Latest Update:September 13, 2019
Summary: Destiny... said to be cruel, fearsome, unbreakable... It dictates the flow of time, it dictates the flow of history. The indestructible chains that bind it, that made it unchanging and unavoidable, were now painted Crimson. A new journey, a new world, where Gods were not out of his reach, where Evil was powerful and mighty, Link will rise and become a legend. This is his tale.
Link: https://m.fanfiction.net/s/11573100/1/Path-Of-Legends-HxD
Word Count:103k
Chapters:4
Life 0: Quit Being a Hero, Probably Not.
"THOU, YoUng Hero, whO WiLL DeFYeSt The lAwS oF HeaVEn anD hEll, AWAKEN! FoR thOU SHaLt mEeT wiTH The CriMSoN DeSTIny ThaT ThInE Own GodDesSEs haST ChoSEn fOR ThEe!"
Part 1
Go to profile, LISTEN: Link in Path of Legends: HxD: Life 0 Section: Song 01
A man opened his eyes very slowly, his blurred vision readjusting to the surroundings. He blinked several times, waiting for his sight to become clear. Some minutes passed, and while it wasn't crystal clear, it was just enough. A cream-coloured ceiling came into view, or so it seemed, but instead was that of the sheets stretched over the bed he rested upon.
The nineteen-year-old man let out a weary sigh, his left hand trailing over the soft, and thin fabric the sheets were made of. His hand then stopped as he realized that the space next to him was empty. The hand began to move faster, patting around the empty area of the bed.
'Maybe that was just a dream, but that voice... was it another...?'
The brilliant gold hair of the man shook as he sat up in the bed, yawning as he did with arms stretching upwards. His sapphire blue eyes peered through the almost transparent purple fabric that hung over the bed's entirety, taking note of the sunlight entering from the large balcony window doors.
That meant one thing for him - it was time to leave.
The naked man stood on his feet and walked towards the bathroom across the hall, pointed ears poking through his hair. Inside, he stepped into the roomy shower, which used an advanced hydraulic magical system created by one of the most renowned alchemists of this Era; Zubora, along with his partner, Gabora, an expert blacksmith.
The system consisted of elemental magical orbs and steel pipes that, when put together, had created this very useful invention. It wasn't necessarily an amazing creation, but it really improved the hygiene of the populace. That's why the ruler of the mythical Kingdom of Hyrule had been spreading this invention around to every province bit by bit.
Though it wasn't like anyone was interested in knowing that.
The blond shook his head after drying himself with finely-made towels, finally noticing the luxurious objects and decorations within the bathroom. The pipes were made of gold and both the toilet and the sink made of smooth white porcelain, an expensive material exported from another kingdom.
Nothing of real interest to him.
After returning from the bathroom, the man observed the decorations of the guest room he spent the previous night in. The solid stone walls were mostly covered by paintings of different sizes which depicted beautiful scenery of different locations around Hyrule. There was also masterfully crafted furniture, the big and comfortable bed, a large mirror, a bookshelf and a two-seat sofa that covered most of the bedroom. A golden chandelier hung from the room's ceiling.
It appeared that the room where he had slept last night was worthy of a noble. Ironic considering he didn't consider himself one despite his current circumstances. After all, he was inside of one of the many chambers of Hyrule Castle, the seat of Hyrule's monarchical government and home of the Royal Family.
The young blond man whose name was Link, once called The Hero of Time in another timeline or dimension, massaged his neck as he walked over the soft carpet that covered the stony floor. The carpet was plush and comforting beneath his bare feet. As he stood there, he reached over to the bed and picked up one of the pillows. Reaching inside, he pulled out two small pouches.
When both pouches came in contact with his hands, a soft, sky blue light enveloped him for a mere second before a whole outfit materialized onto his body.
A set of white leggings and an undershirt beneath a green tunic, together with brown gauntlets and boots made up his ensemble. A three-point belt with an empty scabbard was strapped to Link's back and he donned a long, floppy green hat.
