AN: Well, here I am, back again! It's been a little while, but this is the start of a new project. Thank you to everyone who voted for this story in my last few polls.
So, I need to say a few words about the setup of this story. It will follow the events of Twilight Princess, but with a few tweaks (creative licence for the win!). They'll mostly be better explained sometime in the first few chapters, so I won't go into any depth about it, but all the characters will remain the same, just in a slightly different setup. Mainly that the twilight won't be a thing, and thus wolf Link, and that the relationship between Hyrule and the Twili is a little different. I just felt like I needed to mention that prior to the story's start. I don't know... if you have questions I'll be more than happy to answer them, though.

Now, without further ado, let's get this brand new show on the road!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda, or anything like that. Enjoy!

1- A Provincial Life

Link stared down into the clear water, watching the fish dart about as bright sunlight bounced off their scales. Hooking his ankles together he swung his legs slowly, adjusting his grip on his fishing rod, waiting for a bite that probably wasn't going to come. For once his mind was blank, free of all those goddess-forsaken memories and lack thereof, the gentle ripple and sway of the water soothing.

A soft meow to his right signalled the cat's return, but he ignored it. Or at least he meant to, but a moment later he found himself petting its soft head as they both sat staring at the fish. Nothing went for the bait. Not for a minute, then five, then ten.

Sighing Link set the fishing rod aside, quietly telling the cat that it wouldn't be getting any fish today. It stayed where it was anyway, watching the fish swim round and round. Link turned his gaze to the sky instead, watching the clouds drift by and recalling the time he had lived among them, up in the sky amongst floating islands where every person had a faithful bird companion and no one knew what lay far below them on the ground.

No, that hadn't been him. He lived on the ground, with a faithful equine companion and no idea what lay above the clouds anymore. Those floating islands could be gone for all he knew. Lost forever to the passage of time. And anyway, the Link that had lived in the clouds had done so centuries, lifetimes ago. Link just happened to remember every single one of those lifetimes, the ones that spanned between then and now. He remembered every single time Hyrule's great Hero, saviour of the realms and defeater of Ganondorf, had ever been reincarnated throughout history.

Except the most current one. He was that same Link, reincarnated for what felt like the millionth time, but he had no memories of his own life. Only of those who had come before. He had washed up unconscious on the riverbanks near Ordon, to be rescued by the kindly Rusl and his even kindlier wife, but upon awakening had realised he had no memories of his life. Just the ones belonging to those who had come before him. Luckily for him, he supposed, Rusl actually knew him; it turned out he was himself an Ordonian, one who had run away at a young age and never returned. He didn't remember.

It had been difficult, at first, to distinguish between incarnations, but he had got the hang of it. He still got people and places confused occasionally, woke up from nightmares not belonging to him frequently, had to deal with the aches of battle scars that weren't his own constantly, but he had more or less got the hang of it.

Lying back Link squinted up at the sun, listening to the wood of the little pier creak beneath him and the splash of the river lapping against its banks. There was a meow from beside him and then the cat was padding away, casting him a disparaging look as it finally got the message. No fish today. Craning his head Link watched it go, vanishing around behind one of the village's quaint little houses, replaced a second later by three familiar figures dashing towards him.

Stifling a sigh Link rolled his eyes, pushing himself upright just as they reached him. The local children. All bright eyes and bushy tails they waited for him to climb to his feet before swarming him, voices rising, mingling, until they became just high, unintelligible noise. Folding his arms Link leaned on his left leg, waiting for them to calm down and shut up. One by one they did, falling silent until he asked them what exactly the matter was.

'The shop's selling a slingshot,' was the eventual answer, falling from the mouth of Talo – or was it Malo? No, the older one's name always began with T. Running a hand through his hair Link grimaced slightly. So today was going to be one of those days. Where the memories overwhelmed him and the world became confused, all his lives bleeding into each other until he couldn't tell them apart.

Great.

Trying to concentrate Link asked after the slingshot, trying to establish why exactly they were telling him. Of course they wanted him to buy it. With the rupees he definitely had. Why couldn't they pool their pocket money? Do some chores for their parents or something? Why did everyone always make him do the things they could just as easily do themselves?

