Memories rushed back to him. Slowly, the events that brought him here played themselves out in his deep subconscious.

Kari looked around at the leaves resting on the barren ground around him. They sat lonely and scattered like lily pads on a forgotten pool. The air was silent and still as if holding its breath. The Sheikah was about to change that. He closed his eyes and exhaled. With a flick of the Wind Waker, the leaves slowly rolled around and lifted off the ground like small birds.

The task was a simple exercise in wind control. The objective was to keep the leaves in the air for a full minute. Summon the wind too weak, and the leaves would fall back to the ground; too strong and they would blow out of control. To make the task more challenging, he also had to keep the foliage blowing in a circle around him. If a single leaf touched the ground before the minute had passed, the exercise was over and he would have to restart.

Kari opened his eyes as he focused on the leaves floating through the air. A few started dropping back to the ground; he manipulated the wind and watched them float back up on the swift current of moving air. He tightened the circle of air around him and watched the leaves dance through the sky like flower petals. His sharp eyes shifted through the current swirling around him looking for stragglers.

Thirty seconds. Forty seconds. Fifty seconds.

The leaves started swirling too fast. His eyes honed in on one particular rebel that dared to escape his meticulously crafted twister. He attempted to push it in with a strong gust from the outside, but his adversary looped up and over it in a slow descent to the ground. The Sheikah desperately summoned a quick updraft to salvage the attempt, momentarily losing his concentration on the remaining leaves. As the rebel successfully blew up into the air, the rest scattered around him, floating gently but defiantly to the ground.

The Sheikah slumped to the ground with a grumble and watched that one last remaining leaf land in front of him. He grabbed a handful of sand and watched it slip through his fingers like the success he had almost attained.

"It only takes one to ruin it," he mumbled to himself.

He sat there for another minute, frustrated that his exercise had failed for the fiftieth time. But, he couldn't afford to give up now. Like all the other failures, he cleared his mind and focused on his breathing until the frustration evaporated from beneath his skin.

He stood up and readied himself for another go. He looked again at the leaves. They lay scattered, silent, and undisturbed like he wasn't even there. It was almost as if they were taunting him. He closed his eyes and prepared to meet their challenge.

"You're at it again, I see. Do you even have any real friends? Or do you depend on these leaves for company?" a woman's voice taunted him.

Reddish-yellow eyes looked at him in amusement beneath hair the color of fall foliage. She was tall and skinny but very acrobatic. She wore light battle armor with the Sheikah eye stitched into it and battle tape around her wrists. Her vibrant hair was tied into a braid reaching down her back. She stood on the hill with her arms folded, watching the wind tamer with a sense of amusement.

"I do have friends," Kari replied defensively. "There's Akime. And Impa. And you." He tucked the silver baton in his boot, fully aware that her presence meant the end of his training. "And you know why I have to train so hard. I refuse to be a failure again."

The woman shrugged her shoulders and walked to meet him. "You're always so serious, Kari. I was just joking around."

"Oh, you were?"

The woman smirked at him while circling behind and wrapping her arms around him. Her hair tickled the side of Kari's neck as she rested her head on his shoulder. He basked in her familiar scent. "One of these days you'll learn when I'm instigating you."

Kari cracked a small smile. "Midna, sometimes I think that's all the time." He leaned his head against hers as Midna ran her finger across his chest.

"You're probably not far off with that," she smiled. She returned her arms to her side and meandered among the fallen leaves. "So what self-imposed challenge did you come up with this time?"

The wind tamer shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it's an exercise designed to increase control of the wind. I have to keep the leaves up in the air for a count of sixty while circling them around me. If the wind is too strong…"

Midna rolled her eyes. "You don't have to give me the whole explanation again. I've seen you do it before."

Kari paused. "Oh. I guess you are right." He paused. "Well, just in case you forgot then."

"How could I forget? You explain the whole thing every time I ask. I could quote it back to you if I wanted." Midna picked up one of the leaves and twisted it between her fingers. "So, any success?"

The wind tamer shook his head and his eyes dropped. "Not this time. But I will succeed soon." He clenched his fist. "I have to."

Midna sighed. "Why do you always get like this?"

Kari looked up at her. "Like what?"

The young woman walked back over to him. "Like you have to carry the world on your shoulders. I know you're going to take over for Sharlo eventually, but you're just one person." The leaf in her hand tickled his cheek. "You've come a long way in a few years. Why can't you be content with that?"

The wind tamer nodded. His eyes dropped to the ground as he brushed the leaf aside. "That may be. But I never want to be as useless as I was on my first mission. My incompetence nearly killed me and endangered everyone else."

