A/N, This took me a bit longer because I was debating which twin's (if you're this far in the story, you know who I'm talking about) dungeon to write first (Even though they occur at the same time... And wow, I forgot how the spell 'occur' someone correct me. Please). Finally, I decided on Link's, because he was introduced first... What are we going to do with Kafei, you might ask? Just watch.

And then my computer goes and deletes some stuff. Well $h!t~ Then the below happened... Good luck guys. I know it sucks. Agua's a sucky writer.

The Legend of Zelda: Hero Twins
Chapter Seven: Preparations

Link
The next day, I split off from the others. It took a lot of convincing to get Kafei to let me go off alone. I assured him, I'd be back before dark. We were able to come up with an excuse after a while - I was going in to check if Old Castle Town was safe enough for all three of us to go in. Recon, I'd called it.

After watching them head off to Kakariko, where we'd meet back up, I started towards the wall that divides Old Castle Town from the rest of Hyrule. The water that once ran under the broken drawbridge has all but evaporated, leaving a ten foot deep hole around the town. Might want to be careful around there. One slip and it's a broken leg. The drawbridge was still up, amazingly, but looked rotted.

The escapees might've come back after Death Mountain fell to salvage anything they could. That's why the bridge is here. I tried to imagine it, sifting through what used to be your home. To see what was left of those who didn't leave. Just to suddenly realize everything you hold dear is gone.

They say that when the Queen Zelda of the Era of Twilight died, she forewarned death and destruction. She was most certainly right, because two weeks after she was laid to rest in the Royal Family's Tomb, Death Mountain started erupting. In History Class, we learned that when Death Mountain began spewing, it didn't stop. After a week of erupting, it literally fell to ground, flattening everything within a twenty mile radius. Most people - including the royal family - left during the first wave of tremors before the volcano fell, but there were some stubborn Hylians and Gorons who stayed. They were the ones who died.

All the Gorons save for a few had been wiped out, obliterated. It's rare to see a Goron in this day and age, especially since Hyrulians seem to have no regard for the other races. I remember a Zora saleswoman who would sit in New Castle Town square for days and never have anyone buy something.

I remember seeing a Goron that one time... In the woods, wasn't it?

I look around the first portion of the town. Most of the buildings were incased in cooled ash and lava, but there were a few that still had legible signs, some still with paint on the walls, even skeletons. I shivered at that last detail, but pressed on none the less. After passing through the narrow corridor, I saw a city that mirrored New Castle Town.

Or rather, New Castle Town mirrored it.

There was a fountain in the center, cracked and falling to pieces. It was surrounded by shops, small buildings with still hanging, decrepit signs. I could see a temple in the distance, still standing despite years of it still needing to fall. I'd have to check that out.

From what I could gather, the town was still very active when Death Mountain collapsed, because there were still a fair amount of skeletons littering the ground. I ignored the feeling of dread coming over me. These were people, who died so suddenly. Had they even passed on? Were their spirits still here, somewhere? I knew it was possible, the Poes were restless spirits. Would I have to fight one of them? I vaguely felt a hand fall on my left shoulder, moving downward.

I turned abruptly, pulling my sword, but there was nothing surrounding me. I surveyed the area again, trying to pinpoint what the disturbance was. But, again, I saw no people, or a Poe, for that matter. I sighed, and shook my head, clearing it of paranoia.

I pressed onwards, towards the Temple I'd spotted. If it were the Temple of Courage, then it was in a very obvious place. I stood in front of the imposing doors, taking in how beautiful the edifice was for being well, quite frankly, hundreds of years old. It was once the door to the Sacred Realm, so I was going to tread with caution. I couldn't take risks.

I was expected to rescue the princess in one piece, right?

The door was surprisingly light, for being so big. It opened with a creak, a groan, then I saw the main room. I was astounded. The marble... Looked untouched. It felt like I was stepping back into the past. The red carpet still appeared clean, the marble columns looked sturdy, and the stain glass windows weren't shattered.

The first one I noticed was right above the famed Door of Time - and what used to be the chamber of the Master Sword. It's been said that the Hero of Twilight moved it somewhere much more safe, as it served as a link between what is Sacred and what is not, and should be protected more aptly. The window depicted a crystalline figure, with a blue and purple cape covering her arms. Her entire body was blue, with eyes like a statue's - blank - and shortened blue hair. She appeared no older than fourteen, but there was something about the way she'd been depicted - with the Master Sword right behind her...

Fi, the Sword Spirit.

I turned my head, and saw the depiction of Navi, the most famous of the fairies. Although from far away, the amount of detail given would have been impossible to decipher, the fairy was depicted in her full glory here. She appeared to be an ageless, five inch tall, winged girl dressed in blue. Her feet rested on a gloved hand - presumably, the Hero's - with her black hair trailing across his fingers. A look of concern painted her eyes.

