Nothing like cramming a summary into 255 words... Hopefully this will entice you a little more:

After the events of Twilight Princess, Link is having some serious internal issues. He is plagued with dreams he doesn't understand or even remember half of the time, although they don't feel so randomly generated as a normal dream. In the midst of his restlessness, he is asked to complete his original task of taking the sword and shield to the princess, who is facing her own plans and problems of re-establishing the kingdom. But when Impaz suddenly demands the presence of the princess (who about to learn a lot more than her history books could have ever told her), a whole new issue stares her in the eye. With time travelling to ensue, sure-fire trouble brewing in the dessert and visions growing worse, there is hardly any time to deal with ordinary life or feelings of either of the fated heroes.

These are some ideas I've had for a very long time; others are more recent add ones due to Skyward Sword. I wanted to start off with two of my favorite scenes from Zelda- The cutscene in Kakariko Village in OoT and the dream Link is having is from the wonderful world of Wind Waker (puppet Ganon cut scene on youtube, if you like). Later chapters will involve clips from other games, most of which are bigger names, so hopefully you're recognize some of the scenery!

Of course, I don't own any of this... Teehee.

The town was on fire.

All around him, all consuming fire licked the houses and stores, the trees, the grass. A dark sky overhead greedily withheld it's saving rain.

Link stood paralyzed at the gate of the village, his eyes watering from the smoke, his lungs stinging from the inhaled smoke. Where had he seen this place before? The town's large windmill only worsened the air flow, feeing the consuming destruction. There were no people running around screaming, no one trying to put out the fire, and no noise- save the crackling of the flames. Nonetheless, a sense of panic he could not deny filled the air.

Panic of more than just that fire.

Seeing a lone figure standing before a well in the midst of the blaze, he gasped. Instinctively, his feet began running towards the dark figured person as fast as they could. The figure didn't turn to face him as he neared, but their voice was undeniably addressing him.

"Get back, Link."

He stopped, shocked at their knowledge of his name. Was this someone he knew? Their dark blue, fitted clothing and wrappings were so foreign to him, they couldn't be...

Before he could voice even a glimmer of a question, a loud explosion rung through their ears. The wooden frame over the well was thrown off as some unseen force tore through the air around them. It grabbed the person and flung them through the air, mercilessly. Their small body twisted wildly and a deep scream emerged from their lips.

He knew that yell from somewhere. He knew the gleam in those frightened red eyes, somehow.

Feeling an unexplained need to defend, Link drew his sword, anxious to do something, anything. Finally, the force threw the body over his head, causing him to sharply look back and-

Thud

Link had strayed off his path and walked right into a tree, face first, quickly bringing him back to reality. Still smooshed into the bark, his face was scrunched and thoroughly unimpressed. Drool fell from his lip onto the innocent tree and he sighed, annoyed with himself.

That wasn't the first time it had happened. As of late, strange visions occasionally melded with actuality, leaving him mentally confused as to what was happening around him till he was snapped from the dream-like state. He blushed at the thought of how stupid he must have looked, glad for the first time in a long time that he was alone.

His feet returned to the path, and so his mind returned to the thoughts he had carried along it. He had been watching his shadow slowly fade into the night with the last stretched rays of the sun.

"Looks like you're coming around..." the familiar voice rang through his head as the last of his vision faded from his memory.

The shadows spared nothing as they claimed dominion of the land, nor the symptoms that come with their blanketed darkness. The young hero mused this bitterly, the cool night biting at his flushed cheeks. Eventually, the forested trail he had set route upon gave way to the ruins of a once magnificent temple. He jumped from grass to stone, and his wearied feet found their way to his regular spot atop the remnants of the broken staircase, more than ready for a rest.

Perhaps it was his tiredness, or maybe it was from having smoked his head too hard, but as he was unloading his gear his footing clumsily staggered and his feet suddenly collapsed from underneath him. Nearly tumbling over the ledge, his hands fumbled quickly for the security of the railing. Shakily, he pulled himself up, settling on the few steps that had survived the hands of time. He let out a drawn breath.

Despite the peace around him in this sacred grove, he was struggling for peace within his spirit and even his own body. Now that he no longer looked danger in the eyes, he felt that he was beginning to lag in his mental awareness. His head was always in the clouds, trying to escape the world of emptiness he was left with. Of course he was glad that Ganon and Zant had found their rightful end and that the land was restored to its regular conditions. He was glad that the inhabitants of Hyrule had nothing more to fear. He was glad that his home continued to flourish. He was glad there were no more monsters to fight off and no more problems.

