Chapter 1: The Prophecy
All was quiet in a small basement. The small, square basement was lit up by the means of 4 torches that was surrounding a small pedestal with a golden chest on it. The only signs of movement was from a young man walking towards the pedestal. The young man reached the pedestal and stared at the chest with his sad, brown eyes and sighed. The young man, Randolph was black, and was considered short for his age, which was 21. He wasn't powerfully built, very skinny, a shrimp one might say. He wore black rimmed, rectangular glasses which curved on the corners and had a small face with a smile that would brighten anyone's day. He was wearing a light blue T-shirt and blue shorts and black new balance sneakers. He loved the color blue. It was his favorite color.
On this particular day, however, blue was the feeling that was living inside of him. Worried and anxious, he was foretold danger that would happen in the world he lived in. A repeat of what had happened to his ancestor, Nayru. Nayru was a strong willed woman back in the time period of 1400 AD. She had long, blue hair, bright blue eyes, and wore a blue dress that made everyone think that she was a wave of water whenever the wind blew in her direction. She, like Randolph loved to sing. She had a magical voice that enchanted those who heard her songs. Nayru however was not just a diva. She was the Oracle of Ages who controlled time. Because of this, Nayru's powers were sought by the Sorceress of Shadow, Veran. Veran tricked a young Hylian hero by the name of Link by possessing the Nurse of Hyrule's Princess Zelda, Impa. Veran, masquerading as Impa, told Link that she was looking for Nayru who lived in a forest known as the Forest of Time. Unknown to Link at the time, Veran, made Link roll back a sacred stone with the mark of three triangles united, known as the Triforce, removing a sacred barrier that prevented all evil into the Forest of Time.
It wasn't long before they found Nayru, singing one of her enchanting songs to a group of small animals. Veran interrupted the singer's performance and took over Nayru's body and gained the power to control time. With Nayru's powers, Veran traveled into the year of 500 AD and stopped all of time and changed history in the land where Nayru lived, Labrynna. Veran had planned to use Nayru's powers to create the Age of Shadows. To do so, she masqueraded as the Oracle of Ages and gained the trust of past Labrynna's Queen Ambi and became her most trusted advisor. Queen Ambi had her people work on her tower, Ambi's Tower. The people in the village though began calling it the Black Tower ever since Veran/Nayru took charge and forced the people to work without rest until the tower was completed. Queen Ambi wanted the tower built so her true love could be guided back safely from the sea. Veran wanted it built so she could climb on top of the highest turret and cast the Age of Shadows from it.
In order to stop Veran's plan, Link had to retrieve the Eight Essences of Time scattered around Labrynna in the ages of 1400 AD and 500 AD. With the help of the magical time traveling instrument, The Harp of Ages, Link was able to rescue Nayru, defeat Veran and restore time back to the land of Labrynna. Since that time, Nayru became more and more strong willed and fulfilled her duties as the Oracle of Ages faithfully until the day she died.
Before she died, her powers as an Oracle were transferred to special men and women over the ages. The men became the Guardians of Ages while the women became the Oracles of Ages. It is the year 2009 and Randolph was the next Guardian of Ages. The prophet told him that the same thing would befall upon him but did not know where and when. He cringed at the thought of being possessed. He unlatched the golden clasps on the chest and opened it. Inside resting was a small, circular harp with four strings going down the center horizontally. One half of the circle was red and the other half was blue, only joined together by a pendant with a small clock inside of it. This was the Harp of Ages, the powerful time traveling instrument that Link had once used to save Randolph's ancestor. Randolph held the harp to his chest and closed his eyes. He was so afraid, so helpless, so sad.
His sensitive ears picked up movement coming from behind him and he quickly turned around. Another man, Asian, only 19 years of age, a little bigger and more muscular than Randolph was walking towards him. His hair was cut high and tight, military style, no hair on the sides and back of his head but a little on top. He wore a white T-shirt and long blue jeans and white tennis shoes. His sharp, brown eyes studied Randolph. Randolph sighed with relief and turned back to the pedestal. It was only Behnke, his best friend and soldier buddy. Behnke was a corporal in the US Army Reserves and a member of the 991st Transportation Company. He was an 88M, known as a truck driver and a 11B, an infantry man. Randolph, was a specialist of the 991st Transportation Company. Like Behnke, he was also an 11B, but he was not a 88M. Instead, he was a 74D, a chemical operations specialist and partly a 25U, a communications specialist. Behnke had been looking for Randolph after he had disappeared from his house about 15 minutes ago.
