The Corrupted Hero

by Great Faith

In all her life, Katie, a perfectionist fairy, never thought she would have to aid a sadistic boy named Link who would rather waste his days chasing women and drinking sake than be a hero. This is a story about a fairy who must accept his flaws and about a young man who must learn on what it takes to be the hero promised.

111. Chapter CXI

A few things to clarify.

My computer is acting buggy with the keyboards so you might find some typos here and there. I've done my best to review it but I know they're hiding in there somewhere.

Reason why I've been slow in update is that I'm dealing with a personal loss now. I'm doing fine but updates will be just a little slower (possibly 1 week and a half) I will hurry it up since we're at the finale. Wouldn't want to drag it out.

Anyways, enjoy this chapter!

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PART FIFTY-ONE - THE SHADOW OF MY KIN

Something's not right.

Sophia didn't have the luxury to think on it, as another shadow tried to rip her apart with claws. This time, she used her daggers rather than her bare hands. The shadows have grown to be so chilly that it made her hands numb.

She'd been trained to toss aside her thoughts when engaging an enemy, but now her worries began to pile up one on top of the other. Silas wasn't here, neither was Simon, or Katie or Link. On top of that, her home was being ravaged by shadows!

What the hell is going on?!

The area around here was much wider, once a district for textile marketing. Now it was strewed with mangled people, dead, dying or injured. Most tried to hide in the buildings but the shadows appeared in them too. She saw villagers scrambling out from the door of the shop, screaming, crying.

Seeing this, redness burned through Sophia's vision. The next few minutes passed by in a blur and she found herself standing at the front of the shop, all shadows dead at her feet, their mists streaming up her daggers.

Her heart thrashed against her ribs, and her hands wouldn't stop shaking. She let in a deep breath before turning to her people who had stopped to watch her.

"Go!" she snapped, waving her hand.

"L-Lady Sophia?" a woman uttered, eyes nearly bulging.

"Move it!" she shouted when a shadow sprouted out, bleeding eyes narrowed like thin cuts of ruby. "Find somewhere safe quickly!"

They didn't need to be told twice. She dealt with the shadow, panting heavily as she took a step back, giving a slow sweep of the area.

Just what, she thought numbly, is going on?

She whirled, dagger skimming through a shadow that tried to get behind her. "Monsters!" she screamed when another entity approached her. "What the hell are you doing to my home?!"

The shadow seemed to…hesitate but Sophia didn't. She had both daggers into its fleshless figure, ripping it open. The shadow vanished with a cry. Sophia sensed someone behind her and spun with her daggers.

She stopped, gasping. "Simon!"

Her friend breathed out in relief, but as always, he needed to find something to complain about. "What're you doing all the way out here? I told you to wait at the fountain!"

"The shadows," she said, turning away. "They're far more powerful now." They were never this fast, she remembered. It was as if something had given them a boost. "You went to look for Silas, right?"

The same premonition resurfaced. That incessant, vague voice recited its chant. Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong.

Simon's silence confirmed it. She turned at him. "Well? Where is he?"

Simon seemed to shrink. "At the town square, but I tried to stop him!"

"What's at the town square?"

"The King of Shadows."

She had no idea who that was, but he sounded like trouble. There were more shadows around the area, chasing after people. Quickly, she made short work of them before turning to the town square.

The shadows were ubiquitous—they terrorized anyone that got in their way, choosing their victims at random. With legs that turned to smoke, letting them glide over the grounds, no one stood a chance of running away. Sophia intercepted them as best as she could, exterminating them from her sight.

For the first time this night, she could hear people cheering. For who, she didn't know. She didn't stick around too long. With Simon reminding her, they were soon on the streets.

Crowds began to clog the streets. Sophia forgot about Simon entirely, as she shoved her way through the streets. It thinned down considerably when the roads widened, leading up to the center of the town.

By the time she got there, she was nearly out of breath. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she raised her head and took a quick look around her. The smell was unbearable. An orgy of blood and death, something burning, happening all around her.

At the center, she found a large man with a glistering jewelry on his head.

Sophia didn't pay too much close to him, but turned to another lorn figure sitting several paces from him. Tendrils of mists danced and undulated and to Sophia, they looked like ropes, binding the person down.

"You're too late," the large man said, laughing.

Sophia ignored him as best as she could. "Silas." She reached over to him, but the mist reacted suddenly, throwing her on her back when she touched it.

Groaning, she glanced up and watched the mist spread out, fanning around her brother and trapping him in his own small dome, as if meaning to keep him away from the world. His outline vanished entirely.

Cursing, Sophia tried to break through but the mist pushed against her, throwing her back. Normally, she'd flip in the air, land on her feet like a cat, but she fell on her back once more, stunned.

The man chuckled darkly.

Sophia grounded her teeth. If she turned around to see him, then she'll forget about her brother. Once more, she tried forcing herself in, but an unseen entity seemed to be keeping her back. The mists weren't solid. They curled at her fingertips, cold. Frustration began to build up in her.

This was the story of her life with Silas. No matter what, Silas always pushes her back. Even when he obviously wanted to be with her, he had this protective wall placed between them. It wasn't fair. She worked to lower her walls, letting him watch her train, answering his touchy questions.

"Damn you!" she shouted. "Damn you, let me in!" The force staggered her back. Mists curled, seeming to tease her as they often looked like they were going to make an opening. "Silas!"

The man laughed.

Sophia panted, growling. She trained to be useful to her family, she fought to keep him safe and sound, and on top of that she tried to be the Lady he wanted her to be.

And now he had the galls to keep her out, like he didn't want to deal with her?

She yelled angrily, using her dagger this time. Like the shadows, the mist parted ways at her blade, and this time it didn't close up. She went through the gap, the chill stabbing at her like icicles.

Inside the dome, the mists blew wildly, throwing a weight at her. They smelled of something burning while feeling like a night of winter. She brought her arms up to shield her face, feet sliding back against the shove. It was so dark in here, she could barely see three feet ahead. With every blow of the wind, Sophia gave it back with a scream and a push.

Once she reached her brother, all her anger vanished. "Silas."

Blood dried on his chin, tainting his hands. He was down on his knees, head hanging down, trembling. She went down to his eye level, grasping his shoulder.

"Silas, it's me," she whispered, but he wasn't looking at her.

Behind his stringy bangs, his eyes appeared dull, no life sparked into them. His clothes were a mess of muck and mud. He had a bag on him, tied to his waist by a piece of red fabric.

She shook him a little and he didn't respond, only staring out straight.

"Silas, please! You can't do this to me!" Desperation clawed at her, as she looked to him with angered hurt. "You said you wanted my forgiveness, right? Then say something!"

What happened to him? What happened to her sweet, ambitious brother?

She thought of the twisted bodies she'd seen, the nightmare that roamed through their home. Such deaths were nothing new to her, although they were horrifying to see, especially seeing it done to her home at this magnitude, but for Silas? Sweet, innocent, affable Silas whose stressful moments were about his appearance and contract? Whose only fear was embarrassing himself in front of people?

Sophia felt her throat thicken up. She held his hand and touched his cheek. "Silas, don't leave me. Don't do it again."

I…I couldn't protect him.

"This is all my fault," she whispered. "I-I never wanted…all of this—I never wanted you to see any of it. I wanted to keep your mind safe so you wouldn't…so you wouldn't stop smiling." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I know this hurts you, but I'm right here. You don't need to do this alone."

The nebulous mists continued to fog the air around them. Sophia looked to see her brother's face still frozen in haunted shock. The howling wind fluttered their hairs. She repeated his name, saying something of the past, tried reminiscing of the good days.

Nothing.

"Why can't you listen to me?" she demanded, trying to get him to look at her. "I'm right here! I've always been here and you always ignore me! Why do you do this to me?"

This grief she felt—she could die from it. Just seeing how much his soul had shattered, she couldn't imagine his pain.

"My sweet brother," she cried, hugging him. His body felt so small and fragile. "My sweet brother, I'm so sorry. I should've made you stronger for this. I should've told you about the bandits in the woods. I should've told you about the monsters in the weald. It would've made you stronger."

She pulled him back, hands on his shoulders. "But we can do this. We can. We can fight through this together. I won't let you fall here. I won't let you die but you have to stand up with me!"

Silas only bowed his head.

"Listen to me!" she shouted, shaking him. "Why aren't you listening to me? You think this doesn't hurt me too? This is my home as well! You think you've failed? Well, we both share that failure and now we're going to do something about it!"

Silas only shook his head, his shoulders trembling.

Again, he refused to even acknowledge her presence. He always did that. Out of everyone in her life, her brother could manage to make her feel as if she didn't exist in the room.

Sophia gritted her teeth and did something she'd never thought she'd bring herself to do.

The slap turned his face to the side, causing him to yelp out. Silas turned to her, holding a bloodied hand to her cheek, eyes wide. "Sophia—"

"Oh, now you remember that I'm here, huh?" she hissed. "Are you going to ignore me again this time, you shit?"

Silas looked appalled, opening his mouth.

"You never listen to me, not once!" she screamed, cutting him off. "Even now as our home dies, you still act as if you were born alone! You don't think of how that makes me feel? You come here on your own to fight and never think of turning to me for help?"

Silas cowered. "I-I ne-never meant—"

"Why do you keep pushing me away?" Sophia put a hand on her chest. "I try so hard to open up but you never repay that by doing the same! I let you help me all the time but you just tell me to fuck off!"

