Chapter 22 brings us the best moment in every Zelda game before sending Ganondorf, or whoever's the villain, back to wherever they came from. The retrieval of the Master Sword. I will deviate from the plot just a tad, as Link, Zelda, and Joshua will have to prove themselves worthy of their respective piece of the Triforce.

February 1st. Let's start it off well.

The Hyrule Warriors were in the ghost town where the Temple of the Sacred Sword, formerly known as the Temple of Time, was located. The original four (minus Joshua) plus Darunia and Princess Midna were here.

Speaking of the prince, Link and Zelda were worried.

"I wonder what he's doing, Link. What was the emergency?"

"Only he knows. We can't continue without him?"

Zelda shook her head. "He's still in charge of the Hyrulean Army. Nothing goes with them unless he commands it. If he had given me command, then we could."

He smiled. "Stupid Hyrulean protocols?" She grinned back.

"Stupid Hyrulean protocols."

A page ran up to them. "Your Highness, His Majesty returns. He requests a private conversation."

"Thank you, page. Bring him here."

"He wants to talk privately? Something must be wrong, Zel."

She nodded. "Especially if he comes to me."

"Not just you. Both of you."

They turned and saw the prince. But something was off. Instead of the usual glowing face, he looked rather...angry. They could see traces of what was tears on his face.

"Josh, what's wrong."

He looked down, balling his fist up. "I'm a horrible king."

"What?"

"I couldn't protect my people. And now the one person I care for, more than anyone for the 18 years I've been alive...is dead. Because I couldn't save her."

Zelda turned to Link. "Link, prepare everyone."

"Alright." Zelda walked closer to her grieving friend. She raised his face, and all she saw was (Oh, saw is was backwards! Never noticed that! Back on topic) angry, regret, and sadness.

"You know her as well as I do. You know Aveil would do anything to protect you before she would protect herself. She loved you more than anything."

"I know...I know...But..." Sadness was replaced by anger in his yellow eyes as he looked in Zelda's blue eyes. "Cia will pay. Believe that. Either she dies...or I'll take her with me."

"Don't speak like that!"

He began to smile. "Such a girly girl...It doesn't matter. Nabs got most of the Gerudo to Sanctuary. At least I got her and Telma. Probably should pay a visit after we're done."

"Yea. And Joshua?"

"Yes?"

"Next time you leave, give up command."

"Stupid Hyrulean protocols."

"Stupid Hyrulean protocols indeed...What's that?"

Joshua looked at his right hand and couldn't believe the sight. Zelda looked at hers.

"Assemble everyone."

The group of four gathered as the pieces of the Triforce called towards each other. Lana looked in awe. "I see that your Triforce has returned."

Zelda showed it to Impa and Lana. "Yes. Mine, and Link's too."

Link did the same gesture. "Yep."

"It's not clear exactly how, but Cia's powers should be a lot weaker. If we're going to counterattack, we've got to do it now!"

Impa, always the wise one. "Cia still holds the Triforce of Power."

"Impa, for a Sheikah, you are stupid." The new bearer of the Triforce of Power walked towards the group. "But she is still strong. She won't be overtaken easily."

"You're back."

"Miss me, Impa? I missed you. Those beautiful red eyes sends my heart fluttering. And when you swing thst giant sword, that expands dong." Oh, I should've put Impaz in this chapter. Oh well.

"Shut up."

Zelda, trying hard not to laugh, brought them back on topic. "No, we can win. As long as we have the Master Sword." I'm at my breaking point to include Impaz. She turned to Link once more. "I believe Link possesses the spirit necessary to wield it."

Link was confused. "Excuse me, princess?"

Impa butted in. "But, Princess the Master Sword is more than just a weapon. It's a barrier."

Josh nodded. "We don't know how long that barrier could stay up. Remember, it keeps a fragment of Pork Chops locked away. Once pulled, that fragment will be freed." He turned towards Lana. "Unless someone more well verse in magic would like an opinion."

"The barriers surrounding the Temple of the Sacred Sword are made with a special type of magic. Pulling the Master Sword alone won't undo the barrier. Not entirely, anyway."

Joshua leaned towards Link. "That's what she said."

"How can we be sure Link is ready for this task?"

Zelda looked directly at Link. "Because I believe in him."

Lana chipped in. "I believe in him too!"

