The gardens were green and the sun was shining high in the sky above the temple. The hero stood by his horse, a chocolate brown mare with a beautiful white mane. The princess stood next to him.

"We have defended both Faron Province and the Eldin Province, now we must make our way North to the Zora's Domain and to rescue the Lanayru Province" said the hero.

"Yes, but which direction?"

"According to the map, it says we must travel up north. But from where we are in Hyrule field, I'd say we head north west."

Zelda nodded, taking in a deep breath of fresh air. She loved the smokey fields in the sunset.. Wait. Smoke? She looked around, something was off, there was no smoke to be seen in any direction. Maybe she was just tired from fatigue. But no, the smell of something burning was still there. What was going on? She turned to question the hero, but both the horse and the Hero of Time were nowhere to be seen.

"Where have you gone?" Screamed the princess.

Terror gripped her with frosty claws, causing Zelda to freeze with fear. What was happening. She felt her shoulder being shaken. When she turned, still no one was there. Again another prod, faintly someone screamed her name.

"Zelda... Zelda.. Wake up.."

Wake up? She was awake, wasn't she?

"Zelda.."

She screamed, what was happening to hear? Where had the hero gone and why could she hear someone calling her when there was no one nearby. Tears began forming in her eyes. She was frightened and alone.

The princess woke with a start. She looked around frantically, she was in her room. Impa was shaking her sleepy form.

"Zelda! Finally, you're awake. Come, the castle is being attacked. We must escape before they find you." Impa sternly stated.

"Hyrule field.. The Hero of Time, we were in the fields." Zelda stuttered.

"What?" For the first time since she had known Impa, she could see fear in her eyes and confusion. But a second later it was gone.

"Come, Princess. Tell me about your dreams later. For now we must get to safety."

Zelda climbed out of her bed and sleepily ran after Impa as they left her room. On the way down her spiralling stairs, Zelda caught a glimpse of Hyrule Castle Town. It was ablaze in the market square. She gasped and put her hand over her mouth to silence her scream before it could escape. What was happening? Who was attacking? Before she could think anymore, Impa grabbed her arm and dragged her down the stairs, once in the kitchens, they moved the stove to reveal a secret chamber. Zelda got on her hands and knees and crawled through the tunnel first, it wasn't the nicest escape route but the safest. Once Impa and Zelda were through, the guard moved the stove back into place to hide their tunnel. Tears rolled down Zelda's face as she was forced to flee the only home she'd ever known.

The shadowy figure loomed over the throne room. Finally, after years of plotting and gathering his strength, he had finally conquered Hyrule Castle.

"Master Ganondorf, there is no sign of the princess. We searched everywhere but no one can find her." Reported a Bokoblin, who cowered in Ganondorf's shadow.

"She's missing. How the hell did you manage to loose her?!" Roared the beast of a man.

"W-we didn't know where her room w-was. By the time we found it she was gone."

"That whelp Impa must have alerted her of our presence. Search the towers, the whole castle! Do not rest until you find her!"

"Yes, my Lord." Bowed the grunt.

If it wasn't for Ganon, these pathetic whelps would never have had the organisation to conquer the castle. Only when Ganon found them did they have the leadership to muster up such a fool proof plan. Attack at night, spread fires to trap the guards in the barracks. Such obvious actions yet oblivious as the creatures were they could not manage without him.

At least the plan seemed foolproof until the little princess escaped from his grasp. He had not anticipated there being an escape route of some sort being in the castle. He had looked all over in his spare time and to no avail. Wherever he would have placed one, there wasn't any to be seen. A tunnel escaping the castle had to be the only way she could have slipped through his grasp. Never mind, he thought, they would soon find where she was hiding and when they did, he would force her hand in marriage so he could officially be King of Hyrule.

The tunnel was dark and damp, it smelled of mud and possibly rodents. Being a princess, Zelda had never been subjected to these conditions. Yet in a life or death situation, she had no choice but to endure.

"Not too far to go now, Princess." Said Impa.

Zelda signed. It was too dark to see where she was going, but she trusted Impa, and she had assured Zelda it was a safe passage way. So onwards she crawled.

After a few minutes, the surface changed from damp mud combined with stone to what Zelda recognised as marble. She could now stand up. Impa walked passed Zelda and murmured something under her breath, suddenly light flooded the room. Fire sprang from Impa's hands and landed on the torches that were previously unlit.

