Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.

Part II - Between Light and Shadow

Chapter 16 - Signs

Wide blue eyes jolted open with a streaking chill. Feeling a muffled scream stuck in her throat, Zelda woke up from her awful dream, feeling so cold despite the very hot air of summer being very much present.

She glanced to closed curtains serving as doors to her room, half expecting to see a terrifying sight standing there. Only when her eyes saw nothing but fabric dancing in the air, that a sigh of relief escaped her shivering lips.

A little sense of safety slowly began to warm the princess' chest, then a soft rustle of a chair made her heart skip a beat.

"Still your heart, Princess. Your face is paler than usually is." One stern but still caring voice called out for her from the west corner of the room.

Glancing towards the sound of this voice, Zelda's troubled face softened into a relieved small smile.

"Impa… I thought you would take longer to return." Casually kicking her legs to the side, Zelda brought the sole of her feet onto the cushioned ground.

The tall white-haired woman gave a short nod in response, pulling down her face mask to show a small grin. "Normally I would, but after hearing about what happened in the Death Mountain, I had to return earlier."

At the mention of the gruesome explosion at the giant mountain reported to her, Zelda's expression grew slightly more troubled. Which made the Sheikah stare at her with slight confusion.

"The boy sure has a unique way of resolving problems," Impa said with a hint of humor. "Passing by Kakariko I heard people saying that he slew the dragon midair, falling to the side of the mountain while mounted on its blazing skull."

A half-hearted smile graced the Princess' lips. "Link is a courageous warrior… and he is growing more powerful with each feat."

Impa watched as the blond woman pressed her hands together, a small habit of hers when something is eating at her thoughts.

"That is good, isn't it?" Impa declared as she calmly made her way towards the lower end of the large bed. "The prophecy says that he will be the one to destroy evil. The chosen Hero to face against Ganondorf."

Zelda stood quiet, her gaze aimlessly wandering around the dim lights dancing in the room.

"You had another nightmare," Impa stated instead of asking. "I thought these visions had disappeared after the first few years of the war."

"Diminished… they just diminished a little. It never stopped. Nightmares of Ganondorf tearing Hyrule apart." Zelda explained, a painful expression on her otherwise beautiful face. "I just learned how to ignore most of them. Some of them were a mere distasteful jest compared to the reality we live today."

"But this one was different?" Impa asked, taking a seat close to Zelda.

"Y-Yes… It felt so real, so specific." Raising her head, she brought her blue eyes to Impa's red ones. "This was no ordinary dream. Just like the vision I had as a child, this was a prophetic one. Impa… that… it was…"

In the passing years where Zelda has been forced to lead the remnant of her people into a refuge, she grew into a wise, confident, and strong woman. But in this intimate moment deep into the night, she is looking just like the little girl Impa had to comfort after terrible dreams.

And just as she used to do in years long past, the Sheikah brought her Princess into a comforting hug, rubbing a warm touch on her back.

"In your dream… did he found us?" Impa asked gently. "Did you saw Ganondorf attack this place?"

Taking a few moments to respond, Zelda just shook her head, taking further comfort in Impa's embrace.

"Zelda… I can't help you with the burden of this vision if you don't share it with me." A low sigh escaped the Sheikah's lips, but she still waited patiently for the blond to respond.

"Death…" Zelda finally spoke after a few more seconds of silence. "Death, blood, and fire. I found myself cornered by darkness, unable to move, unable to act. I-I could just watch as everyone died, everything crumbled to dust."

"We faced death and destruction many times, Princess," Impa replied. "Even so, we can't let it bury us in despair or Ganondorf will stand triumphant."

"He died." Zelda spoke with a harsh tone, a wave of deep anger just at the mention of said man. "I saw him broken and beaten. Ganondorf was pleading, hurting. Then a sword of pure darkness plunged itself deep into his heart. In my dream, I saw that monster die."

Impa relented in their embrace, letting the Princess pull back and look into her eyes once more.