All Link could do was look at the two girls. "Um..."

Impa gave her wise opinion. "Well, Link, if you were looking for a chance to prove yourself, this would be it."

Josh sighed. "Let's get this over with. I have a date with a witch."

Zelda lead the group to the Temple of the Sacred Sword. "Then we make haste for the Temple of the Sacred Sword."

Josh caught up to her. "Stupid idea, but we're full of them aren't we?"

She just smiled at him.

"This place is nothing but ruins! Can the Master Sword really be here?"

"We'll have to find out, Proxi." Link's Gossip Stone began to shine. "What's up?"

It was Zelda. "The Master Sword is up ahead. We must work together to retrieve it. First, we must awaken the three sealed statues. According to legend, statues are located in the north, south, and west. It will take the abilities of Impa, Midna, and Darunia to awaken the sealed statues."

Darunia was confused. "Our abilities?"

Lana's voice entered the Stone. "Sealed statues...Sealed Statues...Where are they?" Lana search the western part of the ghost town and found it in the West Square. "I found one! It has two swords on it. One looks like the Goddess Sword"

"Impa, that is the Statue of Servitude. Please awaken it."

Impa and Link joined Lana and Impa touched the statue. Nothing. "It's not working."

"Let me try." Link touched it and all he saw was a white light.

"Where am I?" Link wasn't in Hyrule, that's for sure. It looked more like...The Temple of Time in the Sealed Grounds.

"Courage. It's a bitch." Link turned saw...The Hero of Sky.

"You're...You're..."

"The Hero of Sky. And any moment now.."

The older hero charged at the younger one, but Link blocked the attack on time. "Good, your reflexes are on point. So answer this question. Answer correctly, and you may leave to find the others. What do you fear more than anything?"

"Nothing."

"No, you don't. Everyone has a fear." Link was pushed back and felt someone kicked him to the ground. He looked and saw the Hero of Time. "Once again, what do you fear?"

He thought about it. Then he remembered them. His parents and his uncle. The closest people to him. "I fear losing the people close to me."

The Hero smiled. "That's..." He tossed a boomerang at Link and hit his head. "Incorrect. We all do. What do YOU fear above all fears?"

Link rubbed his head, and was a little pissed. He charged towards the two Heroes, and began to attack viciously. "I fear no one!"

"Then walk away from this war and let Hyrule fall."

"No!"

"Why?"

"I will not fail to save Hyrule!" Then he realized what he feared most. The one thing that he has promised to never do. Fail.

The Hero of Twilight appeared and smiled as the boy came to realization. "As a Hero, we feel as we are put on a higher pedestal. We are encouraged not to fail. We tell ourselves not to fail."

"Did you ever fail?"

They nodded, and the Hero of Sky spoke. "Yes. I failed Hylia when I couldn't stop Ghirahim from taking her to the past. But that failure brought success. The Hero of Time failed to protect the Princess of Destiny. She failed him also. They both made it right when she sent him back and they warned the king of Ganondorf's treason. The Hero of Twilight failed to protect his friends, but it made him into the Hero he was. Failure is part of our duty. We as Heroes must fail. Only by that do we succeed. Only through failing, we gain the courage to succeed."

"Link, are you alright?"

Link woke up hearing Impa's voice. "Uh-huh. Had a blast to the past."

"Well, whatever you did, I was able to activate the statue." He looked at the statue. It had the symbol of the Triforce on it. "It seems I have no choice but to wait here until the statues are fully awakened."

Joshua's called through the Gossip Stone. "Impa, are you there?"

"Yes, boy. What is it?"

"THOSE WHO WOULD THREATEN THE TEMPLE WILL BE PUNISHED!"

Out of nowhere, and I mean that literally, an army showed up. An army of ghosts.

Josh and Zelda couldn't believe it. "Are these...ghost soldiers of our army?"

"Yep. Everyone, watch out." Josh looked at Zelda and smiled. "You looked scared."

"I ain't afraid of no ghost!"

"Then let's bust them!"

Darunia and Midna were surrounded by the ghosts. The Goron gripped his hammer and the Twili clutched a smaller version of the Mirror of Twilight.

"Well, these aren't normal enemies."

"Watch out, Princess."

Out of nowhere, a giant cannon appeared and fired three large blast, hitting the ghosts. "Oh, I'm fine. Watch yours, Sage."

