"I even tried to go into that well once myself... Strangely enough, though, I don't remember anything that happened there."

Chapter Twelve: Ikana

"I-I...A-am I-I cu-cur-cursed?" a younger Link asked.

Lydia looked at her son after the scene with Aboda's angry villagers. She sighed, thinking that the boy wasn't paying attention during the argument.

"No, you're not cursed. Not at all Link," Lydia told him.

He gave her a smile that quickly turned into a grimace. The boy grabbed his head and suddenly cried out in pain. Lydia grabbed him, held him close and young Link started screaming.

"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!" he shrieked.

"Link! It's me! It's your mother!" Lydia said as the boy squirmed in her embrace.

Agitha stared at the scene with disgust while Aryll was greatly worried. Granny Matilde, rubbing her hands together, said, "He need to sleep now."

She placed her right thumb on his forehead and an orange glow pulsated from it. Link's screams became louder and his squirming more violent. She picked him up and carried him home, despite the boy's loud protests and piteous villagers watching.

Ikana Canyon, castle…

Kishin, sitting in his room in the castle, sighed as he stared out of the window that overlooked the town. It was situated in the middle of the canyon, the buildings and various boroughs connected by bridges. The remains of a wall were also seen and King Igos told him that their ancestors had created a giant wall to prevent an enemy nation from attacking. But that nation was no more and the wall was seen as useless and mostly destroyed with the bricks used to build more homes. Instead, an iron gate guarded by the small country's soldiers was there. It allowed for the Royal Family to be seen more accessible, but not too much.

The lower part of the canyon was greener and had the fisheries and fishers' homes, since it was near the river leading to the Northern Swamps, the only river in the world that flowed south to north. A cliffside near there contained an inn, formerly a thieves' hideout. Due to the place's old reputation, the owners were deeply scrutinized by the royals.

The upper levels, where the secondary source of the river was located, was where a music house, a few shops and an excavation site where a well was. There was also a pathway to the region's temple, the Stone Tower Temple. The tower was usually covered in thick clouds and was said to be an impenetrable fortress. That day, the clouds were clear and Kishin could've sworn that he had explored the tower before.

The door opened and he saw his new friend/guardian, Impa Kaji. She stepped in, asking him, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, you've asked me this question for nearly three weeks now," Kishin said, getting a bit annoyed.

"Well, I have the right to. You destroyed the home I was renting out, nearly plunged the canyon into unbreakable illusions, almost poisoned the kingdom's drinking water, nearly killed the fish and became a being of orange light. So, I can ask if you're alright if I want to," Impa told him.

Kishin sighed, finding her a bit overbearing. But, she was a good person. That's what the memories that surfaced after he awakened was telling him. Apparently, she assisted him when he was in Hyrule…as a boy called Link. How he became "Kishin", he didn't know.

But he didn't tell anyone that. Especially not Aryll and Farore. Due to memories of being cruel to her during a fit, he kept quiet whenever Aryll talked about Link. And whenever he was asked about his past, Kishin would only tell what he could remember, before ever being Link, as his first memories was that of serving as a knight for Termina. He didn't tell them that he had the title of "Fierce Deity" and thought it best. No one understood the great power one got with that title and the role they were supposed to play as the Hero of Termina.

"So, did you eat at least?" Impa asked.

"Yes, I did…" Kishin told her, rolling his light blue eyes.

"And…you haven't told her. Why?" Impa asked, glaring with her ruby red eyes.

Kishin felt small in her presence, despite being a foot taller than the Sheikah woman. He looked down, scratched the back of his head and told her, "I…I don't want her to find out…I can't say that I'm her brother if I'm not really whole. Like, there's another seven of me running around this world and saying that I'm the Link…Well, that'll make it awkward if we do reunite and are pieced back together."

"What do you mean 'if'?" Impa asked.

Kishin could sense the others, especially the one traveling the Great Sea towards Dragon Roost Island, home of the Rito. They all seemed to be in denial of what happened to them and their connection to each other as different forms of Link. But if something was to happen to any of them…Kishin really didn't want to think about it.

"You risk your existence…" Impa said, exactly what he was thinking.

The silver-haired one nodded and he told her, "That's what I'm afraid of. I don't want to disappear, not as 'Kishin' or as 'Link'. And the others, they feel the same. They're not saying much about it, but they do feel that way."

"So, we should find the rest of you posthaste," Impa said.

Kishin thought about it, only for him to say, "What about the King? I don't think he'll understand my sudden disappearance."

