The Legend of Zelda: The Hero's Twilight, a 'Legend of Zelda' fanfic by Tsunami Storm

Chapter 9: Recall

CRASH! Nine-year-old Princess Zelda shot up in bed, startled by the deafening noise that had woken her. She leapt out of bed and donned her robe that was hanging from her desk chair. Running to her chamber doors, she yanked one open and stood stock-still at the sight before her eyes. A hulking, beast-like creature had somehow infiltrated the castle, defeated all of the night guards, and broken into the young prince's chambers. Now the creature had the unconscious boy slung over its shoulder like a ragdoll and was hefting its huge axe to swing at the terrified girl before it- who was frozen with shock and fear and couldn't move.

Just when it was about to deliver the blow meant to end Zelda's life, a strange golden wolf jumped between them and knocked the child out of the way- growling and snarling at the creature all the while. The beast grunted at its new opponent, acknowledging him as more of a threat than the female child. It grunted again when it heard the sounds of metal-shod footfalls approaching. The rear guard was on its way.

With a guttural bellow at the golden wolf, the beast grabbed its unconscious victim and clutched him to its chest, then dove out the nearest window to the courtyard far below. Landing on its significantly cushioned backside, the creature rumbled over to its mount- a giant blue-haired boar- and galloped off through the castle gates and then out into the wide expanse of Hyrule Field.

To the beast's dismay, the golden wolf was on its heels every step of the way, growling and snarling as if he were rabid. The monster merely grunted again and blew its hunting horn, signaling for its own army to come to its aid. Within minutes, the golden wolf found himself surrounded by bow-wielding Bulblins astride a herd of Gerudo boars.

The golden wolf howled a strange melody then. The song sang of green pastures and blue skies as far as the eye could see, of freedom to run wherever and however far you wanted.

[Epona's Song]

The Bulblins' mounts were growing restless after the wolf's song, but then their riders received a shock. The golden wolf had been replaced by a menacing looking, one-eyed warrior clad in ancient armor. He drew his sword and vaulted onto his spectral steed's back without missing a beat. He goaded his faithful friend into a hand-gallop, circling the leader in a wide arc before charging the fiend head-on.

By this time the beast had collected its wits and charged off on its own steed, racing its spectral foe all over Hyrule Field. The warrior methodically dispatched the underlings first- as they would only be an annoyance later- and he did not want any further harm to come to the young prince. Once all of the grunts were taken care of, the warrior engaged the leader.

It took some time, but the ghostly warrior managed to wrest the unconscious lad from the jaws of evil and send the fiend and its mount tumbling into the ravine below the Bridge of Eldin. However, one of the Bulblin grunts was a very sore loser, and sounded a call on its fallen leader's hunting horn.

The phantom knight gasped as a dimensional portal appeared directly above him as he stood on the bridge, and a strange force dragged both him and the young prince into darkness.

When the heroic specter came to his senses, he realized with some shock that he'd returned to his wolf form, and that at his forepaws lay the cutest blue-eyed pup he'd ever encountered. The pup looked up at him with a canine grin on his face, his small, pink tongue hanging out to one side. The golden wolf couldn't help but smile back at the pup as he rolled over and displayed his underbelly to his elder, an act of deference and submission.

"Little one, neither of us belongs here." The spectral wolf thought at the transformed prince, knowing that the boy could understand him. "I am not meant to interfere, but someone has to get you back to your own world, where you will be found by the right people."

Coming to a decision, the golden wolf sat on his haunches and howled a melody he'd learned long ago in a bygone age, a song whose magic would take both of them to a sacred haven where he knew the boy could get the help he needed.* He hadn't noticed before, but the boy's right arm (foreleg) had been slit from elbow to wrist, nearly showing bone under the torn flesh. The boy's midsection looked as if it had been pierced as well- by the fiendish King Bulblin's horns, no doubt. Assessing the injury quickly, the heroic wolf determined that none of the boy's vital organs had been hit. He smiled at the pup again and sighed in relief. "The goddesses must be watching over you, little one." He thought at the pup, who merely closed his eyes again to rest. His wounds had clearly tired him out.

[Prelude of Light]

By this time the warrior and child had left the realm of darkness behind and appeared in the Sacred Grove, in the chamber of the legendary blade. The wolf huffed at the nostalgia as he saw the blade sparkling in the moonlight, then turned back to the pup- no, boy- at his forepaws.

Ears twitching at all the true wolves singing to the moon above, the phantom beast took that as his cue and yelped his cry for help, putting as much pain and hurt into it as he could so that a sympathetic soul would come and help the boy he'd rescued.

