Introduction

"So…" the old woman by the name of Impa gasped with a soft smack of the wood she sat on. "Are you ready to hear the last words of Princess Zelda," she finally asked after dropping the largest sheika bomb the young hero has ever suffered upon his shoulders since his awakening. First was the fact he had woken up without any recollection of who his is or what he was before waking up in the Shrine of Restoration. The young man almost immediately proclaimed a here remembers nothing of his childhood or even his current age, unless he wished to include the hundred years he's supposedly been indisposed.

The young man proclaimed a hero closed his crystal blue eyes. Blue eyes of which he's been highly complimented on he might add. He thought back to the young stable girl at the plains not too far away from this inn and just how friendly she was to him. He brought her horse that followed him without question, after about two weeks of breaking it in, and after that would greet him with glistening onyx eyes along with a bright, sort of cute smile. The young man proclaimed to be a hero crossed his arms over his chest to think on this thoroughly.

During the couple moments of peace Impa, the Elder of Kakariko Village, carefully scrutinized the young man before her. He stood oddly tense and would fidget repeatedly at the smallest of exterior noise from the many villagers outside. Impa rose her hand and tapped the wood below her seat as a test and this young man didn't disappoint. His eyes twitched to the only they almost opened, and his ears did as well at the maybe "foreign" sound she created. 'This boy is overly anxious of his surroundings. He's no longer the crystal water cool and calm boy he was in the past,' Impa construed but continued her analyst. She could remember the young Link well as a great and powerful knight that would jump into danger for his duty without a second thought. This one before her is full of hesitation and uncertainty. This made her all the more hesitate to tell him the part words of the martyr Zelda.

In the past his eyes carried care for everyone before him, whether friend or stranger, that every true hero would hold. Eyes of a still ocean that can turn into a raging hurricane at a moment's notice. The young man's eyes now could be described as rough waters with random and harsh waves. They're cold and insensitive almost like he's experienced something terrible and holding that memory fresh at the forefront of his mind. Maybe this is the effects of the Shrine of Resurrection. Maybe it stems from his demiss and the loss he felt in the past. It could be number of catalysts, but Impa felt that this Link wouldn't be as open with his thoughts and feels as the one from the past. 'But a hero will always be a hero,' she was sure of this.

His clothing from what she could see was scrounged together same with his weaponry. Gone is the Sword that Banishes away the Darkness and replaced by a massive Solder's Claymore and a strange primitive looking bow upon his back. By the carving and hand shield it was fashioned by the Lizal. The young hero slayed softly from side to side while he stood before her. It was so faint it could almost be missed if not for the subtle shift of his weaponry and the leather sheathe holding them in place. It creaked from the strain. 'What has happened to him since he woken?' Impa pondered.

Impa's looked upon the young proclaimed hero with such scrutiny that it was impossible for him to miss it. Link spent a great amount of time on the Great Plateau even before the King sent him on his way. Even when he finally escaped with the help of the handglider he came to this village and before his elder woman not after a soft bit of adventuring beforehand. He did so with admittedly little to no hurry in my steps. He who was called Link and a hero without reason could tell that Calamity Ganon is a immense threat same with the malice that spreads in it's wake. A threat that supposedly only he can stop along side some Princess Zelda he can hear from time to time. During the blood red moon mostly and he got this name and status from the King of Hyrule's ghostly lips.

The look that this Impa was giving him didn't necessarily sit well with him. It was like when a Lizal is before him, sizing him up, and planning out his demise. This old woman's eyes weren't that devious but very much piercing. What made it worse wasn't the fact how she looked upon him but how she looked at him. Her gaze was full of expectancy placing a familiar weight on his shoulders. Everything he was told was a lot to take in. The burden thrown on his shoulders he felt is almost… unfair.

The young man proclaimed a hero closed his eyes tight to focus on everything he's witnessed since coming here. He had woken up from a century long year sleep and suddenly was thrown around the mill to collect these things called Orbs of Spirit from shrines from some old man. Admittedly, he didn't like being sent on a fetching task like a broken in dog just for a right to leave the Great Plateau. The young man proclaimed a hero smiled at the massive rock monster he conquered on that Plateau though and much more. He presumed it was a waste of time until he explored a bit after going to all four shrines.

