Return to Hyrule - a fanfic by charity236

Disclaimer: I didn't create Zelda. So there.

Chapter 1: Curse Of A Wizard

Link found a warp to Hyrule Field, near Kokiri Forest. He galloped through it, leaping with joy at the thought of seeing all his old Kokiri friends. He even thought he'd be happy to see Mido again!

But as he walked across the bridge in the Lost Woods, he knew something wasn't right. The trees looked dead, he couldn't sense the spirits around him, and even Navi looked dead on her wings.

Then, when he walked through the hollow log into the forest, there was nothing. Almost nothing. But red and yellow soil.

Link looked around, dazed. There were a few caves scattered throughout the forest - could he even call it a forest any more? It was more like a dirt patch - and a big mound smack bang in the middle. There was almost nothing he recognised, nothing - except the path to the Great Deku Tree. And his old house that was, strangely enough, still standing. The only greenery apart from those things was a few wild thorny bushes in the far corners of the dirt patch.

Thinking that he wouldn't be recognised, Link jumped into the nearest bush (full of thorns, which he pulled out with small yelps), and slowly got closer to his house. Bushes also surrounded the house, but that was no problem. There was a neat path cut through them by someone, probably Saria, Link thought. That is, if she is still here.

Link tore up the ladder into his house. The first things he saw were Kaepora Gaebora, the wise old owl, and Saria, having a deep conversation. Navi, Link's old guardian fairy, listened to the talk.

'Er-hem...' Link muttered.

'OH! LINK!!' Saria cried, then rushed over to hug him. Link went red. 'I haven't seen you in such a long time!' Then she got serious.

'Link, something strange is going on in the forest, and other places in Hyrule too.'

'I've never seen anything like this in all my living years,' said Kaepora. 'It is quite strange.

'Link, there are bad things happening everywhere. Many of the people in the area have either fled to safer lands, or become - ' he struggled to find words, ' - I guess you could call it their opposite. Most people who were good are now evil, and those evil are good.'

'We think some people are lying. You've got to be careful, Link,' Saria said.

'But why do I have to be careful?' Link asked.

'Because you're the one who will save us all. You have to. It's the only way.'

'But why me?' Link asked. 'Why not someone else? I want a break from fighting evil.'

'We can trust almost no one now. Not until Hyrule is back to normal.'

'I think I may know the cause of the problem...' Kaepora began.

[Kaepora's POV - POV means "point of view" if you didn't know]

After you left for your original time, everyone had a party at Lon Lon Ranch. Well, everyone except the Sages.

They were sitting on top of Death Mountain, watching the horizon, when I appeared. I watched too, but only I saw the faint spark over the remains of Ganon's Castle.

I explained this to Saria, who agreed with me. We set off for the ruins, Saria holding on to my talons.

At first I thought it was my imagination playing tricks on me, but...

I landed on a narrow ledge. Saria sat down too. I looked closer at the ruins, and saw...

Someone (he/she looked like a wizard) was waving sparks over a sword. Ganon's sword.

The wizard might have been trying to revive Ganon with it. But I did not know then what I found out later. Those sparks were supersonic. He was spreading a curse across Hyrule.

I took Saria back to the forest. As we got to Saria's house, I could already see the effects of the curse working - the grass was dying, and the water slowly evaporating. It was awful...

[Back to third-person view]

'You must destroy the curse.' Kaepora was firm.

'But how? I don't know how to do it,' Link wondered.

'There are nine Nature Spirits hidden by the nine races of Hyrule and the surrounding lands: Hylian, Deku, Goron, Zora, Gerudo, Kokiri, Sheikah, Fairy and Subrosian.' Saria said. 'But they were spread across time by use of the Master Sword. They will be found somewhere nearby each race's home. It is quite possible that you will revisit dungeons you have been to before. Beat the monsters in those places to gain access to the Spirits. You will have to go through time. Get out your Harp of Ages.'

'How did you know I had that?' Link asked.

'Easy. Word gets around fast these days,' Saria joked. 'Now, there are two ways to travel through time. One is to play the Harp. Another way is to use the Master Sword again.'

'Besides, the Door of Time is sealed. You will have to get into the Castle and see Zelda - she'll give you the Ocarina,' Kaepora informed.

'You can go to the past when you never lived; the time during which you were on your journey for the Spiritual Stones; the present, right now; and as an adult. You figure out the rest,' Saria said. 'Did you get all that?'

'Er... no?' Link joked.

'Now, go see Zelda. Here's the old Fairy Ocarina for you to use if you need it. There will be even more guards than ever before, though,' Saria said. 'And it might be wise to say hi to the Great Deku Tree, but I'm not sure what sort of mood he is in these days. I haven't visited him for ages.'

'Thanks,' Link said.

'Just don't get caught by the other Kokiri. They haven't been happy for ages,' Saria warned.

'Bye Kaepora,' Link said while shaking Kaepora's wing. 'It was good to see you again. And Saria... keep safe. Please. I don't want anything happening to you. Not now.' Link hugged Saria, and they both went red. Link grabbed his bag before making for the door.

'Bye, Link,' Saria whispered as Link left the house and made for the Deku Tree's meadow. Then she started playing her song slowly.



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Next Chapter: Tatl Steps In

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