"He is a kind person and I'm sure a valuable ally for the future. I don't think he'll think you differently if you told him who and what you really are," Impa said.

"Yeah…I need more reassurance than what you think," Kishin told her.

Impa shrugged, saying, "He had Shadow and Spirit magic abilities as well and I don't want to risk too much suspicion by trying to dive into his mind. But you're going to have to tell Aryll and Farore sooner or later. Farore's already suspect of you, since you've had a bit of a personality change."

"Ah…!" Kishin started, realizing that she was right.

He wasn't as talkative or outgoing as before. But trying to go back to that would be somewhat weird.

"Well, when the time comes, I'm sure they'll be understanding. And Heika wishes to see you, Link," Impa said.

Shaking his head, Kishin said, "No. Don't call me that. I'm just one part of him."

"Alright. Suit yourself," Impa said.

With Aryll…

She sat on a cliff's edge looking at the canyon in the twilight. The place was rather pretty, bathed in that light and snow. Dressed down in blue and white leather armor and boots, Aryll wasn't cold in the slightest as the snows of Snowpeak made her more resistant. Someone approached and said, "There you are!"

Farore, dressed in green and looking like a scholar than a fighter, sat next to her and said, "So? So? Did you find out if he's the one?"

"Um, no…I don't think him nearly sending us permanently into hallucinations is a sign that he's him," Aryll told her.

"Well, Spirit magic is one of the powers that the Hero is said to have. Not as strong as the old princesses of Hyrule, but strong enough," Farore told her.

Aryll would've liked to think that Kishin may have been her brother. But…he was kinda tall. And a bit silly. And had long silver hair and bandana, instead of the shorter blonde hair. And he couldn't remember anything about being "Link". So much so that her talking about him brought nothing out of the giant.

"If Link did come back in that form, then…" Aryll said, feeling melancholic.

"Then he can save the world! We need him and if he's not back, then the world will end!" Farore said.

"I know. But, I can't get my hopes up. Agitha would…" Aryll said.

She glowered, thinking of her twin that started all that mess. If it wasn't for her, Link would still be around. And…

"And the world wouldn't be in so much peril. I get it. But she still is your sister, right? Hating her wouldn't be a good thing," Farore said.

Aryll went back to staring at the landscape and Farore started flipping through her book. She stopped and said, "Oh! Here's a passage in the Hyrule Historia about Ikana. 'When the Hero of Time traveled to this region, he saw that the land was under a curse, where the dead roamed. He met a father and child, living in a music box house and discovered away to see the ruler of the land after freeing the father from a curse. He was given a mask to protect him as he made his way into Ikana Castle. There, he found the undead king and his guards, fighting and slaying them with sacred light. Once defeated, the king taught the Hero a song to venture into the Stone Tower, the source of the evil plaguing the land.'"

"'He ventured into the temple, found another mask that could help him in stopping the moon and destroyed the insectoid creature 'Twinmold'."

Kishin found them and the tall one sat at Aryll's right. Farore, on her left, asked, "Uh, how do you know that? That's the exact end of the passage."

"Well, they constantly teach that here in Ikana to 'not repeat the mistakes of the past'," Kishin told them.

"Oh, so it's not from you remembering things?" Farore asked.

"Remember what?" Kishin asked.

The green-haired lady frowned and Aryll said, "Ignore her. Anyway, what's wrong? You usually don't sit with us like this."

"Well, I have a bit of a proposition for you," Kishin said.

Farore eyed him suspiciously and he said, "Okay, more like it was an order from the King. He wanted me to check on the dig where the old well used to be. And I figured that since you're looking for clues about that Hyrulian Hero, you guys could come with."

"We're more like trying to jog your…" Farore started.

Aryll interrupted by asking, "So, that curse that was there isn't there anymore?"

"Last I heard, no. The Hero of Time had destroyed it almost 2,000 years ago. But since the Blood Moons…" Kishin said.

"Well, there hasn't been any incident around the old well dig site. Only outside…" Farore said.

"That's why I stay indoors. Anyway, I was wondering if you two would like to join me. We can find clues and report back to the King," Kishin told them.

Aryll didn't think it was a good idea, but Farore said, "If this can jog your memory, then I'm in."

"Okay, what's the deal with you wanted to get my memory back?" Kishin asked.

Farore said nothing, getting up and helping Aryll. Kishin quickly got to his feet and Aryll agreed. Kishin grinned, saying, "You will? Sweet!"

