin was ashen, and his hair a flaming scarlet. But it was the eyes that frightened Link the most. They matched his hair in color, and seemed to burn with an inner flame. But a deadly intelligence lurked among the embers of his eyes. And evil... Link didn't think he'd ever seen anything so evil in his life, and he'd seen a lot...
The man spoke in a deep voice, words that Link didn't catch. All he knew was that he had to stand his ground, defy this evil man. He drew his sword, though he knew it would be a losing battle. As he held the unfamiliar blade in his left hand, it was then he realized he was no longer in his own body, but one much younger and smaller. The boy's!
At this gesture, the man laughed, a low, slow sound. Clearly, he wasn't impressed with Link's show of defiance. He urged his horse forward, and they galloped off into the dark.
The scene shifted again. Now Link was inside a round room, with a stifling atmosphere, as if it had been sealed and only just now opened. He was standing before a sword that towered as high as himself, which seemed to have a life of its own.
The Master Sword... It had been awhile since Link had seen the legendary blade, though he recognized it right away. But it hadn't seemed so alive before, he thought. He stepped forward, wrapping his hands around the hilt, and drew it from its stone resting place.
The drawing of the sword seemed to cause reality to shift and move faster around him, and he was engulfed in an inviting white light. But the evil man appeared again, thanking Link for opening the gateway for him and vanishing and then Link felt a lot of pain as if his soul was being ripped away...
Remember...
* * *
In his room inside Hyrule Castle, Link shot bolt upright, his heart hammering in his chest, sweat pouring down his face. It had been a dream. It had all been a dream. It hadn't even been one of the worst ones, he tried to soothe himself. Certainly not the most frightening!
But what was it about this dream that left him with a lingering feeling of dread, and made it impossible to get back to sleep that night?