A/N: Hey, I'm back. Hopefully for good. I have a few things to tell you
guys, so if you'd be patient and read this it would be greatly appreciated.
First, I'd like to thank all of you who reviewed. It's so good to hear that someone out there actually likes my work. Makes it seem like I'm not writing for nothing. So... thanks.
Also, I'd like to credit Lady Rose/Rose Zemlya with the formatting for this story. Those of you who have read The Return (good story) notice that I've "borrowed" the brief interlude and the first person present. When I had first read her story, I was inspired to write something in that format. And so came this story.
I would also like to warn you that this story has a slowly progressing plot. In all reality, I've only just started typing the actual adventure part. For this reason, I'm considering making my secondary genre drama. I have about twenty chapters of character development, and if the plot seems to move too slowly, then... it is moving too slowly. Forgive me for my bullheadedness, but I like these chapters and can't find it in my heart to delete them. Go figure. For this reason, I'll try to post the chapters two at a time, twice a week. If I forget, don't be afraid to remind me.
I'd like to encourage you, the reviewers, to comment on any aspect of the story that you don't understand, think could be improved, or just like in general. I love to hear feedback from you guys, and it's too often that I don't get any constructive criticism. Some would take this as a compliment, but it really helps an author to get comments on parts of their work. Reviews help me understand my stories from a reader's point of view. Besides, there are some things that an author won't catch that a reader will.
I hope that covers everything, and I look forward to hearing from you guys. Any more updates will be in my profile or in an upcoming chapter. If there are any questions, feel free to email me.
Chapter 3
A Brief Interlude
"We have to save him! He's our only hope!"
"We can't, princess. He chose death."
"Who will lead us, then?"
Silence, then...
"Good point. There must be some way to save him..."
"We can't just let him die! We have to save him! I don't care if you come or not, but I'm going!"
"Now, princess..."
"Are you coming or not?"
A sigh, then,
"I guess we have no choice. Come on."
Everything's dark... Someone's calling my name... Is this what death feels like?
"Hero... Come to the light, Hero..."
A mist surrounds my thoughts... My sight is hazy...
"Pull yourself together, Hero!"
I try. I can barely hold my eyes open, but it's enough to see a circle of people around me.
"Where am I? Is Heather okay?"
"I'm here, Hero. Do not try to speak."
I feel like I'm floating. Am I a ghost? The people begin chanting... Their words are a comfort... All feeling leaves me... I float there, enjoying it. A new, deeper voice speaks to me.
"Hero. It is your choice. Do you return to the light?"
I don't hesitate. "Yes. Will you take me?"
Heather speaks again. "Hero, it is your choice, but we welcome you."
"Thank you." I try and sit up, but it's too much effort and I black out again.
I sit up, ignoring my protesting body, and examine my surroundings. I think I'm in a palace. I look over. I see Heather standing beside me. It then occurs to me that I'm on a bed.
"I must be in Heaven. I'm seeing angels." Maybe I can win her over with flattery.
"Don't even try it. Do you know exactly how much trouble you are in? I can't believe you! You're so weak."
I look at her. She looks at me.
"I can't believe you went and chose the dark side, after I told you he was lying and everything! Do you have any idea how worried I was! But you're okay now, Link."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about... Wait. What did you call me?" I look at her. She looks at me.
"What do you mean?" she asks. Wow. She's even beautiful when she's ticked off.
"You called me Link. And everyone was calling me Hero before. I think you have me mixed up with someone else." I look at her, but she's not looking at me anymore.
"Well, it's an easy mistake to make, considering..."
"Considering what?"
She doesn't answer straight away, but walks to a dresser and picks up a mirror. "This might help explain some things."
She hands me the mirror. "Before you look, just prepare yourself for the worst."
Yeah, thanks. Now I'm afraid to look. I hold the mirror up to my face, and immediately drop it again. I look down at the rest of me. I'm wearing green. Why didn't I notice that before? I pick up the mirror again. It's still relatively the same me, but definitely different on a few fronts. First, my ears are long. And pointy. And I'm wearing the most ridiculous hat on my head... Then it hits me. I look like Link. And Link is the Hero of Time. So that makes me...
"I'm... I'm..."
"You're Link, the Hero of Time."
I falter, but only for a moment. "I'm WHAT!?" I shout at her. She looks stricken.
"You're the-"
"Yes, I heard you, but when did I switch from being Jordan, ordinary eighteen year old boy, to Link, Hero of Time?"
"It's a long story..."
"We've got time."
"Well, about eighteen years ago, Ganon broke free of the hold that the descendants of the sages had on him. They-"
"Time out. Since when is The Legend of Zelda real?"
"Since always. Don't interrupt. Now, as I was saying, they-"
"But it's just a video game!'
