Chapter 3

The shadow lifted it's left hand, holding its palm to him. Everything about this shadow seemed blurry, as if it was slightly out of focus with reality. The boy was confused. This was the same shadow from his dream. Could it be real, or was he in that other world, again? No, this was still Link's room. The figure pointed at Link's hand, then at its own. Link slowly lifted his left hand, very hesitant to touch this creature. Skin touched glove, and the boy felt as if a star had just formed between their palms. A point of golden light sprouted from the back of Link's hand. It widened into several lines, and slowly began to take a definite pattern. The insignia of the Royal Family, the Triforce. Three triangles, touching each other on two points, to make another triangle between them. Something was different. Two of the triangles were hollow. One was solid, glowing brightly. He studied it for a minute, before returning his eyes to the shadow. "What's going on? What are you?" A cold voice appeared in his mind, echoing as if in a struggle to catch up to the present.

'Kakariko Cathedral holds the answers you seek.' The shadow's red eyes closed, and it fell through the bed and into the floor. Link's head was spinning, as he tried to make sense of what just happened.

"Hey, Link! Looks like uncle left something, after all! Come out here, quick!" Click's voice sounded excited, as it drifted down the hall and into her brother's room. Link's mind focused on the new discovery, and he headed out to see what she was so excited about.

On the living room table, Click had set down a long and thin box. It was wrapped up in brown paper, and tied with a white string in a shoelace knot. A little tag near the bow read, 'Happy birthday, Link! From Uncle Taron'. On the back was the same symbol Link found on the back of his hand. A Triforce with one triangle lit up. Of course it was only drawn in gold-colored marker. Link took another look at the back of his hand, but the light had faded.

"What's wrong, Link? Open it." Click looked insatiably curious, leaning in to examine the box with wonder in her eyes. "I'll bet he's got a surprise ready for us, hm?"

Link hesitated a moment in anticipation. He pulled the knot undone and let the string fall to the table. The paper crackled loudly as it was ripped open, revealing a cardboard box beneath. Link opened it to discover white packaging paper covering whatever his gift was. After moving that aside, both teenagers were left in awe.

In the box was a long and carefully polished length of wood. It was carefully cut to resemble a longsword, though it wasn't sharp. Still, it seemed strong enough to do some damage, if one were so inclined. Beside the wooden sword was a length of leather designed to let him carry the weapon on his back. Link put on the back-sheathe and started examining his gift. Near the hilt, but still on the 'blade', was the insignia of the Triforce. It had been very carefully burned into the wood, before polishing. The weapon was long enough that it could be used two-handed. Yet it was thin enough that it didn't have to be a two-handed sword. Quite an amazing gift this was. It must have been very expensive.

"Happy sixteenth, big brother." Click smiled up at him, offering her own present. A box, just a few inches on a side. Link sheathed the wooden sword on his back, looking quite natural, and gently took the gift.

"Thank you, Click." He opened it as carefully he did the gift from Uncle Taron. Inside the box were little paper shreds. Beneath those, a smaller box. Looked like it held a ring, actually. It made a soft noise as it opened. Glittering gold in the light was a polished gold triangle, with an upside down triangle inside it. Another Triforce. At the top was a carefully worked gold chain. Link smiled and slowly put on his new necklace. "So many Triforces, today. Y'know, it's really not my place to be wearing this. It's the symbol of the Royal Family, and of the Heroes in Uncle Taron's stories." His little sister smiled up at him. She looked so much younger than she really was, just then.

"You'll always be my hero, Link." She gave him a hug, and he returned it. A voice cut through the touching moment, like a sword in his mind.

'Get out of here. Quickly!' It was the shadow, again. Link released his sister and looked around.

"Hey, did you hear that?" He headed back to his room to try and find the source of the voice. Click just looked confused.

"Hear what? Link? Are you sure you're okay? You've been acting kinda weird since I got you from school." He returned, still looking.

"I dunno. Just thought I heard a voice from my dream. Wanna take a walk?" Click looked incredulous.

"A walk? We just got home! Besides, what if we miss Uncle Taron? He'll be mad." Link opened the door and headed out.

"I think I might know where he went. C'mon!" She reluctantly followed, taking her backpack with her. It had her laptop in it.

"Where are we going?" They headed out the stairs rather quickly. Beads of sweat formed on Link's forehead, and not from the heat.

"Church. Just a hunch. Let's hurry up, huh?" He opened the gate and started for the smaller streets.

"A hunch? Church? Link, you're nuts!" He hushed her and stopped in his tracks to look up at the window to his room. There was something in there. Something dark purple, ripping the room apart.

"Let's get out of here. Uncle Taron isn't coming back, I think." He started moving again. It took a few seconds for him to take his eyes off the window. Click didn't start moving.

"What?!" As her voice echoed down the street, the movement in Link's room ceaced. She followed Link's eyes up to the window, and saw no movement. She did see that it was open, however.

"Click, I think we should start running." Link beckoned her to him, speeding up his footsteps. Click indignantly followed. Together they ran down the block. Neither of them looked back. The stone walls of the cathedral drew nearer by the second.