Tjfanfics99:... Zant's too fa...uh... heavy for wolf Zelda to carry to be able to carry... actually I bet that lament would be really creepy.

Baron Ricardo: Hey! It's nice to hear from you again! :) And thanks!

Ayako Zetra: RIGHT! And yes- exploding bosses! Some of them make quite a boom, if you ask me. :D

Random words: I want to play Pokemon again, and I'd like to acquire Darkrai (whose just the kind of character that appeals to me, especially after seeing his movie) but he's an event only character... which sucks. :( I don't have a 3DS at the moment... I haven't even played pokemon since the first version of Gold and Silver... that almost makes me an old lady in comparison... wow...

Though I would love to acquire a Darkrai for myself...

...Ok, sorry, back on track.

...

...

...And here it is.

I think, ever since I posted this fan fic, some of you knew what was coming, when I would reach a certain chapter. I have been waiting to reach this chapter for a very long time, and for a good reason. I HAD said that this fan fic is in the same universe as Skyward Swaps, and follows a similar outline. If you haven't read Skyward Swaps, but played Skyward Sword, then you know EXACTLY what you might see... otherwise, either go play Skyward Sword, or go ahead and read Skyward Swaps, if you want a different reading experience.

For those who have read Skyward Swaps in the past, I then dedicate this chapter to those particular readers.

...And for those who were upset that Skull Kid was not put into Hyrule Warriors. I'm actually super POed that they used Tingle instead... ugh. :(

One more thing... I'm skipping the statue puzzle... WITH GOOD REASON!

Also, I had a song in mind for something important: when you see the break that says - SUNDOWN- type in Nightwish's Imaginarium The Score and find the music titled Sundown. (If it sounds familiar, it's a different version of Turn loose the mermaids)

Chapter 7: the sacrifice and the sword


-normal pov-

Link stared out the window- just awhile ago, it was a full moon, and now rain came pouring down from the heavens. It looked as if a storm would be coming and it gave him a sense of unease that he could not explain.

He had ordered everyone out of the castle earlier that day: he had feared what Midna meant when she spoke of an 'old acquaintance of the Royal Family.' Even though the order confused them, he made it point clear that it was an order that had to be obeyed, and they all left within the hour. He hoped that they all managed to leave.

To make matters worse, he had been noticing a change in his reflection, ever since Midna visited him, be it in the mirror or the window: at first, his eyes would be blue, but then they would turn into an animal like yellow. He had seen those eyes once before, in a vision- it was a bad sign.

And now that his reflection's eyes were always yellow, he knew... something evil was coming for him.

He heard a strange humming noise from behind and turned to see an orb of light from a Light Spirit, which filled his chambers with a pleasant brightness that was dearly desired.

"What in Farore's name-?" He wondered.

The orb faded away and revealed two forms that were laid to rest upon his floors. To his slight annoyance, he recognized the larger form as belonging to Zant, but then he let out a short gasp when he saw the familiar form of a certain wolf.

"By the Goddesses!" He rushed to the wolf, who seemed as if she was struggling to wake up, and knelt beside her.

"What happened?!" Link made to reach for her, but a raspy voice beat him to it by giving him only one word:

"M..Midna."

Link turned to Zant: the enigmatic man's face was exposed, and his skin had not only turned black, but gave off a strange dull glow. He looked as if he was close to death's door- something that the prince had seen in previous battles- and he wasn't going to last much longer.

Anger rose in Link's heart for what had happened to Zelda- what price she had to pay, for all that she had done- and though he wanted to blame the being before him, as well as the Twilight Princess, Link's common sense was kicking in. "What happened?" He sharply demanded.

-Zelda's POV-

I managed to awaken completely as I heard Zant speak to Link as best as he could through his pain.

"...She... took the Fused Shadows... cursed your... Hero... and exposed me to the... light."

He let out a noise of exhaustion and collapsed to the floor.

As much as I didn't care for Zant, I was genuinely surprised at how worried I suddenly felt for him. In fact... I actually didn't want him to die, for whatever reason. Was it because some insane part of me had grown attached to him?

"Don't you dare die on me!" The prince hissed. "I'm not done with you!"

"...I'm not... ready yet." Zant let out a sharp breath. "I still have much... to tell... but tend to... your... Hero first. You... need her to save... your world, don't you?"

He sighed. "I'm sorry... this is all... my fault."

The prince then turned to me. "Are you alright?" His expression softened as he showed more concern for me.

"...My headache is about gone, but I'm otherwise ok." My eyes shifted to the floor in regret. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I should have come to you in person- maybe then this wouldn't have happened."

"This isn't your fault." The prince quietly protested and was about to place his hand on me but then he hesitated. For a brief moment, I saw his eyes look at his hand, but I wasn't sure, and a thought seemed to cross his mind.

"What binds you to this curse is a different magic than what transformed you when you first passed the twilight. It is an evil power..." He drew his hand back as a troubled look crossed his face.

He then got up and walked over to his desk and took a book. "I may not be a scholar, and I am not as versed in magic as some, but our family has a useful library of knowledge, and access to a history that few scholars could only dream of uncovering." He then flipped a few pages before finding what he was looking for and traced a finger over the page.

"If I am correct about my theory, there's one solution- the only thing that can save you from this curse."

