Instructor Owlan took long, silent breaths. His open, glassless window allowed the sun to fill his room, and cast the shadows away from his sleeping from. Yet the light could do nothing for the shadows that still plagued his mind, keeping him unconscious.
"I've tried everything." Horwell said, moving from his seat to his friend's side to once again check the pulse from his wrist. "But…Owlan was the doctor, not me. I'm out of ideas."
"But the wound on his arm was superficial." Link asked, walking around the bed so he could see the comatose Instructor's arm. The bandages had been removed days ago, and nothing but a thin white scar remained on his dark bicep. Link sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner." Link said.
Horwell shook his head, and offered a reassuring smile; the Instructor's best and most consistent trait.
"Owlan used to be lazy, and sleep in just like you, Link. I'm sure he'll wake up when he's ready."
Link was not reassured. The sword cut was inflicted by the dark figure that had manifested out of Link's own wound, given to him by Demise's sword, which was Ghirahim. It was a complicated string of connections, but Link couldn't help but think it. His wound had also been deceivingly simple, before taking his life. There would be no divine intervention for Owlan.
"I'll go to Skyloft later today, and see if he has any notes that could be helpful." Horwell said. Link sighed and nodded at Horwell to keep doing what he could, but his eyes were drawn back to the dark-skinned man on the bed.
Please wake up soon.
Though many people had been drunk last night, only a save few suffered from memory loss. What they couldn't remember about the eventful night was quickly filled in by a sober friend. The whole castle and sky above it was excited and eager to help Link and Zelda prepare for the newest edition to their lives.
Link actually preferred it that everyone knew. After Pipit's and Karane's Unity Ceremony, Zelda became the center of attention all over again. Kukiel's mother, Wyrna, came down from Skyloft along with the potion makers, Luv and Bertie. Luv actually had just had a baby, but Link and Zelda had been so occupied by their quests that they hadn't taken the decent time to acknowledge it. Luv put Zelda on a strict diet with vitamin potions, and both older women shared in their experiences.
Jakamar, Kukiel's father, and Bertie had talks of their own with Link. The knight had become increasingly more nervous after listening in to the dozens of suggestions the women were giving Zelda. He knew that he could never memorize them all. It sounded so complicated!
They reassured him with pats on the back and laughed. Their advice was much simpler. Do whatever Zelda tells you, the minute she tells you to do it. And massage her feet often.
He wished there was more he could do, but it sounded like Zelda would be the one decide. She finally got away from them, blushing from all the attention. Link took her hand and they walked down the hall, in the vague direction of their room.
"They say it takes nine whole months before I finally have the baby." Zelda said. "That's what startled me the most." Link nodded.
"All of that information they were giving you came out as drabble to my ears. I can't remember anything they said to you." Zelda giggled.
"You're more nervous than I am!" She laughed. Link smiled, and gave a deep sigh. "I just…can't imagine waiting that long!" Zelda exclaimed. "I want to meet our baby, right now!"
Link walked in front of her and took her wrists. He stared her down until she rolled her eyes and met his.
"Time will fly." Zelda raised her eyebrows disbelievingly. He remembered something. "And…if it doesn't, then I'll massage your feet." Her smile widened.
"Really?" He nodded.
"And anything else you can think of."
The first thing Zelda suggested was that they visit Skyloft. More specifically, visit her father. Zelda was still secretly nervous that her father would take the news badly. Everyone else was supportive and happy, so she hoped for a similar reaction.
When the climbed to the rooftop and called for their birds, they were surprised to see both the indigo and crimson Loftwings fly down.
"Their babies must be getting pretty big." Zelda said. "But I bet it's too hard for them to fly all the way to the surface still." Link took his bird's beak under his hand, forcing the Crimson to face him.
