Standard disclaimer: I don't own any of these people, places or things. Heck, even most of the verbs belong to someone else. :-) All characters and settings © Nintendo. Hey, they've earned it.

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Chapter Three: Requiem for the Past

#Hey, lazy!# Navi 'pathed, bouncing on the Hero's head enthusiastically.

"Wh..." Link groaned and tried to wave the fairy off, but she was too fast, especially in his current state of mostly not awake. "...grmr...navi..." He waved more emphatically, getting only giggles and swirling light for his trouble. "...still dark..." he mumbled, opening one eye to confirm that his cot and chest were still covered in shadows. Ordinary shadows, he thought suddenly, sleep shivering away in a ripple of cold that had nothing to do with the pre-dawn chill.

#You told me to wake you up before dawn, Mr. Important Hero!# Navi pointed out firmly, appearing in front of his nose. #Get a jump on the big day, remember?#

"Farore," Link hissed. Navi was right. Thank the gods Ruto and Mikali are saving the reception for...after. He sat up and regarded his small guardsman's room woozily. His head still spun a bit remembering the celebration, brief as necessity had made it. Ruto had danced with nearly everyone, finding time for several with the groom all the same, and had spun him enthusiastically when it had been his turn. Then again, he thought, swallowing, that dance with Zelda made me dizzier. His memory flickered to Lake Hylia, and the look in her eyes. Zel had seemed to want to say something, but at the end of the dance she'd curtsied and backed away without a word.

"Sakon," Link sighed.

"Din sear him, the big jerk," Navi said emphatically, bobbing wildly in the air.

Link looked at her blearily as he stood, running his fingers through his hair. "What? He's dead."

"So I can't still be mad at him?" Navi shot back.

"Well, I guess so, but why bother? He can't hurt anyone now."

The fairy stared at him for a moment. "Um...okay, then what does Sakon have to do with anything?"

"Remember the way Zelda looked at Ruto's wedding?" Link explained.

Navi nodded wisely. "Ahhh. Sounds like someone can't catch a break."

The Hero blinked. "...never mind, I don't want to know." He waved wildly in the air while Navi giggled again, then kicked open his chest and pulled out his tunic and white mail. Lightly armored with almost invisible scales, the shirt and 'tights' shimmered in the proper light. Strapping on his shield, he briefly considered the Great Fairy's Sword, then slowly closed the chest. Well. Here goes nothing.

Impa was waiting for him when he opened the door. "Think you could sneak past the Sheikah, pup?" she said. A mundane observer wouldn't have heard anything but her usual even tone, but Link caught the dry humor threaded in her voice.

"You haven't called me 'pup' in a while, sensei. Feeling nostalgic?" He grinned broadly at her, rubbing the back of his neck innocently.

"Farore," Zelda breathed. Link jumped slightly; she was Zelda, there in the dark, in her pink and white dress with the golden plates, yet he hadn't sensed her presence. You weren't exactly looking for her, were you? She looked the Hero over, smoothing her face with obvious effort. "Are you...well?"

"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess," Link replied softly. That should answer the question she was really asking, I hope, he added to himself.

"As for nostalgia," Impa said, an ironic tone seeping in, "today everything ends and begins again. You of all people should know that, Hero of Time."

"Light and Time, Impa, I'm nervous enough as it is without you getting all portent...y...on me." He breathed heavily, then nodded. "And for the record, I wasn't trying to sneak out on you." Link grinned again. "For that, I would have used the window."

"So obvious?" Impa raised an eyebrow. "What of your Sheikah training, or the Ocarina?" They began walking toward the drawbridge.

"You would have sensed those," Link replied jauntily, though he kept his voice down for the sake of those still sleeping. "With the window, I would have at least had a chance."

"Din, Nayru and Farore," Zelda breathed, "how can you two be so calm?"

Link swallowed. They rounded a corner, the corridor leading to the drawbridge stretching before them. Great portraits loomed over the trio, and numerous suits of armor were lined up in both directions. "Zel, it's either this, or curl up into a ball on my cot and try to pretend I don't have to do this." He clenched his fist, which trembled beside him. And I do have to do this, don't I? The Hero worried at his lower lip with one tooth. "I haven't been this nervous since before the Water Temple."

To the Hero's amazement, Zelda blushed. "I -- I'm sorry," she said, quiet even for a whisper.

"Farore, Zel, you don't have anything to apologize for," he whispered back. Link fixed the portcullis ahead with as much resolve as he could muster. "Let's just...head for the Temple. I'm sure I can procrastinate our way there until dawn."

"Then you won't mind some company, I take it, Master Link?" a friendly voice asked. Link turned, Zelda smiling indulgently before he saw the figure behind them.

"Senza!" Link called, wincing as his voice echoed in the hallway. "Sorry."

"Eh, don't worry about it," Sir Zuko replied, coming around his bulky partner. "Can't be more than a third of the castle still asleep by now, what with everyone expecting the moon to fall down on us or something."

Link winced. "Let's pray it doesn't come to that," he said fervently. Then he looked up, and immediately wished he hadn't. They were at the gate. "There's really no way to do this quietly, is there?" he noted, praying that there wasn't any hope in his voice.

"Ye of little faith," Zuko chuckled. "This is Hyrule." He glanced at the Hero with sardonic amusement. "What, you never came in the drawbridge?"

"Of course I have," the Hero retorted defensively. "Just not right at sunrise."

Navi giggled. "Or an hour after sunrise, or two, or..."

#Navi, do you mind?# Link 'pathed in frustration.

#Not usually, no,# she quipped back.

#Of course not. Why should today be any different?# The Hero sighed heavily. "So we can get through?"

Zelda nodded and gestured at the winch, which turned itself. The portcullis went up and the bridge went down simultaneously, and all but silently. Link nodded, swallowing the butterflies that kept trying to fly up into his throat, and strode forward.

The hoped-for 'procrastination' never materialized. Senza and Zuko bantered, of course, but Link had long since learned to tune out anything that was neither interesting philosophy nor juicy gossip, and their discussion was almost entirely professional. Still, Link took his time, and none of the ladies with him seemed in any hurry either. To his surprise (and chagrin), even Navi had nothing to say during their descent into the city. Dawn slowly shed its light over Hyrule, which left the Temple of Time surrounded in a halo of sunlight when they reached it. The awe-inspiring effect wasn't quite ruined by the soldiers, knights and war sorcerers scattered strategically throughout the city. Link swallowed.

"Link, wait," Zelda said suddenly, grabbing his arm. Her touch was light, but Darunia's grip wouldn't have held him as well. "Um...here." She released him, then quickly placed a small blue ring in his palm, blushing. Link looked at it for a long moment, then memory struck him all at once. This had been in his ear when he emerged from his enchanted sleep last time. "Happy birthday."

"Gods..." he breathed. "Where did you get this?"

"She made it," Impa said, earning a shocked look and a bright blush from the Princess of Destiny, "with a combination of wizardry and sheer determination."

"It will pass through your ear painlessly," Zelda muttered, looking down, eyes flickering everywhere but towards him. Link turned his gape from the ring to the princess. Her own earrings, tiny Triforce symbols, swayed gently with her scattered motions. "I don't know if you remember, or even knew last time, but it's...a symbol of maturity. Most Hylians don't get one until they're 27, but the gods saw fit to give you one ten years early last time, and gods know you've been through enough..."

Link gently took her hand. "Thank you, Zelda." Their eyes met, and his soul fell into them. Those eyes.

#Kiss her, you idiot!# Navi finally blurted.

Stumbling backwards half a step, Link realized that they'd been staring at each other for several seconds. All the nearby guards were finding the rooftops endlessly interesting, Senza and Zuko were looking pointedly away, and Impa...Impa was staring right at them with a shamelessly calculating look. The heat in his face spread to the very tips of his ears. He swallowed and clamped the ring on quickly. As promised, there was no pain; indeed, he felt a faint pulse of mana, as if the ring were becoming a part of him. I suppose it is, he thought, endlessly pleased by the notion. "Well. Let's do this." In his mind, Navi sighed pointedly.

Zelda, eyes locked firmly on the Temple, nodded emphatically. The small group headed toward the legendary gateway to the Sacred Realm, Senza and Zuko taking positions with the four knights already on duty there. Ashei, Rusl and Colin, Link thought, recognizing them as soon as they came into view. He didn't recognize the fourth, but the last knight was undoubtedly a friend of Rusl's. This can't be coincidence. He waved, and Ashei chuckled and waved back. Rusl nodded in something of a bow, and his eyes twinkled as if he knew something Link didn't. Colin just smiled shyly, the light, fantastically strong armor of the Hylian knights fitting him surprisingly well.

Before he could let himself think about it too much, Link strode through the doors, Navi on his shoulder, Zelda and Impa directly behind him.

Waiting for him were Darunia, Saria and Ruto, each holding one of the Spiritual Stones. Darunia was grinning broadly in contrast to Saria's gentle smile, and his foot was tapping merrily. Ruto's gaze was distant until she realized the others had entered. "Oh. Um, yeah," Link said, rubbing the back of his neck. Zelda coughed. "I guess we would need the Spiritual Stones now, huh?"

"A rather important detail to forget, eh, Brother?" Darunia laughed. "You needn't fear Ganondorf this time, Link -- nearly all the Sages stand with you now, and each of us brought warriors of our own." He smiled down at Saria. "The Forest Sage's allies are rather unusual, but they do seem effective."

"A Skull Kid came, with a set of puppets he can make move with his music," Saria explained, looking at the ceiling, "and this pack of wolves just followed us no matter what we did." Impa glanced meaningfully at Link. "Mido's working on something, too, but he's still back in the forest."

Darunia nodded. "Nabooru would be here as well if she had the ability to return to her people instantly, as we do," he added.

Link looked at Ruto with curiosity. Ruto smiled sheepishly. "The Stones are tied to their realms and elements. That's how I..." She tried to glare at him, but her chagrin ruined the effect. "Come on, I was ten."

"It's all right, Ruto. Light and Time, it was all right back then." Her smile returned, grateful this time. Then the Hero's attention turned entirely to Saria. "You okay?"

Saria smiled beatifically at him. "I'm a Sage. I can be outside for a while, sometimes. Besides, the Stone sustains me as long as I'm close." She giggled. "You should have seen it. The Sprout grew it out of a branch -- like a fruit!"