Lana found another statue in the South Square. It had the symbols of Fire and Water. "Zelda, what's this one?"

"Darunia, that is the Statue of Wave and Flame. Use your fire ability to awaken it. Midna, the statue in the North Square is the Statue of Twilight. Use your Twilight ability to awaken it. Josh will escort you, Midna. Darunia, I will do the same for you."

"Sure, you got it."

"Alright."

"Link, watch over Impa."

"Ok."

Josh and Midna made it to the sealed statue after busting some ghosts. The Twili woman looked to her slightly taller friend.

She grinned. "If I was crazy, I'll say you wanted to help me out."

"Helping beautiful women is my forte. Now activate this statue."

Once again, it didn't work. She walked back to him and grabbed his right hand, red eyes looking deep into yellow eyes. "You try, hotshot. If Link did something with Impa's before hers activated, could you do something. "It's probably a Triforce thing."

"Alright." He touched it. Nothing. He turned around. "Well I..."

"Power isn't everything, isn't it?"

Josh saw the last person he wanted to see. "You!"

Ganondorf, King of Demons. "So you're my successor. Pitiful, you are. Definitely unworthy of the Triforce of Power."

"Pot speaks to kettle. I didn't betray my people, at least."

He laughed. "Then surely you could bring her back."

"What?"

"The Triforce of Power is stronger than Wisdom and Courage, unless they're combined. But even so, it still bends to its Master's will. Ask it to bring the girl back, and it shall. Or even yet, get revenge on the witch. Destroy her with a single thought. Avenge Aveil. Lana and Cia were the same person, right?"

"Yes."

"Then Lana is as guilty as the witch."

Joshua thought about it. Surely the guy who had the power of the Triforce of Power would know its limitations. But then he remembered Aveil's words.

"You aren't easily convinced. Take a look."

He saw Hyrule. But it was different. Gerudos weren't in the desert, but everywhere. He was on their flags. On the throne. The Hylians, Gorons, and Zoras bowed to him. And by his side, was Aveil.

"This..?"

"Imagine that. You want what's best for your people?"

"Yes...I would be able to bring her back, you say?"

Ganondorf grinned. "Exactly. Use the Triforce of Power. With it, anything is possible. Only a worthy descendent would be the next bearer."

"Then I shall use it, and be a worthy bearer. I will use it to take out Cia. And definitely you, Ganondorf."

"What?"

He held his hand forward, forming a ball of magic. "I will honor her death. I will honor her words. And I definitely won't end up like you!"

"Josh, nap time is over."

He woke up. "Hey, Midna."

She helped him up. "What happened?"

"Saw an old friend of yours. Is the statue activated?"

"Yea. It looked like it worked, but it'll take a while to fully wake up. I'll stay here until it's ready." He looked at the Twilight Princess. "What, Josh?"

"You are so beautiful."

She blushed. "Thank..you."

He came closer to her. "You know, I always wanted to see the Twilight Princess. But shame, we don't live in the same time period. Oh, what a shame."

He turned around. "Zelda, we got our statue activated...Zelda?"

He turned around. "Well, she must have touched the statue."

"You think?"

"Keep the sassy attitude in the Twilight Realm."

Zelda was in Hyrule Castle. But it wasn't her home.

"They said we were the wisest people in the land. How wrong they were."

Zelda turned and saw the disguised Princess of Destiny, Hylia Reborn, and the Princess of Light. Three different Zeldas.

"How...?"

Hylia glared at Zelda. "Ah, it's the next fool in our line. Fell in love with the Hero, of course. Expecting him to save you."

Sheik followed. "Thought using my disguise was smart? You're lucky they didn't put two and two together when the Triforce of Wisdom was taken from you."

The Princess of Light scowled. "Think fighting for your country was a brighter idea than surrendering?"

Zelda didn't know how to answer. "Ah, sisters, she is speechless. She knows our accusations is true. The Blood of the Goddess is a pathetic line of women. We all get captured, and then we wait for our respective Hero to save us."

"Not true!" The three women looked at the teen. "Why would you say such a thing?"

"It is true, isn't it?"

