Agahnim threw his condensed ball of electricity at Link, who raised his shield without thinking. The energy conducted through the metal and burnt his arm.

"Ooh! Ow! Hot! Hot! Hot!"

"That tactic will not be effective, Master."

"I know!"

Agahnim cackled as Link dropped the shield and vigorously rubbed his shocked arm.

"You should see how ridiculous you look!"

He charged another ball and hurled it. Link side-jumped out of the ball's path then turned and watched as the energized sphere crashed into and destroyed a nearby statue. Agahnim launched three more energy balls, so Link took off across the temple. He ran as the attacks followed, missed narrowly and struck past him.

Agahnim wasted no time recharging his magic and continued firing electricity at Link. No matter where Link scampered, an energy ball headed in that direction and blasted apart his hiding places. He weaved back and forth through the temple, jumping over pews and behind statues as he dodged the attacks. Meanwhile, Zelda carved her arrowhead deeper into her prison wall, scraping away gem dust as she scratched furiously.

"What a fool you are!" Agahnim jeered. "You scurry about like a cockroach, running from light everywhere you go!"

Link ducked behind a thick pillar to catch his breath. Agahnim wailed on the pillar with his attacks, making Link's ears ring from the energy that exploded around him.

"Ho ho ho! What're you going to do, boy? You can't run forever, and you can't hit me from down there! I've taken your silly boomerang!"

"You might have my boomerang, but you don't have these."

Link pulled out his clawshots and aimed for the nearby sill of a window.

"If you can't come to me, I'll just have to go to you!"

Link squeezed the trigger, and while zooming upward aimed the other clawshot at his attacker. Before he could shoot, Agahnim fired another ball at Link. The electricity struck the extended clawshot's chain and began to spread from one end to the other. Link let go of the clawshot before the electricity could reach him, fell, and landed hard on his side.

He groaned and tried picking himself up, but Agahnim sent another attack and hit him full on. Link's body convulsed as the voltage fired into him and overloaded his nerves.

"Link!"

Navi zoomed to where he shook on the floor. Tremors jolted through him as sparks jumped from his chest, arms and legs. His bulging eyes bounced from Navi to the ceiling, windows, and Agahnim with no focus.

"Link! Please get up! Get up Link!"

She knelt beside him and shook his shoulder as she begged. She grew rigid when Agahnim's shadow loomed over her.

"What a shame. Even with the Master Sword in hand, the boy barely put up a fight. So disappointing."

He raised his hand and began to charge another ball of electricity.

"Goodbye, Hero of Time."

"HELP!" Navi shrieked.

An arrow engulfed in light suddenly struck Agahnim from behind. The arrow embedded in his shoulder while its light surrounded him, forcing him to cover his eyes. A second later, brilliant rays exploded from his chest and he howled in pain.

"Let's see who runs from the light now!"

Zelda kicked her foot into her weakened crystal wall, shattering the entire cage. She whipped out another arrow and took aim at Agahnim. Light drew into the arrow as she fired and hit him a second time.

"AAGH! YOU! You filthy, stubborn in-born brat! You'll pay for that!"

Agahnim cringed inward from her arrows and gasped for air. Zelda ran past him and knelt beside Link.

"Are you all right, Navi?"

"Yes. Please, just help him."

Zelda held her hands over Link's body, and blue light began to flow into him. His tremors waned and he regained control of his limbs.

"P-princess..."

"Get up, Link."

He took her extended hand and got to his feet.

"How did you get out of that crystal?"

"Never mind. You must continue your battle."

"...I can't."

"Yes you can."

"How? I can't reach him with my sword, he's taken my boomerang, and when I tried my clawshots he electrocuted me. I'm running out of ideas really fast."

"But Link," said Navi. "Why don't you try that sword beam thingy Zelda taught you?"

"It wouldn't be enough. He could probably blast right through it with his magic, and by the time I got it charged he'd electrocute me again."

"Link," Zelda smiled and took his hand. "You don't have to do this alone. If we fight together we can surely defeat him."

"Zelda could keep him distracted while you charge your sword!"

"Foolish weaklings."

They turned to Agahnim as he regained his stance and hovered above them.

"You have only seen a taste of my power."