Impulsively, Link hugged the Forest Sage. "It's good to see you," he whispered.

"Same here," she replied, returning the hug fondly. "You're going to be fine."

Link let her go, straightened, took a deep breath, and finally nodded. "I'm ready."

"Then let the way be opened!" Darunia bellowed dramatically, holding up his hands. Ruto and Saria followed suit, and all three Spiritual Stones floated into the air. It's as beautiful as I remember, Link realized, the three divine jewels floating up, then into place over the altar.

The Triforce symbol above them glowed golden. The great wall rumbled and slid away. There, the ever-present shaft of light illuminating it, was the Master Sword. It almost felt like it was calling to him, a chant whispering in the background as the blade reflected dawn's light toward him. That's impossible, the angle's all wrong, his logical side thought, but the rest of him ignored it, walking almost in a trance towards the Blade of Evil's Bane.

At the threshold to the Pedestal chamber, however, he realized what he was doing and stopped cold. "Farore," he breathed. He turned halfway around, stopping in surprise when he realized Colin was there. "Wh -- Sir Colin?"

"My boon," Colin said, quiet determination writ large across him. "I'm going to fight by your side, Master Link."

Link looked at the Sword with all the determination he could muster. "I know, Colin, but some battles we must fight alone." He took a deep breath and strode in, walking straight up to the Pedestal of Time before he could change his mind. He looked down at the great Blade, remembering how gigantic it had seemed the first time he'd seen it. Even now, though, it dominates the whole room. He reached out his hand, then some instinct made him waver.

#What's wrong, Link?# Navi asked with concern, landing on his shoulder and stroking his neck with her almost microscopic hand.

Link glanced behind him. Zelda was there, watching him, hands clasped together almost in prayer. The deja vu was almost overwhelming. The others stood behind the princess, watching intently. #I thought I felt...# He took one more deep breath and faced the Blade again. #It doesn't matter.# He smiled at Navi. #No matter what else happens, I won't be alone.#

#Not a chance,# Navi replied.

Whipping his arm around, he grasped the Master Sword before he could think about it again. Whew. The world didn't stop. Time didn't swirl around him. Meanwhile, the Master Sword's power flowed through him as it always had. The Hero felt stronger and faster instantly. Most importantly, he knew it had accepted him. With a grin, he began to lift the Blade.

Everything happened at once. The Temple rang like a gong, and Time itself flickered and shifted, howling in protest. Link could almost see the Sacred Realm as if through a spyglass, and it rippled like air above a fire. Behind him, Zelda screamed. Link tried to move, to turn, but it was like his whole body was shod in metal heavier than the Iron Boots. Outside, the sky itself seemed to roar with a familiar sound -- battle. Something akin to Dark Fire flickered around him. With a burst of horror, he realized the foul energies were, impossibly, coming from the Master Sword itself.

The Blade was cursed after all. Somehow, the forces of the Evil Realm had managed to bypass even the Master Sword's Power to Repel Evil and doom it to turn against the Hero in some way. Against me. When he'd been ten, the curse had tricked the Sword's defenses into leaving him in limbo for seven years; now that Destiny had decreed him old enough to wield the Blade, the evil sorcery had to take direct action.

Hyrule was under attack. Everyone he loved was in unspeakable danger. And Link was trapped in Time itself, helpless in the grip of the Master Sword and the Pedestal of Time. No. NO! I can't let this happen. I can't!

All of Castle Town shuddered under the assault of some terrible sorcerous power. Somewhere far away, a deep, terrible voice laughed. #You can do nothing about it, boy. Though I can hold you only for days instead of years, it will be enough. You will emerge from my grip to see not the shreds of tattered hope, but its very end!# The "voice" was like Ganondorf's but deeper, like Ganon's but clearer. Link's blood froze.

Mandrag. Gods help me.

#Even they cannot help you now, boy...#

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Something's wrong," Zelda muttered. Link had taken the Blade in hand, but not yet lifted it. Why? What did he sense? The Sage of Time felt it too, a foreboding, a sense of something terrible hanging over them all, waiting to strike. Worst of all, the foulest of the feeling seemed to emanate from the Pedestal of Time itself.

On the other hand, she felt a sudden wave of confidence emanate from the Hero. Well of course it accepted you, she thought, letting a trickle of exasperation through the Mind Kata.

Then he tried to lift it free.

A wave of power struck the walls of the city. Zelda could feel the corrupted mana flux, more power than she had ever sensed before, hammer into Castle Town's magical defenses. She screamed reflexively, almost in pain. Even that, however, paled into comparison to the shockwave that raged through her own body. In the same instant, she felt something at once alien and familiar emerge within her. A golden glow shone from her hand.

She looked at the Triforce symbol in horror. Wisdom. As glorious as the Triforce element itself felt, even without the insight it provided Zelda would have known instantly what its appearance meant. If she'd needed the confirmation, the insane amount of mana necessary to summon their attackers would have provided it. Ganondorf has the Triforce of Power. Gods be good. Looking up at the Pedestal, what she saw seemed even worse -- Link, indeed the entire Master Sword chamber, was in a field of altered Time. She could feel his mind racing at its normal rate, but his body was stuck moving less than a hundredth of their speed. Fortunately, any attack on him would be slowed by the Time field as well, but it meant that whatever they now faced, they would have to face it without the Hero.

Laughter echoed across the city. It was sadistic and evil, yet it was neither Ganondorf nor Kotake. Somehow, it sounded familiar all the same. "Colin, stay here," she ordered. Colin saluted and stepped in front of the opening, looking ready to hold off the King of Evil himself if need be. When she turned to the Sages, she realized with growing horror that they were seeing something far off. "Your lands," she said, sickening comprehension driving home. "They're under attack as well."

Ruto nodded. "Forgive us, Zelda, but--"

"I understand," Zelda said quickly. "Go."

"Rest assured," Darunia said, the magic swirling around all three, "we shall return as soon as we are able!" Then they vanished, leaving the Stones floating in place.

Zelda grimaced. With the Spiritual Stones here, though, she thought darkly, it will take you far longer to return than it did for you to leave. "Impa, Senza, Zuko, come!" Every step away from Link made the princess shudder, the thought of leaving him so vulnerable almost painful. I know my duty, she thought firmly, and besides, this is the best way for me to help everyone, Link included. She threw the doors open, for once relieved to see General Onox. He stood on the wall above the already-closing drawbridge, shouting orders and throwing siege ladders off with his bare hands. Her father was already running towards her, both war room and decorum apparently forgotten, and the knights at the doors were starting to join her. "No, Ashei, Rusl, stay here," she ordered immediately. "If the Temple falls, we fall with it."

"Zelda, thank the gods you're all--" King Daphnes was cut off by another burst of power. The ground itself shook, and all of them had to make an effort to stay on their feet. "Come. You must return to the palace at once."

"With all due respect, father, you must be joking." Zelda strode towards the city walls.

"I hate that phrase," Daphnes muttered. "Zelda, that was not a..." he trailed off. Zelda didn't have to guess why. She looked up at the same time the others did.

A man with lavender hair covering one eye, the visible one as red as a Sheikah's, wearing a robe, cape and Kokiri-style cap all a shade darker than his hair, floated above Onox and laughed again. Zelda realized in shock that she knew him. Vaati. He threw his arms into the air, and the wind itself flowed at his command. "Zelda!" he called out, grinning maliciously. "You cannot hide from me!"

"Who's hiding?" she growled, striding into the square. Her eyes locked onto the guard room. Better safe, she thought, and besides, Senza and Zuko can't levitate.

"Impa, aren't you going to stop her?" Daphnes demanded.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Impa replied, and Zelda swore she heard a faint tinge of humor in her tone, "I rather doubt I could. Besides, you have felt Vaati's might. Can any other wizard of Hyrule match him?" She heard her father grumble furiously, but nothing coherent came out. Senza and Zuko, as always, followed her obediently. Impa crossed through a shadow and vanished. Zelda grinned at that. Her smile vanished when a trio of Wolfos dropped down from the wall. She dispatched them with quick streams of Din's Fire, then entered the guard house.

"Y-Your Highness!" the guard within saluted, shoving some pots aside with his foot. "How may I serve you?"

"Open the door to the stairs, then move." Zelda didn't slow down. The guard hesitated, then unlocked the door quickly and bolted out of her way. She took the stairs two at a time, then threw the trap door open.

The wall was a boiling mass of blood and death like the Evil Realm incarnate. Guards and knights fought horrors ranging from keese to Stalfos, with mages of all kinds trading spells with floating bird-men. Vaati rose above them all and laughed. "Watch my back," she told her bodyguards, then forced her stomach to grow still and strode purposefully across the wall-walk. Blasts of raw power obliterated a handful of foes. She smiled coldly at one of the regenerating Stalfos -- she'd learned to recognize them by their differing blades -- and teleported a bomb into its rib cage. It looked down in surprise, then exploded much to Zelda's satisfaction.

Finally, she reached Onox just as Vaati knocked him over with a burst of Dark Fire. The evil sorcerer gathered lightning in his hand to finish the general, but stared at Zelda in amazement when she summoned her Light Bow. "That's enough!"

"Heh heh heh...how fortuitous," Vaati replied in a silky tone. To think, that voice used to give me shivers, Zelda thought coolly. "I come across space and time seeking you, my beloved Zelda, and here you are, handing yourself to me."

"You love nothing but power, you slime," Zelda said, voice colder than the mountain wastes, "and you will not enjoy being handed what I have to offer." She drew the bowstring to its limit, aiming the Light Arrow directly between his eyes. Vaati's smile vanished, and he summoned lightning into one hand and fire in the other. Zelda smiled at him then, a smile as cold as her voice. "This time, I'm no innocent girl barely out of childhood."

"Where's your Hero, princess?" he asked then, mocking her with tone and stance alike. Zelda didn't move, mentally thanking Impa fervently for her Sheikah training, but she had desperately wanted to shiver in that moment. "Having a bit of trouble with the Master Sword?"

"He drew you from the past..." Zelda whispered. Her aim never wavered. Senza and Zuko cleared out a few overly friendly Wolfos in skilled, workmanlike fashion. Shadows grew familiar arms and slew menaces of every stripe. Incongruously, she grinned again. "You're working for Ganondorf? You always were pathetic, Vaati, but at least you used to be your own man." Vaati's eyes (or at least eye) widened, and he quivered in outraged fury. "Oh, and if you want me, you're out of luck, even if you win. Dragmire has his own plans for me, and he -- doesn't -- share."

