Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda. If I did, I would have already released the next game. As of such, I only own the plot.

The Legend of Zelda: Time of Return

Chapter I: Regrets and Incidents

A blonde-haired boy in a green tunic lazily lay on the grass by Lake Hylia. We all know this boy to be Link, the Hero of Time.

Seven years had passed since he had returned the Master Sword to its place. This time, Link had actually lived for seven years, not slept in a chamber. He had a long sword and Hylian shield strapped to his back. His other equipment was hidden.

Link had not spoken to Zelda ever since. In fact, he avoided Hyrule Castle Town and Kakariko altogether. He had bad memories about that place. Plus, he had been kicked out of the forest seven years ago when he tried returning. Even now, he was shooed away. They didn't remember him saving them. Of course, that had been an alternate time. Only the Sages and he remembered.

The people believed that the Hero of Time was a larger, muscular man who dressed in a white robe and wielded nothing other than the Master Sword. They also believed that he had gone off on another journey somewhere else. Since the Door of Time was closed, and no one believed the people that were the Sages actually were (the Kokiri didn't even bother to listen to Saria; they didn't know what a castle was) who they claimed to be, Link was just another traveler. So the world had gone off on ignorance. While it meant that Link could've visited Hyrule Castle Town and Kakariko without being recognized, he preferred it alone.

The people also believed that Ganondorf hadn't been the enemy, that it had been a Demon from beyond, and that Ganondorf had died and been buried quietly. Only the Gerudos knew better. They also were the only ones who believed.

The legend of the Hero of Time was now something people told their children at night, or entertainers told others at bars. It was a bedtime story, and that was the Link wanted it. He wanted to leave everyone's life.

Except Zelda's. She was the only he wanted to be with. But she had most likely forgotten him. Link had heard that Zelda occasionally told the story to her advisors and people, but there were as examples for how they should be.

Link almost regretted ever agreeing to the Deku Tree's last words and wishes. He regretted ever doing anything. Only two things prevented from entirely regretting it.

The first was how tortured Hyrule had been in the alternate time. It still gave Link nightmares, including the castle town.

The second was Zelda.

Link sighed, before standing up. Hyrule was a large place to travel, especially since he hadn't gotten Epona again. He thought the horse deserved a long, simple life in Lon Lon Ranch. Link was leaving Lake Hylia when he heard something.

Link's sword and shield came to bear. Seven years had increased his skills, rather than decrease them. He looked around. He didn't see anything. But he could sense it. Something was there, waiting for him…

"Excuse me sir."

Link spun around to face a mounted Hylian messenger. Link realized that his sword was inches from the man's throat. He put it and his shield away.

"I have a request from the Royal Council," the messenger began. "The Council, against Zelda's wishes, has requested that all who know anything about the story of the Hero of Time come to the castle, and help write it into a book that can be kept, copied, and distributed."

The Royal Council was Zelda's advisors. Link wasn't surprised that Zelda was against it. She probably didn't like remember having to hide as a boy. She probably didn't want to remember him, either, according to a thought in the back of his head.

"You're not being singled out," the messenger explained. "I just saw you and I have a duty."

Link nodded.

"Will you be coming?" the messenger asked. Link nodded again, hesitantly. The messenger took it in just now that Link was either unable to or wouldn't speak.

"You'll need to sign this," the messenger requested, handing him a list of names and a writing quill. Link signed himself down, using his real name. People thought the Hero of Time's name was Zilashi or something like that.

"They are beginning to start the process," the messenger added as a last word. "It will take about two weeks."

With that last word, the messenger rode off. Link continued to stand for a moment. The thing he had sensed was gone. Link looked around for another moment, and then started to walk towards Hyrule Castle. It was midmorning, and Link had time to waste. Besides, the process would take two weeks.

Night caught Link halfway across Hyrule Field. Link made a small fire with Din's Fire, and then lay down next to it to sleep. A noise made his eyes snap open. Link looked around. It was the same thing from before. He couldn't explain it. Link stood up and took out his sword and shield. He started walking towards whatever he sensed. It kept on getting stronger and stronger. 900 feet from his campfire, Link realized that the sense was so strong it was about to kill him.

Then suddenly the sense weakened. Weakened wasn't right. It seemed to…embrace him, as though it were saying, You can continue. Link didn't understand it. Then he heard a scream in front of him.

About fifty feet in front of him, a woman was being attacked by a Wolfos. The woman was about Link's height, with long blue hair and eyes. She wore a blue dress. Link ran forward.

Link swung at the Wolfos, getting its attention. The Wolfos ran in a circle around Link, then swung twice with its paws. Link back flipped out of the way, and then leaped forward and slashed downward on the Wolfos's unprotected back. The Wolfos died and separated into blue flames before vanishing.

Link turned to face the woman. She looked incredibly wise, and Link suspected that she could have easily done with the Wolfos herself.

"I thank you, Chosen Hero," the woman said, then walked away. Link blinked, and the woman was gone.

Link was completely confused. Why had she called him Chosen Hero? Link wandered back to his campfire and lay down to sleep, deciding not to worry.

The next morning, Link put out his campfire and continued his journey. The sense appeared again. Link, wondering if it was the mysterious woman again, followed it. As it got to the point where it was about to kill him, it embraced him again. Link looked around, trying to find the woman.

"Excuse me mister!"

Link turned to find a nine-year-old girl watching him. She had short green hair, green eyes, and wore a green skirt. Link could've mistaken her for a Kokiri in the forest.

"Can you see up the tree?" the girl asked. Link looked up a nearby tree. There was a green colored comb in it. It was much brighter than the leaves. Link nodded to the girl.

"Well I'm so brave I can climb up that big tree and get it!" the girl proclaimed with a smile. Then the smile and enthusiasm faded. "If I was big enough."

Link smiled. He couldn't leave the girl just standing around, so he jumped up the tree and grabbed the comb easily. He dropped down and gave it to the girl. The girl smiled.

"Thank you, Chosen Hero!" she beamed. Link blinked in surprise, and the girl was gone.

Link was wondering whether he was hallucinating. He slowly trudged on, looking for a sign that he was sane. Then he sensed it again. Link followed, let it embrace him, then looked. A woman with long red hair, red eyes, and a red dress was standing next to a pit, looking into it. A cow was stuck in the pit. Link was wondering if he wasn't dead and just a ghost, but he decided to help out anyway.

Link jogged forward and jumped down into the pit. With the aid of his golden gauntlets, Link picked up the cow and tossed it out of the pit. Link climbed out after it.

"Thank you, Chosen Hero," the woman thanked him. Link had the unfortunate instinct to blink, and the woman and cow were gone.

Link had the strangest feeling that he was being toyed with somehow.

He felt unnerved by the sudden vanishes and their thanking of him, but Link is a hard rock, and it only bothered him for another minute or two.

Link continued to walk across Hyrule Field. He made to the Hyrule Castle Town gate just before ten. He stood right before the bridge, hesitating. He was, well, nervous and somewhat frightened nervous.

As a response, the Triforce of Courage glowed slightly on his hand, lending a bit of its strength. Link calmed slightly, remembering the special gift he had on his right hand. No longer worried, but calm and serene, Link walked across the bridge to somewhere he hadn't been for seven years.