Knil was sitting, under the tree, trying to keep dry on the mound of dirt, as he sharpened his sword. He kicked his feet idly in the water, somewhat enjoying the small splashes his boots made as he hummed jovially to himself. The black bladed Master Sword had become incredibly sharp, in his brief time there, considering that was about all he could do with it. He had tried training, but his small stature made the sword very heavy, and unable to wield – at least for now.

The upbeat mood was suddenly broken when the door opened. A large, broad shouldered man, with green skin and flaming red hair entered the expansive room. His cloak skimmed the top of the water, the large boots splashing threateningly. It wasn't so much the imposing force, but something told him this man was important. He seemed somewhat familiar, but Knil could not think of where he had seen him before. The man stopped, staring down at the young boy. "Do you know when he will awaken?" He asked, as though he should know who he meant.

Knil just stared up at him in confusion. When he didn't answer, the man stepped closer. That simple movement held a lot more threat than it should have. As though he had yelled, and Knil scurried to his feet, dropping the sword. "I-I-I don't know wh-who you m-mean."

A brief moment of silence passed, where he thought this new man would be angry, but it didn't last long. He smiled what he must have thought was a warm smile, but there was more threat behind that than the step. "You do not feel him?" Slowly, he crept closer, seeming to grow in size as he did so. "You can't sense that side of yourself?"

"I-I don't know who you-"

"DON'T BACK AWAY FROM ME!"

Knil recoiled against the outburst, but stayed where he was, keeping his head down. He was quiet for a bit, then began timidly, "Per-perhaps you can tell me... who you are?"

The longer he was quiet, the more the tension grew between the two. There was a small splash, drawing his attention to see this large man had moved forward. Knil jumped, seeing him kneel in front of him, taking the young boy's chin gently in his hands. "You do not remember me?"

Knil was shaking, staring wide eyed at this man being so close. "I-I'm afraid not, s-sir."

Those bright golden eyes were gleaming darkly at him, contradicting the smile on his lips. "My name is Ganondorf. I created you, my dear boy. I am your master. Do you understand?"

Knil swallowed a lump in his throat, and nodded. At least as much as he could with his head being captive. "Yes, sir."

"You were made to serve me. To do as I wish... and I wish for you... to kill Link."

"Wh-who's Lin-"

"This, so called, hero." Ganon snarled, squeezing his face tighter. "The one that's supposed to kill me. You're not going to let him do that, now are you?" The grip tightened to a point where Knil felt his feet wanting to leave the ground. "N-n-no of-of course n-not."

A brief pause and Ganon laughed again. "Good." He dropped him, and Knil fell to his knees coughing in order to try and restore his breath.

Ganondorf stood up straight, looming over the small child. "If this boy thinks he can defeat me, he's sorely mistaken." A smile crept onto his face, causing his eyes to gleam at him again. "I have numerous road blocks set up against him, but you are my golden child." His hands gripped Knil's shoulders, pulling him to his feet. "You are made from a part of that retched child, and so you should be able to destroy him." A large hand came up to cup his cheek in an almost tender motion. "You are to remain here, until that time, and for your loyalty, you will be freed upon his death. Once he is dead, you will take his place. Then, you shall serve by my side."

Ganon stood, and started off. "Until then, you will wait here, for his arrival." With a wide sweep of his cloak, Ganon turned and started towards the door.

"You already seem so strong." Knil began softly, staring at his hands. "Why do you need me?"

Ganondorf froze. His eyes narrowed, shifting back towards him. "What was that?"

Knil's head snapped up to look at him. He was still shaking, his eyes wide, but he spoke louder. It was an honest question. There couldn't be anything wrong with asking. "I was just wondering, why you couldn't just kill him yourself. You see strong enough."

Knil just missed the subtle twitch in his master's eyes. "I do not need to waste my energy on that boy."

There was an odd glint. A fleeting almost uncertainty that made Knil very curious towards the intention behind these actions. This was also before he learned better. "Are you scared of him?"

A sudden rage echoed in his gaze, and Knil felt his energy whip around him like an intense wind. A hand snapped around his neck, slamming him against the tree.

