Link thought he must be dreaming.
Either that or the Princess of Hyrule really stood there in front of him.
They stared at each other, neither having the words, or perhaps the courage, to speak first. She looked different, Link thought. Her face had lost its girlishness, but her eyes were the same. Her hair was longer, now that she'd taken off the head wrappings Sheik had always worn.
"Link," she said hesitantly, her expression anxious. Her voice was changed, too. "I know you must be angry with me..."
"Angry?" Link repeated, and she faltered, dark blonde eyebrows arching. Impulsively, Link took two steps forward and threw his arms around her, holding her tight. "I'm overjoyed to see you!"
His chin bumped awkwardly against the top of her head, which was strange. When they were kids she'd been a little taller than him. Part of him wanted to release her, to study her grown-up face and re-memorize her features. The other part was reluctant to let her go now. She was tense as a board in their embrace, but after a second she lifted her captive arms to slide them around his back and return his hug.
Encouraged, Link said, "I'm so glad you're okay." Her long hair was everywhere. But it smelled nice.
"Let her breathe, Link." Dark's hand landed on his shoulder.
Link loosened his grip and Zelda took a half-step back, smoothing a hand over her ruffled hair. Her head was down and her face was a bit flushed as if she were embarrassed. She twisted her hair into a column and pushed it back over her shoulder.
"Are you really Princess Zelda?" Dark asked, still shocked at this latest development.
"Of course she is!" Link said at the same time Zelda answered, "Yes."
She lifted her head and met Link's gaze. "I'm sorry for deceiving you all this time. I meant to reveal myself eventually, but it was too dangerous..."
Link lifted his hands and stopped short of giving her another hug. Best not to rush it, he reminded himself. It's been seven years for her, not a few months.
"I understand," he said. "I'm just happy you're okay. I've been looking for you ever since...well, since I woke up at the Temple of Time."
Relief flashed across her face and she smiled for the first time. Seeing made Link's stomach do a somersault, which was weird.
She inclined her head, and Link felt the absurd urge to smell her hair again. "Thank you."
"So, you've been hiding from Ganondorf in plain sight all this time," Dark mused, chuckling. "And spying on him to boot. Clever."
Zelda shrugged. "It seemed a more productive way to help my people," she explained. "Impa was against the plan from the start, but Sheik has been a useful disguise for me these past several years."
A pang of guilt suddenly seized Link as he thought of the last seven years. Zelda had been doing her part to resist Ganondorf on her own. And she'd been helping Link on his quest these past months. His quest to rid Hyrule of Ganondorf, when he was the cause of the kingdom's plight.
He turned to Zelda. "I'm sorry," he told her. Confusion furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you all this time."
"Oh, Link," her features softened. "I am the one who should be sorry. I asked you to go to the Temple of Time and open the Door-"
"Which allowed Ganondorf to steal the Triforce," Link cut in bitterly. "It's my fault he took over Hyrule. Everything he's done."
Zelda took his left hand between hers. "Link, listen to me," she urged. "Ganondorf's evil is his own doing, not yours. You could not have known what would happen. You were doing as I asked of you."
Link tried to give her a reassuring smile, not entirely assuaged of his guilty feelings. He squeezed her fingers and her smile returned,
Dark cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt this...reunion," he said, "But, er...Zelda...you're bleeding."
She looked down at her side and gasped at the fresh blood seeping through the dark blue fabric. Dark swooped over and placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder. She lowered herself to the ground and leaned against the wall while Dark and Link knelt in front of her, hovering.
"I have something that may work," Dark muttered, fumbling with his shirt collar. He pulled the wooden vial of medicinal herbs from his neck, unstoppering the top and pouring its content into his palm.
Zelda examined them with a critical eye, telling him which herbs would be useful. Surprised at her knowledge of the healing arts, Dark nonetheless retrieved a bowl, spoon and flagon of water from their supplies. He heated the water with a bit of magic and tossed the herbs in to begin making a poultice.
