Chapter 4: Hidden in Not-So Plain Sight

The Hidden Village, one month after Ganondorf's defeat

The long forgotten Hidden Village use to have one resident: Impaz, the last Sheikah in Hyrule. Link encountered her when he was searching for a place the Ilia spoke of, when she was trying to regain her memory. Impaz was waiting for "the Messenger of the Heavens," which turned out to be Link.

After Ganondorf was defeated, Link returned to the Hidden Village. Sometimes to avoid some of his troubles in life, so he could sit and watch time go by, in the peacefulness of the empty village. Impaz would often talk to Link, revealing some of her life to him.

"I used to be a healer, when I was younger. Would it surprise you that I am ninety-three years old?" she said to Link.

"..." (Link).

"You don't talk much, do you?"

"..."(Link). He said no, and that he wasn't the "Messenger of the Heavens," or the Hero of Time anymore. He already defeated Zant and Ganondorf. Now, he was just a villager that worked on a ranch.

"Just because something may be over, it doesn't mean that your life is as well. Only if you make it that way. Show me that cut on your arm," said Impaz.

Link was trying to calm a wild oxen at the ranch, and the oxen's horn cut his arm. Impaz pulled out a tubular satchel, and took a handful of a liquid that was in it. She drizzled the liquid on the cut, and chanted something that was indistinguishable for Link. The liquid was then absorbed into the cut, and the cut sealed, although, it wasn't a pretty sight to see.

"See? I still have some Sheikah left in me," Impaz said.

Castle of Ylisse, Present Time

Robin, Chrom, Lucina, and Gerome returned to the Ylisse Castle at night, and in the castle foyer.

"We're in the foyer. It's like the portals lead to corresponding places between each kingdom," said Robin.

"If that's true, that will be useful," said Chrom.

Lon'qu entered the room, with Vaike, Stahl, Gregor, Cordelia and Gaius. They were all armed, but they lowered their weapons when they saw the four of them.

"Damn, you guys are alive!" said Vaike.

"We thought you two were dead," Lon'qu said the Chrom and Robin.

"Where the hell have you been?" said Gaius.

"A kingdom called Hyrule," said Robin.

"Where were you?" said Gregor.

"This is a long story," said Gerome.

"Yeah, it is. Chrom, Robin, you were gone for three days," said Cordelia. "Sumia was worried, since she didn't know what happened after your meeting with Naga."

Later, in the upper levels of the castle, Chrom met with Sumia, and reconciled with her after being gone for three days. He was also filling her in about Hyrule.

"In a distant kingdom, you met a warrior of that kingdom, named Link?" she said.

"He skills were amazing. He bested Lucina when they fought," Chrom said. "He and Princess Zelda helped us get back to Ylisse."

"Who's this Princess Zelda?"

"The ruler of Hyrule."

"Why didn't Link want to come through here?"

"I told you about his village. He said he had to find his people, and- wait, I didn't tell you about the Twili Risen."

"Twili Risen?"

"They appear to be Risen, but much darker, and they are the creatures that attacked Link's village. Robin and I plan on going back to help him."

"If so, you'll need some help. I want to go with you."

"But, our young present Lucina, she needs her mother."

"It won't be for long. Besides, we have a way to travel between the two kingdoms. If things get rough, I can just come back."

"Ok... but neither of us can get killed."

"Oh, you stop worrying!"

Kakariko Village

After Ganondorf's defeat Kakariko Village remained in peace. The children from Ordon Village eventually returned to Ordon Village. The Gorons created walls, blocking the only two entrances to the village. At the walls were catapaults, capable of throwing bombs, made by Barnes. They now had a much stronger defense.

Link traveled to the village from Hyrule to seek out the help of Renado, the shaman and leader of Kakariko Village. Renado might know of the Twili Risen. He got off Epona in front of the sanctuary, and met Renado and Gor Coron, a Goron Elder.

"Hero of Time, it has been far too long since we last saw you," said Gor Coron.

"..."(Link). He said he needed help. He brought the corpse of a Twili Risen into the sanctuary, and much to Renado and Gor Coron's confusion. Link then asked if they knew anything about it.

"I have to think far back. Perhaps, one of my ancestors has experience with this," said Coron.

"Is it... dead?" asked Renado.

"I think I might know something. The memory is very feint and distant... yes, I remember now. It was before the Shadow Invasion. Renado, you know of the Twilight Realm, yes?" said Coron.

"Yes. I believed it was a myth until the invasion," said Renado.

"Good. Years ago, there were old campfire stories about large traveling groups in Hyrule Field. A man who claimed to witness them said they were struck by a black portal above them, and dark rays struck their hearts. They screamed in pain, but rose back up as black humanoid creatures. A group of Hylian soldiers investigated it, but they were never heard from again," Coron said. "But, those are just urban legends."

"Who was the witness?" asked Renado.

"I believe it was some crazy mailman," answered Coron. "Other than that, I know nothing of the thing."