The impact forced the blonde Hylian to sit up sharply, in his bed. He screamed, heaving with fear. "Know this! I'm not afraid of anything. That little brat simply isn't worth my time. You got that!?"

Link brushed his sweaty bangs, trying to catch his breath. Navi jumped, fluttering upward when he awakened. "What's wrong?"

"I-I'm not sure." Link panted. His eyes closed in exhaustion. "Just a nightmare... I think." He looked up, over towards where Knil was seemingly asleep in the opposite bed. "Or a memory." Still shaking, from the dream, Link made his way over and sat on Knil's bed. Knil was whimpering in his sleep, and let out an agonized sigh. "Knil?" He began softly, brushing a hand through his hair. Knil turned his head away from him, as if he couldn't stand to be touched. "Maybe it was my fault." Link leaned over his shadow, feeling his eyes start to tear. "I'm so sorry."

xXx

Not being able to sleep anymore, Link started exploring the castle. He hadn't actually been inside much, and found this to be a good opportunity to take full advantage of it. Apparently he had slept longer than he thought, because everything, outside of the windows was pitch black. Link made his way out onto the balcony of one of the upper levels. The cold air soothed the dull ache in his head, as he stepped out. Link sighed, dropping to his knees, elbows resting against the railing. He found he was still shaking, and short of breath, running his hands through his hair.

The small blue light drifted slowly closer, and landed on the railing next to her partner. She laid a hand on his arm. "Was it that bad?"

With a miserable sigh, Link turned his eyes up towards the direction of Lake Hylia. "I guess I just never really thought too much about it before. I knew Knil was trapped in there for so long, but I never gave much thought into what else could have happened. I didn't even stop to think about what all Ganondorf could have done to him."

Navi swung her legs over the side of the railing. She stared down at her feet as they kicked back and forth. "I just figured he made him, and left him in there."

"Either way, being stuck in there alone seems like torture in itself."

"But he wasn't alone." Navi looked up at him expectantly. "Ivan was there with him."

Link's brows furrowed in thought. "I'm not sure." He tried to remember the details of his dream. "I don't remember seeing her there." He shrugged. "Then again, I suppose I was a bit distracted."

"But, I don't get it." Navi began, her face scrunching in confusion. "Why wouldn't she be there?"

"I wasn't there, because Ganondorf didn't create me." Link turned around to see Ivan was fluttering in the doorway.

"What do you mean?"

The red-violet faerie sighed, seeming to turn a bit blue as she slowly made her way over. Ivan perched on the railing, staring off towards the lake as well. "Ganondorf didn't create me, because he didn't need me." She drew her knees up, hugging them against her chest, gently drifting down until she was sitting.

Link's head came up in earnest. A knot settled in his stomach, remembering how lonely and isolated he felt before Navi came to him. Course he was never supposed to have a faerie, but that was beside the point. "If Ganondorf didn't create you-" He began, feeling he already knew the answer. "then where did you come from?"

Ivan sighed, a tear sparking in her eye. She was quiet for a while, but when she finally spoke, her voice was light and timid. "Ganondorf would leave him alone for long stretches of time, and even when he did come, it was to release some kind of rage, and to test how strong he was." She sniffed, brushing her eyes.

Link watched her for a bit, asking softly, "Do I want to know how he tested that?"

Ivan looked over at him, tears tracing down her cheek. Her bottom lip quivered as she talked. "Let's just say, it's a good thing I knew how to heal."

Link's face drained in shock and guilt. His mind still swam with his dream, and knew the main reason Ganon had to be angry was because of him. Navi drifted over to her shadow, and slid an arm around her shoulder.

There was a brief silence, before she spoke again. "I don't really know much about how I came to be, but he says I was born from loneliness. His desire to at least have someone there to keep him company. To motivate him to actually get out alive." She paused, brushing her eyes with a soft sniff. "Instead of trying to find another means of escape."

Link's heart constricted. Did she mean what he thought she meant? Would Knil really have done that?