Midna thought carefully before speaking. The leaf dropped to the ground as she lifted his chin with her finger. "Kari, time is like a river; it only flows in one direction. You can look behind you and let the current drag you. Or you can look ahead and swim to the challenges that await." She paused, turning her towards him. "Sometimes, it's better to look towards the future."

The Sheikah scratched his head. "That was surprisingly insightful. Where did you hear that?"

Midna stuck her tongue out at him. "I made it up just now. Not bad if I do say so myself."

Kari folded his arms and cracked a small smile. "Indeed. I am impressed." He looked around and the smile quickly disappeared. "But you should know I am looking to the future. If you remember, my father gave me the Wind Waker after that disastrous first mission. To me, it was a second chance. I wasn't very good with it at first, but I got better as I trained over the years. And that's why I have to keep training. So I'll be ready."

Midna folded her arms. "But I notice Sharlo is never around to help you."

The wind tamer shrugged the comment off. "He is very busy taking care of other things."

She didn't seem to buy his response. "But he could at least help you once in a while. What keeps him so busy?"

The Sheikah shrugged his shoulders. "He wants to end this war. He spends a lot of time in the Shadow Temple. I can only assume he's got some sort of plan."

Midna rolled her eyes. "So, in other words, he doesn't tell you anything. Well, as long as he's at tomorrow's ceremony, I guess he can't be all that bad of a father." She grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle tug. "Enough about him. Come with me. I have something to show you that'll take your mind off things."

Kari willingly followed her. "Where are you taking me?"

She flashed him a mischievous smile. "You'll see when we get there."

The place she had in mind was a spot they often visited. It was a cliff halfway up Death Mountain that provided an unsurpassed view of the surrounding land. In front of them stretched the vast field of Hyrule. Animals appeared as small specks as they grazed on the fertile grass. The vast Lost Woods sprawled to the left, a sea of trees blanketing the landscape in that direction as far as the eye could see. To the right were more cliffs and a waterfall that fed Zora's River, the stream that cut through most of the land and fed its vegetation. The setting sun colored the sky with its fiery rays, taking one last glance at the land before hiding beneath the horizon for the day.

"I never get sick of this spot," Kari said as he took a seat on the cliff, his legs dangling dangerously over the precipice. "You can see everything from here."

Midna sat down beside him. "And no else knows about this place. It belongs to just the two of us." The wind up here was stronger. It tugged gently on her braid and pulled it close to her cheek. "How many times do you think we've come up here?"

Kari began counting on his fingers. "Well, you could estimate we come up here three or four times a month. Sometimes more. So, if three years have passed since we found this…"

The red-haired shinobi looked at him with a straight face. "It's actually been fifty-four times."

The wind tamer was awestruck. "How did you figure that out so fast?"

Midna stared at him for several seconds before bursting out laughing. "Kari, I could've thrown out any number and you would've believed me."

The joke flew right by the wind tamer. He looked at her curiously. "So you don't actually know?"

This only made Midna laugh harder. "You're making this way too easy!" Her laughter continued to fill the air, along with the occasional snort, until she ran out of breath and her stomach started to hurt. It took her a while to finally be able to talk again. "Sorry…I don't know why I thought that was so funny. I guess I should be used to your cluelessness by now."

Kari cracked a small smile. "I enjoy seeing you like that. Even if it's at my expense."

Midna leaned into him. He wrapped his arm around her back.

"So do you feel ready for tomorrow?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Everything changes after today."

Kari searched for a response. "Indeed. Tomorrow, we become joined before the goddesses for life." He looked out at the vast landscape before them. "I have anticipated this day for so long. It is hard to believe it's finally here."

Midna nodded in agreement. "Me too." The wind continued to tug at her braid. "It's funny to think we first met in a jail cell. Not exactly a romantic meeting."

"That is true. We have made some interesting memories together, haven't we?"

Midna chuckled. "I don't know if 'interesting' is quite the word I'd use. Remember how we first found this place?"

Kari shook his head. "I cannot say I do."

"I'll never forget it. It was so romantic." She lifted her head to glance at him mischievously. "You really won my heart that day. First, you suggested we go on a training exercise that involved a hike up the mountain. Then you gave me a fifty-pound weight vest to make it more challenging. And if that wasn't enough, you encouraged me by climbing so far ahead that I was left to fend for myself much of the trip. By the time I finally caught up, I found you fast asleep on this ledge while you waited for me. You must've stayed up all night thinking about how to make a good impression, didn't you?"

The wind tamer nodded. "It took me a long time to think of that. I was not sure if you were the type of girl who enjoyed a good challenge or not."

Midna poked Kari in the ribs, causing him to jump. "I must enjoy a challenge. I'm going to marry you, aren't I?"