He raised his hands and began to charge another attack. This time however, the sphere grew much bigger in his hand, and he did not release it.

"Master, I feel that now would be a good time to remind you of the Master Sword's abilities."

"I know, Fi, I know. I can charge a sword beam and throw it at him."

"That is not what I was referring to, Master. I was merely stating that since the Master Sword can repel and reflect sources of evil, then perhaps you could utilize this ability to your advantage."

"What do you mean?"

"For starters, I highly suggest thrusting the Master Sword into the ground, and then holding onto its handle for Agahnim's next attack."

"Prepare to die, fools!"

Link took his sword and stabbed it into the hard marble floor.

"Princess! Navi! Grab onto me!"

The girls bent close and clung to Link's chest while he took hold of the grounded Master Sword just as Agahnim threw down his giant electric attack. Instead of a ball, bolts of lightning spread throughout the temple and electrocuted everything along the floor, walls, and ceiling. Link felt intense heat from the energy - but no pain - wash over him.

"It's so hot! I can't hold on anymore!"

"Just a little longer, Navi!"

As soon as the onslaught started, it quickly ended. Agahnim raged at the failure of his attacks.

"You impudent fools! I will destroy you all if it's the last thing I do!"

Agahnim charged another energy ball and flung it toward them.

"Get back!"

Link ripped the Master Sword from the ground and swung with both hands. The oncoming ball struck the sword and flied back toward its pitcher. Agahnim reacted by striking the ball back with his large, rugged hand. Link hit the ball again as it headed for him, only to hit it a third time when Agahnim returned it once more. Neither one relented as the ball ricocheted between the opposing enemies. The ball picked up more speed until it was a flashing light zooming back and forth from one person to the other.

"Do something, Zelda! If Link misses- oh I can't watch!"

Zelda aimed and fired another light arrow. Although Agahnim saw the arrow and swiped it away, it was all it took to distract him; the electric orb zoomed back toward him and hit him in the chest. It was his turn to endure his own attack as he writhed from the electricity pulsing through him.

Link clamped the Master Sword tightly, focused every bit of his strength, and flung a giant sword beam that exploded as it slashed through Agahnim. He collapsed out of the air and fell with a thud.

"We did it!" cheered Navi.

"Wait."

They waited. Moments went by but Agahnim laid still on the ruined marble floor.

"See?" Navi laughed. "No one can get back up from an attack like that! Agahnim's dead! We saved Hy-"

Hoarse groans bubbled from the sorcerer's throat as he pulled himself together and stood up.

"Very impressive," he acquiesced. "But that was just a taste of my abilities. You have yet to see what I can truly do. Let's see how well you handle this!"

Agahnim waved his hands in slow circles and chanted under his breath. Link rubbed his eyes and watched as Agahnim's visage contorted and split. Suddenly, there were three dark sorcerers, each one loading an electric attack.

"Clones?!" Navi stomped her foot. "You can clone yourself?! That's not fair!"

"Link."

"Yes, Princess?"

"Now is a good time to run."

"Good idea."

"Why can't I come?!" Malon pleaded.

"Because this is a private matter," Impa replied. "And it doesn't concern you."

"Yes it does! Link's my brother and I'm going! You can't stop me!"

"It won't be safe where we're going."

"It ain't safe anywhere right now," Telma interjected. "Ya might as well let her go with ya."

"This doesn't concern you either."

"You're right, m'lady. I'm just a tavern keeper who lets her place out for a ragtag team of soldiers out of the kindness of her heart. But as for the girl, her family's on the line and she's got a right to know 'bout her brother; to see with her own eyes his destiny."

Impa groaned, took a dagger from her belt, and presented it to Malon.

"You will stay behind me the entire time, and you will only use this in self defense. Got it?"

Malon nodded as she took the dagger. Rio jumped from his bar stool and walked right up to the Sheikah woman.

"I'm going, too."

Impa looked hard at him and folded her arms.

"Rio," breathed Malon. "You don't have to come. I'll be fine."

"That's not why I'm going."

He looked Impa straight in the eye as he said, "You gave orders to Sir Raven that he was to locate as many knights still loyal to the kingdom as he could find. I may be just a messenger for the army, but I'm in the army. The fact that I'm not a dark knight should be proof enough that I remain loyal to the kingdom."

