A small snowflake drifted from its home in the dark clouds above, floating gently on currents of air over the astounding landscape. White-covered forests and snow-clad fields stretched in all directions, broken up only by the imposing figure of Death Mountain below. As the snowflake drifted lower, the peak, and the rocky, arid ground that surrounded it, came into focus. Much of the surface had been claimed by winter's mark, only possible as long as the great mountain continued its volcanic slumber. The snowflake slowly tumbled through the air to the ground, ready to live out the last few seconds of its short life span.
However, a sharp updraft grabbed and hurled it into the air and around the mountain, prolonging its short life for a little longer. It glided over the small, busy village of Kakariko like a bird. The people there appeared small and insignificant, no more than dots inhabiting the vast landscape. It had no more time to observe, however, as the wind pushed the snowflake along, bringing it past the graveyard and over several cliffs to a part of the mountain few ever dared explore. Here the terrain was unforgiving, the paths treacherous, and the slopes steep. The snowflake thought here it would finally rest, but the wind still refused to stop. It carried the flake over large boulders and sharp chasms with no signs of ceasing, until, at last, it arrived at a place thought lost to the ages: a hidden, forgotten village now considered accursed by those who once lived there. Here, the snowflake came to rest with his brethren: at the feet of a young man who set foot in his village for the first time in centuries.
The cruel elements of time and weather had reduced once proud buildings to piles of rubble. The gently fallen snow piled gently atop of them, as if to give them the burial they deserved. The young man's boots crunched through the fresh snow as he walked through abandoned streets that were only recognizable by large gaps between the disheveled ruins. His footfalls were the only sound for miles, complimented only by the chilly gale that howled by him. He began to wonder if this place he once called home was truly cursed. Indeed, the only thing chillier than the nippy air biting his cheeks was the ominous feeling of dread that gripped him as he walked once-familiar ground.
"When your friends betray you, come to the land you once called home. There, I'll be waiting."
This was it. This was his beloved village of Kasuto.
As Kari trudged through the snow, his foot hit a small, hidden lump. He stooped down, brushed off some of the white powder from the mysterious object, and picked it up. He was startled to find a skull as old as the surrounding ruins staring at him with empty eye sockets. He quickly dropped it back into the snow and shuddered, passing by it without a second glance. He tried to shake the image from his mind as he meandered to what used to be the village center.
The well that used to be there was unrecognizable. The cave that once led to the Shadow Temple had collapsed completely. All that remained were several large stones stuck into the ground, probably the remains of a rock slide.
Kari walked over and sat on one of the stones. The soft powder falling from the sky tickled his nose and cheeks as his eyes jumped from ruined building to ruined building. As he watched the snow accumulate on the ruins of his village, his mind harkened back to brighter days.
It was as if the village transformed before his eyes. The snow slowly melted and people he recognized gradually emerged from the shadows. He saw children laughing and playing in the streets. An old woman drew water from the village well. Shinobi warriors dashed in and out of the tunnels, entering and leaving the village as their missions demanded. Cattle grazed on hardy mountain bushes off in the distance, groaning their delightful gratitude to the sun overhead.
In the distance, he saw Sharlo and a younger version of himself heading back towards the village after a difficult day of training. He wasn't even half his father's height, but that hadn't kept him from training hard every day. The wind tamer smiled as he saw the bruises, blood, and sweat soaking his young body. Sharlo had to practically carry him back, but that's how their training sessions went. The man never went easy and never showed mercy, but it had strengthened him. There were seldom smiles or laughs between them, but he had been content with that; merely spending time with his father had been enough. He watched as both of them walked into their house and out of sight.
And just as suddenly, the village returned to the ruined state that had greeted his homecoming.
Snow covered the entire surface once again. The buildings returned to disheveled piles. A cold, lonely gale replaced the village children's laughter.
Kari knew it had been a trick of his memory and imagination, but it made the harsh reality no easier to accept. He had thought coming here would somehow ease the pain gnawing at his chest. He had sought some peace. Or at the very least, a sense of closure. But both feelings eluded him. Only nostalgia clung to his soul; he ached to return to an age that was forever lost to the river of time.
As his feet idly kicked against the stone that seated him, more and more snow fell off the surface. Gradually, his shoes found small grooves in the stone surface. He traced their pattern with the heel of his boot. The longer he did it, the more he realized their number and arrangement was too methodical to be random. It piqued his curiosity.
He leapt to his feet and knelt by the stone he had been sitting on. His hand slowly and methodically wiped away the remaining snow. The cold powder chilled his fingers as he dug it away, but soon he was able to make out letters. They spelled the name one of his comrades, one who had died protecting the village from the onslaught of monsters.