Licking the boy's left hand once in a gesture of fondness, the wolf thought at the child, "You're safe now, little one. Help is on its way."

-End Flashback-

Princess Zelda woke from her vision with a gasp- one name leaping unbidden to her lips as she tried to control her erratic breathing, racing heartbeat and the sweat pouring down her face: "LINK!"

Miles away, her twin brother had just started awake from the same dream, and Time smiled over at him and handed him a bottle of warm Ordon milk.

"Bad dream?" The ancient hero asked, and Twilight rubbed his face with his left hand. "A horrible nightmare." He agreed. "Though- I feel like I've had this one before."

"A recurring dream? That's unusual. That usually means one of two things. Either the goddesses are trying to tell you something, or your subconscious isn't very creative." Time teased, and Twilight glared at him half-heartedly.

[Shameless self-deprecation. I have recurring dreams all the time.]

"Hardee har har." He growled, but his ancestor just chuckled. "Do you wanna talk about it?" He asked- all joking forgotten- and Twilight nodded.

"I saw a princess, a young Zelda, and- King Bulblin, who was kidnapping a young boy. You were there too. You defended Zelda and attacked the creature, both as a wolf and as a spectral warrior astride a ghostly horse. A Twilit portal swallowed you and the boy, and you both turned into wolves- though the boy was a pup that looked just like my wolf form. Then you howled the Prelude of Light and brought the boy to the Sacred Grove." He finished, looking confused. "Pretty weird, huh?" He asked.

But Time was only gaping at him. So this is how you reveal his past to him, in a disturbing night terror? That's not very nice, Nayru. I'd have done it more gradually so it didn't come as such a shock. But- if this is your will- who am I to argue? Sigh. "Why me?" The Hero of Time groused as he glared up at the night sky before settling his gaze on his favorite student.

"I hate to be the one to tell you this, kiddo-" He began, and Twilight looked up. "-but that wasn't a regular nightmare. It was a vision of the past- your past- from before Rusl and Ilia found you."

"Wait. What?!" Twilight gasped, nearly jumping backwards out of his sleeping bag in surprise.

"It's not the way I would've revealed it, but I guess the goddesses had other plans." Time growled, glaring up at the sky again. "They're not very nice to us sometimes, are they?" He asked, attempting humor.

Twilight was still shell-shocked. "You mean- I was that boy? I'm-"

"The crown prince of Hyrule. Yeah." Time answered, stoking the campfire with one of his Fire arrows. "That's a pretty big bomb to drop on someone, huh?" He asked rhetorically with a chuckle, smiling shyly at his dumbfounded descendant.

"So, Princess Zelda is my- younger sister then?" Twilight whispered softly after a minute, voice betraying nothing of what was going through his mind.

"Twin sister. But you're older by ten minutes." Time answered carefully, not knowing how his protégé would react.

"I have a real family?" He continued in that same incredulous whisper. "A real, flesh-and-blood family? Other than you?" He amended quickly, glancing guiltily at his companion.

Time smirked. "Yeah. You have blood relatives in this world other than your resurrected ancestor." He was going to tease him about the fact that they were practically brothers, but he let it go. He still didn't know how Link was taking all of this.

Whatever Time was expecting- however- wasn't what happened next. Twilight whooped as loudly as he possibly could and nearly crushed his teacher's ribs in a joyous bear hug. Time laughed. "I take it you're not upset?"

"Upset?! How could I be upset? This is the best news I've ever gotten in my life! I have a family! I'm not alone in this world! I have a sister! And parents! How could I possibly be upset?!" Twilight shouted, tears of uncontrollable joy glistening in his blue eyes.

Time felt like he'd been struck in the heart with one of his Ice arrows. How would he break the news to his exultant descendant? It would break his heart. Just when it was so full of complete joy and happiness.

"Yes. Your sister is alive and well." Time answered, his eyes closed and head angled down to the sand under his feet. He knew he must continue, but he couldn't.

"But?" Twilight asked, joyful smile fading as he saw his teacher's face. "Time, my parents. Our parents. What happened to them?"

"They're- gone." Time answered, his tone lacking any inflection of emotion whatsoever. "That monster took more than the crown prince that night. He also took your father. From this world."

Twilight couldn't even take a breath- so frozen was he with shock and pure, naked horror- dreading what he would hear next. "And my- our mother?"

"She died a month later. The court physician said it was a broken heart. After ensuring Zelda would be trained to take over the rulership of Hyrule, she lost the will to live. She'd lost her husband and king, as well as her young son. Not even a healing fairy could save her. I even tried asking one of the Great Fairies in the Cave of Ordeals, but she said it wouldn't work."