"Who said anything about proving your loyalty, boy?"

Rio waited, opened his mouth and closed it, then mumbled, "I'll do anything I can to help."

She squinted her flashing red eyes at him before finally saying, "What's your rank, young man?"

"Second Private, M'lady."

"Well then, you've just been promoted to Private First Class. Prepare yourself, Private Rio."

"Yes Ma'am."

"And let me guess," Impa turned on her heel to Talon, who sat at the bar with his back to them. "I suppose you want to go, too."

"…"

"Dad, please come with us," Malon begged. "He's just as much your son as he is my brother."

"I know…"

"Aren't you at least a little bit worried?"

"Yeah…"

"Then come on!"

He didn't move from his stool.

"Dad!" Malon snapped. "Stop it, will you?! Get off your butt and be there to help him for once!"

"…Ah can't."

"Why not?!"

Talon sat in silence. After a long time, his daughter threw her hands in the air.

"Fine! Waste away in this crummy bar! I'm going to find Link and bring him back!"

"Now Malon," Telma began.

"I'm sorry for calling your bar crummy, but I've had it! I'm tired of Dad feeling sorry for himself! He's only going to feel worse by staying here, but he doesn't care! He'd rather wallow in his self pity than step up to his burdens! Goodbye!"

She snatched a cloak from the coat hanger and ripped open the door.

"Well?! It's been an hour hasn't it?! Let's go!"

"Don't be so hasty," Impa remarked but headed outside anyway. "Both of you, let's go."

Adelz held the door open for Rio, then closed it behind zir, and the four of them were gone.

"No one blames you for bein' afraid, hun," said Telma.

"I do," replied Talon. "My daughter's right. I'm too scared of what I'd see, of what that boy's become, and what might happen ta him."

"I wish I knew what to tell ya, sweety."

"I've been wonderin' the same thing for the last twelve years."

Outside, the angry storm was finally calming. The wind had ceased its incessant howling, and the rain let up into a moderate drizzle. Thick clouds still hid the moon and stars, but now the group could travel in silence without being blown to bits, and could concentrate more on the dark knights they were sure to encounter.

"Something's wrong," Impa whispered. "We haven't seen one dark knight yet."

"We haven't come across any bokoblins, either," Adelz remarked.

"Maybe somethin's goin' down at the Temple of Time where Link is," Rio pointed out.

Impa replied sharply, "I certainly hope not!"

"It's fine by me if those monsters hit the road. That just means we can get to where Link is much faster."

With Malon's comment the group went back to traveling silently. Impa took two giant steps to catch up with her.

"Malon," she whispered.

"I don't feel like talking."

"I'm not going to ask about your brother or father."

"Whatever."

"What do you know about Rio?"

Malon stopped walking but Impa quickly pushed her on.

"Rio? Why are you asking about him?"

"Just answer the question."

"To be honest, not that much."

"How did you two meet?"

"He came to our ranch with what ended up being a false war declaration. He said it was a message from the king that he was delivering to all the citizens of our province, but Link found it that it was just a big prank."

When Impa didn't say anything, Malon looked up at her and shivered. She happened to catch a glimpse of Impa's eyes and saw how her irises swirled and glowed. She would've continued watching the hypnotic movement if Impa hadn't asked, "What else?"

"Oh! Umm...He spent all of yesterday in the city with us, Link and I."

"I'm assuming he read the fake war declaration to you, yes?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Do you remember what it said?"

"Bits and pieces...well a lot actually, just because of how weird it sounded to me."

"What did it say?"

"It was about how we were at war with the Gerudo, and how a whole bunch of stuff was happening all over the continent. Death Mountain was erupting, the icebergs in Holodrum were melting, the Faron woods were being poisoned, and Hylia lake was turning into ice. I guess it was just a bunch of bunk, though."

"What about the Gerudo?"

"That was the weirdest part. I know they don't like us very much and we fought them in the civil war sixteen years ago, but I thought they were our allies now. It didn't make sense for the declaration to mention them of all people for us to be at war with. No wonder Link thought it was lie. I'm surprised I didn't see it myself."

"Was there anything else about it that seemed strange to you."

Malon thought a moment before speaking.