Well, his being a complete pushover didn't help. However much he resented it he just couldn't say no to requests for help. It left him with a bad taste in his mouth, a hollow feeling in his stomach. At least he had a conscience, he supposed. That was something. He blamed his past lives. Not that he wanted to end up like Ganondorf or anything; he just wished he wasn't quite so sensitive to these things. He blamed all the goodwill his past selves had exuded. It seemed to spill over across time, leaving him unable to decline the simplest of requests.

Sometimes he really, really resented them.

So of course ten minutes later found him approaching the children, now clustered around his house, with a brand-new slingshot in hand. As he drew closer he noticed Rusl was also there, walking away from the house in his direction.

'Ah, Link.' Once they were close enough Rusl halted, raising a hand in greeting. Link mirrored the gesture, also pausing. 'I've just returned your sword,' the man explained, gesturing with a thumb to Link's house. 'It's all fixed, good as new.' Link glanced in the direction he was pointing, striving to keep his expression neutral as he thought of the flimsy wooden thing Rusl called a sword. Link had treated it with disdain ever since the man had given it to him, and while he appreciated the gift he had always felt vaguely insulted by it. He had battled with real steel countless times, for countless years, but he supposed he was the only one who knew that. It wasn't like he had told the residents of Ordon that he could remember lives that didn't belong to him.

Pulling a faint smile onto his face Link thanked Rusl, who clapped him on the shoulder before departing. Once he was out of sight Link returned his attention to the children, who were still clustered around the training dummy, chattering excitedly. He bypassed them, lifting a hand in acknowledgement when they called after him, quickly scaling the ladder to the door of his house before slipping inside. Crossing the floor quickly he located the newly fixed sword, strapping it to his back with a slight exasperated sigh. It bothered him somewhat that he felt so uncomfortable without a weapon close at hand, but he guessed it was to be expected. It was all he knew. Times of strife and war, where fighting was all he could do.

The life of a warrior.

Returning outside Link hovered on the platform for a moment, steeling himself as the children called up at him in their high, impatient voices. Taking a deep breath that he let out as a sigh Link clambered down to meet them, to learn that they wanted to see him demonstrate his skills with both slingshot and sword. Even Colin, as ever being the least irritating of them all as he stood tending to Epona, seemed interested by that. Link was well aware that Rusl saw him as a role model of sorts for his son, something he supposed he didn't mind even if he disagreed somewhat, so of course he gave in.

Several smashed targets and a caved in pumpkin skull later found Link surrounded by highly excitable children all chirping about sword fighting, about how much they wanted to be like him when they grew up. Link resisted the urge to tell them that no, they really didn't, as he tried not to get whacked as Talon – no, Talo – waved around a branch he liked to pretend was a sword.

It didn't take long for things to, of course, go horribly wrong. In recent weeks Ordon had seen a sudden increase in the number of pranks being played by the local group of monkeys that lived in Faron Woods, which the villagers had quickly grown quite irritated by. Link harboured a particularly strong grudge considering that whenever a prank was played he was always the one sent to go sort it out, because apparently the villagers couldn't even deal with monkeys on their own. Monkeys.

So of course one had to appear right when the children were feeling particularly hyperactive, halting on the edge of the clearing upon seeing them. Talo spotted it almost immediately, and with a high-pitched battle cry of 'Monkey!' the children were all charging after it.

Link tried to recall them, yelling that they wait, stop being so immature, but it was hopeless. They were gone in moments, leaving Link standing alone with a heavy sensation in his stomach. It was a cross between frustration, resentment and his conscience urging him to go get them back safely. Heaving a sigh Link rolled his eyes at himself. It wasn't like they'd have gone far; they were all forbidden from actually entering the forest. He would just have to make sure no one had tripped or something.

Honestly.

Shaking his head and muttering to himself in irritation Link strode over to Epona, who snorted softly at him as he reached out to pat her neck in passing before hauling himself up into the saddle.

'Link, be- be careful, okay?' A small voice made him glance down, to find Colin still hovering at Epona's side. His big blue eyes were even bigger than usual with worry, his small hands curled into loose fists. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes – of course he would be careful, and it wasn't like anything was even going to happen – Link instead smiled faintly, nodding in acknowledgement before he touched his heels to Epona's flanks and they were off.

