Chapter Twenty One

We warped to Arbiter's Ground soon after dawn. We stand in the center of it now, facing a dusty broken mirror stand. The same one from Twilight Princess, I'm pretty sure. Both Sheik and Zelda have wrapped their scarfs around their faces despite the heat. Or maybe it's to keep the sand out of their eyes. It's literally everywhere. Navi fluttered close to Link's head panting in the desert heat when we first got here, but within three minutes she was back under Link's hat and now she's loudly complaining about the heat.

"How do the Gerudos stand this heat? Honestly, it's no wonder this place used to be a prison! The heat alone is punishment!" She yells.

"Well, it's probably a lot hotter in there, you know." Link mumbles.

"So this is the mirror they used to send prisoners to the Underworld." Sheik says, examining the mirror.

"You mean the Twilight Realm," I say.

"The what?" Link asks.

"The Twilight Realm." I reply. Shouldn't they know that? "You know, the world parallel to Hyrule. Kind of like Termina."

"Woah, there's a world parallel to Hyrule?" Sheik says. "How come no one ever told us that?"

"What's Temina?" Navi asks.

Link shakes his head. "Uhm, no I've never heard of it. Maybe it was kept a secret? Along with all the other fun stuff I'm learning about my past lives."

"I've actually heard of it," Zelda says. "It's mentioned in the scrolls passed down from generation to generation in the Royal Family. Another world bathed in twilight, where the Twili race dwell. Convicts too horrible for Hyrule were sent there as punishment for their evil crimes. Once, Twilight covered Hyrule and nearly overtook us, but the Hero of Light banished the Twilight and defeated the evil that overcame both worlds. And the Mirror of Twilight, which served as a gateway between the worlds, was destroyed." She looks at me. "Is that what you were referring to?"

I nod. "Yeah. That's it exactly."

"I can see why they kept that a secret," Link says.

"Well, there are more details," I say. "Link was actually able to transform into a wolf to fight in Twilight, because he was the chosen hero. He met an imp named Midna, who helped him defeat the Twilight. But Midna actually wasn't an imp, but the princess of Twilight. Zant, the guy who worked for Ganondorf and claimed he was the King of Twilight, transformed Midna into an imp and banished her. But when Zant and Ganondorf were defeated, Midna returned to her true form and returned to Twilight to rule her people. Before she went she shattered the Mirror of Twilight so nothing like that could ever happen again. It a pretty sad ending."

"Wow, that wasn't in the scrolls." Zelda says in surprise.

Sheik snorts. "Neither was our ancestors living on a floating island."

"And me being a reincarnation of the Hero of Time, the Hero of Light and any other heroes we don't know about." Link adds.

"In my defense the Ancient Battle and the establishment of Hyrule is mentioned, it just didn't say that they lived in the sky and rode birds." Zelda says defensively.

"Yeah, but why do the scrolls never mention that the hero's name is always Link? I mean, no one made that connection? Ever? Why is my name never recorded?"

"I just want to know why no one knew about Skyloft. And why can't we see it from down here, does that bother anyone but me?"

"Oh, you guys have got to see the official Zelda timeline," I say. "It'll blow your mind."

Suddenly a growl rings out. A deep, low, kind of scary growl. We all turn around, Navi peeking out from under Link's hat. A ginormous wolf creeps out from the shadows, cobalt blue eyes burning. He has blue earrings hanging from both ears, something that you definitely don't see on your normal everyday wolf. A handcuff is cuffed around his left leg, the chain clinking against the stone ground. Link unsheathes his sword, Navi yelps and goes back under his hat. Sheik takes out his sword too and pulls Zelda behind him, who pulls out her dagger. But I don't move. I'm not scared of him.

"Nicole," Link whispers urgently. "Get back!"

I wave my hand. "It's fine, he won't hurt us. That's the last thing he'd do."

"He's a wolf the size of a bear!"

I still don't move. Because I see something the others don't: a Triforce mark on the back of his left paw. I recognize this wolf.

"So, you're Twilight Princess Link, right?" I ask him calmly.

"Nicky, it's a wolf. It's a big, scary wolf that can bite your head off. It's not Link!" Navi whispers.

"Did I not just tell you that Link could turn into a wolf?" I ask.

Wolf Link almost seems to smile. Then he melts into shadow, shifting shape like water, becoming more human. Then he stands up, fully human. He's Link alright. His tunic is slightly darker, and his hair is a darker shade of blond. He seems more serious and sad. But he smiles at us none-the-less.

"Yes, that's me. Sorry for the scare, it's easier to stand the heat as a wolf. Plus, I have to admit it's pretty fun."

~X~

Link stares in surprise at Other Link. "I didn't expect you to actually be a... a wolf."

"It can come as a shock, yeah?" Other Link says.

"Can I just say, you're my favorite Link in the video games." I say.

He smiles at me. "Thank you," He turns to Link. "I'm just going to get straight to your test. The goddesses want to have you go into the Twilight Realm as a wolf to prove yourself worthy of my weapon." Woah, no beating around the bush, huh?

"But," I say, confused. "Midna shattered the Mirror of Twilight."

Other Link smiles sadly. "Yes, she shattered the mirror when she left. But, the goddesses have access to all other realms. Why do you think they're the goddesses? They have access to Twilight, Termina, Lorule the Silent Realm and the Sacred Realm, they even have access to the three timelines created by the events in the Era of the Hero of Time."

"Wait, there's a place named Lorule?" Sheik asks. "You're kidding me, right?"

"So, did you ever meet her again? Midna, I mean." I say.

He nods. "Yes. But not in my time alive, I'm afraid. Only after the goddesses chose me as the last Chosen Hero."

"So, we're going to have to go into the Twilight Realm?" Link asks.

"No," Other Link says. "Not we. You. In this test, your friends will not be allowed to help you at all."

"No!" Navi says, flying out of Link's hat. "Absolutely not! He's my partner, the goddesses and the Great Deku Tree trusted me with him! I'm supposed to help him and keep him from doing stupid things, and he's also my friend. I have a right to go with him!"

"I understand your want to help him." Other Link says. "But you cannot enter the Twilight Realm, you would be turned into a spirit. The rest of you are the same, unable to survive there. But Link on the other hand, he's the Chosen Hero of this time. With the Shadow Crystal he'll be able to turn into the sacred beast, just as I did. He is the only one who can go into the Twilight Realm. This test was designed for him alone."

Link looks at him steadily. "What do I have to do there?"

"Link you are not going in there alone!" Navi yells.

"It's okay, Navi." Link whispers.

"Defeat the Shadow Beasts and make it to the Palace of Twilight." Other Link says. "Once you reach it, you'll be allowed back into this world, and I'll give you my weapon."

Link nods. "Okay. Do I go now?"

Other Link shrugs. "You can say your goodbyes. When you feel ready, just walk through the mirror."

I turn around and gasp. The once broken Mirror of Twilight now stands fully repaired and glows with light.

"I'll be waiting for you there." Other Link says, and he walks through the mirror.