Chapter 6: Heroic Secrets

"Your sword skills are admirable, but they will get you no further, as Ganon's return draws closer your enemies will grow stronger, as you probably already know. To help you with this, I will teach you 7 secret skills known only to those who carry our bloodline. And when you have earned the right to wear our traditional garb, I will accompany you on your journey until you no longer have need me. The question I have for you, is are you ready to learn the first skill I have for you?" He said.

I drew The Master Sword from my back and readied my shield in answer.

"Very well, let us begin. As you probably know by now, stronger enemies will get back after being knocked down. The Ending blow is a technique you can use to slay the monster before they can spring back in action. To do it, when your opponent is down, leap high in the air and bring your blade down into their chest, like this."

He leapt into the air, and then stabbed the ground with his blade.

"The Technique is simple, but effective. Now then, try it on me!"

I took a step back.

"It won't kill me." He said.

I nodded then got into ready stance. After parrying his blow with my shield and dodging another, I hit him with a flurry rush, knocking him down. I finished him off with the ending blow, just as I was shown. Surprisingly, he got back up.

"Excellent, when the circumstances demand it, do not hesitate to snuff out your enemy's life. It may be hard, but courage often means doing what's right, no matter what it is."

I nodded in understanding. Oh boy, this job just got harder.

"The first technique has been passed on, but our lessons are far from over, when you are ready, find me in the Gerudo desert and I will teach you the next skill I have. Until then, practice your sword work, and have courage. Farewell."

Everything went white again.

I jolted awake. The sounds of the morning filled my ears as I sat up. I noticed I was back in the same Rito bed, had it all been a dream? Zelda stirred awake.

"Did you find out what that noise was last night?"

Oh boy, it wasn't a dream, what do I say? I'm being taught by a ghost of a past hero that takes the form of a wolf? That would make it sound like I was crazy.

"A wolf made its way into the village, it's gone now."

"A wolf? In Rito Village?"

"It wasn't exactly ordinary, but it wasn't a threat either. It has a secret, that I'm not sure if I can tell. Anyway, let's get some breakfast, we depart for Gerudo Town immediately afterward."

"Gerudo Town? That's nearly on the other side of Hyrule."

"I know a short cut."

"Are you sure this is going to work?"

I shook my head.

"Just hold onto me and we'll see what happens."

This was the first time that I had tried to travel via Sheikah Slate to a shrine with a passenger, and to be honest I didn't know what was going to happen. Targeting Daqo Chisay Shrine on the Slate, I held my breath and activated the quick travel option. The slate worked quickly, changing my body into energy as it always did, only to materialize at the exact place that I told it to do. I looked around when the feeling subsided. The quick travel had worked for me, but did it work for?

"That was an… experience."

It worked for Zelda too. Well, long journeys just became easier. I cracked a smile as I put the Sheikah slate back on my belt. I turned to look at the stone wall behind us.

"There it is, Gerudo town."

"Wait here, I'll be fast." Zelda said.

"No, I'm coming with you."

"Oh no you're not! You are not wearing that outfit again!"

"Well excuse me Princess! I just want to help!"

"You're not coming, and that's final."

"Oh… really? And who's going to stop me!?"

Needless to say, she was. Our argument ended in me sitting outside the gates of Gerudo town wings crossed. I mean, I get that she didn't like me pretending to be a female, I wasn't too keen about it either, but threatening to expose me in front of the whole town was a bit too far. Women! I looked up as I heard a small laughing sound, it was the other Link in wolf form.

"Princess problems?"

I stared at him in shock. His mouth didn't move, yet I heard every word in my head.

"You can talk as a wolf?"

"Communicate with your mind actually. And you're the only one who can hear me, so I would be careful how you talk to me. Now, shall we continue?"

Everything went white again as we were re-transported to the forgotten temple. This time, he didn't change form when we got rather as we got there. He was Hylian right when we arrived. He drew his sword and readied his shield as I did the same.

"Now, are you ready to learn the next technique?"