"Then, I saw the one responsible for so much death… so much sorrow." Clenching her fists into the fabric of her clothes, Zelda closed her eyes. "It was Link. He killed Ganondorf. He killed everyone. In the end… he killed me too."

Zelda's words sounded like ramblings of a mad person to the Sheikah. She stared at the Princess, with a slack mouth, unable to grasp her head around it.

"Isn't the boy our ray of hope?" Impa questioned, pulling herself up. "The Hero of Time is the chosen by goddesses, he couldn't… He is supposed to be a beacon of light."

"I know that! I dreamt of him since I was a child. The day I met that little boy dressed in Kokiri clothes was the happiest day of my life." Zelda frowned deeply, then sighed. "I trust him… I trust Sheik to keep Link on the right path. But my dream… Impa. What if we made a mistake? What if-"

"There is no what if." Impa said with steeled resolved. "I trust your visions, Princess. The same way I did when we fled the capital before Ganondorf descended on us. However, we can't blindly follow after each one of them."

A long quietness settled in the room, both women evading each other's gaze for the longest time until Impa rubbed the wraps on her right wrist and spoke again.

"No one is infallible. I know this much. The boy may stumble… Farore forbids it, but he may even fail. Still, we can't doubt his heart. After hoping for so long for his return, should he fall into such darkness…" The Sheikah shuddered, unable to contain her body's reaction to such thought.

"Y-You're right. We need to have faith in Link… I have to." The Princess glanced to the small ray of moonlight entering her room. "Maybe I'm just tired after so long." A playful small chuckle escaped her. "There's not a shred of resemblance between Link and that horrible shadow plaguing my dreams."

Impa nodded curly in her spot, her gaze distant as her mind also began to wander. 'Let's hope so, Princess… let's hope so.'

'That's odd…' The words pressed on the forefront of Vahn's mind as he watched a quiet Sheik, that in turn is watching someone else.

It has been at least eight days since the life-threatening adventure inside the Death Mountain, time that they have spent mostly recovering and getting accommodated with each other.

On the recovering part, Link was the one doing the most of it. After crash-landing on the steps on the trails between Kakariko and the eerie mountain, he just smiled and said that he was fine. Then said fine feeling hero proceeded to faint and stayed unconscious for at least two full nights.

Both Vahn and Sheik spent those nights fretting over Link's condition. The tall blond moaned and sweat like crazy. Then, on the third day, he simply woke up as nothing had happened to him.

The first words escaping the brave warrior?

"Where's my hat?"

Just that one line washed away all the seriousness of the harsh scold Sheik was ready to unleash on the other blond. Vahn's ever-so-loud laughter didn't help the situation one bit.

Now on the Sheik, ever the strict Sheikah on duty, was already preparing everything for the next journey from the moment they returned to his home in Kakariko. After Link had woken up from his slumber, the red-eyed blond shifted most of his time on getting things in order.

Which included provisions, tools, and even clothes; especially for Link that lost most of his in the fight against Volvagia. And despite how much he comments about his dislike for the Hero's goofy hat, Sheik went out of his way to find a replacement for the lost headwear.

Green colored and all.

All of this brings them to now, eight days after Volvagia, the group has finally set on course to the next holy Temple.

To be more precise, they are spending the cool night into a little hidden alcove inside the hollow part of a hill alongside Zora's River.

At Sheik's instruction, they have set a campfire behind cover. It's enough to give them warmth and a place to heat food without drawing attention from any possible scout roaming the fields.

Under the calm breeze of the night, they enjoy a small respite before a long day of walking ahead of them. Still, even at the enjoyable weather and the lulling sight of a full moon, none of them can find in themselves to just lay down and sleep.

Even if Sheik has scolded Link and Vahn for it.

Instead of trying to sleep, the young Hero is practicing with his sword out in the dew. It is a bit clumsy and very overeager the way Link swings his arms around.

For someone that has grown up with so many people involved with military affairs, Vahn can see the lack of form in the way that the blond moves, even so, there is no denying that there is grace and even beauty to those movements.