"Yeah, there was something else. The message mentioned that the king of the Gerudo was declaring war on Hyrule. I thought the Gerudo couldn't have any boys. How could they have a king?"

"Malon, this is very important. Was the Gerudo King's name mentioned in the declaration?"

"I...think so?..."

"Do you remember what it was?"

"...something like Genel...Garron...it started with a 'g.'"

"Ganondorf."

"Yeah. Yeah, that's it! How'd you know?"

"Adelz, detain Private Rio."

Before Malon realized what was happening, Rio's hands were snatched and held tightly behind his back.

"Hey, hey hey!" Rio smiled casually. "What gives?"

"Private Rio, under my authority as Brigadier General of the Royal Knights and under the jurisdiction of His Royal Majesty of the Kingdom, you are hereby placed under military arrest."

"On what charges?"

"Perjury, and reckless endangerment."

"Perjury? Seriously? The city's under attack and that's what you charge me for? Don't you have bigger fish to fry, lady?"

"Keep him under your watch, Adelz. We don't have time for a detour or a full arrest. He'll have to come with us to the temple."

"What are you doing?!" Malon cried. "It was just a prank! He didn't mean to endanger anyone!"

"Young lady," Impa spoke irately, stopping Malon in her tracks. "Do not interfere with my business. You are here as an accompanied guest, not a third party. Your only purpose for being here is to meet with your family. It is not your place to voice your opinion in this matter, and it is not up for discussion."

"But you didn't even-"

"Not. Up for discussion."

"It's okay, Malon," Rio soothed. "It's just a misunderstanding. I'll get it sorted out, no sweat. You just worry about Link."

"But…"

Impa continued to the temple, followed by Adelz and a handcuffed Rio. Malon sighed.

"Me and my big mouth."

She hurried to catch up, and the four walked in silence for the remainder of the time until they reached the temple.

"…Crap."

When they arrived, a new barrier awaited them. A hundred dark knights stood around the temple's perimeter and entrance, each with a pike in hand. Waiting at the foot of the temple's stairs were Raven, Ashei, and a handful of gangly soldiers wearing armor two sizes too big. The dark knights' hollowed eyes followed them as the little group approached Raven's tiny unit.

"Raven!" Impa called as she neared him. "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure. We just got here a few minutes ago."

"Has anyone tried approaching the temple?"

"Yeah," Ashei said as she rubbed her neck. "And I nearly got a pike in tha throat for it."

Impa turned to the few knights standing behind him.

"How many soldiers do we have do we have?"

"About thirty."

"That's all?"

"We did the best we could with the hour we had," Ashei barked. "I'd like ta see you do better!"

"Oh, never mind. Do we have any idea what the dark knights are doing?"

"Look!"

Malon pointed up to the temple's stained glass windows. Lights flashed brightly inside.

"What's going on in there?"

Suddenly, a marble statue shattered one of the windows as it came sailing out of the temple and hurdled down toward them.

"Get back!"

Everyone scattered as the statue plummeted to the ground and broke into pieces. Glass fragments showered down onto the dark knights' armor, but they held their positions. Panicked voices shouted from inside the temple.

"Watch out for that one up there!"

"That was the princess's voice!" Raven realized.

"Link, look out!"

Another bright flash lit up, followed by the sound of a blast.

"Link!"

"And that was Navi," Impa groaned. "We have to get into that temple."

"And how d'ya suggest we do that?" Ashei raised her eyebrow. "These dark knights ain't here 'cuz they're waitin' ta have a tea party."

Raven and Impa sighed almost simultaneously.

"Three against one," Impa rubbed her forehead. "These odds couldn't be any worse."

"Are you kiddin'? That just makes it more fun!"

Ashei licked her lips and swiped two sabres from her sheath.

"You're in charge, Lady Impa," Raven drew a sword and shield. "We'll follow on your command."

"No. You won't."

Ashei and Raven exchanged baffled looks while Impa turned to the soldiers and spoke.

"Eyes front!" Impa commanded, and the young knights stood at attention.

"Gentlemen, I do not know how much Colonel Raven has informed you of the situation, so allow me to fill you in. We are in a crisis, the worst since the Hyrulean Civil War. More than half of our troops have forsaken the honor and glory that comes with being a Royal Knight, and have betrayed us to the dark forces. You stand before us as true, worthy members of the army, not because of your skill in battle or number of foes killed, but because you have proven that when the chips are down you hold onto your code of ethics and remain loyal to those whom you have pledged. Let me be the first to say 'thank you' for your bravery by offering you this information."