Vaati's rage vanished as quickly as it came, and he smiled again, hungry and possessive. That smile sent a brief wave of fear through her. "He wants that idiotic triangle, my princess. I'll keep you alive through the...extraction process. After that, I get what I want."

She turned her aim to his heart at the last second, then loosed her shot. He blocked the blast with a grunt and an orb of Dark Fire, the orb's destruction revealing a floating Beamos eye. Zelda fired again, and he gritted his teeth as the eye exploded in a burst of mana. "You never were very imaginative," she quipped, slinging the bow over her shoulder and floating into the air, power swirling around her. "And for the record, I belong to someone else!" She released her power as near-solid light, he fired back with wind and lightning, and their magics struck with the force of a thousand hammers.

"You're...you're no match for me..." Vaati croaked. His entire body elongated, neck stretching impossibly, and a horned crown grew from his brow. His robes lengthened, flowing around his body, but growing tattered before they had even finished transforming.

"Funny," Zelda said, forcing herself not to pant with effort, "I was about to say the same thing." She gritted her teeth and bent still more mana to her will. This isn't working. We're too evenly matched in conjuration. After a moment's thought, she shifted to defense. Time to change the rules. With a burst of will, she engaged Vaati on the psychic plane.

By the gods. What a mess. Zelda tore at the evil sorcerer's mind. His mental defenses were formidable, but between her natural talent, Sheikah training and the Triforce of Wisdom, she advanced quickly. Astral walls shattered, traps broke on her shields, and bursts of pain and hate simply flowed through her as if she were a ghost. I could almost pity him. A wave of desire rippled through his mind, and Zelda forced her breakfast back into her stomach. Then again...

#You will not defeat me thus! I will not allow it!# Vaati raged, turning his own energies inward to hold her off. She merely began her physical assault anew, and the wind mage was forced to divide his attention more fully.

#Oh no? Do you still dismiss the creation of the gods as an 'idiotic triangle,' blasphemer?# Zelda 'pathed with grim satisfaction, pressing on easily.

Suddenly her body lurched, and she returned to the physical world with a disorienting snap. She looked up, the world spinning at a sickening angle, to see Zuko gripping her hair, a horrified look on his face and his sword poised over her body. He trembled, clearly resisting, but a tiny symbol of the Triforce glowed on his brow, the topmost triangle glowing the brightest. Ganondorf! Zelda twisted in his grip, desperately holding off Vaati with energy from one hand while grabbing Zuko's wrist with the other. "It's not you, Zuko! Fight it!"

"He does," Vaati laughed, "but it will not be enough to save you." He formed a cruelly barbed lance of Dark Fire in one hand. "You will be mine!" He threw the spear, which carved through her wavering flow of power.

Senza appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and stepped between the weapon and its target. Zelda couldn't scream -- she couldn't even breathe -- when she saw it carve away half his chest. Vaati and Zuko howled in unison, and Zelda took the moment to drive the evil sorcery from Zuko's mind. The knight fell to his knees by his old partner's side. "Senza! Din, Senza!" Zuko cried.

Senza smiled up at the Sage. "It's been an honor, Little Princess." He closed his eyes, head rolling backwards. A fairy swirled around his body, and a moment of hope filled Zelda, but the pink figure looked at the ruined body sadly and shot over to another wounded knight.

Zelda stood and whirled on a smirking Vaati. His smirk vanished, and fear filled his eyes. Too late, monster. Nayru forgive me, Senza, too late. Power surged around her, and almost as an afterthought she bolstered the wards around the city. "No more rescues from Ganondorf, wind mage. No more innocents will you slaughter today." Golden fire exploded around her, washing over Zuko harmlessly even as it consumed the creatures of Dark Fire. Zuko himself trailed the edge of her magical flame, destroying enemies in his wake, grief and rage almost palpable around the knight.

Vaati threw up shields and summoned Beamos eyes, for all the good it did him. Her power shot out like a tidal wave of Light and wrath, astral needle-blades tearing into his aura even as her magic devastated his body, and somewhere within it she thought she heard him scream. Vaati disappeared, and Zelda fell to her knees, spent, panting, weeping. Senza. She remembered riding on his shoulders, climbing the great warrior like a mountain, listening to him sing, amazed at the gentle tenor of his voice.

Something dark and cruel rose from the rapidly diminishing invasion force. The air churned wildly across half the city and almost to Lon Lon Ranch. Zelda looked up and saw a great black orb with a single, maddened eye, claws growing from long, tentacle-like arms that sprang from each side. A wild blast from its lone inhuman orb fired into the city, and the princess forced herself to ignore the explosion she heard behind her. Grimly, she rose, summoning her Light Bow again. Come for it then! she thought, hair whipping madly in the wind. I'll be happy to send you back where you belong!

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Link was still in the process of gritting his teeth. They had not quite met, but his jaw continued on with determination. I wonder if going mad feels like this, the Hero wondered with a calm that amazed him.

#Oh no. There's much more wailing and gnashing of teeth. I invented that, you know, the wailing and gnashing. Quite the stress reliever after a few aeons,# Mandrag 'pathed with sadistic amusement.

#Shut up, you,# Link shot back, turning his will grimly on the power filling the room. Dark Fire swirled everywhere, a thin and translucent but ever-growing miasma of horror.

#Yeah, we're busy here,# Navi added, throwing her own will and magic behind Link's. Her wings were all but trapped in mid-flutter, but her mind moved in time with the Hero's.

Mandrag chuckled. #Indeed. Busy going mad, it would seem,# he replied dryly.

#Ignore him, he's just trying to confuse us,# Navi 'pathed to Link.

Link wanted to nod, but his head wouldn't move. Ignoring his bizarre physical plight, he focused on the Sword. Power to Repel Evil, Power to Repel Evil, come on, start repelling already, he thought desperately. The Hero threw his mana into the Blade, trying to bolster its natural ability. He tried driving the Dark Fire away himself. Frozen, he couldn't cast any of his spells, and even if Shadow-sliding through the dark magic didn't burn his very spirit, it certainly wouldn't take the Master Sword with him, still largely in the Pedestal as it was. It's out enough to let the Triforce through and mess up Time itself, though, he thought furiously. The Triforce of Courage pulsed fiercely on his hand, apparently unaffected by the curse.

The Triforce! Link turned his attention to the shard that had rested within him through the years. Of course! Come on, Farore! He poured all his determination, his need, his will to survive and protect his friends into the divine shard. The Dark Fire shuddered, but held.

#That won't work, boy,# Mandrag said with a deep chuckle. #Your insignificant piece of the Triforce pales in comparison to my might.# In his mind, a black, inverted triangle, ever-hungry and all-consuming, appeared in the center of an image of the Triforce.

#A false image for a false god, Mandrag,# Link retorted furiously, trying to increase the Triforce's effect. Nothing happened. What am I doing wrong? Link thought desperately. Navi would have been in tears, if she could cry. The fairy was out of ideas as well.

Mandrag's ironic chuckling grew more forceful. #Mandrag Ganon, if you please.# Link's mind rung in shock. #Indeed. Ganondorf is merely the greatest and most terrible of my pawns. Why did you think Din held out so much hope for him? She thought she held my heart once as well, but not every legend is as true as you might think.#

Link gasped mentally. #Nayru. You weren't in love with Din, you were just using her. You wanted Nayru...that's why you're always after -- HNNG!# The Hero redoubled his efforts with the Master Sword. Nothing. Farore, help me!

Mandrag Ganon laughed outright. #You think you are any match for me, boy? How many times must I crush your hope before you finally admit the inevitable? Eventually you will fail, and both the Triforce and Nayru will be mine! Zelda is no more than a pawn, just like the rest of you, yet she will be my conduit all the same. As for you...Farore has abandoned you. The Goddess of Courage, pah! She's a coward!#

#I don't believe you!# Link roared in fury. #I have faith in the gods, and they have faith in me!#

Suddenly the Triforce shone like the sun, and all at once Link understood. I'm not supposed to give power to it. I'm supposed to let it into me! Mandrag recoiled in terror, and Link forced his fear of the artifacts that had ruled his life for so long aside. In a single act of bravery, Courage was his.

The miasma burned away. The field of warped Time vanished. The Master Sword all but flew from the Pedestal of Time and glowed in his hand. #No! It's not possible!# Something fled from the edge of reality itself, plummeting away. #I won't be his pawn again! I won't -- AAGH!# Mandrag cried. Then he was gone.

Ganondorf, Link realized with sick horror. 'Ganon' wasn't Mandrag possessing the King of Evil. That was Ganondorf bending Mandrag to his will. Gods be good. He shook his head clear, then turned to see Colin running towards him. They need me. #Navi, you ready?#

#You're kidding, right?# Much to the Hero's relief, Navi was circling him once more, wings humming like mad.

Colin reached him, looking up with a mix of concern and admiration. He reached out timidly, then pulled his hand back. "M-Master Link?"

Link nodded. "Let's go, Colin." He ran out of the Pedestal chamber, worried at the absence of the Sages but not surprised. From there, he dashed out of the Temple and towards the square. Ashei and Rusl were dealing with a pack of Wolfos. Link finished off one, killed a second that leaped at him, then stopped and turned. The attackers were all dead. "Zelda?" he asked.

"She went to..." Rusl trailed off, looking past Link to stare with widened eyes above the city walls. Link followed his gaze, only to see a monstrous giant black eyeball rising to stare balefully at the defenders. A golden glow rose up to defy it. Zelda, Link realized. He bolted again, running faster than he ever had. The others followed.

Then the world erupted, spinning and bursting with fiery light. The Hero managed to land in a crouch, and looking around, discovered to his relief that the others were also unhurt. When he glanced behind him, though, his heart clenched with pain. The Temple, he thought, breath catching. After surviving seven years of Ganondorf's rule 'there' and seven of resisting him 'here,' it was covered in smoke, chunks of its roof sticking out of houses and road all around them. He shook his head clear. Farore. I can't worry about that right now.

