To my readers... this is a filler chapter. This chapter doesn't have much to the actual story except for a little more information on Link's and Xellic's childhood. So read if you want but except for the first couple paragraphs you could easily skip to the next chapter.

Link chuckled slightly. He'd made it to the top of the tallest mountain in Hyrule, collected another secret from the howling stones, met and raced Yeto the Yeti to his house on the other side of the summit, discovered a soup that tastes better and refreshes him more than goat milk and collected a shard of the mirror after defeating a demonic form of Yeta, Yeto's wife created by the mirror shard itself all in less than a week. He was feeling great about his progress and had convinced Midna to have a rest and have a proper meal for once before moving on to the next point where another member of Telma's group was waiting. Luckily it was the entrance to the Sacred Grove where they could warp most of the way.

So Link lay in a real bed for the first time in he couldn't even remember when. His face was down in the pillow waiting for the innkeeper to bring the double meal he promised. Midna was curled comfortably on a cushioned chair but looked angry anyway. "Link, don't you even care about Zelda anymore? We shouldn't be here! We should be moving along!"

"Midna, we've been through this a thousand times. I care about what happens to Zelda and I care about what happens to both our worlds! But I'm tired. If I don't rest properly for one night how do you know the next temple isn't going to kill me?" Link groaned with his face still in the pillow.

"And how do you know that while we're lying here doing nothing, Ganondorf's not killing Zelda?"

"Xellic's there. He needs her alive, remember?"

"How do you know he hasn't already killed them both?"

"Then there's not much I can do now is there?" Link looked over at the Twilight princess. "If he's already killed them both then he did it while we were fighting Yeta. There's nothing we could have done no matter what we're doing. We were too far away from Castle Town and had we left we probably would have lost the shard. Not only that but she would have killed Yeto. And how do you expect us to get into the castle with that barrier around it? There's nothing we can do right now but rest and move on. I know you have more energy considering you have a substantial amount of power, but I have limited power. I need to rest. Xellic will take care of himself and the princess."

Midna huffed but said no more. She knew he was right. There wasn't much to do until Link wasn't so tired. After a little while there was a knock on the door and Link dragged himself to the door, opened it and took the food from the innkeeper. He bowed and left without saying anything much. Link feasted and whatever he didn't eat he wrapped up and put back into his travel pack his parents gave to him. It was a magic bag that had had no bottom to it and was just as light as an empty bag.

Ignoring Midna's glares he pulled off his tunic and crawled under the blankets. He needed sleep. A nice, long, uninterrupted sleep that would complete his resting. He was asleep not much longer after his head hit the pillow.

- - - - -

Link was five years old. He watched his mother prepare dinner and happily hugged her legs whenever she wasn't holding anything she might drop and hurt either herself or him. She laughed every time and often gave him small jobs to do while she was cooking. His father was at the table entertaining the family with news of the outside world. The King and Queen of Hyrule's child had turned four and the land was in more peace than it ever has before.

The only silence came from a corner where Link's brother was reading a book in ancient Hylian. Something he'd learned from one of the traders. It was a dying language that the everyday people were forgetting. Link hadn't even begun to learn modern Hylian yet. But Xellic had mastered reading and writing in both languages. Not only that but he was learning to read the language of the sand people from a book he got from the same trader who taught him ancient Hylian. Now that was a dead language and few people knew how to speak or read it.

Xellic looked up from the book and their eyes met for a few seconds. Link was the first to look away. He was rather scared of his brother. Link was well aware that he was the favourite but didn't like it. He wanted to help make it more even within the family but he knew that if he said anything to their father he'd laugh and torture Xellic even more. But it wasn't like the brothers ignored each other. Often they talked late into the night. Xellic needed someone to vent to about being hated by his parents and someone to share all his knowledge with. He'd even tried to teach Link some ancient Hylian. But Link's brain wasn't interested in those kinds of things. He still tried so his brother wouldn't be outcast by everyone in the family all the time.

Xellic went back to his book and ignoring their father's loud voice. Their father didn't even notice the brief connection the brothers had. Their mother finally sighed in satisfaction and called her husband and two sons for dinner. She carried the dishes of food to the table and sat down. The father sat on the other side, Link sat on her left and Xellic sat on her right. They ate in silence, something they always did. No one uttered a word until they had all finished eating. As usual, Xellic finished first. He didn't eat much. Their father was determined to make sure Link was bigger than Xellic. At the moment they were relatively the same size in height and weight.

Xellic quietly cleared his plate and then came back to the table where he politely waited for his parents to excuse him from the table. His mother did so without looking at him. He stood up and returned to the corner where he continued reading. After a little while their father stopped eating. Link tensed. He knew that the only reason their father would stop something would be because Xellic was doing something that was bugging him... with or without reason. "What are you reading there, boy?" their father said sarcastically.