Silas gaped. "I never did—"

"You idiot! Coming here on your own without me? Are you mad?" She pulled his hair, forcing his face close. "Don't you ever do that to me again, do you understand?"

"I get it!" he cried out.

"Do you?" She let him go, giving him a severe look. "Do you really now? I'm sick and tired of you, honestly! Be glad you are my twin. I've have done more than give you that light tap on the cheek!"

Silas cringed, still holding his red cheek. "That really hurt…"

"Good. It should hurt." Sophia swallowed, turning away from him. "You have any idea how much you've hurt me?"

"S-Sophia—"

"I want to protect you," she said, meeting his eyes this time and decided not to be ashamed of her emotions. "It may look like its too late but I can't let you die in front of me."

"I can't let you die either," he whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I-I can't. Th-that's why I came alone…"

"Then we die together." She raised her arm and showed a specific ribbon. "Don't ever forget it or I'll give you a blue noose to remind you next time."

Silas swallowed, nodding, holding her hand. "Okay," he said in a small voice.

"We either live or die." She squeezed his hand. "But I promise you, that we will do it together."

He looked up at her, broken for a moment. No one would've thought that there was life in him left, but she saw it. A spark in them. A determination. A strong, and fiery need to live.

"That," someone said, "was quite something."

Silas stiffened. Sophia stood up at once and noticed that the mists had vanished all around them, leaving them out into the open air with its reeking scent of blood.

The man who chuckled was an imposing figure, standing several strides away. "I've been waiting to meet you for some—"

"Shut the fuck up. I'll deal with you in a minute," she said not bothering to look at him. "Drink a potion, Silas. I'll deal with this, okay?"

The man behind gave a deep growl. She turned, daggers in both hands but stopped at the familiar face. "Uncle Tristan?" she exclaimed, almost dropping her daggers at the shock of it.

"It's not uncle anymore," Silas said to her, his voice anguished.

No, of course not. Only the face seemed familiar, but the body was large, muscular. Goodness, the man stood three times her size.

"Who…who the hell are you?" she asked, stupefied. Someone who looked like her uncle and who seemed as if they crawled out from a fairytale book?

The man bristled. "Mind your tone, you—"

"Wait, are you the one behind all this bullshit?" she cut off, waving her dagger to gesture around them.

The man wearing her uncle's face narrowed his blood-red eyes. "Now who would have thought that such a taciturn girl could be so foul-mouthed?" The wind picked up, whipping his cape behind him dramatically.

Sophia was less than impressed. "And you are?"

"A King."

She snorted. "King, my ass. I'd have heard of you."

"It's the Shadow King, Sophia," her brother said, his voice small and quivering. He was on his feet, hugging himself, and broke into a miserable sob. "Sophia, he sacrificed Sally," he cried. "And-and Viktor. He killed them both."

Sophia froze. Sally…she was their mother. Yes, she remembered that part. And Viktor. By the Goddess, they were dead?

The king grinned at her. Sophia stared, molten anger smothering her from inside. Silas sobbed uncontrollably and Sophia put an arm over his shoulder, pulling him close. "We'll avenge them," she told him, her voice calm. "He will die for this."

"The town," Silas cried out. "The town—"

"We'll save it. We'll stop this madness," she said, eyes never leaving this 'king' who seemed more than amused.

"Aw, how touching," the man lamented, yawning into his hand. "So the Haidrund bastards will make their last stand here?"

"Shut up," Sophia hissed, letting go of her brother and taking out twin daggers. "Who are you?"

"We've already established this."

"We'll establish it again." Sophia stopped when Silas tugged at her sleeve.

"Sophia, that is Louis, the Shadow King," he told her, hesitating. His eyes were rimmed red, the lassitude bearing down at him like a great weight. "He-he took uncle. He's gone."

Sally, Viktor, and now Uncle Tristan?

The air became too thick to breath in. Sophia felt as if her own heart had stopped beating and the sound of Louis chuckling like that was enough to make her scream. "You…you killed…"

Silas grasped her shoulder, stopping her from stepping forward. "He's very dangerous. He's not like the shadows," he said quickly.

"You should listen to your brother," the king said. "You think yourself as Lady of the Shadows? Let's test it out then!" He raised his fist to the sky.

Seeing that, Silas cried out, "No, please don't!"

Sophia didn't see it at first until she saw something dark closing in over the buildings like black curtains. It came in closer, happening all around them.

"The dome's getting smaller," Silas uttered.

It stopped shrinking. There were whimpers and whispers, but no more frightened screams. The shadows have stopped attacking, and instead organized themselves methodically in order to force people to gather near the town square. The villagers formed a wide ring, most standing in dark alleyways; others joined the tight crowd.

When they saw the Haidrunds, they pointed at them, whispering. Fear drew over pale faces at the sight of the large, dark man. The shadows stood by, immobile.

Sophia eyed the king, wondering what he was scheming by arranging this. Then she caught sight of a struggle, flicking across the dark man's face. "Uncle?"

The king stiffened.

Sophia beamed. "Uncle!"

"Sophia, it's not him!" Silas warned.

"It is him! He's still in there. Look!"

Louis shook his head, not in denial. The crown still stuck to him as he shook his head vigorously, as if trying to ward away something.

Sophia ran up and stopped only a few paces away. She thought of her uncle's jovial talks, his rosy cheeks and great smile. "Uncle," she said softly. "I'm so sorry. I should've been there for you. I shouldn't have let you leave home."

"No. No." The voice was no longer deep and ominous, the eyes no longer red. Staring back at her were the grey eyes of a Haidrund. "No…le-leave…" He gritted his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut.

"What?"

"Too…too late…" Tristan croaked, sounding like he was chocking on something. His heads slammed on either side of his head in pain. "Hate you….hate you…I hate you…"

Sophia was hurt. "You hate me? I—did I do something wrong?"

"L-leave me," Tristan cried. "Leave me please."

"I know you don't hate me," Sophia insisted. "And I don't hate you either. I…" She trailed off and sighed. Another truth. She had to tell him. "Uncle, I knew."

Tristan stopped, looking up at her. "W…what?"

"I knew." She paused again, thinking of the rumors she overheard from the servants, of the quiet conversing between Lawrence and Viktor. "I knew about the gambling, Uncle. I knew about the money and…and the drinks. I pretend I don't know because I knew you would be hurt if I knew the truth. You played with money and Father grew annoyed with you."

Tristan stared at her, eyes normal and familiar. "You…you knew?"

She nodded, stepping forward with a smile. "I've always known, and I don't care. I never cared. It just…it saddened me that you never trusted me enough to tell me."

Tristan's face broke down. "Sophia," he whispered in a desperate voice. "Sophia, I never mean—all of this I—"

"I know. You're a good man. You would never do something like this." Sophia stopped in front of the towering man. He may seem alien to this world with a height like that, shoulders wide as an ox, skin as black as soot and mist trailing at his feet, her uncle seemed beamed out through it.

She felt emotion in her voice. "I can't lose you too. I just…I wanted to…" Her memories churned like stones through a river, pieces of random events chained together only by strings. Her brother, her uncle, her mother, her father.

Her town.

"I wanted…to take care of them. Of all of them. I badly wanted to…but I failed. Father's now gone and you're all we have left now."

"I didn't mean to," Tristan said, his voice struggling. "Lawrence was—"

"The past is in the past." The world went silent as if holding its breath. She took one step closer. "We can go home now. I promise you that no one is going to hurt you. Not while I'm still here."

For a wonderful moment, it seemed like Tristan would take her outstretched hand, but Sophia saw the change just in time. She leaped back when the massive hand balled into a fist, throwing itself at her. It shattered the cobbles just as she landed back in a crouch. Chips of dirt and stone threw up.

Sophia straightened, searching the face for her uncle, but the eyes have returned to an angry, bitter red.

When the man spoke, it was done in that same deep, unsettling voice. "This form…so irritating." Those crimson eyes seemed to blame her for it. "You wretched woman! A thorn at my side since the moment I've laid eyes on you!" He growled, mists crawling out from his feet. "You will die for this."

People stirred in panic, held in place by the flickering shadow that appeared behind them. Silas cried out her name, but Sophia didn't move, mirroring the man's hatred. She never thought she would ever want someone to suffer, but watching that last bit of her uncle peter away like that, a light lost in the darkness.

"I'll drag you down to hell," she seethed.

Louis's smile was hard and cold. "Let the people see you two fall. Oh, the chaos would spread. The two bastard Haidrunds at the ground right before my feet."

"You will never have my home!" Sophia screamed, taking out her daggers. "Never!"

"I'll take your challenge." The king extended out his fist, opening it for steam to puff out his palm. "With pleasure."

"No, Sophia!" Silas tried running to her but was sent back by the force of a powerful beam that blasted from Louis's hand. The attack was massive, a tunnel-like beam taking Sophia in whole. "NO!"

---

Banard laughed coldly, his sword cutting the air in a whisper. Link reeled back, and barely managed to block it.

"Mmh, what's happening?" Katie murmured drowsily in his fist. "Ow, my head! Link, let me go!"

Link did so gladly. It was getting tough fighting with one hand.

White light splashed over at the jagged walls nearby as Katie clumsily took to the air. "Ow," she whined. "What happened to me?"

"Err, you hit a wall," Link said, eyeing Banard who only grinned at him.

Link stepped forth, twisting hiss word to slash horizontally. Like a dancer on a stage, Banard easily stepped away from the holy blade. His speed was something frightening, and worse, it seemed that he was only getting faster. He ducked beneath another blow, punching Link in the stomach when he rose up. With a grunt, Link bent down, wheezing, and didn't recover in time when Banard slammed him down with an elbow at the back.

