The game opens with Link riding on a horse to a castle (nicely animated for a Game Boy game), finding the Triforce pieces in it, which seems to teleport him somewhere. Then the title screen appears with a very familiar tune (it's a variation of LA's title music). Language selection. Of course, I choose English for two reasons: First, I don't have much hope for the German translation and second, I want to quote some of the dialogue directly (sure, I could translate it, but with having the English translation available, theres no point in doing that).
Starting a new file, I have the option for "secrets". That is, input a password to link the game to Ages. Since I don't have one, I won't do that, but when I finish Seasons, I'll get a password to activate "secrets" in Ages. There are different passwords based on what exactly you do in the game. The main purpose of the linking feature is to further the plot and let the game Hijacked by Ganon (or rather to prevent that). But there is also other stuff and 100% Completion is only possible through linking. So, if I want to complete both Oracle games, I have to finish Seasons first, play Ages with "secrets", then play Seasons again with the password, I get from beating Ages. But I'm not a completist, so screw that.
Fueled by a certain IJAM thread, I feel the urge to give Link a pseudo-funny name. I resist and name him simply "Link".
At the start, it seems that Link is falling and an ominous voice says "Accept our quest, hero!". Then, he is teleported away, appearing on a spot surrounded by bushes. A woman finds him, and the scene changes to an awake Link on another spot (actually only a screen above) with a wagon nearby. There is music, but it's apparently in-game (since it's quiet, indicating that it comes from... somewhere). Also, I have no items and the game prevents me from opening the subscreen. Jerk.
Approaching the right edge of the screen, the music gets louder. A sign helpfully tells me that "Spool Swamp" is to the north, "Eyeglass Lake" to the east and "Horon Village" to the south. Since bushes prevent me from going west and south (more than one screen, at least) and rocks from going north, I wander towards the source of the music. Some kind of party is going on here, with two musicians playing, two guys raising glasses, the woman who found me dancing on a tree stump and a not very slim woman... standing around. I decide to talk to them.
Not-very-slim-woman-who-stands-around: Oh you're eyes have opened! Are you alright?
Link: I got teleported away by three magical triangles, an ominous voice tells me to accept a quest without even asking for my opinion, I wake up in some strange place, with bushes and rocks blocking every path for no real reason, without any weapons or money. So yes, I'm completely alright.
Not-very-slim-woman-who-stands-around:' I am Impa, the troupe's cook. And you are?
Link: My name is Link.
Impa: Link?
Link: Yes, that's what I just said.
Impa: I see. Din, the dancing girl, found you collapsed in the woods. She's cared for you through your nightmares.
Link: Oh that's good, I made bad experiences with nightmares. At least, I don't have to wake up an giant whale with magical musical instruments again again.
Yes, I'll pretend that Link talks in that LB. It's more fun that way. For me, at least.
Girl-who-plays-tambourine: Din is a popular dance. Just seeing her dance raises one's spirits.
Guy-who-plays-guitar: Din has been caring for you since she found you. She's strong-willed but very kindhearted.
Guy-who-raises-glass: Ah... Din always looks so lovely. But she seems smitten with you. I'm jealous.
That Link, woos the ladies even when they don't know him. Then again, considering that Link's in his Cute Shotaro Boy version here, Din probably just likes little boys. The same with Nayru in Ages. And I'm sure that, if the third game wouldn't have been canceled, Farore would have got a crush on him too. Apparently being pedophile is necessary to become an oracle. In that light, the whole "Din cared for you while you were unconscious" thing doesn't seem so innocent anymore. But it's time to get my mind out of the gutter and talk to...
Other-Guy-who-raises-glass: You're awake! Please! Relax— Join our jovial troupe of performers for a bit!
Onward to the dancing pedo.
Din: You've awakened!
Link: Looks like it. At least, I don't drift in the open sea, abandoned by a jerkass whale, this time.
Din: Good I worried while you slept! You're Link, right?
Link: Why do you know that? Do you read it on a shield or something?
Din: How do you do, Link?
Link: I'd feel better if I knew what you did to me when I was out cold. Or if I had any weapons. The last time I woke up in some strange place and got found by a girl, I got at least my shield back. Speaking of which, WHY DO YOU KNOW MY NAME?
Din: I am Din. I saw a red flash in the woods and when I went to see what it was... You were lying there. Mystery surrounds you, Link.
Link: You don't have to rub the fact, that you know my name for no discernible reason, in my face like that.
Din: I'm just glad you're better! Come! Won't you dance with me?