On the other side, I noticed the depiction of Midna - the Twilight Princess - in her true form. She had been the guide to the Hero of Twilight, and the ruler of the Twilight Realm before Ganondorf had used a pawn to become King. She was cloaked in a black dress, with green skin. Her hair was red - almost like fire - down her back. Her depiction was scary, yet with a childish grin. It was part of what made her scary.

"Hey, Link...

"Isn't that...

"It's that legendary blade! The Master Sword!"

I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard the girl's voice. It had to be one of the Fragments that legend's spoke of - the shattered remains of the past that stuck around, reverberating sometimes.

"Ah, yes, the oral tradition, the least reliable method of information retention and distribution."

I took a breath, focusing on the stoic voice. It was clearly female, but cold and emotionless - Fi, perhaps? - And almost deadpan, like it was chiding the first voice. I shut my eyes and strained to hear more voices, thinking that another would come. After a few seconds of unnerving silence, I decide that I'm either going completely insane or am very, very, very close to the Temple of Courage.

I really hope it's the latter.

When I can't take sitting still any longer, I move towards the ajar stone door that looked like it weighed more than ten moblins put together. Beyond that there was an empty pedestal, almost begging to have something set on it. I take a tentative step into the room. An eerie green glow cast across the floor as I step across the chamber.

"Welcome, Hero of Courage."

I draw my sword, because this time: It wasn't just a voice. It vibrated across the room, coming from right where I entered. I spin to face the person.

What I see astounds me more than any surprise attack ever could.

A girl made of green crystal stands behind the pedestal. She had wild curls down her back, covering the wings coming out of her back. Her face seemed to hold a hidden ferocity behind a mask of serenity. She was dressed like one of ancient depictions of the goddesses, with a robe that fell to the floor. She was a bit shorter than me. "Have you lost the ability to speak?" she asks.

"Who are you?" I question cautiously.

"I am the Great Fairy of Courage." the girl answers, narrowing her eyes, "You are the Hero of Courage, but you still seem to have a boyish quality to you... That just won't do." she remarks. "But, yes, I am Farore's, I guess you could say, head fairy. I help keep the little fairies in order and out of trouble." All of a sudden, the fairy walks over to me, and everything just snaps to black. I think she hit me in the head, though...

It was five years ago when I met the Goron. He looked exactly like what a history book description made them sound like. He was a large man made of rock, with purple eyes and a round face. He carried a shattered shard of something in his hand, something golden and bright. It was only the size of my fist at the time, so I just assumed it was gem or something. I was more curious about who the Goron was.

"... It's resonating..." I heard him mutter as I slowly cantered closer.

I got his attention with a quick cry of "Hey, mister!" and waving my arms. He jumped back, but relaxed when he saw it was just me. "Watcha doin' out in these woods? It's dangerous, ya'know." I ask him, annoyed with the missing tooth for making me sound like I had a lisp.

He sighed, and then stowed the bright thing away, "Just lost, little fellow. Are you sure you should be wandering these woods as well? If they

are as dangerous as you say."

I rubbed on the back of my head, "Okay, maybe they're not too bad, but it's still scary out here, mister."

He chuckled, "Perhaps you can help me find the closest town, little fellow. I am afraid that I do not have a map." The Goron remarked, nodding his head at me.

"Well sure!" I'd remarked cheerfully. "Castle Town is right up here!" I ran up ahead, climbing up the steep hill, ignoring the loud crash as the goron trampled through the woods. I didn't think much about it, at the time.

Until I heard a scream, that is.

I turned around really quickly, pulling what I used to call a sword. A shadow swept towards the goron, and in a tense reaction the Goron rolled into a ball. The shadow lunged for the dropped object. I was far ahead of the two, rushing down the same slope. The Goron, noticing that his whatever-it-was was in the hands of the shadow, leapt after him.

The shadow, having a quick reaction time, stabbed him with something (A knife? Looked too short to be a sword...) I winced, looking as the goron broke into many, many pieces. The shadow looked just as shocked, staring at the broken bits of rock.

I took one cautious step forward, and then SNAP! I broke a twig right in half, startling the attacker. It ran off, not looking back. Dismissing the killer, I looked around for the Goron's whatever-it-was. If it was so important that he'd sacrifice himself for it... I might as well find it.

That's when I blacked out again, waking up at the Knight Academy.

"So, do you understand now?" The Fairy broke through my headache. "Now do you understand why you never saw monsters until you were a bit older?"

I shook my head, "I... Don't."