Flat on his stomach, Link gasped out. He saw the glint of silver and acted quickly, using his hookshot to get away.

Banard tusked. "Again, son?" He pulled his sword from the ground, chuckling darkly.

Link couldn't believe this nonsense. He was petter sure he stabbed the bastard at the back of the knee, but look at him now! Bouncing around like he was skipping through a garden. The wound itself seemed bloodied but it didn't seem like it was bleeding anymore.

The ground shifted once more. It's been doing that for a while now. The walls of the maze crushed like twigs beneath the pillars that had fallen down from the lair. Link stumbled, raising his arm against the puff of dust and sharp pieces of stone pelting at him.

Banard stood straight, undeterred by the chaos. The tip of his sword scratched against the ground as he sauntered over Link, his smile wide, his dark eyes glinting.

"You really are stupid," Link said, exasperated. "We can do this in another place, you know."

"Sorry, kid, part of the job!" Banard sang, before breaking out into a dash.

Link blocked a number of attacks, sparks flying everywhere. His adversary's eyes were crazed for blood, that grin only broadened each time Link needed to step back.

The manic look wavered when slews of rubble showered above them, and the two were forced to break up. Darkness crawled forth from every crack. Link stopped, searching around him.

"Katie?" he shouted. "Sprit?" He grounded his teeth, whirling quickly when Banard tried to pull a fast one on him. Their swords danced with one another, skidding to the side, sharp light glistening. Sweat dripped down his face, the blood gone dry on his shoulder. He felt enervated, pushing himself to the very limit.

Banard ought to feel the same. Wrinkles lined his face, his eyes sunk into their sockets from the derived sleep he must've suffered in order to get here. In fact, he should be ready to pass out, but he stood now, stronger and faster than before.

A light breeze touched Link's face. It sent a familiar, light chill up his spine. Even the surly man frowned slightly, but neither stopped to pay it any more attention.

Dust cascaded behind crumbling rocks and marble. Link wondered about Katie, if she were somewhere on the ground and the possibility they could step on her…

He gritted his teeth. Now this is why he didn't want to bring her along!

Why the hell did she come with me?

He punctuated this frustrating though into a powerful blow. It was a stupid move to waste your energy like that, but it did take Banard by surprise.

Why…is she still with me?

It didn't make any sense.

Link aggressed Banard, hoping to get him before the surprise wore down. He could've gotten the man, but the mercenary's instincts saved him. Banard changed his grip and twisted out of the way. The Master Sword missed and it was Banard who had him now, right where he wanted.

The battle could've ended there. Indeed, the silver blade thrust forward, aiming for Link's throat, but the ground trembled once more, and the sword sailed past Link's head. Cracks spread through the walls. A piece of the stone wall broke out, followed by another until the whole thing collapsed like a dam.

Link staggered back from the mess, out of breath, shaken from the close call. There were lots of those, he realized. These close calls wouldn't be close calls the next time. Link turned, hoping to get away from Banard for a moment.

Panting heavily, Link stumbled to his knees. "Why…why can't I beat him?" he muttered. What was he missing? He trained all his life, every morning and every night, through the rain and snow. If he lost, he will die.

He's from home.

Link hated how that sent shivers over him. It shouldn't be possible to escape but maybe he shouldn't be so surprised. After all, him and Agnes made it out alive. If a couple of children like them got out, then surely more followed them.

More of them out there in this country…you might as well be putting sharks in a tank full of small fishes.

Cautiously, he crawled over a corner and found nothing but darkness. He got to his feet and stepped over something, a strange lump. Picking up, feeling it with his hands, it was something with a pointed tip to it.

"Link?"

Link nearly screamed. He jumped back, white light hitting his face.

Katie gave out a breath of relief, which only exaggerated her glow. "Link, we need to get out of here," she whispered.

Link thought of just how close Banard was to giving him a bad shave. "We can't. He's still here."

Her color blossomed to a rose. "Link, this is important! You can't just—" She paused. "What's that you have there?"

He shrugged, now looking at it closely. "It looks like…"

"Dinraal's horn!" Katie gasped, color shocked to yellow. "It must've broken off! You actually found it?"

This piece must've been cut off from the very tip, as the horns were massive, bigger than those pillars. It felt rough in his hands, jagged ends from where it broke off.

"It's going to make a powerful elixir! Do you even know the advantages it could—" She stopped when she remembered where they were. "That's not important now. We have to go. They're here."

Link heard it before he could ask.

Shrieks.

They echoed ominously in the hall, faint, but getting close. The breeze started to feel more like wind to him. Next to him was a heap of debris he needed to climb over, which led him to overlook a wide space. Up here, he saw the unpleasant, distressing sight of the horde. The same one that chased the group twice before.

There had to be several dozens of them now, all squeezed together to look like a flood of pure blackness. He could barely see their limps, arms stretched out with snatching dagger-like claws. Crimson eyes dotted over the flood.

Link cursed. Today was just not his day it seems.

"We have to go," Katie pleaded.

Link shook his head. "You go."

"Link!"

"I have to beat him." Even with the approaching horde, even with the ceiling collapsing, he refused to leave this battle.

I'm not weak. I'm not!

That was what kept him alive for so long. Being stronger, faster, able to fight five men, ten dozen of monsters, three Hionx. If he couldn't beat Banard, then he will die. That was the rule of the world.

"Are you blind?" Katie snapped. "You can't seriously see what's happening? This isn't safe!"

"What's it to you?" he snapped.

"I don't want to see you die."

"Why not? Why can't you just leave me alone?" he said hotly.

Katie shook, flakes fluttering below her. "I-I don't want to be alone," she said in a small voice.

"You're helping a murderer," he reminded gravely. "You know that know."

"I've always known that." Her color went sharp and she fluttered up to his face. "Are you really going to stay down here and fight? You really can't see how dangerous it is here?"

As if to prove her point, more pillars collided down with the walls, breaking shortcuts through the maze, bricks tumbling over the piles.

Because of the movement, it caused Link to lose his balance from above the debris. He managed to get his feet under him in time, sliding down to reach the bottom. "I have to finish this. I can't lose."

He cursed again when he found himself facing the horde directly. The walls either side of him stretched for too long. He wouldn't be able to run up ahead and turn around a corner in time before they came.

Katie flashed red at him as he turned to try and find something to latch his hookshot on. "If you're going to fight," she said, "then fine."

"Finally."

"But I have to come along. You can't go against those shadows and Banard all by yourself!"

"And what can you do?"

He caught a waver in her color, and turned to see her flushing. "I can…give you advices."

"Really? You can?" he said, humming. "Say, why don't you tell me how to swing my sword while you're at it?" He scoffed, turning away from her. "I meant what I said. When we get out of here, we're on our separate ways." Dammit, there was no way he could latch himself up so the only thing he could do was run ahead and hope there was a turn, or something he could use to get away from the shadows.

"I know the way out," she said quietly. "And I know how you can get pass those shadows."

"I can figure out those two on my own. Do what you want, but don't follow me anymore." He stopped when Katie went in front of him, white and blue coloring his irked face.

"Don't leave me alone here," she pleaded. "Please."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't," he hissed. "Think I didn't hear you talk to Silas, all that smack about destiny? You still think I'm the hero!"

She flushed.

"You're so full of shit, Katie," he spat. "I knew it from the start. Why the hell would I want someone like you with me?" He walked past her, resisting the urge to swat her out of the air like the bug she was.

She said something that didn't catch his ears. Groaning, he stopped. "What now?"

"I'm afraid."

He turned and saw her fluttering low, despite the strenuous way her wings were working.

"I'm so afraid," she whispered, her color shining white.

Link sighed, annoyed. "What, the dark? I know."

"I'm afraid of the world," she cried. "It's so scary."

"Welcome to reality, sprit. Have you been asleep the whole time?"

"It's so scary." She shivered, flakes fluttering and all. "They told me everything happens for a reason, but I don't know anymore. If you aren't the hero, if I'm just wasting my time, then do the Goddesses really exist or is that a lie too? What am I supposed to do with myself?"

Nothing worried Link more than an existential crisis. This was hardly the place and time for it. With the horde approaching, Link knew they needed to get out of this spot. They were trapped with a dead end behind, walls immured at either side, and up ahead seemed like a straight path towards death.

Link cranked his head up to try and find a way to latch onto something with his hookshot. "Last time I checked, life's always been like that from the start." With his hookshot, he tried shooting out over the ledge but the metal claw returned, only grabbing a handful of the stone that broke off. "Dammit!"

"I wish I was like you," she sniffed and he turned to see her coloring sorrowfully. "You're always so brave…you don't care what other people think…that's what I really like about you. You can say that you're not the hero, and…and you can be mean sometimes…" She glowed a little yellow. "But…I feel better if I could be with you."

Link stopped. "Are you serious?"

She nodded.

He didn't know how to feel about this. Good heavens and hell, this fairy was even crazier than he was. "Even after knowing what I did?"

"I stayed with you all this time, Link. Doesn't that count for something?"

Link leaned forward. "Let me tell you something," he said seriously, ignoring the horde and everything around them for just a moment. "Believe in me all you want, but that's not going to get you anywhere, and it's not going to do anything for you, understand? All of this is about Agnes."

"You're lucky to have Agnes," she said in a small voice. "No one would ever go so far for a nobody like me. I don't have anyone left. Zelda's gone, her father's dead. I-I don't have any friends…"

"You have Ruto and the twins."