This boulder was actually a grave! Could the others be as well?
The discovery pumped life into the Sheikah's veins and he began to clear off the other graves. As he finished examining the second one, he looked up and quickly realized there were dozens of them, stretching all the way back to the base of the mountain.
He cleaned them off one by one, taking time to pray for each fallen comrade before moving onto the next one.
Several hours passed before the Sheikah reached the final two graves closest to the mountain. The snow refused to let up, blanketing his clothes and chilling his entire body. The wind tamer's hands were numb now, his cheeks were blue, and his teeth chattered. He resolved to find shelter soon, but not until he had finished paying his respects.
With only two graves left, he would soon be finished.
Except, as he brushed off the second to last grave and read its name, he fell to his knees.
Here lies Midna, killed in action in the defense of Kasuto.
He read the inscription for a second time just to be sure. And a third time. With each sweep of his eyes over the faded letters carved into the stone, the significance of the name set in. And the grief that came with it.
There was no stopping the tears from escaping. They streamed down his face and dotted the snowy ground. He hung his head in shame, his hands gripping the sides of the grave while the ground chilled his knees.
She was gone forever. And he hadn't been there to say goodbye.
The truth tormented his whole body, causing him to shake uncontrollably. The possibility had always hid in the far corners of his thoughts, but now stood like an unavoidable mountain before his very eyes.
"I'm so sorry," he choked. "I promised I would return. But now…it's too late."
His forehead gently rested against the stone slab. His voice was softer now as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I know my words can't bring you back, and I know you can't hear me, but I want you to know how much you meant to me." He paused. "You were worth more than the world. I loved you then, and I still do now."
His hands trembled as he attempted to clear away some of the snow accumulating at the base of her grave.
"What I wouldn't give to take everything back. If only I had a second chance. Just to hold you in my arms one more time."
His words echoed across the silent village, heard by none but the ruined buildings and the falling snow. He looked helplessly to the heavens as the powder splattered on his frostbitten cheeks.
"I wish you were here right now. I'm the last of our kind. My friends have betrayed me. I'm so lost…I don't even know why I'm still alive."
Kari dropped his gaze back to the ground. His hands covered his face and he wept.
He wept for the betrayal of his friends. He wept for the loss of his village. He wept for the death of his loved ones.
But most of all, he wept because he was powerless to change any of it.
The emotions gripped his body so strongly that the outside world no longer mattered to him. He barely felt the bristling cold of the snow on his back or the numbing frost on his hands. He barely saw the chipped and neglected grave in front of him. And he barely heard the footfalls of the stranger approaching from behind him.
"Are you really so certain you're the last of the Sheikah?" came an icy voice from behind him.
Kari's instincts drove his body to respond, even if his mind couldn't keep up. He spun around and kicked behind him, throwing snow in the air as he did so. The stranger jumped back, clearly expecting it. The wind tamer stood by the grave and readied his baton. His face crunched to a scowl even as tears slid down his cheeks.
At last, his mind caught up and recognized the man standing before him. "Zant!" he yelled. But that was all his rattled mental state could muster.
The villain still wore his helmet and Twili robes. The snow seemed to melt on contact as it touched him. "I see you survived our last encounter. I'm glad to see you didn't disappoint."
Kari didn't move from his fighting stance. "What you whispered in my ear…before you threw me into the ocean. How did you know my friends would betray me?"
The usurper king crossed his arms, his large sleeves waving in the frigid, winter wind. "Because you are different from them. It was only a matter of time."
Kari blasted a gust of wind at Zant, but the villain teleported out of the way well before it hit him. He reappeared atop one of the stone graves.
"So why did you want me to come here?" Kari asked, not entirely trusting he'd receive an honest answer. But it would buy him valuable time to calculate a strategy.
The usurper king balanced on the fragile stone with ease. "You and I both know you would've come here regardless. I merely sped up the process by planting the idea in your mind."
The wind tamer blasted another gust towards the usurper king. It hurled snow in the air and chipped rocks off the grave, but came nowhere near its intended target. Zant had already disappeared in a flurry of twili particles.
"What could you possibly gain from talking to me?" Kari yelled as winter's flurry dropped around him. He looked in all directions but Zant was nowhere to be found.
The Twili reappeared directly behind him. "I'm a Sheikah just like you. I'm disappointed you haven't figured that out yet."
