This one gets kinda disturbing. I don't own Legend of Zelda.

Terminus brought me as close to Castle Town as I dared take her. We waited for the gates to open and said our farewells. Then I continued on foot.

The atmosphere was oppressive. Few people were out in the streets and anxiety rolled off every one of them. I entered the silent temple and reclaimed the master sword. When I opened my eyes, I was back in Ben's home.

He sat near the wood burning stove watching me. He didn't say a word when I left with my gear. The fog was thick as I walked to the graveyard entrance. The sheikah manifested from the fog in twos and threes. Impaz stood beside a woman. His arms were folded as he stared through the murky mist.

He turned and nodded. His eyes landed on me before sweeping over the rest of his clan. The brave stepped forward. I was among the first. Impaz stopped me. "Where are you going, hero?"

I glared past him. I couldn't believe he was behind the spirit's release, but the one responsible was yet to be discovered. "You cannot stop me, sheikah."

He tightened his grip on my arm. "I'm trying to protect you."

I yanked free. "You shouldn't have allowed the spirit to break free then."

His eyes softened. I shook my head and stomped after the other sheikah. They started jogging. I picked up my pace. At the back of the graveyard, they stopped before the mausoleum entrance of the royal family. They parted to allow Impaz through.

He removed a dagger from the sheath on his arm. There was a section near the hilt where the metal had been cut into a bleeding eye. The tear traced down the length of the blade. He inserted the blade into a crack I hadn't noticed and twisted. The door opened to him and a gust of air blew into the grave site.

Impaz sheathed the blade and started down the stairs. There were a few sheikah before me and a dozen behind. Navi was bright. Impaz called without turning, "Tell that fairy to dim its light."

Navi pouted and ducked into my hat. The staircase was thrown into darkness. My eyes were slow to adjust. I ran my hand along the wall to keep my balance. At the base of the stairway, a hand caught my elbow when I stumbled.

Impaz gazed beyond me. Over a dozen torches waited to be lit. He gestured with his arm and the sheikah spread out. Each took their own torch. Impaz went to one in the middle. There was still one left. I stood waiting for a signal.

Impaz struck the dagger along the side of his greave and struck a flame. The other sheikah matched him. I held a hand to the torch. They all lit in unison. A shadow was cast upon one wall. Impaz dropped off the central platform and went to it. He put a hand along the edge and pulled.

A large slab of stone shifted to reveal a narrow entrance. The sheikah slid in. I was fourth. Impaz tensed. "Wait-"

The sheikah in front of me was pushed backward. I stumbled and caught him before we were both thrown sideways. I rolled back to my feet. The sheikah were fighting something, but I couldn't see what. "Navi!"

His light lit the room brighter than the torches ever could. A shadow hit the wall and crawled around, but the thing that cast it was invisible. I cursed and lifted the lens from the bottom of the well. The creature took shape. It was too big to fight here. It turned and a leg tossed three sheikah against the wall.

Impaz ran toward the thing and drew his blade. He used the entire motion to slash. I saw the creature's head turn as Impaz struck its side. He rolled and continued his attack on the back legs of the thing. It went down and a cloud of dust went up.

The dust swirled around as the thing struggled to crawl away. I called up Fi and swung her light into the thing. I hit the neck. A deep vertical slash was cut into the neck. The thing went down and didn't get back up.

The sheikah were collecting themselves. Several were injured. Impaz helped a woman stand. She asked, "Why did the guardian attack us? Everything we did was correct."

Impaz handed her off to another. He commanded, "Take the injured back to the surface. We'll continue to the temple."

Eight of us entered the narrow tunnel. I was at Impaz's shoulder. His breathing was the same as it had been before the fight. His back was relaxed and his steps almost leisurely. He said, "That was quick thinking, hero."

"How did you see it?"

"I didn't."

Navi and I shared a glance. "Then... what?"

"I am the leader of the sheikah clan, hero. I have trained to see what cannot be seen. My abilities transcend those of a traditional battlefield. It is why I am leading this mission to attack the spirit."

"And if we cannot reseal it?"

Impaz finally looked back at me. "No one knows how to kill the spirit. It is not of this world. Hero, you should be more silent. To walk among the dead, the living should go unnoticed." I pursed my lips at his rebuke. Navi made a face. "Tell your fairy to hide himself as well lest he insult the restful dead with his light. There is no place for such life here."

