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Chapter Eight

The Hero of Wind

IV.

Link briefly cries out, but by then I can feel the edges of my face freezing up. I frantically try to move my legs, arms, anything, but I'm stuck. I suddenly can't feel my mouth, but I long to scream. Why can't I move? What did that…that thing do to me?

Suddenly my vision goes black. I can't see anything. I'm immobile, trapped in a world only I know of. I try desperately to struggle, but it's no use. I can't hear anymore. Around me the sounds of battle fade and I am left in an empty nothingness.

Desperation surges through me, but no matter how much willpower I put into trying to break free, I just can't. I'm left alone with my thoughts my only companion. Should I have brought out the cursed crystal I can now use to transform? That may have scared Link, though…

No, Link can't be scared. Only alarmed. I know.

Despair wells up inside of me. Is this how I meet my end? Ensnared within this dark void? Simply drifting?

Tell me… Do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls? They say it's the only time when our world intersects with theirs… The only time we can feel the lingering regrets of spirits who have left our world. That is why loneliness always pervades the hour of twilight…

Shadow and Light are two sides of the same coin… One cannot exist without the other.

I understand what my dad meant when he told me I needed to be stronger, like you, Link…

Memories are racing through my head. Memories of Rusl, Zelda, Colin…even Midna, who is forever lost to me. I feel a sob rack my shoulders, or at least try to. I can't even curl up. This is what the Hero of Twilight is reduced to? I try to shake my head, but of course I can't. No. I am more than that. I am the Hero of Twilight. I will be strong.

With these thoughts in mind, I struggle harder against my invisible bounds. Suddenly I feel as if I can move my hands. My hair ruffles in a slight wind. My eyelids close and open, although I still can't see.

In a great burst, I break free of my prison, well aware from the golden glow in my eyelids that the blessing of Farore surrounds me. I find myself in the air, not touching the ground.

I open my eyes, and my vision is incredibly blurry. I can barely make out the fence that once encompassed the village. Where are the people? Where are Sky, Time, and Link? I move my head swiftly from side to side, and as I do I fall to the ground in a heap.

I groan as my ankle throbs. I glance down at it, and am horrified as I spot a large purple and black bruise covering the better part of it, spreading past my sock and crawling halfway up my calf. But where are my boots, then? I reach towards them, only a couple feet away. The simple movement sends pain down my back, and I let out a moan. Around me lies stone. Why?

Confused, I attempt to stand, but I yelp and fall back down as soon as I place weight on my ankle. What am I to do? I spot two fenceposts just a few paces away from where I lay. If I can just get to them…

I wait for a moment for the agony to subside before dragging myself over. I grit my teeth and let out a hiss of breath between them as my ankle meets the ground. I finally reach the wood after what seems like forever and dig one stick into the ground, testing my weight as I attempt to get up. I then place the other one next to it, keeping my ankle off the ground as best as I can.

I shove the fenceposts beneath my armpits, although they aren't the most comfortable. I growl as the cursed crystal shifts in my pocket. I shouldn't take it out, I shouldn't take it out, I shouldn't take it out, not even to look…

I take it out.

I don't let it touch my skin, but I examine the orange patterns, half wanting to trace them with my finger but knowing it would be absorbed into me and I would change form…

Maybe that's how I'll get over the mountains.

Would my injuries transfer to my wolf form? Or would they just be put on hold? I glance at my crutches, at the mountain, then at the crystal. I'll have to do it. The villagers have left a clear trail of terror, the bushes churned up and the grass trampled. Concern fills me at the absence of monsters.

I steel myself and touch the crystal, immediately feeling it sink into my skin. My ankle makes a loud snap! I cry out, but am muffled by the fact that my mouth is now changing. Tingling races up and down my body, and I am forced onto all fours. My ankle stops throbbing, and I huff a sigh of relief. I am thankful to be in a different body, one that doesn't immediately scream pain.

I'm just starting to get used to the body of the wolf when I hear the cry of a bokoblin. I quickly race to the edge of the village, eating up the ground with each bound. I can easily outrun anything! I lift my head and let out a joyous bark, but then remember where I am. Who I am.