"Yeah, well it looks like they have protective parents." The Loftwing ruffled his feathers and cawed proudly. For the first time in a long while, Link and Zelda flew separately, and Link urged his Crimson into a draft of wind while smiling down at Zelda as he took the lead. Zelda saw his playful taunt, and her Indigo cried out in excitement and raced upwards almost vertically. She cut in front of them, and propelled forward in the stolen breath of wind. Link wondered if he should let her win, but quickly realized that she may do that on her own. He was within reach of her Loftwing's tail when they sped over Skyloft.
They actually missed their chance to drop down to the Academy, and had to circle the island again before they could land.
They couldn't find Gaepora in his office, and one of the older, island-anchored knights informed them that the Headmaster wasn't feeling well, and had retired to his room. Zelda offered that she speak to him alone, and Link nodded and waited outside. He understood that Gaepora was all the family Zelda had, and if she wanted the moment to be personal, just the two of them, Link would not interfere.
…And also, Link didn't mind that he would not be the one revealing the news. His mouth already felt like it was full of quicksand, sinking back into his throat as if he were drowning in Lanayru Desert.
"Father!" Zelda shouted, sending Link to his feet. Zelda stuck her head out of the room, and rubbed her blushing cheek. "I think I should have waited until he was feeling better to tell him the news."
Link joined Zelda as she fanned her father's face, urging him out of his stupor. He came to with a shake of his head, and locked eyes with Link. Then the large man swiftly stood, towering over Link, crushing the young knight with his imposing shadow.
"You…" Link almost ran when Gaepora leaned forward, arms wide. A moment later, he was being broken in half by the man's powerful hug. "Oh, I am so happy!" Gaepora sobbed. Link tried to speak, but found that it was impossible…along with breathing. Link wobbled when the Headmaster finally deposited him back onto his own two feet. Gaepora pat Link's back, causing Link to cough. For a sick man, Gaepora was still strong. "Hohoho…! It looks as if I'll get to see some grandchildren in my lifetime after all! I want girls, Link!" He scooped Zelda up in one arm, and pulled Link close with his other. "Lots of cute, yellow-haired angels like my darling Zelda here, understand? Don't you stop until I have them!"
"F-father!" Zelda gasped, blushing profusely. Link, on the other hand, had gone mute with embarrassment.
"What? Don't act like it isn't obvious how…well, eager you two were to start a family. Not even waiting for your night of unity-"
"Father!"
Thoroughly mortified, Zelda and Link were quick to return to their home on the surface.
Pipit landed heavily on his back, and shouted angrily, before hurrying to his feet again to face off with the opponent that has knocked him off his feet. Link stood a few meters away, cradling a practice sword loosely in his hand. From their spot in the field, they could hardly see the castle. Pipit had requested it be that way. He wanted his swordsmanship to be a surprise to Karane, and it couldn't be that way if she saw them practicing. And even though Link was going easy, Pipit was having a very difficult time adjusting. He secretly didn't want Karane to see him failing so badly either.
"That was good." Link said, and Pipit laughed humorlessly.
"What? The grass-angel I made?" He called, glancing at the flattened imprint of his body in the green. Link raised his sword, and Pipit copied him.
Link knew that Pipit was a skilled swordsman. His stance was not too wide, easy to move from, and his dark eyes predicted Link's movements with startling accuracy. His legs were still quick to carry him out of range of an attack, but his left arm was lagging. Pipit's mind was racing, but his weaker arm would not listen. There was a noticeable pause from Pipit's decision to attack, to when his sword actually approaching his opponent.
Because of this, Link batted away countless, feeble strikes. And, on impulse, the knight in green delivered counterattacks. He was careful not to hurt his friend, but Link had to gauge how much strength he used. He hadn't sparred someone in a long time. All his fights recently had been to the death.
Pipit lunged forward, closing the distance in the blink of an eye, but his sword was still pointed down. It took too long for him to hoist his sword and swing it. Link stopped Pipit's attack by smacking his sword into Pipit's while it was still faced down. Pipit backed away, reassessing his strategy.
