Summary: The kingdom has been overtaken by Ganondorf. A once peaceful Hyrule now engulfed in flames, a young Princess finds herself consumed by guilt. Without a hero by her side, she must persevere nonetheless.
Excerpt:
The Princess held the Ocarina to her chest as she waited with hope for his return, clutching its' fragile, blue surface, her eyes closed.
Somehow, the reason why amiss to even herself, she felt he was close. She could almost see him running across Hyrule Field.
"Your Highness!" echoed a familiar voice among the walls of the Temple of Time.
"Impa," Zelda replied as she opened her eyes. "I will not have your objections. I must wait for him. He must be the one to save us all."
"No," she heard behind her, prompting her to turn around to face to Sheikah attendant.
"There's been an attack…that Gerudo Ganondorf…and he's looking for you. I need to get you as far away from the castle as possible, for your own safety."
"No," Zelda said as she shook her head. "My father, my kingdom, Link…"
"Princess," Impa stated in a serious tone. "There is no time. You must be kept safe."
"But Im—" Zelda started before she was interrupted by a resounding crash outside the temple.
"Now!" Impa exclaimed as she grabbed Zelda's wrist and started to run, the Princess trying to keep up behind her.
They emerged from the Temple of Time, their clothes and hair starting to sodden with the rain that fell.
Everything was a blur as the Princess felt herself lifted up to the back of a white horse, Impa quickly sitting behind her.
"Hut!" The Sheikah exclaimed as she whipped the reins. The Princess started to cry when she heard thunder roar in her ears, when she saw the stormy skies tainted with the red of burning fires, when she looked back to find the castle gone.
She was too late. She had failed.
Yet, as the quick hooves hastened along below her, Hyrule Field becoming a dark blur, she looked back at the hub of her kingdom, a flash of green catching her eye.
"Link!" she exclaimed when she recognized him, fumbling for the ocarina she held.
The Princess threw the instrument as far as she could before looking forward, the little boy now out of sight.
She felt her breathing quicken as they continued quickly, worried for so many things she couldn't control.
Her father's safety, leaving Link alone, leaving her kingdom to ruin.
"Slow breaths, Your Highness," Impa said calmly. "In and out."
Zelda closed her eyes as more tears fell, concentrating instead on just inhaling and exhaling until it became slower.
Her shut eyes started to squint as she tried to picture Link, if he got the ocarina, if he was safe.
"Link…" she started as his image faded into her mind.
He was standing just outside Castle Town, looking out at Hyrule Field desperately.
"Link," she continued. "Can you hear me? It's me, Zelda…"
She watched his expression change, as if alerted by something he heard, and smiled when he whispered,
"Zelda," and closed his eyes.
"Link," Zelda began desperately. "The Ocarina…when you hold it in your hand…I won't be around anymore. I'm sorry…I wanted to wait for you, but I couldn't delay any longer. I regret that you must carry on with our plan alone. I'm glad I could at least leave you the Ocarina and this melody…"