He walked towards me and lay the book down for me to see a very familiar illustration- one that all children that grow up on fairy tales know of. It was without a wielder, but it was still recognizable.

"Is that-" I glanced up at him in amazement and sat right up.

"The Blade of Evil's Bane itself." He confirmed with a confident smile. "You have to head for the sacred grove that lies deep within the lands guarded by the spirit Faron." He instructed me. "There you will find the sword, which was wielded by the past heroes of old. The Master Sword is a sacred blade that evil can never touch and the evil that has touched you can be destroyed by that."

"How do you know for sure?" I asked. "Only a hero can have such a right, and I-"

"You are not alone." The prince then held his hand up. "I've also been granted special powers by the goddesses- I have also been drawn into this conflict, whether I wanted it or not."

To my complete shock, the symbol of the Triforce glowed on the back of his hand.

"How on earth..." I glanced at my paw to see that my mark was glowing in a prefect resonance to the other one.

"As much as I'd like to explain, I'm afraid that your friend is a more pressing concern." The prince then turned to Zant.

"How... sweet..." Zant panted with dripping sarcasm before he became serious. "But... if you wish to... stop the Twilight Princess... tell her about the... Mirror of Twilight."

The prince gave Zant a look of concern and surprise.

"...You... have to stop her... for the sake of my realm and yours... you should know why."

I watched as the prince turned from Zant and to the windows, where the rain kept pouring downward, as if it would never end. A darkness crossed his face, and I could sense there was some sort of turmoil turning through his mind. He then looked at the back of his hand- the one that also bore the mark- and then looked at Zant.

"Is your realm in that much danger?" The prince quietly asked.

"More... than you would think." Zant answered.

The prince then looked to me, with a look of guilt in his eyes.

"After this world was casted in twilight, my doubts of ever becoming a good ruler for my people worsened." He began. "I lost sight of the courage that I should of had, I worried for the welfare of the people, and let myself fall into despair. But you- Zelda- you selflessly restored the light back to this Kingdom. Someone like you must surely have been giving that light to those you have met along the way."

"I only did what my heart told me to do." I modestly answered with a blush. "To save those I cared about- that's what made me happy. And, to be honest, I wanted to make you happy again."

The prince gave me a smile- a warm, lovely smile, and yet there was an odd bittersweet quality about it.

"You restored my hope... please give that hope and your courage to my people, even when I can not."

I could have smiled, if I was able to, but as Link then placed a hand on my shoulder, I realized something in those words sounded suspicious. "What do you mean?" I asked.

He shut his eyes and his smile tightened. "I... I wish that I could have seen your true form." He confessed.

He then moved away from me, sat by Zant's side, and repeated what he did with me and placed a hand on his shoulder. I watched as the Prince suddenly began to glow, and trails of glittering light seeped out of him, and into Zant.

Zant began to regain his natural coloring, and began to look as if he was regaining his strength, but he was staring at the prince in shock.

"What are you doing, you foolish idiot?!" He suddenly snapped at him. "Stop it!"

I couldn't understand what was going on and I gave Zant a questionable look. "Your fool of a prince is giving up his life force!" Zant quickly informed me.

"What?!" I turned to the prince in shock and rushed to his side. "Why are you doing this?!" I frantically began pawing at his leg and I tugged at his cloak with my teeth. "Your Majest- Link, stop!" I frantically cried out.

Link gave me one final smile as he began to look fatigued. "I have to do whatever it takes to save my kingdom... I can't become a pawn in all of this... and prevent war... Zelda... protect Hyrule... for my sake."

And then... he faded away, like a shadow or a ghost, and disappeared from this world.

And my heart broke.

"No- no!" I howled as tears began to form in my eyes. Why did Link have to give up his life? Why?!

I bowed my head and though I wanted to cry out, my wolf form could only manage to let out sorrowful howling and whimpering. I hadn't known the prince that long- and I did have a crush like fancy for him- so... why did it feel like my heart was going to break, at any moment?

This wasn't right. The people needed their prince more than they ever had before... and he selflessly gave his life for another.

I could hear Zant get up and I could sense that he was standing next to me.

"...I... I didn't want this, Lady W-" He hesitated in his quiet appology. "I had no right to have the life force of your future King."

"I suppose... I suppose I shouldn't squander it then." He truly sounded regretful. "I should have been more careful, but perhaps there's a way I can make it up to your kingdom."

I glanced back to where I had last seen Link.

Because of my intended fate, another had been condemned, and not only was it the prince, but he had given his entire life away in whatever battle it was that I was fighting in. And I could not up but feel responsible for it...

Colin... Ilia... Link...

"I will fight in your memory, Link." I promised as I looked up as Zant then bowed and politely knelt down towards where the prince had been.

"Long live the King of Hyrule." He quietly declared.

Moments later, the transported us out of the prince's chambers.

-outside, sometime later-

Dawn had fallen across Hyrule, and all of Castle Town was waking up, or getting ready for the day ahead.

But then a strange phenomena occurred- one that would shake what was left of Hyrule's uneasy hope.

The castle itself became encased in a yellow, diamond shaped barrier that was riddled with alien markings. It was so large, that everyone for miles around would be able to notice it.

