Alright, I'm happy how fast this one's getting read! Thank you, everyone! Without further ado, I give you chapter 4!

However, it is with a heavy heart that I inform those of you who do not already know, that Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, has passed. He is a man who helped make many people's childhoods, and he will be greatly missed.

Chapter 4

Marze

Sebastian didn't notice Link's true concern for Ryla, so he merely nodded.

"You need to trust us, Demon. We'll keep her safe."

"That's what you said before she was poisoned," Link replied.

"Yes, I di- Wait. You weren't there. How could you know what I said?"

Link's eyes widened, but Sebastian didn't see. Link had said something he shouldn't have. If Sebastian thought it through, he would connect the two, and possibly discover they're the same person.

"I have my ways, Sebastian. You might learn them one day, but for now, they must remain secret."

Sebastian sat back in his chair. "The boy told you, didn't he?"

Link merely stood up straight. "If you wish to pry into my personal life, you my find things that you do not enjoy. Enough of this conversation."

However, Sebastian did not falter. "I have a good feeling about that boy, Link. He seems like he would be a great recruit, and that he would accomplish great things in his life. Plus, I noticed something about him."

"And what's that?" asked Link.

"He bears a resemblance to someone... very important to our history. The history of Hyrule itself," replied Sebastian. "He is nearly identical to the Heroes of Legend that have lived throughout our history."

Link gasped loud enough for Sebastian to hear, causing the general to question him. "You didn't notice? Surely you must have seen his face if he came to you for help."

Link was at a loss for words. Did... Did he really look like the famed Heroes he and his sister read all about?

"It just... never crossed my mind. B-But now that you mention it, he does look like him..." Link said shakily, trying not to say anything that would give him away.

"I can only imagine why someone like him is around in our time. Perhaps he truly is the Hero reincarnated? If so, then that means our world could be in danger. The Hero doesn't simply return. He is born to stand in the face of evil."

It took all of Link's willpower to keep from fainting right then and there. Could he truly be the next Hero?

"But, I'm assuming too much. He could just be a look alike, and this is all just a misunderstanding."

Link nodded, still not having turned back to Sebastian. Truth be told, Link was sweating pretty bad from how nervous he was. If he were the next Hero...

He was freed from his thoughts as Ryla began to stir. She opened her eyes and tried to sit up, but Link held her down gently.

"No, lie down. You still need your rest."

"Yes, Brother."

Link's eyes widened greatly as he heard Sebastian shift around in his chair to get closer, Ryla realizing she said something she shouldn't have.

"Did she just call you brother?"

"S-She must be dizzy still and mistook me for Link! Yes, that's it, she still needs to rest!"

Sebastian stood and approached Link, who turned around slowly.

"Lower your hood and remove your mask, Demon."

"No," Link replied adamantly. However, Sebastian kept his resolve.

"I said to lower. Your. Hood."

Link knew he was at a terrible disadvantage. Even if he did manage to run, two more soldiers stood outside that could catch him even if Sebastian couldn't.

Begrudgingly, Link lowered his hood and took off his mask, but looked at the floor.

"Now, look at me."

Link gritted his teeth and made eye contact with Sebastian, who visibly tensed up.

"By the Goddesses, Link. Is this how you've been living your life? Making your sister worry while you are out risking your life for money? What do your parents think? If they even know, that is," Sebastian asked worriedly.

"Why do you think I'm a bounty hunter, Sebastian?! Our parents died when we were young ten years ago. I couldn't just let my sister and myself starve, so I became a thief, later becoming a bounty hunter. I wish I didn't have to fight to keep her safe, but if I must, then I must! Her safety takes precedence over my own, General. I'd gladly lay down my life if it meant she could live a full one without the burden of worrying if she'd get to eat the next day, or whether or not she'd have a bed that night. That is why I'm a bounty hunter. Not for the money, but for her. If you don't understand that, then Goddesses help you," Link replied coldly.