"They'll forget about me." Then, suddenly, she dropped from the air. Link reached out and held her in cupped hands. She was alarmingly cold. This…this didn't feel normal. "All I do is annoy them. I annoy everyone. Everyone hates me."

Link glanced nervously back at the horde. "Now what did I say about worrying about what other people say?" Her weight was starting to scare him. She was usually as light as a feather, with warmth to her orb, but she now felt like a cold ball of iron.

"I-I can't help it," she said weakly. "I can't help but remember how mean I was to everyone, how selfish I was to Zelda. I really thought she was okay no matter what. She was always happy when she came back from sealing Ganondorf away. And then I think about Silas, how much he was suffering. Zelda must've been going through the same. I'm a terrible friend."

Katie's weight only grew heavier. Sparkles glittered down between his fingers. The horde was approaching and still no sign of getting out of here.

"This isn't the time for this, sprit!"

"You have such good friends, Link," Katie said, and he paused at that. "I don't have something like that for me."

His friends…

That mirror-hall puzzle emerged in his mind. He never thought of how much he missed his gang. Handy man Hank, Genius Gus, Gentle Dyer, Ilia the Queen and his little Anny. He wished he never met them, if only so he wouldn't feel this way.

He sighed. "You already have some friends, so quit crying! We need to get out of here!" Should he try to make a run for it? He had no idea how long these walls ran, or if there was even an exit. The horde was coming closer. Again, he tried using his hookshot with his free hand, only for the ledge to break off in the hookshot's grip.

"I…I feel safer with you," Katie admitted. "I don't know why, but I know I could trust you."

The horde had gotten perilously close, red eyes glowing brighter and brighter. Link stepped back, suddenly afraid.

She…she said she knew a way to get passed them.

He stared down at the fairy, a stubborn sprit she was, coming down here with him and staying despite the truth. "Are you sure about that?"

"I am."

"Even after what I did?"

"It's not…it's not my place to judge people. I should've known that a long time ago."

"And…" He hesitated, glancing at the horde, at the inevitable fate, and yet his mind wouldn't pay much attention to it. "And…everything I did to you?"

"I want to be like Sophia," Katie said. "I want to forgive so I could move on and share more adventures with you. I want to remember the happy times. Staying mad and hurting you…it did nothing for me."

He didn't know how or why she bothered with him. He especially didn't know how he managed to attract people like this, like his gang, like Ruto. They were all the same; they all trusted him somehow, they counted on him, relied on him.

Katie fluttered in the air on her own, glowing yellowish. "I'm going to stay with you whether you want me to or not," she said stubbornly. "I need to know about this world, about its people. I don't want to live in ignorance anymore!"

Link turned away from her. "You're nuts, you know that?"

"And who's responsible for that?" She went near his face, and he could feel her sincere warmth. "You can count on me, can't you?"

The horde was closing in on them. He could feel the wind from their rush, the shrieks filling the air with trepidation. He took in a deep breath, forcing himself to turn away from them and face her. From the moment he was told to bring her along on this journey, he had doubted she could catch up, or last this long to tolerate him.

But she'd always been so helpful to him, even kind when he didn't deserve it. She'd helped him. He used to do it by himself, with Agnes on his side but…

Was I…ever really alone though?

He never really thought about it like this, but he forced himself to acknowledge it, to stop lying to himself. He had his gang, and when he split up with them—when he didn't have anyone—he had his precious dog. Then, when he lost her, here came along this fairy who'd been his companion from the start. It seemed that there had always been someone there with him.

How would it be like, if he had been truly alone in this world?

People need to rely on each other to survive, Sophia told him.

It's okay to ask for help, Silas told him. It's okay to depend on someone.

"I…I trust you," Link said finally. "I've always trusted you."

The horde grew close enough that he could see the outlines of faces, long sharp teeth and claws, the way they shoved each other as if fighting over the last piece of meat.

Link took out his sword, but what will that do against something like this? Without even realizing it, he asked, "What should I do?"

"Use Nayru's blessing," Katie said. "You have two uses left."

He forgot about that but doubted it would work. The shadows could go through walls, even appear out of nowhere. Hell, they could even go through him in order to attack from behind. Pretty sure they could easily go inside of his little blue bubble and paint it red.

But Katie was rarely wrong, and so he followed her advice.

"Stop giving a shit about the Goddesses," he said as the shadows were upon them. "Just do what you normally do. Stop caring about what other people say. They can't tell you how to live your life."

Despite the blue shield, he felt the rush of wind on him, making his tunic billow. He kept a firm hand over his cap. Seeing Katie struggling, Link put away his sword and grabbed her, leaving himself entirely exposed.

But the shadows never reached him. They flowed outside his bubble like a river around a rock. Oily black, they covered every inch of the shield, creating a small, dark space lit up only by the bluish glow of the shield itself. It felt like going through a dark, screaming cave.

"You choose your own damn destiny." He glared at the shadows, at the reddish dots traveling across the shield. "Whether that's chasing after the hero, dancing in the forest, or helping a random bastard find his dog—you need to figure that shit out on your own!"

The horde finally passed, bringing mercy to his ears. They reached the dead end behind and disappeared entirely. The shield was still up and active.

Someone approached from up ahead, just to the left. Link paused, looking up to see Banard's twisted face. There was such a depth of hatred in those eyes. It surprised Link enough to wonder why the man wouldn't just snap and attack him screaming.

"We're not going anywhere till we take him down," Link said. Banard would rather be buried alive, knowing that they would join him than making his escape. Link let go of Katie just as the shield started to blink out. More debris rained down from around them. "Stay close."

"I'm right here with you," she said, glowing sharply as Banard rushed at them, silver sword raised up.

---

A black cloud surrounded her mind in the shape of a fist. For a moment, Sophia didn't know where she was or what she was doing, just closed her eyes and concentrated.

Fears rose up from the deepest part of her mind, fears she never knew about. One of them had been the fear of being sent to a loony's den by her father. She hadn't thought of that in years, as she had been only a child. Then came another fear of humiliation and madness, two of which she suffered when Irela came into their lives, and later when Lawrence died.

The process of it all was as natural to her as breathing. She softened the thorns of those memories and caressed them gently, turning them this way and that, like a child with a goody box, trying to determine if there was more inside.

And there was plenty inside. A whole trove of wonder and smiles, of laughter and delight. Of days when it felt too good to be true, of long walks in the garden, of deep conversations in front of a warm fire, of friendly teasing and frolicking.

The best part was that there was no bottom. In fact, light shined through it, nearly blinding her.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing at the town square, people around its rim. The darkness had passed her, dissipating.

A large man—Louis, right?—stood some feet away from her with his palm facing up, black mist steaming from it. He stared at her, stupefied.

Sophia blinked, realizing that she was clutching her ribbons on her arm. "What are you doing?"

"How…how is this possible?" the man croaked, then he fired something. Mist trailed after the shadowed arrow, making it seem much longer and narrower than it really was. It traveled at a blurring speed before she could even react, going straight at her heart, and exiting the back, sending chills all over her.

"What…are you doing?" she asked, confused. "What was that supposed to be?"

"This isn't possible!" the king shouted and he fired arrow after arrow. Sophia, getting annoyed now, swiped her hand at it. The arrow puffed away like smoke, coiling at her fingers.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Sophia demanded. "What is going on here?"

Louis cupped his hands, his palms facing her. A beam of blackness went straight at her, and Sophia backhanded it nonchalantly.

For the first time this night, Louis wavered, discomfiture cracking his confidence. "You-you shouldn't be able to do that! You could get passed my shadows, but I am the King! You should submit!"

Sophia stared at him balefully. "And why," she said flatly, "would I do that?"

"All Hylains have darkness in them!" He growled when she slapped another of his arrows away. "How are you hiding it from me? Just what are you?"

"You think I'm just going to hand myself over to you, dumbass?"

Louis gritted his teeth, his eyes glowed powerfully enough that they left trails of light whenever he moved. "I felt it," he hissed. "Your umbrage, your resentment—where is it?"

"I still have it. Just…" Sophia trailed off. "Wait, I don't understand. What are we doing here?"

"You're father is dead," he said sharply, shooting another arrow that Sophia brushed off unflinchingly. "Your mother's soul is mine. Your butler is dead. Your uncle is dead." Each sentence was punctuated into an arrow. With every one he fired, he took a step back as Sophia took one forth. "All these people wished for your demise. Your brother abandoned you, ruined your life when he pushed you down those stairs—"

"Don't you dare blame him for that," Sophia snapped, this time grabbing one of his arrows. A gasp choked from the redoubtable king when she snapped the icy arrow in half. When she opened her fist, mist puffed from her hands. "I don't blame him because it's not his fault."

Louis faltered. "This…this isn't possible. You-you can't be immune to darkness. No Hylians is."

Sophia waved her hand dismissively. "Darkness is useless to me."

"But your pain! You should be consumed in it! You should be drowning in it!" He looked so frustrated enough to pull his own hair out. "You can't even remember anything!"

"I do remember," she said through clenched teeth, then she paused. "The stars."

"What?"

"The stars always shine, don't they?" Sophia touched her ribbons, glancing at the faded colors. Each of them so very dear to her. "They are surrounded by darkness, swimming in it, and yet they still dazzling. Even though there are nights when they vanish, those nights don't last for long." She wished she could see them now.

Sophia glared at the king. "When you look at the night sky, you don't notice how dark it is when the stars are out." She looked back at her brother, smiling. "I guess…that's why I love them so much, because no matter how heavy the darkness is, no matter how awful the memories are, the stars will outshine the worst of it."