The young man, garbed in green, adjusted the pouches at both sides of his belt before accommodating his gauntlets and then his cap. Link then peered stoically over at the large mirror near the exit door that led to the corridor.
The rather athletic build, handsome face, and confident smile he sported across his lips; they could only establish that Link was, as many women have stated about him, much to his surprise and sometimes discomfort, a very attractive and charming man... though the latter could be attributed to his kind and sarcastic personality.
Link folded his arms and put a thoughtful hand on his chin as he mulled over the day's course of action.
There were so many things that Link wanted to do now that he had finally returned to Hyrule after the rather... interesting adventures he'd had in otherworldly lands.
However, one thing came first before leaving.
He had to say goodbye to a certain young woman who lived within the castle walls. The Princess who would eventually become the Ruler of the Kingdom and whom happened to be an acquaintance of his.
Her name was Zelda.
Link sighed, knowing that he wasn't particularly good with saying farewells to those he considered a friend, much less to the woman that was closest to him. His struggle began when Link simply ran away when his childhood friend Saria came to bid farewell to him the day he departed from his home within the forest as a young child.
Yes, he sucked at saying good-bye, and he would have left without saying a word as usual, if the person involved was anyone but the Princess of Hyrule that is.
Link was an adventurer, a man of the road, and before that, a protector. Whether it was this Kingdom or any other, he would always extend his hand to those who needed it, even if it meant fighting the most terrible evils of the world, which he actually had done, and not even a soul could deny it.
This was one of the many reasons he traveled constantly and had yet to even think of settling down in a single place for the remainder of his life.
Honestly, that kind of life would have been boring and it wouldn't have allowed him to meet the countless adversaries and allies that he now possessed. So many lives had been saved because Link simply stumbled upon them during his travels.
The Hyrule-born male opened the door and left the guest room. A long corridor extended out before him with many doors that led to other guest rooms, so he ignored them and proceeded to the left end of the corridor where a set of double doors awaited him.
Link entered a big hall with multiple chandeliers suspended from the tall ceiling. The red-colored banners that hung on the walls displayed symbols related to the Royal Family of Hyrule, such as images of the goddesses who created the world, Nayru, Din and Farore. Others showed images of a Red Bird, the Spiritual Stones and symbols related to a mysterious race known as the Sheikah, also called the Shadow Folk.
Beautifully carved columns were positioned across the hall and the glasswork of the large windows located on the left wall contained detailed symbols that represented the temples located across Hyrule. Each glass allowed a glow of varying colors to spill into the hall, creating a rather lively atmosphere.
"Good morning, sir!"
Link glanced at the source of the male voice, his blue eyes meeting the brown-colored ones of the guard stationed by the door. The light armor and lance that he displayed was the customary equipment found on guards of the Kingdom. However, the ones inside the castle carried the emblem of the Royal Family on the chest plate of their armor.
Link simply nodded in acknowledgement at the greeting and continued to walk, noticing two more guards coming his way. At close range, a third person appeared hidden by the two, someone he actually knew.
Impa, a woman with tan skin, red eyes, and light blue hair, who wore a chest armor over a purple and black outfit. Her eyes widened upon noticing him and she smiled bashfully as she paced quickly in his direction.
Link raised his eyebrows, recalling that she became his mentor not only during his growth in Hyrule, but also during the time he fought in another era to defeat the Evil King. Being the last of the Sheikah Tribe, an ancient ninja clan that was sworn to protect the Royal family, Impa had become the protector of the Royal Princess...and her confidant, as well.
"Link! You are finally awake, I see," Impa greeted cheerfully, crossing her arms, "Your sleeping habits never change."
The woman chuckled as both guards at her side nodded in respect to the blonde in front of them.
"I assume that you are leaving once again."
The green-clad warrior nodded.
"The King would have liked to see you, but he has traveled to Holodrum to attend to some diplomatic issues with the Major of that Kingdom."