Zelda tilted onto her side, exposing the wound. She glanced at Link, "It's not as bad as it looks."
Link frowned. "I didn't warn you in time. I was too busy wondering whether or not to trust you." His mouth twisted wryly.
Her lips lifted in a quick smile. "Understandable, given the circumstances. I am sorry for that, by the way."
He grinned back. "Understandable, given the circumstances."
Dark coughed. Link looked back at him, but his friend was dutifully mixing. When the poultice was ready, Link picked up the bowl and gingerly patted it into the gash. Zelda winced but otherwise held steady while he finished.
She started to sit up, her face turning pink again. "I need to...um."
Dark grabbed Link's shoulder roughly. "Turn around," he commanded. Confused, Link let Dark drag him upright and face him towards the door. "Close your eyes," Dark hissed.
Link did as asked, crossing his arms over his chest when Dark released him. Zelda fumbled with the medicine behind them. Clothing rustled. She gasped. Link instinctively moved to check on her. Dark punched him hard in the arm.
"Ouch!"
"I said turn around!"
Zelda sighed. "I'm finished," she called.
Link glared balefully at Dark, who shook his head. Zelda still wore Sheik's blue outfit, but her ribs had been wrapped in fresh bandages underneath the tear. The head wrappings she'd draped across her neck like a cowl, and her long blonde hair had been tied into a neat bun at the base of her neck.
"All set," she said with a small smile. "And now's the time when I thank you, again, for helping me."
Dark shrugged. "Didn't have much choice. You're our guide in this sand-covered hell."
Zelda glanced at him with a frown. "Nonetheless, you have my gratitude. The first trial obviously posed no problems."
Link shook his head. "We made it across the chasm, but we won't be able to tackle the next one until the storm passes."
As if to punctuate his point, the howling wind outside rattled the wooden shutters of the little house ominously.
Dark rubbed his chin. "We can wait it out a bit. Maybe there's something in here we can use to treat Link's injuries, as well." He crouched to rifle through the small supply of herbs. "It's almost nightfall, anyhow. I don't particularly relish spending another night out there, do you?"
Zelda crossed to the east window and peeked out. "We can stay here the night," she agreed. "The next trial is best done during the day."
"What is the next trial?" Link asked, curious.
"The desert guide," she explained. "He will lead us to the Colossus, where Nabooru should be waiting."
"You've made this trip before?" Dark asked her.
"Once. I had Nabooru with me, however."
"We made it this far," Link said. "We'll figure it out."
"No use worrying about it now," Dark agreed. "Come here and drink some red potion. I'll make a fire, we can get some rest and set out in the morning."
They slept in shifts throughout the evening and the night. Thankfully, the desert's visions didn't reach them in the stone house, and the night stayed quiet. The little supplies and medicine they had left were used sparingly, but luckily it was enough.
When the sun rose, painting the dunes crimson-gold, they donned their cloaks and followed Zelda through the wasteland, using the Gerudo flag poles for guidance. The wind was calmer, but the sun hotter. Though Navi had recovered from the exposure to dark magic, she spent the trek hiding in Link's hat.
Near midday they reached the end of the Gerudos' trail of flag poles, ending in a stone monument, half-hidden in the shifting sands.
"It's here," Zelda said. "If you stand on the pedestal, it should appear."
Stepping onto the circular platform, Link stood before a stone slab with an inscription written in a language he couldn't read. He looked around and waited, but nothing happened. There was nothing but sand and more sand.
"Did we do something wrong?"
Zelda frowned, bending to read the inscription. "It should work," she grumbled. "The guide appeared to Nabooru straight away."
"Maybe it only works for Gerudo," Dark suggested, glancing at the writing. "That's Gerudo writing, isn't it?"
Zelda glanced up, surprised. "You can read it?"
Dark faltered. "Neither of you can?"
