I'm forgetful and will forget to put disclaimers, so I'm putting only one of them and putting it here. Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda in any way. The only thing I own are the plot and characters that I have developed.
Hi there! I'm Shimmering Starlight, one of your fellow fanfiction-goers. This is a Zelda fanfic that came to mind one day. I can't promise to you that you'll enjoy this, since of course an author can't please everyone. But what I will promise is that I will make each chapter with my best effort, with fresh, new ideas. I also promise that I'll finish this story, since I'm sure you know that on this website, many people discontinue their stories. Read this chapter, see if you like it, and feel free to leave me a review or personal message with your thoughts.
Chapter 1:A Letter and A Nightmare
After strapping the sheath of his old Ordon sword to his back, Link stepped his right foot onto the stirrup and threw his other leg over to Epona's other side, guilty that he had to make Epona run such a long distance after she had gotten those injuries just yesterday, injuries of the most torturous kind. Link had been aiding his hometown in slaying a horde of monsters that were invading Ordon, and Epona had been burned, slashed, and scraped badly by those wretched beasts. Ilia made his life miserable when he accepted the mission from Bo the mayor.
Yes, the mission. He was to deliver a package to Renado, the shaman of Kakariko Village, and an old friend of Link's who frequently helped him on his quest to banish the perpetual twilight from settling permanently on Hyrule. What was in the package, he didn't know, but it must have been important indeed, because when he inquired the old mayor, Bo simply had shaken his head and again told him to turn it to Renado as quickly as possible. He sighed and gently spurred Epona out of Ordon.
The Hyrule Fields did not have the best weather today. Actually, come to think of it, Link hadn't seen a single sunny day in a whole month, quite ironic as Hyrule was a land that was almost always enshrouded with sunlight. He looked at the sky, which rumbled angrily with thunder as he raised his head. It was dark, almost black, and dreary. It would probably rain again, so he would have to hurry. He urged Epona forward, travelling at a steady pace.
At the half point between Ordon and Kakariko, his guilt overcame him, and his concern for his loyal steed forced him to dismount and check on her wounds. He soothed Epona with a pat, "I'm just checking your wounds, Epona, so don't protest too much." Epona whickered softly as he bent down and carefully unwrapped a bandage on her left foreleg with practiced hands. Wincing with pity, he looked at the gash, which was cruelly taking the opportunity to ooze blood again. He proceeded to treat her wounds until he suddenly heard a shriek. "MR. LINK! WAAAAAAIT!"
The voice had come from the postman, in his red and white uniform. He was running crazily towards Link, as he always ran, looking rather foolish. He finished attending to the last of his horse's injuries and stood to his full height, letting the postman approach.
Soon he reached them. He panted for a few moments. Then he said gleefully, "Mr. Link, it has been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has." Link smiled at how overexcited he was.
"I have come to deliver a letter! It is a letter from Hyrule Castle. It's a great honour, Mr. Link!" he squealed. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small uncharacteristic envelope. He thrust it into Link's hand and saluted, saying, "Well, my business is concluded! Onward to mail!" And with that, he zoomed away.
Link looked at the letter with surprise. If his assumptions were correct, this would be from Princess Zelda herself; none of the nobles in Hyrule Castle would care to write to him, since no one that was turned into a spirit was told the whole story of the twilight incident. And since it had been three years since they last met, it was more of shock. Five years had passed since the twilight incident came and passed, but for two years after that, Link and Zelda spent more time together and became close friends. But soon their duties forced them to stay apart, and meetings with the two ceased. But now, Zelda was addressing him again.
What would be so urgent that made Zelda write after two years?
He opened the envelope hastily and pulled out the letter. It read, in elegant script: I hope you are well. I'm sorry to tell you this, but this letter is not purely social. I know it has been years since we have seen each other, but I need to speak with you soon. Very, very soon. Please do not throw anything important you have to do to the side, but I need to inform you of something serious. Please come to Hyrule Castle soon. Forever yours, Zelda
Dearest Link,
Below her sign off were the Ancient Hylian glyphs that meant business with the Royal Family.
