Temple of Time
Link and Roxas stood before the statue of Hylia which began to glow and project the goddess' voice before they could even speak. "I know why you two are here."
"If you know why we are here, then what are we supposed to do about Malice Link, the Organization, Yiga, and Ganon?" Roxas asked.
"For that matter, what are we supposed to do with our growing list of threats?" Link added. "It seems like every region we go to, there's some new enemy to add to the list."
"I don't know what to tell you." Hylia stated. "I cannot do more than I already am, so all you can do is ensure you find every shrine scattered across Hyrule. As for yourselves, you just need to keep training. At the very least, secure the Divine Beasts as they will help stop Ganon."
"That can't be it." Link stated hopeful there was something more they could do to stand a chance. "Your Hylia, the Goddess of Hyrule. Surely you must know something more we could do beyond what we already need to work at."
"Goddess I may be, there are secrets in this land that even escape my sight." Hylia informed. "My powers are not as great as you or anyone seem inclined to believe. I do know two things for certain." Hylia eventually informed. "The first is something you, Link, are not ready for.
If you attempted to claim it now, it would be your end. As for the second, there is something locked away here on the Great Plateau. I know not where it is exactly, but I can mark where you should start. I can sense a weakness within the world. Someone can be found to aid you there."
Link took out the Sheikah Slate, it was glowing a brilliant yellow, which displayed the map function. A golden marker was now right in the middle of the Forest of Spirits within the Great Plateau.
"If you knew there was more to the Great Plateau, why didn't you direct us to this before?" Roxas asked.
"Two reasons." Hylia informed. "Firstly, it was uncertain compared to sending you off the Great Plateau and setting you on the path you have taken. Secondly, at the time, you two had just been partnered up. Would you have sent yourselves to see what this may be?"
"Honestly, I'm not even sure we can access this." Link added. "I mean, we've been around the Great Plateau many times by this point, yet we haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with that location."
"Okay, I didn't think of that." Roxas sighed. "Still, it's our only lead beyond the shrines, divine beast, or simply wondering around regions hoping to find something."
"Fair point." Link admitted. "Besides, it's not like checking an area is going to hurt us anyways."
Atop a Hill
A figure in black armor which covered him from head to toe observed the partners as they left the Temple of Time. They seemed friendly enough with one another, and they didn't radiate darkness like Xemnas. This only made him not want to do this more.
"If I ever want to know what happened to Rosa, Firion, and our home, then I need to somehow entice them to follow me." The guy thought reluctantly.
He snapped to attention as Roxas started to turn his head to look at him. Before the Nobody could register him being there, the man slipped into the nearby darkness.
Outside the Temple of Time
Roxas suddenly stopped and looked right where that man in the black armor had been. While the Nobody didn't see anything, he knew the feeling of having eyes on him. It was something all too common in the back half of his time at The Castle That Never Was.
"What's up Roxas?" Link asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think someone is watching us." Roxas informed. "I can't begin to determine where they are now, but I think we should exercise caution."
"Right." Link agreed before the pair moved on.
Forest of Spirits
Roxas and Link walked into the forest uncertain of what they were meant to be looking for. Of the various times they've traversed this area, they never once found anything out of the ordinary. Other regions had more interesting areas than this, and they haven't even seen all of Hyrule yet.
Still, there was no mistaking this place for any other on the map. This forest was where Hylia pointed them, so there had to be something of interest here. Something they ended up missing previously that they could find now. If they found it, then they could find someone to help them.
So, the pair went right to the place the marker pointed them to; however, they merely ended up standing between two trees in the dead center of this small forest. Nothing looked out of the ordinary no matter where they cast their gaze.
"What are we supposed to do?" Roxas asked.
"There has to be something we've missed any time we've come here." Link brought out the Sheikah Slate. "We're standing exactly where Hylia marked."
Before Roxas could speak, they stopped and turned their attention to another person who stepped into the immediate area. This figure wore a suit of armor branded with an hourglass symbol and thorns wrapped around its boots.