Now with a purpose, I creep through the bushes of the mountain. Sky's scent mingles easily with Link's, and the villagers aren't that hard to track. I follow their trail up the mountain as the sun slowly creeps below the horizon.

I wander with my thoughts elsewhere, and occasionally I stop to hide behind bush, my ears perked for any sort of sound a human or Hylian would make. Nothing.

I leap over a few logs gracefully, and crash into the ground on the other side, unexpectedly. I feel exhaustion suddenly pull at my limbs, and I want nothing more but to fall asleep. Sleeping in wolf form isn't so bad. Sometimes I do it so I can be rid of nightmares that occasionally haunt my dreams.

I feel my eyelids droop and I collapse in a heap on the ground, fatigue spreading through my limbs. If I can just get a wink of sleep…I shake myself awake. Not now! Not when the other heroes need me!

I grit my teeth, most likely a frightening sight to anyone. I heave myself to my feet, testing my back leg to check if it's okay. It's holding up fine, thankfully. I send a prayer to Farore that the others are okay and then set off.

Soon the signs of humans and Hylians become more apparent. The fear scent still lingers on bushes and trees, only stronger now. Excitement rushes through me at the prospect of seeing the other heroes again…

I leap over another fallen log, but my back leg catches on it. I clumsily slip and fall, where I lay on the ground. I'm close, but it's okay if I get a wink of sleep, right? My limbs agree with me, but inside I know I have to get to the others, assure them I'm okay.

My eyelids shut and I feel the pull of sleep stronger than before. I slowly sink into the soft warmth.

I am pulled into a dream, one where I'm human again. I'm not surprised. I spot a boy clothed in green, far too young to be one of the heroes I know. Unless this is the past…we are in the same place where the golden wolf and I, in wolf form, howled together. The boy is on the opposite cliff, not quite looking at me.

The boy raises a small instrument—an Ocarina—to his mouth and begins to play a song I heard in one of the Howling Stones. The Ballad of Twilight. I sway to it for a moment, until opening my eyes, the beautiful melody slowly fading away, like the fading light of the sun.

The boy's gaze sweeps over me, far more ancient than I would expect it to be. He smiles. "Let teachings of old pass to you…" he says in an all-too familiar voice. "Take sword in hand…and yet, you have already found me."

I try to speak, but it's as if my voice is caught in my throat. I clear it, but the Hero's Shade cuts me off before beginning again.

"I was regretful that I could not pass my skills to another," the boy says, his eyes far too wise for his age. "But then an event disrupted the timeline, and I am allowed once more to teach another."

The boy seems to suddenly get closer, but the cliffs are still separated. "We are companions, Hero of Twilight. When we return to our own worlds and our quest is complete, we will not retain memories of our adventures in helping the Hero of Darkness." I tilt my head, confused. "Ah, but you still haven't realized. I am the Hero of Time."

Time?!

Time is the Hero's Shade?

Time is the one who taught me hidden skills?

I imagine Time, fighting off hordes of monsters using some of the skills I have learned from him. How could I have not noticed before? I turn back with shocked eyes to the small boy.

"You may be wondering why I am here," the Hero of Time continues, not pausing. "There is another world linked to the one you are currently in. This world is not in a crisis, but the hero of that realm is required to turn the tables in your favor. Your friends may not know yet, but a deeper evil resides in the land of Hyrule…something that will cause betrayals, strife, fear, and grief. Do not fear, Hero of Twilight," the boy turns his face to the moon and a small smirk lights it. "…for I have faith in you and your comrades. I'm apologize, but you will be unable to return to your friends for the time being. For now, you must journey to the Great Sea. Farewell, old friend."

For a moment, the boy looks upon me as a friend would, his gaze kind and understanding. I suddenly realize how strikingly similar he is to Time. No, he is Time, I remind myself.

I feel my mind slowly drifting back to consciousness, and I feel my body still in wolf form. This time, however, I'm not resting by the log I was earlier.