Her face slid into her knees. "Ganon was so angry, when he found out about me. I had to watch him torture my new friend, until he finally figured it was a genius idea." Ivan gave a small sarcastic snort. "He figured, since you had Navi, then maybe it was a good idea for him to have me. Perhaps it would make him strong enough."

Link groaned, raking his hand through his hair as his forehead dropped onto the railing. "That..." He tried to find the right words, but nothing came to mind. Evil, monster, tyrant... none of these seemed to fit anymore.

"As long as he was ruling and happy, Ganondorf never dropped by. Only when he was angry. Only when a plan fell through, or he failed to kill you, or to find Zelda." Ivan held the same bitterness at saying her name as Knil did. "For so long." Her voice picked up at bit, but her sobs were prominent as well. "For so long I had to sit back helplessly as he took out his rage on Knil. All the horrible things he did to him. Because of you." She snapped, her head popping up, causing Navi to fall back. Her breath hitched, and her eyes glared, but she couldn't bare to look at Link. "For so long, Ganon took out his rage on Knil, just because he couldn't get to you. Just because you wouldn't die." Her expression fell again, and soon she had dissolved into Navi's arms and cried. "I hated you so much. I knew that if you would just die, then he would be ok. All of this suffering would stop, and he could finally be free. So many times I wished for your death. Even when we were out, and Ganondorf was gone, I knew – we knew that he would be back. He's too powerful to just disappear like that. Knil was still haunted by him, and when he came back, he would want you dead. So you should be dead, by the time he returned." Her voice had quieted to a small whisper, to where only Navi could really hear her. "So long I hated you." Even though she was partially raging against her best friend, Navi stroked the distraught faerie's hair, shushing her softly. "Even now, it's hard for me to not see you as the enemy. I don't know how Knil does it." She sobbed. "I don't hate you, but I feel like I should. It's so confusing. I don't know what to think anymore." She trailed off into low mumbles that no one could really hear anymore. Something about her rage and hate, but Navi was trying to ignore what she was saying to just comfort her... until a low moan drew her attention behind her.

Link had crumpled to his knees, clinging one-handed to the railing, as though he might pass out if he let go. His eyes were clenched tight, though somehow tears were flooding from them. His other hand clenched over his heart. He was breathing funny, and making an odd noise like he was trying to suppress the urge to scream.

"Link!?" Navi gasped, completely forgetting about her shadow, and flew over to him. "Link, what's wrong?"

Link could definitely feel Ganondorf's influence still holding over this place, when he arrived, but now it suddenly felt a lot stronger. It was like a hand had reached into his chest and was squeezing his heart. Growing tighter until he felt like he couldn't breath. Perhaps stopping him from screaming, even if he wanted to.

The subtle hint of water reached his senses, as something splashed towards him. Link felt himself look up, gasping for breath. He was there. In the temple. Ganon was standing over him with a broad grin of triumph plastered on his face. "Finally." He voice echoed and curled around like a thick fog, paralyzing his movements. Ganondorf's hands extended, flexing his fingers threateningly.

"Link?"

Lightning flashed in Link's mind as the hands snapped around his throat, pinning him to the tree. His hands came up to claw at the hands cutting off what little breath he had left. "You have failed me." Ganon growled, confusing Link as to what he actually meant. "I will kill you with my own hands, you worthless double." He shook him a bit, slamming his head repeatedly into the tree. "Maybe if I kill you, he will finally die."

"LINK!" Navi cried, fluttering frantically around her partner. Link had fallen flat onto his back, his hands hanging in the air. Shaking. As if he had no control over them. He was struggling to breath, his lips tinging a pale blue. Navi's eyes swam with tears. "Link! Wake up! Ivan!" She cried, turning to her shadow. "Go get Zelda!"

But Ivan was frozen to the spot, watching Link with an odd mix of curiosity and excitement. Navi didn't have time to be angry with her. She sped off through the castle in search of the princess. Zelda was fast asleep, by the time she found her, but she woke up quickly. She called to her guards, and rushed from her room, tying a robe over her night gown.

"Link!" Zelda fell to her knees next to him, and laid a hand on his forehead. There was a small spark of her magic, but nothing happened. Link continued to gasp for breath, his body shaking.