Its crown and shoulder pads were white, while the rest of the armor were light shades of blue and black. Its faceplate was beak-like in structure, and it wore clawed gauntlets. It also wore black pants underneath the armor. It wielded a keyblade with an hourglass key chain.
"Uh Roxas, is that a friend of yours?" Link asked.
"The only other being I know for certain who wielded a keyblade was Xion." Roxas stated. "Maybe this is the someone Hylia meant."
As he looked on at this armored figure, those words didn't sit right with him. It was as though he knew they were false but couldn't pin down how. He felt Hylia would have mentioned it was a keyblade wielder. As for Xion, she did have armored forms kind of like this one.
While Roxas couldn't prove this wasn't her, he somehow knew this figure couldn't be her. Perhaps this was something the Organization had cooked up to defeat and/or replace him. That idea seemed to be dashed as this figured stopped a few feet from the two of them.
More specifically, it stopped a few feet away from Roxas before turning around and stabbing its keyblade into the ground. Almost immediately after, the figure faded and there was a bright flash of brilliant light which blinded the partners. When it receded, they were gone.
?
Roxas and Link opened their eyes to see that they were in a room comprised of glistening, white walls with golden accents. Windmills were depicted on the walls; not in an obsessive manner, but in a way that someone took great care to implement them into the design.
As they looked around, they saw stairs behind them; however, this led to a dead end of a wall. This did not mean the partners were trapped as there was a path ahead. Considering the placements of the stairs, as they came down, it seemed to be a path deeper into this place.
Roxas held up a hand which glowed with darkness indicating his power was still there; however, the white parts of the structure resonated and glowed as well preventing him from creating a Dark Corridor. This was a first since Roxas could at least always create one no matter what.
"Looks like we're in whatever is below the Great Plateau." Link commented as he observed his partner. "Judging by it preventing your Dark Corridor, there is something down here. I just wonder if whatever or whoever we'll find down here really will help us."
"Looks like it." Roxas sighed as he stopped trying to summon his corridor. "My question is why something like what we experienced didn't happen before."
"Maybe it's because we had no idea this existed." Link reasoned. "If we had no general idea something existed, then we couldn't want to go there, so that figure didn't appear. Now that we want to be here, it appeared and let us in."
"You who have sought this place…" A voice began.
Roxas felt as though he should recognize this voice, yet it was distinct enough to the point that he couldn't make a connection to any voice he's heard prior.
"Traverse this temple, overcome every obstacle, and meet me at the end." The voice finished.
"Obstacles." Link commented. "Wonder if that means enemies with good weapons."
"If we think along those lines, maybe there'll be more than weapons for you to claim." Roxas started walking. "Regardless, we're going to get nor achieve anything by simply standing around. Let alone getting out of here since I don't think we can head up those stairs anyways."
"Right." Link stated before moving to walk with him.
The pair walked down the stairs and got about halfway when they encountered another figure in armor distinct enough form the initial one. It was mostly black with green lines running through it. The chest, gauntlets, helmet, and greaves were all red.
He also had a green visor. It wielded a short sword with a symbol, on the hilt, Roxas felt he recognized and a blue handle. The pommel was simple and golden in color. Almost immediately upon seeing them, the figure charged the pair with his sword at the ready.
Roxas was the first to react as he summoned Oblivion and used it to block the oncoming strike locking weapons with the figure. "You don't seem to be a monster or infected with Malice. In fact, you seem quite human, so…"
The figure planted his foot into Roxas' gut knocking him back and catching the back of his feet on the stairs sending him crashing the ground. It then advanced as the Nobody managed to roll to the right and Link charged forward drawing his Zora sword and shield.
The figure swung his sword which Link blocked with his shield. The hero's eyes widened as he saw the shield crack and fall to pieces. He immediately refocused and thrust his sword where he presumed the heart to be. Upon hitting the armor, his sword shattered.
All the armor was left with were some scratches that were barely noticeable. The figure pressed the attack on the currently defenseless hero who managed to back flip up the stairs avoiding the oncoming sword slash.
This caused things to slow which allowed him to clearly see Roxas come in with both his keyblades smashing them into the armored figure. As he landed, time resumed at its normal rate and the keyblade wielder continued his initial attack laying into their current opponent.