Silas's eyes welled up and he bowed his hand down.

"And that's something you can't ever understand," she sneered at Louis. "I don't forget. I never want to forget, no matter how bad a memory is!"

Rage shook in Louis. "You…"

"You are a filthy nobody," Sophia said simply. "That's what you are! King of Shadows, eh? You let the real shadows do your work for you while you stand here, prancing around with that little rust you call a crown." She brought out her daggers. "I plan to protect my family to the very end. Nothing will stand in my way."

Louis went silent. The shadows were as still as stone. "Then go with your family." He sharply gestured at Silas. "Leave now and I will spare you. But never return."

"No."

He cocked his head. "Don't you want to protect your family?"

"This is my family. All of it." She saw the frightened faces of the villagers, those unable to abscond from the town with all the shadows around. They were so happy before, so peaceful before. No monsters, no bandits. She tried so hard to make life so good here…

"They call you a loony," the king reminded, his voice suddenly soothing. "They never cared for what you've done for them. They don't even know what you did for them. They've traduced you, named you a madwoman."

"I don't care. I've never worked for glory or adulation."

"But you aren't a Lady. You're a bastard. The both of you." Louis grinned at her confusion, turning to the crowd. They wavered back, crying. "Yes, you've heard it right, people of Desmera! Your Haidrunds are a sham! Their mother a maid! They're bastards!"

Whispers and confusion rose from the rabble.

Silas cringed as if he'd been struck. "Th-that—we didn't know about that until just recently—"

"Don't lie, boy. You both are bastards and yet you insist to pose as a noble?"

Somehow confidence rose in Silas's shoulders as he straightened himself up. "I don't pose as a noble—I will act as one!"

"Then what about Irela?"

Silas froze. The king turned to Sophia, his grin broadening.

"You killed a poor, innocent young woman," Louis lamented. "A sweet girl—"

"She wasn't!" Sophia's bravo shook however. Irela had given her such a sweet smile when they first met her. "N-no, she wasn't—"

"And you're a murderer!"

"I'm not!" Sophia held her head, cringing at the throb. "I couldn't—I'd never kill her! Why would I?"

"You were jealous, that's what you are. You think your people would ever follow you?"

"They will," Silas said, his voice strong. "That's rich of you to bring up one of your subordinates. Why don't you tell these people how you've used her to try and kill me?"

But Sophia couldn't remember any of it. She felt the same horror when she strangled the poor girl. It had been too easy. Irela was a willow of a girl, small, affable.

Louis grinned widely. Oh, he could smell her fear. Sophia could practically see it bursting out of her like dust punched out from an old pillow.

"Murderer," he whispered, his voice somehow so loud that it resonated through her mind.

Sophia stared at her hands, and saw that they were covered in blood.

"You killed her and then you have the galls to say you're a Lady?"

"Don't listen to him, Sophia!" Silas shouted and she felt his hand on her shoulder. "You had to kill her! To save me, remember? I…I didn't listen to you and I'm so sorry—"

"You think you could apologize to he after everything you've done, boy?" Louis sounded amazed, his red eyes swept over the two of them. "You twins think you could stop me? Oh, I wonder what your father would say to this. All those years of burying his secret. Oh, what a waste!"

Silas faltered, stepping back.

Would…Father be ashamed of us?

Sophia remembered how he didn't take her to that ball of Hyrule Castle. He had snapped at her, claiming he would never think to bring such a foolish, haggard girl to a gathering. She would embarrass their family, embarrass their whole house! No one wanted her and no one loved her. He said it as much.

No…he never said that.

She gritted her teeth. She refused to submit. She refused it.

"Yes," Louis whispered hungrily. "You do have darkness. So much in you. Yes, you've killed a sweet girl. You're the reason your brother suffers! You're the reason why I'm here!"

Sophia could hear Silas yelling at her, even shaking her shoulder, but she couldn't make out his words. Everything…everything seemed so dark in front of her. She killed Irela, she tormented her brother, and maybe it was her who killed her father. Yes, she had killed him, pulled the trigger. She…she hurt her people—

"Yeah, that's a load of bullshit!"

A collection of gasps rose from the crowd. They parted, or jumped out of the way, to let someone through. Sophia couldn't see very well. In fact, she could barely see anything but dark shapes of people. The air around her had thickened, making it hard to breath. She didn't know when she got on her knees.

Caliginous mists wrapped around her. While they looked thin and light, they were as heavy as iron shackles. She finally got to her feet, brushing them off. The mist cleared up, and she noticed Silas was on the ground, wincing, as if he'd just been pushed.

She helped him up and they turned to see who had spoken.

"Simon! Where were you?" Sophia demanded.

The cat strolled up, ignoring her. He stared up at the large man, pupils slit, fur stuck out.

"Isn't this a surprise?" Louis mused. "To think I'd still see my little thief breathing. Tell me, Andrew, how were things for you?"

"Fucker," Simon hissed. "What the hell are you doing to this town?"

"That is none of your concern."

"Bullshit! You brought along that blond-haired bitch Irela, huh? Sweet and innocent, my ass!"

"I can see where the girl got her profanity from," Louis said with a growl. "You know it very well yourself. All those who surrender to their darkest desires belong to me."

"Oh, so you admit?" Simon chucked coldly, sitting back, his tail lashing behind him. "Irela was a bitch and you're an even bigger one!"

Louis's crimson eyes took on a shade darker. "I should've cut off your tongue before turning into that. I must say, how were your years running through filth and eating rodents?"

Simon's eyes flashed with such anger that it startled Sophia. She never saw it in him before.

"Do you miss being Hylian?" the king teased. "Oh, how many years has it been? Time certainly flows by."

"Leave him alone." Sophia stood protectively in front of Simon. "And you leave my uncle alone while you're at it. I know he's still in there."

"Don't be foolish," Louis snarled. "Your uncle is gone! Tristan Haidrnd is gone, and soon this town will follow him!" He raised his hand up. The crowd flinched back, people shoving each other to try and get away.

He looked ready to send the shadows upon them, and Sophia was ready to fling one of her kunais at him, until the king stumbled, pain tightening on his face. His eyes flickered between red and grey.

"Uuugh," the king grunted, stumbling and falling down to one knee. He hissed through his teeth, gasping.

Tristan Haidrund was still in there, fighting control over his body.

---

Katie flinched when Link backed away from the violent swing of Banard's sword. The silver mercenary smiled at them coldly, his injury seemed no more than a paper cut to him.

She could just feel the dark energy growing within in. They fed him lies, soothed away his senses and rioted his anger.

But it was careful with him. It made sure not to take away too much from him lest he ended up going belligerent. Banard still had his wits about him, enough not to make him misstep. He had more strength than he had the right to have.

Sweat dripped down Link's face and Katie saw him swaying on his feet. He wasn't given the chance to take a breath. He barely had the time to recover as he was forced to go on defense.

I have to do something!

If only she had her blasted hammer! There had to be a way to beat Banard, but how? He was obviously in the clutches of the influence and it wasn't like they had all night to fight him.

And it wasn't just him. Katie caught Link struggling, murderous intent often flashing through his face when he was pushed back. She was quick to help him snap out o fit. The last thing they needed was for him to act crazy.

"Think about Agnes," Katie had told him when too much rage filled his eyes. "Think about her. We have to get out of here to save her."

The maze kept crumbling around them. One of the walls finally fell forward, crashing into another wall and landing them in a heap of debris. She caught some of the words that belonged to the puzzles her and Silas solved, and there was the doorway where those blue bars used to be.

Katie turned her attention back to the fight. Banard's eyes glinted as he moved with the same speed as Sophia. His sword was a straight piece of metal, but he somehow made it look flexible. Such skills took her breath away. Of course, Link was just as impressive, but the man clearly had more years under his belt. Even with that sinister voice speaking to him, his concentration never seemed to waver.

Wait a minute.

"I've got it!" Katie bloomed pink when she saw rocks cascading above. "Link, watch out!"

The ceiling thundered. Rocks began to fall. Link stumbled away from it, with Katie's light guiding him to the side where the wall was still in tact. He pressed his back against it, panting heavily with his arms covering his head.

"Link," she whispered into his ear, so he could hear her over the chaos, "I've figured a way to beat Banard."

"That right?" he grunted, glancing over at her.

"Yeah." She felt excited, not of her plan, but the fact that he finally decided to listen to her. "The darkness is speaking to him, right? But they aren't overdoing it, otherwise he'll go insane. You can't fight properly with a sword if you go all out, right?"

"Right…"

"So, you just have to do it."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on, Link!" she chided. "Do what you do best: make him mad!"

Link frowned. "You think that'll work?"

"He already has to deal with one voice inside of his head, so if he has to deal with another voice on the outside…" She trailed off.

Link hummed, brushing the dirt off his shoulders. "It might work."

"You have to get him really mad though. So mad he won't be able tot think of anything else other than to kill you!"

Link was grinning now and she glowed orange. The dust settled, with Banard calling them out.

"Need your sprit to tell you how to fight?" Banard mocked.

"Don't call me sprit!" Katie said sharply.

Link chuckled, brandishing his sword. "Yeah, only I'm allowed to call her that." He smirked. "Look at you, all so tough and shit. Your mom must be so proud of you."

Banard's eyes darkened. "Don't go there, son."

"How did it feel when you killed her?" Link cocked his head, grinning widely. "Aw, did you cry? Someone needs his mommy?"