She rolled her eyes, or best she could, "You didn't have the Triforce piece right then. Does that help?"

"Wait, wait, wait, time out. You're saying that I have a piece of the triforce. Meaning...?" I left the end of my question off, because, frankly, the Fairy looked like she was ready to slap me.

"When you were little, you only had half of the Courage piece, meaning that, along with being separated from the other two triforce holders, you were hard to track. When the Goron sage dropped the other piece, it was attracted to the half you hold, like the opposite end of a magnet." The Fairy responded, fists clenched by her side. "You were still farther away from the others, but monsters homed in on you easier."

"When you met up with Zelda, how quickly did a servant of darkness find you?"

"It only took a few hours. She was kidnapped by some sort of doppelganger... What is that thing, anyhow?" I urgently question. The Fairy had to know that, right?

"The Shadow... I sadly only know that it is your shadow taken form... How human it is I cannot say." she shook her head, "And when you met up with your sister, how quickly did Ghirahim, one of the three commanders of evil, find you."

"Only half a day, and we had been moving pretty fast." I remark, staring back down at the floor.

The Fairy nodded her head, "It might be safer for the three of you to travel separately. As we speak, the resonation of the pieces becomes fainter and fainter, even to my immortal ears." she then adds, "That also means you should not reunite with Zelda."

I shook my head, "No. I have to rescue Zelda. If she gets hurt, I'll be the only one to blame." I argue.

The fairy shrugged. "If you wish to save her, then challenge the Temple of Courage. There is an item in there that will help you on your quest." she lowered her gaze mischievously, "If you're up to a challenge."

I nod my head excitedly. "What do I need to do?"

"Hand me the Ocarina." The Fairy orders. "Leaving it at the entrance will ensure to me that you have no plans to just let yourself loose."

I question her logic, but hand her over the Fairy Ocarina anyhow. Not like I knew any songs at the moment. She took it quickly, striding over to the pedestal.

"O, Goddess of Courage,
Open this Temple,
Let us bring peace once more."

The room shook, the green glow brightening until I couldn't see properly. I could hear the floor falling down, like stairs being made. The noise almost worsened my headache. Finally, the light died down, and I could open my eyes.

Just as I suspected, the floor right in front of me had collapsed in, leaving me to descend into the dark temple. "Your move, Hero." the Fairy chided.

I took a deep breath, and took the longest and hardest step I've ever had to take.

Earlier that day
Sheik
"Hey, are we getting close to that village?" Kafei bugged me for seemed to be the thousandth time that hour.

"Do you see a village around here?" I respond, trying to not scream at him.

Kafei shook his head, "Nope. But for all I know, it's hidden somewhere."

I rub the side of my forehead, trying to get rid of the urge to slap the kid. I do wonder how Link puts up with him. Then again, I have never been patient. I stoop down to look him in the eyes, "Listen, we're almost there. So please stop asking if we're there yet."

Kafei crossed his arms over his chest, "I just asked if we were close..." he mumbles.

After a fifteen awkward minutes of silence and fast walking, I see the staircase up to Kakariko come into view. "Is that it?" Kafei questions, pointing at the indent.

I sigh, "Yes, that is the way up to Kakariko." At least I won't have to hear him complain any more.

Kafei ran up ahead of me, almost to the point where I couldn't see him as more than a dot in the distance. That wouldn't work too well. Holding back another annoyed sigh, I sprint to catch up.

The far off squeal of a bulbin's pig reminds me of how dangerous it still is out here. I speed up, and when I'm close enough, I grab him by the collar of his shirt.

"Hey!" he shouts.

"Do you remember what happened yesterday?" I berate, bringing Kafei up to eye level, "If I can't see you, then for all I know you're getting attacked. And I doubt Link would be happy if I let you get hurt."

The green eyed boy looks back at the ground, "Well... Yeah..."

I drop him back on his feet, "So don't run off, got it?"

"Got it..." Kafei replied, fixing his collar back into place.

I hear another Bulbin's squeal, much closer, too close. My head snaps to the right, as I try and locate the possible threat. A sharp tug on my arm calls me back to attention.

"Hey, what's the matter!?"

I shake my head, "Nothing, just thought I heard something." I look around one more time. I swear I heard something, but brush it off. Kakariko wasn't that far away anyhow.

After an uneventful walk over towards the staircase that led up to the village, Kafei asked, "Why would they build a village so close to what used to be an active volcano?"

"Huh. Good point. Maybe Death Mountain wasn't active when it was built, and the people just never thought to move the village." I theorize, but then shrug, "But that's just my thoughts." I tug on the kid's sleeve to get him moving.

