The Shadow felt as though his entire body, every inch of flesh, every tendon and muscle had been electrified and numbed simultaneously. An entire galaxy of stars exploded behind his eyes and in his bones as his body disintegrated. He experienced a mildly-terrifying blankness for a moment or an eternity, it was impossible to say. He became aware of his skin reforming into a vaguely-human shape, his organs sort of sloshing around aimlessly inside as his atoms scrambled to remember where they belonged.

He both loathed and adored it; it was baffling.

He dropped to his knees where he'd landed on the Sheikah disc, swallowing convulsively in an effort to help his digestive system realign itself— it kept trying to come out of his mouth. He pitched forward, threw his hands out to catch himself— realizing he still clutched the Sheikah Slate when he had to let it go so he could open his palm— and just stayed there on all fours for a few moments, lungs heaving, stomach writhing, groaning inarticulately.

"Hey! That wasn't so bad!" Navi chirped next to his ear. "Kinda tingly!"

"Uuuuuugh," he managed, only to be met with her laughter in his ear. After just a few more seconds, though, his insides felt steady again. He grabbed the Sheikah Slate and climbed to his feet; it had felt awkward and clunky in his pocket, so he hung it from his belt once more and trusted Navi's magic to protect it.

"Ohh," he breathed out, mouth hanging open without his actual awareness when he raised his head to take in his surroundings. The Sheikah disc he'd landed on was centered on a tiny spit of land in the middle of Ruto Lake that functioned as the junction of the southern gate of the Great Zora Bridge and the winding road down Ruto Mountain.

Nearby, a tiny pond butting up against a huge boulder, surrounded by lavender bushes that looked like seaweed and a small pink tree that resembled coral waving in the gentle breeze. A bright green Korok flower sprouted from the ground next to the boulder. The Shadow sighed and went to collect the little nugget before facing the bridge.

The Great Zora Bridge was a massive structure that was impressive for several reasons, not the least of which was that it accomplished the incredible architectural feat of spanning the distance between its two far-flung anchor points solely on the strength of its own superior materials and engineering, unbolstered by a single support. It showcased the artistry and skill of the civilization that had constructed it, made from the Luminous Stone native to the surrounding hills and glowing lambently in steady defiance of the early afternoon sunlight.

The foremost arched gate was shaped differently from the rest and was also marked at the apex by a familiar design in the metal— three crescents facing outward from a central point, which he realized was the symbol of both the Zora and the Goddess Nayru. It was apt; she had seemed to be the embodiment of water when the Shadow had met her. The bright base of each pillar rose in elegant columns to blend seamlessly into darker stone. Metal filigree twined through and stretched under the arches to create latticework pendants holding a large, central diamond of Luminous Stone.

Stepping onto the bridge, he was awash in an iridescent panoply of blues woven with silver to give the impression of walking on the surface of a babbling river, the light seeming to scatter beneath his feet. "Wow."

"The Zora are inarguably the finest silversmiths in all of Hyrule," Navi informed him, "known for distinctive lines and grace of form."

"I believe it." He found his jaw hanging open more than once at the views along the way while Navi chattered on, widening his knowledge of the Zora. He walked through a sudden rainshower that lasted for about twenty minutes in the middle of the vast span, but the sun was still shining around him— bright rays escaping from behind a dark-rimmed cloud and creating hundreds of little rainbows all around the valley, along with a big double one in the sky.

It took nearly an hour to draw level with the twin ends of the massive, two-tiered defensive wall that formed a ring around the city. The upper level likely also served the purpose of water collection, while the lower arcade was carved into what could be gigantic flowers or waterspouts. The entire structure was seemingly freestanding, having no discernible connection to the city it protected.

Carved out of the mountain and in the shape of an open-mouthed fish at its core, Zora's Domain was a glorious monument to its people. Water flowed down from above and bubbled up from below to run through the village via meticulously-crafted channels. Walkways chased and intersected with waterways to create an intricate labyrinthine structure.