"Gahh-" His weary voice came back empty to him in the stillness of the night. His hands probed through his messy hair. "On second thought, I wouldn't mind just a few monsters and a few minor problems to deal with here and there…"

Rusl had told him that time would mend his painful memories; he would no longer yearn for days of adrenaline and adventure, that instead he would come to desire a simpler life. Even though Link greatly respected and cherished Rusl, he had a hard time believing him. No one really understood what he had seen and what he had been through; what he had lost.

As he looked to the moon, he wondered how Midna was faring in her own kingdom. Was there peace? Was she doing well? Was she still as perpetually demanding and temperamental? A bittersweet smile crept across his features- truly, he missed her. Where she had given direction, reassurance and even offered protection there was now an empty gap he fought with daily. He patrolled the land in search of evils which he thought to be still lurking but it was all in vain. The land finally seemed secure, he reluctantly admitted to himself.

"Just to have purpose again…" now he felt he could give almost anything for that. He longed to feel important, to know that he was needed and that he had a friend he could count on. But there was no way to return to the Twilight realm or to see Midna, and in his depression his mind had ruled himself into believing that he had virtually no purpose left.

"There is the princess," his sub conscious teased. His hands fumbled awkwardly. Maybe she could understand to some degree, but she was no closer than a stranger and when he finally met her as a human, he was surprised to find that he could barely stand to be around her. There was pain he could not put words to whenever he was near her; a pain that could bring him to his knees. Yet this pain had no origin or explanation. What had started as a twinge in the holy mark upon his hand in seeing her under Ganon's control grew into a bitter pain which shot through him, so much so that he could hardly bear to look at her. He forced it off as one of the effects of the consecrated power until the feeling overtook his soul with its bitter, broken sadness; similar, perhaps, to some of the feelings which cloaked the Hylian world at the hour of twilight. Yet he concealed it well to keep it from interfering with the task at hand.

He realized now that he felt the same solitude in that moment as when the twilight mirror shattered before him. The strange new world which he had found himself unpreparedly swept into was just as unceremoniously ripped from under his feet. Although he hadn't felt ready for either event, he knew without a doubt that he was not ready to say good-bye when all was said and done and the responsibility was lifted from his shoulders. If he had accomplished so much, why was he left feeling so hollowed?

Under this sadness he found himself returning to this spot night after night. Even though the path through the lost woods was different each evening, he always found his way back to this place. Somehow it gave a small solace to the heaviness of his spirit. The pain following him everywhere else seemed to numb here, almost as if the temple's sacredness banished the deep ills within.

Looking back at the door of time, he recalled feeling that heaviness magnify when he stepped into the past. He recalled looking up at the huge windows and wondering what lay beyond the blinding white light they produced. He knew, somehow, he just knew that there had to be more; there had to be something else there. Strong feelings of longing and passion rose with this kindled curiosity.

Despite his mind's wild racing, he still savored his sacred peace while he could. He let his back meet the cold stone floor and his body rapidly cooled. The first stars graced the darkened skies.

"Why is it that the only place darkness and light can thrive together is out of my reach?" he frowned.

The night licked his wounds.

-.-

A cloaked figure walked among the quiet of Castletown in the cool morning mist. Early fruit vendors greeted her with smiles and offers of bread or produce for the best deal in town. Silently but politely, she waved them away.

At the end of the marketer's street sat an old man who watched this with a crooked but kind grin. He stood, letting out a small chuckle. "Good morning, early bird," he greeted.

She grinned lightly and nodded to him. "Good morning, sir." Stopped in front of his stand, she began to pick a few of the best fruits into her basket and tapped on a fresh loaf of bread. A full smile bested her grin. "Give your wife my compliments. Her bread is always impeccable."

"Don't I know it," he patted his rounded belly in agreement. Silence fell as she continued browsing. Feeling the need to entertain his customer, his mouth became a faucet for the latest gossip. "You know green guy? The one everyone is getting all wild about?" He paused so she could nod. "Word has it that he's been bustling around here. Some say he's lookin' for attention, or action, or somethin'. After that stunt he pulled helping Telma with that Zora boy, people have been crazy about him. He's all Telma ever talks about when customers roll around. She really pumps him up, but… well I don't trust 'em. I bet she's just caught the fever too. Or she's tryina make better business. Either way, I really don't think he's all they crack him up to be." His eyes shifted as he leaned over and continued in a whisper. "I've heard he's actually some kind of wild man."