The wind tamer paused. "Wait. Am I that challenging to deal with?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "That depends. Our second date wasn't much better. I would hardly consider spending the entire day in the library very ideal."

"But I thought you enjoyed that."

Midna just sighed. "Kari, it's a good thing I started planning what we did from that point forward. Otherwise, we probably wouldn't be here right now."

Kari paused. "How was I supposed to know you preferred holding hands while walking together? Or eating dinner by candlelight? After all, those things don't strengthen the body or mind."

Midna chuckled. "I enjoy training and getting dirty as the next Sheikah. But those things don't build relationships. Luckily, you eventually learned. I'm glad you haven't made me spend a whole day in the library or go hiking with a weight vest since."

The wind tamer looked out over the vast horizon. "And yet there is still much to learn. The future is so uncertain."

Midna directed his lips towards hers. "Then let's live in the moment. Let tomorrow worry about itself." She gently kissed his lips. "I have something I want to give you."

The wind tamer raised his brows. "How do I know whether to take you seriously?"

The red-haired Sheikah reached into the bag she'd been carrying. "I'm being serious this time. Tomorrow's a special day for us. I want to give you something to commemorate it." Her hand emerged from the bag with what looked like a pile of folded fabric.

"But I have no gift for you," Kari said quickly.

She unfolded the cloth to reveal a blue tunic with a white collar. The Sheikah eye was stitched on the chest. "I didn't ask for a gift. I just wanted to make this for you. You know…to commemorate our relationship." She held up the sleeves. "The material is light but warm. And I made small pouches here so you can put the Wind Waker inside."

She handed it to Kari, who turned it over to examine it. "You did a good job with this. The stitches are not even visible."

"Do you like it?" she asked.

"Of course!" he responded quickly.

She smirked. "Then promise me you'll wear it tomorrow."

Kari frowned. "I am not sure if Sharlo would approve. He was not clear on what the clothing requirements are for this ceremony."

Midna groaned. "Who cares what he thinks? He's not the one getting married."

The Sheikah scowled. "I care. He is still my father."

She rolled her eyes. "But he's never around."

"I still care about what he thinks."

She paused for a moment, her eyes opening wide like she had an epiphany. "I finally figured it out. I don't know why I didn't see it sooner. Now I know why you spend so much time training."

"I told you already. So I will be strong enough to protect the village."

Midna shook her head. "But it's more than that. You're trying to win his approval. Even though he's such a cold-hearted man, you're doing everything you can to gain his recognition."

Kari flew to his feet. "He is not cold-hearted! Take that back!"

The red-haired Sheikah waited for him to calm down. She had gotten used to his outbursts by now and knew that she just needed to let the emotion pass. When she saw the fire leave his eyes, she gently grabbed his hand and guided him back to the ground.

"Kari, even you have to admit that there is certain…isolation to him. Like his mind is elsewhere. It's like even when his body is there, his mind is somewhere else. Has he always been like this?"

The wind tamer was silent for a while. Midna waited patiently for him to respond.

"I have to admit that he has been different the last few years," he conceded at last. "Since he gave me the Wind Waker. Before, even though he had a lot to do, he was always calm. But now, he seems more on edge. Like he's always looking over his shoulder. I really worry about him."

Midna nodded. "Anything else?"

Kari nodded. "Yeah. He's always talking about how his plans to wipe out the Hylians. It borderlines on obsession. Whatever happened five years ago, I think it changed him."

She smirked. "Well, at least you have me to brighten up your life." She paused. "Enough about Sharlo. Let's just enjoy the sunset."

Kari nodded. "I like that idea."

The two snuggled up against one another as the setting sun set the sky ablaze. A few birds glided across the horizon to their nests in the trees of Hyrule Field. Most of the land was bathed in a beautiful twilight, but a long shadow slowly spread over it as the sun rested beneath the hills to the west. A chilly night wind replaced the warm afternoon breeze. Midna began to shiver, and Kari wrapped his arm around her.

"We should probably head back to the village before it gets too dark," he suggested.

Midna nodded. "What? You want to get away from me already?" She chuckled at Kari's horrified expression. "I'm kidding again. We should probably head back like you said."

The couple got up from their favorite spot and began the hike down the mountain. It was an uneventful trip as the crescent moon stood watch in the night sky. The sound of chirping crickets greeted them as they made their way back into the village of Kasuto. They stopped by the house that had been given to Midna. After the raid on Lon Lon Prison, the village had chosen to adopt her into the community since her whole family had been killed in the war.

"This is our last night as mere friends," Midna said. Her eyes looked longingly into his.

"May it go quickly," Kari responded.