"Remember to keep your sword ready." Link said, demonstrating with him own. "It takes too long for you to switch grips." Pipit nodded.
"Got it." And he fixed his hold. But as soon as Pipit charged Link, his sword dropped again. Link sighed, and batted away Pipit's attack before he could even start it.
Pipit finally backed away, and let himself drop into the grass. He rolled back, letting his hand go slack around the wooden sword. Link walked over to him and took a seat beside him.
"Am I getting any better?" He asked, eyes closed so he could drift deep into thought.
"Since when we first started, yes. Remember you kept accidently throwing the sword at me?" Pipit smiled unwillingly.
"That was the only time I actually got you." He mumbled.
"Yeah, because you tackled me after." Link added. Pipit rolled over and punched Link's shoulder. "Ow!"
"Hey, look! My arm's getting stronger after all!" Link returned the punch, carefully avoiding Pipit's right side. But the knight still jumped, clearly pained.
"Owowow, Link…" Pipit stammered, wincing. Link gasped.
"Sorry! Did I-"
The golden-clad knight grabbed Link's arm, using the momentum to pull Link through the air. Before Link knew it, Pipit's feet were digging into his stomach, and then he whistled through the air and landed on Pipit's other side, winded.
"And…Look who's still the better wrestler." Pipit said happily, tucking his head under his hand and focusing on the clouds.
They returned to the castle, exchanging playful punches and kicks along the way. Most of the time, Link threw out his leg to hit Pipit's shin, and lost his balance when he struck air instead, and Pipit danced further away. They stopped at the creek behind the castle to wash off, so their matted appearance didn't give away what the two knights had been doing.
"Grass stains won't come off…!" Pipit muttered, holding his golden tunic under the ankle-deep current with his toes. Link grinned.
"Good thing I don't have to worry about that." He said, proudly displaying his forest-green tunic. The grass stains vanished into the matching color flawlessly, but Pipit pointed out that Link's knees were still covered in crisscrossing green lines. "We'll…we'll just walk quickly. No one will be looking there anyways…"
Pipit rung his tunic by meshing it into a ball and squeezing it, then and waved it back and forth to shake off the excess water and wrinkles.
"Hey, how's Zelda doing?" He asked. Link stepped into the frigid water, exhaling as his aching feet numbed.
"She's okay. The baby keeps her from getting comfortable at night though, and she's bored all the time." He said. Pipit nodded, then tried fitting his slick tunic back over his head. His arm waved back and forth, trying to urge the wet garment down further. Link crossed his arms and waited, until Pipit sighed and put his hand on his hip, his head trapped somewhere under the tunic.
"Uh…Link?" Link walked over and readjusted his friend's shirt so his head was no longer trying to fit through a sleeve-hole.
They arrived at the main doors just as Eagus and Groose were lighting the torches outside the castle. The flames also meant dinner, and the two knights were starving. They raced to their rooms to change out of their suspicious clothing before joining back in the dining hall.
Everyone was gathered on one side of the long table. They were mostly quiet except for excited whispers and laughs, but suddenly they all cried out and looked to each other happily, before hushing again. Pipit and Link exchanged a confused glance before walking over as well.
Karane gasped when Pipit snuck up behind her and wound his arm tightly around her waist.
"Hey! Uoph…I can't breathe, you know." Her eyes flickered to Link, and she beamed, apparently more excited to see him than Pipit. "Oh, there you are Link!" The rest of the crowd leaned back, revealing Zelda at the center.
"What's going on?" The knight asked, as Karane ushered him towards his wife. He sat next to her, and she smiled warmly.
"The baby's kicking." Zelda said. Link instantly tensed, and looked at the crowd for verification. They all laughed and nodded, so he looked back to Zelda. It was the first time the baby could be felt moving. Link's hands opened and closed, unsure how to act, until Zelda rolled her eyes and took his hand and placed it over her large belly.