Under her breath, she groaned. "Idle words sow discord, I've heard."

Her reproof caught him slightly off guard, and he uncomfortably cleared his throat. "You're always my first customer, you know," he began as he sat back down. "But, they do say that opinion is the first to rise."

Her long fingers drummed across a red apple as her eyes moved to him. "How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire. And the tongue is the fiercest of fires, my friend." An eyebrow rose suspiciously as a small pouch clinked as it landed on his lap. "What do you wish to gather into your storehouses? A harvest of righteousness is gathered by those who sow peace."

The old man watched her move silently down the alley, shaking his head as he pondered her words. Not sure whether to be offended or challenged, he shrugged and chuckled to himself lightly. "At least those goddesses don't pick just anyone for the job."

-.-

The dim, mauve room held a tense air with the silent flickerings of the golden lantern light. It was a large, round room with walls which seemed to continue upward forever and shallow, lightless water spanning over the floor, but all Link focused on was the long drawn curtains concealing a luxurious bed set in the middle of the room. He waded slowly towards it through the dark water, an eeriness seeping into him as it leaked through his boots.

"… Do you sleep, still?" A large, dark shape sitting upon the bed turned his head ever so slightly, enough for Link's sharp eyes to catch. The voice hardly seemed to dent the atmosphere, but rang familiar to the young boy- too much so for his liking. Unsure if it was really addressing him and not trusting it, he drew his sword. The blade let out a long ring in the dark silence as it slid from its sheath.

"Wait," came the voice again. Within the gently swaying curtains, the concealed torch light silhouetted the figure as he rose from the bed, his back to the drawn blade and its wielder. Though only half risen, as Link could tell by his slouch, the man was huge in comparison to himself and the lavish bed. His voice was sharp as he spoke again. "Don't be so hasty, boy."

Link gasped, catching sight of a familiar looking young girl through the wavering curtains. Sheets of black and maroon silk covered her lightly breathing form. Her deep, peaceful sleep kept her ignorant to the surrounding danger she was in. Link froze, apprehensiveness screaming for him to do something, but all he could really feel was the strange sorrow of time bare over him, a pain he could not explain. It melded with the fear of the moment, making him feel nauseous, bringing him to his knees to the shadowy water.

Ganon placed his brazen hand over the princess' sleeping eyes, slowly tracing down her cheek. His own slit, red eyes examined her carefully for a moment and then slowly closed themselves as a small, malicious smile cracked his lips. Link shook in fury. His limbs remained lifeless.

"I can see this girl's dreams."

Strong gusts of wind swept through the room from some unseen source, blowing through the flowing curtains and blotting out the frail torch's radiance.

-.-

Link bolted off the floor with a yell, wide-eyed and gasping for air, the sensation that he had almost drown lingering heavily. His hands shook as he felt himself over in confusion. The blanket from his bed had been torn off with him and were now tangled around his anxiously tense body. Recollection of his walk home was blurry; he didn't even remember falling asleep.

"Dreams..." His back hit the floor and he let out a groan. "Just…just a dream." Yet somehow his instincts weren't convinced.

Not bothering to crawl back into his bed, Link let himself fall asleep on the floor.

-.-

The familiar sound of storming feet instinctively drove the group of children diving for cover behind trees and shrubs. Four pairs of eyes watched fearfully as Ilia hasted her way towards Link's house.

"Sure glad I'm not Link right now," Talo muttered to himself. The others nodded in silent agreement as they watched the beginning of her tempest unfold.

Link's wanderings had made the little Ordon village restless. More often than not, he was riding off to an unknown destination, returning only with the night. He never came back with anything, for his arms and saddle were as empty in his arrival as they were at his departure. When asked here he was going, he had no answer and no mirth. Ilia noted this with particular displeasure. She hoped when the war was over that Link would return to the normal goat-herding, potential-future mayor who made everything better. Instead, he was silent and distant from her and most of the village. He kept close confidence with Rusl mostly, and sometimes her own father, Bo. Nothing she said or did could stop him from leaving.

Her foot tapped impatiently as she stood outside Link's wooden door. Each of the five knocks had gone unanswered. "I know you're in there," she called. Still, there was silence on the other side. Persistent as always, she opened the door and walked into the dim room.

Up in his loft, Link's eyes trailed down from the distant hills he had been staring blankly at to the intruder walking circles on his floor.