First they found Beth, who pointed worriedly in the direction the other two had scurried off in, then Malo, who was stood just before the rope bridge that led to Faron Woods. Sighing to himself Link guided Epona over the rickety structure, heading deeper into the forest.

The villagers worried about the woods, particularly the monsters that lived there, but Link had never been able to see why. Well, he supposed he had, but he really didn't agree. It was easy to find your way around, and the monsters were barely a threat. They could easily be dispatched of, even with a weapon as pathetic as a wooden sword. But he supposed it was a little different when you didn't have lifetimes of sword practise floating around in your head, or when you were barely a metre high.

Rusl would probably scold him if he knew, but Link often went on night time forays to the woods, when unpleasant memories were keeping him awake. He knew the forest's layout pretty well now, though he would admit he sometimes got it confused with the Kokiri Forest and ended up a little lost.

Only a little, though.

Urging Epona to go a little faster Link rode on, hoping to get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible. He hoped, he really hoped, that Talo hadn't gone too far. Why had the kid even run off into the woods in the first place? It was just a monkey. A monkey.

Trying to focus he shook his head slightly, resisting the urge to send a bitter thought or two up to the goddesses. They galloped on, Link finding no sign on Talo anywhere on the paths leading to Faron Woods, until they were approaching the locked gate on the main path to the woods. Adjusting his position in the saddle he urge Epona up and over, wincing when he felt one of her legs knock against the solid wood. Pulling on the reins he slipped from her back as soon as she was stationary, crouching down to inspect the damage. It could have been worse, but it would probably benefit from a dip in the Spirit's Stream out by Ordon.

He may resent the people of Hyrule, but he would never feel anything but affection for his animal companions. They weren't two faced, they never had ulterior motives, they never asked him for anything except love and care. They trusted him implicitly, just as he did them. They had carried him into battle throughout the ages, and he didn't think he would ever be able to thank them enough. Not that they ever asked him to.

Assuring Epona she would be okay Link rubbed her neck, leaving her to graze in the wide, round clearing beyond the gate. How had Talo ended up so incensed, by a monkey, that he would chase it all this way? He must have had to stop and think about how to get around the gate, which was locked for good reason, but he had still apparently gone. Link supposed he couldn't blame the kid entirely, though. He remembered enough childhoods to understand Talo's impulsive whims, even if, now that he was a young adult, he had to wonder how anyone could be so stupid.

Muttering a few irritated curses under his breath Link pressed on, walking now, in the direction of the caves that led to Faron Woods. He dispatched the Deku Baba that guarded the entrance, with a little more effort than would have been necessary with a real sword, before pausing to alter his course. Turning away he headed instead for the little house beside the road to the fields beyond, intending to ask Coro, the guy who tried to sell lanterns to every passer-by, if he had seen Talo.

Upon asking he discovered that yes, Coro had seen the stupid kid chase a monkey into the woods, and he paced back to the caves with a lantern now topped up with pretty reasonably priced oil. Lighting the lantern Link pressed on, passing swiftly through the caves without much issue beyond every single monster in the place attacking him. They were weak, though, and easy to deal with. It wasn't half frustrating though. He just wanted to find Talo and be done with this whole thing, but of course things couldn't just go smoothly for once. Apparently the goddesses sought to screw him over as much as possible, just like always. Why couldn't he just live a life as a farmer for once, or something? Why did he always have to save Hyrule? Why did Hyrule always need saving?

Goddesses, couldn't Ganondorf just give it a rest?

After all, Link was assuming that was why he was currently alive, why he had been reincarnated for the hundredth time. He had no purpose other than defeating Ganondorf. He was just waiting for the man to appear with some evil plot, to temporarily throw Hyrule into darkness before being defeated.

Decapitating a Deku Baba with just a little more force than strictly necessary Link took a breath, flexing his fingers around the handle of his sword, walking on. It was fine, he had accepted that was the only reason he existed, but it didn't half make him angry. It wasn't fair. Countless times he had saved Hyrule, yet nothing ever came of it. Ganondorf just sprang back up, and Link would have to go kill him again. And again. And no one ever thought to thank him, no one ever thought to at least consider the guy whose entire life had been thrown into complete and utter chaos again and again and again.