The gentle lap of waves greets my ears as I stand up, again on all fours. The sand has matted my fur. Am I on a beach? The sun blinds my eyes and I squint, trying to make out my surroundings. In front of me, a couple of bushes are outlined against the blinding sand, where I race for them. Successfully concealed and mostly in the shade, I hunt around for two long, sturdy sticks. I find them and hoist them into the central area of the bushes.

From there, I tap into the power of the Triforce, letting it flow through my limbs until I'm human once more. All the pain rushes back to me in that instant, and my ankle sends waves of agony through my leg. I grit my teeth and prop myself up on one arm, until I realize there's another gash on my bicep. I switch to heaving myself up with my left arm. Something warm and sticky runs down the side of my face, and I don't have to reach up a hand to know it's blood.

Using the sticks to support me as I stand, I moan in pain as I place them under my armpits like crutches. My head spins and nausea sweeps over me. I finally get to glance at the scenery.

I appear to be on some sort of island in the middle of an ocean. A small red boat is anchored just off the shore, alerting me to the presence of another. Around me is grass and bushes, almost no trees in sight. A few pop up here and there, but apart from that I can see clearly in each direction. The small island is relatively flat, and I can see the ocean on all sides.

I crouch low to the grass when I hear a flicker of movement to my right. Whirling around, I spot a small boy, even smaller than Link when we first found him, consulting a map. He frowns for a moment then traces his finger through the south eastern edge of his chart. Eventually his small pointer finger slips off the page.

He wears a green tunic similar to mine, yet different. His body hasn't matured yet, and the tunic is built for colder weather, complete with long sleeves. He doesn't wear any protective gear underneath, but seems to rely on his skills. A sword and shield are strapped to his back, the shield displaying a Hylian crest. Unlike mine, however, it's colored and shaped differently. The boy's hair is lighter than even Time's, and his blue eyes are wide and innocent. He wears a green floppy cap to complete the outfit.

He must be the hero of this realm…I think about approaching him, but instead wait for him to notice me. The boy's hand inches slowly towards his sword, but he doesn't take his eyes off the map. Is he going to—

I am answered when the chart drops from the boy's hands and he swiftly draws his sword and leaps towards me at the same time, stopping when he sees me draw my own sword with some difficulty, still clutching to the crutches. His eyes flicker to the Master Sword's unique design and back to his own sword. Confusion sweeps across his face, but he shakes it away, his floppy bangs almost falling into his eyes.

He sheathes his sword, and I do the same.

When he speaks, his voice is hoarse yet still retains the child-like pitch. "I didn't think this island was inhabited."

I shake my head. When my own voice emerges, it is also hoarse and I cringe at how rough it sounds. "It isn't. I…was sent here."

The child analyzes my body. "You need medical attention." He approaches me slowly and cautiously. His sea blue gaze then flickers to the ocean. "You didn't come here by boat. You can come on mine for the time being, we're sort of close to the oasis."

I frown. The boy is also more intelligent than he should be, and the way he held his sword indicated he is experienced.

"What's your name?" I ask. He has to be the hero of this time. Right?

"I…Link," the other responds, and my thoughts are confirmed. This has to be the hero.

"What's this island called?" I ask, gazing around at the peaceful grasses and bushes swaying lightly in the salty breeze. It looks to serene…and bright. Much unlike the muted colors of Hyrule I'm used to.

"It's…" the boy hesitates, mutters something under his breath, then continues, "I named it Hyrule Island. It…it reminds me of that land long ago…"

I suck in a startled breath. That land long ago? What happened to Hyrule? Desperate for answers, I start to approach him but stumble as my makeshift crutch strikes a stone. The dizziness is back again, along with a pounding headache. Link cries out just as I fall to the grass, my vision fading.

Just before I slip into the dark folds of unconsciousness, I see the Hero of Time as a child. He nods at me, a smirk clear on his face.

Oh, Time, I miss you already.

Sorry shippers! No shipping Twilight with Time or anyone else...seriously though, those are kind of creepy. If you guys want any girl characters introduced, feel free to leave a review!