Link found himself holding his breath, and his fingers spread, as if he were being electrocuted. Zelda stroked her soft hand over his, smoothing his stiff fingers over the curves. The room had become silent and attentive. Link waited anxiously, unsure what to expect. Should he have been able to feel it already? Was it very subtle? Or would it be obvious?
"…I…don't-" He gasped loudly as something very strong pushed against his palm, stretching Zelda's skin outwards. The kick receded, and Link exhaled. "Wow."
Everyone laughed at his priceless, Link reaction, then dispersed as dinner was served. But Link remained where he was as the plate was set out before him and filled. He felt another kick, and looked to Zelda in awe.
She was glowing with joy. Even more beautiful now that she was expecting. He couldn't help but reach out and stroke his hand over the back of her head tenderly. Somehow, Zelda still found it in herself to be embarrassed by such displays of affection, and blushed cutely. Link couldn't stand it. He leaned forward and kissed her.
Zelda felt his lips smile under hers.
"Robin, Kestra, Calliope and Wren."
"Okay. And if it's a boy?"
"And then Sorren, Brant, Gullie…and Link."
Link stopped walking his fingers over the hill that was Zelda's stomach, and lifted himself on his elbows to see her face.
"I thought we agreed that we wouldn't use our own names."
"Okay, then…How about after your parents?" Link smiled and stretched his hand over Zelda's belly. He had battled skeleton pirates, played music with dragons, and traveled through time. But the size of Zelda's stomach was still the most unbelievable thing he'd ever seen. It had actually started to worry him, even after Luv and Wyrna tried to explain that it was completely natural.
All those inches of belly just for one child?
He shook his head, trying to remember Zelda's question. She smiled at him knowingly. He'd been daydreaming quite a lot recently.
"Daphnes?" He repeated. "You would name our son Daphnes?" Zelda's eyes wandered, despite Link's attempts to keep her focused, and a mischievous smirk tugged on her lips. Link cracked a smile. "How about Gaepora?" Zelda grimaced.
"No!"
"Then no Daphnes or Link!"
"Fine! Now massage my feet."
First the morning sickness, then cravings, then aching feet. Everything the men had warned him about, and much more. But Link didn't mind. The long months of waiting had been enjoyable still. It wasn't as much waiting as it was preparing, really. Link glanced around their room, furnished with an empty crib and rocking chair.
But all of the preparations were done. Now, they were just waiting on the baby.
And as they approached the due date, the mothers of the other children had started talking to Zelda about the actual birthing process. The vivid descriptions made Link's stomach churn. He planned on asking Pipit if he could borrow some more courage.
"I bet it's a boy." Zelda said, wiggling her toes. Link tickled the heel of her foot, and her toes peeled back as if trying to flee from the sensation. "Luv said boys are late because they're stubborn."
"You realize you still have a little time left to wait? Luv said nine months, not eight and two-quarters." Zelda wrenched her foot away from him, and planted it on the floor. She sighed and let her head fall back flat so she was staring at the ceiling with her hair sprawled out around her.
"I know…"
Link woke up with the chills. He moved away from Zelda, who had finally managed to find a comfortable sleeping position despite the baby's kicks to her spine. He slid out of bed, which was now supported by a proper bedframe and a down-filled mattress instead of a heap of blankets on the floor, and walked towards the window. They still had yet to add glass to the square-shaped holes in the wall. But it was the warm season on the surface, and the nights were unbearable without a draft of cooler wind.
Link twisted around suddenly, focusing in on the dark corner of their room. He narrowed his eyes, examining the shadows. His eyes adjusted and he saw nothing. Just his imagination.
He returned to bed and saw that Zelda had bundled under the blankets, leaving just the corners for Link. He smiled in the dark, and lay down beside her, giving her forehead a gentle kiss.