Sighing Link flicked his sword a few times, trying to get rid of at least some of the gore now coating it, even if he knew it would just disintegrate sooner or later. Stepping over the fast fading remains of a trio of Bokoblins he had just dealt with he continued on his way. He had had this argument with himself countless times since awakening on the riverbank with Rusl and Uli looking down at him with concern, but it hadn't progressed at all. It was pointless to think about it, really. There was nothing he could do but accept his fate, maybe find some peace once this whole new cycle was over. Once Hyrule was safe again, once he was left with nothing.

But for now he had a child to track down, instead of wallowing in self-pity and bitterness. Continuing on his way Link eventually found himself wandering up the path to the old, abandoned temple nestled within the woods, ears picking up the faint, high sound of a child crying.

Finally.

Quickening his pace Link jogged along, past the weird bird trying to sell potions, up the steep path with its endless drop below. Link had no problem with heights – that would've caused him a few problems back when he had lived in the sky – but something about that apparent abyss didn't half unnerve him.

'Link- Link!' At some point Talo caught sight of him and started screeching his name, so Link sped up again to avoid appearing apathetic. He dispatched of the two Bokoblins guarding the little cage Talo, alongside his new monkey friend, had been put in, before crouching down to inspect said cage.

'Link! Link get us out!' Talo whined, curling his small, pudgy hands around the bars. Stifling the urge to roll his eyes – he wasn't exactly going to leave them there – Link grasped one of the bars and tugged, feeling how much it gave. Not much. Apparently monsters were good at making sturdy cages, if nothing else. It was made of neat, sturdy sticks all lashed together tightly.

Absent-mindedly trying to calm Talo down Link set about trying to untie the bindings, worming his fingers under them and grimacing as they slipped, his nails bending backwards slightly. Rubbing them against his leggings he tried again, feeling a little like he was going to end up rubbing his fingertips raw by the end of this. Link tried a different tack as he asked Talo if he was all right, pulling the sword from his back before manoeuvring it through the bars, resting it against one. There he paused, not listening to Talo's reply, wondering if he could saw his way through. It was wood on wood, though, which probably meant there was a chance he could set the thing on fire. Talo and his monkey friend probably wouldn't appreciate that.

Sighing Link stood, taking a moment to stamp the cramp from his legs, before telling Talo to crouch as low as he could. Talo, apparently fathoming what was going on at least somewhat, managed to coax the monkey into copying him as Link set his feet, eyeing up the cage. A sharp enough blow would probably snap the sticks, if he aimed it right.

Taking a breath he concentrated, rolling his shoulders slightly, then he span, whirling his sword round with him. He felt the jarring impact, heard several sharp snaps, before his spin slowed and he was stood before a cage with its top torn off. The remaining bars all fell to the floor as Talo leapt to his feet with a victory cry, all trace of fear gone from his face. He launched himself at Link, who rocked back slightly at the impact before recovering his balance. Patting the boy's head Link sighed softly, waiting for him to stop clinging quite so tightly. The monkey had vanished almost as soon as the cage was open.

He was unwilling to take on any kind of parental role towards the children, being their role model was bad enough, but he still had to ask Talo why, exactly, he had chased the monkey all the way into the woods. Surely he had known it would end badly?

'Sorry, Link,' Talo mumbled, shuffling from foot to foot with a downcast expression. Rolling his eyes to himself Link relented, ruffling Talo's hair in a way that made him protest, recoiling, and he smiled slightly when the kid's surprised eyes met his. Reiterating what a stupid idea it had been Link grasped Talo's thin shoulder lightly, steering him back in the direction of Ordon. Talo went, in silence at first, until he recovered enough to start babbling about what had happened during his chase of the monkey, how they had been caught, how amazing Link had been, and so on.

Link half-listened, continually chivvying the kid on whenever he started to slow, too caught up in his story, and when they finally reached the caves it was to find Rusl just leaving them at a half-run, concern plastered all over his face.

'Link! Talo!' He halted upon seeing them there, surprise replacing the concern, before a wide grin lit up his face. 'I should've known.' A small, displeased noise sounded from around Link's waist, and when he glanced down he found Talo slowly edging behind him, worry and annoyance warring in his expression. Caught red-handed.