Everyone in the town who saw this occurrence were surprised, and mystified. It wasn't long until people began to panic in the streets.

"W-what's going on?" A lady gasped.

"The castle is in trouble!" A Goron and his son stared from their post at an outlook, but either one knew what to do.

"Is the prince ok?!" A group of girls panicked.

"Is Hyrule even safe anymore?!" A musician and his friends nervously glanced at each other.

In front of the square fountain- petting her cat Louise, who was resting in her arms- was Telma. She was going out to buy a few items for her tavern when she saw the event, and although she was as troubled as the others, she still felt a bit of hope and was seeing it in the form of a young woman.

"Where are you when we need you, Zelda?" Telma wondered as she stroked Louise's fur.

-Faron Woods-

As soon as I made it to Faron Woods, I rushed my way towards the forest temple.

"I trust you know where to go." Zant spoke from my shadow.

I had a feeling that I knew: there was a myth in Ordon that there was a grove that housed a sacred treasure near the forest temple. I could either ask Faron, or one of the animals in the woods for help, and I was sure that I could start with Ook and his friends.

As soon as I made it to the pathway that lead to the temple, the girl monkey from earlier suddenly leapt out from somewhere and was then surrounded by marionette like beings that came out from the sky.

The monkey panicked and shivered as she remained frozen in place while the marionettes with leaves on their backs then noticed me and turned in my direction.

"I rather like their design." Zant complimented the sheer, unsettling creepiness in their appearance and how they moved, as if by invisible hands from up above. However, I was not in the mood, and attacked them all until they were turned into piles of splinters and firewood.

"D-did you save me?!" The monkey regained her courage when she saw me coming to join her. "Th-thank you!"

"I'm glad to see that your ok." I kindly replied. "Where on earth did those come from?"

"Well, Madame Wolf, there's a really pretty wooded area on the other side of this cliff! I climbed over there, but when I tried to get deeper into the woods, those guys attacked me! I wonder what are in those woods..." She turned an inquisitive head towards the direction she previously came from.

"That's what I would like to know." I began heading in that direction.

"But they'll attack you too!" The monkey protested.

I turned my head and smirked. "Then I'll just have to knock them down!"

"You know..." The monkey became thoughtful. "Your scent reminds me of a beautiful princess who helped me and my friends not so long ago. She was just as brave as you are, Madame Wolf."

"You can call me Zelda." I smiled in appreciation- it was nice to know that she hadn't forgotten about me. "And what is your name?"

"Hibi- my name is Hibi!"

"When I return, Hibi, I'll tell you about what I found in those woods. I don't know when I'll come back, but I'll tell you when I see you again." I then raced off. "Bye, Hibi!"

"Bye Zelda!" Hibi called out. "Be careful!"

After an oddly placed obstacle course and an oddly placed howling stone, I found myself in an area of the woods I had never been to before... There was a feeling of uneasiness and fear that was eating away at me, but I forced myself to press on.

-the sacred grove-

I found myself in a strange, almost otherworldly grove, filled with a misty fog, trees, and what seemed to be tunnels that lead to other parts of the area.

"What an interesting place." Zant came out of my shadow. "I wonder what this Master Sword will look like, when we see it- they did make an effort to place it in such a hard to reach location, after all."

For some odd reason, there was a howling stone that was playing an oddly familiar melody- it reminded me of a lullaby.

I howled alongside it, curious to see what would happen.

I waited... and then we heard the sound of pipes playing a different melody.

As the melody came closer, I noted how it sounded mysterious, playful and yet, like the lullaby I had the strangest sense that I heard it before, like a long forgotten memory.

The music stopped and then a little child like creature leapt from one of the trees. It looked like one of those marionettes, and it's clothes had leaves sewn into them in various places- even on it's red hat. In one hand, it held a set of pipes, and in the other, a lantern that glowed with a blue light. It looked at us with unnatural eyes and a wide, almost permanent grin across it's blue mask like face.

"You finally came!" The voice of a child- a boy- came from him as he suddenly scuttled towards us. "A new playmate for Skull Kid!" It cheered.

"Playmate?" Zant tilted his mask covered head at it- him?

"The hero is finally here!" Skull Kid glanced it's head this way and that. "I know you're a wolf at the moment, but he's going to fix that for you!"

He? I wondered.

"He's been waiting for you for a very long time, hero!" Skull Kid nodded his head. "I saw you coming in the form of the wolf on the face of the moon- the moon that wears a face is bad luck, you see." He said as if it were common knowledge. "But I saw the hero in the moon, which is a good thing!"

"What on earth are you?" Zant wondered as his the pitch of his voice took on a curious, but almost amused tone. "Are you a puppet brought to life? Or some sort of forest spirit!"

"I'm not a puppet!" Skull Kid snapped at Zant. "I hate that word! I hate it!"

"We have little time for playtime." Zant tried to continue, and I could sense that he was trying to stay calm through his reserved demeanor, because I could see him trembling somewhat.

"Like you're one to talk, lizard face!" Skull Kid snapped.

Zant flinched.

I almost felt sorry for Skull Kid, and yet I dreaded what was about to happen.

And then, like an angry child, he began to ferociously hope up and down.