Banard lunged out, just as Katie hoped. Link laughed, parrying the blow and took a step back.

"Bastard!" Link sang. "No wonder she wanted you dead!"

Come on, Link! I know you could do it! Make him so mad like you do to me!

It was, perhaps, one of his best skills. Really, just ask anyone who knows him.

The mercenary started to turn red, though he didn't say anything. You know just how furious a person was if words were lost on them. He must be relieving all of his past.

While dark magic might be using him against Link, it will try to bring Banard down regardless. That's why Hylians shouldn't play with it. They can't control it. Even if you serve it loyally, even if you please it, its only desire is to possess you. Much like a virus. A virus may thrive in you and even though it needs you in order to survive, it ends up killing you.

"She never loved you," Link sneered when they locked blades. This time it was his weight pushing Banard back. "It doesn't matter how strong you get. She'll never give two shits about you." Link brought his shield and slammed it into Banard's face. "Think anyone would love something like you?!"

Banard stumbled a few steps before he steadied himself. His face hot with raw anger. Dust flaked at the side, bricks collapsing to the ground. When Banard attacked again, it wasn't with the same grace as before.

Link nearly beheaded him and the man moved in time. The mercenary didn't blink at the close call. He didn't seem to care about anything; he just wanted to silence Link.

"You should've died there," Link said. "How did it feel getting away? Do you feel better now? Feel good about yourself?" Link smiled, but Katie saw him boiling underneath. "You feel at peace now? You think you deserve it after what you did?"

"You don't know anything about me," Banard said quietly, speaking for the first time.

Link's smile grew cold. "I know everything about you. I know how you think. I know how you dream. I know how you feel when you see people happy with their lives. I know every single thing about you.

"You want to act like tough shit. You think you're justified that you killed her. Oh boo hoo, my mommy tried to kill me to shag up some noble." Link snorted then grinned cocky. "Well, who can blame her?"

Banard lurched at Link so suddenly that it startled Katie. Link stepped to the side, letting the man pass, then moved his sword towards him. Swiftly, Banard twisted out of the way but his foot got stuck in a crack, pinning him into place.

"She never cared about you. You must've made her miserable," Link said with a dark chuckle. "You were so weak and pathetic, but here you are now, strong and a kickass!" Link laughed, raising his sword to take the final blow. "You think she'd be proud?"

"You're talking about yourself," Banard said.

Link froze, his attack belated, which gave Banard time to move away, and more time to bury his own sword into Link's shoulder.

"Link!" Katie screamed.

Link fell to his knees, gasping, the silver sword stuck on his shoulder. The Master Sword clattered at Banard's feet, as Link desperately tried to get the silver sword off him.

Banard didn't smile at the turned tables. "You say you know me? Son, you don't know anything about me," he said softly. "I don't care that she's dead. You can't make me feel bad for that bitch." He pressed down his blade harder, ignoring Link's grunt. "All that smack talk you were saying, that was for you, wasn't it? Who else killed his mommy, huh? How did it feel, boy? I bet it was your first kill."

"Leave him alone!" Katie shouted, throwing herself at him, but Banard caught her swiftly.

"A real headache, the pair of you," he said, his grip tightened, shooting pain all over her. Katie cried. Link tried getting up, but cringed at the blade keeping him down. "I told you how I got sent there. Why don't you tell me your story?"

Again, pain burst inside of Katie as she felt herself getting crushed. Darkness began to crawl on all corners. Faintly, she could hear Link muttering something.

"What was that, lad?"

"I said," Link raised his eyes at Banard, "I was born there."

Banard stared at him, and with Katie's light, she saw a priceless look on the mercenary. "What?"

Link's hands bled to keep the silver blade from going any deeper. He grinded his teeth, his eyes closed tight. "Yeah, you heard me," he grunted. "I was born there."

Katie tried to squeeze her way out of he hand, but it held her firmly. She could barely wiggle. It smelled sweat and other things she didn't want to think about. How could she get out? Unless…

"No way," Banard croaked. When he looked closely at Link, his jaw slackened. "You're the boy with that woman! You were the ones living on that black hill! You actually—"

Katie burned. She burned so bright you'd think she was a fresh coal from the fire pit. She thought of all the times Link drove her mad. The influence seized upon her anger, inflating it into something physical. Unnatural rage burned within her, making her sick and numbed from thought.

Banard yelled out, releasing her. Link took this chance to get the silver blade off him, shoving Banard back. The ground was uneven with cracks spread around. He stumbled over it while Link got to his feet, kicking up his Master Sword and caught it with both hands before bringing it down on Banard. It was a weak blow, his shoulder bleeding heavily, but he did repay Banard back for the wound.

Banard screamed. The sword hissed at the blood spilt over its bluish glow. The man sank to his knees, gasping. When he looked up, his eyes were back to normal, no insanity in them.

Katie could see the final pillars breaking down. They only had a few minutes left. Seeing this, Banard breathed heavily, growling. His sword glinted only a few inches away from him. Link quickly kicked it back, sending it skittering across the ground, light flashing before it disappeared into the dark.

Link held his Master Sword at Banard's neck. "You lose," he said in a low growl.

Banard saw this and sighed, as if he somehow expected this. He faced Link unflinchingly, ready for the final blow.

Link twisted his sword one way and then the other, a smile growing on his lips, but then he shook his head, as if to get rid of a nasty thought. "No," he said, and surprised them both by putting his sword away. "You're defeated. I'm not touching you when you're down."

Banard seemed like he was choking on his tongue. Then he laughed. "Now I'll be! Who would've thought you were on honorable bastard?"

"A fish taught me," Link said, sharing a smile with Katie who glowed orange. "Alright, old man? We are done here."

"You sure you were born there?" Banard asked, seriously. "Don't look like it."

"Good. I'd like to keep it that way."

Katie could've asked on what 'place' they were talking about. They seemed unwilling to say the name, as if it were taboo. Curiosity nudged her. If she asked Link, he would rebuff her, but Banard would tell her, just to spite Link. It was a good opportunity…

"We have to get out of here," she said, wincing at his wound. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Lead the way," he said dismissively, and the two left Banard behind.

If Link wanted her to know about this past, then he will tell her at his own pace. She preferred to hear it from him, anyways.

Katie led him out of the maze, which took a while considering how messy it became with rubble and broken stones everywhere. Eventually, they made it back to the area where they had defeated that giant.

They also found something astounding. "Dinraal!" Katie gasped.

The end of the dragon slumped down the wall, its wormy body stretched and disappeared somewhere on the east side of the maze, possibly under rubble.

With the place going under, you think that Link would be in a hurry, but oh no, he always made time for profit.

"Link!" Katie shouted when he ran over to the dragon eagerly, hunting dagger at hand. "This is so not the time!"

"Hey, if my tunic gets ruined, I want to get a back up." He carved the scale out, a light shade of red the size of his palm. It quickly went in his pouch.

Now they had two scales—one from Dinraal and the other from Naydra. Also the very tip of the horn from Dinraal.

Let's hope they help us!

They festinated up the same spiral stairs, Link limping slightly with his injured side. The rest of the way was impervious as it was clogged up with rocks.

"Oh no!" Katie cried.

Link cursed, and said that he was out of bombs. "What do we do?"

Katie had an idea but was doubtful about it. Link noticed the flicker of yellow through her and his eyes narrowed. "What? You got something?"

Katie hesitated. "Well—"

"Say it! You think I'd care at this point?"

"You have to break through it!" she blurted out, looking at his shoulder that didn't appear to concern him.

Link brought down his sword. The Master Sword didn't get stuck as it should. With effort from Link, it eventually cut through the stone, moving down in a smooth, blue arch. Link kicked back the rocks and had to step to the side to let them fall down the stairs.

Finally, they reached to the same hallway where it was once opulent with finely decorated walls and vases. Now it was an utter mess of detritus. Rubbles cumulated over the sides, narrowing the path.

Blood dripped behind Link as he ran. They passed by the entrance that led back to the lair, rubbles spilling out through the massive, golden doors. Simon had told them that the exit was around the corner, close to the lair.

And it was caved in.

"No," Katie whispered. The twins and Simon went through here. They couldn't have been buried alive, could they?

"This way!" Link said, going back. "When we raised that defense system, all the doors in this place opened! Banard came through this way, didn't he?"

They passed by the lair again, going right this time, from where Banard had appeared before them. Katie's light bounced off the walls that were flaking with dust, chips of the ceiling popping out. Soon, the two stumbled upon another exit guarded behind a heavy set of doors. It was locked.

"Break it!" Katie ordered. "Beak it and make a run for it!"

A normal sword would've broke by now, but the holy blade was a sword among swords, insuperable. Link grabbed her with the hand that led up to the injured shoulder, the other hand held his sword, shattering through the doors.

"Use Nayru's blessing!" Katie told him. "Or you'll get crushed!"

The last protection of the day enveloped around them. They have ten minutes to get out before the shield runs out.

Dust and pebbles sprinkled over them, falling at the sides of the shield in showers. In front of them was an enormously wide staircase, most of the steps were broken, sloping down, while rubbles clogged up the side. Inside the shield, Katie felt her mind completely free of the darkness, as it couldn't pass through the Goddess's touch to reach them.

The glow of Nayru's power helped them see things even better, with its powerful light splashing over the steps.

Thank you, Goddess of Wisdom.

Link climbed up the steps, blade in one hand, Kate in the other. The further they got up, the more enervated Link became, his pace slowing down as if he had a wagon tied to him. At one point, Katie slipped out form his sweaty hand.