His blue eyes traveled from Link to the other blond.

'Someone looks entranced by the show he is seeing.' Vahn giggled internally after seeing the visible wide eye under Sheik's blond bangs.

Vahn has noticed that look before. This look Sheik gets every time he thinks no one is looking at him as he watches the Hero.

Adoration? Envy? Desire?

There's no way of knowing without asking the ninja personally about it.

'No way he would admit to any of it.' Vahn clicked his tongue in annoyance. Yet, he was never someone to drop a subject just because of one roadblock.

So, with that in mind, he grabbed a short stick from the ground and poked at the burning embers of the fire. Something to get the red-eyed blonde's attention.

Just as that piercing red eye glanced at him, Vahn welcomed him with a friendly smile. "Link doesn't have much discipline in his swordsmanship, does he?"

Sheik just stared at Vahn for a moment, his thoughts so far away that he failed to register the banter for a second. Then he blinked his daze away and nodded. "There's a lack of form to his movements. I don't blame him, though. Link never had anyone to teach him properly."

"But his is natural, don't you think?" Vahn added. "Even if he lacks the practice, still feels breathtaking to see him." He looked at Link all the while keeping a side glance at Sheik just to see his reactions. "As his arm swings forward, his right foot presses forward, and then his upper body turns. It's like a dance. So pretty."

There was a sudden quietness between the two of them as Sheik returned his attentive stare to Link. His eye followed each step and swing the Hero took. Drinking at the image of the blond like he was the only source of water in a scalding desert.

"He is…" Sheik began and then stopped. Clenching his right hand into a fist and pressing it onto his lap, the young Sheikah frowned and pulled his gaze away. "I'll take another walk around the camp… to make sure… yeah."

Without any other explanation, Sheik pulled himself up and left the alcove, turning his quick steps towards the tall trees on the left bank of Zora's River.

A little sense of guilty crept onto Vahn's chest. He knows how skittish Sheik is about his feelings and even then, he pressed him on just for his own curiosity.

However, the red-haired boy had little time to linger on this before Link stepped inside their camp with a confused look on his face.

"Something's wrong?" The Hero asked, his eyes set on the way Sheik just went.

"Sheik wants to take another stroll around. He wants to make sure everything is safe." Vahn explained, deciding to leave out his contribution to Sheik's decision to walk.

"Sheesh. Sheik is such a worrywart." Link said with a soft frown. He then smiled and took a seat close to Vahn. "But that is just like him."

"Don't see him dropping his Sheikah ways too soon." Vahn added with mirth.

Both boys exchanged a small laugh together, not mocking but appreciating the quirks of their blond friend.

Link settled the Master Sword to his side, the weapon still unsheathed, its blade sparkled in reflection of the fire. "To be honest, I'm glad we have this time alone." He said sheepishly.

Vahn instantly snapped his head towards Link. A thin line of warmth crossing his features as his eyes shone with expectation. "Is that so? Something you want to talk about?" He faked disinterest, even if his heart is beating like crazy.

Brushing the back of his head with one hand, Link looks very embarrassed. This only made the red-haired's imagination go even wilder.

"Okay. There's no simple way of saying stuff like this. So, I'll just be blunt and ask, okay?" Link said.

'Yes, blunt! Be blunt, super blunt!' Almost jumping up in joy, Vahn presented his best innocent face and just nodded.

"Go ahead, Link. You know you can trust me." He said with a warm smile, his face getting slightly redder.

The blond smiled in return, his eyes showing nothing but appreciation for his friend. "Vahn…"

'Yes?' Vahn looked at him expectantly.

"What is love?" Link finally asked. His face betraying no signs of humor or jest.

"E-Excuse me?" Vahn's excitement came crashing down in a spiral of confusion.

"I-It sounds stupid, I know. But I wanted to know. How… H-How can you tell if you love someone?" Link elaborated in his question; his blue eyes fixated on Vahn's face.