"Lizard face?!" He began to seethe as (to my horror) he took out his scimitars. "I'll show you whose a lizard Face, you rotten bark of wood!"

"Cant catch me, ya overgrown serpent!" Skull Kid then... spanked his rear with his musical instrument and dashed off.

"Get back here!" Zant roared and chased after him.

"Zant!" I howled as we chased the Skull Kid through the grove and the first of the tunnels.

And then the marionettes began to chase me. Great- just great!

After some time, when I had reached a pool of water, I heard Skull Kid cry out. "Miss Wolf!"

I skidded to a stop and turned to face Skull Kid, who was right behind me. I let out a yelp and backed away- he literally appeared from out of nowhere!

"I'm supposed to take you to that which you seek!" He giggled. "I know you need the blade to shear off your wolf's hide! But it's me that you should seek first!"

I gave him a pleading look- I really wanted to become a human again, and I'd be a fish frying in Death Mountain before I'd be playing hide and seek with this-

"Please play with me?" The Skull Kid almost whined. "It's been so long since I had a good playmate!"

I let out the closest thing to a sigh as possible and nodded. I guess I did feel a little sorry for him.

Taking that as a sign, Skull Kid gleefully ran down a pathway, and left behind more marionettes that I was forced to deal with.

"Come chase me, come chase me!" Skull Kid sang to the tune of that odd melody as I dispatched his 'toys'. Chase until your feet, fall off, crazily! Oh, chase me! Come chase me, come chase me, chase the Skull Kid, he'll lead you to your destiny!"

I chased Skull Kid down the pathway- all the while I could hear Zant's frustrated, animalistic cries, combined with the singing of the Skull Kid. When I could hear the music growing louder, I knew I was heading in the right direction.

"The sword can wait, yes he can, yes he can!" His voice wavered, without realizing that I was approaching him from behind. "But before you find him, first find me!"

I tackled Skull Kid to the ground. Instead of giving in, he then disappeared out of sight as soon as he got up. I glanced around in confusion, until I saw him rushing towards another tunnel.

"Little hero running lost in the grove!" He sang as he sent another wave of marionettes at me. "Guess she'll- guess she'll- guess 'she'll- guess she'll- guess she'll- guess she'll- guess she'll- ne'r find the trove!"

Seriously, what was with that song?

I growled and tackled the marionettes before I raced into the tunnel. Once I got to the other end, I felt something collide into me and, with a great "Omph!" knocked the both of us to the ground.

"I'm going to dismember that little brat!" Zant pounded his fists on the ground- with his blades still in his hands, no less!- as I tried to get out from under him. Needless to say, I felt the same way- just not quite as much.

"Oh Woooolf!" I looked up to see Skull Kid waving at us. "Mr. Lizard Face!"

We both charged after the Skull Kid as soon as we got ourselves untangled. I could hear the imp panting as he lead us away- I hoped that he was starting to grow tired of this game.

We found ourselves at a ledge that lead down to a circular area with a ring of old stone rubble, with the Skull Kid on a pillar and playing his horns at the center. I didn't even hesitate to jump down to join my 'playmate.'

When he realized that I made it, he jolted in surprise. But then he began to tremble and proceeded to stomp and throw a tantrum.

"You're a meanie, hero- I hate meanies!" He growled. "You attacked me!"

I growled back at him.

He disappeared onto one part of the rubble and summoned more marionettes with his horn. By this point, I was getting fed up with him and instead of focusing on his minions, I made to attack the imp, but he vanished onto another area and summoned out more minions.

I took a moment to think... he really liked using those pipes ... and then I knew what to do.

I attacked the marionettes and waited for Skull Kid to summon out more- and that's when I made my move to strike.

I soared through the air, tackled the imp, and pinned him to the ground with my paws.

I growled and barred my fangs at the struggling imp, while Zant cheered on "Yes! Tear the little beast apart!"

"Don't you dare!" Skull Kid cried out. "Otherwise, you'll never get to meet the sacred sword! Do you want to stay trapped in the wolf's hide, hero?"

Realizing that he had a point, I got off of him.

"Thank you." The Skull Kid got up and brushed himself off as he sighed in relief. "The truth is, I have been watching over this sacred place for quite some time. It's the least I could do... especially for the one that came before you... I'm not entirely alone, as the fairies like to come and go, and I like to converse with him from time to time, even if he can't respond back... But it can get so lonely sometimes, and I just wanted a friend."

My anger evaporated, and I suddenly felt a bit of pity for the imp. In fact, he reminded me of a popular story of a similar, lonely Skull Kid, from a long time ago... maybe that's what kept me from outright hurting him?

The Skull Kid happily laughed and leapt into the sky, where he disappeared into thin air.

"Hee, hee, hee! That was lot's of fun!" His voice echoed around me. "I wish I could play more, but I can't! He's been waiting for you, and I can't keep you two apart for much longer!"

And, as if the grove had been under some sort of spell, the enchanted fogginess vanished and natural sunlight broke through. The grove lost a bit of it's ethereal beauty in the process, but a tunnel then appeared in one of the walls, and I had a feeling that the Skull Kid was keeping his word for good.

"What a strange child." Zant appeared beside me. "I don't like him, though I admit that his oddity is quite appealing to me."