She pointed to the Temple of Time.

"Inside that temple are the two most important figures to exist in the history of Hyrule. One is the person you men have sworn allegiance to, and the other a legend which you aspire to. The first is Princess Zelda, the only remaining member of the Royal Family and your monarch. She stands as a beacon of true leadership and wisdom for the kingdom. Right now, she is fighting for her life against an unknown assailant, and she needs your help more than ever. She needs the strength and courage that you've sworn to her, your loved ones, and your country.

"The other individual in that temple, fighting alongside Her Royal Majesty, is the Hero of Time."

A glimmer appeared on the gangly knights' faces.

"I've met him myself, and I can assure you that what I say is no joke. A young man, who has never held a sword in his life, has pulled the Master Sword from its pedestal deep within the Temple of Time, and now risks everything He holds dear for the sake of the kingdom. He fights not only for the monarch or the kingdom, but for the very values you men have sworn to live by: courage, truth, and the honor that comes only from defending the weak and innocent."

She pointed again at the temple.

"The only thing standing between you and that honor tonight are the empty shells of those who betrayed their kingdom. They were men whom you once fought alongside! They sacrificed their souls to those you have sworn to fight against! They haven't just betrayed the kingdom or the army or its leaders; they have betrayed you! They have stabbed you in the back and left you to fend for yourselves on a night that was set aside for celebration, but has become a night of terror and fear in the hearts of the citizens!

"Gentlemen, tonight you do not take orders from me. Tonight, your orders come directly from Her Royal Majesty and the Hero of Time. They are waiting inside the temple to give you your command. Are you going stand here and wait for them to die, or will you heed their call and aid them in this hour of need?"

The knights raised their swords and shields to the sky and chanted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Gentlemen, prepare for battle!"

"Yeah!"

"That was a lovely speech, Impa," Raven smiled.

"I suppose. It's too bad they're all going to die."

Zelda fired light arrows that phased through one of Agahnim's clones then ran when it launched a magic attack at her. Link had taken to throwing statues, benches, displays, and whatever else he could find at the two other sorcerers.

"I'm sure glad the spirits gave me these golden gauntlets."

"Can't you throw another statue?!"

"I'm trying, Navi, but it keeps missing!"

"Well try again!"

"I am!"

Link threw another statue, but it zipped through Agahnim's silhouette as if he wasn't there.

"What the heck is going on?!"

"They're not clones!" Zelda called from her side of the temple. "They're illusions! We have to find out which one is the real Agahnim!"

"Just because they aren't real, doesn't mean their attacks aren't! How do we figure out which one is the real Agahnim without getting roasted?"

Two energy balls hurdled toward Link, and he swung his sword at them both. The first zipped back through the illusion that threw it, distorting its silhouette, and the other recoiled unevenly and wobbled as it flew sideways into a nearby statue.

"There!" Navi shouted. "The last one we haven't hit yet! That's him!"

As soon as she spoke, the three images of Agahnim disappeared, shuffled in the air, and reappeared randomly.

"Oh come on!"

"It's pointless," the Agahnims chanted in unison. "You are going to die here. I'll kill you, take back the princess, and take this kingdom for my own! Hyrule is mine!"

A flicker darted over one of the clone's outline, drawing Link's attention. He squinted at the three copies and watched as distortions flit across two of the clones forms, but not the third.

"That's weird," Navi thought suddenly to herself. "What's that sound?"

She darted away from Link and up to the shattered window where she peaked outside.

"Oh no! Zelda, Link! You might wanna see this!"

"We're kind of busy at the moment!"

"But it's Impa and the others! They must be fighting every dark knight in the city!"

Upon hearing Navi's discovery, Zelda turned instinctively to the temple's heavy doors and pushed herself as hard as she could against them, but they didn't budge.

"Don't bother."

Each of Agahnim's doppelgangers took their turn to speak, and the result was that Agahnim finished his own sentences the way twin siblings would.

"That door is sealed tight with magic, and my guards will never let anyone in or out."

