Chapter 1- Son of a Legend

Twenty years had passed since then. The Master Sword was returned to its pedestal to further provide protection against Ganon's return, and Link, not able to return to Kokiri forest, lived in Hyrule castle those years. At the end of that time, the King passed away, allowing Zelda to assume the throne.

Many people believed that Link would be at the queen's side, for they had been never been seen apart, but on that day, Link took a back row seat. Few knew he had even attended the new queen's coronation; one who did was Zelda herself. She saw him as the ceremony was ending. He was in the upper balcony, partially hidden in shadow. A few weeks later, Link moved into an apartment in the Castle Town.

Almost a year passed, and the queen announced she had given birth to a baby girl. Many speculated that this was also the child of Link, but no one could confirm it. Link was spotted heading to castle a few days later, and he returned carrying a bundle in his arms, which he immediately took out of the city. This began a rumor that the queen had also had a baby boy, but again, the lack of evidence caused it to become a mere rumor.

Link returned to his apartment and began work as a Hyrulian knight. Whenever the time came for requests of transfer, Link always made his for the town gates. He lived alone, and only came out for work or to deliver a letter. "Inside sources" told the pub goers that some of these letters went to the castle, and replies came soon after, but most of Link's correspondents seemed to dwell outside the walls of the town. The Pubbers, as they were known, believed that Link and Zelda had had a falling out, though they kept in contact as friends. What the townsfolk didn't know was that the couple had an entirely different reason for putting distance between them.

Tristan watched as his fellow Kokiri played around their tree houses. He was sitting on a ledge up above Mido's, the self proclaimed leader of the Kokiri, house. Behind him opened the tree trunk that led to the Lost Woods. He was waiting for Saria, his best friend, to come back. She had been gone a full week, but that didn't lower Tristan's spirits. He sat on the ledge with a flat piece of wood, some parchment, and some charcoal, and continued drawing. He did this every evening, and always before dinner.

Looking up, he saw the sun was getting pretty low. He picked up his things and put them in his bag, and climbed down to join his friends for dinner. For as long as he could remember, Tristan and the other Kokiri ate at a long table that was brought out at meal times, but Saria had told him it had not always been this way. The young Deku Tree had imposed this new tradition to allow the Kokiri to remain close friends.

The only Kokiri that didn't like this tradition was Mido, because it meant he had to be around Tristan, whom he thought inferior as Tristan still had no fairy. This oddity, and Tristan's appearance also reminded Mido of another boy who had lived in Kokiri Forest, and he turned out not even to be a Kokiri at all. Even though the Deku Tree had granted that boy a fairy, Mido still didn't like him. It was the same with Tristan. Secretly, Mido thought Tristan was a Hylian as well.

Once he was done eating, Tristan climbed the ladder to the house the other boy Mido disliked had once lived in. Pushing back the curtain, he placed his bag on the stump that served as a table and lay down on the bed. He was just getting to the good part in one of several recurring dreams he had been having, when a high pitched voice awoke him.

"Tristan? Come on Tristan wake up!"

Tristan opened his eyes to see a fairy hovering nearby, it's green color causing Tristan to jump up in surprise.

"You're Saria's fairy!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, and now that your finally awake, I need you to come with me. Saria's waiting just inside the Lost Woods."

As Tristan was about to exit the house, something caused him to pull down the only sword in the forest, the Kokiri Sword, from the wall and strap it to his back. When he reached the ground, he noticed that Saria's fairy was already halfway to the entrance of the Lost Woods. Running to catch up, Tristan managed to reach the ledge in record time. Saria ran out of the tunnel and embraced him. Tristan returned it, remembering the last time he had hugged her, then let go quickly. He had just seen someone else step out of the forest, and he was no Kokiri, it was obvious that he was a full grown Hylian. Saria took Tristan's hand and began to pull him toward the stranger.

"S-saria?" Tristan began to ask.

"Don't worry," she replied, "He's a friend, a good friend. I knew him a long time ago. Right Link?"

They were now standing in front of the Hylian. The name Link struck something in Tristan's memory.

"That's right Saria," The Hylian replied. "It's good to be home."

"I know you," Tristan managed to say.

"Is that so?" Link responded.

"Where's Navi?"

This question took Link by surprise. For Tristan had never met Link, yet how did he know of the fairy?

"Navi is currently speaking to the Great Deku Tree."

"Are you ok? You look sick." Saria asked.

"I'm not doing very well," Link responded, "can we go inside? I can make it down from the ledge, but after that, I won't be able to climb anything."