I nodded.

"Very well."

He gestured to my left wing.

"Sometimes the best way to have a good offense is to keep your defense strong. In the right hands, a shield is just as useful as a weapon as the sword is. With this in mind, much like your shield parry, we have the shield attack! You have encountered a lot of opponents bearing shields or like weaponry, and they are only going to grow stronger. This technique will allow you to open a hole in their defenses, or if timed properly reflect a ranged attack such as an arrow back at them. Like the other technique, it is simple, but effective. Simply shove your shield forward with force. Like this."

He shoved his shield forward, the exact same way he did when he completely debilitated me.

"This is the shield strike! Now, try it on me!"

He came close enough for a duel, I raised my shield and shoved it forward just like he showed me, knocking the wind out of him.

"Excellent." He said when he recovered. "This can also be used to repel attacks such as arrows."

Without warning, he pulled out a bow and drew an arrow. Thinking quickly, I used the shield strike to redirect the arrow back at him, which he casually deflected with his own shield.

"Wonderful, you are learning quicker than I thought. But your time has already ran out."

My smile of pride disappeared.

"Ganon has already returned, you must take Zelda and travel to Rito village without delay and you must stop him. Hurry!"

"No, Wait!" I cried.

Everything went white again as I heard Zelda calling my name.

"Link! Link!"

I woke with a start. 2 Gerudo guards and a very concerned Zelda stood over me. I groaned as I sat up.

"You passed out in the sand, are you alright?"

I said nothing and simply hoisted myself to my feet and got out the Sheikah slate.

"Riju has offered her help should Ganon arise again."

"He's already here." I said without looking up from the slate.

Before Zelda could answer I grabbed her and fast traveled to Akh Va'quot Shrine. I hoped I wasn't too late.

We arrived just as Teba came running.

"Link! Thank goodness! I've been looking all over for you! Vah Medoh's hostile again! You have to help us!"

I felt my anger rising. Not this time, Ganon. I ran with him into the village, every so often searching desperately for any sign of the giant mechanical bird. I found it above Revali's Landing. Not wasting any time, I swapped out my current Falcon bow for Revali's Great Eagle Bow.

"Stay here." I commanded Zelda. "Keep her safe Teba."

Before she or Teba could protest, I used Revali's Gale to boost myself into the sky. Ganon, if you did anything to Revali, you will pay.

The Divine beast was surprising mostly empty when I arrived, but this only put me more on guard as I activated the terminals with ease. I finally got to the main control console. When I got there, a familiar Rito was waiting for me. But something was different, I stood there speechless, he no longer looked like he was a spirit, could he really be?

"Link!"

Revali ran up to me and grabbed me by the shoulders, I actually felt his grip.

"Link! I don't have much time! I…"

I pulled him off and into a hug, I could feel him, he was actually there. He was alive! Revali was surprised at first, but his side of the embrace gradually grew warmer. Slowly, we separated tears of joy filling my eyes.

"Link! I have to warn you about Ganon!"

"I know, but now that you're here." I put his Eagle bow into his hand.

"We can take him down together."

Revali weakly cracked a smile. Then he shook his head and groaned in pain.

"Link listen to me! It's about Ganon!" he said before groaning some more.

He put his wings to the side of his head.

"I… I…" he struggled.

I took a step back, something wasn't right, my wing slowly moved towards my sheathed Master Sword. Revali continued to groan as he held his head, eventually falling to his knees breathing heavily.

"I am Ganon!... He's inside me!... You got to get out of here before…!"

He stopped suddenly and bowed his head to the floor screaming in pain.

"Revali!" I shouted.

I ran towards him, only to stop when he slowly he pulled himself back up in a movement that seemed unnatural for him. He gave me a sadistic smirk. He looked the same, but his eyes had a malicious glint.

"Foolish hero."

Revali's voice, but not his words. Revali, or whatever was inside him took his bow off his back and drew an arrow.

"You should have listened."

No! It couldn't be.