The figure was slammed into a wall where the armor hunched over and completely fell apart. All that remained were the pieces of armor and the sword used by the figure. Like with other, defeated opponents, Link was content in taking what was dropped.
The armor was durable, and that sword was strong. While he couldn't immediately utilize the armor, it needed to be fitted, Link could use the sword and couple it with a guardian shield which should offer better protection against these enemies.
On Roxas' end, he was a bit perplexed considering these weapons did seem familiar; however, no memories were currently coming to mind. He did feel that a memory should come to mind, and that fact was worrying him now.
"What if that memory is integral in figuring out this place or locating something important?" Roxas contemplated. "Maybe it'll come to me the more we explore."
Link finished stashing the armor and now sheathed his new sword alongside a guardian shield. "If nothing else, I got some strong armor and a new weapon out of this." He turned to his friend. "Considering we haven't gone far; I'm interested to see what more this place has."
"Same here." Roxas admitted before walking on. "Come on, let's continue."
The pair reached the bottom of the stairs and a small room with a sealed off door as well as a nearby, elevated section of the room. Upon climbing up, they found a switch in the ground which when stood on opened the doorway granting them further access.
In this next room they found two switches, one above the door forward and another on the ceiling, as well as stars leading up to a small section. There they saw a bow that was just as well made as the sword Link wielded and a quiver of arrows. Said bow even had the same symbol.
"Wow." Link had gone up and took the bow before inspecting it. "This is some bow."'
Roxas had walked around the pedestal and approached the doorway forward; however, it was just as sealed as the one prior. "Looks like someone really wanted to keep people out." His eyes wandered to the switches. "At least, those without a mind to speak of."
Link nailed both switches in quick succession opening the way forward. As the pair entered the next room, they noticed three other entrances seemingly guarded by two figures with similar designed armor to the sword fighter.
Most of their armor had the green lines throughout and were black. The differences lied in their chest, helmet, gauntlets, greaves, and the weapon they carried. The first of this pair had gray in those areas and wielded a shield. The second was dark blue in those areas and wielded a staff.
Both weapons were just as well designed as the sword, armor, and bow Link picked up prior. As they approached, the opposing pair moved with the staff wielder firing off a beam of light energy. It was rather to those used by the smaller guardians within the shrines.
So, Link withdrew his shield and used it to reflect the attack back into the armor sending him crashing into a nearby wall where he collapsed into pieces like the swordsman. Roxas charged straight for the shield user who put his shield up.
The keyblade wielder held his weapons up. "Thundaga!"
Lighting struck the shield user from above causing him to seize up for a moment. Roxas used that moment to smash both his keyblades into the shield user's helmet knocking it off the rest of the suit. This time, he could see light leave the suit as it fell to pieces.
"What do you think this all means?" Roxas asked.
"What are you trying to get at?" Link inquired genuinely curious.
"By all accounts, these suits of armor kind of act like the monsters we've found out there… for the most part." Roxas stated. "They are content to be as they were until we get close. Then, they leap into combat, but unlike those monsters, there doesn't seem to be an intelligence to them."
"I can see that." Link began collecting what remained and tucked away his guardian shield in favor of the shield used by the armor. "Even in combat, they seem lacking for how strong their armor and weapons are.
While someone could have put them in these to offset their physical deficiencies, I don't think that's the case. Whoever was in the armor with the keyblade, doesn't sound like someone who would refer to what we've seen as obstacles."
The partner's shared a look as they concluded that there was more to this place than what they could merely see. The problem is all they had at this time was what they could see, and any further answers were likely to be found within.
Considering they were at least gathering better gear for Link, as well as what Hylia said about this place, it's not like they were going to turn back. Honestly, the pair still didn't see any way to go back than reaching the end of this place. Now, they took a better look at their surroundings.
Almost immediately their eyes were drawn to the center of the room where they now stood. It was a stone dais with the basic outline of a keyblade contained within a large circle. Spaced along the circle were three smaller circles with each containing the outline of a weapon.
Even with them just being outlines, Link immediately knew what these weapons were. "Two-handed-shield, long staff, and great sword. Each outline is right before the next three doors."