When he came within sight of the battle, Zelda was rolling away from a swiping claw. The other was rearing back. #Navi!# he thought desperately. The fairy obeyed, flying into place above the monster's readied talons, and Link pulled out his Hookshot. With dearly-bought patience, he held his fire until the creature swung. That brought its arm into range, and Link fired. The monster paused, staring at the tiny yellow glow over its claw, then it ululated with a strange cry as the hook struck home. Link flew up to it and slashed furiously with the Master Sword. "Get -- away -- from -- ZELDA!" he roared, slicing the creature's arm away up almost to the body before it floated out of range. He stumbled over a body. "Sorry, friend," he whispered, then looked down and paled. Senza. Oh, gods, forgive me. Grimly, he forced himself to turn his attention back to the monster. "Zelda, you okay?"

"Here," she all but growled, and a ball of fire and lightning appeared above her outstretched hands. The princess threw it, and the burst exploded into the nightmare, ripping it into shards of Dark Fire. That, in turn, vanished in the morning light. "Does that answer your question..." she looked at him as if for the first time, then smiled through streaming tears. "Link. Oh, Link, you did it."

"Not soon enough," he muttered, "but yeah." He held up the Sword. "It's clean, now. Well, maybe the Pedestal is. Whatever it was, it's gone now." The Hero looked out past the moat. "The Temple got hit, but everyone's okay," he told her, and Zelda nodded with a sigh. Together, they watched the remains of the invasion force flee into Hyrule Field. "Looks like that took the fight out of them..." his gaze followed them into the distance. He gasped in horror. "Lon Lon..."

"Go!" Zelda commanded. Link didn't need to be told twice. He leaped off the wall, rolling as he landed to cushion the blow, then stood and played Epona's Song.

Colin floated beside him -- Zelda, no doubt -- just before Epona appeared from the west. He mounted the great horse, held his hand out to Colin to help him up, then spurred the mare. "Hyah!" he cried, eyes locked on the ranch. There were fires around the small fortress, but none yet burning the palisade. Thank Din. Epona ran like lightning, eating up the distance between Castle Town and Lon Lon in a matter of minutes.

That, however, was enough for the surviving monsters to bring the great wooden doors down. The monsters streamed in, but Link and Colin were right behind them, Link firing Ice Arrows and Colin swinging his sword expertly. Ingo was screaming shrilly and fleeing while Malon trembled, using a pitchfork to barely holding off a pair of surprisingly small Moblins, thought they still towered over the farm girl.

Talon was the real surprise. He had created a makeshift truncheon out of some old handle and was smashing expertly through the Wolfos. Link leaped off Epona and carved his way through the assault, the Master Sword feeling incredibly comfortable in his hand. Seven years, and it might as well have been yesterday. He spared Talon a quick glance as he fought towards the rancher's daughter. "You know what you're doing."

"Five years in the guard," Talon replied evenly. "Saw action in the war. Quit when I met Malon's mother. Come on, she needs us!"

Link nodded grimly and forced his way through. One of the Moblins took the pitchfork in his shoulder, then caught it in one beefy hand and broke it with a flex of his powerful fingers. Malon screamed in terror. Farore, no! Link took a slash from a Stalfos to finish it off, the Power to Repel Evil sending it back to the abyss with a final slash. Just as the Moblin grabbed the redhead, he sliced off its arm at the elbow, then drove the Master Sword through its head to another powerful feeling of deja vu. The remaining Moblin grunted and threw himself at Link, who flew back a few steps even with his shield up. The Moblin turned on Malon, who had been trying to slide away across the wall, and charged.

Colin appeared between them with Sheikah-like speed and silence, driving his blade into the monster's foul heart. It vanished in a burst of Dark Fire, leaving a slight dark stain on the knight's gleaming plates. He turned, moving to stand between Malon and the remaining invaders, but the living ones took one look at the Hero and fled. Link chuckled and played the Sun's Song, paralyzing the ReDead, and that left short work for the rest.

Once the last undead monster was put to rest, Link turned and scanned the others, looking Malon and Ingo over carefully. "Everyone all right?"

Ingo stood up from behind his crate, took two wobbling steps, then collapsed. The Hero froze for a moment, then saw that the ranch hand was unhurt. He fainted, Link realized, swallowing a chuckle. Then he saw Malon, still pressed against the wall, trembling. "Malon?"

"You...you do this...all the time?" Malon whispered. "You...this is that life you've been talking about all these years?" Link pressed his lips together and looked away. Malon...I never wanted you to have to see this.

Sir Colin walked up to the young lady, bowed on one knee, and kissed her hand politely. "It is an honor, my lady," he said formally, "for such as we to defend the noble and innocent."

Malon stared back at him in shock. Link's good humor returned. Oh, Colin, you're done, he thought, not quite suppressing the chuckle that time. "You..." Malon whispered again. "You saved my life. You jumped between me and -- and a Moblin. A Moblin." Colin stood, head still slightly bowed in respect, and started to reply. Malon cut him off by grabbing the top of his breastplate, pulling him to her, and kissing him passionately.

"Well, all's well that ends well, right, Link?" Talon said boisterously, slapping Link on the back.

The Hero coughed softly. "Let's hope so. Even if this attack's over, though, the war's just begun." He took out the Ocarina and played Zelda's Lullaby. #Zel?#

#Link...they're under attack,# Zelda 'pathed, her mental voice faint.

#What...who's under attack?#

#Everyone.# Zelda sent image after terrible image. Nabooru and her tribe were holding off a deadly wizard leading thousands of Lizalfos against the Arbiter's Grounds. The Zoras barely held off a swarm of Tektites, jelly-creatures and Skulltulas led by a cloaked figure in black. The Gorons repelled an assault of bizarre, tentacle-covered shadow-men with horseshoe-like headpieces. As for the Kokiri...

Deku Scrubs? There were quite a few of them, but Mido was openly mocking the invaders while the Kokiri pelted them with, ironically enough, Deku Seeds. I hate to think it, but the forest will have to wait. Nabooru needs me the most right now. "Colin, stay here with Talon and Malon until reinforcements arrive from Castle Town. I've got to go."

"But..." Colin looked between Link and Malon, the latter of whom was gripping the knight's arm desperately.

"I know, but with the doors broken, they need someone to stay here." Link looked into Colin's eyes with all the seriousness he could muster. "Please, Colin. I need to know they'll be safe." The young knight nodded reluctantly. The Hero played Requiem of Spirit, and vanished in a swirl of light.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Hold the gate! HOLD THE GATE!" Nabooru shouted, just barely making herself heard above the din of battle.

In all her life, the Spirit Sage had never seen so large a force. Had they not held the Spirit Temple, Nabooru was sure they would all be long dead. As it was, the so-called Arbiter's Ground was now their deadly fortress rather than Ganondorf's, and it would have been more than enough against the Lizalfos and Dinolfos charging to their deaths.

The crimson-robed wizard was a far greater problem. With the blue stylized eye on his chest and the scarf-like covering on his face, their seemingly invincible foe was like the embodiment of the Gerudo's sins against the Sheikah come back to haunt them. Yet he serves Ganondorf, Nabooru thought, outraged, and that makes him the enemy! She concentrated, bringing her powers as a Sage to the surface, and repelled another attack. "Ilia!"

The young sorceress fired another burst of power, this time one of lightning, at the evil wizard, but he deflected it with a wave of his hand and laughed. Ilia stumbled back on her prosthetic, but righted herself with an air of determination. "Now what?" Ilia asked. Good question, Nabooru thought, gripping the railing on her balcony in frustration. I can block this wizard's attacks for a little longer, but nothing seems to hurt --

Outside, a swirl of orange light descended onto the Triforce platform. The Hero appeared, immediately tearing a hole in the ranks of the Lizalfos. It took him some time, but slowly, Link worked his way towards the Temple. "Ha!" Nabooru laughed when the evil sorcerer deigned to approach again. "The tables turn, wizard!"

"Pah," the mage scoffed, floating away from Nabooru and towards the battlefield. "It took every effort of a far more advanced Hero to barely overcome me, and even then he had to defeat me twice to truly end my reign." Casually blasting away a company of Lizalfos with a bolt of lightning the size of one of the Temple's new pillars, he descended towards the now-clear Hero. "Do you know me, Link, Hero of 'Time?'"

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Link grimaced, impossible memories flickering through his mind. Zelda? He remembered this foul sorcerer sending Zelda away before his very eyes, something that he knew wouldn't happen for more than a thousand years. "I see a name...Agahnim." He bared his teeth. "I see a dead man."

Agahnim laughed. "Oh, so the Hero wishes to play! Very well then, Link. Let us play. Hah!" He threw a blast at the Hero, who dodged and lunged. The Master Sword struck home...and bounced away harmlessly.

Love of Nayru! Link backflipped away from the wizard before he could throw another blast, and watched warily as Agahnim formed the next attack in his hands. An image of Phantom Ganon suddenly flickered into his mind. The same power! He readied the Master Sword, hoping he'd guessed right. Well, I'll find out soon enough. At least this time I have the Power to Repel Evil.

He was right -- the blast rebounded off his sword right into the evil wizard. Agahnim howled and vanished into his own shadow. Farore. He is Sheikah trained. With a sudden grin, he activated his Eye and watched the shadow circle flicker around intently. A sudden inspiration struck him. #Navi, target that!# He drew a Light Arrow the moment Navi obeyed. When the circle stopped and grew, Link fired.

Agahnim howled, then the circle shrank again and darted about even faster. Twice more Link fired and struck home, but finally he mistimed a shot and Agahnim reappeared. "GRRAH! You'll pay for that, insipid whelp!" The wizard gestured, and two Sheikah illusions of the villain appeared. The Eye made them translucent to the Hero, but he realized with a sinking feeling that both replicas could fire blasts as well. All three unleashed their power at him, and Link tried firing another Light Arrow after he dodged, but Agahnim blocked it with a contemptuous wave of his hand. "Do not think that will work a second time!"

So noted. Link rolled aside, then watched the replicas move. All three Agahnims kept trying to descend into their own shadows, remembering the Light Arrows suddenly and reappearing with jerky swiftness. They moved somewhat clumsily as a result, and Link smiled with grim satisfaction as he watched them follow him mechanically. You're cheating the effect, he realized, seeing the 'strings' Agahnim held his replicas with through the Eye, half-faking it with magic, and that's going to be your undoing. He backed away in a straight line until all three were lined up, then stopped and held his ground. "O-ho!" Agahnim laughed, and all three fired their blasts.

