That’s right… I have a new fanfic for ya. So, I’m not dead just yet… 
Anyways, read, enjoy, correct, do whatever. ^^
The Dark Ages
by: Chris-chris :yipee:
~Chapter One~
Link looked up into the sky watching a blue bird fly by. “Don’t see too many of those back in Hyrule…” Link spoke outloud. Epona nayed as they stood in a meadow. “I know girl. Say goodbye to all this good tasting, to you, grass.” Link smiled and rubbed her mane. His black tunic was almost woren from many battles. Link was seventeen now. It’s been seven years since he left Hyrule and now… he was returning home. After passing through Termina, he and his horse was only an hour away from Hyrule. Link was different from when he was little. No longer did he wear a green tunic but instead he wore black and had a violet cape with short blond hair and no hat. On his cheeks were red markings coming from the center of his eyes and on his forehead was a blue triangel shape. His eyes were still a soft deep blue and his once boyish form had now grown into a man.
Epona continued walking slowly through the grassy meadow. Link was letting her lead as she knew exactly where she was going. The horse had some changes as well. For one, she was grown into an adult horse with a very strong back and strong legs. Her golden brown coat shined ever so brightly in the sun light and her strong, deep brown eyes stared ahead of her. Epona had a mind of her own as well. If Link wanted to go one way, she’d refuse and gp the opposite. Link sometimes got mad at her for that.
Link stared into the land. A small smile came to his face as he thought of how the other’s would react when he came. The hero remembered the last time he saw their faces. Melon, Princess Zelda and Saria all were sad to see him go but they understood that he had to leave. Zelda most of all would miss him. Link shook his head as he recalled waht happened that night when he left…
The night of his department…
Melon hung on Link’s arm as did Saria. They were in Lon Lon Ranch having a sleep over and Link was in the middle of everything. Zelda laughed as the two girls pulled him to the ground and grappled him. “Ow! Okay! Okay! I give!” Link cried out. He was ten, as was the girls and they were wrestling. It was about midnight and all of them were in their pj’s. Zelda was wearing a light pink night clothing, Saria in green and Malon in red. Link was wearing blue and white pajama’s. The Kokri had a silly smile as she let go of Link and Malon climb ontop of him.
“Gimme a piggy back ride Link!” the ranch girl exclaimed. Link smiled weakly and sat up on all fours and crawled around with Malon on his back, holding his hair. “Ye’ ha!” Malon yipe as she waved her hand in the air like a cowgirl would on a horse. Saria and Zelda brusted into laughter as the poor boy pounced around. Link couldn’t help but laugh as well when he gave in and fell to the ground with a loud thud and the ranch girl still on his back. The four laughed harder now.
After a few minutes of hard laughing, they all calmed down for bed now. All four were on the ground in sleeping bags in Malons room. With the lights out, they talked in the darkness of the night. “Say Link, you’ll always remember us, right?” Saria asked him.
“Yeah.” Link answered with a smile.
“And we’ll always be friends right, Link?” Malon asked as well.
“Yup.”
“You promise?” Zelda spoke now.
“Cross my heart and… don’t, hope to die.” Link replied. They all giggled.
“Good night you guys.” Malon said as she turned over in her sleeping bag.
“Night” the other three replied.
**
Link smiled as he remembered that night. He never did forget that night seven years ago. Epona nipped at his hand as the crossed the end of the meadow. He looked ahead of them and saw nothing but a clearing of small hills and soft
grasslands.
“Home…” Link said under his breath. Epona got a little exicted and galloped through the grassland. Link smiled and sat onto of her, his cape flapping wildly in the air. Epona’s eyes flashed with joy as she saw a fresh patch of flowers. “NO! Not the flowers Epona! Epona!” Link yelled as he noticed what she was running to. Hyrulian flowers were the best tasting flowers in all the land. She stopped too suddenly and Link flew off her back and past her head onto the ground with a hard landing. The horse simply ignored him and feasted into the plants.
Link grummbled and swore under his breath as he rubbed his aching rear. “Dammit Epona…” Link looked back at her and she looked at him from the flowers. Her ears lowered closer to her head as she grinned. “Why did you do that?” Epona shook her head apologetically. “Yeah yeah… save the excuse, I forgive ya’.” the hero said as he stood up. The horse snickered. “Who you laughing at?” Link glared at her. Epona stopped and nayed. Link walked over to her and mounted her back once again.
“Well, we have about thirty minutes from Lon Lon Ranch, let’s get going.” Link said as he grabbed the reigns and directed Epona towards Lon Lon Ranch. With a clap of his hand, Epona began a steady gallop to her home.