"No, it's not. Anyway, they-"
"But-"
"Are you going to let me tell the story? Or should I just spend this time convincing you that there is a Hyrule?" I fall silent. "Good. Now, like I was saying, they found out about this, being so closely connected to the Sacred Realm. They sealed him away temporarily, but with his power growing, they needed a hero to seal him forever. Now, Ganon's power did not go unnoticed by his minions. They felt his return, and set out at once to find the new hero."
"Sorry to interrupt again, but the 'new hero'?"
"Yes, your ancestor had since been gone from this realm, and his soul was to be reincarnated so that he could continue his duties to this realm. Ganon's minions set out to find that reincarnate, and destroy it as to make way for Ganon's return. But that could not be allowed. Eventually, they were drawn to the power of the Triforce of Courage, when you were barely a few months old. But the sages got there first. They tried to protect the mother, but she was mortally wounded. They cast a spell to send you to earth. Even though any Hylian would have loved the honor of raising you, we chose to put you with an earth family so you could not be found. You were to be summoned on your eighteenth birthday, so you could come to Hyrule and strike down Ganon once again. Hence, your meeting with me at the park. However, once again, Ganon managed to find you. When you touched the portal- "
"Portal? What portal?"
"The one on the television, in place of the video game. When you touched it, you were supposed to be pulled straight to Ganon. However, you managed to break the link between you and the portal, and you hung in the void between here and the sacred realm. When you chose the path to Ganon, he fed off of your choice, and pulled you to him. Don't ask me how; I don't know. The sages and I came to the quick decision that we had to rescue you. Unfortunately, we had to take you out of the Sacred Realm. Thus, your appearance changed. Since you are so closely tied to the Sacred Realm, it affected you this way, changing your appearance to your true identity. Obviously, the sages couldn't leave you looking like a Hylian, so they altered your appearance to look like a human."
"Oh." There's nothing else to say. I must be dreaming. When I got electrocuted from the television, I must have gone into shock. I pinch myself. "Ouch!"
"See? Told you."
"But... That's impossible!"
"You got a better explanation?"
I don't.
She gets up and walks across the room. She's staring out the window. I follow, and look out as well.
"So what do we do?"
"We wait and see if Ganon shows himself."
"I thought you locked him in the Sacred Realm?"
"We did, but when we had to take you out of it, the seal was weakened. During the time you were unconscious, Ganon gained enough power to finally dispel the seal."
"So what you're saying, is that Ganon is free?"
"Yes. That is what I'm saying."
"So where is he?"
"We don't know."
First, I'd like to thank all of you who reviewed. It's so good to hear that someone out there actually likes my work. Makes it seem like I'm not writing for nothing. So... thanks.
Also, I'd like to credit Lady Rose/Rose Zemlya with the formatting for this story. Those of you who have read The Return (good story) notice that I've "borrowed" the brief interlude and the first person present. When I had first read her story, I was inspired to write something in that format. And so came this story.
I would also like to warn you that this story has a slowly progressing plot. In all reality, I've only just started typing the actual adventure part. For this reason, I'm considering making my secondary genre drama. I have about twenty chapters of character development, and if the plot seems to move too slowly, then... it is moving too slowly. Forgive me for my bullheadedness, but I like these chapters and can't find it in my heart to delete them. Go figure. For this reason, I'll try to post the chapters two at a time, twice a week. If I forget, don't be afraid to remind me.
I'd like to encourage you, the reviewers, to comment on any aspect of the story that you don't understand, think could be improved, or just like in general. I love to hear feedback from you guys, and it's too often that I don't get any constructive criticism. Some would take this as a compliment, but it really helps an author to get comments on parts of their work. Reviews help me understand my stories from a reader's point of view. Besides, there are some things that an author won't catch that a reader will.
I hope that covers everything, and I look forward to hearing from you guys. Any more updates will be in my profile or in an upcoming chapter. If there are any questions, feel free to email me.
Chapter 3
A Brief Interlude
"We have to save him! He's our only hope!"
"We can't, princess. He chose death."
"Who will lead us, then?"
Silence, then...
"Good point. There must be some way to save him..."
"We can't just let him die! We have to save him! I don't care if you come or not, but I'm going!"
"Now, princess..."
"Are you coming or not?"
A sigh, then,
"I guess we have no choice. Come on."
Everything's dark... Someone's calling my name... Is this what death feels like?
"Hero... Come to the light, Hero..."
A mist surrounds my thoughts... My sight is hazy...
"Pull yourself together, Hero!"
I try. I can barely hold my eyes open, but it's enough to see a circle of people around me.
"Where am I? Is Heather okay?"
"I'm here, Hero. Do not try to speak."
I feel like I'm floating. Am I a ghost? The people begin chanting... Their words are a comfort... All feeling leaves me... I float there, enjoying it. A new, deeper voice speaks to me.