Sebastian shook his head. "I wish there was another way."

Link scoffed and turned back to Ryla. "Wish all you want, this is it. I should know. I've tried too many times before I lost count, and then I kept wishing." Tears were in his eyes at that point. Ryla had listened as well, and she had begun to tear up as well. "However, if it is a burden I must carry for her, then I will carry it for as long as I can. Ryla, we're going home."

"Okay, Brother."

As she stood, she nearly fell, but Link caught her. Putting his hood back up and placing his mask over his face, he walked to the door with Ryla.

"For her sake, just leave us alone. Please."

Link left the doctor's office and whistled, bringing Epona to his location. Troy and Tiberius were about to ask what he was doing, but Sebastian stopped them.

"Let them go. We can't do anything more for them."

Sebastian merely watched as Link helped Ryla on Epona, him getting on right after her. Shortly after, he rode off, not intent on staying there any longer than he had to.

OOO

On his way back to Ordon, the village that he and Ryla lived, Link always rode through Hyrule Field. A vast landscape, it was not uncommon to encounter monsters on one's travels.

Today was no different.

Riding through, he was forced to introduce his blade to Bokoblins, stupid creatures that attack with wooden clubs. Of course, they were never alone. They lived together in small encampments, usually anywhere from 5 to 10. Steering away from several of said camps, he saw something... unusual off to the side, near the canyon. Slowing Epona, he told Ryla to stay there and unmounted, drawing his sword and readying his shield. He approached what appeared to be a group of Lizalfos, vicious lizard men who typically hunted alone, not willing to split their prey. But there were maybe three of them here, so he knew something was odd.

Acting quickly, he slashed one across the back, dodging back as the creature violently turned around with short sword in hand. After landing, he lept forward in a strong thrust that finished the beast off. The other two finally realized what was happening, turning to Link. One flicked its tongue out, getting his scent. He couldn't escape now, so there was no choice but to fight. Shield-bashing the next attack, he wheeled around his shield to slash at the offender, catching the Lizalfos in the chest, hindering it for now. The other was unfortunate enough to be standing behind the one just struck, and had the other fall into it. As they lay on the ground, Link took the chance to leap up and impale his blade into the healthy one, as it would have been harder to deal with. Flipping back as the second got up, he jumped up to bring his sword down in a powerful slash, ending the final creature's life.

"Hm. What could those things have been doing?"

"I don't know, but I think they wanted something to do with me."

Link turned around quickly to see a small being sitting on the ground in front of him.

"I've been looking for someone like you."

"What the- Who and what are you?"

The being laughed and took to the air, apparently being able to fly. "My name is Marze. I'm what you Hylians call a dragon, though I'm specifically a Stardrake. In other words, I'm a star dragon."

The dragon, Marze, landed on Link's shoulder, who was still a bit new to the idea of star dragons.

"You said you were looking for someone like me. What do you want?"

Marze smiled. "I need someone to save my world, and you seem like a great guy to do it."

"What?!"

Marze nodded. "I had guessed that you'd need more than 'save my world.' It's a long story, so get comfortable."

"I'm sorry, but we can't stick around for a story right now. My sister is in bad shape. I need to get her home. You can come along to tell me what you need, but not before I get her home. Is that alright?"

"Yeah, I have time," replied Marze.

Link made his way back to Epona, and mounting, continued on his way home, Stardrake in tow.

OOO

Link had gotten Ryla to bed with no further difficulties, and as such was free to hear Marze out. Sitting down in a chair in front of his fireplace, he called to the Stardrake, who was flying around the room.

"Alright, so what do you need of me?"

Marze ceased circling the room and landed on the floor in front of Link.