Link swung rapidly, knocking all three bursts of power straight back at the wizard. Agahnim roared in fury, then collapsed. Something tried to crawl out of the robes, but Time itself rebelled in outrage. A hole that made the shadows seem bright opened up instead, devouring Agahnim as it grew, then sucked all the lizard-warriors towards it with a strange, unearthly power. Its hunger ignored Link, the Gerudos and even the sand, but the Lizalfos and Dinolfos swirled helplessly as if caught in a tornado. They flew through the tear in Time and vanished into its void.

With an almost audible snap, the hole closed, leaving only the natives. The Gerudos cheered wildly. Nabooru leaped down and all but slammed into Link with a ferocious hug. "By the gods, Hero, I never get tired of seeing your work!" She saw the earring and tapped it lightly with one fingernail. "And a full man to boot. Maybe I should thank you like one?"

He extricated himself from the Spirit Sage carefully. "Been hugging Darunia a lot lately?" he coughed, eliciting more Gerudo laughter. "I'm sorry, Nabooru," he added bleakly, "but this is only one of Ganondorf's offensives."

Nabooru's laughter vanished. "Gods be good. Can we help?"

"They're attacking the Zoras, Gorons and Kokiri, and Lon Lon's vulnerable," he explained quickly, "but the Kokiri are doing okay for now. I'm going to help the Zoras next." With that, he summoned the Ocarina into his hand and played the Prelude of Light, Nabooru listening to the song with surprise.

Link reappeared in the Temple with the familiar swirl, realizing only after he appeared that what he'd done could have been dangerous. Fortunately, while the ceiling was gone, the walls and floor were largely intact, with only one significant break to his left. Most importantly, his Triforce 'landing pad' was untouched, as were the Spiritual Stones. The altar was nearly destroyed, but the enchanted gems weren't even scratched.

The Hero ran to the Spiritual Stone of Water. I hope this works, or I'll never get there in time. He grabbed the Stone. #Ruto! Can you pull me through?#

#Link! Thank the gods!# Ruto concentrated, and Link felt like he was caught in a whirlpool.

When he emerged, he saw a battle unlike any he'd witnessed before.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Watch the walls!" Ruto cried, dodging a Skulltula's leap, then tore it apart with a fin slash. "Hold that entrance!" She darted forward, matching deeds to words, only to leap back again when the cloaked figure lashed out with his black blade.

"Tch, Ruto," he said, his voice maddeningly familiar but impossible to place, "you think you'd remember you're no match for me. You never told him what happened to you in that other time stream, did you? Why you never rejoined him?"

Ruto shuddered and backpedaled. No. It's not possible. She glanced over her shoulder. Mercifully, Link had missed that, incinerating a knot of Tektites and Skulltulas with a single burst of Din's Fire. Mikali, though no warrior, shot Fire Arrows with a heroic determination that made her fall in love with him all over again. The cloaked figure blocked them with a hidden shield, but the strange jelly-things died by the dozen.

Her people fought bravely, and she had expected no less of them, but battling the water-walking Tektites was proving difficult for her subjects. Link, fortunately, was working his way back towards her. Thank you, she thought, shuddering as she remembered how close her father had come to being taken by the Skulltulas.

All at once, the cloaked figure was on top of her, appearing out of her shadow like a Sheikah. With impossible strength, he twisted her arms behind her, and Ruto struggled furiously. "Oh come on, Ruto. You know you didn't want that goody-goody interfering last time."

"Last time," she hissed furiously, "I didn't know what you really were."

"Let her go!" Link roared, voice echoing through the cavern.

The cloaked figure tossed Ruto aside casually. "Okay. I don't know why you care, though. You tossed her aside. Why should you care if I pick her up?"

"Because the lady said 'no,' you scum," Link snarled, eyes narrowing.

"Link, watch out!" Ruto called. "He's--"

The villain threw off his cloak before Ruto could finish. Din, Ruto swore mentally. Link shuddered and recoiled. Dark Link smirked and winked, hefting his mockeries of the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. "The Blade of Hero's Bane," he quipped, pointing his sword at the Hero.

"You're just cold leftovers," Link hissed, sending away his sword and shield and calling forth the Megaton Hammer. "And I know how to put you back into storage."

Dark Link laughed and summoned a Dark Hammer of his own. "Shadow," he said with scornful amusement, gesturing at his own chest. Link gritted his teeth and stepped between Ruto and the corrupt reflection. "Anything you can do, I can do. I'm as strong as you are, and I weigh nothing, so I'm faster. How can you beat me?"

"By doing the one thing you can't -- thinking like a Hero," Link shot back with a tone Ruto had never before heard in his voice...hatred. "Ruto, go lead your people. I'll deal with our dim friend here."

Ruto stepped back as the Shadow Link's mocking grin turned into a rictus of hateful rage. "Link, remember, he's not you!" Then she ran. Coward, she thought in disgust at herself.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Thank the gods, Link thought, relief filling him almost to the point of tears as Ruto retreated to lead her people. "Just you and me now, freak," the Hero spat. Dark Link leaped at him.

Instantly, Link drew his bow and, Navi targeting for him, fired a Light Arrow into his Shadow. The Dark Hammer slowed his Shadow enough that the weapon struck home, and he screamed and vanished into the ground. "Oh, and Navi. Did I mention Navi?" He grinned and drew both sword and shield again. "Looks like that's something else I have that you don't."

"You tell him!" Navi cheered. "Watch out!" she cried suddenly.

Link dodged away from the wall before his Shadow could reform from the flickering darkness, and their blades met. "You're tired," Dark Link hissed, voice almost snake-like. "You're wounded, you've been fighting non-stop for hours, and you're not even done. If you survive me, there's Zant -- delightful chap, by the way -- and if you live through that, Ganondorf's got something really special planned for you."

"Farore, if he stops attacking my friends, I'll thank him," Link said, pushing his Shadow away. "Din's Fire!" Dark Link's eyes went wide, but the Hero's Time-enhanced speed allowed him to cast the spell before the mockery could escape. Again, the Shadow vanished.

This time, however, Dark Link reappeared in a blur. "Shadow Flame!" he snarled, and a wave of Dark Fire struck Link. "See how you like it, 'Hero!' SEI-YAH!" Link stumbled back, barely blocking the spinning blade with his shield. Think, Hero, think! Blades clanged against one another, and they sidestepped like mirror images, circling in perfect unison. Love of Nayru, not again. What can I... Link's eyes went wide. Love of...Nayru...

The Hero smiled almost with joy. "I've got a trick you'll never learn. Nayru's Love!" Dark Link's eyes widened in horror as the azure field formed around Link, and the Hero twirled his blade experimentally. "So, can you fill yourself with Mandrag's hate to protect yourself?"

"That's okay," Dark Link grunted. "Our princess is in another castle." He tried to dive into another shadow.

Link was on him before he'd gone half a step. "YOU!" He stabbed Dark through where his heart would have been if he had one. "WILL!" He slashed the Master Sword across his back, Dark Fire flowing from the wound like blood. "NOT!" Link brought the Blade down on his Shadow's head, just barely missing opening it completely. Dark Link wailed in pain and melted away. Link fell to his knees, panting, then stood up again and charged into battle once more.

It took a while longer, but soon the insect 'army' had been exterminated. Another cheer rose, a few Zoras playing triumphant music on instruments Link recognized from another world after a moment. Mikali hugged him with desperate gratitude, and Ruto laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Remind me never to get on your bad side!"

Link nodded wearily. "Not done yet. Gorons. Excuse me." He brought the Ocarina to his lips and played the Bolero of Fire.

He reappeared in the sweltering heat of Death Mountain. Farore, he thought with a grunt, then gestured to replace his Zora Tunic with his Goron one. As he raced toward the city, he played Zelda's Lullaby almost as an afterthought. #Zel, I just fought Dark Link. I think I killed him, but keep an eye out -- he mentioned you.#

Zelda sent back a nod. #You be careful as well, my Hero. I won't have you die on me today.#

Link ran that thought over in his head with curiosity, but dismissed it quickly. There was more than enough trouble ahead for him to worry about.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Attack!" Darunia shouted, and the mountain itself rang with his battle cry. Gorons rolled forward in a wave, crushing dozens of strange, shadowy creatures. "We dare not let them enter the city!"

More charged forward, swarming over Gorons they could separate from the unit and infusing their strange energies into them. "Twilight comes," the robed figure approaching the city whispered menacingly. That helmet reminds me of Onox, Darunia thought, grabbing a fresh bomb and throwing it at one of the bizarre winged monsters. All of their assailants lacked heads, instead having oddly shaped plates on their necks. I wonder if he's related to the 'Gorgon' Link faced in Holodrum. The Elder Brother of the Gorons waded into battle, fists moving like trip hammers to crush foes unlucky enough not to evade him. I can ask him later. For now, this villain threatens my people, and I will not allow that!

"Your twilight, perhaps!" Darunia retorted, almost amused by this odd creature. "The Gorons have been threatened by evil such as yours before, and yet we always live to see a new dawn!"

The monsters surged forward again, seemingly without end. "I come from a twilight that never ends," the strange sorcerer replied in a cool, silky voice. "Soon, I will share it with you."

"Never!" Link shouted, emerging from the entrance to Goron City. He cut down the strange twilight beasts all around him, laboriously carving his way towards the front line. The Hero, typically, ignored the injuries he took in the effort. At last, he reached the Sage and the usurper.

"You," the stranger rumbled, emotion finally echoing in his inhuman voice. "I remember you. The Twilight Princess used you against me."

Darunia chuckled. "Strange way to refer to Zelda. Let us finish this fool, eh, Brother?"

"Be careful!" Link shouted back, fighting his way towards the Fire Sage. "All of the minions Ganondorf's summoned through Time have been powerful, and this villain can't be any different!"

The Fire Sage shrugged and strode towards the invader, but the sorcerer pointed his arm at Darunia and the mighty Goron flew into the rock face above them. "Fool," he whispered with amusement, and Darunia swayed drunkenly in the sorcerer's invisible grip. "You should have listened to the Hero." With a contemptuous wave, he threw Darunia over the side.