Navi ducked back into my hat. I was once again thrown into darkness only a sheikah could see in. I reached out and rested a hand on Impaz's back. We had to have traveled several miles underground. The tunnel slowly widened. The sheikah behind me were able to stand side by side in threes.

I ran into Impaz when he stopped. I glanced around him. The entrance of the temple was lit with a strange green light. "Hero, this is where we leave you. Only a sheikah can pass the final test and enter the temple."

"What? No! I am going-"

His glare made me stop. He turned and caught my hand. "You need to stay here, Link. The temple is no place for a child."

"But I'm not..." I glanced away.

Impaz shook his head and smiled softly. "I'm glad he got to spend time with you, hero. I barely recognized him when he returned. You've both grown up so fast. You need to take care of him for me."

I looked back. Impaz was the one Grannie had described as Marin's special caretaker? Impaz was looking down. He took a deep breath and turned back to the temple. "Sheikah, to me."

They all walked in a line toward the green light. I fought back rebellious tears as I watched them go. Impaz drew the dagger and held it before him. They walked through the entrance one by one.

Navi whispered in my ear, "Something feels wrong."

I looked around with the lens of truth. Hanging from the ceiling was a strange mono-visioned creature. It had no legs to speak of. It's eye was fixed on Impaz as he watched his soldiers enter.

A white figure darted past me. I shouted, "Hey! Stop!"

Impaz looked over. For the first time, I saw terror in his eyes. "Go back, you fool!"

I ran after the white figure. Navi screamed, "Look out!"

I lifted the lens to see the creature on the ceiling take notice of us. It swung an over-sized hand at the person in front of me. I used Farore's wind to tackle him. Then it placed us beside Impaz.

I caught my breath as Impaz grabbed the white figure's shoulder. "You impudent child! Why didn't you listen to me?"

I drew the master sword. "We don't have time. There's-" The whole tunnel trembled. I lifted the lens. The creature was squeezing its massive form through the door! "Run!"

I turned and pushed the others forward. "It's coming!"

Impaz paled and pulled the white figure after him. I felt something brush my hair and screamed at the same time I created a wall of fire behind us. The thing chasing us bellowed in pain.

The exit was within sight! Impaz went through and disappeared. I could hear the tunnel collapsing in on itself. I emerged on a narrow walkway. A hand grabbed my arm and yanked me sideways.

I covered my head as the wall beside me exploded. The creature's cries could be heard as it fell into the abyss I had nearly tripped into. We shimmied along the wall. I screeched, "What was that thing?"

Impaz didn't answer and the white figure had their shoulders raised as if expecting a lecture. I tried again, "Impaz, what was that? It- frankly, I don't know how to describe it."

Impaz looked over the white figured person. "You could see it?"

"Why do you think I came with you?"

Impaz shook his head. "Whatever it was, there is no way for it to reach us now. We should continue deeper to the sanctuary."

He glanced down at the white figure and they flinched. The ledge widened until we reached yet another staircase. I bumped the newcomer with my shoulder. "Thanks for ditching me in the forest, you jerk."

Marin flinched and wouldn't meet my eyes. "I'm sorry. I- I panicked."

I offered a sympathetic smile. "I've forgiven you. Zelda already apologized for you."

Marin's eyes furrowed in confusion. "Thank you?"

"Shh, children."

We looked at Impaz with equal annoyance. The passage was blocked by a door. Impaz went to it. He groaned and rubbed his temples. Then he began a complicated set of actions to open the door.

I sat beside Marin on the steps. The rest of the sheikah stood at the ready. They glanced at us curiously, but refrained from speaking. Marin reached for my hand and placed a familiar blue object in it. "I truly am sorry, Link. I never should have taken it."

"It was given to me by a dear friend. I have to take care of it until I can return it." I held the ocarina to my chest. "I forgive you. It was more of a surprise that you knew its purpose. That day at the lake..."

Marin smirked. "You were testing me?"

I hid a grin. "I had to know. You showed no sign you understood its importance. But then you played that strange song in the forest."

Marin leaned into me and pulled out his harp. "I should have taught you that song. Normally I would have used this," he lifted his instrument, "but Zelda had it."