"Impa, I didn't know you could do magic." Exclaimed the princess.

"I don't know much, but that was one of the few spells I learnt in case of an emergency like tonight." She explained casually.

"Oh, that seems logical. So where are we now?"

"We are still in Hyrule Castle Town, just deep underground and a little bit away from the castle itself. There's a ladder here." Impa pointed to a ladder leading up to the surface.

"We shall stay hidden for tonight and tomorrow or the day after I will check the surface and see how things are. You must stay here, as you are most likely to be recognised."

"Okay. But what if you get captured? What will I do without food or water?"

"There are some resources that you must make last. It should do you for a month or two."

Zelda nodded. It was a decent hideout down here, and at least it wasn't as cold as it looked. In the resource box was a couple of blankets and pouches of dried food with some glass jars filled with water. There was also a first aid kit, equip with red potions and bandages, as well as some other basic supplies. She hoped she wouldn't have to stay hidden here for too long, but at least if she needed, she could.

"Where is the princess?!"

The small guard cowered under the pressure. Ganon had his hand against the man's throat, holding him in place against the wall. The Triforce of Power increased the man's strength, so it didn't take much to pin the soldier against the stone wall.

"I-I don't know! She was taken by the Shiekah and another guard into the dining hall. That's all I know, I swear!" Stuttered the man.

"Pathetic whelp. You should have known better than to trust that I'd let you go." The beast cackled.

With a simple flick of his wrist, the man's neck snapped. His face frozen permanently in a state of horror. Ganon released his hold on the corpse, walking towards his cowering servant.

"Have every able soldier to search the kitchen and dining hall. The princess should be hidden there somewhere. Find them." He ordered.

With a shaky bow, the Bulblin ran to fetch the rest of his comrades to search for Zelda.

Before he had stormed the castle. Ganondorf and his army had invaded the Castle Town. Destroying anyone in their way. Not many guards were stationed in the town since Ganon had ordered small forces to disrupt the peace in other areas. For instance, Kakariko Village and Faron Woods. Most of the guards were out of the way, making it the perfect time for Ganon to gather his forces and take over Hyrule.

"The prophecy States that a 'Hero of Time' blessed by the goddesses with the Triforce of Courage, would save Hyrule. The man you saw in your dream, did he have the mark? Similar to your own?" Impa asked gently.

Zelda was still shaken up. But she nodded. "Yes. He had it on his left hand. I couldn't see his face, but he wore the legendary green tunic and I couldn't make it out, but their was a figure behind him. A spirit of some sort."

"What do you mean, Princess?"

"A small figure, floating in the air, like a shadow protecting the hero."

Impa thought for a moment. But when she said nothing more, Zelda signed. What had she dreamt? Why now? What did her dream mean? Was it time for the hero to be reawakened? And who was he? Where was he? Did his appearance in her dream have something to do with the attack on Hyrule Castle? Zelda had so many questions and it was frustrating to not be able to answer any of them.

Seeing the pained look on Zelda's face, Impa coughed. Zelda looked up to her friend and adviser.

"Do not fret, Princess. We will soon find out the meaning of your dreams. If it is time for the hero to return to Hyrule then it is our duty to find him and guide hi-"

"No." Zelda interrupted her. "Not our. Yours. I am no leader. I can not guide as well as you, I'm not as agile as you. You have more experience outside the castle gates than I. So please, find the hero and assist him in my behalf." Whispered the princess.

Impa was shocked. She had always assumed the Princess, being blessed with the Triforce of Wisdom, would have been the one to guide the Hero of Time through his quest. But she was inexperienced. She was still but a girl, only 19. She had much to learn. Zelda was right. Impa was more suited to bear the Triforce of Wisdom. But fate had chosen Zelda, not Impa. She signed.

"Zelda.. It is your destiny. If I truly must take your place, at least let me find a guard for you. I need to keep you safe. So either you come with me or you have someone as suited as I to protect you."

"Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm tired, Impa. If I must come with you then so be it. But if possible I would like to go back home."

"If dark forces are truly upon us, Zelda, I'm afraid going home isn't an option until the hero's quest is complete."

Placing a blanket gently over the princess's shaking form, Impa lay down next to her. It was her duty to protect Zelda no matter what. If she truly didn't wish to venture out, either she had to gain courage to do so or the world could suffer as consequence.