"Randolph, what's going on? You just left my house without letting me know what's going on. I got worried and followed you." Behnke said concerned.
Randolph hugged his harp tighter. It was a few seconds before he responded in a small voice. "....I appreciate your concern....but there is nothing that you could do about it....There is nothing even I can do about it...."
Behnke was taken aback at Randolph's response. "Okay dude. Something big is going on. I know it. You haven't been acting yourself for the past two days. What's wrong?"
Randolph turned his head towards Behnke, his brown eyes showing nothing but fear and sadness. "It's a waste of time explaining it to you. Like I said, there is nothing you can do about it...." Randolph faced the pedestal again.
Randolph's ears pricked up again as he heard movement coming from behind him again. He turned around, followed by Behnke. Another man, blond haired, with the same haircut as Behnke's walked towards them. He, like Behnke was also 19 and a corporal of the 991st Transportation Company and was a 11B, and a 88M. He wore a collared white button down shirt and hung outside of his black jeans. He wore black tennis shoes. Like Randolph, he wore the same kind of glasses he did, since they were military issued. His blue eyes also showed concern for Randolph.
"Even so, you can't keep secrets pent up inside of you forever. Behnke and I have been worried man. It's time you tell us what's going on." The man replied firmly.
"But Welborn....." Randolph began to say. Welborn raised a hand to silence him.
"No excuses. Lets hear it."
Randolph took a deep breath and faced him and Behnke. "As you know, I'm the Guardian of Ages, descendant of Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. You remember the story I told you of the evil that befall upon Nayru and how Link, both of you guys' ancestor saved her and restored time to Labrynna right?"
Behnke and Welborn nodded. "Yeah. What does that have to do with you?" Behnke asked.
"I was told from a mysterious prophet two days ago that the same thing would befall upon me....I don't know how, I don't know when and I don't know why. I have been worried ever since....Guys...if anything happens to me....what will happen to all of time? Will I be as lucky as Nayru? Is this evil a greater threat than Veran?"
Behnke and Welborn exchanged glances. Behnke scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. Welborn faced Randolph. "So that's what's been bothering you all this time? A prophecy that may or may not come true?"
"Now hold up, Welborn. This is a very serious matter. Especially in Randolph's case. The chances of this prophecy coming true are very high." Behnke said facing him.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right....But what should we do about it?" Welborn asked glancing at Randolph who was still hugging the Harp of Ages.
"As the descendants of Link, it is our job to protect the world from the clutches of evil. I say that after Randolph's performance tomorrow, I suggest that we take him to Hyrule Castle for safety purposes until the evil has been thwarted." Behnke suggested.
"Sounds like a plan. What do you think Randolph?" Welborn asked turning towards him.
"I can only hope and pray that this will work....But always remember that you cannot go against the Guardian of Ages. What will happen will happen." Randolph raised his head and faced his friends. "Thanks guys....for everything...."
"What are friends for man? Now that that's cleared up, how about you put down the Harp of Ages and we all grab a bite to eat somewhere? I'm hungry." Welborn said.
"Yeah me too, and don't worry so much man. We're here to look after you and you can defend yourself in combat pretty well as I've seen you do plenty of times." Behnke said placing a hand on Randolph's shoulder. Randolph stared at the Harp of Ages for a few more seconds before putting it back in the golden chest and closing it and clasping the latches together. He then faced his comrades with a smile.
"Yeah I suppose you are right. Lets go eat. I'm hungry also. Where do you guys want to go?"
"We'll discuss that on the way there. Come on. I'll drive." Behnke said as he headed for the stairs leading into the kitchen of Randolph's house. Randolph started to follow them but turned around and stared at the pedestal once more. Then, shaking his head, his turned towards the steps and headed up them after his comrades.