Before him, he could see two Zora guards stationed atop the short staircase at the far end of the bridge, both with the same shark-like heads as Tottika. The darker gray-brown male guard held a Silverscale spear crossed with a spade-shaped Zora spear, held by a deep-purple female guard. They both stared him down silently, frowning more deeply as he approached.

Behind them stood a line of five more guards of diverse colors, genders, and head-shapes, every guard present both armored and armed to the teeth. They waited, wickedly-sharp spears and tridents held at attention but not at the ready; assessing, not yet defending.

"Halt!" the male in front called once the Shadow had reached the bottom of the steps.

"None may enter the city at this time," elaborated the female holding the other crossed spear. "By order of King Dorephan."

"It was the king who requested my presence," the Shadow informed them, "so I think he'll make an exception." He withdrew Tottika's anklet and held it out to show them.

The male tilted his head questioningly at the Shadow. "That belongs to the emissary sent to find the Hero of Hyrule."

The Shadow, who could see almost no difference between the one in his hand and the ones around the other guards' ankles, simply nodded. "Tottika; yes. I know about the missing Zora. All of them."

Both guards eyed him with raised eyebrows. "You… are Link?" the female asked skeptically.

His nostrils flared slightly on a quick inhalation. "I am Shadow Link. I defeated Link nearly a week ago." He watched the line of guards react— several looked at each other, concerned, surprised— but they remained quiet. "I have been Chosen by Farore in his stead." He held up his right hand, Mark out. The outline had become much more prominent since Navi'd shoved a Fairy in his mouth to keep him alive, his gray tone lightening significantly.

"Oh!" the two in front said in unison, echoed by the rest.

"Hmm… It looks weird," the female blocking the way remarked. "Is it upside-down?"

"Yeah, shouldn't the point be facing the other way?" her counterpart asked.

The Shadow shrugged. He certainly didn't have an explanation for it. "I'm pretty sure the fact that it's there at all is more noteworthy than which direction it's facing."

The two guards looked at each other, holding a silent conversation for a few moments— urgency warring with caution, most likely— before turning back to him, drawing apart their spears, and stepping aside.

"Ralis will take you to the king," the female said, nodding at a huge green male with a jellyfish-like head, long tentacles waving mesmerizingly down his back when he nodded his head in the Shadow's direction and stepped out of formation. Two other guards appeared out of nowhere to fill the substantial gap he'd left in the line.

"This way," Ralis instructed in a deep, sonorous voice, turning on his heel to lead the Shadow forward into the city. Two more guards fell into step behind them; they, too, were immediately replaced.

Prominent upon entrance to the city, a well-lit shrine to the late Queen Rutela stood on a central island in a small pond shaped like an open flower, behind which spread the business plaza— bustling with activity despite the lockdown. The Shadow saw a few visitors— having been in the city when it was closed off, apparently— lounging in the open-air Seabed Inn to the left: a Goron couple with a little one chatted with a stately Gerudo woman in the lobby while a charcoal-gray Rito male snored loudly from one of the beds. To the right, in Marot's Mart, which combined Hammerhead workshop and Coral Reef general store, a group of Hylian women were openly ogling a heavily-muscled blue Zora male with lighter blue accent dots around his sharknose forehead. Several people stopped mid-sentence to stare when they noticed the Shadow in the company of the Zora escort— whether because amid three guards he resembled nothing so much as a prisoner, because of his general appearance, or simply because he was a new face in the middle of a lockdown, the Shadow didn't know or care.

In the center of this lowest level of the city, water flowed down another staircase to a sunken chamber that held a dark Guidance Stone in the center of a serene pool. A few Zora children played down there, silver jewelry almost comically oversized on their small bodies. Navi had informed him on the way across the bridge that each Zora had crafted for them a unique set of jewelry at birth and kept it their whole lives, growing into it as adults.

The Shadow's procession climbed a huge, curving staircase to a central platform dominated by another central staircase which led to the King's Chamber. At the foot, those stairs split into two and nestled between them, another Goddess Statue rose from her own miniature pond, weathered and worn and looking just like the one in Kakariko. Behind the staircase lay the night pools of the residential level; rather than individual chambers, Zora slept communally, watched over in the night by trusted guards, the space lit dimly by the glowing stone itself and the bioluminescent Sneaky River snails that had made the city their home.

