Chapter 48

A Fight with My Shadow

I stared ahead for the longest time, just trying to find the strength to move my legs. If this chamber was the same one from my dream, then does that mean Ganon is here too? I had been moving at a snail's pace, but when that thought crossed my mind, I stopped to look back behind me. The door was already in the process of closing, leaving the Triforce as the only source of light in the room.

Many minutes passed in dead silence, and I crept forward again. Ganon wouldn't be able to hide here. I was alone with the Triforce. I tried to show more excitement, I tried to tell myself I was going home. But I was still trembling, and I will be until I leave this place. I should make this as quick as possible.

I don't know where he came from, because I know he wasn't there when I came in, but a little man suddenly was standing in my way, just before the pillars. He was short, standing only three feet tall, but his long white beard that was well dragging on the floor told me of his advanced age. His hair was almost just as long, and his bushy eyebrows and mustache made it nearly impossible to see the rest of his face. His long velvet red robe that, just like his beard, was long enough to cover the floor around him made him look like a seer of some sort. He had his hand outstretched to me like he didn't want me going any further.

He stood there for the longest time before he finally spoke. "I am the Keeper of the Triforce of Courage." His voice was as high pitched as he was short. I waited for him to elaborate, but seconds past and he continued to raise his palm in front of me.

"Why are you stopping me?" I asked. "I've done everything I was supposed to. I've been in every palace, and fought every guardian."

"There is something you need to finish before you can go home with the Triforce." He answered simply.

Now I was confused for sure. "What do you mean? I've already defeated that thunderbird in that last room. What else do I need to do?"

He waggled his finger and held his hands behind his back as he took a few steps towards me. "You've finished with the guardians, that's true, but there is one final challenge left. You've been holding a lot of anger, bottling up a lot of stress, and, yes, fear. You really haven't moved past much since your last quest."

"How do you-"

"I want you to face them." He finished, stopping his pace. "By the time you bring the Triforce out from this room, I want you to be a changed person. All of these dreams of Ganon and the fear of losing to his minions, I want completely gone. The chosen one shouldn't live in the past for the rest of his life, he should live on beyond these events, growing stronger and making smart choices because of what he's been through."

I breathed out, trying to move past the frustration this guy was giving me. "And how do I do that?"

"Turn around, and you'll see."

But then I didn't want to turn around. This chamber was too familiar, I think I knew what he was getting me into. "You want me to fight with Ganon, don't you?"

He laughed. "No, not just with Ganon, but the rest of your fears too. You'll be fighting with yourself."

But that didn't clear up my question, it only confused me even further. I asked him again what he meant by that, but he only wished me luck and headed behind one of the pillars. "Where are you going!?" I yelled at him. "Come back!" But it was too late, he was gone.

I froze, trapped in this chamber from my nightmare again. It was too quiet. The so-called Keeper of the Triforce wanted me to turn around, but I just couldn't. I could already feel Ganon's breath beating down on me, I could feel his dark eyes piercing into my back.

The keeper was already gone, he wouldn't be able to stop me if I refused to do what he says and go for the Triforce anyway. But I also knew it wouldn't be that simple. He was the keeper, if he said I had to do something before taking the Triforce, then he won't let me take it until I do whatever it was he wanted me to do.

I had no choice, healing myself first from the last fight I had, I shut my eyes and turned around. Do this for Zelda, I thought, do it for her, you're almost home. Then, when I was ready, I snapped my eyes open and unsheathed my sword and shield. But Ganon wasn't here. The room was still dead quiet, and I didn't know what to do next. Nothing changed, this was the same chamber I entered and no one was here.

He was serious, wasn't he? When he said he wanted me to fight with myself, he meant he wanted me to stay here and work things out in the quiet? But I began to find out that was not what he meant. I almost didn't notice it at first, but my shadow was stretching in front of me, and the odd thing was that it was continuing to stretch. Curious, I glanced behind me, but the lighting hasn't changed, the Triforce was still in its place.

And so I watched the shadow stretch far enough so that it almost came to the opposite wall, then it moved of its own accord, crouching down and then jumping straight out of the floor! He flipped his sword over in his hand. "What?" He asked in my voice. "Did you expect to see Ganon?"

I didn't know how to react. What just happened? What's going on here?

The shadow jumped towards me and swung his sword with little hesitation. I barely recovered from my shock long enough to block him. I then tried a swing of my own, but it was blocked by a perfect parry. I swung again from the other side, but he parried that one too. He laughed. "You really don't think you can win, do you? I'm the finest swordsman in all of Hyrule!"

I danced around him, spinning my sword around him at every angle, but he blocked each one. While he canceled my every attack, he wasn't trying very hard to hurt me back. He was teasing me, both with his moves and with his words. He continued to brag and belittle me. "Why do you hesitate? Try harder!" He yelled. "I need a challenge!"

I continued my dance, and he continued his parries and tricks. He flared every movement into a fancy display. Finally, with one more push, he met my blade with his own and pushed against. "You make us look weak. You should hold up your head above the common people! You have done the impossible, you should be proud!"

When I refused a reply, he released my sword and backed up, spinning his sword around him again. I charged with full momentum, but he held, deflecting the blow. "We are the chosen one." He went on. "Why not live that up? If Ganon rose again, we can easily put him back in the ground. We should show the world our powers!"