"It's not the Gerudo language," Zelda said slowly, watching Dark with curiosity. "It's ancient Sheikah."
Dark looked back at the writing, ill at ease. Link told Zelda of Impa's claims that he was gifted with Shadow, and perhaps that was the reason why he could read the ancient language. Zelda didn't seem convinced; neither was Dark.
"Whatever the reason," Dark interrupted before they could spin more theories about him, "I can read it, and it says the person with an eye of truth can see the path. Or something like that," he added.
Link dropped his rucksack to the ground and rummaged through it for a moment. "Thank the goddesses I still have it!" he said, pulling what appeared to be a handheld mirror from the pack.
"You still have it!" Zelda exclaimed.
Link grinned and held it out to Dark, who took the lens in his left hand. The transparent eye in the centre was creepy. He lifted the eye to his own, peering through its violet glass at the desert.
He nearly dropped it. Floating a few feet away was a poe spirit, larger than any he'd ever seen. It watched him with glowing amber eyes, half-turned towards the horizon, waiting for him to follow.
The poe wasn't the only spectre Dark saw. Beside him, connected to the real shadow he cast on the ground, was his eerie doppelganger.
"You can see me, huh?" he asked. When Dark didn't answer, too disturbed to speak, he added, "They can't hear me. Or see me." He grinned broadly, revealing teeth that weren't quite human, but not firmly beastlike. "It's just us."
"Great," Dark said under his breath.
"What do you see?" Link piped up.
"A poe," he replied. He lowered the lens, surprised to see the spirit lingered, now visible to the entire group.
"That's him," Zelda confirmed. "We can follow him now."
Returning the Sheikah object to Link, Dark retrieved his things and hurried after the other two, his boots sinking in the sand. As they walked, the poe floated along, occasionally pausing to watch their progress.
As the minutes stretched into hours, the wind resumed its tirade. Visibility was poor, but the poe's eyes glowed like embers. Throughout the trek, Dark could see his shadow-self from the corner of his eye, a dark mass now without the benefit of the Eye of Truth.
"I think I need a name," the shadow said to Dark.
"You can still talk in this world?"
"As much as you can, which isn't saying much."
"Are all your kind this annoying?"
"We shadows pride ourselves on our wit. I think you can call me 'Kai'. That's a good name, don't you think?"
"Sure," Dark grumbled.
"Up ahead!" Zelda's voice called through the wind's howl.
Kai melted back into Dark's shadow, which was a blessing. The poe had stopped next to another pair of Gerudo flag poles, cackling wickedly before vanishing. Zelda and Link paused to catch their breath and Dark quickened his pace to catch up.
Lifting a hand, Zelda pointed ahead of them. Link and Dark followed her gaze, glimpsing the Colossus for the first time.
The landscape descended into a vast cliff which scribbled across the valley, hiding the Colossus's massive stone guardian from sight. She gazed out over the sand, tucked against the rocks. Here and there the valley was dotted with mesas, ranging from boulder-sized to taller than a castle tower. Palm trees were scattered in the west corner, protected from the wind.
"There is an oasis there," Zelda said. "Nabooru told me it is protected by a great fairy, which is good as we may need her help."
Link glanced at Zelda's bandaged side. She'd done remarkably well trudging through heat and dust and wind, thanks in part to the quick effects of red potion. But they were running low and needed to conserve it.
"We should stop and check your wound," Link said, his brow furrowed with concern.
"I'll be fine," she waved him off, securing her cloak over her head. "We can stop again when we reach the oasis."
She took off again, her steps sure. Link gazed after her, his face still drawn with worry. Dark stepped up beside him, shaking his head.
"Could you pick a woman less available?" he muttered.
Link's head turned, but his attention remained on her. "What?"
"Nothing. Let's go."
