How about a game simply about those 7 years, from Zelda's perspective?
Imagine, if you will, that 7 years was not predetermined, that Link was not kept in the Sacred Realm so he could grow older, but rather was trapped there when Ganondorf took the triforce.
Ganondorf takes the three spiritual stones, and again hides them throughout hyrule, and in doing so reseals the entrance to the sacred realm with Link inside. In order to help Link escape from the Sacred Realm, Zelda must find the three spiritual stones and bring them once again to the temple of time.
But wait! The Ocarina of Time is sealed inside the sacred realm as well! It cannot be used to open the door of time. It's up to Zelda to discover some other way...
I would definitely buy a game like that.