Kari was helpless as Zant pulled his arms behind his back and plunged his face into the snow. The bitter cold stung the wind tamer's cheeks and nose, but the feeling of helplessness was even more overwhelming.
"You're not a Sheikah…" Kari mumbled into the snow.
"Really? Then how else could I know about this place or anticipate your attacks so easily?" Zant plucked the Wind Waker from Kari's grasp and clenched it tightly in his fist. "There. Now we can have an actual conversation."
Kari was surprised when the villain released his hold and stepped away, his footsteps crunching in the deepening snow. The wind tamer pulled his face from the ground, pausing to look at the small indentation his head had made in the otherwise pristine white powder. He contemplated attacking as he rose to his feet, but held himself in check. Part of him was actually interested in what this man had to say.
His eyes didn't stray from the Wind Waker. "So you claim to be a Sheikah? Then why do you have powers and abilities I've never seen?"
Zant opened the lower part of his mask, revealing a solemn frown. "Working with Mudora has a few consolations, however petty they may be."
The wind tamer crossed his arms and spit in the snow. "And you dare defile this place with your presence?"
The wry grin slowly transformed into a solemn line. "I am no stranger here. I was present when it all happened."
Kari slowly lifted his gaze, fixing his eyes on his adversary now. The man had his full attention. "Do not patronize me with your sarcasm! Do you really expect me to believe you were alive back then?"
The man walked over to the grave adjacent to Midna's. "This stone says you died a long time ago as well. And yet, here you are. How do you explain that?"
Kari felt the heat of the villain's watchful gaze. Any sign of a struggle, any unnecessary movement as he walked towards the grave to investigate and Zant would pounce without mercy. So Kari complied for the time being.
Zant stood behind him as Kari knelt by the grave. The writing was difficult to decipher with the snow and ice obstructing it, so he clawed at it with his fingers until it was finally legible. As his eyes read the newly unobstructed letters one at a time, his breath slowly left him.
It was just as Zant said. On the grave next to his beloved, carved into the cold, unforgiving stone was his own name.
"How…how is this possible?" he stuttered, falling backwards so his butt planted itself into the snow. His whole world felt like it was tipping over.
Zant walked around to the back of the grave and ran one hand over the top of it. "The explanation is quite simple. This gravestone and the one next to it were put up by someone who didn't know the truth about Kasuto. Perhaps one of the deserters who escaped banishment into the Twilight."
Kari stared at the gravestone that "belonged" to Midna. He felt a faint glimmer of hope flutter in his chest. "The one next to it? You mean Midna's gravestone is…does that mean she's also alive?"
Zant folded his arms and grunted. "I never said that, foolish boy. I only meant she wasn't buried here."
That faint glimmer of hope disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Kari couldn't rip his eyes away from the gravestone that supposedly belonged to him. "The truth about Kasuto. What did you mean by that?"
A sinister smile curled on the villain's lips again. "Do you think I'm just going to hand out free secrets like an old man in a cave? You'll have to figure it out yourself."
Kari scowled. "How am I supposed to do that?"
Zant's tone was quite casual. "It's usually a good idea to assess what you already know, right?"
The cogs of Kari's mind began to spin like a pocket watch. He began to pull together pieces he'd heard from Zelda and Zili along with the few memories he'd been able to salvage. "There was a war before the village was destroyed," he began. "I remember that clearly. My father used some sort of dark power he claimed would help him end it. But the next day, our village was attacked and destroyed by monsters. That's when I blacked out."
Zant nodded approvingly. "Not a bad start. Do you remember what that power was called or where it came from?"
Kari nodded. "Yeah. He called it a Fused Shadow. But I never learned where it came from."
The villain paced through the snow. "Keep going. What happened to the village after you blacked out?"
The Sheikah closed his eyes as he tried to concentrate. The snow tickled his cheeks but did little to tear at his concentration. Slowly, things Zelda and Zili told him floated to the surface of his mind. "We tried to use the Fused Shadows to take over the Sacred Realm. But we were stopped. Zili said a small fraction of the Sheikah were spared, but the rest were cast into something called the Twilight Realm as punishment for their treachery."
The Twili momentarily stopped pacing. "You've managed to figure out quite a bit."
The wind tamer wasn't finished. Now that his mind was running, more pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "If you were really there when the village was attacked, then that means you must've been part of the attack on the Sacred Realm. And eventually, that caused you to be thrown into the Twilight."
Zant nodded. "Correct on both accounts."
Kari looked to Zant and then to the grave stone. "Why am I even doing this? You're the enemy!"
