COUNTING STARS

Chapter 31: Master

Wednesday, December 26th

Faronville, the last stop in our looping journey around the besieged Castle Town, happens to be one of the most unique cities I've ever been to. Evergreens crowd the plots of land that have not been paved over or built upon. The layout of the buildings is haphazard and in disarray, making for unconventional routes of travel. It seems as though the city was built to preserve the forests entirely, as if contractors had intended to build around the trees instead of cutting any down. Still, the city's woodsy ambiance evokes a pleasant sense of nostalgia within me, bringing forth memories of exploring the forests with Talo and going camping with Uncle Rusl. The smell of pine drifts in through the vents of the vehicle, and I breathe it in wistfully.

An hour before sundown, Zelda pulls the Toyota up to a curb in the town square and shuts off the engine. She opens the door and steps out, and I follow suit. It's a brisk evening, but the layers we wear shield us from winter's breath.

"So, we're expected to find the Sacred Grove somewhere in this gigantic forest?" I ask, folding my arms.

"It shouldn't be that hard. We'll just need to start looking for clues."

I meet Zelda's steady gaze, then slowly nod. "Clues. Okay, you're right. Baby steps." I take in a deep breath.

"Are you nervous?"

"Nervous?" I repeat. "Come on—cut me some slack. It's only the biggest test of my life that will end up deciding the fates of everyone I hold dear. Of course I'm not nervous! Okay, I'm freaking out."

Zelda steps closer and places a comforting hand on my chest, looking up at me with sparkling eyes. "Link, relax. Just think of the results if you succeed."

"Results," I breathe. "Okay. I succeed. I go to Yuga and flail my little knife at his army while they quiver in fear behind their turrets and snipers and machine guns." I blink. "Yeah, that didn't help."

"Now you're just exaggerating. They're pigs and lizards, Link. They don't have guns. Only claws and teeth that cause a slower and much more painful death."

She smiles a confusing smile, patting my shoulder, then promptly turns and heads down the sidewalk.

I blink, dumbfounded. "Was that supposed to help? Hey, wait!"

I chase after her, slowing as I come up to her side.

"Zelda—"

"Come on, we're going to go ask around."

"But what if—"

"What if what, Link? You somehow don't pull the Master Sword?"

"Uh, yeah."

She fixes me with a look of incredulity. "That's ridiculous. You have the Triforce on your hand yet you think you aren't the chosen hero. You really think there's no correlation?"

Hearing it put that way only makes me sound dumb. I swallow. "I dunno. I haven't really looked into Hylian lore that much. I've never been religious."

"Well, as we now know, it isn't religion. It's fact. History." Zelda offers me an affirmative nod, a smile growing on her lips. "And you have nothing to worry about. All of those heroes we've been told of, they were your ancestors. They had that mark that's on your hand. And they all succeeded, too."

"At least the ones we've heard of," I grunt cynically.

She narrows her eyes. "Link."

"Well, come on. Odds are at least one of them failed."

"I suppose you're right." Folding her arms, Zelda tosses me a smirk. "Like when the Hero of Time got turned into a Link-kabob by the dark beast. And when another hero got blown up by hundreds of mechanical octoroks."

I stare at her, jaw unhinged. "Whoa, whoa! Too soon!"

"It's been ten thousand years."

"Still!" I furrow my brow and jam my hands in my pockets, frustrated. "Whatever. You suck at calming people down. Let's just go ask some hippies where to find the grove."

Zelda grins, and we walk.

The few townsfolk milling about at this hour had no knowledge of any "Sacred Grove," and the hippies who claimed they did were only trying to secure a quick bribe. After an hour, the sun has dipped below the horizon, casting deeper shadows into the already-shaded forest. We return to the car, unsuccessful, and head off in search for a local inn.

"Link! Oh, thank gods."

Confused, I stare at my phone before putting it back up to my ear. "Hey, Pip. Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? No! Well... aside from the fact that Yuga is currently sending fat units of monsters toward Hyrule Castle."