Twilight sank to his knees, grief and loss for the parents he'd only just now remembered burning in his chest as if someone had lit his heart ablaze with Din's Fire. Curling up into a fetal ball, he hugged his knees to his chest and wept, wept until his tears ran dry and his throat burned as fiercely as his chest still was.

Time knelt on one knee next to the broken Hero, heartache also playing havoc with his cardiac organ and the rest of his upper chest cavity. No words in any language could begin to describe the pain that both champions of Farore felt, so he said nothing. He took his brother and son by his shoulders and pulled him over to himself so that the younger Hero was laying more comfortably across his lap. In that position, the two heroes wept together until they fell asleep- their handmade, two-man tent protecting them from the searing sun as they slept through the entire day as well. Weary in both body and soul, the saviors of Hyrule rested to restore their strength as well as their spirits.

"Something is wrong." Zelda gasped as she sat up in bed, heart rate still elevated, but it wasn't as high as earlier.

"Milady?" Her personal guard outside her door asked respectfully. "If I may ask, what troubles you?"

"It's a personal matter." The royal answered, and the guard held his peace. It wasn't his place or business.

Something is not right. Zelda repeated to herself mentally. Why would the goddesses send me a vision of that terrible night? Was it a sign? She asked herself, but then shook her head. It was just a night terror. My brother is long gone. I just have to accept that.

At the morning meeting with her captains, Zelda received the most shocking news of her young life so far. Not only was her twin brother yet alive, he was also their own Hero of Twilight that had fought alongside her in the Twilight War!

She had taken to carrying Sheik's Mask of Truth around with her, and his ghost jumped a bit in her hand when she received the news.

Did you know about this? She asked him later when she'd donned his mask.

About your brother? No. He answered. But I did know that both of you are direct descendants of the Hero of Time and the Princess of Destiny. I guess I just never put two and two together.

So you watched over them even when their quest had ended? Zelda asked, and Sheik nodded. The Hero of Time and I actually got to be pretty good friends in the Future that Never Was. Sheik chuckled a little. I wasn't really surprised when I learned he'd stayed behind to guide his descendant and the next Hero. I guess he protected you as well. He added thoughtfully.

Zelda smiled. The Golden Wolf had been a ghostly protector to her family for as long as she could remember. She remembered seeing the noble creature sitting out in any one of the sections of Hyrule Field, or sometimes just outside the castle gate that led into town. Like a furry guardian angel, because there was no way that the wolf was a mortal creature.

"He was mortal, around a hundred years ago." Sheik answered with a smirk.

"Oh, I know." Zelda answered. "It is just- humbling to think that the legendary Hero of Time stayed behind for a hundred years to watch over our ancestors- and then me and Link- instead of passing on to his well-deserved reward."

"He's the kinda guy who'll do that." Sheik answered back as he stretched to warm up for his personal training. "You know how it goes. 'Once a Hero, always a Hero'. Just like that brother of yours."

Zelda smiled, but didn't say anything more as Sheik twisted her body in ways of which she didn't know she was capable. She knew he was trying to be gentle- as she wasn't used to such physical activity- but she was still grateful that she was quite flexible.

"That'll be Nayru's blessing on your family." Sheik smiled. "The sister is blessed by Nayru and the brother is blessed by Farore." He chuckled. "The only one missing is Din."

"And we all know who she picked." Zelda rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. Not the best judgment call on her part." Sheik agreed. "But who am I to judge?"

Zelda nodded. It wasn't their place to question the decisions of their deities.

After Sheik had finished his training, nearly the whole day had passed. As Zelda removed Sheik's mask and dressed herself for bed, she prayed to each of the golden goddesses to keep her brother and his mysterious 'friend' safe as they risked their lives to protect Hyrule. She prayed that Din would bless them with strength and endurance, that Farore would bless them with courage and determination, and that Nayru would bless them with wisdom and understanding.

When Time awoke the next morning, he was surprised to discover that his protégé was nowhere to be found. All of his possessions had vanished as well, though he had left Time the tent and a note. Smirking at the boy's surprisingly neat penmanship, Time read through the ancient Hylian text.

"Time,

Sorry for just disappearing on you, but I've gone to Hyrule's royal cemetery to pay my respects. We can regroup on the summit of Snowpeak if you want to get started on the next leg of our journey. I should be there around noon."

-Twilight

Time smiled sadly at the letter, then checked the position of the sun. He'd learned well how to tell time in Termina, even without a clock. He guessed that it was around ten o'clock in the morning, so he had about two hours before he was supposed to meet Twilight. Smiling to himself, Time played the Serenade of Water and transported himself down to Lake Hylia. He wanted to try that cannon attraction he'd spotted when they'd broken the curse on the Water temple.