They kissed each other good night before parting ways. The door closed with a light squeal while Kari lingered outside, his spirit floating on the clouds. Eventually, he headed back to the house. He saw Akime standing outside the doorway. The friendly Sheikah greeted him with a wave.

"You must've had a good day of training to be back so late," he said.

Kari carefully placed the tunic he had received under his arm. "The training was until Midna came. Things got sidetracked from there."

Akime chuckled to himself. "Ah, to be young and in love. Still, tomorrow is the day you two are finally joined together before the goddesses. Are you excited?"

The wind tamer nodded slowly. "As much as I can be. I am not quite sure what to expect."

Akime patted him on the back. "Relax. Everything will be fine. I was just discussing some of the details with your father."

Kari's eyes lit up. "So he is home?"

Akime seemed surprised by the question. "Of course he is. He has to be present for the ceremony tomorrow, doesn't he?"

The wind tamer nodded sheepishly. "Oh. Of course. When you put it that way."

Kari's friend couldn't hide his smile. "I still cannot believe you will be married. You've matured so much." He folded his arms across his chest. "And yet you don't look like you've aged one bit in the last few years. What's your secret?"

Kari shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I have just been blessed."

Akime chuckled. "Blessed indeed. Well, I will let you go inside. I am sure you and Sharlo have much to discuss before tomorrow." He patted Kari on the shoulder one more time. "I will see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Akime." Kari said as he waved goodbye.

He walked into the house and was relieved to see Sharlo sitting at a table looking over some notes he had scribbled down. His hand rested on his forehead in an exasperated fashion.

"You're late," his father said. "I've been waiting over an hour for you." He looked up from his notes and directed his gaze towards Kari. "How was your training?"

There was something different about his father's expression that Kari instantly noticed. The rough edge to his words was still there, as was his gruff manner. But his eyes were different. They were looking right at him, not darting back to his papers like they normally would. He looked with a sincere gaze of fatherly concern, not an intense scrutiny that was the norm. And yet, there was also a melancholic regret in the man's eyes, as if every second counted. It was like a man on his deathbed who realizes he can never get the time or opportunities back that he wasted.

"It was okay, I suppose. I was unable to achieve the results I strove for," Kari answered quietly, still standing by the doorway. The flickering light from Sharlo's lantern lit one side of his face while the rest was shrouded in darkness. "Is everything ready for tomorrow?"

Sharlo nodded and slowly rose from his chair. The wooden seat groaned as he pushed it back. He grabbed the lantern and looked to his son. "Almost. But before we talk about that, there is something I must show you. Follow me."

Kari obeyed and jogged to catch up. "Where are we going?"

They descended the tunnel in their home. "To the Shadow Temple, my son. It is time you learned what I have been working on all this time."

The lantern was the only light as the two Sheikah traveled deeper into the catacombs of Death Mountain. The air was damp and cold; their footfalls echoed off the tough granite that formed the walls of the tunnel. Keese flew out of sight with a screech as the lantern's light bounced against the walls. Kari felt the air thicken with tension as they descended, like he was being smothered in a blanket. No normal human would've been able to handle it. After all, this was a dark place full of shadows, survivable only by those who dwelt among the shadows.

Before long, they reached the entrance to the Shadow Temple. The limestone and rock gave way to bricks and refined marble. The entrance arched over them like a gaping mouth with tongue-like stairs that lead further into a dark abyss. The father and son walked into the eerie temple. They turned corners and walked through narrow hallways. Abominations moved through the shadows around them, the darkness concealing their hideous forms. Whispers from the undead echoed through the temple halls just soft enough that neither could understand their message. The air was thick with the stench of rot and decay.

Eventually, the refined walls of the temple gave way to rougher, more cavernous boundaries as they approached an ancient and unused part of the temple. Even the monsters did not stray near here. It looked no different from any other cavern, and even had other pathways that Kari assumed lead to the surface. Just where were they?

They came to two large iron doors bearing the mark of the Sheikah. Sharlo placed his hand against it, causing the eye to illuminate a pale, bluish color before causing the rusty doors to swing open with a long and agonizing squeal. They entered a room cast in a glow similar to the Sheikah emblem. It emanated from two bronze torches lit with ghostly blue flames that reached for the ceiling. Between the two torches stood a stone altar with some sort of darkly colored object on it. The surrounding walls of the room were covered with the maroon of crusted blood, broken chains, and crumbling shackles, giving the room the appearance of an abandoned prison. Large gargoyle statues about ten feet tall loomed overhead on either side. On the opposite side of the room stood another arched doorway with the eye of the Sheikah carefully watching over the entrance. The door was sealed shut.