Link heard Xellic stop breathing. He didn't say anything for a few minutes. "It's a study of the old history of Hyrule. Old rulers, laws and battles that aren't talked about in these times and forgotten now except for in the royal library."

"Is that so?" their father snorted. "And why would you want to read that?"

Another pause. Xellic was a master of giving answers that their father would accept. But fifty percent of the time he would find a way to get around the acceptance anyway. "I'm hoping that if I study about the ancient warriors and battles it would make me a better warrior in the mind..." Link registered his father's acceptance and prayed Xellic wouldn't say anything else. But before Link could warn him he added something that would make him bitter about the family for the rest of his life. "...And make you proud of me."

The house was then filled with their father's cruel laughter. Xellic's anger was rising but he calmly set the book down and waited for his father to stop laughing. His mother, seeing a conflict arising took Link's hand and took him for a walk outside. Link didn't think that leaving his father and brother alone would be a good idea. Xellic's father stopped laughing as soon as they were gone. He leaned forward and glowered at his older son. "You listen carefully, boy." He snarled. Xellic looked at him calmly. No one would think him younger than fifteen by the look in his eyes. "Reading ain't gonna make me proud of you. There's only one thing that's gonna make me proud of you."

"Is that so, father?" Xellic said coolly. "And what's that?"

"Being Link. Now Link is someone that makes me proud. If you want me to be proud of you then be more like him."

"So you want me to be stupid and weak instead of exploring the lengths of my intellectual and physical abilities?"

His father sat there for a few seconds before standing. Xellic stood too in case he would have to defend himself. "You know, boy." His father said angrily. "I think you've been reading a little too much."

Before Xellic could react his father had reached over him and snatched the book. Xellic reached out for it but his father was too tall. He took the book to the living area where a roaring fire was lit. Xellic gasped and ran in front of the fire. "That's an ancient book! It was one of the first ever written! You can't burn it!"

His father looked at the book again, now looking greedy. "One of the first ever written, huh? Well I bet the King would pay plenty to have it back."

Xellic relaxed his mind but not his body. His father never gave up this easily. His father suddenly turned and threw the book at Xellic. The child caught the heavy book and stumbled back right into the flames of the fire behind him. Xellic yelp and jumped out, rolling on the floor to put out the flames. His father laughed cruelly as he watched Xellic flail on the ground. When his son lay still panting, Xellic's father lifted him up by his collar. Xellic clutched the book and tried to show no fear. "You will never make me proud, boy... I don't know why your mother puts up with you. But you're lucky I love her enough to deal with you too."

With that Xellic was dropped and his father returned to his dinner. A little while later Link and their mother. Xellic had retreated to the bunk beds he shared with Link. He was writing pages and pages of something. His writing was so small it was barely legible but it was neat. When Link came up to bed a few hours later and tried to talk to Xellic but his brother just glared at him and returned to what he was working on.

- - - - -

The twins were ten, three years before the Bandits attack Ordon. Xellic had stopped talking to his family. Link had just been employed by Fado and was given his first horse, Epona for his birthday. Xellic was given more paper, a new quill and ink for he was still writing furiously every night. Anyone would have thought that the gesture sweet considering that the parents actually noticed what their older son was interested in. But the only reason they really got it for him was because the Mayor asked and they needed to prove it somehow if he asked Xellic. Xellic figured it was the kindest thing his parents ever did for him since they gave birth to him and let him live.

Xellic was sitting on the roof of the Mayor's house writing. He'd been copying the many books he had into much smaller copies that would be easier to travel with. He'd been planning to run away since his father pushed him into the fire. It would be any day now. He just needed to finish writing out the books he would leave. He could survive on his own. He wasn't weak like his pathetic brother. The years of his parents ignoring and torturing him had made him hardy and strong. There was nothing they could do to stop him from running now.

Suddenly there was a soft hand on his shoulder. He started and looked around. Ilia smiled at him. He couldn't help but smile back at her. He was the only good thing in his life other than his reading. She sat beside him and looked at what he was working on. He was copying the book he learned to speak the Sand Language from. He was still a bit rusty on it but copying out the book had helped him a lot. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"The usual," he muttered. "Trying desperately to get ready to run away from this village."

Ilia frowned. "Why don't you come stay with my father and me? Your parents are so horrible to you."

Xellic shook his head. "No, I can't. I'm training to become the protector of this village and no matter where I live I'll still have to deal with them. I want to be free from them forever. I hate it here."

Ilia shrugged. "You won't get far without a horse. Your parents will be on your trail and kill you."

"They don't care enough to follow me. They don't even care enough to kill me."

Suddenly Ilia did something that Xellic didn't expect her to do. She hugged him. And there she held him for a few minutes before moving away and back off the roof of her house. Xellic sat there confused for a while before continuing with his writing. He did so much slower. She'd left him confused and oddly happy. He wrote and wrote and wrote until he saw Link come out of the ranch leading Epona. Xellic leapt down and walked quietly on the other side of the horse. Link always looked back at him every once and a while, slightly scared. They said nothing to each other. They arrived at the house together and ate at the same table. Again their father had some bone to pick with Xellic but by now Xellic knew to take it and retreated to his bed in the basement afterwards. When he was about eight his parents moved him to the cellar with a lantern.

