The Legend of Zelda: The Magician

1: The Hero

Smoke and shadows surround me. Flames lick at the edge of the shadows, crackling with life and heating my skin to the point that I wonder if it'll melt off. Their orange glow is my only light in this endless abyss as I look around to try and see where I am. But only darkness stares back at me.

A woman's scream thunders around me. It sounds vaguely familiar.

Looking in the direction it came from, fear and concern ripple through me, but I can't find the source. No one's around. A white-gold light appears in the distance, shinning so brightly that my eyes ache. I shield them from its intense glow with my arm.

After a moment, I lower my arm to see Princess Zelda in the distance and, behind her, Ganondorf. The princess' eyes are wide with terror, tears twinkling in those ocean-blue orbs. Ganondorf has a wicked grin plastered on his face and a devious flicker in his ember eyes that. He reaches out to the princess, and I begin running to her, a typhon of fear raging through me. But I'm stopped in my tracks by something solid and invisible. A magical barrier.

Multi-coloured diamonds manifest beside me and a shadowy, cloaked figure appears within them, placing gloved hands on the barrier and shattering it. Shards like glass twinkle and fly away in every direction as I cover my face, again, to protect it.

Once I feel it's safe, I lower my arm and stare in confusion at the figure that now appears to be looking at me; but I can't see their face, since it's hidden in shadow from their hood. Yet, looking at this figure sends my heart thundering in my chest. Unsure what to do with the figure – or my reaction to them – I give a curt nod in thanks and turn, running again to save the princess. Ganondorf's hands are almost enveloping her as I push myself further to save her, my breath ragged, and my body shrill in protest as fear greedily clutches to every part of my body.

I'm only a few feet from her. So close. But, before I can reach her, everything is consumed by darkness.

I jolt awake. Opening my eyes, I see I'm lying down in bed. I'm in my room inside the barracks for the Imperial Guards, which is attached to Hyrule Castle. My body is dripping in sweat, my heart drumming against my chest, my breathing fast and heavy, causing my lungs to sear with every breath. Hair sticks to my temples and my sheets are tangled around me, feeling hot and cold all at once.

Sitting up in bed, I wipe the sweat off my brow as my skin pulses with heat, while shivers scuttle over my skin, and I decide to untangle myself and get out of bed. As I start dressing, I realize that I haven't had nightmares like that since I was a child and Ganondorf was loose in the world, planning to take the Triforce from the Sacred Realm. Why am I having these dreams again? Ganondorf is sealed away, deep under the castle. Perhaps it's because of that. Maybe being so close to him and his evil is bringing on these dreams. But, if that is the case, why didn't I have them before now? I've been living near the castle for seven years now, and Ganondorf has been sealed away for the same amount of time.

Seven. That's right. It's been seven years. Seven years since Princess Zelda sent me back in time from saving Hyrule from Ganondorf the first time. Seven years since I rushed to her side as a child to warn her of Ganondorf's plans. Seven years since I was in the forest with the Kokiri and the Great Deku Tree – whom I think is now a lively and ever-growing sprout. Seven years since I've seen Navi and since I've been training to be a knight in the Imperial Guard.

I never guessed that the King of Hyrule – Princess Zelda's father – would really believe two children about the fate of the world and the real intentions of a man whom they had never met in their entire life. I guess it did seem trustworthy after both Princess Zelda's and I's hands glowed with the Triforce symbols we are connected to – wisdom and courage, respectively – as we warned the King of the future.