He began to pluck out a haunting melody. It was melancholy and disturbing. I saw more than one of the sheikah shudder. He spoke as he played, "This is the Nocturne of Shadow. It belongs to the dead."

I lifted the ocarina and played along with him. Our harmonies echoed oddly in the hallway. One of the sheikah finally complained, "Could you stop that."

We blushed and put the instruments away. The last echoes faded. We waited for the door to open. A chill ran down my back. I glanced over my shoulder. Nothing was amiss.

The door opened slowly. Impaz and two other men had to shove on it. Impaz held out a hand. "Come, children."

We walked past the others. Then I heard a scream. Looking back, I saw a sheikah had been pinned by something. Their body was held against the wall by an invisible force. There was a disgusting crunch as their skull was crushed and their scream ended.

The other sheikah had drawn their weapons. Impaz reached for us and pulled us through. Then the door slammed. Impaz cursed and shouted, "We have to get it open!"

I heard screams on the other side as the sheikah fought. I covered my mouth and backed against the wall. A loud thud hit the wall and I covered my ears. It did absolutely nothing to block the horrific sounds coming from the other side of the door.

The screams fell silent. Impaz put his forehead to the door. His shoulders sagged. Marin stumbled back a step. I grabbed his arm and pulled him against my chest. We were both shaking with silent sobs.

The other two men were pale. Impaz pushed back. "We go to the sanctuary. We are close now."

"Impaz, they-"

"They were willing to give their lives. They knew the risks. We must continue."

The men pushed aside their emotions, but Marin and I weren't quite ready. Impaz paused beside us. "Hero, no... Link, how are you faring?" I could only shake my head. Marin stood tall, but there was a quiver in his jaw. Impaz put a hand on Marin's shoulder and pulled him close. "You stupid boy. You should have listened to me."

Marin's arms wrapped tight around Impaz and he buried his face in Impaz's neck. "I'm sorry, old man."

"Heh, I shouldn't have expected you to start listening now considering you haven't in the past." Impaz was near tears. He cleared his throat. "The sanctuary is beyond the bridge. We'll find the beast within. Courage, hero. You'll want to keep that sword ready."

I nodded and started after the others. Navi flew at my shoulder. We had finally reached the bridge. It spanned a murky green river. Faces of the dead passed below. I put a hand to my mouth.

Impaz said, "Go carefully. You do not want to fall. This river is death."

I gripped the ropes firmly. Impaz followed behind the two of us. The two men made it to the other side and waited. My legs were jellied from nerves when I stepped back onto stone. Marin took a few steps and leaned forward with his hands on his knees.

Impaz went to a statue. It was similar to the goddess statues I had seen scattered around Hyrule, except that skeletal hands were folded in prayer and a skull looked out from beneath the hood. Impaz inserted the knife hint into her hands and turned the blade. A door opened.

A rotten scent emitted from the sanctuary. The others started forward. I put a hand on Marin's arm. "I... I'm scared."

Marin lifted his shoulders. "I know. I am too."

He reached for my hand and we entered the sanctuary. All was darkness. Even Navi's light didn't travel through the inky black. Marin called, "Impaz?"

There was a tremor in his voice. My breath stuttered. The air was growing colder. At last I saw them. The sheikah stood before us. They weren't moving. I put a hand on Impaz's back. "Impaz?"

He fell to the ground from my light touch. The other two fell a second later. A small scream left me. I clung onto Marin. His nails dug into my arm. Then a voice said, "Who are you that you can stand in the realm of the dead?"

"What did you do to them?" Marin had found his voice first.

The disembodied voice chuckled in its bass tones that rattled in my chest. "They have succumbed to the natural order. I did nothing."

I took a step and lifted the lens. "Show yourself."

"Ha, ha, ha... Such a trifle object I have not seen for some time." His slow words sent chills down my spine. "You really think that is enough to challenge my power?"

"You beast, I know it was you who killed the medicine woman, Lucita."

The voice shifted and circled. "Ah, the guard of my prison. Yes, you could say I brought about her end. But it was not me who made the killing blow."

"You murdered my grandmother."

The thing laughed. "That ancient woman had no family. She was tied only to the goddess!"