"But if anything happens, I'm blaming you. Okay?" Aryll said.

Kishin nodded, telling her, "I swear I won't let anything happen."

He put his hand over his heart as if he was reciting a national anthem and Aryll snickered as he looked silly. Farore rolled her eyes and said to him, "If we don't get any clues or memory jogging, I'm clocking you in the head."

Link opened his eyes, seeing that he was covered by many rocks dirt. He couldn't move as he was pinned down on his back and his legs and arms were being crushed by the rocks. Thankfully, there was still a bit of air flowing and he wasn't suffocating. But, what about Aryll and Daruk? What happened?

He remembering Oni going insane and trying to kill him. And then a calming presence overtaking him and he had an out of body experience, seeing himself fighting Oni. Then, he snapped back to reality and saw Fi push him out of the way. And then…

"F-Fi…" Link said, his eyes welling up with tears.

The girl grew on him, like another little sister that actually cared about his wellbeing. Despite only knowing her for a few weeks, the girl was genuinely kind and he felt that he failed to protect her. And then Oni. He was like a brother and his turning on everyone, it hurt.

He was supposed to be the Hero, so why couldn't he be that? What was wrong with him? How could he not see that Oni was going to betray them? Why did he? And Fi? Why did she protect him? He was supposed to protect her, right? He's the Hero, right?

'Agitha…She's right. I'm…I'm a failure. I'm not cut out to do anything like this. And…Maybe her hating me's justified…' Link thought, tears falling from his face.

And Aryll. She was the only one that cared for him, besides his mother and grandmother. But the cave-in. There's no way she should've survived. And if he survives and she doesn't, Agitha will just blame him for their sister's death, just like how she did with the father he couldn't remember.

And his friends. They did care, but not as much as Aryll. He could tell that they were terrified of him and was cautious being around him. They would sometimes stop in mid-sentence when they were speaking, as if they believed their words would trigger something in him. After what Groose told him, he could see why.

'Everyone was right to fear me. I'm messed up. Why would they choose someone like me? I have amnesia. I can't speak straight. I got these weird voices in my head and personas I can't control. Why me? The villagers and Agitha were right. I'm just…no use,' Link thought, still in melancholy.

Kishin swayed a bit, getting a headache from a vision/memory. They were approaching the well and a memory came up when Aryll mentioned the landscape being similar to Hyrule's Death Mountain region, minus the river and spring. To his relief, the young ladies didn't notice and stared at dig site.

It was many feet deep and ladders connected the various tiers. On the lowest tier was a mysterious altar with a smiling sun mosaic and a ladder leading up to a collapsed tunnel. Scholars were studying it as well as a long forgotten, empty treasure chest. The trio arrived and Farore was the first to rush for the mosaic.

With wide eyes, she said, "Amazing! This is an old Sun Switch, like the ones that used to be in the Gerudo's Spirit Temple! I never knew that Termina had their own version!"

Aryll looked around and then at the tunnel. She then turned to Kishin, who didn't make eye contact. He had a vision of the Hero of Time opening the chest, finding a mirror shield and using it to reflect light onto the Sun Switch and a block that originally blocked the tunnel. Rocks replaced that and it was best as the tunnel led to the castle.

"Oh, hello Kishin. You here to survey the site?" a scholar asked.

Kishin recognized her and said, "Hello, Dr. Pamela. How's your dad doing?"

"Oh. He's doing fine. He just warned me about studying this area as he said the place used to be cursed," Dr. Pamela said.

Since Kishin towered over everyone, the doctor was tiny in comparison and was about a few inches taller than Aryll, who looked to be about five feet. The white lab coat, blue dress-wearing scholar smiled and asked, "Do you want to hear what I've found out so far?"

"Okay. Let's hear it," Kishin told her.

Dr. Pamela started, telling the trio that the area used to be a place where treasure hunters gathered, hearing tales of the ancient Kingdom of Ikana's treasure, the Mirror Shield. They would descend into the well, but upon entering they were cursed, turned into Gibdos. In their cursed forms, they wandered the underground passages, unable to live or die.

The Hero of Time retrieved the Mirror Shield after dispelling a curse from the scholars' predecessor: Dr. Paul Cadence of Clock Town. He was able to claim a mask from him and traversed the underground, arriving in Ikana Castle and freeing the old king from his curse. The old king then told him about the source of the land's curse, Stone Tower Temple. There wasn't a way for the Hero to traverse it normally as a "soldier with no heart" had to help. So, he taught him a song, one that was lost so long ago.