I palm my face and groan. "How are they holding up?"

"The guards? They're doing alright, I think. A couple monsters managed to get over the walls, but they got gunned down right away. But it's looking like the big boys are getting sent at 'em next."

"The big boys?"

"Uh-huh. Lizalfos, moblins, and lynels."

"Oh my."

"Mhm," Pipit hums. "Impa just took half of the resistance to the castle to help."

"You're kidding," I grunt darkly.

"Nope. Darmani, Fledge, Malon, Lulu, and Orielle. Don't worry, though. It's because they're our best shooters. Well, except for Darmani, but they had to take some brawn. They'll be up in the towers, so it'll be safe. I wouldn't have let my girlfriend go if I wasn't sure she'd be perfectly fine. Same with Mikau and Sheik."

"Good, then." I exhale. "As soon as I get that damn sword, we're heading straight for Yuga. We'll be back by the day after tomorrow."

"That soon? Impa said her unit will be at the castle for at least two more days!"

"Then we'll have to make do with who we have," I tell him. "We've been sitting ducks at the academy. No more waiting. We need to end this before anyone else is killed."

Pipit heaves a shaky sigh. "Alright. I'll see you soon. Good luck, bro."

"Stay safe."

I hang up, setting the phone back down on the nightstand before rolling back over. Zelda sleeps soundly beside me, cuddled up in the covers on the edge of the bed. I scoot closer to her and wrap an arm around her waist, shutting my eyes.

It's crucial that we find the Master Sword as soon as we can. I considered continuing our search through the late night, but I could tell that this trip has left Zelda weary. She would refuse to admit it, but I knew. My suspicions were confirmed when we arrived at our room at the inn, when Zelda immediately crashed and instantly fell asleep.

I pull her closer, and she nestles into my chest as she sleeps, murmuring a trio of incoherent words.

Thursday, December 27th

Dead leaves crunch beneath our boots as we traverse the Faron Woods, having found no leads on the location of the Sacred Grove and deeming it best at this point to simply go where our feet take us. Nayru has stubbornly gone silent when we need her intervention the most. How divine.

I help Zelda leap down from a particularly large overturned log and she lands gracefully beside me in a thin bank of slushy snow. We trek forward, hopping over a small, frozen pond and ducking beneath some sharp branches that overhang the natural trail. We aren't concerned about going the "right" way, and although it's likely we are to get lost, neither of us wants to leave these woods without finding that sword.

Another uneventful hour comes and goes. I emit a frustrated huff, my misty breath visible in the cool air. And, right when I'm about to lose my patience, Zelda speaks.

"Link, do you see that?"

I turn. "See what?"

Zelda pulls me toward her, looking off through the trees. She points off in the distance, and I squint. Through the brambles and frozen foilage, a little clearing rests within a circular copse of naked trees. It's probably nothing, but we might as well check it out.

I step forward and push away the branches, stepping on and crushing the lower, heavier ones under my boots. Zelda follows behind me, and we make slow, steady progress toward the mysterious glade. Minutes later we emerge from the brambles and step out into the grassy clearing. We take a look around, searching for anything out of the ordinary.

"Wait, what's that?"

I turn my head. "What?"

"Look down."

I do. Right at my feet, covered in moss and dead leaves, is a small magnifying glass. I squat down and brush off its surface, then pick it up. Its handle and frame are a shiny purple, and the lens itself takes on a bluish tint. Three crimson triangular points jut out from the top of the frame, resembling eyelashes. I twirl it in my fingers, feeling its density and the coolness of its glass surface.

"The Lens of Truth," says Zelda.

I look up at her, then rise to my feet. "Huh?" My eyes fall to her hand, which pulses with golden light. Nayru is speaking through her.

"It's called the Lens of Truth. An ancient Sheikah relic. It lets you see what is otherwise hidden to the naked eye."

I blink, then glance down at the little item. "Uh, cool."

Curiously, I turn away from Zelda and bring the lens up to my eye. The scene takes on a blue-washed hue, but otherwise nothing happens. I scope out the area, slowly turning and periodically removing the lens to check if anything has changed.