I drew the master sword and called upon Fi's light. "I demand you to show yourself, creature! By the light of the goddess, reveal yourself!"

I let the holy light pulse from within me. It filled the room. There was nowhere left for the spirit to hide. The creature was the one I had seen near the temple entrance. It screamed and recoiled. "Who are you! By what ability do you walk among the dead!"

I kept my light strong. "I am Linore, daughter of the goddess." I said without turning, "Get Impaz out of here, Marin. I'll hold it back."

Marin took hold of Impaz's shoulders and tried to lift him. The beast bellowed, "No!"

It swung at Marin. Before it landed, the hand was repelled. A glow surrounded Marin and a necklace with a familiar charm pulled at its chord. He looked down. I pulled off my helmet and removed Grannie's charm from beneath my zoran armor. It too glowed.

The creature growled. "That woman is dead, yet still she denies me."

Impaz shifted in Marin's arms. "Boy, you must leave. You are not ready to take your place here."

Marin tightened his hold. "Shut up, old man. I'm going to get you out of here."

Impaz put a hand on Marin's shirt and mumbled. I didn't recognize the words. Then Marin shouted, "No!"

In a blink of light, he was gone. Impaz fell to the floor. I backed up and removed my charm. I wrapped the chord around Impaz's hand and closed his fist. "Hang onto that for me."

"Silly girl..."

The creature chuckled. "You would give up your protection for a dead man? Such a foolish hero."

I lifted the master sword with two hands. "If you really think that, come and challenge me, spirit!"

Navi glowed yellow. "It's Bongo Bongo!"

I paced forward as Bongo Bongo fell to the floor. It walked forward on its hands. "I will purify this temple, demon. You can either go to eternal rest or become as nothing."

The thing with no mouth said, "We shall see which of us perishes here."

Its hands swiped at me. I dodged and slashed. The blade didn't cut it, but Fi's sacred light left a burn mark. Bongo Bongo hissed and circled. I paced and sidestepped with it. It struck again. I rolled and slashed before sliding in closer.

I shoved the master sword into its eye. The sword was yanked from my grasp as Bongo Bongo thrashed backward. Its oversized hands couldn't grasp the hilt.

I took up the position of the goddess like Grannie had taught me. Their power was even stronger in this place. Within seconds, their power coursed through me. My mouth opened as their voices came through me.

Bongo Bongo screamed and cowered against the wall. "No! I will not-"

The master sword glowed brighter. The spirit began to burn with holy fire. There was nothing it could do, but burn. At last the sword fell to the floor. I dropped to my knees and the light faded, but the inky dark didn't return.

I crawled to Impaz. He was breathing, but it was shallow. "I need to get you home. The others-"

"They're dead, Link. There's nothing more you can do for them." Impaz groaned. "And I am not much longer for this world myself. Hero, my dagger..."

He fumbled with the straps holding the sheath. I helped him unbuckle it. He took the sheath and grabbed my arm. "Take it... give it to Zelda. She will know what it means."

"Why are you talking like this? You're going to give it to her yourself."

He groaned and grit his teeth. "Hero, I am already dead." He grabbed my hand and put it to his chest. Icy realization hit me.

"No, goddess, no! Marin, he needs you!"

Impaz smiled. "No. He doesn't need me anymore. I've given him everything. I loved him like a son. But now, he needs you, Link. Support him and cherish his friendship. Hero, my strength is yours."

I looked around. The other sages had gathered. Impaz slowly stood and took his place beside them. They all wore looks of grief. The game was up. I accused, "When were you going to tell me? Why did you let me believe a lie for so long?"

Sario was crying. "You would have been hindered."

I glared at Ruto. "And you! I love you! We were going to be together!"

Ruto took a step toward me. I tried to avoid his embrace. He held me tighter. "I am sorry, filorinet. The man Marin was right. I should have told you all those months ago. Goddess, I've hurt you so much. I'm sorry, Link, but we can't be together in your world. Perhaps in another lifetime... Please, Link. I want you to move on and be happy."

I slipped from his embrace and sobbed. Rauru said, "Hero, you must finish what you've started. One sage has yet to be awakened. Go to the desert. Heal the temple." I nodded as the blue light carried me back to the world of the living.

And there's my biggest plot twist of the entire book revealed! Please read and review!