He gave a cursory frown to the statue as they passed, but his attention was grabbed by the amazing structure around them as they walked up the steps into the belly of the enormous stone fish— the heart of Zora's Domain.

The King's Chamber was a huge, open space with ankle-deep water covering the floor and raised benches hugging the sides of the room, likely seating for a council of advisors, but roomy enough for the entire Zora population to take part in community matters. A petitioner's platform emblazoned with the sacred Zora symbol rose slightly before the throne, over which towered a deep blue dome that resembled the tail of a whale. Around the room waterfalls cascaded down, a statement of comfort, plenty, and generosity as they continued through channels to fall to the levels below.

Ensconced in the center sat the gargantuan King Dorephan who, even seated, was much larger than any other Zora at roughly the size of a Hinox. His enormous head was in the shape of a whale shark, his great body heavily draped with silver and accented with a length of red cloth draped around him like a sash, held together with a large, circular jewel that was echoed in smaller doses throughout his vestments.

The guards behind the Shadow halted at the entrance to the King's Chamber, but Ralis led him right up onto the petitioner's platform, announcing, "The Hero of Hyrule has answered your summons, Your Majesty." He then bowed low, tentacles nearly brushing the floor before he turned and marched back to the entrance to stand watch with the other guards.


For a few moments, nothing happened but the king and the Shadow eyeing each other silently. The Shadow felt the royal gaze linger on the dark sword at his back, the Sheikah Slate at his waist, and his Marked hand— still holding Tottika's anklet— before finally locking onto his red eyes. He reminded himself that the vast being before him was also a king and possibly immortal and that it was in the Shadow's best interest to round off the more jagged edges of his personality lest he find himself beheaded yet today. He was out of Fairies at the moment and Navi would never let him hear the end of it.

Then the enormous head shot back and the monarch erupted into booming laughter, a gigantic hand slamming on the armrest of the throne and making a deep gong sound that reverberated through the whole chamber; the Shadow could feel it through his boots and in his chest cavity. Considering the situation, the king's reaction was so unexpected that it made the Shadow frown.

A few awkward moments later— long enough for the Shadow to feel heat in both his cheeks, for his jaw to start to clench, and for his resolution to be civil to begin eroding— King Dorephan finally started to gain control of himself, one huge hand coming up to rub at damp eyes. "Ah, that was terribly rude of me, wasn't it? Forgive me."

The Shadow was taken by surprise for a second time– a king apologizing? To the Shadow? For rudeness? It felt preposterous.

His bewilderment must have shown on his face because the king went on, "First of all, I must say that I had not expected you for a few days, at the very earliest. The speed with which you arrived is truly impressive; I thank you." The Shadow nodded and the king continued, "Now allow me to explain my outburst: in my youth, I was somewhat brash and adventurous, too. I traveled with the Hero of Hyrule at that time for a short while— Link was his name, of course. Not long after his journey began, he spared the time to accompany me up Ploymus Mountain and help me destroy a Lynel that had decided to nest there.

"Together, we defeated the beast; both of us were skilled marksmen and, at that time, I was much smaller and more agile, better suited to hand-to-hand than I am now. Afterward, we parted ways— I headed up to Shatterback Point to come home and Link continued on his journey, back down the way we'd come up. I stopped to pay homage to the Ancient Zora monument— and from there you can see a bit of the path down the mountain, or I'd have missed it altogether, you see. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another Link materialize— this one all gray and carrying a dark sword and shield— and attack Link. The Shadow was fast, brutal."

The Shadow cocked his head, fascinated. Here was the first person he'd met who had actually seen a previous version of the Shadow. He found himself leaning forward.

"Of course, I raced down the mountain to help— would have even if we hadn't just beaten a Lynel so recently I still bore the marks— but it was a fair distance to cover and by the time I got there, Link was just defeating the Shadow— an event that has played out time and again throughout history, though that was my one and only first-hand experience.

