Chapter 29: The Dark World

"We're getting closer," Wade said as he reached for Link's hand, pulling him up. "We can see the top now. We're almost there."

"Finally," Link said, reaching for the next stone. But his hand slipped and he gripped nothing but air. He found himself slipping off the edge, and quickly looked down to see a layer of clouds below him. But as soon as he found himself falling, a hand gripped his. Wade took his hand and pulled him up to the plateau. "Thank you," Link said finally. "Thanks for saving me."

Wade looked up to him. "It was nothing. Let's keep moving."

The sun danced across the sky as they climbed on, and soon they reached the zenith of Death Mountain. Soon they would finally find the Phantom.

"It doesn't make any sense," Wade whispered. They were hiding behind a boulder, and they both knew the peak of the mountain was just ahead. "We have not confronted one guard, not one soldier."

"Maybe the Phantom is so strong that he doesn't need any guards," Navi inquired.

"No." Wade shook his head. "It isn't that simple."

"Perhaps they are all fighting in the war," Link said.

"Maybe," said Wade, "but why would the Phantom leave himself unguarded? He could surely spare just a few to protect himself. Something is wrong here. I don't trust this."

"In any case," Link said, "I have to go. I have to face the Phantom, trap or not."

Wade nodded. "Then go. Navi and I will stay here. Are you sure you want to do this alone? You don't have to."

"No, this is something I have to do myself. Thank you, Wade. Thanks for everything." Saying no more, he ran off, walking up the last few yards to the Phantom's lair.

The top of Death Mountain was a plateau. It was curved slightly, but easy to walk upon. The air here was thin, brisk, and cold. Link shivered as he crept closer, seeing a small cave appear in the thin, misty air. He came to it and, upon seeing no one, stepped inside.

What he saw there he could not mistake for anything else. It was the Phantom Hourglass. Just as Wade had depicted, it was nearly twice as large as Link, dead black, fixed firmly in place by a large, metallic holder. Link walked up to the Hourglass and inspected it. He saw that most of the sand was at the bottom, and there were some but few grains at the top.

He then remembered the words of Wade, and quickly withdrew the Four Sword. He hacked at the Hourglass, but all that came from it was the twang against the glass. Link put all of his effort into the strokes, but the glass would not crack. It seemed impenetrable.

"Looking for someone?" said a dark voice. Link turned behind him to see the Phantom floating in the entrance of the cave. In moments the Phantom's wand was out, and before Link could even begin to concentrate on the Four Sword, a draft of air swept him up and hurtled him outside. He fell with a crash against the rocks of the mountain, and heard the Phantom coming closer.

"So you finally came," the Phantom said. Link remained on the ground.

"You knew I was coming?" the Hero asked.

"But of course," answered the Phantom. "Why else would I remain here while a war requires my service? I bet you are wondering how I found out. It had happened not long ago; as I was looking out upon the forest, a great spirit awakened. It told me you were coming, and that if I stayed, I would have the opportunity to destroy you."

"Wirlin," Link said to no one in particular. "He tricked me. He is looking to rid himself of at least one of his greatest enemies today."

"The time has come, great Hero of Winds," the Phantom mocked. "Your death has arrived."

Link arose and looked up at him, to the Wind Waker held firmly in his hand. "You have something I want." Quickly Link held the Four Sword forward. He knew the Phantom would not allot him much time, and so he hurried, putting the Hermit's lessons to the test. In mere seconds the transformation had taken place.

The Phantom stared in awe for a moment, but then thrust the Wind Waker forward. The wind ripped through the sky, and the four Links quickly scattered. From different directions, they all rushed up to the Phantom. A gale of wind forced red Link to the ground, and blue Link next. But the Phantom could not stop purple and green Link from confronting him. He was forced to quickly withdraw his sword from behind his back and spar equally between them.

"I see you have grown stronger," the Phantom noted as they fought. "It only makes sense. You suffered a shameful loss the last time we met. Only a fool would seek to repeat the same mistake. Still, it is all for naught. No matter how much you have changed, it will never be enough. I will always be one step ahead of you, Link."

The Phantom jerked quickly with his sword, clashing against purple Link's, sending him tumbling to the ground for a moment. He then proceeded to fight green Link alone, speaking as he did.

"I see you have found the Phantom Hourglass," he said. "I bet you are wondering what it does." Link said nothing. "I'll tell you, Link. Maybe this will show you the impossibility of your battle. The Hourglass is a gateway, Link. It leads to a world that cannot be reached by any road or by any ocean. It is known as the Dark World, Link, and it houses many secrets." Their swords pressed against each other, producing yellow sparks, and Link grunted from the force. "What does the Phantom Hourglass do, you ask? Well, it is not difficult to travel from this world to the Dark World, but unfortunately, going the other way around is nearly impossible. But the Phantom Hourglass allows this to happen. When the last grain of sand falls through, a portal will momentarily open, allowing creatures of all sorts to pass through. The last time had been exactly a hundred years ago, when the first people began to sprout across this land. The Poes were the first to pass through, and quickly they overtook Death Mountain. When I came to be, I quickly rose above the ranks, reigning supreme. You think this whole plan is mine, Link? That I only seek to benefit my own fortune? No, I serve another. Maybe soon you will see him, and the awesome might he can produce."

The other Links were now up and creeping closer, ready to resume the battle.

"Just remember, Link, that as strong as you think I am, there is another even more powerful. Now do you see why this is so hopeless? Your puny village is already on the verge of defeat. Just think of what will happen when another hundred -another thousand- dark beings crosses over. Then what will happen to your people? The time to grovel and beg is now, Link. This battle was over since the beginning."

Link quickly instructed his green counterpart to take out his boomerang. He threw it into the air, and it struck the Phantom's hand, causing the Wind Waker to fall to the ground, clanging against the red rocks. Red Link dove and caught the wand after just a few bounces, and used it to send several gales to thrash the Phantom, causing him to crash against the cave wall.

Link felt as though a part of himself had been reconnected. He remembered his talks with the Oracle. There were three things that made him the Hero of Winds: the first was the Triforce of Courage, which always ran through his veins; the next was the Hero's Sword, something that was no longer accessible; the last was the Wind Waker. Two out of three isn't bad, Link thought.

He kept the Wind Waker pointed in the air, the Phantom still held against the cave wall by the currents of air. "When will it be time?" Link demanded.

"In one day," the Phantom answered, grimacing against the harsh winds. "And now your chance to surrender has passed. You have forced a painful fate upon yourself, Link." The Phantom reached into his cloak and withdrew another wand –not the Wind Waker, but one with power as well. He held it up into the air, and it glowed. He pointed it forward, and a bright blue flame spiraled down and overtook red Link.

Instantly the winds died down, and red Link fell to his knees, and then sank to the ground, covered in a blue mist. The Phantom lowered himself until his feet touched the ground. He smiled within the darkness underneath his hood.

The three Links standing pointed their swords forward. "Do you know of the creatures that dwell in the Dark World?" the Phantom asked rhetorically. "They are menacing things, the type that haunts your dreams. You could picture them in your mind and fear them not, but in their presence you will quiver in fright. If you think the Poes are something to behold, just wait until the last grain of sand touches the bottom. They will pass through and swarm everywhere, destroying everything. Your world will turn foul. Your people will die. Your land will transform until it is just as black and empty as the Dark World."