"You three will never escape this temple, and your friends will never defeat my dark knights."

"You're all as good as dead."

"Impa!" Navi shouted. "I'm coming to help!"

She buzzed out the rose window and down to the soldiers while the three copies charged their successive attacks.

"Say goodbye, little boy."

"I... I can see."

They launched their electric orbs. Link dodged the first two, then swung his sword at the last ball and sent it back toward one of the apparent clones. Instead of fizzling away, this Agahnim screamed in surprise and pain while the others disappeared.

"You! That was a lucky shot! Let's see you handle this!"

With a twist of his wrist, Agahnim split this time into five copies, all of which charged and launched even more attacks at Link, who jumped and darted out of the way, batted at another of the balls and sent it flying back to the real Agahnim once again.

In a fury, Agahnim slashed his hand through the air and the temple was filled with a hundred of him. They all began to launch successive attacks.

Link's chest felt as though it was going to burst as he ran through the temple and evaded the oncoming orbs. He glimpsed through and saw flickers moving across all the clones.

"Come on, where is he? I know the real one is in here somewhere!"

"LINK! HELP ME!"

Zelda's cries from the other side of the temple caught his attention and he took off, shoving past the clones as made his way to Zelda, being held up by her throat by Agahnim. He was charging another electric attack in his hand.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!"

Link gripped the Master Sword tightly in both hands, jumped into the air toward Agahnim, and drove the blade deep into his back.

The shields of the royal knights clashed against the pikes and breast plates of the dark knights. The rookies slashed their knives awkwardly as each one fought off three opponents. Raven stood his guard on the lower temple steps as two knights attacked him from higher up. He parried a pike with his sword while blocking another that crashed heavily onto his shield. In the meantime, Ashei had dropped one of her twin blades and had resorted to kicking away the dark knights with the spikes on her boots.

"Look out behind you!" Navi shouted, and Raven turned around in time to dodge a third dark knight attempting to stab him from behind.

With a longsword in hand, Impa cut each dark knight she encountered in half and sprinted to the next.

"There's too many, and they have the higher ground!" Raven retaliated by thrusting his sword at the dark knight behind him. "What do we do?!"

"We keep fighting!" Ashei shouted back. "This party's just gettin' started!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the dark knights' onslaught ended. They retracted their pikes, stood in a ready position, and ignored the swords whose attacks couldn't be stopped midblow. The privates of the Royal Army slowed to a halt as they realized that their opponents weren't fighting back.

"What in the world?"

Raven gazed curiously at the three dark knights who just a moment ago attacked him on sight, but now stood as if they didn't notice him. A few of the young recruits poked their swords at the motionless armor out of confusion, to which Impa chastised them.

"Don't do that!" she said sharply.

"What gives?" Ashei grumbled. "I was just starting ta have fun."

"Something must have happened in the temple," Impa spoke gravely. "We've got to get in there."

"Will these guys even…" began Navi. "You know, let us in?"

"Only one way to find out," Raven answered as he sheethed his sword and moved cautiously past the knights. Not a creak came from their empty armor to follow him, so he strode up the stairs to the temple's entrance, followed by Navi, Impa, Ashei, and the group of ragtag soldiers.

"Wait here," Impa said to Adelz as he held Rio under arrest.

"Well, this sucks," Rio grumbled. No one saw the smile he wore on his lips.

"Ha- How…how did you know…which one was the real me?"

The white rage that had entered Link's mind faded, and he staggered back from the dark sorcerer with his hands up.

"Aah…I…I…"

"You…you wretched…insignificant worm!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"

"Link," Zelda shook her head and put her hand on his shoulder. "He would have killed me if you had not interfered."

"But I-"

"Do not apologize for doing what is right."

Link couldn't take his eyes away from Agahnim, who fell to his knees and then onto his stomach. He pointed a gnarled finger up at Link.

"I'll get you! I'll get you for this! I'll-… I'll…"

His curse softened into whispers, and then ceased. His eyes fixed onto Link and Zelda as the last of his life seemed to fade away. Link's breath finally caught up with him, and he began to tremble.

"Your Highness!" Raven called from outside. "Are you there?"

"Yes!" Zelda called back and hurried to the door. "I'm all right! Link is with me!"

"Hold on! We're coming in!"