Then, finally, I spot something. Off in the distance, an enormous, hollow tree trunk lies overturned behind a half-mile or so of foliage. When I remove the lens, sure enough, the tree disappears.

I turn back to Zelda, then point. "That way."

She nods, her hand no longer glowing.

I lead the way toward the mystical tree, being the only one who can see it. The sun hangs high in the sky as we trek through the woods, yet the air seems to grow colder as we walk. Trails of fog seep into the path, hanging low at our feet.

About ten minutes later brings us to the maw of the hollow tree trunk. I hand the lens to Zelda, and she puts it up to her eye.

"It's… a tree."

I smirk, nodding. "It was the only thing that showed up in the lens."

Zelda holds the lens back up to her eye, confirming the tree's secret existence, then hands it back to me. "Alright. Lead the way."

I step forward, staring wondrously at the bland scene ahead and trying to wrap my mind around how this illusion was created. Magic seems to be the only answer to all of our questions about this strange world. I hold the lens up, watching the hollow trunk appear out of nowhere. It seems to go on for miles. I step inside and start walking, with Zelda following close behind.

After a few minutes of walking through the dark tree, all the daylight seems to have been washed away. When I remove the lens, however, the illusion returns, and we appear to be back outside in the bright forest. After holding the lens back up to my eye, all daylight is gone again. I shiver, unable to shake how weird this feels.

"What do you see?" Zelda asks from behind me.

"Nothing yet. It's pitch black."

"Well, let's hope the tree has another end to it."

"It has to. Why else would this be hidden to everyone else?"

Slowly, as we continue, Zelda and I start to notice the illusion beginning to fade. When I lower the Lens of Truth, I see the faint evidence of the tree's inner walls gradually seeping into reality. And sure enough, minutes later the entire illusion fades away, and there is no doubt to the naked eye that we are inside of a tree.

With no further need for the lens, I tuck it away and pull out my phone, flicking on the flashlight.

Zelda traces her fingers along the wooden walls, as if checking if they're real. "This is so weird…."

A couple minutes later, a speck of daylight appears off in the distance. Encouraged, Zelda and I double our pace, eager to hopefully find what we're searching for. Finally, we trot out of the tunnel and step back out into the light.

We slow to a stop, looking up at the scene ahead. An immense stone temple stands prominently before us, overgrown with moss and vines and weathered with cracks and a partially-crumbled roof. A central steeple juts up high in the sky, a carving of the Hylian crest etched into the uppermost tower. Surrounding the imposing structure is a similar collection of vegetation to the other end of the log-tunnel, with tall willows and naked oak and maple trees. The whole backdrop, though, appears wispy, as if flickering in and out of reality.

"This is it. The Sacred Grove," says Zelda, turning to send me a grin.

I return a smile that fails to hide my nerves.

We proceed, climbing the eroded staircase up to the rotting arch doors of the temple's entrance, pushing them open with a dull creak.

We step into a large chamber with cracked, checkered tile making up the floor. A long red carpet, torn at the edges and faded in color with time, runs from the entrance all the way to the end of the spacious room, where a boxy altar rests plainly. Broken rows of pews line the chamber with arching stained-glass windows in between each row, some shattered, and some intact. Rays of sunlight spill in from the crumbled roof above, shining down upon the piles rubble that pervade the ancient holy temple.

We tread cautiously down the carpet path, looking around for any traps or potential threats. When we reach the altar, we relax, deeming the area essentially safe so long as it doesn't collapse.

"Well, um," I begin in a low murmur, my voice still echoing loudly against the broken walls. "What's next?"

Zelda squints, looking down at the altar. Ancient Hylian lettering is carved on its stone surface, yet neither of us know the language. Pondering, she unstraps the golden harp from her back and holds it out for the both of us to see, pointing at the three gemstones embedded in its frame.

"Rauru said the pendants are the keys to the sword," she says. "I think that means this harp plays a part."

"Or the longbow."