The villain casually flipped the Wind Waker in his hand. "Because while I have this, there's nothing else you can do." He slowly lowered it to his side. "Besides, you want to know the truth about your beloved Kasuto, don't you?"
Kari scowled but made no attempt to snatch his baton from the Twili's hand. "What difference does it make? That's the most I can figure out. It still doesn't explain anything to do with Mudora or why you're so interested in me all of a sudden."
Zant began to pace again. "Are you sure about that? Think carefully and you might discover the key to this whole riddle."
The Sheikah groaned as he thought over the villain's words. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration ignited in his mind. "Come to think of it, I knew everyone in our village before it was attacked. If you were really there, I would've seen you. And I definitely don't remember anyone with your name living there."
The villain nodded approvingly. "Now you're starting to think like a Sheikah. I assure you I was there, however. And we definitely crossed paths."
Kari glared at him crossly. "Then Zant isn't your real name, is it?"
"Now you're starting to get warmer."
"What is your real name?"
"You're going to have to figure it out."
Kari stomped his foot in the snow and twisted it into the ground. "Goddesses! I don't have the patience for these mind games!"
"And why not?"
The wind tamer threw his hands up in the air. "Because they're annoying! Sharlo used to do the same thing as part of my training! I hated how…"
And suddenly, it dawned on him mid-sentence. Suddenly, everything made sense.
"No…no…no. It can't be. This has to be some sort of sick, cruel joke. You couldn't possibly be…"
The man stopped his pacing. "I'm glad to see you're not completely stupid. Since you finally figured it out, I see no need to state the obvious." He tossed the Wind Waker in Kari's direction. "Here, you can have this back."
Kari caught the instrument with the faintest movement of his hand. "Sharlo?" he whispered.
"I said there was no need to state the obvious."
Kari snapped back. "I'd hardly call it obvious! You tried to kill me twice!"
"But the fact is you're still alive."
"So what?"
"Think back to our training sessions. Haven't I always pushed you to your limits? And if that's not enough, consider the fact that I could anticipate all your attacks. Didn't I warn you countless times against broadcasting your movements too much?"
Kari shook his head but the lack of confidence in his voice betrayed him. "Sharlo did."
Zant paced by one of the grave stones and rested his hand upon it. "You're still not convinced, are you?"
The Sheikah glared at him. "Sharlo died a long time ago. Why should I be convinced by an imposter's claims? You do not even look like him."
"You try living in the Twilight Realm for several hundred years and see what it does to you."
Kari looked off to the side. "I doubt you had far to fall," he whispered to himself.
"You still doubt me?" Zant asked incredulously. His foot tapped impatiently in the snow. "You're more stubborn than I am!" He paced back and forth as he thought of a solution. "Fine! I will remind you of something only I would know. Do you remember, just before your wedding, when I took you deep into the temple and showed you the Fused Shadows?"
Kari nodded slowly. "I remember quite vividly. But do you remember what I was told? If you can tell me, then I will know you are genuine."
The Sheikahs' gazes clashed against one another. Zant made no movements or attempts to speak; his mask hid all facial expressions except for a solemn frown. He seemed to fidget nervously beneath Kari's challenging gaze.
The wind tamer broke eye contact and turned his back towards the villain. "What a waste of time."
Zant's words pierced the winter air like fire arrows. "I told you the Wind Waker must put the village's needs above his own. That's why I entrusted the village to you."
Kari froze where he stood, his feet sinking a little in a drift of snow. "That…for you to know that…"
The Twili coiled back his mask, revealing a disfigured face filled with scars and bruises. The man's yellow eyes looked at his son full of regret. He knew he should be filled with happiness that they had finally reunited after so long. But a shame pulled at him from deep within; he knew the great cost this reunion would have.
"Took you long enough to come around," was all he could muster.
The wind tamer didn't know how to react. He had never trained for something like this. What was he supposed to do when his own father was the enemy?
He turned around to look Sharlo in the face. Much was different about the man since he had last seen him. But something in his eyes and the hardness of his facial expression was still recognizable.
Despite the reunion, this was no place for tears and hugs.
"I…I'm glad to see you are alive, Father," was all Kari could say. He found himself instantly reverting back to his old habits. He bowed low. "Forgive me for not believing you sooner."
Zant, now known as Sharlo, shook his head slowly. "Now's not the time for that, Kari. We have more important things to discuss."
Kari straightened up. "No! Forgive me, Father, but I want to know the truth! What happened to Kasuto? And why are you working with Mudora? You used to love this land, but now you're trying to destroy it!"