Despite it being the summer, the clouds hung low over the great field, adding humidity to the heat. Zelda kept Link busy running back and forth from the kitchen to refill her water glass. He often ran all the way to the creek to fill a bucket with the cold, fresh water instead of giving Zelda the tepid water from the store room.
Halfway back to their room, Pipit waved to him from down the hall.
"Hey, Link!" Pipit waited for Link to walk closer before he continued. "Have you heard yet? Instructor Owlan just woke up." Link's eyes widened. He quickly gave the drink to Zelda, then rushed down the hall with Pipit all the way to the Instructor's room.
The door was open, so Link walked in without knocking. Horwell stood beside Owlan, who was sitting up on his own, awake and apparently well. Link sighed in relief at the favorable change in his condition.
"Instructor Owlan?" He said, walking further into the room. Horwell looked over his shoulder, and took a quick breath and met Link halfway.
"Wait outside, Link." Horwell told him. Link frowned as he was pushed back out the door.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Horwell shook his head.
"Link! Horwell, is that him!" Owlan shouted. Link was surprised by the malice in the usually calm Instructor's voice. Instead of responding, the fair-skinned Instructor walked Link outside and shut the door.
"He…he's still not fully healed. He must have been hit on the head as well."
"Why do you say that?" Link asked. "He…he looked well." Horwell shook his head.
"Physically, he is better. But…" He sighed. "He is convinced you are the one who attacked him, Link."
When Link finally reacted, it was with a shake of his head. He couldn't form a sentence that would convey his surprise. He'd never in his life been accusing of hurting anything, not even a Blessed Butterfly.
"I know, Link. We all know that such a thing is impossible." Horwell tried smiling, but the gesture came out as a crooked grimace. He was obviously very worried for his friend. "He's ill. But at least he's awake. I'll stay with him tonight to see if his condition improves." Link nodded gratefully, then dismissed himself. He wanted away from there.
When Link relayed the information, Pipit laughed at the news. Until he realized Link was not joking. Zelda agreed with Horwell that the Instructor had suffered a concussion.
"You were the first one to find him after he was hurt." Zelda said. "Maybe he saw you and…made something up." Link nodded, but no one could console him. The accusation, however false, still stung.
Zelda woke him up in the middle of the night asking for water again. When Link reached the kitchen where the water was stored, he was tempted to pour a whole jar over his head, but it wouldn't do much good since it was tepid. The heat was unbearable that night. It was no wonder Zelda was thirsty. But he wasn't going to give Zelda hot water.
He took a torch and sword and walked to the river with a pair of buckets. Though it had been agreed upon that no one would leave the castle after sundown, no one cared if Link did. He seemed to be able to act as he pleased, as if he has earned a rank that gave him special privileges. Usually he obeyed the rules, but he would occasionally bend them if Zelda's wellbeing came into consideration.
He closed the doors behind himself, careful to make sure that no monsters had strayed inside, then staked the buckets in the store room.
He took a whole pitcher of creek water, anticipating a greater need for it, and made his way back upstairs. The torches provided enough light to get from one to the next, but no more. Especially when there were no open windows for the moonlight to filter in. He passed by the cellar, and felt his stomach churn as he hurried by. He glanced back once more, to make sure nothing had crawled up out of the depth to chase him, then felt a cold rush of air hit his front. He planted his feet and faced forward again, staring down the abyssal hallway. Link stared ahead, where the path connected to another. The torches flickered from the slight tug of air coming from the cracks under the doorways of the bedrooms with open windows. Something rushed by, drawing so much wind that the torched nearest extinguished.
Link dropped the pitcher and raced after it. It moved silently, just like the shadow it was. Its only footsteps were the flickering torches before they died out into smoke and embers. Link followed the darkness, watching the torches burn and die ahead of him. The figure took a sharp left, and Link pumped his arms as he sprinted to catch up. Something had found its way into the castle. But he wouldn't let it get away. Not to run freely so near to Zelda.