"We'll go to my house then," Saria said. The trio made their way down the hill, and to Saria's house, Link stumbling every now and then. They reached the house with no problem, but as they were entering, Link dropped to his knees and it took both Saria and Tristan to drag him to the bed.

After removing his shield and his bandolier, Tristan thought it odd for Link to have no sword, they helped him lay down. In the light, Tristan saw the legendary hero was sweating non-stop, though nights in the forest were pretty chilly.

"What's wrong sir?" Tristan asked.

"Yeah, what brought you back after all these years?" Saria asked.

"Easy, easy," Link groaned, "slow down, or I won't be able to keep up. I was sent by Her Majesty, Queen Zelda."

"Zelda?" Saria asked. "How's she doing?"

"She is doing well. However, trouble is brewing. There is evil gathering once again, deep within the desert, farther than the Spirit Temple. The Queen felt it gathering, and summoned me to aid her."

"What does all this have to do with you being here?"

"I was getting to that. I am no longer able to help the Queen. When she summoned me, I had become very sick. Even the old hag in Kakariko City couldn't make a medicine for me. So the Queen formed a new plan, I was to come here and retrieve the one that does not belong, and send him to the castle to meet with her."

"The one that does not belong?" asked Saria's fairy.

"He means me," Tristan said, his head bowed. "Right?"

"Yes, I do my son."

Tristan recoiled so hard, he backed into the wall and fell forward; Saria caught him before he hit the floor.

"What do you mean 'son'?" Tristan gasped.

"Ten years ago, when you were born, I held a meeting with the Queen. I asked her whether or not the people should know that the Hero of Time had had a son. We both agreed that it was a bad idea. Some of Ganondorf's supporters were still trying to kill me, and if they found out I had a son, it would have been my undoing. They would have used you as bait to lure me out and dispose of me. I brought you here and entrusted you to the Deku Tree, as my mother had done before me."

"That's why you were here ten years ago," Saria said.

"Yes. My son, Tristan, you must leave the forest and head to Hyrule Castle. In my bag is some equipment you'll find useful. The bag is just outside the forest, hidden in the first bush you see. First, we must await Navi's return, in fact, she's a little late."

"No I'm not," said a blue fairy hovering above them. "I was just waiting for the right moment to interrupt."

"Polite as always. What did the Deku Tree say?

"He understands perfectly. He too has felt the evil growing. Tristan is to meet him in the morning. That will give him the time he needs to find one suitable."

"Very good. Did you hear that Tristan?"

"Yes… Father."

"I know it's hard to grasp, but do not deny the truth. The sooner you accept it, the better you will be. My son, listen carefully to my instructions. First, come closer, it's getting harder for me to speak."

Both Tristan and Saria came and sat on the floor next to the bed. From this distance, Tristan could clearly see the resemblance between himself and his father.

"When you leave this forest, you should head west. There you will find a ranch called…"

"Lon Lon Ranch."

"How in the name of Din do you know that? You've never left the forest."

"I know your whole adventure. Up till you defeated Ganon. I've seen the whole thing in my dreams."

"It seems you've inherited one of your mother's abilities. I can say no more on that, it is forbidden for me to. That knowledge you will learn in time. Yes, when you
leave the forest, head to Lon Lon Ranch. There, you should meet Malon, the ranch head. She will supply you with a horse, for Hyrule Castle is some distance on foot. When you attempt to enter the castle itself, the guards will attempt to stop you. In the bag with your equipment is a letter from the Queen, hand it to any guard who stops you and they will let you pass. The Queen will give you further information.

"My time grows short. I will die soon, for this sickness has worsened. Do me a favor and bury me here in the Forest. It's where I grew up and is where I want to end my adventures. Go rest now. Saria, go with him. When he leaves, you will need to go to the Forest Temple. Rauru will meet you there. Tristan, say goodbye to the Queen and the Princess for me."

"Father…"

"Do not worry my son. I'm sorry we didn't spend much time together."

"It's okay. I'm just glad to have been able to meet you."

"As was I. Good bye Saria… it was good seeing you one last time… good bye my son… don't fail me."

"Good bye… Father."

"Good bye… Hero of Time."

With that, Link, the legendary Hero of Time, shut his eyes and passed on. His fairy, Navi, fluttered down on the pillow, and died with him, as was the tradition of a fairy and its partner. Tristan and Saria stood for a moment, holding hands and watching as the room grew darker of its own accord. Then they walked out. Tristan stopped and sat down just outside the door and buried his face in his hands. Saria knelt down next to him.

"It's okay Tristan. I know it's hard," Saria said, putting her arm around him.