"So the fact that you— a Shadow yourself— you stand before me now with my messenger's favor in your hand mere days after I sent him out. You're carrying a Sheikah Slate, Marked as the Hero, and you've defeated a Hero at about the same point in his journey as the Link I knew tells me that you are strong, indeed. Exactly what we need, yes," he concluded, reminding the Shadow without words what had brought him here.

He held out the anklet toward the king, who gestured for one of the guards to take it from the Shadow, saying, "See that Tottika gets this back upon his return to us." The guard nodded and bowed before returning to his post.

Before the Shadow could say anything, a commotion arose from the entrance. He turned to see an old green Zora male with a manta ray head leaning one hand heavily on a driftwood cane that was carved into the shape of a sea snake as he slowly stormed the King's Chamber.

"Sire, I must protest—"

"Councilman Muzu…" the king began in a tone that indicated that this particular advisor had no shortage of complaints for his sovereign.

"—this highly irregular turn of events. You cannot mean to send this, this—"

"Councilman Muzu!" King Dorephan reprimanded, but the Shadow had already heard enough.

"Be careful what you say next, councilman," he said, voice low, and enjoyed the room falling silent at once around him— even the waterfalls seemed to mute themselves. "I may have been Chosen by Farore, but I am still the Shadow," he warned with a cold look. They didn't need to know that he didn't really want to kill anyone.

But the enraged councilman carried on, heedless. "Exactly! You say you've been Chosen. But how do we know that you didn't draw that Mark upon your own hand, hm?" he accused, gesturing furiously.

The Shadow's reaction came from his gut. "Ha! Why the fuck would I do that?"

"Why, so you could get close enough to assassinate the king, of course!"

An outright laugh escaped the Shadow then. "Your border guards left me my bow and arrows, not to mention this," he said, raising his left arm without warning and shooting the hookshot into the wall across the spacious room. He left it there for a moment, letting his point sink in before retracting the device. "There was no need to get too close."

This only served to further intensify the councilman's ire, one drooping side of his face beginning to twitch distractingly. "That is exactly what I mean. How are we to trust you now?"

The Shadow shrugged. "That's not really a requirement."

King Dorephan laughed again. "What spirit!"

"Bah!" Councilman Muzu dismissively waved the hand not clutching the handle of his cane.

"Hey, I didn't ask to be here; I was specifically asked," the Shadow reminded him forcefully. "Like I didn't ask to be made, I didn't ask to be Chosen or any of the things that have happened since, and I sure as hell didn't ask for— or need your approval."

"Hmph," Muzu grunted.

"Yes, exactly what we need right now," the king chuckled.

"What we need is Zora might! Raise the whole army and take the island back! This lockdown does nothing but hurt our economy," the old man grumbled loudly.

"I believe that I am fully cognizant of the state of our economy and our army, Councilman," the king said through clenched teeth. "I have been king for a rather long time, you know."

"Hmph," the old Zora huffed, propping his cane before himself and resting both hands atop it. "Aye. I'm aware." His tone implied it had not been the happiest of times for the cantankerous old Zora.

"Councilman, leave us."

"Sire—"

"Now, Councilman Muzu." The king's tone brooked no disobedience.

The councilman's old body shook with impotent rage as he spun slowly around his planted cane and then took his time making his exit, drawing it out as long as he could, smacking the cane with unnecessary force each time he took a stomping step.

The king rolled his eyes at the old man's back before focusing on the Shadow again. He waited until it was just them and the guards before asking, "Well, now, what do you go by? What should we call you?"

"Shadow Link."

"Shadow Link," the king repeated with relish, then grew serious. "And Link?"

"I was created to kill him. I was successful."

"I see," King Dorephan acknowledged, eyebrows crunching together. "Hmm. Quite strong, then. And then? How did you make the leap to Hero?"

"Reluctantly."

The king chuckled. "Fair enough. But could you elaborate?"