"I come from a peaceful kingdom, the Land of the Stars. We were led by a just king, the Star King. But, one day, we were attacked. Though it was merely six men, our entire army was outclassed. There was one who could upturn the very earth around him with sheer strength, one who could react to attacks as if he was the one who used them, one who could not be harmed by any attack thrown at him, one who just seemed to blend in with the shadows around him, a swordsman of unparalleled caliber with an... interesting personality, and the leader, who simply called himself 'The Tyrannical God of the Stars.' He was by far the most powerful there, and managed to kill the king and steal his power. With his new found power, he managed to nearly wipe out the rest of the Star King's military, enslaving my people. I was sent here before everyone was subjugated or killed in order to find someone who could save my homeland. I found you."

"But, I'm only a man. What could I do against a God that an entire army was hopeless against?"

Marze laughed. "That's what the Heroes of Legend said before embarking on their quests. They doubted themselves, just like you are now. So, will you help a dying world? Will you become its Hero?"

Link rubbed his head in thought. Perhaps this was why he looked like the past Heroes. Maybe it was truly his destiny to save this world from chaos. That must have been what Sebastian meant.

"I'm sorry, but it's just... a lot to take in right now. For now, just stay with me. I should be able to give you a straight answer soon enough."

Marze nodded at the bounty hunter and took to the air again, being entirely content with flying around his new surroundings.

"I'll admit, you have a decently nice house. It could use more flying room, though."

Link rolled his eyes as he put away all of his equipment. "My house is suited to Hylians, not dragons. What did you expect?"

Marze simply grunted and kept flying as Link finished hanging his weapons above the fireplace. After doing so, he looked outside to see that it was getting dark.

"I might be going to sleep soon. You're free to stay as long as you need, but try not to break anything."

Link went upstairs and removed his cloak from his shoulders, then looked in Ryla's room to see if she was alright. To his relief, she had most of her normal color back and was sleeping peacefully. Link smiled and continued to his room, where he finally removed his armor and hung up his bow. Crawling into bed, he fell to sleep in moments, the day's activities taking their toll on the young bounty hunter.

OOO

When Link woke, he realized something. He realized that last night went without a nightmare.

"That's the first time in months I've gone without a nightmare," noted the bounty hunter before getting out of bed and donning a new shirt, green as per his favorite color. As he stood, he stretched, feeling a very satisfying 'pop', shortly afterwards leaving his room. Naturally, he stopped to check on Ryla. To his surprise, she wasn't in her bed, meaning she at least had enough of her strength left to leave her bed of he own accord. Taking a moment to set her bed for her, he noticed that her short sword wasn't on the rack he'd set up on the wall. Wasting no time in case she was in trouble, he grabbed an extra sword from his room. Not as finely crafted or honed as the main blade he uses, mind you, but still a fine weapon. Rushing downstairs, he saw something he didn't want.

He saw Ryla being held by the crime lord known only as Esteban Fang.

"Stupid kid. Geoffrey may have failed to off you, but I can do better; I can make you suffer even more before I kill you as painfully as possible."

Link held his sword to his side, ready to strike the moment he got the chance. However, Esteban laughed.

"Do you have any idea how bad of a decision that would be? My entire guard is standing outside right now. And you've hunted Fangs for a while now, so you should know that there's about 1,000 men outside. Kill me, and you'll find yourself lodged on the end of over a thousand swords, just like your sister here."

Drawing his own blade, he held it to Ryla's neck, drawing blood.

"Now, you managed to capture Atlas, as well as get nearly his entire squad captured or killed. And too bad for you, he was one of my favorite lapdogs. So, I lost someone I needed, so..." he trailed off, raising his blade so as to kill Ryla.

"I wouldn't if I were you, punk."

Esteban turned around, angered that he had been interrupted. Standing there was a man as tall as Link wearing a cloak obscuring his features.

"And why is that?"

"You kill her, and I kill you. Simple as that, you prick."

Esteban smirked and shook his head, gesturing outside.

"And then both you, the boy, and the girl will fall to a thousand blades. You people never think things through."

The cloaked man laughed before removing something from underneath his cloak.

The severed head of a Fang member.