"The Hylia I know created a thousand year plan to be reborn and alongside her, the reincarnation of her original hero. They defeated Demise." She turned to Sheik. "The Princess of Destiny wasn't a damsel in distress. She assisted the hero, teaching him the songs and guiding his path. Without her, The Hero of Time would never, ever save Hyrule." Looking at the Princess of Light, she sighed. "You did what was right. You surrendered on the hope that a Hero would rise again. But unlike those two, you assisted the Hero in the final battle. Without you, he wouldn't have save Midna, or even defeated Ganondorf!"

Hylia looked Sheik and the Princess of Light before returning her gaze to Zelda. "Clearly our line is still the wisest in the land, sisters."

The princess woke up. "Ughh..."

"Zelda, you alright?"

"Yes, Darunia."

"Well, the statue awakened, and Midna's did as well. It's gonna take a while for this to properly wake up. I'll stay here until then."

"Alright. And with this, the temple doors should finally open."

Impa spoke through the Stone. "Princess Zelda, the statue will not awaken in a timely matter. I require a moment longer."

"Same here. And I suspect Midna will need more time as well."

Lana's cry through the Gossip Stone scared everyone. "Ghost soldiers are in the temple!"

Zelda was shocked. "Inside the temple. That's unusual. Someone must be manipulating them."

Link and Proxi began to search. "Is someone pulling the strings behind the scenes? But who is this puppet master?"

"I wish I knew, Proxi." He cut through the ghosts in his search, to no success.

"I can't find the leader, Zelda!"

"Hold on, I feel an evil presence nearby. Someone is here, Link."

"I feel it too, Link. Ooh, that's creepy. You don't think there's an imposter around, do you?"

"Probably so, Proxi. Let's check again." Proxi flew off in her search. She found Lana in the center.

"The enemy still lives! Finish this!"

"Lana?" The girl turned to face the fairy. "You don't seem like yourself. Are you all right?"

"I'll swat you like the bug your are!" Lana swung her book, missing the fleeing fairy.

"Link! Lana has an imposter!"

"I have an imposter?" She looked at Darunia and Zelda. "I guess that's flattering, but it's still really inconvenient."

Link ran up to the imposter. "Well, you and insipid fairy are such nuisances! I'll stomp you both if have to!"

"You can try to-"

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! "HYAAAAA!"

The imposter was knocked back by the surprise attack, and both it and the Hero/Fairy duo looked at a small kid wearing a mask. "Uhh..."

"HEY MR. FAIRY!"

Both Link and imposter Lana looked up and saw a big red balloon. Under it, a man in green with a giant bomb headed their way.

"Oh no. Run Link!"

"What is the meaning of this!"

"Leave Mr. Fairy alone! KOOLOO!"

The man dropped the bomb onto imposter Lana. She flew up into the air and landed on the balloon.

"LIMPAH!" The balloon burst, and the imposter fell on her face. Beaten, she prepared to retreat. "I guess you're not as easy to trick as you look. Oh, wait, I still won't you win."

The imposter poofed away, and both Link and Proxi looked upon the newcomers. The short man in green tights looked at Link and jumped in excitement. "Mr. Fairy, there's a...bigger Mr. Fairy!"

Link leaned his head to the side. "Bigger?" He turned to the masked kid, and noticed the green attire. The boy with the mask did the same.

The mask muffled the boy's voice, to make it sound deeper. "So I take it that you're the new Hero of Legend, huh?"

"Uhh... Yeah."

The boy took off his mask, and Link almost jumped back. Proxi flew around, stating the obvious similarities between the two. Link figured who the kid was. "You're... You're the Hero of Time!"

He smiled. "You could say that, although the Hero of Termina fits more with the way my first legend goes." He pointed to the green man with the big nose. "That's Tingle. He's...crazy about fairies."

With the disappearance of a commander, the ghosts were freed, but failed to realized who they were attacking.

In the North Square, Midna and Joshua saw something happening with the statue. "Power is starting to radiate from the statue. I think it is about ready to wake up!"

"About damn time." In unison, all three statues's powers awoken as a golden light shone from them.

Link was at the Temple's entrance when it opened. "THE TEMPLE DOOR IS OPEN. HE WHO SHALL WIELD THE SACRED SWORD HAS APPEARED!" And with that, the Ghost Army vanished.

Everyone returned to the Central Square. However, Impa and Darunia were weakened.

"Princess, forgive me. Waking the statue has taken its toll on me. I must retreat this once."

"Me two."

"It's alright. Go."