"The Goddesses appeared to me and Farore Chose me to replace him. I declined, but you can see how well that's worked out."

"Hmph," the king exhaled forcefully. "If you ask me, It's about time they finally took a real interest in the goings-on down here again. The cycle grows tedious," he asserted. "This is quite the turn of events, though, I must say. How long ago?"

"This is my sixth day."

"Six days. Astounding. Well, my nascent friend, I must thank you again— I have not laughed since my son and then my daughter…" he trailed off sadly, giving himself a moment. "They are both strong, capable Zora, or I would not trust them to lead their own units. But every day they do not return deepens my worry for them. Laughter is a light in dark times, and if the Shadow can become the Hero— and bring the gift of a few moments of joy with him— I must believe that anything is possible."

The Shadow nodded, unsure what else was required of him— he'd not conversed with a monarch before— certainly hadn't been thanked by one. Twice. He was struck by the fact that this was more like a conversation with Anly than he'd anticipated speaking with a king would be. Then again, perhaps it was just this particularly long-lived king.

"Now, then, as to the reason you are here: Eventide Island is a trial said to have been designed by Farore herself to test even the bravest of souls." The Shadow felt his brow rise; he'd not known that bit of information. The king went on, "Recently, we'd received reports that an unknown darkness has settled over the island. But Eventide is an outlier with no permanent residents so it was not deemed an emergency, and it was only when the Captain of the Guard did not return from patrol that we realized something sinister was afoot." King Dorephan paused for a moment, pinning the Shadow with his gaze. "Sending squads of armed guards has done nothing but increase the disturbing nature of the reports and endanger far too many Zora. It is time for a different tactic, which is where you fit in."

The Shadow nodded in understanding.

"Now, the island itself repels boats," the king said. "It will stop any craft dead in the water when it feels you've gotten close enough. It's to do with the trial, I'm sure. Of course, that's no barrier to a Zora."

"Naturally."

"The Trial of Eventide commences when you decide to take it on," the king explained. "Whether you glide through the air or swim to get there, you are being tested from even before the moment you set foot on the shore."

"Then how do you ascertain whether or not all is well?"

"The island itself seems to know the difference in intent, but we still send our strongest, just in case. Eventide always welcomes us and allows us to conduct our assessments. A patrol usually heads that way every other month, and the next one was scheduled for just a few days after the first report came in."

"What did it say?"

"Some fisherman out on Hateno Beach said that an odd darkness had settled over the whole island. Not a cloud; a darkness. Bazz, the Captain of my Guard, went out on the patrol and, as you know, he has not returned. His second-in-command— my youngest, Sidon— went with a contingent after him. They have not returned, either. My daughter, Mipha, who retired from active duty long ago, took it upon herself to take another unit with her on a rescue mission," the king paused for a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. "Since then, the reports include sightings of strange, shadowy creatures with red eyes—" the Shadow valiantly held in his knee-jerk urge to snort in reaction to the irony, unwilling to break the somber moment— "and the latest ones say a large, flat circle made of black stone and covered in shining white symbols now sits atop Koholit Rock."

The Shadow frowned. "That all sounds pretty ominous."

"Yes, I thought so. That's why I decided to send for the Hero; and here you are. Shadow Link, I would greatly appreciate it if you would travel to Eventide Island without delay and bring my beloved children home."

The Shadow nodded once, decisively. He wasn't sure if the king was referring to his actual children or all the missing Zora, but realized the distinction was irrelevant. He thought for a few moments, absorbing all the data before asking, "Have you attempted the trial?"

"No, no, such things are not for me. I am tasked with watching over the island only," the king assured. "My Mipha is the only Zora I know to have conquered it in my lifetime, though several Captains have attempted it. She completed it during the last cycle in order to prove herself worthy of the title of Champion and fight at the Hero's side— Sidon was just a child at the time, although just a few months ago, he told me he felt up to the challenge, if he was needed." His voice was bursting with pride when he spoke of both his children.

"Are there not Champions every cycle?"