Link and Epona walked into Lon Lon Ranch. Link smiled as he heard the moo’s of the cow’s and a soft siinging female voice. Link knew it was Malon cause she was singing Epona’s song. He dismounted Epona and took off her saddle. Epona galloped freely into the arena. Link placed her saddle near the barn house, he would take care of it later but right now, he wanted to see Malon. Link walked through the gates into the wide opening. He walked into the coreal and smiled as he saw a red hair woman standing in the middle singing. She wore a pink, ranch style skirt with an orange scarf around her neck and a white shirt. Link walked up behind her and smiled.
“Hey Malon.” He said. Malon stopped singing and slowly turned around. She gasped once she saw Link.
“Is… is? Is that you? LInk?” Malon spoke, trying to recognize him.
“Sure the hell is.” Link gave her a cheery smile. Malon smiled and her eyes sparkled with tears. She coverd her mouth her her hand.
“It… it really is you? Isn’t it?” she said.
“Yup. How you been?” Malon smiled and shook her head.
“I’ve been doing great thank you. And yourself?” she asked.
“Great. Just hanging around here and there. Saving other countries. You know, typicall hero stuff.” Link joked. Malon giggled.
“Hee hee. It’s great to know you’re doing great.” Malon said.
“Yeah… say, how’s Hyrule been?” Link questioned.
“Well, after Zelda’s father died, she had to take the throne, alone. The kingdom has been at well peace since she took over.” Malon updated him.
“So the king was destined to die after all… how long since his death?” Link asked her.
"About two years now. I think you should go see her. She really misses you."Malon suggested.
“Ok. I’ll stop by her place after I visit Sarah.” Link smiled.
“Well, you aren’t gonna find Saria in Kokir forest. She’s been sent into Temple of Time. You’ll find her there.” Malon told him.
“Thanks Malon.”
“By the way… what happened to you? You look a little… dark?” Malon noticed his markings and dark colored tunic.
“Oh, well uh… it’s a long story. I’ll tell you later. Thanks Malon. It was great to see you again. Bye.” Link said.
“Bye Link.” Malon said. Link waved bye to her and walked out of the ranch without Epona. He figured she needed a rest. The dark hero now walked in the fields of Hyrule remembering all his journeys here in this land. Link smiled as he walked, thinking about his childhood and when he was on a mission to save Hyrule from the ‘Evil King’. After his mission in Hyrule he left to find his fairy friend, Navi, who had left him to never be seen or heard from again. The hero never did find Navi… sadly he didn’t. Link was kind of mad at himself for letting her go without him stopping her. Even if she was an annoyning little brat, he wanted her to be with him as friends. Link headed towards Hyrule castle.
~*~
Princess Zelda sighed heavily after listening to another prince. After her father died, she took over the throne. Without a king or a prince to marry, she would have to rule Hyrule alone so her right hand maiden, Impa, has suggested that Zelda listen to princes from over kingdoms. But, after listening to sixty men, Zelda was getting restless and tired of it.
Zelda now had long blonde hair that went to the middle of her back. Her crown was that of a red jewl on her forehead. The princess wore a pink dress with a white top, she had sliky pink gloves up her arms. Impa was the same as then. Wearing armor, tight blue shorts and long blue boots. Her short grey hair was tightly pulled bakc into a small pony tail.
After waving her hand, another poor prince left with his head hanging. Impa stood beside the princess. “Impa, don’t send any more here. I’ve had enough of it.” the princess said, placing a hand to her forehead and rubbing there. She had a headache.
“But your highness-” Impa began before Zelda cut her off.
“No buts.”
“But-”
“No… I don’t want to see another man in this palace.”
“Aww… not even me?” Link teased.
“Not even- wait… Link? Is that really you?” Zelda looked up at the front doors. Link was standing there with one of those silly grins.
“Well, I was Link until I was told not to be seen…” the hero joked. Zelda smiled and ran up to him, she grabbed him into a tight hug.
“Link! I’ve missed you so much!” The princess snuffled. Link smiled and hugged her too. Impa walked to them as they separated. “You’ve been gone for seven years… and look at you.” Zelda said as she glanced over him.
“Yeah… I figured the dark look looks good on me.” Link replied. Zelda smiled. Impa wasn’t smiling however. She looked over Link carefully noticed every change about him. Dark tunic, violet cape, markings on his face, short blonde hair… it all seemed too familiar, but she shrugged it off and patted his shoulder with a welcoming smile.
“Link, we’ve missed you.” the Shekian said.
“Yeah… I kind of figured that. Say, why don’t you guys tell me what you’ve done to the place? It’s been so long since I left to find Navi.” Link suggested.
“I would love to but I just remembered I have something to do. If you’ll excuse me princess?” Impa bowed down as Zelda shook her head and she left the room. Zelda smiled and looked at Link who held his arm out for her to take and they begun to explore the palace.
More chapters to come.
