Fragments of the Past

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Author's Note:

hi guys!!! i'm really excited to be starting my first ever link/reader fanfic!

i have a lot planned out for this one and i've been doing some extensive research to hopefully make it as fleshed out as possible!

a lot of the lore and game callbacks that are gonna be mentioned in this fic relate to skyward sword, ocarina of time, and twilight princess! however, it's not necessary to have played them to read this!!

cover art is by me, and i'll probably make more the more the story progresses!

i really hope you guys enjoy this first chapter :3

♡♡♡

Thick fog wafted between the trees, clouding Link's vision as he walked. The air felt damp against his skin, despite the heat wafting from the torch. Embers trailed ahead of him, leading him to what he hoped was the center of the Wood.

He couldn't remember exactly how long he had been roaming the woods, the long faces of twisted and mangled trees meeting him at nearly every turn. A couple hours, maybe? A few days? It didn't help that he seemed to black out any time he strayed too far into the mist. There was no certainty in his path, and all the while he felt as though there were eyes on him.

The wildlife that traipsed through the woods seemed almost mocking as they moved among the trees, howling and cooing as he passed the animals by.

Link looked to his torch. It was nearly burnt out now, the wood burning down until the flame danced just a few inches above his knuckles. He supposed that, if need be, he could make a makeshift torch out of one of the old tree's branches. Something told him the woods wouldn't like that, though.

He took a deep breath. There was no need to worry--if nothing else, he could always just use the Sheikah Slate to head to a nearby stable, or one of the two Divine Beasts he had already conquered, and stock up on supplies from there before trying again. He really didn't want to try again, though, and as much as he loved the company of the Zoras and Gorons, he wasn't exactly eager to be retracing his steps.

He had a job to do, and he already felt like he was wasting enough time as it was.

The feeling of hard soil turning into softer grass under his feet had his attention drawing out of his thoughts, and Link chanced to stop in his tracks. Light seemed to filter in against the mist here as if illuminating the path before him. Eagerly he made his way down the slope, feeling his heart race with relief as the fog finally began to clear.

While the dense woodland from before had an eerie silence that seemed to echo between the bark, this new area had an almost joyous hum to it. Link's ears perked as he made his way through a large tree stump, anticipation tingling in his fingertips as he put the torch out. The sun beamed down on the flora, and Link could swear he could see Korok ducking out of his line of sight everywhere he turned. A smile dared to cross his face the further he ventured in.

He had made it through; maybe now he could find what he was looking for.

Traversing through the mist had been the hard part, surely. However, Link couldn't help but worry his search wasn't close to an end yet. Ever since he had awoken, every challenge he faced seemed to have a more difficult solution than first glance. Something told him that trying to reclaim the Sword that Seals the Darkness would be no different.

Eventually, he made his way into a clearing, feeling his breath catch in his throat as he examined the altar before him. Plants had grown between every nook and cranny of the stone slab, hiding it behind heavy brush and moss. He made his way up the decaying steps, his heart pounding throughout his entire body as his gaze centered in on the center of the altar.