"Somehow, I could see you two becoming friends." I spoke, even though I figured that he wouldn't hear me. And with that, we headed through the tunnel, and into the heart of the grove, where an impressive sight awaited us.

We found ourselves in the remains of what was once a mighty architecture of some sorts. Time had not been to kind to it, and while I could see walls, archways, stairs, and a pair of stone statures, it had crumbled away and allowed nature to take it's course. I estimated that this place could have been hundreds, if not thousands, of years old, and what bothered me was that there were so many known locations within the forest that could have once been this place, and yet I could not figure out which one it was.

I saw a doorway with the Skyloft bird insignia upon a block of stone, but there seemed to be no way through it. I knew the Master Sword just had to be beyond that doorway...

I saw the sign of the Triforce on the ground. Taking that as a sign, I approached it and howled out the lullaby from earlier.

To my relief, the stone slab disappeared, revealing a set of stairs.

"Well, this is it." Zant turned to me. "You first, Lady Wolf."

I went ahead and walked up the steps, and into a spacious mist covered area. I could see nothing but trees surrounding this particular spot, and sunlight was pouring down, onto one particular spot. I couldn't see anything through the fog, until I could make out a certain object that stood out, like a beacon, and I moved closer into the center...

And there it was: the blade of legends.

I quickly approached it until I was close enough to take a look at it's details, as I recalled all of the theories and legends behind it.

A black handle, with white diamonds criss-crossed around it. It's tip, and it's guard were a rich maroon red. The symbol of the Triforce was etched onto the dull, grayish metal of the blade. And in the middle of the guard- which was shaped like a pair of wings- was a yellow diamond, that was surrounded by two entwining metals of what appeared to be gold, but one had a green tint, while the other had a more rose colored hue.

This was the blade that carried down legends almost before Hyrule was even considered to be known as Hyrule. This was the blade cloaked in mysteries and theories, and boasted many names: The Blade of Evil's Bane, the Sword Forged by Hylia, the Sword Raised Skyward, The Key of Time... and some jokingly, yet almost seriously referred to it as the Hero's Bridegroom, or the Extension of the Hero's Soul.

But it only had one name that all recognized and needed to know...The Master Sword.

"What a curious blade." Zant came out of my shadow to examine it closely. "That is quite the exquisite craftsmanship. Such lovely colors and detail- whoever made this must have been an excellent blacksmith."

He then backed away from it and looked to me. "I suppose it's time to see whether or not the prince was correct about his theory."

I slowly approached the sword- would this truly work?

"Please..." I almost pleaded to it. "I don't want to be stuck as a wolf."

As if hearing my plea, a light slowly rose from the pedestal, and up the blade, which began to shine. When it reached the yellow diamond, it let out a pure white shimmering light.

A gust of wind came out of the sword, blew away the fog, almost knocked my companion over, and would have knocked me down, if I hadn't kept my ground.

I then felt... I felt something pleasant invading my body. I could feel it coursing through every inch of my being.

I could feel my body shift as I struggled to approach the sword. It didn't feel painful, but it made my body numb as I began to change- my hind legs became regular human legs, and my right paw- which was reaching for the handle of the sword- was turning into a human hand. All the while, that powerful gust was trying to drive me away from the Master Sword.

I finally changed enough to the point that I finally was able to run head on, and my hand grasped the handle of the blade of evil's bane.

And that's when everything went white for me.

-?-

All was white when I opened my eyes.

I was restored to my true form- I could feel it- but I couldn't see Zant, the grounds, or the Master sword itself.

The first thing I then realized was that I was falling head first. I don't know why or where I was falling, but I didn't feel like I was in any real danger.

The second thing was that, for some odd reason, I was in my Ordon clothing- and judging by the lack of weight from my back, I was weaponless.

"Zant?" I finally called out. "Where are you?"

No response.

"Hello?" I asked out loud. "WHERE AM I?!" I finally yelled.

I sighed as I glanced at myself again- I had to be having some sort of strange dream, or I was in some sort of other dimension, like when I trained with the shade.

And then, a smooth, playful, yet oddly comforting voice rang out and echoed around me.

"The hero destined by time... carried down the line started by the hero of the sky."

"Whose there?!" I demanded to the voice- I didn't feel any danger from it, but after all I had gone through, I still felt uneasy by it. "Who are you?!"

"But like a trident, the line unraveled and split into three points... the blessed and accursed number." The voice ignored me as it continued.

One line, in which time's champion died all too prematurely... her successor sought to protect her homeland and honor the wishes of her dying father and the king's nephew and successor... and she renewed the broken soul of the companion most faithful to her.

One line, in which time's champion sealed away the evil, but was separated from her destined one, out of selfless love... her successor, filled with guilt and seeking redemption, was given knowledge of her true heritage...and the accursed cycle ended by the one who finally felt at peace.

One line, in which time's champion was bestowed her heart's truest desires and saved her kingdom in time... her successor-"

I interrupted and demanded. "Who are you?"

"The dreamer... or am I the dream?" The voice wondered out loud. "Are you the dream, or are you the dreamer?"

"I am the one who will see whether or not you are ready to accept your intended birthright." The voice continued. "Those who came before accepted it with purpose and intent, and you certainly have all the right qualities... and yet, this time, there is something that's out of line. Something that's not quite right."