Link walked past Zelda and grabbed hold of the giant handles.

"Tell the others to move away!" Zelda ordered. "Link will open it!"

The muscles in his arms stiffened as he pushed with the strength of his gauntlets. The doors swung open slowly, and the first thing he saw was blank faces, none that he could make out.

"Link? Are you okay?"A voice asked that he didn't understand was Navi's. His head was reeling from the images from tonight's dead bodies; the soldier in the dungeon, and Agahnim lying a few feet away.

Link lurched when his stomach tightened suddenly.

"Oh no."

He ran back into the temple, but didn't make it far before falling to his hands and knees and throwing up. Zelda rushed to him and swept his hair away from his face.

"Geez," said one of the soldiers under his breath. "Poor kid."

Marble statues laid crumbled and overturned all along the crater-filled floor. Nearly all of the stained glass windows were destroyed, and the broken glass crunched under the boots of the others as they filed hesitantly into the temple.

"What a mess," Ashei shook her head. "Shad ain't gonna be happy when he finds out what happened here."

"Waah!" one if the ragtag soldier's jumped and startled the others, who turned and had similar reactions to Agahnim's dead body.

"Good Lord, boy!" Impa stated in surprise and exasperation. "What in the world happened here?"

"It's a long story, Impa," Zelda replied as she lifted Link's arm around her shoulders. "Will you be able to walk, Link?"

"I've been in Hyrule City for two days and so far I've been ganged up on by soldiers and bokoblins, dislocated my shoulder several times, nearly drowned twice, fell from the castle roof, cut with a dagger, knocked out, had my arm crushed, kicked across a room multiple times, and electrocuted, and that's only the stuff I can remember. Forget walking, I'm just glad to be alive!"

"I know. I'm sorry, Link."

"This is like the worst day ever."

In spite of his fatigued and empty stomach, Link was able to walk well enough to the others without Zelda's help. When he got there though, he plopped down against a column to rest.

"Damn!" Ashei excla*+-imed. "You're in worse shape than the rest of us. I wouldn't trade places with you anytime soon."

"Will you be okay?" Navi uttered worriedly as she sat on his lap.

"I'll be all right. I just need a moment to rest is all."

"Are you sure?"

"…Yeah."

His eyes were fixed on Agahnim's corpse in front of him, but he was staring into space.

"I killed a man…out of blind rage…I wanted him to die, so without even thinking I killed him."

"Link? Link?"

Navi's voice trembled as she tried to break his dark train of thought, but he ignored her and stared into Agahnim's clouded eyes.

"He's dead because of me."

He heard glass crack right next to him, so he turned his head and saw one of the rookies approach him. He was the same age as Link.

"Ah, sorry," the rookie laughed nervously. "I'm just, I mean, I wanted to see you up close."

Link blinked up at him. The soldier scratched his head.

"I guess that's the guy who did all this, right? It's always the Royal Advisors, isn't it?"

Link looked back to Agahnim and then to the floor in front of him.

"This place sure is a wreck. He must've been really mad when you tried to stop him."

"Actually, I think I'm the one who did most of this when I tried throwing statues at him, but I'm not telling him that."

"Sir," the soldier began. "Forgive me for saying so, but it looks like you're just as new to the business as I am."

"Yeah… I really am."

Link pulled himself up from the column and staggered over to Agahnim's body.

"Man!" the soldier cursed. "I knew I shouldn't have said that! He must think I'm an idiot!"

"Don't worry," Navi patted his shoulder. "Link is just lost in thought is all. He didn't mind what you said."

"But he didn't even say anything to me!"

"That's because he can't. He's mute."

"What?"

"Yeah, a tree fell on him when he was a kid."

The soldier's face twisted into an expression of mixed suspicion and confusion.

"I can't tell if you're joking or not."

"It's true! I swear!"

Link analyzed the Master Sword lodged in Agahnim's back. He swallowed hard to keep his stomach from lurching again.

"Here goes."

He grasped the handle and pulled. He was surprised to find that the sword slid out smoothly.

"Hello again, Master."

"Whoa."

"What is the matter?"

"I didn't think the sword would come out so nicely. I was afraid it was stuck in his backbone or something."