Within the hour, they'd stopped at the small oasis, a brief refuge from the harsh wasteland. Link kneeled beside Zelda at the water's edge, helping to refill their supply. They talked quietly to each other, exchanging smiles. Dark wandered to the opposite side, pretending he found palm fronds fascinating.
He sat down and leaned against the nearest tree. Happy to be off his feet, he relaxed and glanced around idly. The statue of the Colossus, her face in profile, drew his attention.
Dark found the desert calming—at least during the day. The nightmares the wasteland inflicted on him at night he could live without. But here, in this secluded valley, he enjoyed the stillness. For a moment he could simply sit, eyes closed, and enjoy the quiet, without his worries bouncing around in his head like wrecking balls.
The mental carnage was still there when he opened them. Resisting the dramatic sigh rising in his throat, Dark focused on the ripples of water rolling across the oasis. This latest discovery that he could read the ancient Sheikah language could be a side effect of his affinity for the tribe's favoured element. Perhaps it was due to his father's heritage.
Either way, it contributed to his alien-ness. His differences. The things that made him an outsider. He glanced up at Link when Zelda laughed lightly. At least his brother had inherited their mother's looks. He looked the part of a full blood Hylian, and wasn't shunned by the prejudiced. In fact, everyone he met seemed to love him.
Dark scowled, disliking the feelings of his jealousy. It was a good thing that Link had something on his side, considering the monumental task ahead of him. But he couldn't help but envy them as he watched them talk together, smiling giddily.
If Dark had been a good man, he would have stayed with Sienna in the house on Greywood Road. Made a home with her. Maybe raised a family. He would have suffered the occasional side-eyed stare or snide remark.
He could have kept her out of captivity. Out of reach of the tyrant who'd already ruined his life once.
Dark rested his elbows on his knees, staring sullenly back in the water. It was stupid to be sitting here, doing nothing. It was making him twitchy and restless. Had he means, he would storm Ganondorf's castle right now, he thought. It was past time to put an end to all this.
Link found himself studying Zelda's features again as she capped the last of their water bags. Her chin was a little pointier, the nose a bit longer, the cheekbones flared out, giving her face more character. When they were children she'd been very pretty, as princesses likely were, Link had thought at the time. She still was—very pretty, that is—but it was strange seeing her familiar features on a grown-up's face.
She'd always reminded him of Saria in that she had bright, kind eyes. The kindness was still there, but there was something else too. Sadness. A sharpness, too.
Catching him looking at her, Zelda reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind a pointed ear, suddenly absorbed by their supplies.
"What is it?" she asked, her cheeks pink from the desert's heat. A small smile crept onto her face. He recognized the slight tilt to her mouth when she did, and grinned.
"I was just thinking that you haven't changed."
Her eyes widened, bright pools of blue. "I...I'm glad you think so," she said quickly. "But I have to disagree..."
Link reached to take the forgotten water flagon from her hands, bending to store it in his rucksack. "Why?"
She shook her head, her gaze on the ground. "All these years have changed me," she said, that sliver of sadness clouding her eyes. "It's been hard, looking back over my shoulder, hiding who I am...being apart from those I love." She cleared her throat, kneeling next to him to organize the contents of the rucksack. "I almost envy you, being away from it all this time, sleeping in the Chamber of Sages..."
His heart clenched. "I don't know," he said slowly. "When I came back, it was as if the world had gone on without me." Her head jerked up at his words. "My friends in the forest didn't recognize me," Link continued, "And because I left, look what happened. They were all in danger, and I abandoned them."
Zelda tentatively laid her palm across his, squeezing his fingers gently. "You didn't abandon them, Link," she told him softly. "You didn't mean to leave..." she paused, pressing back the tears that pricked behind her eyes. "I wish I could undo it all. If I had known, I never would have asked you to open the door and take the Master Sword."
Link turned his hand and interlaced their fingers. Zelda lifted her blurry eyes to meet his. "You didn't know what would happen," he replied. He tried to force a smile. "Clearly, you knew something I didn't, since the Master Sword recognized me as the Hero of Time."
