The hero of time found himself in Hyrule field almost too quickly, and fought to keep his temper. Ilia hadn't meant anything other than to keep him safe... But I'm a grown man, and have proven myself before. Link nodded. If she was his friend, she'd know he was doing the right thing and forgive him.
"Hairaru, you said there has been a growing feeling of darkness? Surely not like before...?"

"I fear it is so Hero," The little fairy sighed, keeping beside the galloping horse with ease, "Not as bad as a manifestation like... those creatures."
Link knew exactly what he meant. The black monsters that first infected the Twilight Realm before taking over the Light... Midna was undoubtedly in trouble. He pushed Epona harder, squinting against the sharp gush of wind. Midday was beautiful, but you always had to be wary in Hyrule field, demons or no. Link had to sharp-shoot some of the large scaly birds that threatened to dive-bomb the three of them, driving him off course slightly. He righted himself and then was off once more. Damn Kargarocs. The dirty blonde prayed that no orcs would come his way, there was so much to do and not enough time to do it in.
They were almost upon the pool when a low growling made Epona skid to a halt, almost throwing the green-clad hero off. He soon found the source of her distress, the form of a golden wolf. The Golden Wolf - he corrected himself, for there was only one, and his mind felt it needed the importance of capitalization. Carefully he dismounted, soothing his mare.
His blue eyes found the red ones, inset to the golden airy fur. He wondered if the old skeleton would show himself again, and found it not surprising it was now. When he was needed. The canine growled, and Link unsheathed the Master Sword (he didn't have the heart to leave it to ruin) awaiting the inevitable pounce.
What he got instead was quite unexpected. The wolf actually attacked him, not a pounce into his psyche, but a territorial ripping through his flesh. He yelled, before finding himself on form. Hairaru flitted over, unsure of what was going on.

"Hero, you mustn't hurt him!" The fae shrieked, though Link was right beside him. The human looked like the fae had hurt himself in his creation. How could he not hurt something attacking him? The growling was low, feral as he ran at the farmhand again and again. Hairaru continually shouted, "Hero, don't hurt him!"
Link was beginning to get very annoyed at the damn fluff telling him to lay off, as he was avoiding the damn mutt, not hurting him.
"What do you want me to do?" He finally shouted, the fae's continual high-pitched yelling throwing him out of his naturally silent roll. The fae looked at him (or at least turned to him, impossible to tell past the bright light.) and then proceeded to tell him what he was doing was fine. Epona had taken too much of this, and freaked, rearing up and stomping the ground beneath her.
The wolf decided attacking his horse would be a good idea, and Link was not about to let that go unchecked, despite what the little fairy was shouting. Link sliced at the wolf's flank, hoping to get it away from his horse.

"Hero, don't attack the horse either!"
Link was stunned, he wasn't attacking his horse... Link's boot held the downed wolf under his weight. Then he remembered something about his old mentor.
"You were the old hero, right?"
The wolf growled and they were in a swirling grey world. the farmhand's boot now on the chest mail of a skeletal solider. His bright eyes were full of hate, and it took Link a moment to realise he had tiny black worms crawling in his flesh. Twili worms.
"I'm going to help the Twilight realm. You can stand down, help me, or perish." Link made the list adamant, not giving him much of choice.
"You don't know a way to the other world, do you?"

Link said nothing, keeping the master sword pointed at his throat. The skeleton chuckled.
"It's not fair, I couldn't find her... and you have one now as well..." The Hero's Spirit was bitter, and began to rise - giving Link little choice, as he'd proven immortal against pain in this grey-swirly land. He let the tall skeleton rise to his full height, giving Link a feeling of being quite small.

"You have everything I once was. Even..." He shook his head. "But then you never will lose yourself. I envy you."
Link stayed silent, allowing the brooding man to explain.

"I told you once that I was teaching you techniques from our bloodline, yes?" the farm boy nodded at this, faintly remembering that one liner.
"You didn't take much stake in the 'Our' did you?" Link shook his head, there was too much going on to invest thinking on something which may have been an error of words.
"I was called Link in life, and I too saved Hyrule. Link is the name of the reincarnation of the Hero of Time. Which is why the light spirit said you were chosen by the gods." He paused, allowing Link to absorb this before continuing, "I had a fairy once. I searched for her after she left, eventually leaving Hyrule to search for her in Termina... I helped them, and returned here, thinking she might have tried to return to service the new Deku Tree. I was wrong."
He stopped, this time from grief.

"I should have known. All the Kokiri said those who wander too long in those woods become a Stalfo... And the Goddesses made no amendment for me." He laughed bitterly, "Unless you count this."
Link sheathed his sword. He was a descendant of sorts from someone who had saved two lands, and it seemed he was still looking for the one thing he couldn't find. The one thing personal fulfillment couldn't help - having his friend back. The green-clad hero laid a hand on the other's gauntlet. The Hero's Spirit was taking control of his emotions, and Link took the time to look at the man's equipment. The sword and shield looked familiar...

"You don't have a real fairy anyway, that one is made from the collective light of the Light Spirits, right?"
Link nodded, stepping back. He should have realised this all earlier, but there was a kingdom to save, all details had to wait until later.
"You'll need help. Perhaps I might be able to find her if you'll be travelling all over. So much has changed since this was my world. The princess is still a peach though, correct?"
Link smiled, Zelda was doing very well as far as he knew, but would be unhappy to hear him travelling with an undead ancestor to find a way back into Twilight, he was sure.
The Hero's Spirit scoffed, she was always like that. Perhaps Link's princess was also a reincarnation? They speculated a moment, wondering what the Goddesses had planned.
"Come, let's return."

Hairaru was quick to check on the two, before goading them into a quick rush to the pool. Epona calmed as soon as the Wolf took her brow-beating. Link had no idea what he said to her, but she was eased, still a tad shaken, but she took these things in stride.

Once they reached the edge of the pool the fae calmly asked Link to hold him under the water. Link complied, carefully cupping the ball of light, avoiding it's wings. The cool water was soothing after riding in the hot sun, and he felt refreshed as the little fairy became slowly submerged. Link pulled him up after the ball began to struggle, and he shivered slightly.
"That's much different than when I was proper Spirits."

The Wolf whined, wanting to hear more than the fake fairy's comfort levels. Hairaru sighed, explaining that he had to go far, far, back in the history of the land - his memories to get what they needed. Farther back than the infant of the Hero's Spirit could imagine.

"We do not know enough now. Ordona and Faron, I mean." Hairaru was having a hard time keeping the different spirit's memories separate and viable. Link smiled, telling him it was okay, maybe they'd figure it out at the next pool. The wolf growled, he had more than enough of 'quests'. The fae sniffed, he didn't do this on purpose after all. The four of them set off once more, determined to make this as quick as possible. The Wolf, however, would not stop if they managed to find the mirror. He had a best friend to find.

One that might still be alive.