Prologue

Link's POV

I dashed towards the shop, already hearing the loud crashes coming from there.

"Shouldn't they step up their security a bit? Just a little?" I asked myself. This was, what, the third time this week they're getting robbed?

I jumped through the window, landing on the pirate (Is that what they are?) leader and knocking him to the ground. I jumped off him, landing behind him. I called, "Get out of here behind me!" to a young girl in the shop and pulled out my sword, swinging it a few times before charging at the pirates.

The skirmish didn't last long, and I heard the girl gasp in surprise and whisper, "You're Link, the left-handed hero!" before turning to leave the shop.

Outside, I could hear the footsteps of horses and quickened my pace, hoping not to get caught. Unfortunately…

"Link!"

Great. He had to spot me!

"What, dad?" I glanced over my shoulder at the horse rider that had called my name.

"Why must you keep fighting on your own? You must learn to fight with your allies." The knight had a stern look on his face as he lectured me.

I retorted, "If I waited too long, more people would be hurt," before turning around and walking away.

Unknown's POV

I slowly opened my eyes, the same darkness greeting me. I sat up in my bed, rubbing my eyes.

"The Shadow World is always so glum," I muttered. As I went outside, I could feel some sort of force tugging me in another direction. I shrugged my shoulders and decided to follow it. As I kept going the force became stronger and when it became so strong it was almost dragging me, I could see a mirror. One that was much taller than me.

I took a step closer to it and placed my hand against it. Instead of just touching the mirror as I had expected, my hand went straight through. I pulled it back out, grabbing my wrist.

"At least my hand's still there," I muttered. I pressed my hand against the mirror again and this time when it went through I didn't pull back. Instead I walked through the mirror.

On the other side I was in a large chamber. I glanced behind me but the mirror was already gone.

"Well, there goes my ticket back to the Shadow World." I could tell, even in this windowless chamber, that I was in the world of light. And I hated light.

"I guess there's a reason I'm here, so I guess I just wait." I stepped into the shadows that loomed at the edge of the room, grinning in anticipation of what might happen next.

Link's POV

I unsheathed my sword as the six maidens got into position. I asked Zelda, "What are you doing down here again?"

She replied, "We're checking the seal on Vaati."

I muttered to myself, "If he shows up, I'll slice him in two. Then we won't have to worry about him again."

Suddenly there was a flash of light and the blue maiden was gone. Five more flashes and all that was left in the room was Zelda and I. Or so I thought.

A black mist-like substance rose from the center of the room. I could hear Zelda whisper, "Vaati?" before it took form. And it looked… Like me!

I demanded, "Who are you!"

The creature laughed at me and growled, "Why, I'm Link the hero!"

I stared, dumbfounded at the shadow, the thing that claimed to be me.

I charged at it, but my sword went right through it.

"You missed," it teased before dashing past me, grabbing Zelda and disappearing. I fell into a vortex or something and blacked out.