Chapter 20: Training

"Listen to me, Link, for I now have your attention." Across the grass plane, Farore came into view, camouflaged by the green of the grass, sheltered by the golden sky above. "I lost you last time, but not again. Look at this place around now. This is what the Sacred Realm used to look like. Now this is only a dream, but it was once a reality. But after Ganondorf, the Sacred Realm had corrupted so much that now it is entirely different. You wouldn't recognize it at all." Silence for a moment. "Link, there is something that needs to be said. Do you know why we were forced to flood Hyrule all those years ago?"

Link shook his head. He remembered the taunting words of Ganondorf, saying that the Gods had destroyed them, and now he was curious to know. "I am sorry, Link, but we had no choice. There was an evil force spreading across the world; it was called the Twilight. It stemmed from the Sacred Realm, the place Ganondorf was held prisoner, and nearly overtook the entire world. We were forced to intervene, but it was too late. We weren't able to stop Ganondorf from going through the Twilight and into our world, but in the end we stopped the Twilight. Unfortunately, we sacrificed much. It is important that you know this, Link, because it may not be over. There are signs of Ganondorf's possible return, and I wouldn't count out the Twilight either, even if we did destroy it. I wanted you to know this so that you wouldn't forget your past. You have so much weight to carry now, and you may forget to look back. Just remember what I said."

Link nodded. "Thanks for telling me. I was wondering why my own Gods would punish us like that."

"I know an apology would never do, Link. It will never happen again. That is my promise to you. We will never forget our pasts again, you and I. Just remember what I told you."

For days Link continued his lessons with the Hermit, building up his knowledge as time went on. As soon as he mastered controlling his four separated forms, they moved on to different things. The Hermit began to teach Link combat, and the strategy of having four different bodies governed by one mind. He told him that it is imperative to work as one, for each move one of them makes to have some sort of greater purpose in the long run. On one day the Hermit instructed the four Links to work together to climb a tree, and they did. On another he had them learn a series of combat moves, and they did. Each day the Hermit armed Link with more and more knowledge, giving him insight for the future.

"Today will be a little different," the Hermit said. "Today we will test out all that you know."

"And how will we do that, Uriel?" Link asked.

The Hermit smiled. "I see you still call me Uriel. Well, let's see what you call me after this battle." The man held out his hand and spread his fingers apart. They began to give off a golden glow, and soon clouds emitted from his fingers. He chanted a series of words Link couldn't make out, and the golden dust came together in clusters, slowly taking form. "I started out as a swordsman, but over the years, secluded in my hut, I taught myself much magic." Link merely nodded, watching the clouds of gold molding into a form. It began to hold its shape; it opened its eyes, staring into the Hero of Winds. Link saw the resemblance instantly. He felt like he was staring into a mirror image of himself.

The other Link flashed gold for a moment, but then his color went dark. Soon he was difficult to see in the night, little moonlight to reveal him. Link took a step forward, and Dark Link took a step back. Link felt like he was his shadow.

"What is he?" Link asked.

"Pay no attention to what you look at," the Hermit explained, "for often that is deceiving. You do not know who or what the Phantom is, so you must assume you can never know what your enemy truly is. Only by fighting him will you begin to learn what drives him, what makes him unique. You will learn to do this today."

Dark Link took out a blade dripping in darkness, and the Hero of Winds held the Four Sword into the air. He closed his eyes and concentrated his attention, forcing his mind to block out the shadowy image of Dark Link. He saw himself not as one self, but as four. Slowly he felt his body split apart, and he opened his eyes to see through a new perspective. He saw Dark Link running at him, and he instructed the four Links to go after him.

The red Link was the first to clash blades with Dark Link. The black shadow instantly proved too formidable, and red Link impacted the forest floor from the collision. Almost simultaneously, green and purple Link crashed into Dark Link, and they fell to the ground. Swords grinded as they all arose, slashing their blades at one another. Dark Link was able to force purple Link to the ground as soon as blue Link arrived, and he continued to fight two opponents.

Link soon learned that it was best to have the four Links work as a team. When they were ready, he first had them assemble together, quadrupling the force pushed into each attack. Dark Link struggled for a time, but as soon as he caught on, Link changed tactics. He had them attack from four corners now, forcing Dark Link to distribute his attacks amongst them. He fought a losing battle for a time, and then jumped high into the air, into the trees, for refuge.

Moonlight reflecting his face, green Link smiled at the Hermit, remembering his lessons. The Hermit showed no emotion, his blank face staring back.

Purple and blue Link worked together to climb up one tree, while red and green climbed the other. They met at the top of the canopy, the silence of the night uneasing. Green Link stared up into the sky, the copious amount of stars twinkling at him, assuring something. But soon waves of agony pulsed through him as Dark Link slashed his back, catching him off guard. Instantly Link sent a signal to the other Links for aid, and they came in mere seconds. Dark Link jumped back into the cloak of the trees, and the four Links followed.

Crashing through the trees, red Link glimpsed a shade of black through the shingled leaves. He gripped the shadow, falling with him. Dark Link swiped his sword upward, but red Link dodged it, still holding him. Two other Links, red and purple, came swinging on vines and collided into him from different directions, sending them all hurling helplessly through the leaves.

They all landed on the forest floor, gripping themselves in the staggering pain. Dark Link was the first to rise, preparing to slash red, purple, and blue Link, still on the ground. But then he saw green Link in the distance, and he discarded the idea.

Fighting alone, green Link was at a disadvantage. But the Four Sword alone gave him capabilities he didn't have before, powers that were as close to the Hero's Sword as they came. He fought with a vigorous thirst, believing that he was going to win. During a hiatus, he felt the bodies of the other Links, and he eagerly awaited their return to the battle; but he could not count on it.

Dark Link moved with a fiery spirit in his black heart -a spirit green Link could barely contend with. He was able to parry a few of his offensive attacks, but once he felt his back hit the trunk of a tree, he knew that his options of movement had been limited. He held out the Four Sword defensively as Dark Link's black blade was thrust into his, fomenting golden sparks. Link held the sword doggedly, but he slowly fell to the ground, until he knew that he had lost.

And yet he did not surrender. He did not even acknowledge his defeat, for with his power, he was aware of something Dark Link could not comprehend.

Three blades sliced through the shadow and came through the other side, black blood dripping and staining the ground. For a moment there was nothing but silence, but then his sword fell to the floor. Standing behind him were the other Links, all smiling. Dark Link exploded in clouds of black, and his sword disappeared along with him. Link allowed his four selves to come together once more, and he made his way back out of the forest to the Hermit's hut.

Their hands clasped together in victory, and the Hermit finally smiled.

"You are advancing nicely," the Hermit said warmly. "I can finally see the light at the end of this cavernous tunnel we have entered."

"Does this mean soon I can face the Phantom?" Link asked.

The Hermit hesitated. "You still have a lot of training to do, but you are getting closer, Link. You have already reached my abilities with the Four Sword. I can almost feel the errors of my past that have been haunting me all these years whither away."

The visage of the Oracle of Secrets filled Link's mind, her green hair eclipsing the Hermit to nothing more than a shadow. She smiled, and Link smiled back, though the Hermit did not know why.

"Remember what I told you," she said, whispering faintly in his ear. "Never forget your past." Link nodded, smiling.

"Why are you smiling?" the Hermit asked, and the daze ended.

Link looked up, and the grin washed away from his face. "It's nothing," he said, and they walked back to Uriel's cottage, the fire beginning to dim.