Written in Blood

II . Her story

~ Zelda ~

The dream always started out the same, with me shook awake by a storm.

Lightning speared through the sky, igniting the clouds in glorious blue flames as the ground shook, violently trembled beneath me.

In the dream, there's a panic I always feel... such an intense sense of panic that it's hard to believe this wasn't real.

As the elements outside continue to increase, the rain slamming into the glass, lightning crashes into the Castle, right outside of my window.

Even though it's raining, the flames bloom on the roof, catching the castle.

In the distance I can hear his laugh as it booms as loud as the thunder, seeing his outline against the dark landscape far beyond me.

Tall and imposing, he looks like the physical representation of power... which makes perfect sense. He was the bearer of that piece of Triforce... once.

And now he's back to claim what he sees as his, my father's kingdom, Hyrule, that will one day be mine to govern.

The thick clouds cover the sky, spreading over the land.

At this point, no one will be safe from his tyranny, his goal of gaining the Triforce, along with ultimate power and control.

The panicked feeling consumed me and my dream more, transforming it into a nightmare, the King is Thieves grew into a monster, violently spazzing as horns ripped out of his silhouette, and the laughs became animalistic, feral snarls.

Around me the world flashed and burned, the edges of my dream appeared to burn, the smoke smell so real... the sharp and earthy tang along with the smoggy thickness. I choked on it as the fires burned into my eyes, the world screamed.

Just before my dreams fades out to cracking stars and black, I see a flash of green, which from the moment I saw it I immediately associated with him, Link.

It had taken multiple deep breaths to slow my heart rate down, which felt like it was beating so hard I was afraid I'd crack a rib.

Continuing to compose myself, I still can clearly remember as I got ready that day, years ago, I remember the terror I felt at something that hadn't happened... I didn't know when it would happen.

Like my other dream I had, I knew this one was another vision of the future, it felt so real... there was no way it was just a figment of my imagination. My first prophetic dream had felt the same,  the foreboding tone it carried had felt so much larger and tangible than just a flimsy dream.

As before, I went to tell Impa first, since she seemed to be the only one to believe me, besides him of course. But he'd been gone, and I didn't know where he was now.

———

years ago...

"Father, I need to speak with you immediately... this is a matter of deep concern to me," I say as I come into my father's study with Impa behind me, watching his conversation lull with the General of the Hylian Army, Corzan Dohean.

My father sighs, and I wince visibly, feeling his irritation at me.

"What is it Zelda?"

"I've had another vision father... and I'm worried, it shows the castle burning and Ganondorf at the head of it all..."

I was about to say more but I stop, seeing General Dohean's eyes flicker onto my face, clear exasperation for me on his face. I hush up, biting my lip.