Twilight Journal

Author's Note: This story is a companion piece to Twilight Princess, reflections of a former Hero. You may wish to read that tale first. (though it is not required to ethier understand or enjoy this one!)

Chapter 1

Morning.

The sun rises as I step out of my door, greeting me with it's warmth. As I walk down to the shore line from my private Cabana, I can hear the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore, and feel the warm tropical breeze blow across my face. The gulls soar high in the distance, as the sunlight dances across the water's surface. Such a calm scene is welcomed by me, considering all the hectic events of my life...

Oh, forgive me, I should introduce myself. My name is Link, and I am known as the Hero of the Winds. I have fought many battles across the great sea, and saved many lives in the process. The blood of the Hero of Time, and the Hero of Twilight flows within my veins, and like my two legendary ancestors, I faced the Evil king Ganondorf and defeated him. After my victory, I traveled across the great Sea with Tetra and her band of Pirates for a time, searching for a new land to call Hyrule. After our adventure with the ghost ship and the Phantom Hourglass, I grew weary of the journey, and returned home to the Great Sea. Now, I am in my twenty-fifth year, living out my life here with my wife and children.

I stare around myself, at vastness of the Great Sea, the home where I grew up. This vast body of water is home to so many peoples, from the Rito, who live atop the peak of Dragon Roost, to the Koroks, who live in the forest haven. From the greedy merchants of Windfall, to the hardy fisherman of Outset Island, my homeland. As the Hero, it is my duty to protect than all from evil... and that can be a frustrating job sometimes. I often wonder, did the Heroes before me have it as hard? Were their lives and full of trials and tribulations as mine has been? It is a question I have no answer to.

Looking down at the shore, I notice the water level has dropped a few more inches since last night. "The Deku Tree" I whisper to myself, knowingly. His children, The Koroks, are planting seeds over all the islands, which will slowly drain the waters of the Great sea totally. Within a century, the flood waters will have totally receded, and Hyrule will live once more. It will be up to my descendants to protect that new land, just as it will be up to Tetra's to rule it. But can I raise my children to be worthy of the Hero's bloodline? I wish the goddesses would give me an answer.

"Link?" I hear a voice behind me, and I smile at the soft sounds of footsteps approaching. My beloved wife, who has been my strength and joy these past few years. I turn to face her, her long, flowing brown hair tied into a ponytail, gently blowing in the breeze. She will often come outside in the evenings, and softly play her golden harp as the sun sets. The sounds of her song warms my heart.

"Are the children awake?" I ask her softly, staring into her deep red eyes. Those unusual eyes of hers are the result of having a Zora ancestor somewhere in her heritage.

"No." She replies, shaking her head. My wife pulls out a an old-looking book with a wrinkled cover on it. "I found this last night, when I was cleaning out your storage trunk from Outset Island. What is it, Link?"

Looking over the book, I recognize it. "This book was given to me by grandma, before she died." It was a family heirloom, just like that old Hylian shield I used when I rescued Tetra all those years ago. I motion over to an outside table and chairs we have set up. "Come on, lets have a look."

Sitting down, we open up to the first page, which is written in old Hylian. Although only my wife can speak the ancient tongue, I can easily read it. "A tale of the Twilight, as written by the Hero."

"Twilight...hero..." My wife thinks aloud. Suddenly, her eyes light up. "Link! This must have been written by your ancestor!"

"You're right!" I exclaim, looking back at the pages. As amazing as it is, this book must have been handed down from generation to generation, all the way back from the Hero of Twilight himself. "It's looks like it a diary... or journal of some kind..."

I couldn't believe it! Here, before me, were the words of one of my heroic ancestors! This is exactly what I was looking for, a window into the mind of someone who has walked the path of the Warrior. Surely, these pages must contain some wisdom on being a hero, wisdom which I can pass on to my children.

Excited, I eagerly turn to a random page, and begin to read. " Twenty third day of Summer. Today, Rusl and I left Odoron for the Faron woods, in order to gather some lumber. He began to talk to me, a told me of a journey he wished me to make..."