'Yes indeed, young man,' Rusl said sharply, resting his hands on his hips as his face became stern. 'What do you think you were doing? You've had us all worried sick, running off like that. You know the woods are out of bounds.'

'Colin told, didn't he,' Talo muttered, still half-hidden behind Link, face sullen.

'Yes, he did,' Rusl said, frown deepening. 'You should be glad he did – what would have happened had you been lost in the woods and without Link to find you? There are monsters of all kinds roaming these spaces, you ought to know better.'

Glancing down at Talo again Link pursed his lips slightly, wondering if he should mention that said monsters had actually caught the kid once already. He got his answer when Talo shot him a swift pleading look, so he kept his silence.

'Sorry, Rusl,' Talo eventually conceded, and Rusl's face immediately softened slightly.

'As long as you know what you've done,' he said, holding out a hand to beckon them. 'Now, let us return you to Ordon and let everyone know you are safe and sound.' Nodding sullenly Talo slipped past Link to stand at Rusl's side, and Link was making to follow suit when a sudden, terrible roar rang out through the woods. Talo immediately gave a soft cry, covering his ears as shock flitted across Rusl's quickly paling face.

Whirling where he stood Link looked out in the direction of the noise, hearing the shrieks of startled birds as they took flight, the echoes of the roar lingering amongst the trees. It was hard to tell how close, or how far away, its source was, but when a sudden high scream replied Link got the impression it really wasn't all that far.

'Goddesses…' The prayer fell from Rusl's mouth like a sigh, and Link glanced round at him. They stared at each other for a moment, silently conversing. That had been a human cry. A human cry of pain. They couldn't very well leave well enough alone now. Avoiding whatever beast had roared like that was one thing, but ignoring a person in pain, maybe dying, was another.

Glancing back in the cry's direction Link pressed his lips into a flat line. He didn't want to be a hero, not now, not ever, but it just wasn't in his nature to let things like this go. However much he resented his destiny, fate, whatever it was, abandoning someone in need of help wasn't something he could do.

Turning back to Rusl Link curled his hands into fists, exchanging a look with the older man.

'I'll take the lad home,' Rusl said, looking to Talo who was stood shaking at his side, 'and then I'll follow you.' Link nodded once without hesitating, turning once again and staring out across the forest. If whatever monster that roar had belonged to was still out there then he would have to be careful. A wooden sword probably wouldn't do much good.

'Wait, Link.' Rusl recalled him as he made to move away, so he turned once more, to find the man offering him his sword. The steel caught in the muted sunlight, glinting in a way that made Link's stomach clench with excitement. 'Take this.'

Link took it, immediately. He held back the excitement, forcing his face to remain impassive despite wanting to grin or laugh, and nodded once, thanking Rusl quietly. The man's face was worried, but Link didn't really care. Now that he had a sword, a proper sword, in his hand he could face anything. He could defeat any monster, fight any battle.

So maybe it wasn't the Master Sword, but it would do.

Facing away Link gave the weapon a few experimental swings before gave up fighting the grin of savage excitement tugging at his lips. He tended to bottle up all his emotions around the villagers, simply because he couldn't be bothered with their reactions, but now all that tension was overflowing as a vicious kind of bloodlust. He couldn't help himself. He resented his previous lives, resented their selflessness and their sacrifice, but they had certainly given him a taste for battle. It was all he knew, in the end. He knew they hadn't enjoyed it, or had at least told themselves they hadn't, but he wasn't like them. He was just one incarnation of many, but he was unique in his own way. As they all were.

As far as he could tell, he was just a little wilder than his previous incarnations. A little less good. Maybe he was just telling himself that.

'Link, be careful.' Pausing mid-swing Link glanced at Rusl, who if anything looked more concerned than he had before. Calming himself Link resisted the urge to roll his eyes and said he would, though he knew they both heard the words' hollow ring.

Lifting a hand in a casual farewell Link set off, unable to help the new spring in his step. He finally had a real blade in his hands, and he was off to hunt a beast.

So there it was, the first chapter. Please do let me know what you thought, and I will see you in the next chapter!