"No! NAVI!" Link shouted. Darunia could barely see for all the spinning, but he did catch Navi's glow appear over him. Immediately afterward, something bit lightly into his rocky hide, and he felt himself yanked back to solid ground. He saw massive metallic boots on Link's feet when he landed in front of them. With a clank and a shift of his feet, the Hero once again wore his Hylian boots. He looks...tired, Darunia thought with concern as the world slowly righted itself and the Hero strode resolutely towards their assailant. Hold on, Brother.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Here we go again," Link muttered, facing his foe with a grimace. "So what's your story?"

"I am Zant," he replied evenly, "the rightful King of Twilight."

The Hero blinked at that. "Twilight? As in the Realm?"

"Indeed. You are better informed than Agahnim gave you credit for," Zant said, moving fluidly around the Hero.

Link turned to keep his eyes firmly on the Twili. "Yes, and it cost him."

"You are alone, however," Zant said, and though the helmet hid his face, Link could almost hear the smile in his voice. "You lack the power of the Sacred Beast, and while the Master Sword protects you from my psychic grip, what makes you think that a callow youth such as yourself can defeat he who conquered the Twilight Princess?"

Rage swelled in the Hero. That's enough. He glared at Zant, fire burning in his eyes. "One. I'm not alone." Navi appeared over the Twili's head, and Zant looked up in confusion. "Two. I've got a few other tricks up my sleeve." With Navi spotting for him, Link was able to string and fire a Light Arrow almost instantly.

The effect was stunning. Zant screamed, howled and ran around wildly, contorting in what looked like sheer agony. "Farore!" Link gasped, stepping back as the Twili's helmet flew off, revealing an odd, elongated face.

"And if you can call Link 'callow,' buster," Navi added for good measure, "you're even stupider than you look!" #Link, keep shooting!#

Link obeyed, but while the Light Arrows seemed to be hurting the self-styled Twilight King, he suspected he would run out of arrows or mana before Zant fell. When his elastic foe started evading the attacks in spite of Navi's help, Link grimaced, sent the Fairy Bow away, and drew the Master Sword. He dodged rapid-fire energy blasts with less ease than he would have liked, then summoned the Mirror Shield. That, too, had a most salutary effect when Zant howled in frustration at having his own blasts thrown in his face.

Then he leaped out of the way in astonishment when Zant drew twin swords from his voluminous sleeves and started attacking with a wild abandon that seemed entirely untrained. He's wilder than Sakon, Link thought, merely annoyed at first. The Hero managed to hit the evil monarch a couple of times from behind, but that was proving less effective than Link had hoped. Worse, the villain teleported away before he could drive a solid blow home.

When Zant reappeared with an insane cackle, he manifested behind the Hero as a whirling bladed top, throwing Link into the stony face of Death Mountain. Navi gasped and tried to target the monster, but he vanished again. Grimacing, Link stood and watched warily. With his back to the mountain, the Hylian was safe from another ambush. On the other hand, he's a lot more skilled than he looks. The weariness reasserted itself in Link's limbs, the Master Sword feeling heavy in his hands. Zant appeared with a cry of mad fury and charged again, Link barely deflecting the Twili's attacks before he vanished once more. This isn't working. Even his mind felt slow. I know I can figure this out...

Onigami pulsed in his fairy space. It was just a little nudge this time, but confident and assured. Link shoved the thing's hunger aside with more effort than he liked, then tried leaping around Zant when the villain emerged, spinning again. A Deku Nut disoriented the Twili, but he vanished again before the leaden Hero could reach him.

The Twilight King's next appearance was as the slashing, charging thing. Link tried to leap around Zant to hit him from behind, which seemed his best chance at hitting his foe, but a misstep let the Twili reach him first. The impact tore at his chest and sent him flying again. Zant laughed madly and disappeared.

Reluctantly, Link sheathed the Master Sword. Sear it. Reaching into fairy space, he grasped the triumphant Fierce Deity Mask. If anyone can handle Onigami, it's the Gorons. He spared the Fire Sage a quick look. Darunia was still injured and disoriented, but seemed to be regaining his equilibrium. Meanwhile, the frustrated Navi regarded the Hero with concern. #Link, are you sure about this?# she asked. #I mean, it won't be as bad as putting that thing on in the Hall of Illusion, but Onigami is...he's...#

#My best chance at dealing with this so-called king,# Link replied grimly.

When Zant emerged with a howl, Link thrust the Mask onto his face with a howl of his own. That stopped the Twilight King in his tracks, but Link lost all sight of the world as power swirled around him, consuming his vision. The familiar feeling of power and confidence filled him, and when he could see again, the Hero was Oni Link, the ultimate warrior. "So," Oni said calmly. "You are the fighter who was giving the boy so much trouble."

Zant took a few stumbling steps back. "What magic is this?"

Oni Link laughed. "The magic of a god!" With that, he fired a spinning disc of light at the fool. The effect was even more amazing than that of the Light Arrow. Well. It seems that Zant is not so much vulnerable to the Power to Repel Evil as he is to mere Light. The Twilight King screamed in agony and bounced wildly, vanishing again. "Navi."

"Um...uh-huh," the fairy replied, swirling around the battlefield in search of their insane target. There are those who need fear me, the demigod thought with mild annoyance. Navi is not one of them. "Watch out!" she cried, appearing over Zant as the Twili appeared.

"Too easy," Oni Link laughed, diving at the Hero's enemy. He took a slight blow, but the would-be conqueror had already taken many wounds of his own, and the might of his Helix Sword clove through his prey, turning Zant into a spiraling vortex of shadow and dim blue light. The bizarre headpieces swirled into the vortex, turning the monsters into dizzy bird-creatures and peaceful, deeply confused-looking humanoids. The Fierce Deity stepped back, satisfied at his triumph, and with a yank on the invisible line where the Mask merged with his face, allowed the Hero to return to his weaker, singular self.

Link fell to his knees, gasping for breath and watching the implosion of shadow and otherworldly light. The Twili? he wondered at the sight of the disoriented shadow-beings. They faded away in moments, Zant vanishing into oblivion soon after. The Hero summoned a bottle of Red Potion and drank thirstily. His wounds vanished, but Link took deep gulps of breath all the same; magic could only replenish so much stamina, and wearing that Mask cost him a great deal of it. Link played Saria's Song and almost regretted it when Darunia stood up to dance, but the Goron was still dizzy and he fell over again, laughing. Even the Hero had to chuckle at that, in spite of all that had happened.

#Link?# Saria 'pathed. #Thank the gods! The attack just got worse!# The Hero paled as Saria wove her sight into his eyes. The forest was under attack by Stalfos, Wolfos and more Deku Scrubs than Link had ever seen in his life.

No. Link stood weakly at first, but the rush of battle hadn't truly had time to fade yet. No! The forest! Saria! NO! He played the Prelude of Light, dove to the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, and grabbed it emphatically. He felt Saria reaching for him, and the Hero flowed into the verdant energy, letting the power of the Forest Sage carry him home.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Saria played as she never had before. Her music echoed through the woods with a more martial beat than she'd ever wished for, or ever dreamed. Scrubs screamed and vanished in spurts of Dark Fire by the dozen. Wolfos staggered and fell after hails of seed fire. The Stalfos were the worst, though, because they were coming closer to the front line with every passing minute.

Fairies swirled and flowed, making the Kokiri one with their targets, blinding foes with flashes of light, and bringing healing energy to the eternal children. Most of the Kokiri were trembling in a mixture of terror and exhaustion, yet they fought on, defending their god and their home, singing wordlessly in time with her Fairy Ocarina. Saria had never been so proud to be the Forest Sage.

Mido, on the other hand, seemed to have come alive like never before. Wielding a staff that was half-alive in his hands, grown for him by the Great Deku Sprout himself, he fought off everything that tried to emerge into the clearing almost single-handedly. You really are the Great Mido today, she thought, torn between pride and fear. Three other Kokiri had already stood with him and been forced to retreat, even trading off the Gilded Sword between them, but Mido was laughing as he brought another Wolfos down. "Is that the best you have? Hah!" He spun his staff into a blur. "Come on, then! I'm getting bored here!"

A Stalfos with an unusual blade strode forward, chuckling in that horrific manner the undead knaves had. He glared down and swung. Mido leaped back, threw a Deku Nut into its face, then charged into it while the thing was still staggering. The Kokiri leader's staff whirled, breaking bones faster than Saria could follow. In seconds the thing had collapsed. Mido grinned wildly and flowed into a ready stance, waiting for the next foe.

The Stalfos' bones floated up from where it had fallen, reconnecting and rearming it. Mido's grin vanished. "Oh, that's not good," he muttered, seeing a pair of White Wolfos padding forward. The Wolfos were moving carefully to avoid Deku Seeds, slavering smiles on their monstrous faces. How can even Mido fight them all? Saria thought frantically. The Stalfos wouldn't return to death, and with two White Wolfos on top of that...

She heard her Song. Link's mind harmonized with her own. #Link?# Saria 'pathed. #Thank the gods! The attack just got worse!# The Forest Sage showed him what she was seeing. Before she could even consider what else to do, he'd grasped the Spiritual Stone of the Forest. Without a second thought, she pulled him through.

The Hero appeared in the very heart of the Kokiri defense, next to the Great Deku Sprout. The Goron Tunic swirled away to permit his ever-present green to return, almost of its own accord. Even from behind, Link looked exhausted, shoulders slumped and breath labored, but as he looked around, life and strength returned to him, and he half-turned back towards Saria. In profile, the Forest Sage saw the horror on his face become grim fury. "My people. My home. You did not bring this war to my home!" he roared.

The Kokiri realized who and what had joined them and cheered wildly. "Hey, is that a Big-Shot Hero back there?" Mido called back, his caustic tone almost perfunctory. "About time you showed up, kid!"

Link laughed -- he laughed! Saria realized with joy and relief -- and charged forward. "Watch who you're calling kid, old man!" he shot back, taking out the Megaton Hammer and shattering the Stalfos with a single blow. His voice rang out in song, joining the Kokiri seamlessly, and traded Hammer for Master Sword once more. "What's this, the Great Mido having trouble with a couple of Wolfos?"

"Watch your mouth, punk," Mido replied lightly, smashing one of their foes over the head. "Wolfos are nothing to the Great Mido. It's just walking skeletons that won't stay dead that give me trouble."

"Don't sweat 'em," Link said evenly, dispatching the remaining Wolfos with a lunge. "They don't like Bombchus much, and I've got a bag full."