Link was now even more stunned. He knew that it was extremely urgent, or else she would have told him what was going on in the letter. But she didn't. That meant that it was serious, that the news would be dangerous in the wrong hands. He felt unease rise in him; he didn't like it when Zelda was in trouble. Which was most of the time, thanks to Ganondorf. He laughed to himself at this thought, but he still felt an anxious pit of worry.
He shook his head from his reveries, returning to reality. He remembered that he had a delivery to make, but he was dying to see the Princess again. But after remembering the urgency in Bo's eyes and reminding himself that she told him not to throw anything aside, he decided to go to Kakariko first. So he pressed his heels into Epona's underside, and she began to trot forward with a neigh.
Kakariko Village, though almost uninhabited since the display of savagery by the controlled Twili, had somewhat recovered in the past five years. The nobles of Hyrule Castle, including Princess Zelda and her Royal Council, had agreed that Kakariko should be rebuilt to its former glory, and bit by bit, people began to move into Kakariko again. The village was still, however, quiet, but Link knew that in time, it could become as lively as even the Castle Town.
He went straight to the shaman's house which still stood the same as ever directly in front of the village's southern entrance. Before he could even raise his hand to knock, the door was thrown open. Standing in the doorway was none other than Luda, Renado's daughter. Luda was almost Link's height now, and her innocent eyes had become weary after the years passed. Her demeanour had changed drastically since he first saw her five years ago. "Link. Please, come in," she greeted him with a quiet smile. Luda turned and led him into the room. The room was very dimly lit, compared to what he was used to seeing.
"Please be quiet. He is very ill," Luda murmured.
Link didn't understand. "I'm sorry? I'm not... quite sure what you mean."
Then he did find out what she meant. By the statue that blocked the entrance to the building's sanctuary was a bed. In it was a man with skin so pale that Link rubbed his eyes to check if he was seeing correctly. With a jolt, he recognized the man's long black hair and distinctive face. Renado sat up slowly to greet his visitor, opening his mouth to speak to Link but was interrupted by a cough. Luda rushed to his side, helping him up. "Link. Have you come with the Ordonian herbs?" His usually proud and strong voice was quiet and wheezy, making Link wonder what had happened to him.
Link shook his head, feeling foolish that he didn't even know what it was he had delivered. "I do not know what is in the package. You know Bo; he's always hasty and clumsy."
Renado tried to laugh, but succeeded only in a strangled cough. Luda immediately received the package from Link's hands and nearly tore it open. "Yes, he brought them," she almost moaned in relief. She went to the fire for more light as she gathered the herbs into a pot.
"What happened?" Link asked softly.
Luda's eyes filled with tears, but she continued to make the medicine as she spoke. "It was the Gorons," she mumbled, seperating the herbs into bundles. "They poisoned many of us. They purchased a large amount of one kind of fish from the Zoras, and they used the fish's poisonous blood to make some kind of concoction. And they put it into the potions they sold to us. What monsters they have become…"
Link's eyebrows met. Gorons poisoning Hylians? It didn't sound like real information; the Gorons were such a proud race. "Are you sure? That doesn't sound like the doing of the Gorons. They are very gentle and proud; they wouldn't try to kill the Hylians. And even if they would, they wouldn't resort to such underhand trickery; they would fight in fair combat instead. It's far too… dishonourable… for them."
Renado answered next, in his poor voice. "From what I understand, which is not a lot I must admit, it's something like what happened when the shadowy interlopers left. And you helped us restore the peace with the Gorons, Link." His words were full of gratitude. Then he sighed, reminiscing. "However, the peace may not be stable now."
Link chose his words carefully, since the truth of what happened then couldn't ever be told. "But what could affect them so much that they would try to kill us? And the interlopers were scared off." By Midna and me, added Link in his head.
"Who knows?" murmured Renado, as if to himself. "We can't – and won't – retaliate. We're not strong enough to fight off the Gorons, and we don't want to start a war, especially because Death Mountain is so near Kakariko. And Princess Zelda would not be pleased that we began to fight a neighbouring race."