"Hey, yer back fer more fantastication, eh bud?" The portly entertainer chuckled, mistaking Time for Twilight. The ancient Hero didn't bother to correct him, just paying ten Rupees for a normal flight up to the Lanayru Bridge. He was just at the Oasis location, after all.

Climbing into the cannon, Time felt the barest twinge of claustrophobia as he listened to the muffled tones of the silly organ song that prepared the cannon for launch. Briefly he wondered if this was the best idea, but then he was sent flying up to the target arena at an impossible speed. Time had flown before- as a child in the strong talons of Kaepora Gaebora- but they had never gone this fast! Time didn't know whether he was going to whoop with exhilaration or lose his breakfast.

But then there was no need for the dilemma as he landed squarely in the center of the giant target circle. Time stood to his feet shakily, eyes wide and panting slightly. "Wow! What a rush!" He gasped to himself, then looked back at Lake Hylia far below him. "I have got to do that again sometime! They never had anything like that in my day! This era is so cool!" He laughed as he walked to the door that led out to Lanaryu Bridge. He'd have to come back and play the Cucco Flying game another time.

Leaving the building and following the pathway that led to Hyrule Castle, Time picked a horseshoe reed on impulse and blew into it, smiling at the nostalgia those three familiar notes elicited.

But what happened next shocked him to his very core. He had expected Twilight's Epona to come running to greet him, but there were two horses that had answered his call. And the other mare was one that he'd recognize anywhere.

"Epona?!" Time gasped, walking up to his most loyal animal friend. "You can't be my Epona!"

For a response, the mare nickered gently and blew into her master's hair- trying to nibble at a piece of it in playful affection. Time recognized that gesture. His Epona was always trying to munch on his bangs. It was their little running joke.

The mare was equipped just as he'd last seen her when he was alive, wearing the saddle, bridle and chest armor of the ancient Hylian cavalry. She even wore a specialized helmet that protected her gentle face.

"How in the name of Hylia did you get here?!" He asked his steed incredulously, who merely blew out and shook her head- an equine version of a shrug. She was just happy to see her favorite rider again.

"Ah, it doesn't matter. I'm just so happy to see you!" He laughed, embracing his companion around her silken neck. She blew in his hair in response- a sign of love, trust and affection. In the back of the Hero's mind, he thought: Now one of us won't have to walk along with Twilight's Epona. It'll be a lot faster with two horses.

Suddenly Time grinned. "Come on, girl. I'm gonna introduce you to Ilia. She'll flip!"

When the ancient Hero arrived on Snowpeak's summit at the appointed time, he was still grinning from Ilia's reaction. Twilight looked at him inquisitively, and he explained. When he'd finished, the younger Hero was just as dumbfounded as he'd been.

"How?!" The Hero of Twilight gasped, and Time shrugged. "They need the blood of the Hero to resurrect their Master, right? Maybe they messed up and brought his steed back instead." He laughed, but Twilight just looked more confused. "Well, she was supposed to be his, anyway. I won her in a bet with Ingo first." He explained, and Twilight nodded.

"My Epona's got Gerudo equine blood in her veins, since her first owner was half-Gerudo. Malon, I mean." He added, and his student raised an eyebrow. That would explain her red hair and skill with horses- He thought to himself. Then Time chuckled. "Lady Fate sure is funny sometimes. Nabooru is actually Malon's aunt. Her older sister married Talon. Small world, huh?"

Twilight's eyebrows disappeared into his hair at that, then he smiled. Fate sure did have an interesting sense of humor sometimes.

"Now that I think about it, your Epona is probably a descendant of my Epona. She was the first member of the new Hylian cavalry and had many foals that were also 'enlisted', if you will. Your Epona comes from a long line of Hylian cavalry equine heroes." Time mused thoughtfully, grinning at his smirking student.

With that, the two heroes rolled into the ice-covered tree and selected their 'snowboards' to descend the mountain peaks. And- to a certain Hero's surprise- Time won their race.

"I've been practicing." He grinned and Twilight shrugged, accepting his loss with grace as they walked into the ancient manor. He'd just have to win back his title some other time.

"Home, sweet home." Time chuckled to himself when they entered the manor, and Twilight looked at him. "Well, home away from the castle, anyway. I would train my new recruits here- in adverse weather conditions- to toughen them up. Guess they stopped doing that a while ago." He sighed with a smirk, looking at the state of the ruined manor.