That night Xellic looked at the books he needed to finish copying. Other than the one he was copying now he had two others. He figured he's have them all done within a year. Then he would be able to escape the hell. He put all his papers in a thick folder he made from the bark of a tree near the spring. It would at least protect them while he was traveling. He knew that once he was gone his parents would burn everything he owned so he needed to make sure that he had everything that was close to him. Not that there was much.

He put everything he planned on taking in a travel sack under his bed and crawled under the covers. He blew out the flame of his lantern and closed his blood red eyes.

- - - - -

Link was fifteen. He was happy. Surprising for someone whose brother killed his mother and whose father's life was ended due to a weak heart. But despite all that he was happy. He lay on his back on the ranch looking up at the sky. The bright blue bore into his retinas and seemed to light up his whole heart. Since the bandits attacked Ordon two years ago everything seemed better. The mayor had ordered that a gate be built on the village's side of the bridge so they would have more warning at least next time they were attacked.

Epona snorted and whinnied. Link sat up and saw Fado running over to him. He had a look on his face that was something between happiness and fear. "Hey, Link!" he called. "Xellic's back! He's at the gate waiting for you!"

Link stood up slowly. Xellic wasn't supposed to be there. Their father had banished him after he pulled his sword from their mother's heart. Link mounted Epona and rode quickly to the gate. Sure enough Xellic was leaning against one of the ropes that held the bridge up. Silently Link wished Xellic would lose his balance and fall into the unknown. "What are you doing here, Xellic?" Link said sternly.

He looked up and smirked. He'd grown even taller, Link noticed. And a lot stronger. Xellic's arms were huge and the right one was tattooed. He had a sword on his back and a black shield over top of that. "Look at you, baby brother." he chuckled. "Big tough guardian now. No offence but you don't look that strong."

"None taken. I ask again, what are you doing here?"

"What, I can't drop by to see my little brother?"

"You were banished, Xellic. You're not welcome here."

"I have business with the mayor. And I have things from the house I need for my travels. Our father didn't exactly give me any time to grab them when he banished me."

"He didn't want a murdering in his house." Link snarled.

Xellic's eyes darkened. He stood up straight from leaning against the rope. "I did not kill her." He said slowly and darkly. "Our father killed her because she didn't yell at me like he did. Now I have business here. Open the damn gate or I'll open it for you."

Link did not flinch. He wasn't scared of his brother anymore. But he wasn't taking any chances. "The sword stays here with me. Then you can enter." He said.

Xellic growled but unstrapped the sword from his back. He tossed his expertly over the gate and into Link's hands. Holding it firmly he dismounted Epona and opened the gate. Xellic looked down at his brother once before brushing past and followed the path to the village. Link led his horse back to the house where he left her and continued to follow his brother. Link knew he was dangerous and wasn't going to give him chance to attack anyone. "Xellic!" cried Ilia from the mayor's home.

Link swore it was one of the few times his brother ever smiled. Ilia raced forward and hugged Xellic around his waist. There Link could truly see how tall his brother was. He was about six feet tall which was monstrous size for someone of Ordonian descent. He was even taller than the few Hyrulian soldiers Link has seen. Xellic squeezed Ilia for a second before letting go and proceeding to face the mayor who seemed slightly scared of the tall boy who used to sit on top of his house.

An hour later Xellic came out and walked to the house he used to live at with his parents and his brother. Link let him in and he walked straight to the cellar. He was surprised to find a box full of his books and writings and early plans for escaping Ordon. He was sure his father would burn them all after he was sure he wasn't coming back. He remembered the satisfying feeling he had when he'd finished writing out all the books he owned. He also remembered the awful feeling he got when he realised too late that he didn't have them. He picked up the back he was using to hold his papers and pulled out the bark folder. They were only slightly brown from age, but otherwise they were in perfect condition.

When Xellic climbed out of the cellar Link glared at him. "That's it?" he scoffed. "I was sure you'd take something more elaborate than those damn papers you had."

Xellic patted the papers lovingly. "These papers kept me from killing our father, you know."

"Like you killed our mother."

Xellic patted the papers again but didn't answer. His eyes were dark and malicious but he found no point in repeating something he knew Link would never believe. He left the house without another word. He took the sword from Link and left the village. No death or destruction. Just simple business. Link locked the gate and watched his brother cross the bridge. When Xellic was out of sight Link mounted Epona once again and returned to the ranch.

- - - - -

The twins woke from the same dream. Neither of them knew the other was dreaming. They both looked upon sleeping princesses and wondered if they would live long enough to see them rule their kingdoms once again.