"Hero. It is your choice. Do you return to the light?"
I don't hesitate. "Yes. Will you take me?"
Heather speaks again. "Hero, it is your choice, but we welcome you."
"Thank you." I try and sit up, but it's too much effort and I black out again.
I sit up, ignoring my protesting body, and examine my surroundings. I think I'm in a palace. I look over. I see Heather standing beside me. It then occurs to me that I'm on a bed.
"I must be in Heaven. I'm seeing angels." Maybe I can win her over with flattery.
"Don't even try it. Do you know exactly how much trouble you are in? I can't believe you! You're so weak."
I look at her. She looks at me.
"I can't believe you went and chose the dark side, after I told you he was lying and everything! Do you have any idea how worried I was! But you're okay now, Link."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about... Wait. What did you call me?" I look at her. She looks at me.
"What do you mean?" she asks. Wow. She's even beautiful when she's ticked off.
"You called me Link. And everyone was calling me Hero before. I think you have me mixed up with someone else." I look at her, but she's not looking at me anymore.
"Well, it's an easy mistake to make, considering..."
"Considering what?"
She doesn't answer straight away, but walks to a dresser and picks up a mirror. "This might help explain some things."
She hands me the mirror. "Before you look, just prepare yourself for the worst."
Yeah, thanks. Now I'm afraid to look. I hold the mirror up to my face, and immediately drop it again. I look down at the rest of me. I'm wearing green. Why didn't I notice that before? I pick up the mirror again. It's still relatively the same me, but definitely different on a few fronts. First, my ears are long. And pointy. And I'm wearing the most ridiculous hat on my head... Then it hits me. I look like Link. And Link is the Hero of Time. So that makes me...
"I'm... I'm..."
"You're Link, the Hero of Time."
I falter, but only for a moment. "I'm WHAT!?" I shout at her. She looks stricken.
"You're the-"
"Yes, I heard you, but when did I switch from being Jordan, ordinary eighteen year old boy, to Link, Hero of Time?"
"It's a long story..."
"We've got time."
"Well, about eighteen years ago, Ganon broke free of the hold that the descendants of the sages had on him. They-"
"Time out. Since when is The Legend of Zelda real?"
"Since always. Don't interrupt. Now, as I was saying, they-"
"But it's just a video game!'
"No, it's not. Anyway, they-"
"But-"
"Are you going to let me tell the story? Or should I just spend this time convincing you that there is a Hyrule?" I fall silent. "Good. Now, like I was saying, they found out about this, being so closely connected to the Sacred Realm. They sealed him away temporarily, but with his power growing, they needed a hero to seal him forever. Now, Ganon's power did not go unnoticed by his minions. They felt his return, and set out at once to find the new hero."
"Sorry to interrupt again, but the 'new hero'?"
"Yes, your ancestor had since been gone from this realm, and his soul was to be reincarnated so that he could continue his duties to this realm. Ganon's minions set out to find that reincarnate, and destroy it as to make way for Ganon's return. But that could not be allowed. Eventually, they were drawn to the power of the Triforce of Courage, when you were barely a few months old. But the sages got there first. They tried to protect the mother, but she was mortally wounded. They cast a spell to send you to earth. Even though any Hylian would have loved the honor of raising you, we chose to put you with an earth family so you could not be found. You were to be summoned on your eighteenth birthday, so you could come to Hyrule and strike down Ganon once again. Hence, your meeting with me at the park. However, once again, Ganon managed to find you. When you touched the portal- "
"Portal? What portal?"
"The one on the television, in place of the video game. When you touched it, you were supposed to be pulled straight to Ganon. However, you managed to break the link between you and the portal, and you hung in the void between here and the sacred realm. When you chose the path to Ganon, he fed off of your choice, and pulled you to him. Don't ask me how; I don't know. The sages and I came to the quick decision that we had to rescue you. Unfortunately, we had to take you out of the Sacred Realm. Thus, your appearance changed. Since you are so closely tied to the Sacred Realm, it affected you this way, changing your appearance to your true identity. Obviously, the sages couldn't leave you looking like a Hylian, so they altered your appearance to look like a human."
"Oh." There's nothing else to say. I must be dreaming. When I got electrocuted from the television, I must have gone into shock. I pinch myself. "Ouch!"
"See? Told you."
"But... That's impossible!"
"You got a better explanation?"
I don't.
She gets up and walks across the room. She's staring out the window. I follow, and look out as well.
"So what do we do?"
"We wait and see if Ganon shows himself."
"I thought you locked him in the Sacred Realm?"
"We did, but when we had to take you out of it, the seal was weakened. During the time you were unconscious, Ganon gained enough power to finally dispel the seal."
"So what you're saying, is that Ganon is free?"
"Yes. That is what I'm saying."
"So where is he?"
"We don't know."