Saria smiled fondly. Boys.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Thirty seconds ago, I was tired, Link thought in amazement.

The forest helped, to be sure. Its pure energy of life flowed through him, renewing his resolve in part. The lion's share of his second wind, though, came from one source. You invaded my home, Ganondorf. You'll pay for that. The Master Sword flew, turning Deku Scrubs into mulch faster than he could even keep track. Mido wasn't even bothering to insult him any more, laughing as he pounded their foes with a speed that equaled the Hero's, though that staff wasn't quite as deadly as the Blade of Evil's Bane.

"Okay, so where's the big boss? Navi?" Link asked aloud, spinning through a quartet of unlucky Mad Scrubs.

"I'm not sensing anything," the fairy replied, swirling around the Hero with a will. "Wait...there's something in the rear...some...one?" Link felt Navi frown. "It feels familiar. There's something else, though. Something..." Navi swallowed. "...terrible."

"What else is new?" Link sighed. "Mido, you okay here?"

"What, me?" Mido knocked one Scrub into another with a mighty swing of the staff. "This is the Great Mido you're talking to! Now make me proud!"

Link grinned and worked his way down the path, tearing through Scrubs and Wolfos until he reached the Kokiri forest-town. Deku Nuts flashed behind him, and Scrubs ran around in a panic ahead of him. Several lined up and spit seeds at him, but it didn't take long to reflect their attacks back on the strange creatures. A moment later, Link saw what had to be his target. There was a green figure hiding behind a pair of Stalfos. #Not exactly the most fearsome leader Ganondorf recruited, huh, Navi?#

#Speak for yourself,# Navi muttered, landing on his left shoulder and hanging onto his collar. All at once, Link felt the pit of his stomach churn. He let loose a pair of Bombchus, throwing a regular bomb into a pack of Scrubs to help clear the field. The Stalfos looked down in confusion, then exploded into shards, much to Link's satisfaction. Navi whimpered and clung to him more tightly.

There, hands behind his back and looking halfway between guilty and defiant, was Tingle. "You," Link growled in a low, furious voice. "How dare you. How DARE you!"

"I was exiled," Tingle said accusingly. "I didn't mind at first, but I couldn't find this place..."

"You kidnapped Navi," Link snarled, striding forward. The Master Sword quivered in his hand, hungering for action. Navi clung more tightly to his collar. "You bound her in Skulltula web and put her in an iron cage. Iron, sear you!"

"Stay back!" Tingle brought his hands around suddenly, and Link froze. Majora, he thought in horror. It's not possible. Yet there it was, Majora's Mask, thin lines of Dark Fire 'glowing' along the cracks where he'd shattered it, the energies apparently welding it together. There was a sense of both Time and mana enchantment on the terrible thing. Tingle has Majora's Mask. Farore, Tingle has... The bizarre little man leaped back. "I...I don't want to do this...I want to be a fairy person...but I'll put it on if I have to! I will, I will!"

"Don't be a fool, Tingle," Link said harshly. "Ganondorf has no interest in leaving any Kokiri alive, even if it were possible for you to become one." He stepped forward, but stopped again when Tingle brought the mask closer to his face. "Majora will devour you. Majora is hunger, Tingle. That's all it is now. It wants to destroy, to consume until there's nothing left."

"I know," Tingle whimpered, stepping back. He seemed caught between clutching the dreaded Mask more closely and throwing it away. "You...you don't know how strong Majora is."

Link paled. "Farore. He got to you. Just like the Skull Kid..."

"But...I didn't sense anything like that," Navi said quietly.

"Cold iron," the Hero explained gently. "Tingle, listen to me. Just...just drop the Mask. This isn't you. We'll go back, explain to your people, your family...they'll understand."

Tingle shook his head, this time the half that wasn't defiant looking sad and lost. "I wanted to come here, Mr. Fairy, don't you see? That's why I didn't say anything then. I thought I was free, and if I could just find this forest..." he looked at Link again, the accusation returning to his eyes this time. "You're not a forever-child, but you have a fairy." He smiled, looking almost sick, when he regarded Navi. "I knew you were special. I did, I did."

"Look," Navi replied softly, "if that was Majora, then I can forgive you, but you've got to get rid of that thing. Fight it, Tingle!"

"I...I want to, but..." the odd little man shuddered, and then there was a blur of motion.

"No!" Link gasped suddenly, darting forward, but froze when he saw he was too late.

Tingle had slammed on the Mask. Even before he'd completed the motion, Link could tell the bizarre Terminan was thinking better of the idea, but he'd moved too quickly and Majora was too strong. "I didn't mean it! I didn't! I didn't! EEYAHHH!" Tingle fell to his stubby knees. Link charged at the merged figure even as Majora's tentacles and mana surging through its victim, but it literally flew back. Farore, Tingle, I'm sorry, the Hero thought sadly. All these years, and I never thought...

"You," Majora whispered, its demonic head growing from the breastplate the Mask had become. Tingle, limp inside the mass of ropy flesh, vanished into its chest. "I remember you."

Link drew a Light Arrow, shoving the guilt and sorrow aside. No time. He steeled himself to face the still-forming monster. Majora remembers me as I am. I'm really not going to enjoy this fight. Navi, showing more courage than Link thought existed in the world, flew above it and harmonized with the devil-mask. "Then you remember I beat you."

"I have learned," it hissed. "I have a proper host. I am more than I was."

"So am I," the Hero rumbled back.

Majora's response was to lash out with one of its whip-like tentacles, which crackled with Dark Fire. Link loosed and dodged, barely avoiding a tentacle slap that ruined the very earth where it struck. Oh, that's not good. A burst of flame shot from its body, and the Hero was so surprised he didn't evade in time. #Link!# Navi cried in horror.

#I'll...live...# He rolled into the water to douse the fire, then leaped out and shot again. #Navi, are those Light Arrows having any effect?# Link mentally readied the Mirror Shield, but left it on his back for the moment. Gods, where's Mikau when I need him? He shook his head. At peace, where he belongs.

#Majora's resisting them somehow! They hurt it, but...# Navi pulsed, worry for him emanating from her.

I could use Onigami again... Link thought desperately. Indeed, the deadly mask pulsed with a hunger of its own in his fairy space. Even partly sated, the Fierce Deity's predatory need was astonishing. Exhausted as he was, though, especially after having just used it against Zant... I'm not sure if I'd come back from that. He dodged and fired again. Majora swept the arrow aside contemptuously, then charged at the Hero with horrific speed, whips flailing. Link blocked the charge with his shield, but he was still singed by the Dark Fire that covered the thing's body.

Then it wrapped its tentacles around Link's body, and the Hero screamed. Pain surged through every pore, the very fabric of his existence burning at the touch of a flame that seared reality itself. Distantly, he heard Navi scream as well. Majora threw him away casually, a discarded toy. Somehow, though, Link stood, glaring at the thing as he drew Master Sword and Mirror Shield. It was already firing a beam of fiery power at him, and the Hero smiled wolfishly, reflecting it back on the nihilistic demon. Majora howled in agony of its own.

Then it flew up, Mask staring at the sky, and spun wildly, flying at him. Link dodged, but it hit him from behind before he could turn. Again, he burned, and every hammer-hard slap was as agonizing as Kotake's sorcery, stabbing into his very soul. Everything dimmed and went black...

...but a swirling pink light restored him. The fairy gave him a tiny kiss on the cheek, and Link could feel one of her microscopic tears touch him. "We believe in you, Hero," she whispered, and then was gone.

He stood wearily. I hate dying. Glaring at Majora, who gave him a look of mild curiosity, he circled his foe, Master Sword pointed at it. #Navi, I need some help here. Analysis?#

Navi's mind became almost crystalline. He remembered them doing this many times in his youth, but it hadn't been necessary for so long he'd almost forgotten they could. #Majora's Mage: this entity is held together by the Power of Evil itself!#

Link wanted to slap himself. Evil itself! Duh! With a cry and a leap, he slashed at Majora. The dark god moved to block the blade with another arrogant sweep of its tentacle -- but the Master Sword cut through it as if it were paper. Majora screamed and clutched the stump, which spilled more Dark Fire. "You may want to rethink your position here, Majora."

Its only response was to howl and spin at him again. This time, Link held the Master Sword up as if to parry, and it tore itself half to pieces before it could fly back. The Mask landed to one side, pulsing weakly. Tingle convulsed beneath it. #Link, it's vulnerable! Finish it!# Navi cried. The Hero didn't need to be told twice, leaping and thrusting his sword down at the Mask, but it flew back.

The 'teeth' around the Mask's edge turned inward, and Link gasped when they plunged into Tingle. The Terminan didn't even scream, just convulsing briefly before vanishing into the Mask entirely. Link fired a Light Arrow, disrupting lines of Dark Fire and causing Majora to shudder, but it grew a mass of thin tentacles from its back and flew at him again. I can't save everyone, he told himself, almost believing it. This time Link leaped at his foe, snarling with rage and grief, Master Sword flying.

It took him about a minute to bring down the Mask, and when it turned into Majora's Incarnation, he knew he was once again fighting the Majora he remembered. After that, the battle became little more than an exhausting chore. Several minutes later, with a final roar, he drove the Master Sword through the heart of Majora's Wrath, and just as before, the Mask disintegrated entirely. All the invaders vanished in bursts of Dark Fire. The cheer filled his soul. That's it. The last one. He sat wearily in the grass, his relief waning when there was no sign of the odd little Terminan. Majora consumes. Consumed. It doesn't matter. I can rest for a little while, anyway. Gods, I've got to get back to the castle...

The Kokiri ran to him, still cheering, and carried him off in a mass of childlike joy. ...soon. He gestured weakly, and the Ocarina of Time appeared. It took two tries, but he played Zelda's Lullaby. #Zelda? You okay?#

#Link! Yes, we're fine -- what about you?# she 'pathed, mind implacable.

#Just...need some rest...gods, I feel like I've been fighting forever, and it's only afternoon, but I'll live...Lon Lon?# he remembered dimly. Link leaned his head back, and someone handed him a glass of milk. He looked at the blonde Kokiri with a raised eyebrow.

"Hey, she is your cow!" the girl laughed.

Oh yeah. Link nodded and drank thirstily, then closed his eyes.