"Just a few more, Link," she encouraged, voice squeaky. "Come on!"

Link panted, his face washed in the bluish light of the shield. Despite his pallid countenance, there was a valorous look in his eyes, that steady determination.

And they were getting close.

"I can smell fresh air!" Katie cried, and her blooming hope perished when a massive black wall suddenly sprouted out in their way, throwing back dust and dirt. It was smooth, reflecting the light of the shield.

Looking at it closer, it seemed unlike anything Katie had ever seen. It didn't seem to be made up of metal too, just a strange energy that she could feel within the shield.

Louis is trying to stop us, Katie realized with horror.

The wall looked to be thick. It couldn't be made up of mist since it remained firm, solid.

Did he stop the twins and Simon from escaping? No, Sophia was with them. It can't touch her.

But it can stop Link. He cursed nastily. Another large brick fell, crashing at the shield, the broken pieces falling at the sides. How many minutes did the shield have left? Six? Fix? She lost count.

"Th-there's no way around that!" Katie panicked.

Link grunted, leaning against his sword and glanced up at her. "You sound like you have a plan."

"I…" Her color turned feverish. "B-but you're hurt!"

"We either live for die today," he said sharply. "Doesn't matter how hurt I am. I think death's a lot worse, so what are you thinking? You think I should break through this, don't you?"

She stopped to look at the dark wall, something conjured up by pure magic. She glanced back at Link who seemed determined, a force to be reckoned with. Her color went fierce. "Oh what the heck. Destroy everything!"

Link grinned. "Now that's what I want to hear!" He put his weight into the attack. The sword sheared through the wall, its blade brightening up. They underestimated just how thick it was, as it took several slashes from Link's part, each attempt faster and harder. Katie didn't know where he was getting his strength from but it was almost terrifying.

The wall kept on repairing itself, but even that was growing slower too, as if it couldn't keep up. Eventually, the two were on the other side, continuing on the stairs.

"We're close!" She could smell it, the fresh scent of the forest. Her wanderlust bloomed through her, a sense of need she never thought she would ever crave. "Link, I don't care how hurt you are! I want you to cut though everything you see, understand?!"

"Say no more!" He grinned through his injury, through the chaotic rumble of the catacomb as he slashed and hacked their way out. The shield must be on its last few minutes.

Another wall waylaid them, but Link was undeterred. He shouted a war cry, cleaving it right down the middle. The wall tried to knit itself back, the blackness oozing and moving over to the gap, but Link interfered with it, the holy blade threw back light, hissing through the wall.

Link grabbed Katie, and rushed through the gap he made, throwing himself out into the forest.

For a moment, she thought it was a cruel illusion, something made to ruin their hopes. She took her first deep breath of the outside world. There was none of that pressure into her head. Nothing was trying to get in, trying to riot her fears and hatred. Nothing was bringing out the worst in her and making her forget all her good memories.

She burst into tears, glowing orange and yellow and blue. "Outside…we…we're outside…" The doorway behind them caved in. They seemed to be in a ditch somewhere.

"We got to go," Link said, his face serious as he cursed.

Katie nearly lost her breath when she saw the sky, pitched blackness that seemed to spread from one en dot another, all around them. She saw the town and turned pure white.

"We need to go," Link said again, getting up with some struggle. He ripped off more of his undershirt, tying it over his underarm and shoulder to stop the bleeding there. "Come on!"

---

"I don't want to do this!" Tristan cried. The large man pulled at his hair, screaming. His cape was thrown back by a sudden blast of mist that roared around him. As if they could feel his pain, the shadows wailed.

Silas watched, horrified, as the man struggled for a hold on his humanity.

"You can fight it, uncle!" Sophia yelled, the only one courageous enough to get close to him. "Don't let it control you!"

"What is she doing?" Simon snapped. "Sophia, get away from him!"

The man—Tristan or Louis, whoever was in control—continued to scream. His eyes flickered between familiar grey eyes and cold blooded ones.

"Uncle," Silas whispered, despaired. He never thought he still loved his uncle, the man who had disavowed his responsibilities as a noble. How much pain had Tristan endured if this was what he ended up doing? How much darkness had been harbored inside of him?

Silas wanted to reach to him, to beg to him to return to them, back to their family. He hoped for it so much that he began to cry. "Please, please," he whispered. "Please don't leave us."

Some people broke away from the crowd, but others stayed inert in their place. Silas saw fear and glimmers of hope around.

Sophia pushed her way through the powerful mist, and got close enough to touch his arm. "Uncle, you aren't let him win! You need to stop now!"

Mist gathered around Louis, swirling up like a hurricane. "It's too late!" the king shouted, and the shadows stopped their struggle.

"Sophia, get away from him!" Silas shouted over the raucous crowd. He couldn't move. It was as if his feet were glued to the ground.

Sophia didn't move either. The wind picked up, blowing the mists and spreading them everywhere. They ran like currents above their heads, steaming black worms that curled almost teasingly. Hair flew on the heads of Hylians, as arms and hands rose to shield faces.

Silas tried to fight back against the wind that threatened to put him down. Around him, the world was opaque by this thick mist, vanishing everything behind it. Silas felt his feet dragging dirt, as his body began to lose its balance, swerving to one side. He didn't know if he was screaming or not, but hoped his mouth was shut. He didn't want any of that black mist into his body.

Then it stopped. The wind stopped so suddenly that he ended up falling by his own force. Silas grunted, and heard people shouting. Turning, he saw them pointing at something in the air.

He caught sight of something being thrown back.

It didn't take long for him to figure it out, since one dagger clattered nearby.

"Sophia," Silas croaked. "Sophia!"

She was thrown so hard that she slammed against the wall several yards away from him, at the edge of the town square. Black mist trailing after her.

"You asshole!" Simon shouted, running at Louis in impetuous anger. Louis easily raised his hand and made a sweeping motion. Though Simon was nowhere near him, the cat still flung back as if struck directly. Because of his smaller mass, he shot out from the town square, disappearing in one of the buildings.

"Simon…" Silas sank to his knees, the despair pressing down at him. When he turned to the king, his heart stopped.

There was no sign of his uncle.

The face changed into someone else entirely, matching the incredible built of the king. From the squared jawline, up to his crooked nose, to his dark eyes punctured by red iris—this man was clearly Louis. Panic rippled through the people, many tried to run but Louis twisted his wrist. With an unspoken order, shadows started appearing before the crowd, growling at them to stay into place.

Silas felt some shred of relief when he saw his sister moving, though she was clearly in pain. Someone was by her side, and gave her a hand.

Grey!

The captain looked worse for wear. His golden armor was crusted with blood. He lost one gauntlet and the arm there was bleeding.

Silas realized there was no point in his relief. They were all going to die here.

Louis chuckled and Silas turned to him. "You have lost," the king said with a wicked grin, that face utterly horrifying to stare at. "Your uncle is long gone, boy."

Silas squeezed his eyes shut, thinking of his uncle—not the one who stole money or disgraced them—but of the man who gave them candy, who told them awful jokes, and came to see them when the twins were young. That kind of man—Silas could've helped him rather than turned him away. He could've…

"Uncle," he whispered, his head hanging low. "Oh Uncle…"

"He was a worthless man but he proved to be an asset."

"You…you can't do this," Silas uttered, his hands balling to fists over the cobbles. "You just…you can't do this…"

"Oh, and who's going to stop me?" Louis snorted. "You?"

Link will. He'll make you suffer, Silas thought darkly.

As if reading his mind, the king chortled. "Your hero is somewhere buried beneath my catacomb. His body now rots!"

"That's not true!" Despite taking his red potion only moments ago, Silas could feel his body failing him. It refused to stand up, refused to draw in air properly. His eyes casted down, tears speckling over the dry cobbles. Link can't be dead. He was the strongest person in the world. He was the Chosen One.

Silas slammed is hand down, barely feeling the pain. "Damn you!" he screamed. "Damn you! Damn you demon!"

"Aw, don't look so upset," Louis said archly. "You think he would save this rotten town of yours?" He cocked his head to the side. "Why do you care anyways? You're a bastard, remember? Do you know what these people would have done if they knew the truth? Your father had arrogated his position, his reputation, by handing it to you." He chuckled. "And look where it got you."

"You don't get to speak of my father," Silas snarled, raising his head up. "He was stronger than you could ever imagine!"

"And to think it took one bullet to kill him."

"Shut up! Shut up!"

"And by your own mother!"

"Shut up!" Silas raised his fist and threw the first thing he could grab, a small pebble. It bounced off the ground, skidding over the cobble and stopped just a few meters from Louis. The king snorted.

Though Silas realized that there were mists secretly trying to wrap around his arm, and so when he moved, they were brushed back.

Silas gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. Mists were supposed to be vapored water, but they felt like hard iron. He could feel them dragging down his arms, trying to pull him to the ground, make him submissive. Pain flowed through his body, making the offer seem welcoming.

His people stood helplessly, crying, holding their loved ones for what could possibly be for the last time. Any moment, the hunt will start. Any moment.

"You can't do this to my town," Silas said, not out of desperation. His jaw was clenched.

"Oh?" Louis's eyes glinted with mirth. He seemed so much more relaxed than when he'd been wearing Tristan's face. "How do you plan to stop me? Or are you going to let your poor sister handle the strenuous work for you?"

Sophia leaned onto Grey's side. She looked like she wanted to run at Louis and gouge out his eyes, but the captain was firm to keep her still.