"Because I was turned into a wolf?" I asked.

"This problem runs deeper than the hide of a wolf, child of Hyrule. For when one's hand touches the handle of the blade, their memories, both dark and light, can be brought forth- waiting to judge them.

I was able to get in an upright position during my descent, and landed on an invisible floor.

Then everything went black.

I turned around in alarm, just as a light began to form in front of me... and I was meet with an odd sight.

"Sir Gustav?" A flustered, exhausted looking woman approached my father, who looked nervous. She gave him a beaming grin when he faced her.

"Congratulations- it's a perfectly healthy girl!"

My father let out a sharp gasp and overwhelming joy filled his face as he rushed past the midwife and into the next room.

In the room was my mother resting n a bed- she looked like a complete wreck, but she was also able to smile as she held a small, blanketed baby in her arms.

"Here's your father." She showed the baby to my father. "He's been waiting to see you."

My father knelt beside mother and glanced at the baby. He looked as if he was going to cry.

"I... I suppose it's Zelda then?" He laughed and mother cracked a grin.

"She has your eyes." She gave the baby a gentle rock.

"And she will have your beauty, my Ana." My father kissed the baby's forehead.

"I don't remember this." I spoke as I watched as a pain filled my heart- this was the happiness that I rarely saw when I was a child. "I was too little."

The memory then shifted.

"You see, Zelda?" My father pointed to the wolves in the distance, from where we were safely away from them. "Wolves may seem to be like dangerous creatures, but there is a beauty about them, if only you look closer."

"Is it true that wolves like to be alone?" I asked.

"No." My father denied. "So long as a wolf can be part of a pack- or at least form one- then it will never be alone."

I smiled. "Maybe I'm just like a wolf."

My father turned to me, but he looked disheartened when he saw my bandaged hand. "Let's hope so." He murmured.

"They loved me... but... everything went apart."

"There's only one thing that could save her from her fate. If we can't undo what's been done, then I'll make sure she will have what she deserves, so that nothing will come to harm her."

"You can't!"

"I have to do this! Zelda needs to be safe- you and the baby need to be safe! You don't know what kind of trouble that mark will cause!"

"And then my mother gave me up..."

Again, I saw my mother try to burn the mark off my hand, and again, I watched as it glowed and sent out a force that killed her.

"But then... Rusl and Uli-"

"May I ask you a question?" Rusl knelt beside me. "Why do you always wear a bandage?"

I gave my hand a grimace. "My hand bears the Triforce mark.. it's cursed. So I have to keep it covered, unless someone thinks I'm special and will kill me."

Rusl gave me an unreadable look. "Do you truly believe that?"

I nodded my head. "Father said he was going to find a way to protect me- but he never came back."

Rusl then placed a hand over mine.

"You shouldn't have to hide what makes you special." Rusl spoke. "And it's ok to be scared- it's in our nature to be scared, because it keeps us alive. But it shouldn't isolate us from happiness. If you have to hide, you'll miss out on so much- in fact, if I had let my fears control me, I wouldn't have become a knight, or even dared to speak to Uli when we first met."

He then smiled at me. "And you know what? I think it wouldn't hurt to teach you how to fight."

I was surprised. "But father would never let me so much as touch his sword!"

"You need to be able to protect yourself somehow- everyone should know how to protect themselves or protect others that they care about."

I smiled. "From then on, I made sure to train as much as possible, until I forgot why I started in the first place. I even began to consider them as the parents I was supposed to have, until Colin was born. I was worried that they would want to give me up for a long time, until Rusl took notice."

"Just because Uli is having a child, it doesn't mean that we will ignore you." Rusl told me. "You are important to this family: this child will want an older sibling to look up to. Uli and I may not be your parents, and we aren't pressuring you to consider us to be them... but you are like a daughter to us. And we are proud to have you in our family."

"So long as a wolf can be a part of a pack- or at least form one- then it will never be alone." I unintentionally recalled out loud.

"Or so long as they keep the pack in their hearts." Rusl added with a smile.

And when I finally saw Uli on her bed, with a blanketed baby in her arms, she gave me a happy smile.

"Say hello to your older sister, Colin." She let me see a cherub of a baby boy with lovely blue eyes.

And I suddenly felt myself fall in love with the little boy- I loved him, and wanted nothing more then to protect him, and tell him all that I knew- of legends, of stories, and of dreams that took me up into the sky.

"And from then on, everything in the past felt like a bad dream." I felt tears run down from my eyes. "I was happy... I thought that it could last forever."

"But life isn't always supposed to be happy." The voice spoke. "By neglecting your past, you neglected that you may one day have to do that which you were always meant to fulfill."

"I don't want to remember that part of my past!" I grew angry at the voice and held my hand up. "My life was a nightmare because of this accursed mark! I never asked to be a hero!"

"Sometimes, we can't control the direction of our life, as tragic as it is." The voice became somewhat melancholic, as if it knew from experience. "We can't foresee everything, and we have to make the choices that are necessary-"

"I did!" I yelled out in frustration. "I saved Hyrule, and what did I get in exchange? What did I lose, because of being a hero?!"

"So... I take it that you are afraid of something."

"I'm not afraid!" I yelled.