"No, that was something that had never been done before, to my knowledge: a concerted effort to end the cycle entirely, and though we've had centuries of relative peace, that is obviously not the case. While each cycle plays out differently, the main characters remain the same. I had not yet met this cycle's Hero, although Mipha had gotten to know him a bit, I believe. Not as well as the previous Link, of course," he said with an odd sadness in his tone, as if they'd been close, "but she'd spent a great deal of time recently studying with this one and Zelda at the castle… But," he sighed, shook himself, and cleared his throat, "I knew at least five previous Heroes who'd attempted it. However," he held up a hand, "I can give you no more information about the trial itself."

The Shadow noticed the king had said attempted, not passed, and wished he could speak to Mipha to see just what she'd experienced. He wondered if Navi would have any further details. He also felt a strong urge to ask just how old the king was to have seen five other Heroes when this was the first cycle in three hundred years— how did the king keep all the Links and Zeldas separate in his head? Did he just number them?— but there were a thousand other questions behind that floodgate and the time to open it was not now.

There was no opportunity, anyway, as the king narrowed his eyes at the Shadow and asked, "Can you swim?"

"I… think so?" the Shadow said, frowning. "For some reason, I feel like I can, though it hasn't actually come up until now. I do have this, though," he said, pressing the Cryonis rune twice in quick succession and raising an ice pillar in the water on the floor between himself and the king. "I'll be fine," he assured.

The king laughed again, delighted. "Splendid!" he praised, watching as the Shadow pressed the button to dissolve the ice.

"I also have a glider and with your permission, I can use your Guidance Stone to get as close as possible in a flash."

"Excellent," the king nodded. "Of course, you have it." They spent a few more minutes discussing the quickest route for the Shadow to take to the island, and the least likely to result in him having to pass the trial— by no means a guarantee. "There is a strong, constant wind that blows from Cape Cales to Eventide. However, the tip of the Cape is not easily reached, I'm told. You might find it more worthwhile to jump from the peak in Hateno where they put that strange-looking house," Dorephan said, probably meaning the Lab the Shadow had come from. "You could probably reach Tenoko Island, which sits right in the middle of the Necluda Sea. From there, it's just a short swim to Eventide."

The Shadow reminded himself that Dorephan was a Zora and not to take 'short swim' at face value.

"The island knows your intent, yes. However," Dorephan cautioned, "to my knowledge, you will be the first Shadow to attempt to reach it, and though you do not necessarily go seeking to conquer the island, it may decide to test you, regardless."

"I understand."

"Anything you need for your journey will be provided to you, of course."

"Think I'm all set."

"All our hopes go with you, Shadow Link. Please. Bring my children home."


The Shadow paced down the steps from the King's Chamber, stopping when he again noticed the Goddess Statue standing serenely in her pool. He frowned to himself, knowing that Navi would probably urge him to pray to it and thinking that it would probably be another waste of time.

He sighed quietly before going to stand before the statue, anyway.

"Goddess Hylia."

"Chosen Hero of Farore, I can offer you great wisdom." The last one had offered him great power, if he recalled correctly. Hm.

"All right, let me hear it."

"The Key lies in bringing light to the darkness on Eventide."

He frowned. "That's not 'great wisdom'; I was already on my way to do that."

"Go, and bring peace to Hyrule."

"Might make things easier if you helped at all."

"Go, and bring peace to Hyrule."

"Fucking Goddesses," he muttered as he turned away, irritated and determined not to bother stopping to talk to any more cryptic fucking Goddess Statues. He stalked down to the sunken chamber where the Guidance Stone rested.

Inside, he noticed something at the back of the room he hadn't been able to see when he'd passed by earlier. On the very back wall, laden with fresh flowers and made entirely from Luminous Stone and silver was a life-sized statue of the late Champion of Hyrule, Link.

He drew closer, fascinated. It was basically himself, rendered in stone. The carved face was the same as what looked back at him from any reflective surface, even the statue's outfit looked strikingly similar to his own.

He tilted his head at it, feeling like he was missing something. Why would the Zora have a shrine like this— well-tended and obviously visited often, going by the numerous bouquets strewn at its base?