"Where are we?" Kari asked. A sharp chill whipped down his spine. This place gave him an ominous sense of dread. He'd never set foot in this section of the temple before, yet parts of it felt eerily familiar.

Sharlo walked over to the stone altar. "This is the gateway between the Shadow Temple, in the world of the living, and the Underworld. Through that door are terrible things that make anything you've seen in the temple so far look like a friendly village pet. Pray you never see it open." He waved the wind tamer over with his hand. "Come. This is what I wanted to show you."

Kari walked over to the stone table. Floating on it was a mask of some sort. It appeared to be worn like a helm, complete with a collar to cover the neck. Horn-like extensions extended from the top. An enigmatic eye decorated one section of the eye, but there was nothing where a second eye should have been.

"What is this?" Kari reached out to touch it, but Sharlo slapped his hand away.

"It's called a Fused Shadow," he scolded. "Don't touch it. I don't know the full extent of its power yet."

"But I thought you created it. Surely you should know what it does."

Sharlo sidestepped the comment. "Soon, I plan to lead an all-out assault against the Hylians. Akime is one of the few who know. This weapon will allow us to destroy our enemy once and for all and put an end to this long and drawn out war." He paused; the next words he wanted to say seemed to be a struggle for him. "That being said, I don't know what effects it will have when I use it. That is why I plan to put you in charge of the Sheikah if something happens to me. Akime will see to that."

"But Father…you cannot. You shouldn't!" Kari protested. "This war is not worth it."

Sharlo cleared his throat, ignoring his son's protests. His tone felt heavy, like one who has been burdened for many years. "Of course, as leader, you will be expected to put the needs of our people above yourself. To protect our traditions, our culture, and our legends. You will be expected to serve the Goddesses faithfully and carry out their commands the best way you can. Even to lead our people into battle if the occasion arises. But most importantly, you must protect the Triforce and ensure the Hylians never misuse it. All of this comes before your own personal needs. Do you understand?"

"Yes. But I cannot stand by..."

Sharlo held up his hand. "Good. Then I need you to promise me you will accept this duty should it be necessary."

Kari hesitated. "But Father! You cannot go through with this!"

"Stop it, Kari!" Sharlo shouted, slapping his son across the cheek. "Remember what I told you? The Wind Waker must put the needs of his people above his own. That is why I must do this. And that is why I need to make sure you will take care of our people if something happens to me."

The wind tamer rubbed his sore face. "I understand, Father," he said grudgingly. "I promise."

"Good. I can be at ease now." He pointed towards the exit. "Leave this place at once. I have shown you and told you everything I wanted."

"What about you?"

"I have one more thing I must attend to. I trust you can find your way back from here?"

Kari nodded.

Sharlo seemed pleased. "Good. I will see you tomorrow then. Sleep well."

The wind tamer reluctantly turned back. As he walked out of the room, the large iron doors automatically closed behind him. He pressed an ear to the wall, but the thick doors made it impossible to hear anything on the other side. With a heavy sigh, he headed for home.

"Good night, Father."

All of the Sheikah villages had been anticipating the wedding for weeks, and as a result, there were members from every tribe present. An atmosphere of festive celebration traveled through the crowd. Soft murmurs whispered in excitement and anticipation from all around the village. Some rested on the rooftops to ensure a good view. Others sat on the edge of the well, casting curious glances over their shoulder to check on the ceremony's status. It was to take place on the crest of a small hill just outside the village of Kasuto to ensure adequate space. The hill itself was decorated with flowers and gifts from the other villages. The weather was still and peaceful, with a quiet breeze sweeping through the village. Only the ominous clouds in the air threatened to dampen the joyful occasion, catching any sunlight before it could reach the ground.

Kari and Akime stood by the door to the wind tamer's house, looking out at the crowd that awaited them. For Kari, the night had passed slowly and without sleep. Morning hadn't come fast enough. He had skipped breakfast in anticipation, preferring to spend his time praying and preparing for one of the most important days of his life. He fingered some of the fabric from the tunic Midna had given him; as he wore it now, he found it was surprisingly comfortable. He looked forward to the joy on her face when she saw it.

"Kari, aren't you forgetting something?" Akime asked.

The wind tamer turned to his old friend. "I do not believe so."

Akime shook his head. "I suppose it's understandable, but you're forgetting the cape of the groom." He quickly tied the blue cape around Kari's neck and watched it settle behind him. "There, that's better. You know…this thing is sort of a family heirloom. If I recall, this is the same one your father wore at his wedding. You should feel honored."

Kari felt the material between his fingers. It was coarser than the tunic Midna had given him, but not uncomfortable. As he thought about what Akime had said, he felt both honored and humble.

"Where is my father?" Kari asked.

