A young, blond woman stood in front of Link. Her name was Zelda and he'd spent the last weeks fighting through terrors and abominations to protect her and try to catch up to her. He listened, shocked by the revelations she gave him.
"Her second plan… was to abandon her divine form and transfer her soul to the body of a mortal." She hesitated before elaborating: "She made this sacrifice, as you have likely guessed, so that the supreme power created by the old gods could one day be used. For, while the supreme power was created by gods, all of its power can never be wielded by one. Knowing this power was her last and only hope, the goddess gave up her divine powers and her immortal form. You've probably figured it out by now, haven't you, Link? You are the chosen hero and, I Zelda… I am the goddess reborn as a mortal."
The scene shifted, the colors blurring and smearing until they resolved again in an entirely new scene.
Link dodged backward as the dark magic powered automaton slashed downward with one of its right arms. This latest obstacle created by Ghirahim was a little unique in comparison to the others. It had a blatantly obvious weak point, a magical core in its chest, however it guarded the core with two of its six arms. Arms that had, thus far, proven too tough for Link's sword. It had been made to slice evil, not gigantic brass statues. Link noticed, however, that the arm that had just attacked him had, temporarily at least, become lodged in the floor. He quickly pulled out the magical whip he'd recently found, snagged the arm, and pulled with all his strength. The arm shattered, the dark magic holding the pieces of the original structure bursting apart. Link smiled, These creations were powerful, both stronger and usually faster than him, but they couldn't truly think for themselves, they were instinctual. They'd follow their attack patterns until victory or defeat. Now Link knew how to beat this one, he just had to stay careful. One wrong move and he'd still die.
The scene shifted.
The great demon king Demise stood dying before him, albeit slowly. Link's entire body was aching from their battle, he'd been hit with multiple lighting attacks before he'd figured out how to counter them, and had been forced to fight on against the dark god. He could only hope this could still save Zelda's life. The monster's sword vanished into a dark mist and into nothingness.
"Extraordinary. You stand as a paragon of your kind, Hylian. You fight like no man or demon I have ever known. Though, this is not the end. My hate… never perishes. It is born anew in a cycle with no end! I will rise again!"
He raised a finger, so gnarled and blackened it looked to be gauntleted, and pointed it at Link, "Those like you, those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero… they are eternally bound to this curse. An incarnation of my hatred shall ever follow your kind, dooming them to wander a blood-soaked sea of darkness for all time!"
He started to dissolve in much the same way his sword had before, but the scene shifted again, colors sliding, blending, and rearranging into another scene.
Link was standing outside a window in the palace gardens, where he'd found the Hylian Princess, Zelda. He looked through the window as Zelda had asked, and saw a man who didn't look Hylian from what Link knew of the larger race. This man wore black armor and had sickly green skin with fiery red hair. The man was bowing before the throne of the King, but he suddenly turned, apparently sensing Link's gaze. Ganondorf, Zelda had called him, and while Link felt no fear he pulled away from the window anyway.
The scene shifted.
A gigantic flaming dragon burst from one of the holes in the platform. Volvagia, he was called, and he twisted and turned through the air before diving back down into the lake of lava below them. Link hefted the Megaton Hammer. He hadn't known Darunia all that long really, but he'd unintentionally become sworn brothers with the Goron chief, and this beast had killed him. Link needed the creature dead for other reasons, true, but it was this that stood at the forefront of his mind. The dragon burst forth again, lava splashing out from the pool underneath the platform, and Link felt fear. It was natural, this monster was gigantic, born to consume rock creatures and not something a Hylian should be fighting. Furthermore, Link's heatproof clothing couldn't protect him from actually burning, if this monster breathed fire on him, or splashed that lava on him, he'd almost certainly die. Link didn't hesitate, fear was good, it kept him from becoming overconfident from his past victories against similarly impossible enemies. He yelled defiance at the larger, far stronger creature and attacked.
The scene shifted.
Link stood inside the windmill in Kakariko Village. The strange man in front of him complaining about how, in the past, some kid had come here seven years ago, played a odd song, and disturbed the windmill and emptied the well below. Link already suspected that he was that child, though he hadn't yet done so. He did need to get down that well with a smaller body than he currently possessed. And at the moment, if Link went back in time to seven years ago, the the well wasn't dried up.