"But you are... which makes you a coward."

I then felt a horrible pain in my hand.

I drew it back and saw that the hand with the mark was burning with a real fire. Not just the back, but all of it. And as if seeing it made something click, the pain worsened to the point that I let out a scream and clutched my wrist.

"Fear cripples you." The voice was now cold. "Though you have Wisdom and Power, your Courage is constantly wavering, and never stays still. Without a balance, you lack the ability to perform as a true hero."

"Stop it!" I screamed. "For Nayru's sake, stop it!"

"Isn't that what you said to me, before you killed me?" My mother's disapproving voice suddenly rang out. "I could have had my husband back, and a sibling for you, if he hadn't left to 'protect you', as he put it. He probably even ran off with some tart! Instead, I produced a still-born and, even though I tried to protect you the only way I could, you killed me!"

"I wouldn't of had to leave on your behalf." Father's cold voice spoke. "I could have helped your mother when she was depressed, and she wouldn't of had to die."

"No..." I whimpered.

"I lost my son because of you." Uli spoke. "Those hunters could have captured you too, but they gave you up and took my own son instead. I could lose the child that's yet to be borne from all of this stress, just like your mother!"

"We all lost our children because of you." I could hear a collective voice of the village adults.

"I didn't mean to-!" I protested.

"I lost my memory because of you." Ilia cut in. "You could have checked on Epona, but you were careless and I had to do it, and get captured. And now I can't remember my old life, my father, or anything else about myself, let alone you."

"Please stop this!" I pleaded. "I didn't-

"I had to give up my life to save my kingdom." The displeased voice of the prince rang out. "All because you had to exist."

I let out a scream of frustration. "STOP!"

"Aw, so sad." Midna's mocking voice rang out. "The little wolf is nothing more than a whimpering coward."

"Who are you to judge me?!" I cried out as the fire burned my hand. "First the spirits, then the Shade- even Zant- and now you?!"

"So you try to blame me?" Zant was not amused. "You're more pathetic than I thought- You're weak."

"I'M NOT WEAK!"

"Then what are you so afraid of?" The now hateful voice was now booming and almost painfully loud."Why do you refuse the call, hero?"

"I'm not a hero!" I finally cried out and threw my hands out. "What good did my birthmark do for me? My father left us and possibly died trying to find the Master Sword! My mother blamed me for it and tried to burn the mark off my hand, and she died because of me! I killed my own mother!"

The sound of my own echoing voice in the darkness rang out.

-SUNDOWN-

"But that's not all..." I finally realized as the physical pain began to lessen.

"What if the bulbins were really after me? What if I was the reason why Ilia lost her memory and the children were kidnapped? How many people will sacrifice themselves to help me? What good have I done?!" I trembled. "I failed to save Hyrule... if Midna is still out there-!"

I fell to my knees as my strength began to fade and my face fell into my hands.

"What if I'm cursed?" I asked. "What if.. what if I was never meant to have... any real happiness?"

"So yes... I'm afraid that I am doomed to only give misery to those who come close to me. All I've done has only lead to darkness..."

There was a haunting silence.

I sobbed. "Maybe it's better that I stay stuck as a wolf. After all, what good have I done?"

All I could hear was the sound of my own sobbing... never had I felt so alone in all of my life.

"Do you really think you haven't done anything that was good?" The voice- no longer cold- finally spoke out. "Do you remember the monkeys you saved? How you freed their leader and the Goron Patriarch from possession? The Zoras you saved? How you helped their prince and gave peace to his late mother? Do you know of the inspiration you have given to those who have known you?"

"Wh-what?" I looked up... and I saw Colin smiling at me with brotherly love.

"I think I finally understand. I understand what my dad meant when he told me I needed to be stronger, like you...He wasn't talking about strength, like lifting stuff. He was talking about being brave..."

Colin suddenly turned into the thoughtful monkey.

"Your scent reminds me of a beautiful princess who helped me and my friends not so long ago."

Gor Coron.

"Young warrior... You have a strong will... and sharp eyes."

Renado.

"In Hyrule, countless tales are told of the ancient hero.. and your deeds bring them all to mind."

Telma.

"This swordsman- or should I say swordswoman- of ours has great eyes, honey. They're proud and wild... like a feral beast. We need a beast right now, to keep the true ones at bay."

Rutela.

"Please, you must allow me to thank you for revitalizing both my people and the spring... I am deeply grateful to you for aiding my son in his time of need."

And finally... Prince Link beamed a radiant smile at me.

"You restored my hope... please give that hope and your courage to my people, even when I can not."

As the prince faded away into the dark, the voice spoke out- but this time, there was a warmth and it held pride... and so much more...

"You have always been destined for greatness. You have had much to endure, and yet, with the heart of the wolf that kept you strong, you pressed on. It would be a great shame and an outrage if you gave up now."

"They... they would be upset at me." I admitted with a ghost of a smile. "Colin believes in me... Telma would be cross if I gave up... and the pr- Link had faith in me, and I don't want to disgrace his memory by not honoring his last wish."

"They believe in you... And I believe, in you." I didn't know why... but that voice sounded familiar... like from a long forgotten dream or memory that was comforting in the darkest of times. So many things seemed familiar, and yet this voice... I was struggling to figure out why, but I couldn't. And yet, it didn't bother me in the slightest.