Link: As long as you keep your hands off me.
Din: Don't be shy! Dancing will be fun!
A CG of Link and Din dancing. Seems that Link isn't very good at it.
Din: That was fun! You're a good dancer!
Link: Which is precisely why everybody laughed at me.
Din: It's been some time since I had such fun!
Link: You really like to watch young boys, do you?
Din: Hey! Your left hand! It has a ▲ on it.
Link: What? How did you do that, saying a symbol?
Din: That is a sacred mark in Hyrule. If it's the true symbol, then you are a hero with a special fate, Link. A special fate!
Link: Yeah, fighting a guy, who often likes a pig, over and over again. What an awesome fate.
Din: Link, I...
Link: Din, you...?
Din: Umm... Nothing! Let us dance!
Link: But this time you keep your eyes off my ass!
So they continue dancing... Until the sky gets dark and lighting strikes, which conveniently destroys the barrels and the wagon that blocked the part north and south. Of course, it's not a sudden weather change, but the villain.
Villain: Hya, ha, ha! I've found you, Din, Oracle of Seasons!
Link: I think, I'm supposed to be surprised, but I'm not.
Villain: You hid yourself well but you cannot escape Onox, General of Darkness.
The "General of Darkness" appears in a whirlwind and blows all the other people, who don't even seem to try to escape, away. Link stands protectively before Din.
Onox: Get out of my way, boy!
Link: Sorry, but I'm contractually obligated to protect plot-important characters. It's a hero thing.
Predictably, Link gets thrown aside and Onox takes Din with him.
Din: HAAA! Link!
Link stands up and approaches the the whirlwind, without even thinking how he could every win without any equipment. This time he gets blown off-screen.
Cut to an ominous building with ominous thunder in the background. Probably the lair of the "General of Darkness". Inside, Din is chained to a boulder and a big guy in armor (Onox, probably) appears.
Din: What do you plan to do with me?!?
Onox: As you know, if I imprison the Oracle of Seasons and bury the temple that houses the Season Spirits, the seasons of Holodrum will be cast into chaos, the bountiful gifts of nature will rot, and all living things will perish!!! That is the world of darkness that I long for!
Say, General of Dumbness, wouldn't that kill you too?
Din: No, Onox! No!
Yeah, I'm sure your impressive rhetoric skills will intimidate him.
Onox: GWAH, HAH, HAH!
...Not that he is very intimidating himself.
Four rupees appear, surround Din, do... something and the screen flashes.
Din: Yaaaaa!
After that, Din is imprisoned in a giant rupee herself (I wonder how much "normal" rupees it's worth). Cut to the outside of Onox' lair.
Onox: Down, Temple of Seasons!!! Spring, summer, fall, winter... Fall into chaos!
Animated CG scene of said temple sinking into the ground. The General sure wasn't kidding. We see screens of various places with changing color palettes, showing us that, indeed, the seasons are rather chaotic now.
Onox: GWAH, HAH, HAH!
Oh, come on.
Cut to a place, that's currently in winter and Link lying in the grass with Impa standing nearby. He wakes up and Impa approaches him.
Impa: Link! Are you all right?
Link: I got blown away by a whirlwind, can be glad that my bones aren't broken and it's fucking cold. So yes, I'm completely alright.
Impa: Actually, I am the nurse of Hyrule's Princess Zelda.
Link: Aren't you supposed to be taller, more dark-skinned and less fat? Oh wait, that was another one...
Impa: And Din's no dancer either. She is actually the Oracle of Seasons who wields control over the forces of nature. Zelda has mystical powers that told of a curtain of shadow drawing around Din. I was instructed to take her to Hyrule in secret. Zelda gave me this quest... But, ow! I've been wounded, and I won't be able to travel for some time... Link, I know not why you were lying in the woods, but... You and Din were fated to meet. If the ▲ on your left hand is real, then you may be the hero who will save the world. Please! Use your power to aid Din!
Link: Zzzz... Wait, what did you...? Oh right, save the season chick or something.
Impa: Please take my message to the Maku Tree in Horon Village. The Maku Tree is the guardian of all Holodrum. Surely he can help.
Link: Oh, a tree, what else is new. I just hope that I won't have to save it of something, this time. Especially not when it dies anyway. Damned Deku bastard...
And with that, this installment is over. I know, I said that I it will go until I reach the first dungeon, but I thought I tackle the intro first. There is usually not so much story stuff in the game itself to warrant an entire installment, so that should be the only one of it's kind (except maybe the outro). In the next installment, I'll begin properly.
