Between Timelines: A Legend of Zelda Fanfic

Chapter 1

Through my haze I see him: my knight in shining armor, sword held high, delivering the final blow to the evil blight of our land.

It's over faster than you would think: Ganon evaporates into a cloud of purple haze, sealed away. I feel myself being freed from a trap, a century long hold I've had to keep up against Ganon, and suddenly, I'm standing in a bright field. Wildflowers and silent princess sway around my feet, and my blond hair sways in the soft breeze. I breathe in the first deep breath of fresh air in what feels like forever.

Sensing eyes on me, I turn, and there he is. Link stands behind me, smiling. He's taller than I remembered, and his outfit is a little odd. He seems to be wearing a mismatch of clothes, Zora armor with climbing gear for pants, but I can finally see his face, after all this time.

"You're here," I say, smiling, "you did it." In response, Link bows his head. For as long as I've known him, I have never heard Link say a single spoken word, although he does know multiple languages of sign, so he communicates easily with most inhabitants of Hyrule.

"You're here too," he signs back, "you managed to hold him off just long enough. You saved Hyrule."

I run to him and wrap him in a giant hug, memories flashing before my eyes of before the calamity, when he was only my appointed knight, and not the savior of Hyrule.

Suddenly, though, I am so, so tired. And hungry. As the adrenaline wears off, I realize I have literally not eaten in 100 years, and my legs start to give out. I collapse into Link's arms, exhausted.

One and a Half Years Later

I wake up to a knock on my door, followed by a small and timid voice.

"M-miss Zelda? Umm, the, uh, royal guests are here." says the newest member of castle staff, Rita. Rita is a small girl from Hateno village, and even though she's the sweetest thing, she always seems worried we will fire her at any moment, for anything, even just for waking me up early.

"It's, umm, time to get ready, miss." she repeats.

"Ready for what?" I respond, still half asleep and with my eyes squeezed shut, trying to ward off the sunlight shining through my obscenely large windows.

"Uh, y-your coronation, miss. It's your 18th birthday?" she says, framing it like a question. "The, umm, guests are all arriving."

My eyes snap open. How could I have forgotten? I have been thinking about this day for years, and I forgot to set my alarm? I groan and jump out of bed.

"Okay, thanks Rita!" I yell over my shoulder, "I'll be out in a few minutes!"

I rush to my bathroom, quickly doing my makeup and styling my hair, thanking Hylia I cut it a few months ago. I put on my heavy earrings and trip over my circlet while pulling on my, once again, heavy dress. Once I've righted myself, I carefully place the circlet on my head, throw on the rest of my heavy jewelry (curse all these ceremonies), and skid down the hallway to the kitchens, stumbling the whole way.

The smell of freshly baked bread and eggs wafts through the air, inviting me to sit down for a big breakfast, but I just grab a slice of fruit cake and (shouting a thank you to cook through my full mouth) speed walk back out the door, heading for the entrance hall, where the guests will be arriving.

Outside the doors to the hall, I shove the last few bites of cake in my mouth and take a few seconds to chew and regain any composure I can muster up. Finally, I nod to the royal guards to my left and right, who each push open one of the heavy wooden doors.

"Her Majesty princess Zelda!" announces one of the guards, and I watch with unease as all the guests drop into low bows. This is customary to address the ruler of Hyrule, which is, by default, me, but it has always made me feel strange, especially because many of the people who have been invited here today are my close friends.