"So, Zelda- daughter of Sir Gustav and Lady Ana- daughter of Sir Rusl and Uli- come to me. Lend me your hand, and I shall lend my strength to you. I shall help you protect those who you cherish, and lead you to the happiness you always deserved... and back to the happiness you always had."

I saw something in the distance- a small, faint light, shining in the distance.

There was no point in staying like this forever: it was time to face the light.

I got up and began to run.

I ran as fast as I could- I felt my feet stick to something that wanted to slow me down, but I kept running. I could feel something- like tiny hands- attach themselves onto my arms and legs, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on. I could feel the little hands holding me back in protest.

"From out of the darkness and into the light- even if you must stay in between, you must carry both to survive. You have been shaped by the past, but it's the future that you will need to shape with your own hand."

I forced my body to press on, until the hands snapped free and let go of me. I would have fallen face first, had I not stepped one foot out in time.

I could feel the ground rising up against my feet, and I saw the outline of some sort of formation rising up ahead of me.

I didn't even hesitate: I began to leap up in large bounds on the formation as it continued to rise, while the light ahead kept growing. I should have felt my stamina drain, and a pressure on my legs, and yet I felt as if I could fly through the clouds.

I saw the faint outline of something in the light. I couldn't make it out, but I could see an outstretched hand reaching out for me.

As soon as I got high enough, I leapt off the highest part of the formation and began to soar towards that hand. I then threw my hand towards the other one, which looked as white as the light itself, and the outline began to take on a more distinctive, masculine- almost human like, shape.

Our hands then were able to latch onto each others wrists. I held on to that wrist for dear life, while the other hand held a firmness that told me that it would never let me go, no matter what would happen.

Suddenly, a golden light came out of that hand, and I shut my eyes. I felt my clothes change back to the ones I was wearing in my journey, I could feel my shield returning, and I could feel an empty scabbard at my back.

The hand that I held onto changed it's shape inside my own, and my eyes finally opened.

Instead of a hand, I was holding onto the hilt of the Master Sword itself.

As I marveled at this change, I then felt a gentle pair of hands place themselves on my shoulders and I sensed someone kneeling behind me.

"I always believe in the one who wields me." The voice- which no longer seemed so omnipotent and more natural- seemed to whisper this in my ear. "So become my Mistress, dearest Zelda, for only one kind of soul may possess the right to wield the Master Sword... that beloved soul possess a strong determination and resilience to brave the hardest of trials and the deepest of sorrows. Always remember that."

And then... I felt myself soaring up with the light. But not before the voice lovingly echoed out one more thing for me to hear.

"No matter the form of my wielder, I shall forever remain bound and faithful to her, and guide her to where she must go."

-Present-

I opened my eyes and glanced back to the Master Sword, which I held with a clearly human hand.

With an ease that felt similar to the one that was now in my heart, I pulled the Master Sword up from it's pedestal and raised it skyward. The dull grayness of the blade now shinned in a lighter tone and almost seemed to give off a faint glow, as if it were alive. It gave me a confidence and a peace that I seemingly hadn't felt for quite long time.

"That sword chose you as it's mistress." I could hear Zant's impressed voice.

I smiled at the diamond in the Master Sword. "I promise." I swore- if I was going to be a hero, then I would have to first prove to my sword that I could act on what my heart would tell me. "I'm going to save Hyrule- I'm going to make this blade proud!"


...Even if it's not much- I missed writing him. I almost recommended listening to Sarah Brightman's 'I'll be with you' but even though the parallels were close... they weren't THAT close enough... again with my Pokemon craze!

Why there isn't a desperate hour scenario: Zant is not an imp and would be too heavy to carry.

The sacrifice: I know what I am doing! Trust me, if it looks like I'm not being completely accurate, then I'm running on an in-game theory with this one... which I will explain in due time.

Hibi: short for hibiscus... though I think the flower on her head was a different kind... I'm thinking of Jigglypuff... DARN YOU POKEMON!

Skull Kid's song: to the tune of Saria's song, no less!

Zant praising what he does not know: Oh Zant, you have no idea what part of the fandom you just pleased, or the irony of the compliment. :D

Like a trident, the line unraveled...: I don't even need to say what it's referencing, or who those successors are, do I?

The test: Ok, I'm going to get this out of the way: this is mainly why I skipped the statue puzzle.

OMG is that who I think it is?!: By now, you guys already know, or had figured it out.

I wanted to give Zelda some sort of backstory for this fan fic, and she doesn't have too much of a backstory in the game, and... neither does Link. So I had wanted to flesh them out and give them at least something.

But, of course, the Master Sword would refuse point blank to allow a doubting hero to wield him- he doesn't like a wielder who is prone to depression, and he knows that they need to have the right balance before they can be considered worthy. So, being the lovable sadist that he is, making her confront what she was afraid of was the only way to get her out of that darkness for good.

This very important reunion somewhat helped influence the backstory I needed to give to Zelda... well, that and an old Zelda fan film called 'The Sage of Darkness'

Anyway... Thanks for those who have been following this fan fic. I appreciate your reviews, comments, and insights, and I look forward to the second act of this story.