A long sigh escaped the smaller boy, a dejected look on his eyes because he knows full well the reason for such question. Even then, he forced himself to smile and move closer to Link, taking the Hero's big calloused hands onto his own.

"Well, I'm not a love specialist. Don't think anyone in the world can claim to be one. But I think I can help with that question." Vahn said simply and the grateful smile on Link's lips almost made him melt. "Love is very complicated. It's something that is always there, but it is so much more noticeable when it starts to hurt."

"Hurt?" Link asked again. His eyes showing a little concern.

"I expressed myself badly, sorry." Vahn offered a small grin. "Just, try to imagine this. You meet this person, a very special someone. Your thoughts are full of them. When you see them, it almost feels like you forgot how to breathe. At times, with the distance between the two of you, it hurts to think of them. Because you wish they were here with you." Holding onto Link's hands with a tighter grip, he glanced down to the crackling pieces of burning wood. "It's hard to explain love to someone. But if you ever feel that way… I think love is the only explanation."

Link's gaze went back to the way where Sheik disappeared to. "So that is love…"

"One type of love," Vahn added, much to Link's slightly puzzlement. "I supposed you're talking about the romantic type of love when you asked; when you love and desire someone. There are many types of love of course. Like friendship love. Friends that respect and like each other."

At the comment, Link beamed and tapped Vahn softly on his back. "Then I love you too."

Vahn smiled back at Link, but his eyes were a bit gloomy with the underline meaning of the hero's words. 'Like a friend, of course.' Vahn said to himself internally.

"Come on, no need to get all sappy on me." He casually waved one hand at Link, pushing the Hero back to his spot. "I… I'll check on Sheik."

The blonde glanced at him with a puzzled look. "You sure? It's getting really dark and cold out there. Sheik is one thing; he can see in the dark just like a cat. But…"

Dismissing his friend's concerns with a waving hand, Vahn got up and slowly walked away from the comfort of their campfire. "I may not look like much, but I'm used to be wandering in the dark. I can even read with very little light." He squinted his eyes for dramatic effect, taking a good bit of laughter out of Link. "Try to rest a little bit. Even if you don't like to admit, your body still needs to recover from Volvagia."

Link just frowned. "I told you guys, I'm fine."

Vahn chuckled and turned away. "Sure, sure. You're the picture of health. Just try to rest a bit, for me, okay?"

For a moment, Link behaved just like his child-self. Pouting and folding his arms, looking to the side just to be stubborn. But when he felt a little ridiculous for doing it, he smiled and turned his eyes back to Vahn. However, the red-haired was already gone, leaving the Hero by himself to ponder about the things he learned about his feelings.

Hearing Link's practically open confession of his feelings felt so disheartening for Vahn. Sure, he behaved like a crazed fan around the tall blonde for the first days they spent together, however that little fan admiration of his was truly growing into genuine affection.

'As if I ever had any chances…' He sighed deeply, following the trails of leaves on the grassy ground.

From their little talk just now, Link made very apparent his feelings from someone else. It took Vahn a little by surprise, as he felt blinded by his own hope and feelings.

But the recipient of the Hero's affection. That one is very transparent with his heart, despite being a very talented spy.

A hurt frown appeared on Vahn's expression. Yet, it soon disappeared as he found the Sheikah crouching and leaning with his back against the trunk of a large oak.

"Tired of walking?" Vahn asked out loud to get Sheik's attention, the blond clearly caught off guard as he jumped up to straighten his back.

"I…" Sheik began but just stopped there.

There they stood in awkward silence. Not that was difficult to get silent or awkward around Sheik, the red-eyed blond has a talent for doing that to any mood. Still, this one bothered Vahn most than any other moment like this they shared.

So, instead of standing there looking at the starry sky, he cleared his throat and stared into that stern gaze.

"Link was curious why you left." Vahn tried to start with an easy ice-breaker.

"Just making another-" Sheik began.