#They're fine. We got a squad of guards out to them. Anyway...well...hurry back, all right?# Zelda 'pathed. #As soon as you're up to it!# she added quickly. #You rest as much as you need to first.#

Link sent a nod and let the connection dissolve. When he opened his eyes again, he was lying in the grass, Saria peering happily down at him from above, looking upside-down from his perspective. "Hello, Forest Sage."

"Don't you 'Forest Sage' me, you rascal," Saria chided gently, smiling almost wide enough to split her face in half. "Busy day?" Link snorted at that, but said nothing. "Right. Well, you're not going anywhere for a while. I think you've fought enough battles for one day."

"Let's hope so," Link exhaled.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Zelda collapsed into her throne, arms limp. Gods, please, let that be everyone who needs healing. The outer walls were damaged, several buildings lay in ruins, and hundreds had been injured. Aside from the dead, though -- too many, and she forced herself not to think about Senza -- healing those in need had not been a complicated task, simply an exhausting one. Likewise, in spite of all the damage, the city could still be defended.

"How are we doing, Potho?" she asked, her voice far weaker than she would have liked.

"The healers are exhausted, Your Highness," the royal advisor said, sounding even older than his nearly three centuries, "but all who needed their services will recover fully." Zelda nodded in weary relief. "Our stocks of Red Potion are low, but manageable. In better news, a witch in Kakariko had sent word to us that she has completed work on a Blue Potion -- one that restores both body and mana."

"Thank Nayru," Zelda whispered. "Get her everything she needs. We must have those potions. Further, I want the Hero to be informed the moment he returns to the castle. Better yet, send him directly to me."

Potho bowed and retreated, stopping at the door to her receiving room. "Your Highness, perhaps it would be wiser to meet the Hero in a more formal manner rather than...implying something beyond his station."

Not again. Zelda's fingers tightened on the arms of her chair. "You have served Hyrule and the Crown wisely and well for centuries, Master Potho. For that reason, I will forget what I just heard."

Potho bowed. "Of course, Your Highness." He opened the door and backed out respectfully. Zelda's body relaxed. I wish I could say that was my Sheikah skill. All the same, she let the exhaustion roll over her body, early twilight washing over her with its unique beauty. She closed her eyes.

Impa emerged from a shadow. "That was a bit harsh, my lady...but understandable." She walked over to Zelda and perfunctorily placed a hand on her forehead. "Your mana reserves are all but depleted, and you possess depths the likes of which I have only seen in one other."

"Ganondorf," she replied quietly. "I pray that even he reached his limits in that assault. I caught glimpses of Link's...I can't even begin to describe it. If anyone ever deserved to be called Hero..."

"We all played our parts," Impa said carefully, "but yes, he turned the tide." She came around to Zelda's right side and looked her hand over carefully. "Would that your part in this was over, but I do know better than that."

"Well, it is certainly over for now," Zelda chuckled. "I can barely move." She smiled then, deep satisfaction glowing inside her. "It was worth it, though. I imagine Vaati will not bother us for many incarnations to come, and..." her smile faded away. "...no one who could be saved was lost." She looked up at Impa and gasped. "Gods! Why aren't you being healed yourself?"

Scars lined half of Impa's body, but the old Sheikah just chuckled. "What, these scratches? They bother me not. Indeed, they'll be gone by morning. I have been healed, my child, but these insect bites take longer to fade at my age."

Zelda closed her eyes again. "Farore. I must be tired." Opening one eye halfway then, she glanced back over at her bodyguard. "Wait. You can't be that old."

Impa stroked Zelda's hair gently. "Sheikah live as long as other Hylians, our violent lives aside, but age wears on us more quickly, and my body still remembers what the Shadow Beast and Twinrova witch did to it." She smiled fondly at the princess. "I appreciate the sentiment all the same."

There was a knock. "Come," Zelda called as best she could.

Fanadi entered and bowed, then turned to Impa. "High Sheikah...we can save them," she said quickly.

Zelda opened her eyes more fully. "'High Sheikah?' Congratulations."

"Hush, child," Impa replied curtly. Zelda merely smiled at that. "Save whom? You cannot mean what remains of our people."

"I do," Fanadi said firmly. "Kotake has left them to lead an assault on the Spirit Temple." She bowed again to Zelda. "Hyrule's reinforcements have already arrived, however, so they will find only frustration there. Finally, after that assault, Ganondorf himself must be spent...and the Hero has dispatched all of his summoned champions. If we hurry--"

"No," Impa said, not quite choking on the word. "The princess is in far too fragile a state for me to leave her now."

"Fragile," Zelda said, her intended growl coming out a rasp. Farore. Gods, give me strength. Impa looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "No, Impa. Not this time. The Sheikah must be saved. Send anyone you feel necessary to 'protect' me, but I am giving you a direct royal command -- you will take any and all allies and resources you see fit to ensure success."

Impa actually quivered for a moment, and Zelda gasped. "You..." she looked into Zelda's eyes for a long moment, then hugged her ferociously. "Thank you," she whispered. Zelda permitted a tear to leak down her cheek. "GUARDS!" the Sheikah bellowed.

A dozen Hylian warriors streamed into the room in seconds. "Lady Impa...?"

"Find the most powerful wizards and knights that can be spared and have them attend the princess. I must go for a time, at Her Highness' command." She nodded sideways to Fanadi. "Come." Fanadi smiled gratefully to Zelda, bowing again, then retreated. The guards looked at each other, then half of them left, the other half remaining with the princess. Zelda felt the pair fade into Shadow.

"zelda..." she heard moments later. It came from a fair distance across the castle, and the voice was faint, but the Sage of Time caught it and knew it instantly.

"Link," she breathed, then with an energy that she had no right to, stood, hiked her dress up, and ran from the room. The remaining guards gasped and followed.

She saw him sitting there in her garden, back to her, shadows cast long over his body in the deepening twilight. There was a small pool of blood beside him, and his hand, seeming gray and pale, sat limply at his side. "...zel..."

"no," she breathed, voice barely a whisper, and ran to his side. Every flicker of mana she could summon from within and around her flowed into her hands, and into his body. "No. Gods, no. Live, Link. Please. Live." He gasped and sat more fully upright, heels drumming against the ground. She collapsed into his arms, gasping for breath. Then she looked into his eyes, and gasped again -- in horror.

Deep red eyes gazed almost fondly down at her, nearly Sheikah in their intensity. He had flesh, yet it was gray and inhuman. His tunic shifted from deep forest green to the same jet black of his hair. "My hero," he said dryly, then sank into the very shadow they cast. Zelda felt the darkness wrap around her, rendering her as helpless as a fly in a spider's web. No, no, not him, not like this --

LINK!

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Zelda?

Link sat up, muscles protesting at even that simple motion. He was sore and he was exhausted and his stomach rumbled in empty protest. Doesn't matter. Even Ganondorf's going to need a night off after that. Still, something niggled in the back of the Hero's mind. Zelda...

Muscles complaining even more, Link stood, watching Kokiri activate light charms throughout the clearing. Homes lit up and fairies sparkled more brightly as the sun slowly sank in the distance. Navi flew around him in her usual, comforting manner. #You okay, 'Mr. Important Hero?'# she 'pathed, though there was a gratitude in their connection he hadn't felt since...Termina. #That's right, Link, I'm grateful. Like just about everyone you've saved, a few idiotic ingrates aside.# She shuddered, a faint bell-ring echoing when she did.

#I'm just glad you're okay,# Link replied. #I do feel bad about Tingle -- all this time, I thought he was a monster when he was just another one of Majora's victims, but -- Farore. It doesn't matter now. Look, I thought I felt something for a second. You pick anything up?# He looked around, knowing he wouldn't see anything but his home looking like it should. #It felt like Zelda for a second.#

Navi shook her head. #Sorry, I didn't sense anything.#

#Considering what she sounded like, that's good news,# Link 'pathed with some relief. #Can you go find Saria? I'm going to contact Zelda, but then I'll want to talk to her no matter what Zel says.# Navi nodded and took off, and Link pulled out the Ocarina and played Zelda's Lullaby.

It was like hitting a stone wall. The feeling was so intense that he actually checked his nose for a second, feeling it with his fingers to make sure it wasn't bruised. It wasn't real, he thought. His nose was unharmed. He took a Megaton Hammer to the sudden panic rising in him. Link turned, ready to head for Saria's house, then squawked and stumbled back when he almost walked right into her.

Saria giggled. "You're cute when you panic."

"Saria..." he shook his head, then looked intently at her and frowned. "I can't reach Zelda. Something's wrong, I'm sure of it now."

#Hey there, Hero,# a silky voice whispered in his mind. His own voice, yet not.

Link froze. No. Gods, no. Not that, please, Farore, not him, not with her. Saria gripped his hand from the other side of the world. #What do you want?#

#What else?# Dark Link -- no, Shadow, now, the Hero thought distantly -- laughed coldly. #To end it. She's unhurt, I swear by Din, but I promise you she'll wish I was hurting her if you don't come, alone.#

The Hero of Time had known fear many times before. Courage is the conquest of fear, not its absence. True terror, however, he'd only known once: watching Zelda trapped in crystal and carried off helplessly to Ganondorf's citadel, utterly at his mercy.

This was worse. #I swear, alone. Just...don't. Gods, please, don't.#

Shadow Link laughed at that, sounding genuinely amused. #Don't what? Do what you've dreamt of doing for as long as you can remember? Do something you haven't had the courage to do?#

#I have never,# Link snarled back, #dreamed of hurting Zelda. Never.#

#Temper, temper,# Shadow replied in an almost sing-song manner. #You don't want to upset me now, do you?# Link fumed silently. #Good boy. Heel.# Shadow's tone turned deadly serious as he sent the Hero an image of the entrance to Dodongo's Cavern. #Come alone. Come now. Remember, in many ways I am you, and Farore, she's more beautiful than I could have imagined. Hurry, Hero. I don't know how long my patience will hold.#

Link snapped the connection and pulled out the Ocarina. Saria clutched at his arm, looking panicked herself. "No! You're exhausted! You've only had enough time for the fatigue to set in, you can't--"

"He has Zelda, Saria," he said, voice choked. "My Shadow...has Zelda. I have to go. Now." He played the Bolero of Fire and turned into glowing mana, flowing away through her fingers. Saria's gasp felt like a knife, but he could have ignored a greatsword through the chest just then. Hang on, Zelda. Hang on. I'm coming.