Tristan looked up at her and Saria was surprised to see that no tears were in his eyes. "I know. But to think that my dad was the Hero of Time. I wonder if that also makes me the Hero as well."

"It's a possibility. Come on, let's get some rest. We'll need to bury him before the others wake up. Then you should get your equipment, Mido probably won't let you through unless you're fully equipped."

"Then I can see the Deku Tree. Would you mind coming with me?"

"Not at all."

With that settled, Saria took Tristan's hand and they walked to his tree house. Before going to bed, Saria did something she had never done before, and kissed Tristan on the cheek. For that Tristan gave her the bed, though she thought he was just being friendly.

The two woke before the sun rose the next morning and buried Link behind his old home, which Tristan now lived in. The sun still hadn't risen when they were finished, which allowed Tristan time to fetch the bag. When he reached the end of the tunnel that led to the outside world, he stopped to marvel at the vastness of it. Then he spotted the bag, grabbed it, and ran back into the forest. He entered his house, and with Saria's help, pulled out the contents.

It was like opening presents in the winter. In the bag they found a new sword with a note saying the Kokiri sword should stay in the forest. There was a shield made of metal that Tristan recognized as the one Link had when he had stumbled across the realm of Termina. They found a boomerang, a slingshot with some ammo, and bow and quiver that was just the right length for Tristan, a small gold bracelet Tristan recognized as the Goron bracelet, which allowed him to pull bomb flowers, a bag of rupees which totaled out to two hundred "to get you started" as the note said, and the letter from the Queen.

"All of this belonged to my dad when he was younger," Tristan explained. "I recognize all of it from the dreams I've had."

"Well, you sure will be well equipped," Saria said, a giggle working its way out.

"No kidding."

With Saria's help, Tristan strapped everything on and they walked outside. They climbed down the ladder and headed over to the entrance to the Deku Tree's clearing. As Saria expected, Mido rushed out of his house and stopped in the entrance as Tristan and Saria approached.

"Whoa, hold on there Mr. No Fairy!" Mido said. "I can't let you pass with out the right gear!"

"You mean these?" Tristan asked, grabbing the shield with his left hand and pulling out the sword, which was a little longer than the Kokiri sword, with his right.

"Err… yeah, those," Mido said. "But you're missing one more thing."

Tristan swung the sword and brought it to a stop pointing at Mido's throat. "Lemme through Mido. No one cares if I have a fairy or not."

"MIDO!" came a deep musical voice from behind Mido, "LET THEM THROUGH!"

Mido ran as fast as he could for his house. Tristan and Saria burst out laughing and Tristan put away his sword and shield. They entered the Deku Tree's clearing and saw the young Deku Tree, which was already growing over the old one behind it. As they approached, it spoke to them.

"That was brave of thee Tristan, but please don't threaten Mido that way again," it said.

"I'm sorry Great Deku Tree, I won't."

"Very good. Now, have ye done as your father asked?"

"Yes, we buried him behind his old home."

"A fitting place for a noble man. I have someone I'd like ye to meet. TALA!"

From behind the Tree came an orange colored fairy. It flew over to Tristan and flew circles around his head a few times before introducing herself.

"I'm Tala. I'm to be your partner from now on, nice to meet you Tristan."

"The same to you Tala." Tristan responded. "Thank you Great Deku Tree."

"I owed your father a favor. As he had a fairy that aided him, he requested you have one as well. Now off with you, before the sun starts getting low."

Tristan and Saria left the clearing. As they came to the entrance to the village again, they saw Mido standing in their way again. He was about to say something when he spotted Tala flying next to Tristan's head. Mido stamped his foot and ran into the shop, which was closer than his home.

Saria escorted Tristan as far as the bridge between the two tunnels that led to Hyrule Field. She could go no further than that. Tristan turned to look at her for what felt like the last time he would see her. She held out something which Tristan recognized as the ocarina she had given Link.

"I want you to have it now, to remember me," she said. Tristan took it and tucked it into his belt pouch. Suddenly Saria had thrown her arms around him and was crying into his shoulder.

"Saria?"

"I-I'm sorry," she said, still hugging him. "But, I've realized how much I care about you, and now we can never be together."

She looked up at him and saw that he was crying too. Making up her mind on the spot, she reached up and kissed him on the lips. For a second, Tristan looked surprised. Then he wiped his eyes and smiled.

"I'll be sure to visit okay?" he said. Saria's only reply was to kiss him again. When they finally broke apart, Tristan turned and ran into the tunnel that would take him to Hyrule Field.