"Another round. I know and told him as much." The small red-haired glanced to the side, really uncomfortable with his consciousness, but he hated this little divide between them even more. So, he relented and went on to what is on his mind. "Apparently he was just waiting for you to leave for him to walk back into the alcove."

"Oh?" The Sheikah looked to the side, faking disinterest.

A pained little grin showing on Vahn's lips as he continued. "It seems that something was eating at the Hero's mind and he was too embarrassed to ask about it with you around."

Then Vahn waited. If he was going to go through with this, at least he would get a few reactions out of the stoic Sheikah.

Didn't take long for Sheik to glare at him and grunt. "Are you going to share or…?"

Raising both hands, the bronze-skinned boy chuckled. "Calm down, no need to bite." After this little comment, Sheik actually appeared ready to bite. "Okay, okay… Sheesh. When you left, Link came back looking all shy and asked me… He asked me if I know what love is."

Sheik visibly shook at that. Looking down, up, and left. His red eye glanced everywhere but into Vahn's direction. What small portion of his pale skin is visible past his facemask has turned into a very warm tint of reddish-pink.

"You know, until that question, I was very much tinkering with my thoughts with as many ways as possible to get into Link's heart," Vahn said nonchalantly. "But after hearing how sincere he feels, I just can't. I came to like him too much to blemish his trust in me." Taking a few nervous steps forward, Vahn warily reached with his hand to one of Sheik's arms. "Sheik, I've come to like you too."

A troubled look came to the Sheikah's face, he clearly didn't know how to respond to that or even how to feel.

Seeing the visible turmoil of the blond, Vahn couldn't help but laugh. "Relax red-eyes, I see you as a very dear friend, nothing more."

And just like that Sheik settled down and even smiled behind his mask.

"He loves you, Sheik." Vahn proclaimed simply.

Sheik recoiled away from Vahn's touch. "Link is naive. He doesn't… he can't understand what that means or what will do to him."

"The way I see it he simply doesn't care." The red-haired pushed back. "Sure, Link is a little bit more trusting than any normal person. But he is not an idiot. And honestly to hell with the consequences or what people think. Link is allowed to risk his life to save Hyrule, but he isn't allowed to love someone?"

"He is allowed to love anyone he wants…" Sheik said quietly.

"But not you?" Vahn quickly pressed back.

Raising his visible red-eye to glare at the other boy, Sheik folded his arms and grunted his reply. "I'm shocked someone as smart as you can't see the fallout of this foolish idea." When Vahn did nothing but stare back at him, Sheik's exasperation only grew. "Look at me, Vahn. What would the people of Hyrule think of their Hero if they see me at his side? Let's just forget the fact that I'm male for a moment; which they will not I assure you. I am one of the last Sheikah left. They will never forget their hatred for my people."

"Don't let the hate of petty people drown your life into a sea of misery." Vahn's words came out soft, caring. "Sheik… Link doesn't care about your past. He doesn't care about how people will look at him for choosing you. If you push him away with such weak reasons, it will only hurt him."

Not a word of reply, as a chaotic mess raged inside the Sheikah's thoughts.

"You love him just as much as he loves you." Vahn continued, stepping forward to be just a few inches away from the blonde. "And you suck at hiding your feelings. Just give up, blondie. Let's go back to him and show Link how much he means to you."

"I…" Sheik tried as hard as he could to find any rebuttal. Just a few harsh words to push Vahn away from him and be done with this conversation. But the more he thought about it, the more he felt weak against the words he received. "Vahn, this is-"

The way he stopped mid-sentence was weirder than his usual weird behavior, this made Vahn tilt an eyebrow at him.

"Come on Sheik, it's there is no use to deny-"

"Shhh!" Sheik silenced his friend, pressing one finger onto the boy's lips.

"Really now?"

"Shhh!" Now Sheik glared at him, then turned his attention to a dark path behind the trees. "Can you hear that?"

A confused expression came to the red-haired boy's face. "Hear what?" He said in a hushed tone.