Hunting, noodling, fishing, wood cutting, potion making, cooking, and finally the most important skill he needed to survive: Killing. He needed to be capable of killing not just fighting for he realized that there is a difference. He realized this when he snuck into a Bokoblin camp after fighting a though a couple others. Fighting is a waste of strength, weapons, arrows, and resources he couldn't suffer after a while. Killing as fast as possible and moving on to the next, not playing with your foe else they'll kill you, or worst capture and play with you, was a hard learned lesson but quick one.

The young man proclaimed to be a hero did as the old man wanted in the end after learning a couple things from him on the world and survival. He remembered well when that old man refused to give him a glider to leave, changing the deal and setting him off three more. He believed that there was no rhyme or reason behind it and told to just do it. Begrudgingly and a slight bit annoyed, he did it to find finally escape. He of course explored, suffered almost freezing to death for one shrine until he realized that he can make food and a potion to sustain his bodily warm. He was given a warm lime green doublet as well once he cooked the old man something in his journal.

The young man called Link by other realized that the old man was indirectly teaching him how to hunt, gather, forage, and cook. For that he did appreciate what the old man did and realized it was all for a reason. But Link wasn't appreciative enough to suddenly accept some destiny of sorts to fulfill some Ages old prophecy to stop the end of the world.

The young man proclaimed a hero snort a bit at the memory of the legends and tales. The one from that Rito that played the accordion though he found interesting enough to listen for a time next to the campfire. Though from others like these told "friends" of his it was very nice to hear all of the sudden. Of course, this statement is chock full of more sarcasm than weapons he had shatter in my hands on a monster's face. It's possibly full of more cynicism of this than even the weapons he'll break in the future. The last one was shattered on the eyes of a hinox. The young man wished time and time again he had some blacksmith skills or could trade some of his swordsmanship prowess to be capable of repairing the weapons he scavenged. 'I'd be nice to have the talent to make them as well,' he chuckled a bit at his. He can imagine becoming a blacksmith, making a living creating arms for others, maybe having a home to call is own to rest, and maybe a ranch as well.

That old man didn't really mention much of what he'd face and it's a blessing and a curse. A blessing that he's discovering this himself and a curse because he's been ambushed more time than he'd like since starting this journey. He can still feel the arrow wound in his shoulder from the day before when a Lizalfos got a good hit on him from a ridge. He was minding his own business on his way to a tower then out of nowhere he was hit and sent falling back down the hill. Three more appeared from over the ridge all with their arrows trained on him. It wasn't a good day… for them.

Link simply didn't trust that old man in the first place, but his instincts told him the old man was okay to a point. He still is in his mind. The old man told him after gaining a bit more stamina for a statue to travel to this village, Kakohiko Village, to talk to this old woman before him to find out more about this destiny of his. The young man proclaimed a hero though didn't rush at all and relieved he did after what this Impa told him. She confirmed his suspicions that he'll have to save this this world, relieve this broken kingdom from the dark malice that plagues it, and rescue the princess like a fairy tale prince of sort.

'So ludicrous,' he shook his head at this thought. The proclaimed hero thought on this carefully after everything he witnessed. He's killed so many monsters on the way here. He's dove into caves and was nearly torn apart by a murder of keese. He's suffered through the Blood Moon twice. He's visited many other shrines and its all been the same. "I've been called Link or a Hero, why?" Link, or what he was called, muttered under his breath unknowing that Impa hear every word.

'Is he doubting his role?' Impa asked herself but quickly shut that thought down. The thought of a hero forsaking his destined path is preposterous. No hero in the many legends of old that's been past down from one Elder to the next never speaks of a hero that abandoned his role as such. Whether floating in time, traveling the many winds above, lost in twilight, split into four, or adrift in a great sea ever single hero stood before the end with is sword in hand to combat and win. Then again there are also tales of a hero that fell to evil as well creating the world as it is now. Heroes with an end as tragic as their instances and journey. The stories are many, but one thing is for sure, the hero will always strive to combat evil in the name of what's good. This thought stilled the raging worry that plagued the Elder, and she settled back down in her seat.