"The Twilight presence in the creature is, very strong. I can feel it. Wait, there's something inside of the Twilight. Almost like, a feeling of hatred," said Renado.

"That might be helpful," said Coron. "Link, since you've had experience with the Twilight Realm, have you encountered something that had a strong sense of hatred?"

"..."(Link). Just as Coron connected the Twilight Realm and hatred, Link could only think of one thing, or Twili being perhaps: Zant, the Usurper King.

"Zant. He turned his own kind into demons," said Renado. "With such a strong presence of hatred, the creature has to be connected to Zant. He is dead, but maybe, these creatures were created before his demise."

"..." (Link). He said he'll have to look into it.

Telma's Bar

Link went to the Castle Town, and to Telma's Bar, the base of the Resistance. Shad and Auru were the only one in there. Telma wasn't even there. Again, Link brought the dead body inside.

"Uh, if you're looking for a place to stash a dead body, you can't do it here," said Shad.

"..."(Link). He said it wasn't human, and that he really needed help. He asked if they knew anything about it.

"It's oddly black," said Shad. "Is it from the Twilight Realm?"

Link said yes, and that it was connected to Zant somehow.

"I remember seeing something like this in a book about creatures. Though, I no longer have it. I gave it to a person I used to tutor," said Auru.

"I think there were a few legends about human-like creatures that were black. I don't know if they were connected to Zant though," said Shad. "One of them said that they were playthings of the Twili. I'm not sure if that was what this is though."

"Judging from his clothing, he seems to be dressed to traverse a rugged terrain. The boots and the dense armor, which could be useful incase of a fall," said Auru.

Auru took one of the boots off, and looked inside. He flipped the boot and dirt fell out of it, on to Auru's hand. He examined the soil.

"It feels moist. It is either sweat or soil from a moist area. Considering that it must be drying out over some period of time, it must be from a very wet environment," said Auru.

Link had already been to the spring in Kakariko Village and the Ordana Spring. The only major water sources he hadn't visited were Lake Hylia and The Zora River.

"Lake Hylia? I haven't been there for some time. Maybe it is time I check there," said Auru.

"..."(Link). Link said thanks, and said he'd check the Zora River.

"Meet back here. Shad, I'll need you to come with me incase we encounter some of these creatures," said Auru.

"Ok. I have nowhere else to go," replied Shad.

The Zora River

The Twili Risen had to have come from someplace with little to no living creatures in the area. It couldn't be far north, because of the Zoras. They are strong enough to defeat a group of Twili Risen. That narrowed their location down to somewhere near Hena's Fishing Hole and Iza's shop.

At this time, it was late at night, so Link had to be careful about his actions, which meant that he couldn't use his lantern. He crept to the ledge with the howling stone, and noticed a ladder. There wasn't a ladder there before, unless Iza put it there. He looked down to where it was placed, and saw a fairly-sized stone ledge that a human could walk on. On it, on the side farther from the water, was a torch. Definitely ominous. Link picked up a pebble and threw it on to the stone ledge, and moved back a bit, to decrease his visibility. The sound echoed into something, a cave probably, which would bypass the loud sounds projected by the river. Soon enough, something, with a human figure, walked out after hearing the pebble fall. The person took the torch and started looking around. Link crouched and crept into the tall grass, and hid inside it. The person climbed up the ladder with the torch, and surveyed with the dim light.

The person took out a flask, and poured some of the liquid on to the torch. The flame grew brighter, so the liquid must have been an oil of some sort. Link had hidden far back in the tall grass, and the person was standing directly in front of the howling stone. Link looked at the person, since the light was brighter. It was a Twili Risen. He had a dagger and what appeared to be a crossbow. Link couldn't move, or else he risked getting spotted. The Twili Risen looked to his left, and started moving in that direction. It wasn't leading towards Link, it was leading to Epona. Link had gotten off Epona, and she stayed there. She became uneasy when the Twili Risen approached her.

Link slowly pulled it his bow and arrow, trying not to make any loud sounds. He aimed an arrow at the Twili Risen, and the sound of the drawstring made the Risen turn. It still didn't notice Link, but it moved closer and readied its crossbow. Link calmly shot the arrow through the Risen's chest, killing it. Link pushed the body off the cliff, and into the river. Afterwards, he climbed down the ladder, and threw the torch in there to see what lit up. Not much lit up, just a corridor. Then he heard footsteps coming to investigate the sound of the torch falling. They sounded far into the cave, since the majority of the footsteps were comprised of echoes. Link hurried up the ladder, and quickly led Epona into Hena's Fishing Hole. Fortunately for him, the Twili Risen didn't set up an outpost in there. He barricaded the door to the fishing hole with a log, and put slim clumps of grass under the door to jam it.

All that was left for him was to fall asleep. It was definitely past midnight. Hena wasn't at her fishing store, so Link lied under a tree. Slowly, his mind drifted away, and he fell asleep.

...

...

...