Joshua entered the keep, a weaken Midna in his arms. "Take her with you." Darunia took the Twilight Princess and the three teleported away from battle."

"Well, ladies, us men got a sword to retrieve. Stay here, look sexy, and don't do anything rash. Come on, Link...both of you!"

"Right behind you!"

"Yea!"

Zelda and Lana looked at each other. "Men."

"Those monsters were a workout."

"Tell me about it. How did they get inside?"

"Doesn't...crap."

Link, Young Link, and Josh were near the Doors of Time, the only thing between them and the Master Sword. Oh, and a few monsters.

"Two Aeralfos, two Redeads, and a bunch of Bokoblins. Shouldn't be too hard."

"The Gerudo Prince says this will be easy. Let's find out!" Link charged his sword up, and unleashed the Great Spin Attack, taking out the Redeads, Aeralfos, and some Bokoblins. He saw a fire dragon and a huge Triforce symbol pick off the remaining monsters.

The Doors of Time open, and the three looked outside. The younger Hero looked to his older counterpart. "Well Link, there she goes."

Link walked alone towards the sword. Gripping it, the Triforce of Courage illuminated his hand and the sword accepted him as her master. Successfully taking out the sword, Link held it skyward. The sword began to glow a golden color.

"Tried hiding from me? Little brat!" Wizzro charged his attack and fired at Link turned around just in time to deflect the attack. He looked at the sword before looking at Wizzro. "Oh, now you f'd up!"

"You fool!"

Link was too fast for Wizzro, and the hero sent the Poe into a frenzy. "Don't mess with me, punk! Give me the Master Sword."

"The Master Sword cannot be controlled by an evil hand. Your end is at hand, wizard!" Link thrusted his sword into Wizzro with great force, and sent the Poe flying. He shunk into the ground.

Link turned his attention to the sword. "Unbelievable! I never expected the Master Sword would be so powerful!"

"Link, we need help! Monsters have appeared!"

"I'm coming Zelda!"

"EVERYONE! Retreat to the temple!"

Zelda, Tingle, and Lana led the Hyrulean Army towards the temple...and Link went right past them.

"Mr. Fairy, come back!"

"Why? Wizard is this way!" Link ran through the monsters, either avoiding them or ending them. He ran all the way to Wizzro in the West Square. Once again, Wizzro was outdone by the Hero. It wasn't long before it was over.

"Gaah...you're cheating! Then again, we didn't give you much choice, did we?"

"Where's Cia?"

"If you want Cia, you'll find her in the Temple of Souls. But she won't be happy." With that, Wizzro vanished.

"The Master Sword is amazing! Link, as long as we have this, we can't lose!"

"We'll never fail."

Back at camp, while Link was showcasing the Master Sword, Joshua was in the infirmary. A few soldiers were here, but he only had on person he wanted to see.

"Hello, Midna."

"Hello, stupid. I heard Link got the sword."

"Yep." He sat in the chair next to the bed and layed his feet on it. "How you doing?"

"I've felt worser...Shouldn't you be with the others?"

"I should, but Zelda and Lana are part of Link's entourage. I'm not too big on partying. Plus I saw Impa and Darunia up and was worried about you."

She smile at his concern. "Thanks."

"Your welcome."

"I feel as if I owe you something. I mean, you did get me out of that ridiculous form."

He rubbed his hand through her hair. "Ever had a drink?"

"A few." She caught his mischievous grin. "Challenge accepted, Gerudo. But know this. Twili drinks are heavier than Hyrulean drinks."

"And know this, Twili. Gerudo can take more in than the average Hyrulean."

"Hmm...we get sober really quickly."

"Well, there goes my plan at having fun. We get sober very quickly as well. But you never had Tel's special drink."

"How bad is it?"

"I...walked around the fortress...in all my glory for an entire day."

She gasped and snickered at the comment. "We're so drinking that!"

"You just want to see walking around naked." She didn't confirm nor deny it, but he saw the glint in her eyes. "You're a dirty princess."

Midna shrugged as she moved up on the bed, letting her feet touch the floor. "Maybe I am. Come on, let's go see what everyone's doing."

Long chapter, but we're not close to the end yet. Getting there, but not anytime soon.

Midna and Joshua getting closer? That means trouble! Sadly, it won't cause any trouble. But my plans for Link and Ruto...oh yes!