"Not to worry, Master. You are the true holder of the Master Sword, and so you will always be able to remove it from any pedestal, no matter how…grotesque…that pedestal may be."

"Interesting."

Nearby, Zelda spoke directly to Impa, Raven, and Ashei.

"And you're positive Agahnim was behind the attack?"

"Yes, Impa. He imprisoned me in my own room while he sent the bokoblins to attack the citizens, and he attacked Link here in the temple. He also commanded the demon Ghirahim to kill my father. Ghirahim is still somewhere in the city and we must find him. He is overseeing some kind of ritual which we must stop as well."

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"Search the castle high and low for Ghirahim. It's where Agahnim kept me imprisoned, and I'm willing to bet it's where he operated from, too. Be careful of the dark knights, though."

"There is no need, Your Highness," Raven informed her. "The dark knights we battled outside are frozen, and haven't moved since we came inside. I'm willing to guess it's because the Hero of Time killed their controller, Agahnim."

Link knelt down and slipped his hands under Agahnim's chest. His robes were heavy, but Link managed to flip him onto his back. He put his hand over his eyelids and closed them.

"If that's the case," explained Zelda. "Then the same must be true for the rest of the dark knights in the city. We need to expel them from the city, but if they are no longer of any immediate danger to the city then I'd rather deal with the bokoblins first. Close all the gates and entries into the city. Look for tunnels and any secret entrances they may have made. Kill any and all bokoblins that you encounter."

"You heard her, gentlemen," Impa pointed to the soldiers. "Let's go!"

"I'm glad to see you safe and sound, Your Highness," Ashei replied.

"No one is safe yet."

As Link turned Agahnim onto his back, the boomerang peaked out from his robes.

"Oh yeah. My boomerang."

"Lady Impa!" Adelz sprinted into the temple. "Rio is gone!"

"What do you mean, 'gone?'"

"I had him in custody one moment, and the next he disappeared!"

Impa looked over just in time to see Link reach down for the boomerang.

"STOP!"

Agahnim's hand suddenly seized Link's wrist.

"ZOMBIE!" Navi shrieked.

"Not quite, little girl."

These words came from Agahnim's mouth, but it was not Agahnim's voice that spoke. Instead of the hoarse, angry tone they heard earlier, the sound of his voice was soft, low, and bittersweet. Link looked down at Agahnim's burning yellow eyes, and it was then that he panicked. He squirmed within the tight grasp.

"Let me go!"

"Why? So you can wrench that silly sword of yours into my back again?"

Link stopped writhing in horror.

"Y-you can hear me?!"

"Of course I can. What do you take me for?"

By now, the others realized what was happening and watched in terror as Agahnim's dead body rose to its feet as a puppet does, while holding Link's arm. Heavy trudging echoed through the temple as the dark knights stomped inside and surrounded them. The temple doors slammed shut, sealing them inside.

"LET GO!"

"As you wish."

Agahnim swung his arm and released, sending Link flying across the chapel.

"Link!" Navi trailed after him, followed by Malon. He crashed into the altarpiece and collapsed onto the floor.

"Show yourself, demon!" Zelda hissed. "I know you're little more than an imposter!"

"I should hope so. I left that soldier to die in that hallway just for you."

"Who are you?!"

"I know who he is!"

Impa stepped forward and pointed at Agahnim.

"You're an enemy of the state who has been in hiding for the last seventeen years. You're the reason why the Civil War ended on such horrible terms, and why the massacre of Hyrule City took place. The real Agahnim's been dead all this time, hasn't he?"

"That is correct."

As Impa spoke, Agahnim lifted his hand to his forehead, and in one fell swoop tore off his face and skin.

Underneath the Royal Advisor's ugly visage stood a new man who towered over the others at seven feet tall, with shoulders three feet wide. His skin changed from ghastly blue to a golden rust, and his hair to fiery red. Even though the rough muscles of his chest, arms and legs swelled into his fitting, barbaric uniform, his appearance was far from uncivilized. Thick grooves ran along his forehead and chin, but even in his apparent age this new man had a handsome face and magnetic smile. He looked down at Impa and the others, furrowed his thick eyebrows, and showed his teeth in a patronizing grin as he began to chuckle.

"My name," he finally said. "Is Ganondorf. Ganondorf Dragmire."