A/N: I crammed a lot of author's notes in my profile.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

A Pair of Time

Chapter 1- Prologue: The Start of Hope's Time

A ranch somewhere in Hyrule; Day

Horses gallop around a wide corral, as they have nothing better to do than be closed off from the world in this strange, oval-shaped fence. But, hey, it's better than nothing. A lifetime full of running for fun and exercise, free food, being taken care of (including having its own feces disposed of). Yep, that, and having other nice-looking horses around for mates. What a dream life they have.

A fiery redheaded girl, whose hair reaches down to her lower legs, is singing in the corral while brushing a young horse. She wears a white work dress, patterned at some place, and wears a yellow bandana around her neck. Her voice, her voice sings a soothing song, a voice that is different from those she know of. Heavenly, but to a down-to-earth theme. The way it sounds almost seems like it's describing the ranch life, in an easy-going way. And this is emphasized through the song she's now singing, how it soothes animals nearby, how the horse next to her shows affection to this song. Of course, this girl does love what she has now: a ranch like those people would dream of; a kind father and a hard farmhand; and these animals, especially the horses, to take care of. Anybody would trade their life for this, but…

The girl, well, really has no Hylian friends to talk to, or even has any that comes by. In fact, she doesn't have any Hylian friends at all. She normally talks to the other kids in the town center at the Market, during one of her father's milk delivery. But, it isn't long enough to bond with anybody. Everybody likes her and all (or so they appeared and said), but no one really spends time with her or stops by the ranch. They don't have the time. She would have been depressed and lonely, but she has friends back at the ranch, though not of the same species. Animals are the ones that listen to her and show her affection no matter what species this girl is. It really doesn't matter to her; they make her feel happy. But the one animal that she really cares about is this horse she's currently brushing. It has a magnificent coat of reddish-brown, and its white mane flashes in the sun. She bonded with the horse so much, it lightens the girl up whenever the horse senses that she feels sad.

Other than this wonderful scene, some dark, dust-colored storm clouds are hanging over the forest to the east. It hasn't budged ever since it gathered there. To top it off, a male Gerudo in black on a black horse rode away days earlier from where the clouds gather. Suddenly, a beam of light pierces the clouds, grabbing the girl and the horse's attention. The dark clouds are dissipating, giving way to this brilliant ray of light. A figure, along with an orb of light hovering around it, is holding up a green and shining stone. The horse neighs, while the girl couldn't believe what she's seeing. She thought it's a trick of the mind. How could a ray of light, over a figure, rid the dark clouds above it? It doesn't make any sense.

Then, the light disappears, taking the figure along with it. It's all over. The figure is gone, the sky above it clear. The girl discards the figure as nothing more than an illusion. It's too much to figure out what just happened. She's here, at home, with her family and her 'friends.' She continues singing and brushing her close friend. Just then, a stocky man in overalls interrupts her.

"Ah, are you ready to come with me tomorrow to the Market?" he asks.

"Yes, Dad."

"Good. You stay near the fountain, and I'll deliver the milk. Like always?"

"Well, that is, if you don't go to sleep again."

"I promise I won't. I've been goin' to bed earlier now. I promise I won't keep you waitin'."

The girl stares down at her feet, then up to her father.

"Do you really promise, Dad?"

"I promise," he repeats. "I won't keep you alone all by yourself this time. I just can't bear it."

"Thanks, Dad."