The Fishing Hole, Morning

Fortunately, the Twili Risen didn't try to enter the fishing hole. Link was able to leave the fishing hole and the river without pulling his sword it. They were probably still in the cave, not wanting to expose their location. He left for Hyrule Castle to alert Zelda of the cave.

Hyrule Castle, the Foyer

Link met with Zelda, and brought the hidden cave to her attention, since it wasn't listed in Link's map. To their knowledge, Link's map is the most advanced and updated, compared the few that remained, after a lot of maps were destroyed by Zant and Ganondorf.

"..?" (Link). Link asked if Chrom and Robin came back when he was gone.

"No, they didn't," she answered.

"..." Link said that he doesn't know how many Twili Risen are in the cave, and that he may need people to go with him.

"Why not the Hylian Army?"

"..." He said that they should remain at the Castle Town, guarding the most populated part of Hyrule.

"Fair enough. We can only hope that Chrom and Robin will come back."

"..." Link said that something tells him they might not have to wait too long. From the foyer balcony, they could see a small light hole, gradually getting bigger.

"And it appears, that two sacred swords have met again," said Zelda.

Ylisse Castle, the Foyer

Chrom amassed a small unit of his allies, who fought with him against Gangrel, Walhart, and Grima.

(List of characters: Chrom, Robin, Lucina, Gerome, Frederick, Morgan, Lon'qu, Gaius, Cordelia, Sumia, Gregor, Panne, and six soldiers of Ylisse's Army)

"We're here to help Link and Zelda, against the threat of the Twili Risen. Just know, it is difficult to travel between Ylisse and Hyrule, since you need Link to open a tear in time, and it has to be at Hyrule Castle. If you want to stay, you're welcome to," said Chrom.

No one had any objections.

"If there aren't any discrepancies, shall we?" said Robin.

Chrom held out Falchion in the air, and closed his eyes. He opened them again, with the Brand of the Exalt glowing in his eye, and Falchion simultaneously radiating a red light. The tear in time opened beneath them. Readily, they kneeled, and slowly dissipated through the tear.

Hyrule Castle

The eighteen warriors from Ylisse faded into the castle. Link and Zelda were there, waiting as they quickly faded in through the tear in time. Chrom looked up, as everyone had completely come in. Chrom and Robin stood up, as they greeted Link and Zelda.

"I did say we'd be back," said Chrom.

"And with company, I see," said Zelda.

"There are actually a lot more. We just brought fourteen others," said Robin." I suppose we should introduce everyone."

"Right," said Chrom.

Chrom introduced his allies to Link and Zelda. They told them about their areas of expertise. Gaius, Lon'qu, and Gregor were trained assassins. Robin introduced Morgan, his daughter, who is a tactician like Robin. Chrom introduced Frederick, one of his closest advisors and soldiers, and Sumia, Chrom's wife. Cordelia and Panne introduced themselves.

"I can transform into a, rather large rabbit," said Panne.

"...?" (Link).

"Let me show you," said Panne.

She used her beaststone. She transformed into her Taguel-rabbit form. Link and Zelda were amazed by it.

"Amazing, it's similar to your wolf form, Link," said Zelda.

"..." (Link). He said that he couldn't do that anymore.

"Still, I've never seen such a seamless transformation into something so..." said Zelda.

"Beastly?" said Panne.

"No, not beastly. Elegant, rather," said Zelda.

"..." Link said he started searching for the Twili Risen. He found a cave that they seem to be using at the Zora River.

"How long will it take to get there?" asked Chrom.

"..." (Link). He said that if they left in the morning tomorrow, they'll reach the river in about an hour.

"It'd be faster on a horse," said Frederick.

"..."(Link). He said the trip isn't that arduous.

"So are we leaving tomorrow?" asked Robin.

Link shook his head yes.

"What are doing in the meantime, if we aren't leaving until tomorrow?" asked Gaius.

"..." (Link). He told them that they should wander around castle town for a bit, if the wanted to. He had other business to attend to himself.

"The castle is open to you as well," said Zelda.

"I suppose you have a place to get something to drink, yes?" Gregor asked.

"..." (Link). He said there's a bar at down the southern street, in an alley to his right. That's actually where Link was going.

"Then I'll go with you. Anyone else care to join?" said Gregor.

"I wouldn't mind," said Gerome.

"I think I need to go somewhere more open, with less people," said Panne.

"Chrom and I can take you to Hyrule Field," said Robin.

"I want to see the castle," said Sumia.

"So do I," said Cordelia.

"I can show you around," said Zelda.

They all split up, going to different places.

Hidden Village, Two Months after Ganondorf's defeat

"Before I die, I want to see her... one more time," said Impaz. "Her name is Sheik."

"..." (Link). He said he thought she was the last Sheikah.

"Oh, well, she isn't exactly a Sheikah. I guess you would call it an alter ego," Impaz replied. "Just tell her... that Impaz wants to see her. She is somewhere in Castle Town."

"..." (Link). He asked what her real name was.

"...Zelda," replied Impaz.