"Don't worry. He'll meet us out there." Akime reassured. "It's time. Are you ready?"

"I am. Let's go."

The two Sheikah walked slowly and ceremoniously out of the house and up the hill. The crowd began to applaud and cheer as they saw the two men approaching. Several that had been sitting down quickly stood up in respect. The crowd parted, creating an aisle for the two men to reach the hill. Kari nodded in acknowledgment at those he knew, slowly making his way until he and Akime stopped at the hill's crest. They turned around and waited, hands clasped in front of them.

A few minutes later, Sharlo walked out after them. He walked proudly and fully aware of his position, the crowd bowing slightly in respect. He took his place next to Kari.

The wind tamer glanced quickly at his father, who returned a forced smile before looking away. This troubled Kari. He thought his father would be happy, or at the least, proud. Yet, he saw something different hidden in his father's expression that the untrained eye would easily miss. He saw fear. The audience, and maybe even Akime, might mistake his forced smile for happiness, but Kari knew better. The man didn't want to alarm his people, so he hid his uncertainty as he had trained his son to.

The wind tamer's thoughts soon disappeared like melted snow when he heard the harp signaling the bride's arrival. His eyes launched to the end of the aisle, where he was sure Midna would soon approach.

His mouth hung open when he finally saw her. There she was, walking slowly towards him, wearing a crimson, full-length sleeveless gown with a small flower in her fiery red hair. A diamond necklace hung around her neck. Her eyes looked down at the bouquet of colorful flowers she held in her hands. The audience shouted its approval and threw flower petals into the air as part of the celebration.

Kari's heart pounded against his chest as she approached. How long had he been waiting for this day? Midna finally looked up at him; his mouth curled into a big smile on its own accord. For a moment, everything else became still and the two shared a moment just between the two of them. Their eyes communicated affection too deep to be expressed by words. In that moment, they both knew the others thoughts; this was their day and their day alone.

Midna soon stood by Kari's side and waited patiently for Sharlo to begin.

"You look…well…I can't even find the right word to describe how amazing you look," Kari stuttered for words.

Midna winked at him. "Am I so beautiful that you've no words left?" She glanced at Sharlo to ensure he hadn't started the ceremonial monologue yet. "That's a nice tunic you're wearing. Where'd you get it?"

Kari just beamed. Words weren't needed.

"Marriage is what brings us together today!" Sharlo began. The couple quickly turned their attention to him. As the village chief began to go through the ritual, explaining the purpose of marriage and why the goddesses had created it, Kari thought he saw Sharlo's face begin to relax. The fake smile slowly cracked to reveal a genuine one. He glanced at his betrothed and she rolled her eyes with a playful grin. They both just wanted to get to the end of the ceremony.

"Kari, do you promise to treasure Midna as your wife?" Sharlo said at last. "To hold her dear, care for her, and love her until death separates you?"

"I do."

"And Midna, do you promise to treasure Kari as your husband? To hold him dear, care for him, and love him until death separates you?"

"Do you even have to ask that? Of course!"

The couple looked longingly into each other's eyes, locking hands and awaiting the words that would finalize their marriage.

Sharlo hesitated for a moment. He even looked a little choked up. Still, he held his composure. "Then, in the presence of the goddesses and our community, I now acknowledge you to be husband and wife. May the Three bless your marriage."

The crowd roared its approval as Kari grabbed his new wife and brought her lips to hers. She returned the kiss with equal passion as they celebrated their new marriage. After, they basked in the praise of the crowd that bore witness to their union. More flower petals were thrown in the air. Shouts echoed from every corner of Kasuto.

Kari glanced in Akime's direction. His friend gave him a wink and a playful nod. The wind tamer then looked to his father. Sharlo had his arms folded but a genuine smile on his face for the first time in a long time. He nodded in approval, his eyes speaking the pride that he couldn't express with words.

Grabbing hold of Midna's hand, the newlyweds marched down the aisle between the cheering crowd. Their friends and comrades from all the surrounding villages shouted their congratulations and began to follow them back to the village. The festivities were only beginning.

Weddings in Sheikah culture were not seen as minor events. In fact, they were celebrated with over a week of dancing, singing, music, and feasting. And this was no ordinary wedding; after all, the chief's son was the groom. Sharlo and Akime had made plans to ensure this celebration would be the biggest Kasuto had ever seen or would see.

Unfortunately, the joyous occasion was not meant to last.

A violent tremor shook the entire village, knocking the crowd to their feet. Unearthly screams echoed from somewhere in the village, causing everyone to be on edge as they got to their feet and looked around curiously. A foul gale began to blow through the village that reeked of evil.