She stepped closer to him and whispered into his ear, "I assume the Princess forgot to mention that last night."
Link blinked at the implications and raised an inquisitive brow at the woman, an action that only caused her to chuckle again as she patted his back playfully. Impa had that irritating ability to get on his nerves so easily, as if she were some sort of older sister who knew all of his soft spots. Considering she was like a guardian to him in his younger years, this wasn¡t a surprise.
'So it was not a dream... I will be damned...'
"Don't give me that face, Link! I was just joking," The woman grinned, the guards behind her chuckling, "When did my skilled protege become such an earnest lad?"
The blond rolled his eyes at her nonchalant reaction.
"Anyhow, I will send word of your presence to the King. Your unexpected arrival last night did not really give us time to greet you properly."
The silent warrior nodded again before finally speaking.
"Give the king my regards after he returns, when you see to him personally," A tiny smile graced his lips, "Where is the Princess, by the way? I was planning to bid my farewell to her."
"Just saw her actually," Impa glanced over her shoulder. "She is in her room."
Her expression softened and she rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Link, you just arrived yesterday. Why not stay a while longer? Princess Zelda has been waiting expectantly for your return all this time."
The blond warrior lowered his gaze to the ground, as if thinking profoundly. He had been away from Hyrule for twenty months during his last trip. It had been with the purpose of searching for his long lost friend and companion, Navi, a fairy that had accompanied and guided him throughout his first grand adventure as both child and adult.
Link, however, couldn't bring himself to understand why Navi chose to leave when they returned to the time in which they both belonged, after a glorious victory from the infernal battle they both faced against the Evil King.
Even after so many years, he had yet to accept the fairy's actions. She had always been unpredictable.
Since then, Link had traveled many times to search for Navi, but had never succeeded, much to his dismay. Nonetheless, he wasn't a man to give up, given that nine years had passed since she left and he still harbored the hope of finding her.
His mind soon returned to the present, sharp eyes looking at the woman who taught him to fight skillfully with a sword and many other weapons, all while training him to be as swift as the wind, and to move like a shadow in the night.
"I truly appreciate the offer, Impa, but I will not. The Princess will have to understand."
Impa unavoidably sighed. The young warrior always gave that very same response every time he chose to leave. She had known the man in front of her since he was but a mere child, a brave boy who had become the courageous warrior he was today. He wasn't anything like she had seen before, that was for certain.
As a child, Link was far more mature than any man she had seen, not to mention the unpolished, yet incredible skills he possessed as a swordsman and marksman. At the time, he had even managed to cast a few certain spells of unbelievable power.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Another shocking trait about Link, in her honest opinion, was his fearless and determined demeanor whilst facing danger. This she witnessed for the first time when the eleven-year-old boy had fended off a large group of thieves that had tried to assault a group of caravans... alone. No to mention his self-reliant personality, which he had displayed towards her and the Princess when he often announced that he would travel on his own to unknown territories far away from the Kingdom.
Not only had he exposed the Gerudo ambassador's traitorous plans of attacking Hyrule Castle, he had also revealed events of a future that had yet to come, explaining with surreal conviction and a maturity not seen in any child his age of the Dark Age that would befall Hyrule if he wasn't heard.
His definite proof was, of course, the Golden mark that materialized upon his hand that revealed he was no common boy. To both the King's surprise and his daughter's, the mark on Link's hand resonated with the one that appeared on Zelda's hand when the boy had grabbed it. Both carried two of the three pieces that conformed the sacred relic left by the Goddesses after the creation of Hyrule: the Triforce.
This sacred relic could grant any wish to whoever touched it, but if a person without an equal balance of power, wisdom, and courage was to get hold of it, the Triforce would inevitably split apart in three segments. Only the piece that best personified the wish-maker would remain while the two other fragments would re-emerge in whoever was deemed more worthy of receiving them.