"That either means something is wielding them behind these doors, these items are located behind these doors, some combination of the two, or they're attempting to mislead us in assuming we'll face one enemy only to face another." Roxas reasoned.
"So, how should we handle this?" Link asked. "You want to tackle each room together or separately?" Despite not having all his memories, he still has come to terms with a lot in his life and felt less weighed down by his past. "If we go separate, winner could tackle room 3."
Roxas shrugged with his own smile as despite everything that weighed upon him, and everything that's happened in his life, having Link on his side made everything easier to carry. Everything the hero has done to lift his spirits has made an impact.
The Nobody shook his head as this all felt much like his later times with Axel had, and while he did miss his friend, making the comparison in his mind didn't hurt like it had back when he took down the older Nobody.
"Just try to get away if it proves too much for you." Roxas stated genuinely.
"Same to you." Link patted his shoulder. "After all, for all the strength you do have, Hyrule might just surprise you with an enemy you can't beat." He walked onto the door at the top. "Meet you back here when we're done. First one back wins."
"Yeah." Roxas voiced before looking to the ceiling above. "An enemy even I can't beat." The stranger in the Organization cloak came to mind. "There might be someone on Hyrule, and for all I know, he could be it.
He could be here looking for me." He walked to the door on the right. "Maybe I am strong enough for him now. If it turns out I'm not, I'll just have to keep working at it. Work to be strong enough for him, Xemnas, and Ganon."
Just as the partners entered the rooms they decided on, the doors slammed closed behind them.
Room to the Left
A black portal with blue lines which connected to a swirling, blue mass appeared mere inches from the doorway depositing black particles which formed into a man who looked eerily like Link; however, his hair was more of a dirty blond, and he was a few inches taller.
His outfit was another area he differed in as it was a green hat, green tunic, brown boots, blue earrings, chainmail between the tunic and undershirt, and brown leggings. He was also carrying the Ordon Shield andSword on his back. His eyes were currently closed.
?
A feminine voice began speaking up.
"Link?"
"Hello?"
"Liiiiink…"
The guy that appeared in the chamber opened his eyes to find himself laying on a field as the sun hung overhead.
"Bought time sleepy head. Enjoy your little nap?"
The guy turned his head to look at a female who had pale blue, with black patches, skin. She wore a black garb with a long skirt that only covered one leg, a hood that framed her face, and the top only covered part of her upper torso. She also had long, orange hair.
The guy smirked as he looked over to see that she had been holding his hand. "Could you be any more annoying?"
"How else was I going to wake you?" The woman questioned. "Besides, I know you like it."
"How long have I been out?" The guy questioned.
"Long enough for other people to…" The woman began.
Suddenly, the guy felt like the air had been knocked out of him.
Left Room
The guy had been awoken by a two-handed shield to the gut sending him right into the door behind him, which was sealed shut, and he ended up sliding down to his butt. He looked up to see an armored figure in the same armor as that shield user Roxas took care of.
This one was holding a two-handed shield and now looming above him. "You know, when I was told I'd be near those kids, I didn't think I'd be placed in a room with someone attacking me."
The armored figure reared back for another strike, so the young man did a modified back slice. He managed to roll around the oncoming attack, resulting in it scraping the wall, and got around the armored figure. He them drew his sword and sprung up slashing into the figure's back.
The armored figured managed to prevent himself from going down, so the guy drew his shield before getting both his weapons up. He slowly led the armored figure away from the wall. As the figure moved to attack with his shield, the guy met it with his shield pushing his opponent back.
He then lept over the figure slashing at the helmet, landing behind him, and giving a powerful slash into his opponent's back which sent him crashing into a wall. The armor collapsed and the door out opened.
Room Ahead
Link entered the room and saw a figure in the same armor as that person with the staff prior; however, this one wielding the long staff. It was building up light that seemed as powerful as what a guardian could fire.
The hero got ready and into position before being fired upon. When the beam of light fired, he repelled it right back at the armored figure sending him crashing into the far wall. Link capitalized on this by rushing forward.