She managed a soft laugh. "I'm not sure if I knew," she furrowed her brow, trying to explain. She smiled. "I knew you were special. I suppose I thought if you had the sword, you could defeat Ganondorf then and there."
"If only," Link said, shaking his head. "I guess ten-year-olds don't save the world."
Zelda laughed again, and he watched her, warmed by the temporary absence of her sadness. Hands still joined; her smiling face was close to his. Her gaze was on him, mapping his features.
"You haven't changed either," she murmured, lifting her free hand. Her fingertips touched his cheek. "You're just as I remember."
For a second, Link forgot where they were. The sound of the wind, the heat of the sun disappeared. His heart hammered loudly in his ears, beating oddly slowly, as if time decided to move at a quieter pace. His gaze was locked on hers; he could see the striations of turquoise in their cerulean depths. Was he breathing too fast?
"Hey."
Link flung himself backwards as if he'd been hit with an electric shock. Zelda's hand ripped from his grip and he landed in the sand, his heartbeat sprinting.
"Huh? What?"
Dark stood next to the spot he'd just occupied, grimacing in apology. "Sorry, but I thought you should know there's something heading this way."
Zelda stood up and brushed the sand from her clothes, her face flaming red. "Where?" she asked Dark briskly, glancing where he pointed. Her face instantly paled. "Leevers," she whispered.
Link scrambled to his feet. "What is that?"
A mass of yellowed spikes was charging through the sand as if it were water, headed straight for the oasis. Navi shook inside Link's hat, sensing the oncoming danger. Link took off his hat and she flew out, her wings glowing brightly.
"They're leevers," Navi explained. "Underneath those spikes are their real bodies—they're enormous! And they have seven rows of razor-sharp teeth—"
"Trust me, you don't want to wait until they get close enough to strike," Zelda said urgently, packing up the rest of their things. "We can't fight that many at once, they'll overwhelm us."
"The temple isn't far," Dark said, grabbing his own gear. "Can we outrun them?"
The horde was almost upon them, churning up the sand as they came. A few metres from the oasis shores, they stopped short, halted by an invisible barrier.
"Guess not," Dark growled.
"They can't get closer," Zelda explained. "This area is protected, but they'll be on us the moment we leave."
Now that they were up close, the group could see the tunnels of teeth inside the leevers' spiked heads, gnashing and biting in anticipation. As they swarmed, they began to rise out of the sand, feigning strikes, revealing bloated, green, tough-skinned bodies. As one or two would sink back into the ground, three more would take their place.
"What can we do?" Link asked, the three of them forming a protective triangle.
"We'll have to use magic," Zelda said. "If I can create a barrier like the one protecting the oasis, we should be able to make it to the Colossus."
Standing slightly behind Link and Dark, she closed her eyes to focus, lifting both hands in front of her. Both men felt the waves of magical power rolling off her as she summoned her gift and directed it with ease. Zelda raised her hands above her head as an orb of blue light formed between her fingers. She slammed her fists back down against the ground, and the magic spread out to envelop the three of them, rising to form a crystalline shield around them.
"Go!" she shouted.
Dark and Link jumped to action, drawing their swords and shields out of reflex. They charged the line of leevers, and the monsters reared out of the sand, hungry jaws snapping. They bounced off Zelda's magical barrier, harmless. Keeping close ranks, the three of them ran across the uneven terrain. The leevers gave chase, hissing and snapping.
The temple steps were a few yards away. The magic began to pulse rhythmically, the shield fading to a lighter blue.
"Hurry!" Zelda panted, one hand fisted in the backs of each of their tunics, both pushing and clutching.
Dark's boots touched the temple's stone steps first. The other two were right behind him, plowing into him as the shield breathed its last. The three of them tumbled into a heap before the temple's entrance.
