Gray
Eventually, after a few close calls coming back through the swamp, the group made it safely back to the spring. Midna held the vessel of light out over the water. It drifted out of her hands and into the faded sparkles that was the light spirit. The effect was almost instantaneous.
The whole spring glared white as the sickly yellow twilight was pushed away. The skies turned blue and cheery again, the plants lost their wilted look, and the shadows seemed a little friendlier.
Midna hopped off of Gray and hopped to the small waterfall, leaning back and throwing her now-shadowy arms behind her head.
"Aww, but it was so nice here in the twilight… what's so great about a world of light anyway?" Gray could have mentioned any number of reasons why the normal world was better than perpetual, miserable twilight, but before he could, she laughed, "Eee hee hee! See you later!" and disappeared. Gray still couldn't understand her mood changes. One moment she could be all sad and moody, and the next be the total opposite! How she did it… he didn't even know.
At that moment, a large, glowing ball floated out of the water. He knew instantly that it was another light spirit- Faron, he believed its name was.
The creature finished forming, taking the shape of a… monkey? He didn't quite know what it was, but it seemed to look most like a monkey with a very long tail that curled in an almost complete circle from under its feet, and over its head.
"I am Faron," the spirit's voice reminded him of Rusl's when he was serious; deep, solemn, and somber- like he knew that someday, very soon, someone was going to die.
"I am one of the spirits of light who dwell in Hyrule. By the order of the gods and goddesses, I protect this forest," Then Faron focused on Gray, "Oh brave youth… In the land covered in twilight, where people roam as spirits, you were transformed into a blue-eyed beast… That was a sign. It was a sign that the powers of the chosen one rest within you, and they are awakening. However…" he acknowledged the other four, "I do not know why you changed. Perhaps it was the power of the sword you wield, or maybe the goddesses will. At any rate, I'm sure your friend will appreciate the help.
"Now, look upon yourselves, for your original forms are returning, and yours, Link, yours is awakening…"
Gray gasped as he felt the beast's form slide off of him. He stood up, shakily assessing his new hylian outfit. It was made something like the other's clothing, which hadn't changed. He wore a long green tunic-a belt holding it in place-, a white shirt and softly clinking chain mail underneath. There were white leggings on his legs, his feet, a pair of brown boots, and on his hands were brown gloves and bracers. The sword and shield that Midna had wanted were slung across his back, another belt slung around his chest and shoulder. Tentatively- and a little fearfully- he felt his head and discovered with dread that he was indeed wearing a long, floppy green hat.
"Yes! I'm not a rabbit anymore!" Blue cheered.
"y-you're wearing what we are!" Green gasped.
"Does it have to come with the hat?" Gray asked.
"What's wrong with the hat?" Blue asked angrily, placing a hand on his own hat defensively.
"I don't really like it. It looks a little strange…" Gray admitted, taking it off and examining it.
"Keep the hat, it's important," Vio advised.
"Why?" Gray wondered.
"It just is! It goes with the outfit! You're not being a hero until you wear the hat!" Vio explained unhelpfully.
"Fine," Gray grumbled, shoving the hat back on, "Won't it fall off though?"
"Ours never do. Yours shouldn't either." Red explained as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Gray turned to Faron, "Why the tunic?"
"The green tunic that is your garb once belonged to the ancient hero chosen by the gods. His power is yours. His is the true power that slept within you. Your name is Link. You are the hero chosen by the gods."
"Is the hat part of the costume? And why do I have the spirit of a hero sleeping within me? Why not someone else? I don't even know how to fight! What does my name have to do with this? I don't understand!"
"Brave Link… You will understand soon. However, I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge. Whenever the need arises, the gods and goddesses choose a single individual to come forth as the legendary hero, bearing the hero's spirit. This chosen hero goes forth clad in a green tunic and hat, and vanquishes the evil residing in the land. You are that hero now, brave youth…
"You four," he turned to the other Links, "You bear the hero's spirit as well. Are you from a different time?
