Chapter 3 – Link's Awakening

"I am Lucario," the jackal finally introduced himself, stepping off of the fountain. "The dreams that you have are fractured memories from your past life."

Link blinked – it wasn't an explanation he was expecting. "You're talking about...reincarnation?"

"Yes. It's not an unfamiliar concept in this world."

"But it's never been proven."

"It is one of the laws of the universe. I know this for a fact," Lucario stated in a finite manner, giving Link the impression that he had no business questioning him on the subject. "This city is but one world. Surrounding this world is seven others. You are from the Fifth World, particularly a land known as Hyrule."

Hyrule. The name had a comforting familiarity to it, but Link could feel anger overtake him. There was something infuriating about Lucario's suggestion.

"You're crazy! How can I be from another world? I remember my childhood! My name is Link Jensen! I've always lived in the Volesdale district with my parents!"

"Calm yourself," Lucario stated, holding up a palm. "You know what I say is true; the proof is inside of you. You were a hero once. You can become that person again."

"I don't want to become someone else! I just wanted to know about the dreams."

"Very well. Let's see if these names help you.

"Ordon."

That familiarity returned, and a blurred image filled Link's mind. He had never heard the name before, and yet he was absolutely certain of its importance to him. Something that almost defined him.

"Ilia. Midna. Zelda. Epona."

The distress of lost companionship weaved its way into Link's heart. Why did these names bring him sorrow?

"Ganondorf."

Link gritted his teeth and balled his fists in reaction. That name brought forth an urge to protect and defend. He could only assume it was from the one whose name was given.

"Kneph."

The wraith flashed into Link's memory. He became frightened and angry at once.

"The monster. That has to be his name!" he shouted.

Lucario nodded. "The wraith that plagues your nightmares is a demon known as Kneph. The scene that invades your subconscious is most likely the last moments of your previous life."

"So it's real..." Link contemplated his dream. It wasn't just a nightmare. Now it was a tragedy. "This isn't enough. I need to know more! Who are these people? Why did I fight that thing?"

"Seize the emotions that have manifested! I am able to remove the barrier that has kept you in the dark for all of these years, if you will allow me to."

Link nodded, giving his consent. Lucario approached, clamping his aura-laced paws around Link's face. The blue flames burned calmly, emitting no heat that he could feel.

"Get away from him!"

Freddy and Derwin ran towards them with lose bricks snagged from the road as weapons. Lucario effortlessly encased them in a barrier, lifting them several feet off of the ground.

"Stop!" Link pleaded, breaking out of the trance. "I'll do whatever you want if you let them go!"

"No!" Lucario cried. He retracted his power, letting Freddy and Derwin drop into the grass. "This must be a decision you make on your own. I cannot influence you beyond bestowing you with the truth!"

Link was close enough to read Lucario's red eyes. There was a stern, almost alarmed gaze, but they held no malice towards him.

He turned back to assure his friends, "Guys, it's okay. I know what I'm doing."

Lucario did not hesitate in restarting the process.

"Focus on the feelings and images those names bring you. I will do the rest."

Link closed his eyes and concentrated on the image of a teenage girl. At first it was blurred, but details slowly came to him. Her blonde hair was cut short, and the look upon her face was one of light disapproval.

His senses kicked in next. Chilly water enveloped his ankles and he took in a deep breath of nature. The clean, pure air reminded him of the Lucent Gardens.

The image started to move, and the girl stepped over to a horse and began to brush the white mane. The girl's mouth was moving. He could tell she was scolding him. He even heard the voice in the back of his head, but it was muffled. And, just as he reached out to grab hold of the memory, it shattered into fragments, and behind them were thousands of other scenes, all from the life left behind.

"It all makes sense now...I can't believe I forgot them...Ilia...Epona..."

The dam holding back the memories and the power behind them was ready to burst. "Do you accept this as the truth? Will you fully embrace the knowledge you now possess?" Lucario growled, the wall fully in his grasp.

"Yes!"

"Then it is done. It is time to Awaken, Link."

Lucario leapt back as an inner light ripped through Link's body before fully engulfing him in a sparkling pillar. His friends were on their toes. They wanted to help, but what was before them was a complete anomaly.

The light receded, revealing a kneeling man. A green tunic covered the light chainmail on his body and a pair of brown and black gauntlets fortified his forearms. Nestled upon his head was a green hat, the length of which ran past his shoulders.

"Whoa!" Derwin cried, causing Link to stand tall and inspect himself.

There was a moment of acceptance and denial. He knew who and what he had become; his body was taller and there was muscle. And yet that meant that the body of the laid back fourteen year old had been replaced. Link Jensen had vanished, and in his place was the savior of Hyrule.

"I would suggest that you take a rest – you now possess the memories of two lives. Your mind will be jumbled in confusion as you place a mental timeline and separate the memories."

Lucario promptly turned his back, looking over towards the forest. Link immediately knew what he meant, as trying to recollect his Hyrulean existence summoned a freight train of memories, and not all in the proper order. It made him slightly nauseous.

But one thing he was absolutely certain about were the two friends that came for him even after he told them not to. He felt that they deserved an explanation, even if he wasn't sure of the circumstances himself.

As Link approached, Freddy narrowed his eyes and readied himself in a defensive crouch. Derwin was distraught, both from Link's appearance and Freddy's reaction.

"Are you the same person?" Freddy asked in an unusual murmur. "You look like you, except a little older and ready to kick somebody's ass."

"It's me, guys."

"Prove it. Tell us something only we would know."

Link sighed. "When we were in middle school, you tried to scare the janitor with a paint bomb in his mop bucket, but he saw you coming and scared you before you could drop it in. You hid in the bathroom for the rest of the day because you were covered in paint and you pissed yourself." A grin crept along his face as Derwin stifled a laugh.

"All right, you're the real thing," Freddy admitted begrudgingly. "So, uh...what exactly is going on?"

"To be perfectly honest, I'm still a little confused myself. What I do know is that it started when I died..."

Link is back! He has his memories, but it's only a matter of time before he must confront what he left behind when he died. Things should start picking up from here on out, and more Smash Brothers will enter the storyline.