Chapter 4 - I Get To Meet My Father

I followed Queen Zelda out into the hallway and she spoke with me. She sighed softly and said, "Listen closely to what I have to say. It's very important that you do so." I nodded my head and replied, "I understand Your Majesty. I'm all ears so tell me. What's on your mind that you need to tell me privately?"

Queen Zelda peered into my eyes and I could sense a sadness in them. A longing for hope in dark times. But deep down inside I also felt a strong woman who could face anything. Anyways she told me, "You should know by now that Earth and Hyrule are linked to each other by the Hylian Gateway. However it only remains open once every 300 years during the summer solstice. Oh yes and you're on a strict time limit. For you see time for Earth is different from time for Hyrule. Mere minutes in Earth are hours here in Hyrule."

I gasped in shock when I heard this. If you played any of the Zelda games that our reality was based on (Oh wow did I just break the fourth wall?) yes what Queen Zelda said was true. It was June 20, 2000 and the time was 12 o'clock midnight when I arrived in Los Angeles at Notre Dame Church. However by the time I got to the throne room dawn was breaking. That's how serious my quest was. I only had 3 days to complete it! Gee whiz where have I heard that quest before?!

"You mean to tell me that I only have 72 Hyrule hours to stop both Ganondorf and Steven?! How the hell am I supposed to do such a thing with my current power?!" I asked her in total and complete frustration. Queen Zelda smacked me across the face and scolded me by saying, "Get a hold of yourself young man! I've got something to aid you in your journey. Surely you know what it is when I hand it to you Brandon Emerald Swift!"

Uh oh that's not good. She used my full name and only my friends and family knew it. And considering the fact that she was the mother of my girlfriend tells you that she was mad at me and my behavior. But nevertheless I calmed down when she handed me a sapphire blue and diamond encrusted ocarina engraved with the Triforce insignia. It was none other than another legendary relic of Hyrule: the all important Hylian Royal Family Ocarina of Time. And yes for my quest I knew what she wanted to do next.

Taking out a golden harp Queen Zelda told me, "I shall teach you an important song. One that shall help you turn back time. That way the Hylian Gateway won't close before you finish your quest. It's the mystical Song of Time." She then began to strum on the harp in a rhythm that was slow and like a hymn.

I held the mouthpiece to my lips and blew into the ocarina. I was also using my fingers to cover and uncover the corresponding holes to imitate the same notes. What shocked me was the fact that when I got done playing the Song of Time a vortex of blue aura opened underneath my feet. In an instant I was sucked down inside the vortex and I heard the sound of clocks ticking. As I fell through the vortex I could feel my spirit being pulled away from my body and coming back. If I had to venture a guess? The goddesses of Hyrule were "recording" my progress in Hyrule. In video game terms it was like saving your game to a save file. (Okay I'm pretty sure this time I broke the fourth wall)

Anywho the next thing I knew I was standing in front of the Door of Time. It was still closed and the alter was bare. I  figured just like my father I had to acquire the 3 spiritual stones. I could be talking out my ass since even though Link was my father didn't mean I had to repeat history. I mean come on I had Megami! My sword was infused with Farore's spirit. It was an almighty divine sword in its own way.

Nonetheless I looked at my watch and it said 6 o'clock a.m. in the morning. So with that being said I had a full 72 hours to complete my quest. But the question is how? I didn't want to rely on the Master Sword to defeat Steven and Ganondorf. At the same time I had this strange thought that I shrugged off when I realized that I shouldn't waste my time. So I bolted out of the Temple of Time.

I figured that I would visit Princess Samantha again for guidance. So I headed over to the castle (I didn't get lost this time) and went straight to the throne room. Once there only Princess Samantha was there. I walked up to her and said, "Hello Samantha honey. How are you doing today?" She sighed softly in grief and got up from her throne. Stepping towards me she hugged me tightly and kissed my lips. She then told me, "I've been missing you so much my love. It's been years since we have seen each other."

See that's the messed up part about the whole time travel idea. Only I would remember what happened in the past, present and future. (But I have yet to be flung into the future) That was besides the point though. I smiled, hugged her tighter and kissed her lovingly on the lips. I then told Princess Samantha, "Allow me to tell you about my journey I'm about to go on." She nodded her head and I swiftly summarized what I knew thus far.

Princess Samantha sighed softly and told me this. "If our old friend Steven Cerberus is after our Triforce pieces then there's no way around it. You must seek out the spiritual stones and obtain the almighty Master Sword. Sure your Megami is infused with Farore's spirit but I can only sense a small portion. Not unless you strengthen Megami by seeking out the all powerful celestial stones."

I raised an eyebrow and asked, "The celestial stones? Are they different from the spiritual stones?" Princess Samantha nodded her head and replied, "The celestial stones are very much different from the spiritual stones. For you see they have the ability to reforge your sword into a blade of unlimited power. It can be said that Megami will be reborn as a godly blade. Now then allow me to give you a map of Hyrule. I'll even mark the areas of the stones."

I held out my hand and then Princess Samantha gave me a worn out map. It was woven from leather and unfurling it I noticed that Hyrule was huge! The closest celestial stone that she marked down on the map was at the base of Death Mountain. Without delay I sprinted out of the castle after seeing that it went from being 6 in the morning to 12 in the afternoon. Now I don't know why but I had this strange feeling like I was being followed by someone.

Disregarding that feeling I made a mad beeline for Death Mountain. That is to say after eating lunch at the local tavern in Hyrule Castle Town. I may be the Hero of Destiny (even though I had no idea what it really meant) but hey! I can't be dying from hunger and thirst. I was just surprised to find out that the residents of Hyrule learned how to cook Earth dishes. (And they were my favorite like hamburgers, pizza and spicy buffalo wings)

And of course before I left the tavern a man garbed in a brown leather robed sat down next to me. He then told the bartender, "The usual for me please." The bartender chuckled and replied, "I know exactly what you want and how you like it. One ice cold and frothy Chateau Romani coming right up!" Now I don't know if you knew what that was but since I did allow me to summarize it in two words: alcoholic milk.

After Talon, the male bartender, served the robed man his Chateau Romani the robed man started to drink it down. After sipping his alcohol he told Talon this. "Oh yeah and another plate of spicy buffalo wings for my son. He's a growing boy after all. He needs his nourishment." This took me by surprise a bit because he had the same voice as the hooded man who carried me to Notre Dame Church.

Well I don't know about you but either way I wasn't going to turn down free food! So as I'm devouring the spicy buffalo wings the robed man told me, "I know I haven't been in your life ever since you were born so allow me to be here for you as much as possible. That is to say I can't help you on your journey but I can still interact with you as your father. Is that alright with you Brandon Emerald Swift?"

I drop a buffalo wing when I heard my full name again. I turned towards him and asked, "Is it true then? Are you my father Link, the Hero of Time?" Taking a few more sips of his Chateau Romani he simply said, "Indeed I am son. But what's important is that you focus on the task at hand. You're on a strict time limit to finish your quest. Now finish eating and get going. You've got 3 celestial stones to find." I nodded my head and wolfed down my remaining buffalo wings. (Minus the bones cause I ain't no damn dog!) I then bow down to my father and left the tavern.

As I'm running across the vast Hyrule Fields I thought to myself, "I have to do this not just for Earth and Hyrule but for myself as well. All my life I wanted to have a more interesting life. I just never thought I'd be living in a world where the Zelda games aren't just video games. They're a fantasy reality!" When I reached the entrance to Kakariko Village (a small village right before climbing up Death Mountain) I activated my sword and shield. I took a deep breath and walked into the village.