"Yes," Vio answered, "The future, I think."
"Then perhaps it is fate that brought you here… This occasion has happened only twice before in history. Only twice when heroes from the future came to assist another. Perhaps you are the same ones. I do not know. What I do know is that you five will save this world together."
"But where do we go?" Red asked.
"A dark power rests in the temple deep within these woods. It is a forbidden power. Long, long ago, I and the other spirits of light locked it away. Because of its nature, it is a power that should never be touched by any who dwell in the light. …But this world weeps beneath a mantle of shadows, and so there is no choice… You must match the power of the kind of shadows. If you would seek this forbidden power, then proceed to the temple in the forest depths. That is where you may start. Fare thee well…" With those words said, Faron faded into the water.
"Are you okay Gray?" Green asked, looking concernedly at him. He must've had a weird look on his face.
Gray was still trying to swallow the new information, his mind going through a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He had the spirit of a legendary hero? And now he was supposed to save all of Hyrule with the help of four kids? He had always liked adventure, but maybe this time he had bitten off more than he could chew. Still, if the goddesses thought he was worthy, than by Farore, he was going to try.
"Yeah, I think so," he decided. Midna then decided to pop out of Green's shadow.
"Well, this is very convenient!" she crowed, "You're heading to that forest temple, aren't you? I was just about to head there myself! Eee-hee! Hey look, you want to help your friends, right? Well, the way I see it, maybe they're in that temple, waiting for you to rescue them, right? Well, good luck Mr. important hero! See you later!" she popped into Gray's shadow.
"She's right," Vio said, "The monkey did say something about the kids being led by there."
The children… Gray had almost forgotten about them. Now he was bashing himself for it. How could he just forget them? Now he was definitely going to that temple, hero's spirit or not.
"Let's go," he said.
Young Zelda
Young Zelda was excited. Not only was she out of her boring room and away from chancellor Cole, she was in a different time! She loved adventures, but the one downfall of being a princess was that usually, the most adventurous you were going to get was watching the guards train. They would never let her try the weapons herself, but she could understand that. Although she was a princess, she definitely wasn't the most graceful one.
She was intrigued about the other Zelda in front of her. Who knew that they looked so alike? If only she knew whether this was the past or future. There wasn't really any way to tell… or was there?
"In your legends, is there anything about a great flood?" she asked.
"A great flood? I don't think so," Zelda replied, "Why?"
"I think I'm from the future then, because I come after a great flood covered the land with water, until there were only islands left. Slowly the water drained and now it's mostly land again."
"Hmm, I guess you are from the future then. How about we try that harp now?"
"Sure, can I do it?" Young Zelda asked enthusiastically.
"I guess so. Pluck away, but remember which strings you touched." Zelda warned.
Young Zelda held her breath and hit a few strings on the left of the harp. There was a rushing noise, and her hair whipped on her face… then stillness. Opening her eyes, she gasped as she saw the person.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Sh-Shadow Link?" Zelda gasped.
"Shadow Link?" the soft, deep, malevolent voice of the shadowy person in front of them said, "Is that some sort of lame shadow that can do nothing but float through walls? What a cute idea. No, I am Dark Link (1)."
"Young Zelda?" Zelda whispered frantically.
"Yes?" she squeaked back.
"Send him back now!" Young Zelda, realizing her urgency, hurriedly hit the strings. Dark Link, realizing what she was doing, narrowed his glowing red eyes, snarled, and leapt towards her as he was being swept away. Thankfully, the harp made him disappear before he could reach her.
Young Zelda held the harp out to her friend.
"So… do you want to try next?"
1- NO, Shadow Link is notthe same as Dark Link, for those who may be confused. Shadow Link is pretty much only in Four Swords. The rest are Dark Link. The easy way to tell? Dark has red glowy eyes, Shadow does not.