Kakariko looked just like it had when I'd left last year, still as small as ever. There were some carpenters about, however. Didn't look like they were doing much, but they were here. I recognized many of the people here, whether vaguely or strikingly easily. Some of the children were running around, when one stopped and looked over towards the two of us.

"Hey! Look! Miss Impa!" one of the twins - Elric? Or Edward... - shouts, then racing off to the hut where she lived.

Impa may have been an elderly lady, but she stood tall with a straight back. Her hair was already graying, braided down her back. Even from far away, her red eyes were visible. She strode over towards us quickly.

"See!" Elric - or Edward - shouted, "I wasn't lyin'!"

"I see." Impa replied, then shooing them away with a flick of her wrist. "Hello, dear. What brings you back so soon?"

"It's good to see you too." I snidely remark under my breath.

She ignored my comment, instead turning to Kafei, "And who might you be?" She asks in a bit of a nicer tone.

"I'm Kafei, miss." he bows to her, but the weight of his shield almost makes him fall.

"Quite the little gentleman, eh?" she chuckles, then calling over one of the older kids - maybe year older than Kafei, "Lillo, why don't you show Kafei around?" she orders, even if it's in the form of a question.

Once the two had scampered off, Impa ushers for me to follow her back to the hut. The child inside me tells me I'm in trouble. The adult part of me laughs.

Entering the hut, I feel as if I've stepped back into the past again. It's kind of comforting, actually. Impa then berates, "Sheik, where have your manners gone? Take the scarf off indoors!"

Yeah, the child side was right.

I pull the scarf down, "Sorry, I guess I'm still a bit scatter brained."

"Has something happened?" Impa questions, beginning to pour tea, "Now where are my manors? Sit down, dear." she chuckles a bit, giving me an excuse to get rid of the nervous laugh that's been sitting in my throat.

"Impa, do you know any of the legends about demons? Specifically about ones that serve a definite master?" I question, happily taking the cup she hands me. The tea is still hot, calming my restlessness.

"A few, yes. In the Hero of the Sky's age, there was a demon who declared himself lord of Hyrule named Ghirahim. Any text that mentions him says the hero faced him thrice, and after the third time, Demise transformed him back into a sword, and that is where the texts stop mentioning. We can infer he was just stuck as a sword when Demise was killed." Impa informs me, taking a seat across from me, "Why, what has happened?"

I sigh, "Then somehow Ghirahim has returned. When we stopped traveling last night in order to make camp, a demon that claimed to have the same name and want to kill us for his master attacked."

"Wait, wait, who is we? You and the child?"

I shake my head, and then explain from the very beginning: the ghost, Ordon, meeting Link and Kafei, then finally about heading up here. It feels nice to not have all that on my mind.

"This is troubling. Hero Twins, huh... And the Temple of Power." she shakes her head, "The Temple of Power hasn't been touched in years, and I'm afraid the only way we remember to enter its depths is through the Kakariko Well."

I shiver, but continue on, "I have to head there. If something's wrong with this country and the only way to fix it is through the temple, then I guess I have to go."

"I knew you had the makings of a hero." Impa takes my left hand and tapping on it, "That's why I taught you instead of just keeping you here."

I bow my head, "And speaking of keeping... I can't have Kafei follow me into the temple. Do you think you could somehow stop him from trying to follow me?"

Impa nods her head quickly, "Night is fast approaching. Kafei can sleep in this hut, and once it gets dark enough, you can go to the well."

"That sounds like a plan."

"It is." Impa remarks sternly, but a smile cracks on her old face.

"Thank you, Impa." I stand and get ready to leave. Impa nods her head, and then the plan gets set in motion.

Midnight couldn't come fast enough. Impatient as I was, I sat outside and worked on my weapons, making sure to not cut my hands in the process. When all were asleep, an acute sense of dread washed over me. Even now, almost sixteen years old, and I still feared the well.

Well, it was time to face those fears. I walk over to the empty well as if it's not radiating something evil. I climb onto the rim, trying to see if there was a ladder. My luck, there isn't. Taking in a deep breath, I jump from wall to wall, hoping to at least make the jump non-lethal.

Finally, I reach the bottom. "It's the only way..." I mutter, then pressing on.

"Good luck!" a voice echoes down.

"Huh... Wonder who said that." I mumble, then ready myself for whatever was next.

I feel like the way I placed the Fi and Navi quotes that Fi is mocking Navi for believing an orally told legend. I don't know... It just played out that way, I went back and read it and laughed. (Then edited Link's line in)

It should be noted that Navi and 'The Hero of Time' are considered a legend that came true years before Ganondorf ever attacked. Even though it happened in a different timeline, the people of the Child Timeline believed it happened BEFORE the timeline split. Basically, yeah.

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... Please?