Link opened his eyes, relieved to see their pursuers were unable to climb onto the solid rock platform. Their hunt foiled, they burrowed back into the sand.
"Get off me," Dark grunted.
"Sorry."
Link had landed on Dark's back, with Zelda lying sideways across him. He waited for her to get back on her feet before rolling off Dark's prone form. Rising onto his hands and knees, Dark groaned and wiped the back of his hand over his face.
"Am I still pretty?" he asked Link, working his jaw back and forth. "I think I landed on my face."
Zelda snorted with laughter. Link pretended to inspect Dark for blemishes.
"I think you'll be fine."
"Thank Farore for that."
The inside of the temple was cool; a welcome relief. No torches were lit, so they paused to let their eyes adjust to the dimness. Zelda, having been there before, located the torches on the walls and brought them back to life.
Before them was a shallow staircase, cracked with age but refusing to give way. Without trepidation, Zelda walked up, shining a torch to illuminate the darker corners. Two alcoves branched off from the main room, both impassable—to the right, a gigantic grey stone concealed the path, and the left had been completely caved in.
Zelda frowned. "This must have happened recently," she said, studying the chunk of rock. "I was here with Nabooru weeks ago, and we went through..."
"Was she supposed to meet you here?" Link asked.
"Yes." Her features were drawn in concern. "If she is still here, she may be trapped within the temple. I asked her second-in-command back at the fortress, and she told me Nabooru hadn't returned yet."
"What was she doing here?" Dark questioned. "This place feels...almost abandoned."
"It's not often visited," Zelda said. "Ganondorf was using it as hideout for a time, and Nabooru was keeping track of his plans. But some time ago, he discovered she was working against him, and had her branded a traitor. Luckily, many of the Gerudo are more loyal to Nabooru, and hid her here..." she drifted off, looking thoughtful. "Wait!"
Without explanation, she hurried back down the staircase to the lower section of the room. Beside the steps were two statues of giant snakes, reared as if to strike. On their bellies, someone long ago had etched short passages into the rock.
"It's difficult to read," she said as the men joined her. "But Nabooru translate the poems for me."
"Poems?" Dark raised a brow.
"The Gerudo ancestors built this temple in honour of the goddess Nayru," she explained. "There are many places on these walls where they carved poems, stories and histories of their people. They had a strong connection to the Spirit element, and many of the stories reflect that."
She traced her fingertip over the faded words. "These poems talk of the various stages of mortal life, as well as its end. There were some strange passages, though, that Nabooru didn't know the meaning of." Locating the line she sought, she read, "Travel through the river of time. Return here with the spirit of a child to discover the ancient power of silver."
Dark crossed his arms, furrowing his brow. "That makes no sense."
"Not at first," Zelda agreed. "But I believe it refers to the Master Sword."
All eyes turned to Link. He shrugged helplessly. "What? I don't know any more than you do."
"Link," she said, "The Master Sword is more than a weapon to banish evil. It protects the spirit of the Hero. It allowed your spirit to rest in the Sacred Realm, unharmed, for seven years." She paused for breath, excitement plain on her face. "The sword is also a vessel, through which it is written that the Hero can move back and forth through Time."
Dark leaned aside to examine the hilt of the Master Sword more closely. "Cool," he remarked.
"How do you know all this?" Link asked, both awed and impressed by her extensive knowledge.
Zelda flushed. "I've read much about the ancient legends of the Hero," she replied, a bit sheepishly. "The castle had countless books, and I had many hours with little to do. This temple also has a large library, and Nabooru and Sheik spent some time here researching more about the Sages and Ganondorf."
"So if he travels back in time to when he was a child again, he can come back here and find this 'power of silver'," Dark cut in. "And then what?"
"Nabooru believed it was a special treasure of the Gerudo. She thought it might help in the fight against Ganondorf, but she was unable to find it, even after scouring this place top to bottom."