Soon Link was rushed out of the room by Luda; she had to treat Renado with the new medicine, along with the others in the village. He observed the villagers as they strode in the streets with hard faces, undoubtedly like so because of the Gorons' treachery. They eyed him with a nervous look, but Link knew that if he had spoken to Renado with peace, they would trust him. He shook his head in dismay, and walked over to Epona, patting her head. Zelda was waiting for him, and he wanted to see what the matter was. He would do anything that would help her. He made that known when he went risking everything to save Hyrule.
With the same difficulty as he had on the way to Kakariko, he arrived, tired from fending off monsters, at the southern gates to the Castle Town. Surprisingly, there were now two Hylian soldiers in front of the entrance. There never were any guards when he came last. However, that was three years ago. But the safety they brought by standing guard in front of the gates was questionable; the soldiers were never afraid to show their constant cowardice.
But perhaps he was wrong about these two; they unsheathed their swords without hesitation and pointed them at Link. "Halt! State your business in the town," ordered one of them firmly.
"I have come at the request of Zel—Princess Zelda." Link caught himself quickly. He did not want it to seem like he knew her well, knowing that not many outside of the town would be called to the Castle for business. It was an honour to even be thought of by anyone inside Hyrule Castle.
"Show us your letter, then," said the other, suspicious of his intentions. "If she has summoned you, you must have a letter, and letter must have a Royal Mark."
Link almost scowled, but he quickly suppressed it. He could understand why they asked; he could very easily just be a crazy person that wanted to see the princess. He remembered meeting people like that, bringing amusement to mind. Even so, he didn't want to show them the message, since it wasn't very formal. But he relinquished it anyway, knowing there was no alternative.
Both guards scanned the letter, saw the Royal Mark, and shoved their blades back into the sheathes.
"You may enter," they said together. "Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town, sir."
Link decided to inquire, "If it is not too presumptuous to ask… why are there now guards in front of the entrances to the town? The last time I visited, there weren't any. What happened?"
One of the guards nodded. "There have been numerous attacks by strange monsters that we are not familiar with, or encountered before. We have become more cautious with who we let into the town. Ever since the third attack, it became apparent that the assaults would become frequent, and now sentries have been posted by all entrances to the Castle Town." The very thought seemed to drain their energy away.
Link was reminded of his own village's situation, since something similar was happening there. He thanked them for the answer, and headed for the Castle.
After passing more guards in front of the Hyrule Castle and showing them his letter, he was led through the proud halls of Hyrule Castle to the enormous library by a servant of Zelda's. The servant led him to her private reading room where he bowed to Link, smiling, "Sir Link, you'll find Princess Zelda in this room. Don't worry about interrupting her readings; she always takes pleasure with meeting old friends." He knocked on the door twice, bowed to Link once more, and strode away.
The door flew open, revealing the flustered Princess. She looked the same as ever: the same hazel-coloured hair, the same royal attire of purple and white, and the same grace she held herself with.
And of course, the same lovely face that was always beaming at him.
And of course, his heart immediately from a leisurely walk into a fast-paced run.
"Link, it's good to finally see you again," Zelda smiled pleasantly, embracing him and then leading him into the quiet room. However, there was something that didn't allow her smile to be as pleasant as it when he met her three years ago. She took a seat at her desk, and Link chose a luxurious armchair. "How have things been in Ordon?" she asked conversationally.
Link grimaced, and Zelda perked up a bit as he answered, "Not so good. The monsters in Faron have gotten more aggressive lately. And even though I've seen most, if not all, of Hyrule, I have never even dreamed of such horrifying creatures."
Zelda looked grave at these words. "It's been like that around here, too," she murmured. "I wonder…"
A pause came between them as they contemplated the situation. Then:
"Have you been well?" Link asked anxiously. "Your letter seemed awfully urgent. I received it only a few hours ago."
Zelda hesitated.
"I'm fine… physically… but… I had a nightmare last night," she said slowly. "And I'm quite sure it was another prophecy." Her voice sank to a whisper now. "A horrible one."