Navi flitted around her shoulder frantically. "What's going on? What happened?"

Zelda shook her head. "I-I'm not sure." She tried to examine him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "There does not appear to be anything wrong with him." Zelda stroked his hair gently, trying to make some sense of this situation. Something clicked together in her brain, and she stood. "Keep watch over him." She ordered her guards, and took off through the corridors.

Zelda rushed into the room where Knil was still resting. At least he was supposed to be resting. He was moaning loud enough to where it could almost be a scream. His body convulsing on the bed. Ivan hung back in the doorway, but Navi fluttered around Zelda's head, watching the princess curiously. Zelda laid her finger tips against Knil's forehead, and pressed. Her fingers sparked with the blue magic again. Soon Knil's moans shifted into deep heavy breaths, finally fading off until he lay completely still. The only movements being the gentle rise and fall of his deep breathing.

Zelda glanced up at Navi, who seemed to suddenly understand, and took off, calling to her partner. Zelda followed close behind. Ivan watched their retreating backs, her eyes narrowing. She drifted over to Knil's side, and settled on the pillow. A sudden fear washed over her. For a second there she was happy. Maybe, deep down, she did still want Link to die

xXx

Zelda dropped down next to Link again, and heaved a sigh of relief. His breath was raged, but at least he was breathing again. "Link. Can you look at me? Are you ok?"

Link's eyes fluttered weakly. He opened his mouth to try and speak, the half opened eyes glazed over. He moaned softly, what sounded like he was calling out to his shadow, before falling under again.

Everyone else sat in silent confusion. One of the guards stepped up. "Your Majesty?"

Zelda shook her head, and stood, dusting off her robe. "Return him to his room."

The guards nodded their affirmation, and carried Link back to his designated room. Upon entering the room, Link groaned again. Knil whimpered, his head falling towards Link, drawing Zelda's attention. An arm extending from the bed. She turned back to see Link was doing the same from his resting place. They were definitely too far to actually reach each other, but that didn't stop them from trying.

One of the guards stepped up to Zelda. "May I ask what this is all about, Your Majesty?"

Zelda's eyes narrowed sharply. "No you may not." She waved a hand over the two guards, making the air ripple around them. "You two have seen nothing. You know nothing of these circumstances."

The guards nodded slowly, their eyes hazed over.

"Return to your posts. I shall be back shortly."

Without another response, they saluted their princess, and marched from the room.

Once they were gone, Zelda slumped onto Link's bed, with a deep sigh.

Ivan settled in next to Knil, eying her in near terror. What had she done to them? Navi, on the other hand, must have seen her do this before because she floated right up to her. "I'd like to know what's going on, too."

Zelda shook her head. "I can not be exactly certain, but evidently, Link's connections to his shadow are a lot stronger than I thought." She glanced up to Navi. "Has it always been like this?"

Navi shook her head fervently, her heart still racing from the recent events. "No. I've never seen anything like this happen before."

Ivan snorted.

"Then this must be a new development." The princess stared down at Link, her face scrunching in confusion. "Has anything happened recently?"

"Well." Navi drifted down to sit on the pillow, next to Link's head. "That's actually what we came here to talk to you about." She glanced over at Link, wondering if it was right to tell Zelda with him still unconscious. "There's been some problems lately, and we were hoping you could help."

Zelda could tell Navi was nervous about telling her, but she still asked. "What happened?"

Navi shook her head, still mulling over the situation. "I don't know if I should say." Her gaze dropped down to her partner, stroking his forehead. "We've run into some problems recently, but I'm not entirely sure what Link wanted to talk to you about." It was only a partial lie. She knew about what they wanted to discuss, but doubted Link wanted Zelda to know every detail. Even still, Navi felt bad for hiding things from her. She sighed, and settled further into the pillow. Diverting her attention fully towards the blonde Hylian as he mumbled in his sleep – along with his shadow.

Zelda's fingers traced along the bruises lining Link's neck, her gaze fading off into contemplation. Evidently Link had forged a very strong bond with his shadow. To what seemed like an almost dangerous extent. "You say this has never happened before?" The question was directed to Navi, but her eyes didn't leave Link's face.