It was Sharlo who quickly grasped what was going on. He looked to the cave tucked against the edge of the mountain, the path that led to the Shadow Temple. Monsters began to stream from it by the dozens like a deluge of water. He rallied the villagers' attention with a wave of his hands.

"Everyone! The festivities are over! Grab your weapons! Defend the village!"

The change over the crowd was instant. Each one of them, except for the children, had been molded by the heat of the war. They were no strangers to battle. Though it was monsters they fought instead of Hylians, their determination did not change, nor did their ability to fight. Those that had their weapons stood their ground as the monsters crashed against them. Those that didn't quickly retrieved them so they could join the fray.

Midna looked into Kari's eyes. "What do we do?"

Kari withdrew the Wind Waker from his sleeve. "What choice do we have? We fight."

His bride smirked. "Not the way I planned to celebrate our wedding. But so be it."

The ground shook beneath them again. A fissure split open nearby, spewing out flames like an angry dragon. The couple braced themselves along with their surrounding comrades as all types of hellish monsters crashed against them. They would defend the village to the end.

The roars of monsters and the cries of battle echoed through the air. The villagers fought hard, and their extensive battle experience slayed many monsters. Yet their numbers kept coming like a swarm of locusts. One by one, Sheikah succumbed to the endless onslaught from the underworld. Meanwhile, the clouds turned dark and angry, painting the sky with red streaks as if some great monster had scratched the heavens. The village slowly transformed from a place of celebration to a battlefield of death. Buildings became casualties as the heat of battle engulfed the entire village. The bodies of the fallen blotted the village's landscape.

Before long, only Kari, Midna, and a few other Sheikah remained. Their breaths were heavy with exhaustion and their bodies bore the scars of battle.

"The village is lost!" Kari shouted to those around him. "We must escape!" He pulled one of the survivors to him. "Spread the word! Bring everyone to the village entrance! We can use the gate to hold them off while the rest escape!"

The messenger went to summon those that remained while the other survivors moved as a single unit towards the gate. The endless stream of monsters followed in hot pursuit. Kari served as the rear guard, blowing away the monsters with powerful gusts of wind to hold them back. Once the band of survivors reached the gate, they quickly turned their attention to securing it. Kari summoned gust after gust to repel the encroaching enemy while the others focused on casting a magical barrier. In the meantime, more and more survivors, some severely wounded, joined them. Kari and those fighting with him held out as long as they could, but soon it became obvious they would be able to repel the enemy no longer.

"Shut the gate! Seal it shut! Erect the barrier!" Kari shouted, taking charge as if it were natural. He looked at the few survivors who had managed to escape the village assault. "We'll hold them here. Someone get the survivors to safety!"

"Kari. We have a lot of injured here. I'm not sure how long they'll make it at this rate."Midna approached him.

The wind tamer looked into his bride's eyes. Blood stained her gentle face, and her gorgeous gown had been shredded in several places. Bruises covered her arms, and her breathing was raspy. But she still appeared beautiful to him; how he longed to embrace her. "Go with them and lead them to safety. Protect them at all costs," he told her.

"I'm not leaving you! I will not become a widow on the day of our wedding!"

"Midna, you are still healthy. They need you more than I do. We cannot afford to be selfish."

"Then come with me!"

"I will. But not before I find my father."

"Urgh! It's always about him!" She paused and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Fine! I'll be waiting. Don't take too long. Otherwise you'll pay for it!"

Kari nodded. "I'll be there in five minutes. Promise." He grasped her hand. "Love you."

She scowled at him. "I'll respond to that when you return to me alive." Nonetheless, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze before running to the survivors and leading them away from the village.

Kari sighed and turned to the challenge at hand. The gate had been sealed shut and a barrier had been erected. Stalfos and Dinolfos clawed viciously at the entry gates, defended by a few brave Sheikah. The stench of rotting decay pulled on his nostrils from the corpses of his fallen comrades around him. The earth trembled violently beneath his feet, spewing more flames from the forming fissures. How had such a happy day turned into this? He would just have to hurry here so he could return to Midna's side. But where was Sharlo?

The young Sheikah turned his eyes to a Bubble that had flown over the gate. Its demonic green eyes locked onto him; Kari stared back at it. His cloth-wrapped hands waved the silver baton gracefully to the sky and then circled it to either arm. He pointed it at the Bubble, which flew only a few feet away at this point.

"By the power of Farore, I call upon the wind," he yelled, his gaze not backing down.

Suddenly, the wind that had been tugging at his cloak halted, changing directions abruptly as if it had a mind of its own. It blew fiercely at the Bubble, who was no match for the mighty windstorm. Its bat-like wings fought desperately for control as the monster crashed heavily into a ruined house; its fragile skull shattering into several pieces and the flames of its eyes quickly extinguished.