'What was that,' Link mused. Impa looked upon him in fear for a moment but not one he's witnessed before. It was gone in moments after and her widened eyes closed before returning to normal as well. She heard him maybe, but that didn't matter to him at the moment. His thoughts went back to the name and title that were thrust at him. He was forced fed both and told to accept it. Even now his mind is suffering all these orders and requests thrown at him without any mention or care for his thoughts and feelings on the matter. But, Impa did give him a choice now that he thought on it.

He was told that the Princess bid her give Link her parting words before leaving for the castle to become a martyr. Impa hesitated though to give him Zelda's message almost insinuating that he should be prepared to risk his life to this before he hears it. She did mention that this journey may be too much for him without his memories of old. 'I must hear these words to continue on but the question is do I wish to?' He clenched his fists on his biceps when he heard scratching outside the door. He nearly reached for his sword but stopped once he remembered the girl outside that's been staring at him so intently. 'She's probably has hero worship,' the proclaimed hero smirked. He'd say that was a boring way to develop feelings for person. Such seems more right when built with time.

He'd read a story of a hero adrift in time that earned the love of a simple ranch girl. He saved her and they sort of came together joined by a strong and noble steed. A song connected them to get and it became almost a cradlesong for them both. It was a good romance to read at night when he couldn't sleep. Many times before it made him smile to read such literature.

Link sighed and left those thought behind him for the reason why he's here. 'Do I wish to commit myself to this destiny of mine?' Is it really his destiny though? He thought hard that if proceed will he be living his life or fulfilling the ulterior of others?

Yes, the kingdom is in danger.

Yes, in a hundred years if this is become what life became in the end then most people seemed to have accepted their fate.

Yes, this is a lot to take in and everyone that recognized him believes him to be a hero.

'I'm not a hero though,' he shook his head. His young man proclaimed to be a hero didn't see himself as one. More than once he has helped travelers being attacked by the Boku tribe but to receive nothing in the end. It bothered him to work but receive little to nothing for his work like many times over that helped him in his journey. Inadvertently, he's watched and walked away as they suffered being beaten and dragged away for the Goddess knows what by the beasts. He's even seen the cages that are perfect for hyulian sized beings. From what he's heard heroes are selfless in every way and always strive for the greater good. These last couple weeks though he's committed actions heroes faintly do.

He's hunted monsters, got a job to break horses for two days at a stable, and much more. He's talked to a decent amount of people and learned much of what he missed in his sleep. He has actually enjoyed helping a couple people, hunting, and doing mercenary work here or there for rupees, recipes to try, potions, and other forms of compensation. He was lamented as fighter before and after waking up but being a fighter now hasn't helped him all that much. It was his ingenuity and cunning, not his strength or ostentatious sword skills, that has gotten him this far.

His frown grew which Impa must've noticed from the thoughtful grunt she made. He felt her eyes on him. He felt her expectations and impatience pertaining to my hesitation.

"Are you ready Link." Impa questioned carefully. She has been watching him this entire time from his body language to facial expressions. They've shifted from calm and soothing. She could tell that he was thinking something of something pleasant for the smile that blessed his lips even made her do the same. Then his face would turn poised and still as if too deep in thought to respond. This link isn't as open with his thoughts or feels as before. He's seems to think more carefully and hard before moving into something he's not sure of. Such uncertainty wasn't there before. She noticed his reaction at the usage of his name. His eye twitch and that frown on his lips grew. 'Does he reject his own name?' The thought of it seems insane but he did awake without any recollection of who he is. It's been almost a month since the shrines came alive and the towers rose. Much can happen to a young man to shape him in ways perverting him from what he was before.

'If only he came sooner. Or maybe I should've sent an envoy to retrieve him moments after the tower's rise.' Impa nearly cursed herself for this lack of forethought on her part.