Zelda raises an eyebrow. "What, you want me to shoot the altar?"

I shrug. "It's worth a try."

Skeptically, she holds the harp out and gives it a firm shake, instantly transforming it into the golden longbow—or, rather, the Bow of Light, as Nayru had informed us. She draws the string back, materializing an arrow of pure light, and looses it. The arrow lodges in the stone altar, and we wait. Nothing happens.

I purse my lips and nod. "I can see why I don't bear Wisdom."

Zelda shakes the longbow and it transforms back into the U-shaped harp. "Maybe I need to take the stones out? Or play some special song…?"

My eyes widen. "That's it! Play the lullaby!"

"Link, I'm tired too, but I think we should be focusing—"

"No, no. Remember the song you played to get your Triforce back? It probably has some higher significance than we think."

Zelda tongues a tooth, considering my hypothesis. "I think you're right," she says. "Let's see."

Holding the instrument out with one arm, she slowly begins to play it, gracefully plucking at the strings with her opposite hand. The three-note melody echoes hauntingly within the temple, soft and serene. When she finishes the song, and the sound of the last note fades to nothing, we stop, waiting.

A low rumble suddenly sounds from the stone wall behind the altar. We look, but nothing seems to have changed; and when the sound stops, we're only left confused.

"What just happened?" asks Zelda.

"I can't tell," I admit, frowning. "Hold on."

I take the Lens of Truth back out from my pocket and hold it up to my eye, looking toward the source of that rumbling noise. There, at the back wall, is a large rectangular opening that leads to a hidden back chamber. My heart rate quickens.

"There's an invisible doorway," I tell her, beginning to walk around the altar and toward it. I halt, though, upon noticing Zelda staying put. "Are you coming?"

She holds the harp up to her chest, Triforce hand beginning to glow. "I'm not. This trial is meant only for you," she says sagely.

I gulp. "Um, alright."

"Good luck!" she then squeaks, now apart from Nayru's intervention.

I smile, nerves calming slightly, then walk into the invisible chamber and disappearing from Zelda's sight.

Little wisps of light float up across my vision; I look down at the source, my hand. The Lens of Truth is dissolving into thin air. When it's completely gone, I look up, fighting the urge to tremble.

I set my eyes at the end of the room. There, on an elevated platform, lies a pedestal. And in it—the legendary Master Sword.

It hits me all at once. The gravity. I had earlier learned that the legends are in fact true events, but here lies tangible evidence—and it's terrifying. The sword from all the storybooks, from every young boy's artistic drawings, living out a fantasy they don't yet know they don't wish for themselves. History will be written by my hand. Or erased completely, if I fail and the world falls.

I swallow my nerves and force myself to walk, reminding myself of my motivations. Take sword. Kill Yuga. Get revenge. Save city. Save Dark. Protect friends. Protect Zelda.

Sword. Pull. Take. Kill.

I quicken my pace, finding renewed resolve. Gods, the chamber isn't that big, but the sword feels so far away. But that's when I realize—no matter how far I run, how fast or how long, I'm not getting any closer to it. I slow to a stop, brow furrowing in frustration. Another illusion?

"Do you want me to save the world or not?" I grumble, peeved, scanning the room for any signs of life. Nothing but tall walls and weathered architecture—although this chamber has been preserved quite better than the rest of the temple.

I raise my arms, hopeless and now fatalistic, daring whoever is pulling the strings of this cruel prank to say something. And, to my surprise, my dare is answered.

Are you a hero? comes the disembodied voice, booming against the tall chamber walls.

I shrink a little, taken aback by the mysterious presence. But nonetheless, still feeling boldly annoyed, I struggle to keep the attitude from my voice when I answer back. "My cute little nickname says so, at least."

A moment passes. Perhaps that wasn't the best decision.

Do you vow to fight evil?

I frown. "Isn't that why I'm here? Yes, I do, Mr. Voice Man."

You show impatience. Are you confident in your maturity to handle such a fateful burden?