The armor attempted to block, but Link skirted around the guard at the last second while gripping his blade with both hands and going for the neck. The helmet clattered to the ground followed by the armor and weapon as light particles floated into the air.
"I'll be back to collect all of this." Link turned towards the now open door and ran for it. "Right now, I got to return."
Room to the Right
Roxas entered the room to find an armored figure, in the swordsman's armor, wielding a great sword. Rather than approach, he summoned Oathkeeper and Oblivion before transforming them into their weapon forms. This prompted the figure to charge the keyblade wielder.
"Magnera!" Roxas declared.
He used the spell fashioned after Link's Magnesis Rune to remove the sword from the equation. The armored figure still pressed on, so the keyblade wielder sent out his chain to ensnare his opponent. The chain then glowed as it rapidly reeled in the armored figure.
Roxas reared back with his falchion before thrusting it forward. The combined momentum with his strength resulted in the blade piercing through the armor. The light leaked out and all the pieces clattered to the ground. He then dispersed his weapons before leaving out the open door.
?
Roxas ended up stepping out first and observed that the great sword's outline was now glowing. He glanced to the doorway Link had walked through not entirely sure how he felt. He knew his partner was stronger than most anything they've faced together.
Plus, nothing in this place seemed particularly threatening. Sure, one could meet their end if they weren't skilled or lacked awareness, but neither of those described Link. Still, it was quite clear that Hyrule could contain dangers that could threaten his friend.
Fortunately, the door opened not too long after and Link stepped out only to sigh as he saw Roxas waiting for him. "That figures." He shrugged and shook his head as the staff symbol lit up. "Here I thought I'd actually gotten done fast enough."
"I may have come out faster, but you came out of it in the same state as me." Roxas stated referring to the fact that neither of them were injured. "At least that's a victory we can share."
"Yeah, I suppose." Link admitted. "Still, this does mean…"
He stopped short of telling Roxas that he could tackle the third room when the door opened, and the symbol connected to it lit up.
Out of that room stepped the guy who looked like Link. "Seriously, who puts a guy in a situation like that without…" His voice was deeper than Link's, but his words caught in his throat as he spotted the pair. "Well, at least they did put me near you two." He cleared his throat. "Hey…"
Roxas summoned both his keyblades while Link drew his sword and shield. The pair were immediately on guard and ready to strike given who else this guy looked like; however, the lack of malice did give them pause in fully acting.
The guy held up his hands close to his chest. "Despite being in this situation, at least these kids are smart enough not to trust me." The guy thought. "I know if I saw something, made of malice, that looked like them, I wouldn't trust them."
"Who are you?" Roxas asked firmly.
"Are you Malice Link?" Link asked.
Given everything they've seen, and Roxas could do, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that Malice Link sought a way to make himself look like Link. Even the differences could be hand waved since it was likely Malice Link wouldn't want to fully look like Link.
"Look, I don't blame you two for being suspicious, and you can even check what I'm about to tell you with Hylia if you want." The guy stated. "My name is Link; however, you may call me Twilight since I'm not out to steal anything from Link.
The truth is, I'm from a time before even the legend of 10,000 years ago. I'm one of Link's predecessors and a hero. I was given this second chance at life to aid not just Link, but you as well Roxas."
Link and Roxas shared a look as Hylia did mention they'd meet someone who could help them; however, the pair had come to assume it was the armored keyblade wielder. Then again, Hylia likely would have told them if that were the case. They focused intensely on Twilight now.
Zora's Domain
Myde walked through Zora's Domain after just getting back from training which was more of a solitary affair. Honestly, he couldn't blame any of the Zora for not wanting to train with him after what he did. Even now he could see many of them staring at and whispering about him.
"Hey Myde!" Sidon's boisterous voice exclaimed.
The sitar player turned to see the prince running up to him. Alongside Link and Roxas, when they were around, he was one of the few people who did train with him. Even after regaining his heart, he'd thought the prince would be the last being to be nice to him.
"I noticed you were moving rather slowly and wanted to make sure you were okay." Sidon stated.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Myde stated still shocked a guy he'd seriously fought would genuinely care about him. "Guess after a month of it, I'm still not used to how intensely I've been training. Anyways, is there something else you wish to talk about?"