Link turned the corner and crashed into the figure, taking it to the floor with him. He pinned it to the cold stones, crushing it with his knees. But only then did he take the time to actually look at it. Karane stared back at him, her eyes wide in fear.
"L-Link…!" She stammered, breathless. He sprung off of her, pressing his back against the wall. Karane started moving to her feet, and Link took her hand and helped her up. "What was that all about?" She demanded, shaking her hand free.
"I'm sorry. I thought I saw something in the castle." He explained, looking over her shoulder at the well-lit hall. "Did you see anything come by here?" She dusted herself off.
"The only thing I saw was you." She rolled her neck. "Sure, this place can be creepy. Just be careful running around like that." She said, shouldering past him.
Link walked back down the hall, relighting the torches as he went. He found the pitcher of water, but it was now a puddle surrounding damp pieces of ceramic.
Karane kept herself calm by walking slowly. She could always run back to hers and Pipit's room, but that would send her heart racing, and then she would really frighten herself over nothing. But Link was usually so composed.
She touched her wrists, then hugged her arms.
Link had gotten so much stronger, and it wasn't pleasant being in the position where that strength was turned against you.
She had been watching the floor, walking from and to each puddle of light. But then, there was no more light. She looked up and saw that the hall was dark. But the wind still shuffled by, and now that it was empty of light, she seemed to be able to hear the frightening whispers even better. She squinted her eyes, looking for her door before she made a break for it.
Then something touched the back of her hair, and she jumped with a yell. She turned around, cupping her mouth with her hands to prevent another scream. The hall was empty.
"Link?" She called. She looked forward again and saw something else in the dark. The shape of a person, with Link's figure. "What are you doing?" She demanded. He did not look up. He just stood in the dark, just out of reach and mostly out of sight. "You're creeping me out, so come out of the dark!" He finally looked up, and the girl stumbled back with a gasp. By the time her foot touched the floor, he'd closed the distance.
"I won't try to hush you. It will be more dramatic if they hear your screams."
The whole castle was woken up. Link had been in the hall, with Zelda's refill of water when he heard Karane scream. He was already close, by the volume of her yell, and he sprinted back down the hall and found her first. She sat in an ominous patch of darkness, the pair of torches on either side extinguished. And recently so, judging by the fresh smoke still climbing upwards.
Link dropped to his knees and rolled the knight onto her back. Her eyes were wide, but staring blankly forward. He called her name, and gently shook her to get her attention. She was unresponsive except for the rapid rise and fall of her chest.
By then, Eagus and Groose had joined them, quickly followed by Pipit. He breathed the Goddess' name and pulled her into his arms. Link backed away, making more room for the others. Karane suddenly gasped, and she screamed at the others to get away from her. Pipit tried to calm her, but her shrill voice easily overpowered his.
"Link did this!" She cried. "He was right there and-…" Her voice hitched as she sobbed. Pipit's eyes widened. He held her closer and whispered something to her, to which she quickly refused. "No I'm not! I know what I saw!"
Link backed away, right into Instructor Horwell, and sighed in relief at the Instructor's presence.
"Horwell, she thinks I attacked her too. Something's…something's wrong." He stammered, his tongue heavy. Horwell nodded, patting Link's shoulder.
"Yes, indeed. That seems to be the case all around." Something was off in Horwell's voice. Link tried to take a step away from the taller man, but his grip on his shoulder held fast. "I've been talking with Owlan, Link. His side of the story seems-" Link forcefully separated him from Horwell, and as he pulled his arm away, he noticed a bandaged cut on the Instructor's wrist, matching Owlan's.
"I didn't hurt them." Link said, his eyes still fixed on the bandages. "When did you get hurt?" Link demanded, meeting the Instructor's eyes. His expression had not changed.
"Instructor?" Pipit called, drawing the attention back to the couple on the floor. Horwell glanced at Link, and the man's kind eyes narrowed maliciously.