When they turned expectantly to Link again, he held up his hands. "I'm all for finding something to help me beat Ganondorf, but how am I supposed to use the sword to travel back in time?"
Zelda opened her hand. "Do you still have the Ocarina I gave you?"
Link pulled it from its pocket on his belt and placed it in her palm. "Of course."
"I will teach you two melodies. The first will take you back to the Temple of Time, and the second will bring you here to the Spirit Temple so you won't have to cross the desert."
Link nodded. "Sounds easy enough," he replied with false confidence to hide his nerves.
"When you get back to Castle Town, place the sword back in its pedestal, and think only of the moment you first drew it. The Master Sword will do the rest."
Link repacked his belongings for the journey, taking only what he would need. His hookshot, bow and Hylian shield he left with Dark, as he wouldn't be able to use them properly once he was a kid again.
Dark and Zelda would camp within the shelter of the temple while he was gone, which he hoped would be no longer than a day. Despite their reassurances, Link felt trepidation fluttering in his ribcage.
When he was ready, Zelda played a short, light and airy melody on the small lyre Sheik had always carried, demonstrating it for Link. Once memorized, she next strummed the mournful, bittersweet requiem that would take him back to the desert.
With the Master Sword on his back and the Ocarina in his hands, Link said his goodbyes to the others, first grabbing Dark in a quick, brotherly embrace.
"Good luck," Dark said in his ear. "Don't let Navi drive you insane."
"Hey!"
Chuckling, Link released Dark and turned to Zelda, giving her a hug. "I'll be back soon," he promised.
She smiled back as they drew apart. "I'll wait for you."
Link lifted the small instrument to his lips, playing the Prelude of Light as she had instructed. Responding to the notes, a halo of warm light flowed from the Ocarina and surrounded him. He was weightless for a moment, blind until the light receded, and his feet touched solid ground.
The sound of his breaths echoed in the vast chamber of the Temple of Time. It was unchanged from the last time he'd been there, so many months before, as the newly awakened Hero of Time.
Twisting to look over his shoulder, Link saw the ebony dais, the three Spiritual Stones glinting softly in their places upon it. Beyond that, the door to the Master Sword's chamber was still open.
Inhaling a long breath, Link stepped off the platform bearing the symbol of Light. His footsteps echoed as he approached the secondary room, breaking the serene stillness. Outside the high up windows, night was falling, slanting orange light down onto the pedestal.
Link stopped just before it, Navi pausing a moment later to hover at his right shoulder. He looked down at the waiting pedestal; the Master Sword hummed with life at his back, as if eager to fulfill its purpose.
His fingers wrapped around the blade's hilt, but he hesitated to pull it free from its sheath. Once he returned the sword, he would be back in his own time, his own place. A child again.
When Link first awakened in the Chamber of Sages, he'd been a stranger to himself. His body felt foreign to him, and the task appointed him vague and far off, something to be dealt with later. Over the months, he'd been surprised and pleased to find he'd grown stronger, faster, better equipped to be the Hero of legend.
In his heart, though, was a ten-year-old boy full of doubt, uncertainty and fear. His mission to awaken the Sages was nearly done, and the moment of destiny would be thrust upon him whether he thought himself ready or not.
Ever since hearing Zelda's words at the oasis, of the how the seven years of war and hardship had changed her, Link had tried to identify the emotion that churned inside him. Sympathy, perhaps some recognition.
Dissonance. There were two Links now—the young boy, optimistically setting off on a journey to save the world, believing in the power of good to smite evil. And then the adult Link, suddenly thrown into the role of the Hero, the hopes of all the peoples of Hyrule carried with him.
He'd wanted to let go of his younger self. Thought it was necessary in order to truly become the Hero of Time. He couldn't fully erase him, the boy without a fairy.
Link drew the Master Sword free, holding the blade point-down in front of him. Were heroes allowed to be scared?
With a cry, Link drove the Master Sword into its pedestal.