"Link, I know that you'rr- A-AH!" the sound of feet hitting the ground behind her shook more than the floorboards. "I-I didn't even see you. How'd you get to be so sneaky?" she huffed.

"Practice," was his simple answer. His feet continued to the open fire where a small pot full of earthy smelling soup hung.

Feeling further ignored, she stepped up to him and sneered. "And how'd you get to be so distant and snobby?"

"Snobby?" Link looked surprised. Distant- he could understand distant.

"You know what I mean! This attitude you've got now- acting like you're too good for our village, taking off almost every day, running off to goddesses knows where!"

His gaze turned back to the fire. "That's not why I leave, Ilia," Two bowls of steaming soup were quickly ladled. One he handed to his tempered friend and the other he sat down with. Reluctantly, she joined him at the table. He knew this was the best way for her anger to cool, and he was right, for when she spoke again it was with a softer voice.

"What happened to you, Link? You've been completely different since you came back home from the war."

Inwardly, he cringed at the term 'war,' but his composure never faltered. "How could they even being to understand?" he thought sorrowfully. "They know so little..." His silence irked her, yet it was an annoyance she was used to. He rarely had answers anymore.

Her spoon tapped on the homely bowl of soup till she rose, tossing it into the half eaten soup. "Rusl wanted me to pass on a message," she stated dryly. This caught Link's attention. "Remember that silly sword and shield you were supposed to deliver to the castle before all of this started?"

-.-

The smell of fresh bread filled the small, cozy house. Link savored it.

"With the sudden, unexpected rebellion, we completely forgot about this-" Rusl held up a newly forged Ordon sword and shield with a proud grin. "Despite the originals being stolen by those monsters, I remembered a few weeks ago and figured that I had better remake them."

Link shifted uncomfortably on the small couch Uli had sat him on. She turned back to her small oven and protruded three fresh loaves. Rusl broke one in half for Colin and passed a whole loaf to his guest. Link gratefully took it from him, but it hardly helped his nervousness. Although Rusl was his closest friend and understood him most, he could never tell him how those weapons had 'fallen' into his hands. .

Uli's soft voice broke his troubled thoughts. "Rusl would still prefer that you take it, Link. After all, you have met the princess already, and with our new baby it is too hard to have him gone for too many days."

Colin, who had wormed himself in beside Link, jumped excitedly. "Y-you met Princess Zelda?" his meek voice leaked out in awe.

"Link has met many interesting people in his journeys," his father beamed as he tousled his son's golden hair, but when he looked back to Link it was with a more serious glance. His head motioned to the door. "Take a walk with me."

-:-

In the mid-day warmth, it was refreshing to wade through the cool spring with Rusl. Link felt he could always relax a little around him. He wouldn't hassle him or get angry with what everyone else titled his 'strange behavior.' But there was one thing perplexing the young man.

"Why are you sending me?" he met his older friend's eyes inquisitivly. "It's only a two day trip there and back; one if you're really quick. I've more than looked upon the land with my own eyes like you wanted me to, but you haven't left town for a few weeks. I'm sure you're due for a trip to town by now." They stared at each other in sience for a moment before Link finished his point. "I know you wouldn't pass up the trip without good reasoning."

The older man smiled lightly, breaking his friend's heavy mood. "You' always were a smart boy, Link." A faint noise from the path behind them caught Link's attention, but he passed it off, not sensing any danger from it. Rusl continued unaware. "You've been restless upon your return here; everyone has noticed and they're all worried. I know they don't understand, but they care, Link."

The young man remained silent, letting his fingertips glide over the surface of the water.

"I think," Rusl spoke at last, "this trip would be good for you. Besides, could the province of Ordon could possibly choose a better representative to bear these gifts on behalf of our loyalty? Have… have you spoken with the princess since?"

Link hesitated. "A few times."

Rusl nodded slowly. "If it were appropriate, she would be of good counsel to you. I believe her to have suffered her share of miseries. But... enough of that talk." He pulled the sword and shield from his back and placed them in Link's capable hands. "Take your time, friend. With all due respect, I believe it would do you good to take a voyage with destination and purpose."

Link was taken a back. "How do you know-?"

"You return with the same expression and the same emptiness every day. You are a man who needs purpose, Link, even if it is as minor as this. Safe journeying." He patted him on the shoulder and turned back for the village.

Ahead of him, Link could faintly hear a pair of feet running back to the village. Ilia never had been very sneaky.