"But!" Dr. Pamela said, causing Aryll to jump.

She held her hand up in the air and then pointed at a musical scale scribbled on a wall. The doctor sighed and said, "Well, I'm not musically talented at all. If anything, my dad said that my singing was more like a 'death knell'…Kinda mean, don't ya think?"

Aryll went down to see it and Kishin joined her. The two stared and Aryll muttered, "I can't read music…"

Kishin didn't want to admit that he could, but…

"Can you?" Aryll asked.

"Can I what?" Kishin asked her.

"You can read it, can't you? My brother could read music, despite not ever taking lessons. Sahasrahla told me that previous Heroes could do so because other Heroes were musically inclined," Aryll told him.

Kishin didn't want to admit it, not wanting to give her any hope or false ones. Farore heard them and she joined, saying, "So, why are we staring at a wall?"

"Um, Dr. Pamela thinks that this musical score is connected to the old kingdom," Aryll said.

"And Aryll thinks that I have something to do with it," Kishin added.

Farore summoned a harp and began playing it, following the score. Kishin recognized the song as the "Elegy of Emptiness". It was an old song that created shells of the person who played it, leaving it behind as a decoy or weight. It also made a useful coat racket. But if Farore finished playing, then…

"NO!" Kishin yelled, smacking the harp out of her hands just as she was finishing.

It landed in the dirt behind them and Farore yelled, "What was that for?"

"Yeah, we were close to making a discovery!" Dr. Pamela added.

Aryll unsheathed her short sword, nearly cut Kishin with it and bellowed, "We were on the verge of a huge breakthrough!"

"Well, I wouldn't be too keen on playing old songs to find around here. You do remember that this place was cursed, right? Maybe some of it didn't get dispelled after the Hero saved this place," Kishin told them.

"But you said that…!" Farore started.

Kishin shook his head, telling them, "Just forget it. If you want to get some weird stuff happening to you, then be my guest. But don't blame me if something bad happens."

He stepped back, disappeared in a shower of light, leaving the curious confused.

"What is your name, son?" King Igos asked, seeing a reverted, silver-haired young boy.

He and his retinue found him in the canyon near the town, as a small silver wolf. When the Blood Moon disappeared as night faded, the pup turned into a child, albeit painfully. Keeping him decent, one of his guards covered him with a cape. The shaky child looked up at the king and then at the guards.

The redhaired king, dressed in his tribal garb of tan, green and red, gave a sad smile at the silver-haired one and asked, "What is your name?"

The boy didn't respond and a guard said, "Boy, answer the king when he's speaking to…"

"Oh, quiet, Markus! He's terrified! Look at him!" King Igos said, the guard backing down.

Another guard, Iris, stared and said to her king, "Majesty, he's like a sad little puppy…Aw…"

"Yeah, but he's not useful for…" a third, Aranea, started.

Not liking the direction of the conversation, King Igos said, "We're not using him as a weapon. We're taking him in…but after we learn his name."

"Ki-Ki-Kishin…" the boy said, trembling.

"'Kishin'?" Iris asked.

Kishin nodded and the fourth guard, Gladio, asked, "Isn't that the name of…?"

"The 'Fierce Deity'? Yep," Markus said.

Aranea gave a power-mad grin and said, "Yes! With him, we can make our stance again in the world! Show that Hyrulian Empire that Termina's not to be taken lightly!"

King Igos rolled his eyes and Gladio scooped up little Kishin, carrying him as the troupe headed back home.

Castle Ikana…

Iris, a young woman of 25, grinned as she waited behind a stone pillar. She held a rock in her hand and she planned on pranking Kishin when he returned. Most would question why she had a rock, but she had her reasons. Or so she told herself.

Knowing he would return and report to the king, Iris waited near the throne room and waited patiently. Kishin would go into that hall and she would toss the rock at a bucket of molasses precariously at the top of a stone pillar at the entrance to the grand hall. Her throwing arm was good and the rock would strike it, making it fall onto Kishin and covering him in sticky syrup.

Sweet revenge would be hers after he pranked her two months ago by switching her chocolates with chocolate-covered toothpaste. It was horrible and she couldn't get the taste out of her mouth for days, even though her breath was minty fresh. She would have it! By the gods, she would!

"Uh, sorry?"

Iris jumped as Kishin appeared in front of her. How did he get there without her knowing?

"Is His Majesty in the throne room?" Kishin asked.