Louis closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. "I am finally whole again. My advent is complete." He spread his arms, slowly raising his hands up. Shadows emerged from the ground wordlessly, narrower in form and brightly lit red eyes. Their presence expedited the villager's fears. Silas stared at them numbly.

"Give me one good reason," Louis spoke, opening his eyes, "why I shouldn't kill you all."

The fresh new spawn of shadows stood on either side of their king, like the docile servants they are. Their red eyes were semi circles, meaning they were grinning, their teeth black daggers, which were the only feature their empty faces seemed to have. Long claws stretched out from the end of their arms.

Silas was the lone stander in the town square. He faced more than the king, but his ultimate demise. He could feel everyone watching him.

"I have many reasons to tell you why you should leave my town," Silas said. "But you don't care to hear them. No, actually—you can't care. You gave up your humanity long ago."

"True, true." Louis smirked. "Then I'll ask you a different question. Who should I kill first? Your captain, a second father to you, or your sister, your other half, hmm? I could let my shadows kill everyone but that would be boring, wouldn't it? Should I give your people a head start?"

We can't win this.

Louis's powers were pressing much harder this time, dampening Silas's resolve. What would his father do? Though Silas stood on his feet, he could feel the mist crawling on his skin. He was too terrified to move, worried that he'll succumb to his knees.

You could only be brave when you're scared, son.

I…I never knew what that meant, Silas realized. After all these years. How could someone be brave if they were shaking out of their wits? Isn't bravery the action of doing something without fear?

Or…or perhaps…it was doing something brave with fear?

Silas stared up, his tears dry on his cheeks. I…I think I get it now.

His sister was an exemplary of strength and bravery. Unlike Link or Silas, she worked and fought with fear. The fear of forgetting, the fear of losing, the fear of showing emotions. She embraced it. She was by the far the bravest person in Silas's life.

"You think you're going to get away with this?" Silas asked, his voice cold and hard. "You think I'm going to let you?"

"Why not? What could you do?"

"Everything." Silas took out his dagger. "I will do everything it takes to stop you."

Louis didn't seem to know if he should be amused or insulted. "And what do you plan to do with that? Don't you just want to lie down and give up?"

And that was exactly what Silas thought he wanted too. "You're making me feel this way. You know what, Louis? You have to be the vilest, revolting creatures that ever walked this country," Silas spat. "Your power came from us, our fears, our nightmares. You wouldn't exist if not for us."

Louis stiffened.

"And you think that makes you a king?" Silas laughed. He had to laugh. It was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard in his life. Take about biting the hand that feeds you. "You-you think power and destruction is what makes a man a ruler, or even a conqueror?"

Louis's red eyes went two shades darker. "Boy—"

"I'm no going to lie down so stop pressing on me!" Silas shouted, his anger exploding in him. "You, a man who imperiously turned a church into his own little pleasure house, think I would serve a worthless nothing like you? I'd rather marry a dead horse! At least then I'd keep my dignity!"

The shadows' eyes sharpened along with their master, but even then Silas couldn't stop himself. He'd seen too much death, nearly lost his sanity, his sister and his will to live. But his sister had so much strength in her. How could he think of lying down and leave her alone?

"I am a Lord!" Silas snapped, pointing his dagger at the dark king. "We may be bastards, but my sister and I have Haidrund blood in us! We carry our father's will! I will not let some pathetic, self-proclaimed king wreck havoc through my town! If you want to kill them, if you want to take over my town, then you better take me and my sister first."

Silas breathed hard, his hard grip on his dagger whitened his knuckles. "You will never ever take Desmera so long as one Haidrund lives! You understand?"

"So you want to die first?" Louis said quietly, his eyes glowing so strong that Silas could feel his heat from where he stood. "I will ensure that everyone will hear your scream. Once they see your carcass, there will be no hope for them."

"You may kill my body, but you will never take my soul. That's what you really want, isn't it?" Silas grinned stupidly, waving his dagger. "That's what you really want from my people. You didn't come to take over this town, or even to kill us. You just wanted us to break. I'm sorry to say but you won't be taking any more souls."

He may have suffered, but how many people died today? How many people lost their loved ones right in front of them? And here he was, lamenting about his own pity when he lived a far better life than any bastards could even dream.

Dark mists started to flicker in Louis's hands. "You've got quite a mouth on you," Louis said, and he sounded almost impressed, if not for his grinding tone. "Perhaps I should kill your sister first and let you watch. We'll see if you ramble then."

Silas laughed. It was a genuine laugh. Just the fact that this man could actually kill Sophia was brilliant. "Try it by all means! You will never break her! Haven't you seen that already? Nothing in this world could! You really should've killed us first, Louis, if you really meant to take our home away!"

Louis frowned slightly and Silas didn't understand why until he saw that his words were breaking into people's fears. He could see the glowing anger in some of their eyes. They have been hunted down like animals, forced out of their homes, had to keep running while their loved ones turned cold on the streets.

Silas gave the king a hard smile. "You call my uncle worthless, but you needed his help to get here, so what does that make you then?" Silas mocked and waved his dagger. "Go then, run my streets with rivers of blood, kill us all, but these souls, this town, is not yours. It will never be yours, Louis! Never!"

And there it was. He pushed Louis far past his limit. The shadows bared their black teeth at Silas, and he was surprised to find himself not in the least bit fazed. He straightened up, his dagger in one hand, his head held high. For once, the first time since this night, he felt true strength. Standing right into the face of death, there was no fear in him, no backing down. If he was going to die, he will do so standing up, with utmost conscientiousness. He will show people strength so that they won't break when they die.

He turned to see Sophia fighting against Grey. The captain's hold on her was reluctant, and when he looked at Silas, his face fell. Silas smiled. Those two had always protected him. "Now it's my turn."

Sophia was shaking her head, and her eyes suddenly grew very wide, along with Grey and the rest of the crowd as they shouted.

Confused, Silas turned and found Louis right in front of him, massive sword raised up. Silas didn't have the time to even react, just stared at the smooth, double-edged great sword.

However, the sword stopped mere inches from Silas's face. He could feel the coldness radiating from it. The king flinched back, moving with incredible speed over the air. Like his shadows, his legs turned into mists, gliding away from Silas. Contrails of mists followed him as he stood unsteadily in a much safer distance.

His eyes were no longer furious or confident. In fact, they had glints of genuine fear in them.

Silas noticed how everyone gaped, pointing. He felt someone's hand on his shoulder.

"Not too bad, shorty."

Silas turned, breathless, to find Link standing there, grinning. A horrible gash ran down his shoulder, his side bloodied. Katie flickered in several colors.

"We're…we're not too late, are we?" she asked nervously. "We tried taking the shorter way through the eastern gate."

Link snorted. "This place looks like its been having the wrong kind of party." He turned to Silas. "Say, you didn't waste all my potions, did you? I'll be real pissed."

Silas, moving automatically, gave Link a red potion and watched him drink it all up. For a moment, Silas thought he was looking at Link's ghost, or perhaps only a figment of his imagination. A dream perhaps, or an illusion made on Louis's part.

"You…really came," Silas whispered.

"Yeah, that silver bastard was annoying," Link said with a scoff. "The place was falling under and he still wanted to fight!"

Katie colored red. "Excuse me, but what about you? You were no better!"

Link was about to say something until he noticed Louis. He froze, eyebrows raised to his hairline. Then he gave off a low whistle, grinning at the uneasy king. "So…this is the guy. My words, you're an ugly one."

Louis didn't reply. Even the shadows seemed to hesitate. Seeing this, Link giggled, excited.

"You do have my tunic, don't you?" Link asked Silas. The fabric was unrecognizable on Silas's waist, covered in congealed mud and blood.

That's what he cares about. The tunic. It was always about the tunic.

He stared at Link's face, who seemed unbothered by the spiraling chaos around them. People were out there, dead on the cobbles, slashed by shadows who serve a man only Link could stop.

He would've allowed this to happen. He said he didn't care that it happened.

Link frowned. "Hey, you still have it, don't you?"

"Yes." Silas unwrapped the tunic, the medical bag dropping to the ground, and he threw the outfit at Link's face. "Take it, you monster! Take it and leave!"

Katie startled back. "Silas—"

"Go! Get out of here!" Silas screamed, his voice terribly hoarse as he sharply gestured to the same eastern gate they came out, only a few blocks away. "Leave us here to die! Isn't that what you wanted to do? You don't care about us! Just leave us be!"

Link stared at him for a moment, the red tunic finally in his hands after so long. Silas turned away, breathing heavily. He felt so weak to his stomach and started coughing. It was a bad fit, one that felt as if someone was choking him. Blood filled his mouth.

And seeing just how frightened and utterly helpless his people were only worsened his pain. They had no hero to save them. They had no weapon to fight for them, no shield to defend them.

Silas no longer had his butler and his maid to guide him anymore. His sister was hurt. It was all over…

He finally stopped his fit, feeling dizzy and languid and terrified. "Link," Silas spoke quietly, turning to him. Silent tears pearled down Silas's face as he stared at Link.

He knew he shouldn't ask, he was told he shouldn't expect anything from Link, but Silas did so anyways. His voice was small, breaking, a whisper: "Save us, Link."

Link stared at him for a moment, his expression impassive. He sighed, throwing the tunic back at Silas's face. Silas removed it in time to see Link facing the troubled king, cracking his knuckles.

"So," Link said, grinning wickedly, "your general brought you back to life before, eh?" He pulled out his sword in one sweep motion, the point glinting at the flinching Louis. "Let me fix that for you!"