A/N: You may be completely unaware of this, but there is intense heated debate over the order that the Legend of Zelda games take place in, especially around Ocarina of Time. By far, the most debated issue is whether or not Princess Zelda creates two timelines by sending Link into the past at the end of OOT. There are dozens of possibilities about how both timelines could turn out due to this theory, and I have decided to explore some of these possibilities, and see how Hyrule would turn out based on what the specific details of each timeline are. Think of this fanfic as a collection of 10 short stories. Some are history, some are speculation, some are meant to be serious, and some are just there for laughs. After the first chapter, none of the chapters are in any real chronological order, so feel free to read them in any order you want. Most of them are drastically different in nature from the rest, so if you don't like one, just check out another. Hope you enjoy the stories! And please, no debates in the reviews section about the timeline unless you have signed permission from Eiji Aonuma or Shigeru Miyamoto.

"Thank you, Link." Zelda said. "Thanks to you, Ganondorf has been sealed inside the Evil Realm. Thus, peace will once again reign in this world...for a time."

Zelda closed her eyes and looked away, as if in pain. Link saw genuine guilt etched into her face. "All the tragedy that has befallen Hyrule was my doing...I was so young...I could not comprehend the consequences of trying to control the Sacred Realm. I dragged you into it, too. Now it is time for me to make up for my mistakes...You must lay the Master Sword down to rest and close the Door of Time..."

Zelda once again turned her gaze towards Link. "However, by doing this, the road between times will be closed." She gingerly raised a hand and extended it towards Link. "Link, give the Ocarina to me...As a Sage, I can return you to your original time with it."

Link took out the Ocarina of Time. He gazed at it for a few moments, and then handed it to the Princess. As he put it into her outstretched hand, she put her other hand on top of his. She looked down at his hand sorrowfully. What was her sorrow for? Regret? Regret that she had caused Link to endure such trials? Or perhaps she was regretful that the Hero could not stay with her...

She took the Ocarina from Link's hand, and raised it to her lips. "Now, go home, Link. Regain your lost time. Home...where you are supposed to be. The way you are supposed to be."

Zelda raised the mouthpiece of the Ocarina to her lips, and began to play a melody. The Ocarina's magic came to life after only six notes - Link saw a familiar blue light encompassing him, and felt his body becoming weightless.

Thank you, Link...

Good-bye...

Home...where you are supposed to be. The way you are supposed to be.

He could see only that familiar blue light. As it had many times before, it slowly began to fade away, and he could begin to make out his surroundings. Grey walls. He couldn't forget these walls. He knew where he was immediately - he was in the Temple of Time.

Before him was the Master Sword, resting in the Pedestal of Time. Something seemed wrong - he was at eye-level with the sword's hilt. Had it grown? His realized that his body felt different. He looked down at himself - the ground was closer. His hands were smaller. He was a child again. The Princess had reversed him.

He had not heard Navi speak a word since the battle against the transformed Ganondorf. He looked up at her. She was silent. He was slightly puzzled. Was it not time for celebration? For congratulations?

Navi drifted in lazy circles in the air, as she had done since he had first met her. Then, without a word, she faced away from him, and floated higher and higher, towards a window located high up in the chamber.

Link did not have time to ask her what she was doing or where she was going. However, he did not need to - he already knew. She had fulfilled the duty she was given. There was no reason for Navi to remain by his side any longer.

Sunlight poured in from the window, and as Navi flew towards it, Link could eventually no longer distinguish the fairy's glow from the light. He lost sight of her.

There was nothing left for him to do in this room. He turned his back on the Master Sword, and walked down the steps.

Now, go home, Link. Home...where you are supposed to be.

Home...Kokiri Forest. The children. The Great Deku Tree. Mido. ...Saria.

Regain your lost time. The way you are supposed to be.

The way his life had been before he'd left...Playing games with the other children. Listening to stories. Being teased for not having a fairy. Avoiding Mido. ...Playing with Saria.

Was that the life he'd lost? Was that the way his life was supposed to be?

It was hard for him to imagine living that life now, after everything that had happened. He knew that he wasn't like the other children. He wasn't a true Kokiri. They would be children forever, never tiring of playing games, but he would grow up. They could never leave the forest, but he could leave any time he wanted. They all had fairies...but he was now without one.

He might go back. Might visit them. Might play games with them while he was still a child, might try to reconcile with Mido. ...Might play with Saria.

But he wouldn't stay. He couldn't stay. It wouldn't feel...right.

Then where should he go? The Gorons and the Zoras were hospitable, but he would be more comfortable around humans. He could live in the town below Hyrule Castle. Or in Kakariko Village. But would he be suited to an ordinary life?

The place he is supposed to be. The way he is supposed to be.

There was only one place that came to mind. One person.

Zelda.

He began to wonder exactly what point in time he was currently at. Had Zelda already fled Hyrule Castle? Had the two of them already met? Or would he be a complete stranger to her, were he to speak to her now?

There was only one way to find out.