"We'll talk later." He said firmly, before turning away. Link watched as Pipit lifted Karane and carried her back to their room. The golden knight glanced over his shoulder, giving Link an apologetic shake of his head, then went back to reassuring his wife with gentle words. As her arm dangled, Link saw a drop of blood fall from her fingers.
Zelda was sitting up in bed, anxiously waiting for Link to come back. When he did, she tried to stand, but the weight of her stomach kept her down. Since Link had to give an explanation to her, he was forced to describe the scene all over again. But it didn't help him understand it any better.
"We should go to Skyloft." Zelda suggested.
"You can't fly right now." Link countered, his voice low. Zelda sighed. He was right, but she didn't know what else to do. Dark magic had awakened in the castle.
"Let's go see Faron." Zelda said. For once, he had to agree that something good could come out of a visit to the dramatic lake guardian. No one would bother them at the lake, and if Zelda asked, he was sure the dragon would fly them to floating island.
Link nodded, and kissed her cheek.
"It'll be all right. Now, try to get some sleep. We'll leave in the morning." The sun's rising was only a few hours away now, and it couldn't come soon enough.
Link felt like whenever he left his room, someone else had turned against him. When morning came, he went to the kitchen to get some things for their trip to the forest, and even the Lunch Lady was looking at him sideways. And they all had ominous new cuts on their arms.
Now he was sure that it wasn't his imagination. The shadow that he'd chased the other night was real, and wreaking havoc on them.
Zelda rocked forward and used the momentum to kick herself onto her feet. She sighed as she straightened up.
"Will you be all right?" Link asked nervously. She nodded, focusing on her wide reflection in the mirror.
"Of course I will! I'm not dying, I'm just pregnant." Her face lit up. "Oh! We should take the Harp. Faron told me once how she liked it, since it reminds her of Hylia." Link glanced around the room.
"Where is it?" He asked. She took a deep breath, and looked at the floor.
"I didn't take it out with our other things yet. So, it's still in the cellar." Link swallowed instinctively. "We don't need it." Zelda said, trying to revoke the suggestion.
"I'll be quick." He said. If Zelda wanted it, he would face his fears to make it happen. "It'll only take a minute."
The cellar had never seemed so much like a dungeon. It was darker than ever before, and the light from the torch he carried only lit up the room in a small circle surrounding the wick. He swallowed nervously as the air became thick. It smelled like smoke and salt. Like something had been burned alive down there.
He found the crate with their things and put the torch in its hook on the wall so he could look with both hands. He moved aside an extra blanket, and a pouch of Rupees, but could find no harp. Had someone stolen it? Yes, it was gold, but it belonged to Zelda, and the people in the castle were kind.
…They had been, at least. Link knew that soon, he would be burdened with the task of fixing their memories somehow. But he couldn't do anything until after Zelda had the baby. She was too important. Everyone else could wait. Then again, he had no idea how to deliver a baby. If he couldn't return everyone to normal in a few weeks…
There came a soft plucking of harp strings. High, uneven notes, that strung together to form a sinister melody.
"Were you looking for this?" An oddly familiar voice said. Link found him in front of the stairs, sitting cross-legged on top of one of the crates, holding the harp upside down as he plucked it. The figure smiled, and pulled one of the strings so far that it sprung free and broke with an uneven pang. "Oh, oops."
He, Link distinguished the figure as male, frowned and tossed the harp away with a clang. He stood, landing on the tips of its feet lightly, and his night-black cloak floated through the air behind as if it was submerged underwater. He blinked his blood-red irises at Link, and grinned until his eyes were creased by his happy cheeks.
"What a funny hat." He snapped, and a matching cap of black fabric manifested and dropped onto his head. "There, now we match."
"What are you? And what have done to everyone?" Link demanded, now that the figure was apparently capable of speech. The black-cloaked man spoke in the same sly manner as Ghirahim, though he looked nothing like the Demon Lord.
