The Hyrulian Valhalla Saga
By Queenie Z

The Visitor (Part 4 of 6)

The Spirit blinked. "He didn't meet you for training? How odd."

"Exactly!" Twilight huffed and placed his hands on his hips. "He's always there before I am, and today he didn't show up at all! I when I found him," he motioned to the distance, where the backs of Time and Light's heads could be seen, "he was sitting around with Light, moping. Din almighty… I swear when Time's not trying to boss me around, he's off somewhere feeling sorry for himself!"

His lips curled into a half-smile, the Spirit tilted his head. "And I know both of you well enough to know that's an exaggeration on your part."

"Still!" Twilight scratched his head. "…You said you didn't want to see us looking down, right? You need to go talk some sense into them!"

"And you can't because…?"

"Because," answered Twilight, "I'll just end up saying something stupid. It's better if you do it."

The Spirit let out a small chuckle. "If you say so." He placed a hand on Twilight's shoulder briefly. "I would learn to have a bit more self confidence, though, if I were you." He then walked off towards the two Heroes sitting on the slope of the hill ahead of them.

"…And I just wonder what the point of it all is sometimes," said Light, picking blades of grass and twirling them around in his fingers. "I don't regret doing what I did, but it's like the moment we leave the world to its own devices, people start going nuts."

Time sighed and ran a hand through his bangs. "And all we can do is watch from afar," he added. "I wonder, if we could go back… you think we could stop all this?"

"At the very least we could save a few innocent lives." Light flicked the blade of grass away and grimaced. "Dammit, Time, we were knights - we protected people! - and now we're nothing but ghosts."

"And are your pathetic attitudes going to protect anyone?"

The two looked over, stunned to see the Spirit glowering at them with all the fearsome authority of a most respected warrior.

"…Come now, don't just sit there," he added after a short period of silence, "attention, men!"

The two instinctively stood up straight and tall at the Spirit's command. Satisfied that he could play to their military backgrounds, he began pacing in front of the two of them, glaring sternly all the while.

"You two wish to waste away thinking of 'what-ifs' rather than bask in the glory of the deeds you've accomplished?" he asked, "How shameful. Your colleagues, your fellow knights - what would they think, seeing you disgrace your own legacies like this!?"

Light and Time remained silent, nervously swallowing as the Spirit continued his lecture. He stopped in front of Time and shoved a finger to his chest.

"Captain!" he spat, "Did you not defend your country from disastrous treason, protect the innocent from monsters and criminals alike, lead your men to glorious victory against all manner of threats, and sire a long, proud line of courageous knights and Heroes?"

Time nodded slowly.

"Your words, Captain, use your words!"

"Y-Yes, Sir!"

"And you, Lieutenant!" He turned his attention to Light, "you brought great honor to your family and your fellow Heroes by guarding the Triforce and the Sacred Realm with your very life, fulfilling the will of the gods and keeping the knight's line true. Have you forgotten your own valiant deeds so soon?"

"No, Sir!" cried Light, "I haven't forgotten, Sir…!"

"Then act as though you haven't forgotten! These are your stories, men. These are your legends!" Placing one hand on each of the others' shoulders, his face softened into a warm smile. "…Leave this fight to the brave men and women of Hyrule. Now is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor!"

For a moment, Time and Light didn't know what to do with themselves. After watching them glance at each other in nervous confusion, the Spirit sighed and lowered his hands.

"…At ease, you two," he chuckled, "I was only trying to speak your language."

The two relaxed, with Light laughing nervously at the whole thing. "Geez, you made me feel like I was a rookie again!" he said.

"But still," added Time, "thanks. I think we really needed a stern talking to!"

"I can't leave you all while you're still feeling sorry for yourselves, now, can I?" said the Spirit, turning away with a slight grin and a wave as he left. "And don't forget, Time, that you have a pupil to look out for."

"Ah!" cried Time, "That's right - I completely forgot!" He quickly gathered his sword and shield from nearby, "Twilight's never going to let me live this down…!"

Light snickered. "Good luck with that," he said as he gathered his own things, preparing to go his separate way.