Navi looked up at her, unsure. Her lips moved as if to speak, then she shook her head slowly. "I think so." She glance back down at Link. "I mean, this is the first time I've seen him collapse like this."

Zelda's brows lowered further, eyes shifting over towards Navi. "So this is the first circumstance of the shadow effecting him?"

Ivan scowled at the princess with the derogatory term for her master.

Navi just wracked her brain to remember. "I know they've seemed to be getting closer, but that shouldn't effect him like this."

"There is a chance."

The look of confusion deepened on the little faerie's face. "So you're saying Link's feeling Knil's pain because they bonded?"

"It is possible."

"... I call bullshit."

Zelda smiled as though she wanted to laugh, but her mind was still worrying too much to let her. "They were already a part of each other once. So, perhaps, becoming friends has triggered their bond to strengthen."

They heard Ivan snort from across the room. Her arms folded across her chest, sinking into the crook of Knil's neck.

Zelda cast the skeptical faerie a snide smirk. "I will admit there is some illogic to this theory." She turned back to Link. "I've never known any kind of connection to be strong enough to effect the other physically, in this manner." Her eyes narrowed on some far off answer. "Though, it would make sense for the shadow to be effected more than Link."

Considering she used that term again, Ivan was already annoyed. So her anger, as she slammed her fists into the pillow, might have been a bit over the top. "What the hell do you mean by that!? How does it make sense for my master to suffer more than him!?" She thrust a finger towards Link.

"Well, he came from Link." Zelda answered calmly. "He is merely a smaller fragment of Link's soul. If Link is hurt, then it only makes sense his shadow-"

"He has a name!" Ivan snapped. However, she huffed again and didn't care to elaborate.

Zelda glanced back down at Navi, who shrugged. "Link wanted him to have his own name." She answered softly. For some reason afraid to let Ivan hear. "Knil."

Despite herself Zelda smirked again. The all too cruel irony of him name not lost on her. "Ok then. It only makes sense for Knil-" She put special emphasis on his name. Not in an arrogant sort of tone, but more to try and say she knew – even if that's not how Ivan took it. "to be feeling whatever Link experiences, since it directly effects his state of being. However, Link was not made from any part of Knil, so he would not necessarily share this affliction."

"Well, obviously, he is." Navi interjected, with a small whine. "Link is feeling whatever Knil is, in his dreams, and I want to know why."

Drawing in a deep sigh, Zelda brought a hand to her lips. "Perhaps Knil's bond has grown strong enough to effect Link." She paused briefly, for thought, gnawing on her bottom lip. "Besides them bonding, has anything happened recently to possibly strengthen this connection?"

"Well... um." Navi shifted uncomfortably. They were back to the conundrum of what Zelda should know. Is knowing all the details crucial for helping Link? "K-kinda..."

"I was hurt." Both of their attentions were drawn to hearing Link's raspy voice. "Badly." He cleared his throat to try and fix his voice. "And Knil almost died."

Zelda slid closer, one hand taking his, the other resting on his head. Her concern evident. "What happened? How were you hurt?" Link noted the panic in her voice and smiled. He didn't like to worry her, but was glad to see she was so concerned. Then again, maybe it was a good thing he decided to leave out that these attempts turned out to be fatal. In response to her inquiry, Link nodded. "A new friend of mine healed me. Which also helped Knil." His eyes gently closed again, taking a deep exhausted breath. "Which is actually why we're here?" He shifted uncomfortably, bringing a hand to the vein pulsing in his head. "I needed to know how much you knew of the Spiritual Stone of Light."

##

AN: yes, Zelda totally used the Jedi mind trick on her guards. Why?... I dunno, seemed appropriate. So, I was a bit sad that I haven't updated this in a while, and cracked down on the set-up. (ugh... set-up) Although, I'm happy I got through this, and I'm pretty sure you are as well. (The patient few who still put up with my long ass waiting periods.) I feel like I'm walking a delicate line of holy shit and bull shit, so I've had to rewrite this chapt many times. (Also i was whipping out Zombie chapts so fast that I was feelin my writing slipping, and figured I needed a break.)