Ryla screamed, and then began hyperventilating. She was withing a few feet of a dead body. Well, part of one at least.

"Like this guy? He definitely would have worked, dumbass."

Link furrowed his brow. This man sounded familiar. He didn't know where he had heard it before, but it gave his a deep sense of... dread.

Esteban seethed and swung at the newcomer, only for his sword to be cleaved in half by a silver-edged sword that to Link also seemed eerily familiar.

"Tch. Looks like you people never learn. Neither will the thousand outside. Ever again."

Esteban looked horrified as the man explained. Angered beyond words, he threw Ryla to the floor, knocking her unconcious and lunged at the man with his broken blade.

And one to find the he had missed when the man dodged, impaling him in the process.

The man laughed and twisted his blade, spilling ever more of Esteban's blood on the floor.

"You could never hope to make a scratch on me. Now die, you insignificant piece of shit."

Spinning his sword to make the blade vertical, he cleaved upward through the crime lord's body and heart, ending his life without any form of effort.

Turning to Ryla, the man licked his blade clean of some of the blood.

"Now, the boss said to grab the girl... Alright then, if he wants her he gets her! But I might give her a try before I hand her over..."

Link realized then that this man wasn't here to help, and lept towards him with sword ready, only for him to be be sent crashing into the wall with a backhand of exceeding strength.

"Oh, don't you try it too. I'm just gonna grab the girl and then I'll leave."

Link stood, intent on getting rid of this man to protect Ryla.

"Let her... Go!"

Rushing in again, he slashed faster, effectively removing the man's cloak after splitting the clasp that held it shut in two. As it tumbled to the ground at the man's feet, Link gasped and stepped back.

This man was a nearly perfect copy of him with black hair and red eyes.

"Oh, damn it. I liked that cloak. Oh well, I can get another from the big man." He stopped to admire Link's reaction. "What, never looked in a mirror? Well, an evil mirror, I guess. Life is weird like that."

"Who are you?!" Link shouted, taking a step forward.

"Oh, me? My name's Link. Oh, that was your name too, wasn't it? Yeah, life's a real bitch."

Link's eyes widened and he took a step forward. He'd heard stories like this. The Heroes of the Past had fought copies of themselves that went by the name...

"You aren't Link. You're Dark Link."

The man, now identified as Dark Link, laughed. "Hehehe. Guilty as charged. But what can I say?"

Dark Link closed the distance in less than a second, staring Link down with those cold red eyes he had seen in his nightmares.

"Yep. It was Dark Link, readers! Anyway, I love doing this kind of thing. But, I can't kill you yet. Big man doesn't want it, not yet at least. But, doesn't mean I can't maim you!"

Before Link knew what was happening, he was thrown to his knees by Dark Link slamming him to the ground with the flat of his blade.

"Well. I thought that at least you'd be able to take more than just one hit. But, I can't hope for much of a fight from you right now. Anyway, I'm taking this bitch and leaving."

Dark Link grabbed Ryla's unconscious form, walking out the door, where Link finally noticed the bloody corpses of all 1,000 of Esteban's men before going unconscious, Dark Link's maniacal laugh resounding throughout Ordon, the terrified villagers met by a terrible fate...

Yeah, Dark Link tends to be like that. He's there to be a dick. And hey, fourth wall awareness! No one's ever seen that before!

Deadpool: I beg to differ.

Oh God, Deadpool, just stop. We don't need your sass right now.

Dark Link: Seriously. One of us is enough.

Deadpool: Oh screw you guys. I'd be perfect if you have twinkle toes here as a character.

Dark Link: At least I fit with the genre, you fucking walking tumor.

Okay, just wanna stop them before this becomes a stupid joke that has gone on too far.

Marze belongs to Reclusive Dork. He was his idea. I'll always try to point out when something was his idea.

Contrary to popular belief, there are actually three sides to the force: The light side, the dark side, and Chuck Norris.

Until next time, OniHelix out!