"Well, I was genuinely concerned about you, but it has also been a whole month since you joined us." Sidon looked at him. "I was hoping to inquire more about this Organization. Is it really called Organization XIII?"
"Yeah." Myde nodded as they started walking together. "There were thirteen members, and we were an organization. Now, there should be only four of them left."
"From thirteen to four." Sidon was shocked to hear that. "Your strength alone was quite impressive, so to learn that only four remain within your prior organization. Did they end up like you or Axel?"
"Axel." Myde replied. "They were all killed. Xigbar and Axel lost to Roxas, and the remaining six were taken out by two other keyblade wielders before him."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Myde could tell the prince was genuine. "Despite The Organization's actions, you had still lost people that understood what you were going through. Truly, it can't be easy to lose comrades. Do you think what happened to you can happen to the others?"
"Maybe." Myde shrugged. "Honestly, I'm clueless how I even got my heart back, so I wouldn't know if they can achieve the same."
"Do you think if they got them, they'd turn out like you and Roxas?" Sidon asked.
"Well, it's hard to say." Myde replied. "Me, I was bad at being a Nobody. Roxas was probably the best one out of all of us. Then there's Luxord, Vexen, and Axel who could be good if they tried. As for the rest, it's debatable."
"I see." Sidon nodded before looking at the man. "Myde, do you wish to remain in Zora's Domain?" The former nobody looked at the prince shocked and honestly a little hurt. "Before you get the wrong idea, you are welcome to stay should you choose.
That said, this past month has only compounded on the person that fought with us against that Skulltula. You are stuck in Hyrule, but if Zora's Domain isn't to your liking, I would be happy to assist you in finding another home to your liking."
Myde took in what the prince offered and could tell he was being genuine. He felt as though Sidon had come to trust him. Even with the rest of the Zora people being warm to him at best, having the genuine trust of someone made him want to stick around.
"I think I'm good here." Myde smiled. "Everyone can't hate me forever." He looked to the prince suddenly feeling more curious. "So, you haven't actually been to train with me in a week." He shrugged. "At least, I think it's been a week. Sometimes days tend to blend."
"I do apologize, but with Link and Roxas seemingly preparing to continue their journey, I have been ensuring we are ready to get back on regular patrols." Sidon informed. "With monster activity being reduced by their actions, this is an optimal time to get back at it."
"That makes sense." Myde shrugged. "You're living up to your title which makes me think you'd get one with prince in it were you put into the Organization."
"Oh, The Organization had tittles." Sidon commented interested. "I must admit, I though your were just your numbers."
"That's one way we were referred to, but every member also got a more official kind of tittle." Myde informed. "These ones were more like our names."
"What was it?"
"'The Melodious Nocturne.'"
"Sounds sleepy."
"You're right, but I liked it."
They ended up conversing for a while after. Despite how the conversation began, and who he was talking to, Sidon really was an easy guy to speak with. It had Myde thinking that maybe he could oddly enough make friends with him.
I know this chapter isn't exactly what I promised, but I did have this planned out for a later chapter before deciding to simply move it here. For those of you who may not know, choosing Twilight out of any other Link has some precedence considering you can use a Wolf Link amibo to suddenly have Wolf Link accompany you. I just decided to take that aspect up a notch. As for the armored keyblade wielder and place under the great plateau, I'm attempting to set up something. Roxas isn't the first keyblade wielder to set foot in Hyrule, but just how many is to be discovered through this journey.
DARKPHANTOM13: Chain and falcion simply hits me as the best choices for them. Oh yeah, Yiga that run into him aren't going to have a good time. That's not to say they'd partiuclarly have a good time running into our heroes, but there will be a difference in how each side deals with the Yiga.
3bodyjaa: Thanks
ultima-owner: Well, there are ways to handle the heat, such as elixers.
UltimateAvengers: Thank you, but I've actually drawn inspiration from the novelization written by another author on this website for that.
Backpack Bandit: I'm drawing a lot of inspiration from many stories to create this one, and that is one of them.