I was fed up. "Zelda deserves a hero who relates with the people, not brags to them."

At the mention of her name, his dark eyes flashed and he stepped to the side, making me lose my balance before his black sword sliced across my right knee. The attack forced me to the floor. "That's her responsibility, we do what we want."

"I made a mistake." I countered. "I didn't know what to do after that quest. It was like I couldn't return to a normal life after it, and so I went on all those pointless journeys. I never wanted to become proud. I guess it was my response when I wasn't able to move on with my life."

His face scrunched in anger as he began approaching me. I winced, I hoped I never looked like that. "If you weren't able to before, then you aren't now. I'm going to leave you here. The new Link is still too weak for the old one." It was no use, he wasn't going to listen. Why am I even bothering with conversation?

I needed to stand, I couldn't let him attack while I was one the ground. I quickly cast "life" and rose to my feet, and was locked in another sword and shield dance. My words have angered him, and his fancy moves disappeared, only harmful intentions remained.

But his moves were still too perfect. The battle was held, but neither side was gaining an advantage. I can't do this forever. I don't know if he'll ever tire, but I will eventually, and I can't let that happen.

As my sword clanged into his, and he matched my moves like a shadow would, I found a new idea. If this shadow was supposed to be like the old me, then I should trick him with something new. He was obsessed with his swordsmanship, I need to attack with a different method.

I cast "fire" and continued the fight normally, but only set him up for the shot. I struck high, knowing he'll respond to striking low, that is what the old me would do, after all, then I jumped back out of range and fired my sword at him.

There was nothing the shadow could do. His shield was too late to block the fire, and the sword he held up instinctively to protect himself was too small to cast out the flame. The fire spread over him rapidly, and in panic, the shadow dropped the sword and shield and fell to the floor.

I came running and plunged down, thinking to end him with a stab. But, despite the fires, the shadow was determined, and somehow managed to pick up his blade and stop my attack. I kicked him hard in the back instead and came back in with my sword. But then he rolled away, putting out the flames as he went.

As he stood, I quickly cast "shield" to protect myself, decided I needed all of my experience with these spells if I wanted to win this fight. I was glad I used it too because shortly after that, he spun and sliced me in the torso. No doubt that would have been the finishing act if it wasn't for the spell's protection.

Next, I used "jump", and leaped over his head, striking him from behind. He recoiled and spun, but I was already out of his way. He was weak now, all that I needed was one good hit and I might be able to take him down.

His pride refused to waver, and he taunted my reputation by my new abilities to cast spells so well. I knew he was only mad that he was losing to it though, and I soared over his head again, making him fight just to keep up with me. "Deep down, I know you don't want to hang on to this pride," I yelled to him, understanding his frustration. This was me, back when I lived too much in the past, it was hard, and I refused to change. A part of me felt sorry to see him like this. Sun-Summoner's voice came back to me. "You feel like it's all you have, I get that. But it's false, you have a lot of friends who care for you like yourself. You don't need to be a perfect hero all the time for them to like or respect you."

He only sneered in response. This guy is even more stubborn than I was! But I suppose I'm supposed to fight this old incarnate, not try to change him for the better. That was my answer then, I was done with him. I leaped over his head one more time for good measure, then set him on fire from afar.

That was enough, he dropped his weapons and screamed in agony. His attempts to snuff the fire lessened and his cries quieted down as he slowly shrank into the floor. Then, my shadow disappeared for a few minutes before reappearing, this time on the floor.

"Well done!" A voice behind me cried. I spun back to the end of the narrow carpet where the keeper was back by Triforce like he never left. "You have defeated the greatest enemy of all: yourself! How do you feel?"

I stuttered a bit. I wasn't sure what to say, at the time, I didn't feel totally different. "I don't know. Relieved the fight's done I suppose." I froze and looked to him. "It is done, isn't it? Or is there something else I need to do?"

He laughed again. "Nope! That was the final challenge. You're now officially a changed man, you should celebrate your victory. Think of this experience as a ceremony for your new life ahead of you."

I suddenly relaxed and breathed a deep sigh. That was the last, no more fights, no more trouble. It was now just catching up with me, the close of my quest. I was going home, and I was so looking forward to it than I ever have before.

"When you're ready," He beckoned, moving aside and holding his arms out for the Triforce.

I nodded, it was the only response I had left in me, and I started for the relic. I wanted to run, I wanted to jump, but it was just too real to have it right there before me. I came to it, one step at a time, and I outstretched my hand to it.

The closer I came to it, the more I trembled, but this time, it was more out of disbelief than fear. Finally, I came one final step where I rested my hand on it. The golden shine was brighter than life but warm and comforting at the same time. The surface was impossibly smooth, like fine satin. A rush of energy and power ran from my hand throughout my entire body, and I stayed locked in place, welcoming its presence.

Then, a light feeling gripped my stomach and I realized I began to float off the floor. The images of the chamber, pillars, carpet, even the keeper, and everything else about the room began to blur like a smudged painting. And it wasn't long until everything became unrecognizable and soon disappeared altogether. It was only me and the Triforce, we were going home.