"I'll never forget this song!" The man said, and proceeded to play the song for Link to learn. The Song of Storms.
The scene shifted.
Link faced the strange skeletal creature. Though he'd faced many Stalfos before he'd never felt an air of intelligence from any but this one who somehow taught him the greater skills of swordplay.
"A mere shield attack is no match for an enemy protected not just by a shield, but by a thick, full-body coat of armor. Such enemies are often focused on guarding against frequent frontal attacks. They often leave their rear unprotected. That is when you roll around your foe, then perform a jumping slice."
The creature immediately demonstrated, catching Link off guard but never actually swinging his sword. Link spun, tracking the quick movement and knowing he'd be tested by the odd being until he completely mastered the technique.
"This is the back-slice! Now, try it!"
The scene shifted.
Link's uncle lay wounded on ground at the bottom of the secret passageway into Hyrule Castle. Link couldn't tell how bad the would was, but his uncle couldn't stand or open his eyes.
"Uncle?" Link prompted worriedly.
"Ugh… that voice… Link? Is it you? I thought I told you to wait at home…"
"I heard her voice too… I followed her instructions." Link replied, a little guiltily.
"I suppose there's no escaping destiny… Here, take this sword and shield from me. Link, you must rescue Princess Zelda. Our people are fated to do so. But do not fall victim to fate… Link… I shall always remember… our time together…"
His uncle slipped into unconsciousness. Link took the combat items from him, saying a silent prayer to the gods that he'd survive. The sword and shield both felt… natural to him. Like he already knew how to use them.
The scene shifted.
Link crouched over his fire, deer meat roasting in the discarded pewter pot he'd discovered and cleaned. He wasn't entirely sure how he new the basics of cooking, maybe it had a similar origin to his sword and archery skills. Loosing his memories from 100 years ago seemed to have some odd effects. He must've been well trained, he surmised, but there was something… calming about cooking. His cooking skills had been basic to begin with, but in the days he'd spent in the wilderness, between the scattered villages and inns, he'd actually been developing the practice into something of an art. He scavenged the land as he traveled each day: hunting game, fishing, even picking from wild plants their grains, fruits and vegetables. He was learning to combine these in recipes that were both delicious and nutritious. He'd even started journaling his methods. He didn't really have anything new to mix in today, however, so he pulled out that journal and pursued the contents with his current stock in mind.
The scene shifted.
It was nearly time to assault Hyrule Castle itself, Calamity Ganon blazed through the night sky as Link made final preparations. He knew not to rush the process, but it was hard to just sit and wait while his potions brewed. The discovery of that nearly lost art had proven invaluable to him. It was too dangerous, for most people, to collect the… special ingredients needed to make these potions, making them expensive and rare. They'd allowed him to amass the small fortune he needed to create the Guardian Arrows he'd need to storm the corrupted castle. Now, however, he brewed for his own use. He had no idea what Calamity Ganon might try once Link got too close. If the monster had a weakness to exploit, he would need time to find it. So he waited… impatiently.
The scene shifted.
The corruption of Calamity Ganon faded from the world. This time, Link had prevailed over this ancient enemy, though he had not destroyed Ganon personally, he'd weakened him and done the damage for Zelda to crush him with the sacred powers within her. The bow of light in his hand faded, Link presumed it's very construct had been Zelda's magic. His left side throbbed from where he'd been thrown from his horse in the battle. The arm was probably broken, but he was out of his prepared potions. He was used to pain though, and his attention was focused on Zelda.
"I've kept watch over you all this time. I've witnessed your struggles to return to us as well as your trials in battle. I always thought… no, I always believed that you would find a way to defeat Ganon. I never lost faith in you over these many years…"
She turned away from where the beastly being had died. Turned towards him. Her pure white dress rustling in the wind, her few ornaments somehow displaying her regality without losing simplicity.
She smiled at him, in his dirty, rough clothes made and used for survival in the harsh wilds, "… thank you, Link… the hero of Hyrule. May I ask, do you really remember me?"