"Y-Yeah. But how did you…?" Iris asked.

A deep shout filled the hall and the young woman saw her older brother, Gladio, covered in molasses as he apparently leaned up against the pillar where the bucket was. He wasn't too happy and Kishin doubled over with laughter. Iris then pointed at Kishin, saying, "He did it!"

"Really? Even though you got the rock in your hand?" Gladio asked after seeing her.

Iris was about to toss the rock at Kishin, but he had disappeared. Pouting, she gave a nervous laugh as her brother appeared. He glared and said, "What have I ever done to deserve this? Is this because you hate Aranea?"

"No! And we're having this talk now? Just…get cleaned up first…" Iris said.

Throne room…

King Igos stared out at the region of Ikana, seeing the pleasant sunshine and townsfolk going about their business. Impa was sitting on the windowsill and he asked her, "So…he really is…?"

"The Hero of Time, Chosen by the Gods, Light and all the other Heroes reborn? Yes. Including the 'Fierce Deity'," Impa replied.

King Igos knew something was special about him, right at the first day they met. He didn't want to turn the boy into a weapon as he displayed incredible power and the many wolf transformations. And apparently his first appearance as a child was a defensive mechanism and the wolf transformations where he would be stuck as a wolf for long periods of time was also one. It also helped him age to his proper age, a young man about 22 years old…according to Impa, anyway.

Aranea and the others wanted to use him to display Ikana's power, but he knew it would be dangerous. The Hyrulian Empire and other countries of the north had their "Divine Beasts", vicious machines that would annihilate a whole army with ease. What could Kishin do about that, he thought?

Even though the boy was a Hero, he wasn't not willing to put him or Ikana in harm's way. So, it was best to lay low. But Impa's urgency about the world and her explanation about why recent events happened.

"Maybe…maybe he can find himself there…Impa, how many did he say was running around?" King Igos asked Impa.

Impa replied with, "He said seven exist, but there's eight in total. One is in the northern regions, near the Northern Swamps."

"And I'm sure that they'll be drawn to each other…Well, it's settled. And I do need someone to give the mayor of Clock Town that goodwill gift," King Igos said.

"Did you call me?"

Kishin appeared and he looked at Impa and then at King Igos. His Majesty nodded and said, "Hello, Kishin. We've been waiting for you."

"Well, apparently not too long. So, the dig site's going when and Dr. Pamela found something interesting. A musical score," Kishin reported.

"But you didn't allow for Farore to play it. Why?" Impa asked.

Kishin didn't reply. King Igos gave him a reassuring smile, telling him, "Impa's already told me. You're special. So special, in fact, the world's fate is tied to your survival."

"Ah! Impa!" Kishin said.

"What? I had to. The world's future is at stake," Impa told him.

Kishin glowered and asked, "But what do I do if the world doesn't want to be saved? Hyrule seems pretty content that it's an empire."

He sounded a bit different and King Igos changed the subject by saying, "You don't have to if you don't want to. But, I need you to take our goodwill gift to the mayor of Clock Town for the annual Carnival of Time. You do remember it, don't you?"

Kishin nodded and said, "It's a model of the entire land of Termina. I know."

"Yes. You are to go with Markus and…" King Igos said.

The silver-haired man interrupted, asking, "Your Majesty, can Aryll and Farore come with?"

The king was surprised. The duo weren't fighters compared to Kishin and his retainers. So, why would he?

"It's because that side of him's waking up. He wants to be close to his sister."

The thought came from Impa and he agreed. With a sigh, he said, "Fine then. But you'll take the train from Ikana Station. Pack well and meet with Aranea at the castle gates. I'll have Iris alert Aryll and Farore about the trip."

Kishin gave him a salute, crossing his arm over his chest and having his hand curled into a fist. He turned to leave when King Igos told him, "Walk tall and be safe, child."

"Okay…I'll be fine," Kishin said, giving a wolfish grin.

When he was gone, the king asked Impa, "Are you sure this was a good idea? If this backfires…"

"I can assure you it won't. If they are truly drawn to one another as Kishin hinted, then they'll find each other and will work together to save everyone…even if the people don't care," Impa told him.

Another sigh and the Ikana King muttered, "I hope you're right."

And there's chapter twelve, the first chapter of the new year. Wonder if Impa's right and the "Links" will be drawn to one another. Hopefully that's the case, but who knows.

And thanks to those who reviewed and read the last chapter last year! And there's some Final Fantasy references in this. Wonder who can spot them.

-miano53