"Of course I'm impatient," I snap. "Innocent people are trapped in a city full of monsters as we speak."

Silence ensues. I bite my lip, waiting, turning and looking around expectantly. Then, suddenly, I feel my arm being weighed down. I look. Slowly, wispy orbs of light accumulate in my right hand, forming and shaping upward to materialize a transparent longsword. My eyes widen as I observe it. I test its weight, swinging it experimentally a couple times to feel it out. Strangely, it's a perfect fit; everything about it just feels right.

Can you vanquish evil?

I nearly leap into the air at the voice's return, startled, then take a couple cautionary steps back as I notice a figure slowly forming out of more of those wispy lights out in front of me. I squint as the textures darken and the limbs move with life. Then when I recognize who it actually is, my temper bursts.

I rush forward and drive the blade into Yuga's chest, all the way up to the hilt. I stare in fury at the evil man's blank face, noticing his still chest, his hollow eyes. I frown. My mind just now realizes this is not the real Yuga; I'd reacted purely on instinct.

I take calming breaths, stepping back and pulling the sword out of his torso, then watch as the illusion dissolves away.

Will you save those endangered by evil?

More figures form behind me. Ilia and Talo stand side-by-side, waving at me, artificial smiles on their glassy-eyed faces. I find myself smiling back, having completely forgotten that none of this is really happening.

Then from beyond, a corpulent man dashes toward my two friends, a blade held high above his head, bellowing a mighty war cry. I leap into action, driving my sword into this evil man's heart, right below a shining emerald pendant that dangles from his thick neck. I look up at the man's face, and I'm met with the blank countenance of Mayor Bo.

I blink, horrified, and instinctively look to his daughter Ilia. She hadn't budged; rather, she continues looking ahead, still waving at where I stood moments before.

It isn't until the three Ordonians dissolve that I remember none of this is real. I catch my breath, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow. This is all a cruel test of my instincts.

What if evil is hidden within those you love most?

Those I love most—?

Before I have time to question it, my mind goes blank yet again. And, in front of me, appears Zelda.

I blink, mouth falling open. I drop the sword.

Zelda's lips curl into a devious smile. All I can do is stare—and she rushes forward in a blur of darkness. Without hesitation, she strikes, a white-hot pain erupting in my abdomen. I gag and stumble backward—she stabbed me! I stare down at the wispy figure of Zelda in horror as she pulls her claws out from my stomach, watching them drip with my colorless blood.

Then as soon as it all happened, Zelda disappears into thin air, along with my wound. Waves of relief wash over me as the pain slowly dissipates to nothing.

All is still. I glance around in confusion, waiting for answers.

When none come, I nearly explode.

"What the hell was that?!"

Proof.

"Proof that what?"

That you are not ready.

"Not ready? Because you didn't want me to murder my girlfriend?"

You are not ready because you are not willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate evil.

"That's—that's insane! You're delusional! This world is in its last weeks, and I'm the only one who can save it—but you, whoever you are, you are the one who's dooming Hyrule by not giving me this sword!"

Arrogance will not help your case. It has always been your most crucial flaw.

"You call it arrogance, I call it bravery," I shoot back. "Of course I know the stakes I'm dealing with. Of course I know the risks. And despite all this weight that's supposed to be on my shoulders, I'm still willing to face a god to protect the ones I love."

Silence.

"I'll prove it," I continue, hoping to keep the voice's attention. "I'll kill anything you throw at me. Any form of evil you wish."

The silence persists, until suddenly, the wispy orbs reappear, accumulating and darkening until they form a humanoid figure standing apart from me in an identical stance.

Dark stands across from me. The normal Dark. Not the possessed slave.

I don't wait. I charge forward and drive my blade into his heart.

He stumbles backward, coughing and clutching at my hands that hold the blade. They feel so… warm. Alive. Real.

"Link—!" he gags, drops of blood sputtering from his mouth. "How... how could you…?"

I force myself not to waver, as I am sure that this is all a cruel mind trick. But even so, I refuse to meet his eyes.