Link's eyes shot open, he was underwater. He didn't panic, he was a powerful swimmer, and kicked up towards the surface. He broke free and gasped for breath, blinking and looking around. The old man jumped from where he'd apparently been sitting down. How long had Link been down there? The visions, no, memories had been numerous, many displaying his knowledge of useful information or skills, some seeming… useless to his mind. Where they random? No, many of them were incredibly pointed, starting and stopping so that only one thing could be learned from them. Many had taught him multiple songs or recipes. He now recognized the tune that had allowed him and the old man to enter this place as the Song of Time. He'd learned many things, but the skills that he'd witnessed were not in his mind. That, he knew, wouldn't be a problem. He would know how to use a sword at an expert level as soon as he tried to; just as he had naturally understood cooking, though he did not automatically know any specific recipes. He now did. Other skills waited, already memorized by his very soul: archery, horseback riding and combat, how to spot weak points in structures and opponents. Survival and combat skills. There was another kind of knowledge he'd gained.
He swam to the edge of the pool, the man hurrying forward with a towel he'd gotten from somewhere. Link pulled himself out of the water and gratefully accepted the towel, drying himself off.
"You saw?" The man asked.
"Yes" Link replied, "though it showed me the past, past lives I've lived, rather than the future as it had for you."
The old man nodded, "Then, my work is nearly complete. I can spend my last days with my family."
Link smiled, "Do that, this world is in serious danger, but it's danger I've faced before. I promise you I'll save this world, as I once did my own."
The old man frowned at this, "You mean this isn't your world? You're an alien or something?"
Link chuckled, "No, my friend, this planet is my own, but I am not human. My people existed long before yours, and alongside many other intelligent races. We… died out it seems. It's not like I was there to see it. But, my soul lingered on. From what those memories… I think I've been reborn finally from a human, as a true Hylian. And there's only one reason that could happen: Ganondorf, the King of Evil, has been reborn as well. It's my job to stop him. It always has been."
The old man shook his head, "I don't understand most of that. But I lived a long time waiting for the moment I could bring you down here. But one last piece of my visions remain unfulfilled."
He reached over and dragged a large brown pack over from where it had been resting, Link didn't remember it being there when they'd first come down.
"You were in there for two days, son." He said, seeing Link's confusion. The flipped open the cover and pulled out a long, wrapped package, "I can't say what's in the future now, but even my tired old mind can tell this world is changing. Your mission may not be a straightforward as you seem to think, in my experience: life never is. I don't really have a choice but to let you leave and fight but… I can try to equip you. It's dangerous to go alone. Take this."
As he spoke he unwrapped the package, it was a sword, made in the Hylian style; simple, strong double-edged, and cased in a good scabbard with a proper belt to harness it to his back. Link took it gratefully, and looked in the bag, he saw another package Link guessed was a shield, as well as at least one set of traveler's clothing, made of sturdy leather and cloth.
"This is an incredible gift, thank you very much."
The old man smiled but shook his head, "No, my family will survive if you stand against your enemy, this Ganondorf, it is a small expense for that."
Link nodded and set about pulling on the clothes, now he was able to see that there were actually three outfits in there, though only one pair of boots and belt. He repackaged the sword and put it in the bag again. Then he stood, and looked around. There was something else… some sense in his mind told him he wasn't done here. His eyes were drawn to a design on the stone floor a ways away. He crossed over to it and as he came closer he recognized the symbol. It had once been the symbol of the royal family. There was also an arrow, though, and it pointed further back along the cave.
"I never could figure out where that led" said the old man, "I expect it was because I wasn't meant to."
Link followed the arrow, and found another symbol on the ground, the arrow pointing to the side now, along the far end of the pool when looking from the entrance. Link followed again, and soon learned they led in a rectangle around the pool. He crouched down and considered the conundrum. There would be no point in placing these for any misdirection. The pool was the most important thing here and it's puzzle had gone unsolved for millennia, maybe even longer. There was an answer to this… they couldn't run on forever… they weren't pointing at each other. They were just designed to look like they were.