The figure frowned.
"So loud, I remember that. But so much more talkative now." He chuckled, the same echoing trill as Ghirahim. Link's hand went to his sword. His laughs faded, but his smile remained. "Oh, that again. I guess you don't like my little trick I'm playing with all your friends. You have to admit it's amusing watching them turn against you. That girl was the most fun! She actually started crying!" His smile widened, and he took a step backwards into the air, and started floating up the stairs. "But I don't feel like a test of strength right now. How about a race instead? First one to…say, The Goddess, wins."
Link felt his body go numb.
"What? No!" The figure spun, and vanished with a puff of black. Link charged up the stairs, but the hatch slammed shut just as he reached for it. The impact sent him tumbling back down the stairs, but he didn't waste a moment getting back up. He threw open the hatch, which had been left unlocked, and raced down the hall. "Zelda!" He shouted, shoving aside anyone that strayed in front of his path. "Zelda, run!" He prayed that his voice reached her. That she would come running out to meet him so he could fight off the intruder.
Instead, he heard her scream his name.
"I'm coming!" He yelled back. He finally reached their room and kicked open the door. He saw Zelda slung over the figure's shoulder, a dark grin, and then they vanished.
"Let me go! Zelda's in danger!" Link shouted, desperate to get through to them. He lost count of how many people were restraining him. Hands tugged at his clothing, pulling him further away from the field. He had to force his way outside already, but the crowds of brainwashed Skyloftians followed him.
"Calm down, Link! You're not thinking straight!" Someone yelled back. Link shook his head. They were the ones who weren't thinking clearly!
"Get off of me!" He yelled. Instead, someone wound their arm around his neck and tugged. Link gave a muffled cry of surprise before the sound was drowned out as he could not breathe. He grabbed the arm, trying to pull it away enough so he could gasp. A moment of clarity reached him. He had to change strategies before he blacked out. He let the man choke him, but pulled back his arm and rammed his elbow forcefully backwards. It connected with Horwell's body, and the instructor stumbled away with a grunt of pain. Link took a ragged gasp, and swayed on his feet. He looked around at his friends, trying to find a way through them without inflicting further-
A knight rammed into Link's side, taking the both of them to the ground. Pipit pinned Link against the grass, using very little restraint to do so. But Link struggled fiercely, trying to wriggle his feet back under himself so he could stand. But the golden knight grabbed him, and pulled Link against the wall of the castle with all the strength of his one arm. The impact jarred his head backwards, cracking his skull into the wall.
Link instantly felt bile rise up in his throat, and he fought back the urge to faint. He noticed the violet sky, and the lavender clouds that coated it, hiding away the stars. Skyloft could not see what was happening. He was alone.
In that moment when he faltered, the instructors and knights picked themselves back up and surrounded him. He tried in vain to move away from the strong grips that pinned his arms against the wall, but that only seemed to add to their efforts. Pipit shoved his forearm against Link's throat, glaring down at him.
"I don't want to do this, Link!" He pleaded. His eyes looked clear enough, but the reality of the situation was not there. Link didn't know if he could say anything that would help.
"You have to trust me." Link whispered. It was all he could come up with, but he somehow knew that it would do no good. Pipit sighed, then took a short step back and released Link for the split-second that it took from him to pull back his arm.
Link suddenly spun and hit the ground as if the world had flipped. He glared down the field and distant mountains, until blurred feet and legs blocked the sunset from view. He felt tugging on his arms, and the rough burn of a rope. He did not close his eyes, not willingly, but the world went black.
A/N~ Whew! Finally survived it's first beta read, and I think turned out so much better thanks to it. I hope it's length made up for the wait.
Congrats to those of you who guessed it. Dark Link has finally made his appearance )
And thanks to those 6 of you following my tumblr, and thanks to everyone who has subscribed and liked this story! You guys complete my heart container! XD