Another excruciating second passes before Dark's body dissolves into nothingness like the rest of them.

"Good," comes the voice again, but much quieter, and from behind me.

I whirl around. There, a few paces away, stands Rauru.

"That was you?!" I exclaim, a multitude of emotions playing out on my face.

He nods and raises his arms, the long sleeves of his orange robe swaying with the motion. "It was. I told you the goddesses ordered me to watch over the Master Sword."

"But I—" I close my eyes and pause, taking a moment to get my brain in order. "I thought you were just watching it. Not actually here."

"Well, you are not wrong. I am still in my classroom, meditating. What you're looking at is an illusion of me."

I cross my arms. "I guess I should've expected that. But hey—you knew where the Master Sword was, and you never told us? You could have bought us a lot of time!"

With a sigh, Rauru nods. "Yes, yes. I could have. But I am on direct orders from the goddesses, and they believed leaving you to find it for yourself would test your dedication. And you passed."

I lower my head, my mind racing. "So… those illusions. How did you—?"

Rauru clasps his hands together, pursing his wrinkled lips. "They were all manifestations of your strongest emotions. Those you hate, those you love. They were all meant to put your instincts to the test in the most difficult situations."

"And I passed that, too?"

"You did. I can tell you care deeply for many people. Your motivations are clear. You have all the traits of a true hero." Uncharacteristically, Rauru smiles, then gestures forward. "Now go," he says, twisting his hand. "Take hold of your destiny."

More of the orbs appear with his hand motion, gathering and solidifying into an elongated object, before floating over to me. I take hold of it as it darkens in color and settles into reality, studying its features. It's a sheath, navy blue in color with gold accents, complete with a mini Triforce emblem near the opening. The sheath for the Master Sword. Now all I have to do is pull it.

My breath hitches in my chest; this is it. The final piece to achieve all I can wish for. Safety, peace, and a vengeful end to this tyranny.

I turn back around, and I walk.

The moon shines bright over the streets of Castle Town as we leap over the wooden barricades and tumble to our feet. A pack of wandering bokoblins whip their ugly heads in our direction, bellowing whiny battle cries before flocking to the two of us. Zelda shakes the golden harp, transforming it into the Bow of Light, then draws back to materialize a beam-like arrow.

Beside her, I raise my own weapon into the dark sky. The moonlight sparkles across the sheen of the blade's edge as I grip the deep-blue hilt, my locked fingers resting just below the winged crossguards. My confidence brimming, I find it difficult to fight the smile of eagerness curling at my lips as I watch the pack of beasts approach.

After a shared glance, we attack.

She looses arrow after arrow into the monsters with impeccable accuracy, while I rush forward, slicing the pristine blade through flesh and bone, mercilessly cutting down the dark world forces. More and more beasts join the fray, having heard the wails and cries of the carnage taking place here.

Each and every abomination effortlessly meets the end of my blade. I can't help feeling the rush of confidence and excitement upon obtaining such a powerful weapon; and, while acknowledging my reckless tendencies, I still feel like nothing can stop me.

I glance over my shoulder after slaying one particularly unlucky bokoblin, and my eyes lock onto an aeralfos overhead diving down toward Zelda. Instinctively, I point my sword at the monster and feel the untapped energy flow from my chest to my Triforce hand and, surprisingly, through my blade. At once, all the energy shoots out from the tip of the sword in a huge sky-blue beam, lasering through the air and connecting with the scaly airborne monster. It shrieks, convulsing midair before meeting the hard pavement below.

"Huh." I blink, looking down at the sword. "Well that's neat."

A handful of kills later, Zelda and I find ourselves alone in the middle of the street, panting.

"That's quite the weapon you've got yourself," says Zelda, grinning over at me.

I smirk back, glancing down at the Master Sword. I hold it carefully across the palms of my hands, admiring its craftsmanship and powerful aura.

"Agreed. Yours isn't too bad, either."

Zelda whips the longbow back into its less menacing form, then straps the harp across her back. "Mhm. Wanna trade?"