'Link,' the proclaimed hero felt annoyed by that name and it's implications. Only two people he's met have used that name when they spoke to him and one is a spirit. He can accept that name because it holds a good amount of symbolism, but he can't accept the burden that follows it. He can be called Link. At this reluctant acquiesces on his part he felt his mind calm.

Impa quickly took note of his shoulders. They shivered while he pondered but stilled along with much of his form. She could assume he's accepted his name and maybe much more on top of this. "Link," Impa tested and the young man opened his eyes to address her. 'Good,' she thought. "You're the hero that will save the princess and…"

Link stopped listening to this woman after the word hero. He thought to myself, do I need this old woman and her words? If this is his fate to save this world then technically, he'll be driven towards it as long as he breathes. Then that could mean that he doesn't need this woman and her words. He thought back to that moment he escaped the shrine he woken in and the view of the world before him. Such a massive land with so much to offer covered in the orange and gold light of the sun rise. It was beautiful. It was a view worth painting and recording for the future. This world in his opinion is worth so much and full of life. Life he wants to experience. It's much more important to him than this fate and their destiny.

Link reminisced the desire he felt before atop that ledge. He felt like his heart had stopped. He placed a hand over his heart and felt it pick up. He smiled and opened my eyes.

Impa's eyes glowed with satisfaction once they met. "You're full of a fierce determination and desire to succeed in your mission," she smiled softly. He has finally found his will and the uncertainty before has faded away into obscurity. "Link, are you ready to embrace your destiny? Do you accept your role as the hero, the champion, of Hyrule?"

Link smiled at the woman and dropped his hand from his heart. He gripped his belt and stood up straight before the woman. He cleared his throat with a couple coughs and said, "I refuse." He then reached back and pulled his hood over his hair as the woman clapped. He didn't think she heard what he'd just said in her excitement and hope filled dream she had him in.

"Excellent so I'll…" Impa paused for a moment and looked down at him from her seat on her little throne. Impa blinked a couple time as she came to terms with what Link just said. "Y-you…?" She didn't know how to finish or even if she could finish was next. It took a moment before her eyes widened in shock and maybe a bit of horror. Something that made the hero smile slyly. His smile wasn't like the ones of old. It wasn't soft with care but hard with apathy. "What?" She asked.

"I refuse," Link repeated once more. "I refuse to be forced on this journey and to be thrown to the wolves in such a way. I refuse to be have my choice taken from me and rather live how I want and start this when I please. This is selfish of me, I realize this," Link took a breath before continuing. "I know this is very much unbecoming of a hero. I can see this in your eyes even now," he remarked upon. The woman's eyes were wide as dinner plates now from telling her his side. The shock of his answer caused her to cringe and shutter. She wrongly predicted he'd accept this without conflict or opposition. That was a mistake he can live with. Link can live with my choice.

"Link, what do you mean?"

"I refuse," he worded slowly once more before stepping back away from the woman. He pat the Sheikah Slate on his hip and turned to walked away. The young man proclaimed to be a hero waved at the old woman and walked away without looking back. She didn't stop him, not that he thought she could. Instead Impa closed her eyes in disappointment and told the hero she'd wait for his return to hear what she had to say.

In another time maybe once he figures out more of who and what he is. As well as who he wants to become. It's not a knight or a hero. He's seen knights killed by the moblins. He'd rather survive and thrive on his own for now. He wants to explore the world and find his own way instead of one paved for him. If the world hasn't ended in a hundred years, he's sure there's more time on the clock that most seem to realize. He has time for exploration and to travel. He could possibly build something as well if he wanted.

A/N: So the story is I bought a Nintendo Switch like a month ago and got Legend of Zelda a year after it came out. I played it thinking that it was a bit over hyped after playing heavily scripted Zelda games for years only to be shot in the mouth for that thought. I didn't want to followed the scrip and did my own thing. Then I got the idea of writing it. This is an introduction before the main story for a small look into the Link and world I depicted from my play through in this immersive rpg.

Should I continue or let it go? I'm not sure yet but I hope whoever reads this enjoyed this.