"Listen…" Sheik said in a low voice too. "It sounds like…"

Vahn tried to focus on their surroundings, letting his hearing guide him in the darkness of the forest. Then it came to him.

The sound of drums, tambourines, and even a melancholic accordion. Sync together like a gloomy fanfare, these instruments came together into an entrancing but chilling melody.

A chill ran down Vahn's spine. Not one sane person would not be terrified of such sounds in the middle of a dark forest.

But his not-so-normal friend felt more curiosity than apprehension, and so Sheik turned on his heels and followed the sound of this weird music.

Too scared to return to camp on his own or stay out here by himself, Vahn just followed behind the blond ninja, making sure to stay the few steps behind Sheik as possible.

Took them no more than a few minutes of walking to reach a most unnatural clearing in the middle of the forest, a place free of trees or any tall parch of grass; bathed by the welcoming light of the full moon in the sky.

Right in the center of this clearing sits a lonely tent, tall and simple. Just long pieces of red and white sailcloth, suspended by thin poles of clear wood, leaving only a dark entrance at the front.

The music from before, which was so low that it could pass by like a whisper in the wind, is now loud and ever-present. Never uncomfortable, but encompassing everything around this tent.

Only one other detail stood out in this eerie place. A wooden board, resting on top of the entrance with a badly written sign saying; Put on your mask to fulfill your wishes.

"S-Sheik… what in the Goddesses' name is this place?" Asked a cowering Vahn, hugging the back of his friend.

"I don't know, Vahn. But this is not anything I've seen before." The blond glanced at the sign on top of the entrance and frowned. "However, we need to check what is inside anyway."

One very timid but high-pitched shriek came from the boy behind the Sheikah. "D-Do we really need to?"

Sheik gave a small glance to his friend and smiled under his mask, a teasing smile. "You're always welcome to stay here and wait."

Not a chance in heavens that Vahn would stay by himself in this creepy place.

Reviews

Linnea chapter 16 . Aug 29 – Thank you for the review. Jeez, I simply lost the tracking of time. Can't believe it has been six months since the last update of this story.

Okay to make this easy, I will reply to your questions by the numbers.

Oh, and please never feel uncomfortable about your english when writing to me. My level in this language is very minimal, and I don't really mind it too much, as long as I can understand it, its all good.

Let's start.

1. Vahn is not related to Ganondorf. Well, they are both Gerudo, but Vahn is not blood related to him. His father will show later in the story, and his name has already popped up by other characters referring to him.

2. Vahn is twenty. Despite how small or delicate he looks he is older than the other two. Even if he acts like a child sometimes.

3. SonHe's part on this story is over. So, I don't see much point in expanding things about him. However, he is just one of a few more Dark Knights of Ganondorf''s Legion. There will be quite a lot of other Knights and some with very much more importance than him.

4. You can expect Lonlon Ranch to appear… But not in the way that happened normally. Maybe not even with the same protagonist... wink, wink.

5. Dark Link is now a person of his own. Body and all.

6. At the moment Dark Link is mostly consumed by his hatred and grief. It's hard for someone to think logically in that situation.

7. That will remain to be seen.

8. This is kinda of a little spoiler to the Shadow Temple's arc in the story. But I will give a bit of light on this topic. Bongo Bongo is a creature of Shadows, darkness. Born from the past of the Shadow Temple.

9. Again a little spoiler, but. Shadow Temple is giant catacombs filled with the victims of the civil war. The single place that holds the dark past of Hyrule. So much death and despair so focused in one spot… its bound to get evil.

10. The way I see it, Ganondorf doesn't hold control over any Temple. Just his control over Hyrule just corrupted these sacred places. Shadow Temple as a whole is such an evil and powerful place, it would take too much from him to bend it over his control.

11. That is major spoilers, so I'll refrain myself from saying much. However, just to drop a little opinion from myself. Impa and Sheik are the last of their people, you can expect her to hold him to a super high expectation. The same way Sheik treats himself over the topic.