He followed the arrow, past what appeared to be the next clue, and up to the wall. It didn't, upon examination, appear to be anything special. The rock was solid and held well, all things considered. Link considered his memories of secret places. One particular memory seemed timely. A memory of using a particular song to open the way forward. Given his newly recalled knowledge of magic, enchantments usually did one of three things. They could either enhance a particular trait of an item (though this effect could be layered), imbue the item with a particular element (though this could not be layered), or set effects to happen upon specific stimuli. Hylians had sensitive ears, and had thus placed a high value on music. Some enchantments where so sensitive that only the right tune, played by the exact instrument used to set it, could activate the enchantment.
Link had no musical instrument, however he had no way of obtaining a specific one without further clues. He whistled the Song of Time. It didn't open, however a sun appeared on the wall drawn in glowing blue lines. There was a door here, but Link assumed he would only be able to access it at a later date.
"Over here!" The old man called out.
Link turned and found him reaching into a new opening in one of the other walls. As Link crossed over to him he could see him pull out a small bundle, no a satchel, from its storage place.
The old man looked inside and frowned, "There's nothing inside."
Link smiled, "No. No I recognize this."
The old man handed him the satchel, and Link reached inside. He pulled out a small handful of green crystal rupees, the ancient currency of Hyrule. Unfortunately, these were worthless. It had been so long since these crystals even formed inside the earth that they no longer held any value, new precious gems (emeralds, rubies diamonds, and the like) existed. Rupees no longer had a place in the economy. But, though Link could sense what had once been a small fortune inside the satchel, the real treasure was the satchel itself. It was perhaps the most common magic item in Hyrule: an inventory.
The pack had been enchanted to be better at the one thing it did: store things for ease of travel. It now had a huge amount of space inside it, not actually limitless, but Link didn't have many memories of actually maxing one out. It could store anything, and would not increase in either size or weight. To reclaim anything from its insides, one simply had to know what they were looking for.
He quickly grabbed the pack that the old man had prepared for him, and stuffed the contents, including the sword and shield, into the inventory. When Link looked up he saw the old man's eyes very wide. Link smiled and tossed it to him. He caught it easily, but had also braced himself for a much heavier item.
"This is incredible!" He said, "any chance of finding more of these?"
Link shook his head, "Not likely, I never learned to make them. These used to be common enough, but they aren't indestructible. I doubt any others survived without preservation. Honestly, I'm just thankful someone put this one here."
The old man nodded and handed the inventory back, and Link looped it onto his belt. There was an air of finality to the action that transcended the simple task. Link could still turn back. Go home. His old clothes were still right there, laying on the ground. But he wasn't tempted. He wanted to leave, not because he disliked his life before, but because he wanted to do what was needed. This world would die if nobody could stop the darkness slowly corrupting the world and Link was created specifically to face that darkness and win. That draw his entire life to seek out ancient relics of various religions hadn't been idle chance. He understood now. His Hyrule was broken, reformed into a planet it's new inhabitants called Earth. His people were dead. And it didn't matter, these people were still people. He'd fight monsters, dragons, and armies to protect any single one of them. The hero of a dead people was reborn, and he'd still be exactly was he always had. And… there was one more reason. The goddess who'd created him, reborn as a mortal to face the same evil. She hadn't just created for her people a hero to save them and sat back, hoping he would succeed. Instead she'd subjected herself to her own plans and, as a consequence, they'd faced that evil over and over again, rarely even knowing they'd been part of this cycle. She'd be out there too, reborn. She might know who she was by now… or maybe she didn't. But Link knew… their enemy would target her with a dangerous passion. If there was a second reason for Link's existence it was to protect her.
This wasn't the beginning, the beginning had happened literal billions of years ago. But it was a beginning. The beginning of an adventure unlike any he'd had before… and yet the same story again.
Link thanked the old man who'd brought him here, then they turned and left the underground remnant of the world in Link's memories.
"Oh… one more thing." The old man said. Link looked at him quizzically. "Your parents have filed a missing person's case on you. You might have to sneak away."
Link grimaced, well… he'd had to go unnoticed before.