"Kari, why are you still here?" a voice called out to him, trying desperately to rise above the fierce gale that screeched in the sky.

Kari glanced quickly to see Sharlo approaching him. His pale face was bruised, but he still moved with much vigor. The light from the fiery sky reflected the sweat dripping from his brow.

"I'm trying to help," Kari replied resolutely, not showing a hint of cowardice in his expression. "The village is being overrun even now, and the gatekeepers can't hold out much longer." He looked to the struggling Sheikah defending the gate. They were vastly outnumbered, managing to hold against the vast siege only by maintaining a protective barrier. Unfortunately, their power was waning and holes were beginning to form in the wall. It wouldn't be long before everything was overrun.

The village chief, Sharlo, shook his head and sighed. He looked sternly at Kari, placing both hands on the young man's shoulders. "There is no hope for our village. We will fall, and we will accept our fate proudly. Such is the destiny of Sheikah. We sealed our fate when we began experimenting with the dark magic, and now we are paying the price for it."

"Then why are we still fighting?" Kari asked, looking desperately at the dark clouds behind Sharlo.

"Because," Sharlo replied, his eyes shining. 'We will not go to our graves alone. We cannot die until the evil that is decimating our village is sealed once again."

"And how will we do that?" Kari slipped the Wind Waker back into the pocket on his arm.

The man did not answer right away. His grip on Kari's shoulder tightened as his lips moved inaudibly beneath the loud crashing around them. His face clenched into a grimace for a few seconds, and then slightly relaxed. The young man felt a shock on his shoulders; perhaps an ember from one of the nearby flames.

Sharlo finally looked up to face Kari. "The village will continue to fight as long as there is even one Sheikah left standing. It was the dark magic that brought us into this turmoil, and it will be what ultimately seals away this evil. Though it may cost us our lives, I am positive that we will grant peace for a time."

An image of the Fused Shadows jumped into Kari's mind. Could his father be planning to use its power?

Kari whipped Sharlo's hands off him, stamping his foot down angrily. "We're all throwing our lives away. What's to keep the evil from coming back and repeating this whole process over again?"

Sharlo was silent for a moment, gazing keenly into Kari's eyes. "You, my son."

Kari was speechless. He backed a few steps away, gazing at Sharlo wide eyed. "What do you mean? You're not making any sense!" he shouted.

Sharlo's eyes saddened. "I believe with my whole heart you will know what must be done when the time comes. The goddesses chose you to master the Wind Waker above all other people. You have been entrusted with the legacy of our village."

The village chief eyed the gate nervously, and then quickly turned around. The tremors were getting worse, causing a giant fissure to open and split the village in two. Smoke as black as night emerged from the dark depths, further darkening the fiery sky.

Sharlo looked at Kari urgently. "Be quick and leave this place. Time is short, and I must go now to banish the evil away from our realm of light and cast it back into the darkness from whence it came." His chalice-covered hand lingered for a moment on Kari's cheek as the village chief pulled away. "Goodbye, my son." Without another word, Sharlo turned around and ran off into the smoke, leaving Kari behind.

"Father!" Kari cried desperately, grasping at the empty air. His heart lurched in his chest.

Suddenly, he heard an ear piercing screech from the bowels of the fissure, unlike anything he had ever heard before. The sound was filled with malevolent energy, nearly paralyzing Kari with fear. Whatever evil plagued this village was drawing closer.

He retrieved the Wind Waker once again from his sleeve and held it in both hands. He knelt and cried as loud as he could, his pleas echoing off the ruined buildings and reaching to the very heavens. "Oh, Great Farore, show me what I must do, so that this village's sacrifice may not be in vain." Kari closed his eyes, tightening every muscle in his body.

Nothing happened. He got up, opened his eyes and looked around him, but nothing changed.

"The monsters have broken through!" rang out a desperate cry. Kari turned instantly to the gate, only to stare in horror as the barrier shattered. The gathered Stalfos and Dinalfos stampeded through, trampling the valiant Sheikah who had fought until the very end. Kari's eyes widened in unadulterated fear as the monsters began heading towards him. He was going to die; he knew it.

A strange glow. An excruciating pain. And then nothing.

And that was how his village had been destroyed. Kari remembered everything. He was now the last of his kind. The sole surviving Sheikah.

Or so he believed.

A/N- Next chapter should be ready in a few weeks. I'm really looking forward to the next few chapters, as I think it will fill in a lot of the details of what's going on as well as provide a few twists and turns. Guess I just have to finish them quickly so you guys can read them that much quicker. Thanks for reading this far and for your reviews! See you next chapter!

BTW, who caught my Princess Bride reference?