Just then, four young Zora children came running into the room, two girls— one red, one more orange— and a dark blue boy, all roughly the same age, and a younger, light blue boy. The youngest child immediately started running in ever-widening circles, watching his feet splash in the water and laughing to hear it echo in the chamber.

The other boy noticed the Shadow and stopped in his tracks to stare. "Whoa!"

The two girls gasped in sync, nearly running into the boy's back. The younger boy's circle stretched toward the Shadow but the little face suddenly looked up just before collision and then everything just sort of stopped, all the energy inherent in children banked for a few seconds.

"The Hero," the young boy breathed. The Shadow acknowledged the tiny thrill rolling through him at the open, honest awe in the young face.

"Of course it isn't, Tumbo," the older boy said disdainfully. "He's been dead for millions of years."

"My dad said the cycle has started over, so this would be the new Hero," the red girl said with confidence.

"What's wrong with him?" asked the reddish-orange girl, dampening the pleasant feeling the Shadow'd been experiencing.

"Oh, goddess, Finley— you can't just say things like that!" the other girl said in something that was probably meant to be a whisper but which the Shadow was sure could be heard by everyone in the shops a half-level above.

"What do you mean, Fin?" the older boy asked, brow furrowed. "He looks fine."

"He's all gray!" Finley said.

Older Boy shrugged. "Everything's gray to me." The Shadow tilted his head, puzzled. Did the Shadow look just like anyone else to this kid? How many others saw the world— would see him like that?

That got the attention of all three kids. "Really?" asked Tumbo. "Even me?"

Older Boy rolled his eyes. "Especially you, shark bait." The Shadow expected the young face to crumble, but he surprised the Shadow by laughing and resuming his run.

"That doesn't make any sense, Keye," Finley pointed out.

The older boy, Keye, rolled his eyes before turning to face the Shadow fully. "Hey, are you the new Link?"

"No, I'm Shadow Link."

"You look just like Link," Red Girl reminded him.

"Except for the gray," Finley corrected.

"Well, duh," Red Girl said, rolling her eyes at Finley. Then she turned to the Shadow again. "Why are you gray?"

"Because I'm the Shadow," he shrugged. "And I look like Link because that's how I was made. I'm the Shadow of Link."

"Are you an actual shadow? Can I walk through you?" Tumbo stopped mid-lap to ask.

"Of course not. We'd be able to see through him, too, then," Finley reasoned.

"Oh, yeah," Tumbo said.

"Why is there a statue of Link here?" the Shadow asked.

"Because of Princess Mipha," Keye said, but he didn't get the chance to explain further.

"Keye! Tumbo!" a new voice called from behind the Shadow, outside the room. A dark gray male came halfway down the steps and stopped. "Oh!" he said when he noticed the Shadow. "Oh, my. You look just like—"

"Dad, this is Shadow Link," Keye interjected. The Shadow watched Keye's father's eyes grow wide.

"Ohh. Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Fronk." Then he turned to the kids. "Boys, your mother says you both have chores to do. Laruta, Finley— your parents are looking for you, too."

"Okay, Dad," both boys answered in unison.

"Okay, Mr. Fronk," Finley said, echoed by Laruta a second later.

All four children turned to the Shadow. "Bye, Shadow Link! Hope you don't die!" Tumbo said with an enthusiastic wave.

"Yeah, bye!" the other three parroted. In the next second, both girls had run up the steps and were out of sight. Keye grabbed Tumbo's hand, but the younger boy pulled on their joined hands, reaching his other hand out for his father.

"Come on, Dad. You, too," he said, waiting until Fronk had complied before allowing Keye to lead the way up the steps and out of sight, as well, leaving the Shadow alone in the chamber once more.

He shook his head, amused, before grabbing his Sheikah Slate and setting it into the slot on the Guidance Stone, which lit up in readiness. He brought up the map and tapped on the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, then confirmed his selection and undocked the Sheikah Slate from the Guidance Stone.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed the button. Engage.

For the second time that day, the world blurred around him.