It was for that reason the mythical Triforce of Courage had chosen Link as its wielder. The Sacred Relic couldn't have chosen better in Zelda's opinion, because if one considered who she was and what godly piece the Princess held, then there was no better an opinion than hers, or that much Impa thought.
The King decided to watch over the boy who happened to have no parents. As the monarch was truly grateful towards him, he even offered Link to become a Prince. Such a title would have made the little boy a noble, advantages and benefits included, and yet, to everyone's surprise, the blond child airily rejected the proposal, stating that he wasn't the type that would enjoy a life of luxury. Impa recalled that moment with a grin on her face.
All of this proved that Link was welcomed inside the Royal Palace.
Impa still carried many doubts about this mysterious boy, as did Princess Zelda and the King, but Link had showed them time and again that he was sincere when he told them he just wanted to help and prevent tragedy.
However, Impa could never stop wondering... who was this boy?
"It was good to see you, again," Link spoke up, taking Impa out of her musings. "Take care and keep protecting Zelda as you have done all this time."
"You always say the same thing every time," Said the woman as she smiled with amusement. "And I will answer you the same way I always did regardless..." She paused. "You do not need to say it, as I will always protect the Princess until death claims my life."
And that's all Link needed to hear before saying goodbye to his mentor.
"I will be on my way, then..." Link walked past the woman and two guards, but stopped mid-way when he heard Impa speak.
"Link, are you planning to investigate the Lost Woods again?" The boy glanced at her over his shoulder as she asked, "What if you don't return this time?"
The bearer of Courage stared at her sternly.
"I will."
And just like that, he walked away with determined steps. Impa saw him disappear from her sight when he entered a door in the hall and scratched her cheek in mild nervousness.
His sharp expression was quite intimidating.
"He is for sure a man of few words," One of the two guards stated as he removed his helmet, revealing short brown hair and a beard, "Are the rumors about him real?"
"Rumors? What kind of rumors?" Impa inquired.
"They say he managed to become a Gerudo by some sort of contract when he easily defeated their most powerful lieutenants after infiltrating their Fortress alone."
"Well, I heard that he has traveled to the Temples located across Hyrule only to gather their ancient treasures. And I heard most were gadgets or magic weapons no one has ever seen or heard of!" The other guard spoke with excitement, making his brown-haired companion raise an eyebrow.
"So the rumor about the ancestral and mighty weapons was true?"
"They also say that he is a shapeshifter, capable of transforming into a variety of creatures using some sort of magical artifacts."
Impa remained silent as both men continued to share the apparent gossip of the mysterious warrior who had become a notable celebrity inside the Kingdom. His fame was not earned solely because he helped reveal the Gerudo Ambassador's true intentions, a discovery that none save for a small group of individuals knew of, but also for the many times Link protected the Kingdom from external threats, such as monsters, evil wizards, and the sort.
Despite his frequent travels, Link would always show up when Hyrule was in danger as the Hero chosen by the goddesses, as the light of hope that would make the darkness disappear in its shining glory.
A valiant Saviour, a brave Hero.
Eventually, the green-clad Hylian became quite well known due to his heroic deeds across the Kingdom, earning the respect of the population. He also earned the respect of most nobles; however, there were still those that often saw him as a threat.
Either way, Impa, protector of the Royal Princess, couldn't help but to feel amused by the rumors that were constantly spread about him since she knew that every single one of them were true.
Part 2
Link stood in front of a pair brown double doors that were covered with intricate patterns. At each side, a guard firmly stood on duty and observed him from head to toe. Seconds passed as Link crossed his arms, waiting for Zelda to respond after one of the guards did him the 'favor' of knocking upon the door.
Two minutes passed, but no one responded.
"I assume the Princess cannot attend you right now. You should come back later, sir."
'Impa just saw the princess... then...'
"I see..." Link muttered, assuming a thoughtful expression, "I will wait..."
Link: https://m.fanfiction.net/s/11573100/1/Path-Of-Legends-HxD