"I figured it used to belong to a nobleman or knight of Hyrule." Twilight agreed. "I saw a few pictures of Hyrule Castle, the temple of Time, even Rauru."

Time smiled. "Yep. There was a picture of me in my ceremonial armor too. Not that I was bragging or anything. My Zelda put that one up." He laughed. Then he came to a realization. "It actually belongs to you now, as your 'Magic Armor'." He chuckled again at the serendipity.

Twilight just stared at him with his mouth open. Too bad all those paintings were too water-damaged to make anything out. Maybe someone in Hyrule was skilled at artistry and could restore them someday. And this whole manor, for that matter. But that would take forever. They didn't have time for it now.

After the two boys fought their way to the bedroom on the second floor, they inserted their two heart-shaped keys into the locks and pushed the door open. After eliminating the boss creatures- a pair of giant frozen Wolfos with blood-red eyes- they clanged their blades together in a symbol of victory and sheathed them in unison with a flourish. Before leaving, they greeted Yeto and Yeta, and Time laughed out loud when he realized that Yeto was using one of his Epona's old saddles as a hat. The enormous yeti laughed as well, thanking Time for building the beautiful manor they now called home- making the reborn Hero blush as red as his Goron tunic.

"YOU RACE AGAIN WITH US SOMETIME, UH?" Yeto bellowed, and Twilight grinned and nodded. Time was too busy shielding his sensitive eardrums from the beast-man's volume, but he managed to nod as well. He didn't intend to be rude, but he also didn't want his ears bleeding.

"ME YETA AND I PRACTICE MUCH SINCE LAST RACE, UH! WE VERY GOOD NOW, UH!" He added proudly, thumping his chest with a massive fist.

"I practice much too, uh." Yeta added quietly. "You come back soon and race, uh. Make us very happy, uh!"

Twilight and Time both nodded their promise to return, then Time drew out his ocarina and played the Minuet of Forest. It had been far too long since Twilight had been home in Ordon.

End of Chapter 9

Next Chapter Teaser: Reprieve

Here, have some heartache with your story!

But seriously, the first part of this chapter made me heartsick, and I'm the one who wrote it! Guess I'm too soft.

Honestly, I don't hate King Bulblin that much, but I needed an antagonist to kidnap the young prince and he fit the bill nicely. Sorry buddy, but you are a pain in the PETUNIA on Eldin Bridge. Am I right, TP fans?

Twilight got Shad to teach him to write in the two years after the Twilight War. He already knew how to read.

As for how Time's Epona got there, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe she was a gift from Farore to help her champions, or it was a huge blunder on the villains' part. The latter is funnier, but I'm pretty sure it was the former. My muse is mum on the details.

Time: *just shrugs and smirks*

And the whole Malon-is-Nabooru's-niece thing, that's just my silly imagination connecting my favorite characters again. And the two Eponas. And Twilight and TP Zelda. I do that a lot, don't I? XD

With the Snowpeak Ruins, that's just my theory. Doesn't mean it's canon. (Although if it turns out to be true, that would be awesome!)

You can actually find all those paintings in Snowpeak Ruins. Coincidence? I think NOT! Also one of Ordonian goats. Huh. Was Time psychic? Well, he did have prophetic dreams as a kid- Eh, nah.

Anyway, next chapter is gonna be a filler because I've had that particular idea bouncing around in my head since practically Chapter 4 and I really wanna flesh it out. So no temple/dungeon in the next chapter.

I dunno about one paragraph in this chapter. No matter how I write it, it comes across as slightly innuendo-y. But that's not what I'm getting at at all. So no trashy, undercurrent subliminal messages in here. None whatsoever. Just wanted to clarify that.

Well, there's implied past 'activity', because how are Twilight and Zelda supposed to be Time's descendants without a 'relationship'? Reincarnation? Right. I'll never put anything explicit in my stories- I wanna keep my generally PG-13 rating- but I might imply stuff like the above scenario.

I reference several pictures on DeviantArt in this chapter, and you can look them up if you want. The wolf-pup Link and Golden Wolf is 'LoZ: Little Courage' by 'Ferisae'; The one where Epona is eating Time's hair is 'OoT: She's eating Link's hair' by 'Naolin Nox'; The one with Epona in her cavalry armor is 'Knight of Hyrule' by 'EternaLegend'; and the one where we see a young Twilight injured with the Golden Wolf is 'The Heir to Courage' by 'LilleahWest'.

Or to save time, you can just go to 'Elementianhero22' on DeviantArt and look at my 'Legend of Zelda' folder. I have all those and more in there. XD

See you next chapter!

God Bless!

Tsunami Storm