"If you can carry it."

"I seemed to carry you in that fight back there just fine."

"In your dreams. I had like fifteen kills."

"Twenty-four for me," she gloats, a smirk on her lips. "I counted."

"Gods, we sound like virgin gamers."

"That was a little redundant, don't you think?"

Friday, December 28th

After collapsing the night before in Zelda's dorm, we awake bright and early to a blaring melody coming from the TV. Groggy, I sit up as Zelda groans in protest. I squint at the bright screen, then make out a simple, upside-down triangle in front of multicolored bars. Then, with a scratch, the image cuts to a shot of my newest nemesis.

"Citizens of Hyrule!" he exclaims, arms outstretched. "Greetings. This is King Yuga, your future ruler, with our first of many national broadcasts."

I hastily shake Zelda awake and point to the screen.

Yuga stands In front of a simple brick background, with a spotlight shining directly on him. "I have quite the announcement to make. In exactly twenty-four hours, I will storm your precious castle, slay all puny Hylian soldiers who remain, and take the throne for myself. My army is growing significantly as I speak. Soon enough, my portal will summon every last beast from the dark world and bring them here to fight by my side!"

Yuga breaks out into a fit of maniacal cackling, then abruptly stops and steps toward camera, his scarlet eyes taking up the majority of the screen.

"And if anyone would like to stop me," he says icily, "you know where I am."

And with that, the invasive broadcast shuts off.

Zelda and I share a look of determination, and the fierceness in our tired eyes gives us all the confirmation we need that we are ready. At once, we leap into action, cleaning ourselves up and gathering our things before setting off. I make sure to dress up in my Hero suit, as well, the sword on my back a fine new addition to my outfit.

Fifteen minutes later brings us to the gymnasium, where we know Impa's morning training rituals take place. We stop outside the double doors, facing one another.

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Zelda asks, taking my hands. "I mean, give away your identity?"

I rub my thumb against her hand, nodding. "I need to."

Zelda offers me a supportive smile, and then we push open the doors and walk inside.

Six sets of eyes fall on us. Sheik, Pipit, Midna, Karane, Mikau, and Mido. Four jaws drop.

"Hero?!" exclaims Karane, rushing up to me and Zelda as the rest trot up to join us.

"I told you all he'd come!" shouts Midna, pointing at the rest of them. She looks down at Mido standing beside her, leaning down toward him. "Didn't I? Didn't I?!"

Mido practically leaps into the air, startled, sputtering, "Y-yeah, Midna, you sure did…"

"Wait, Zel," says Mikau, his eyes still locked on me, "what are you doing with Hero?"

Pipit chuckles. "I don't think with was the correct preposition—"

Sheik smacks him, shutting him up, but not before Pipit earns himself a death glare from Zelda.

"Well, um…" Zelda looks over at me. "Hero has something to say."

"I do," I say, looking between the six of them. "You all have trained diligently. Your dedication is immeasurable. Even though Zelda and I have each been gifted a magical weapon from the gods, we are simply not enough against Yuga's army." I take in a deep breath, then finish: "Therefore I would be honored if you all would be willing to join me in battle."

They all share shocked glances.

"Shouldn't we wait for our remaining forces?" asks Sheik, breaking the silence. "Malon, Fledge, Orielle, Darmani, Lulu, and Impa are still fighting at Hyrule Castle."

"You saw the broadcast, right?" Mikau gripes to him, sounding distressed. "Yuga's gonna attack the castle tomorrow. That means we've gotta take the battle to him. Today."

"He's right," I say, nodding to Mikau. "We don't have the time to bring the rest back from the castle while still guaranteeing the rest of the city's safety. And besides—" I reach back behind my head, finding my green cap in my fingers. "Everyone I trust most is already in front of me."

I take the cap off completely, revealing my wild locks of hair, then pull off the mask and drop both to the floor. I stand beside Zelda, before the six of them, not as Hero, but as Link.

Dead silence. Then, scowling at me, Mido walks up and socks me in the stomach.

"You douche!"