Sharlo looked momentarily at his hand lingering by his side. His sleeve fluttered in the wind. "Mudora is the one trying to destroy everything. I have no choice but to help."
"Nonsense! There is always a choice!" Kari's hands swung wildly through the air as he spoke. "You should be stopping him!"
"Don't raise your voice at me! I am still your father!" Sharlo chastised.
Kari cringed and his voice quieted. His hands rested obediently by his sides. "Forgive me. I got carried away."
Sharlo nodded and looked off to his side. "It's not as simple as you make it. Mudora's plan has already been in motion for hundreds of years. The Fused Shadows, Kasuto's destruction, everything that's happening now. He's responsible for all of it, and he won't simply let me walk away now that it's this far along."
The wind tamer stepped back. "But how did it all start?"
Sharlo looked up at the cliffs. "I made a deal with him. He helped me create the Fused Shadows so I could destroy the Hylians. In exchange…I had to release him from his bondage in the Underworld."
"Why would you do such a thing?"
Sharlo looked at him. "I did it to save your life. I did it to give us a future."
The wind tamer's voice slowly grew louder. His hand curled into a loose fist. "But surely you had to realize how evil he was!"
The man's gaze dropped to the grave in front of him. "The line between shadow and darkness is very thin, Kari. By the time I realized what his intentions were, it was almost too late."
Kari's voice now contained an icy tone, eerily similar to a tone used by his father. "What do you mean almost too late?"
Zant was silent. He watched the snow rest on the ruins that had once been his village. Flake by flake, the falling powder had covered the barren ground beneath a blanket of pure white.
"I once tried to stop him. I even succeeded. But I only delayed the inevitable," came Sharlo's reply.
The accusatory tone in Kari's voice slowly melted as he saw the sadness in his father's eyes. "What do you mean?"
Sharlo's eyes hardened. "It all happened the night I showed you the Fused Shadows. After you left, I confronted him. I tried to nullify our agreement. As you can guess, he didn't take it lightly."
Kari's voice quieted significantly. "So he attacked the village?"
Sharlo nodded. "Indirectly. Though he couldn't escape through it, he opened the door to the Underworld and unleashed the monsters that destroyed Kasuto. I knew the only way to close it was to seal him away again. There was only one way I knew how, and it came at a great price."
The wind tamer's hand gently touched his chest. "Is that why I fell asleep?"
Sharlo looked away. "I won't get into the details here, but essentially yes." He bent down and picked up a handful of snow. He slowly clenched his fist around it. "More importantly, I thought I had lost you forever. I was desperate to get you back; I did the one thing I swore I never would: I sought the Triforce." The snow slowly slipped between his fingers. "Yet, even with the Fused Shadows, I couldn't obtain it."
"And so you were cast into the Twilight?"
Sharlo nodded. "I thought for sure I would serve penance for my sins there. But even in that dreary dimension, I couldn't escape Mudora's influence. I didn't realize it until later, but he had cursed me the moment I struck a deal with him; I couldn't die until I had fulfilled my end of the bargain. So, it was there, in the Twilight, that I was tormented with the thought of losing you with no escape. Not even death could bring me relief." He looked down at his pale skin and twisted features. "You can see the result of all this."
Kari felt a pain in his heart. "Father…I had no idea."
Sharlo scowled at him. "Save your pity. I don't deserve it. I made this decision, and I bore the consequences. All that matters to me now is your safety."
The wind tamer looked to the grave he had wept at only a little while earlier. "But what happened to Midna?"
Sharlo's face wrinkled into fury. "She was thrown into the Twilight against her will. She, along with Akime, rallied the people against me and crowned herself the first Queen of Twilight. Despite all that I had done for them, I was exiled, forced to fade into the pages of history as nothing more than a greedy tyrant."
"Midna? Is she still alive?"
Sharlo's face curled with disgust. "I know what you're thinking…so stop it. That bloody imp that traveled with you shares her name and many other loathsome traits with her predecessor, but they are not the same person." He began to stomp up and down in a mini-tantrum. "I was so close to obtaining the throne and a way out of that eternal nightmare, but that bloody imp robbed me of what was rightfully mine."
Kari stepped away. His father was known for his somewhat immature behavior when things didn't go his way. It seemed some things did not change. "But I thought you were exiled."
Sharlo took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. "This is more recent, when I first took on the name of Zant. I reentered Twili politics in an attempt to obtain the throne and a way out of the Twilight." He began to stomp up and down again. "But she was chosen over me!"
The wind tamer humored him. "I see."
It took a moment before Sharlo finally calmed himself down. "None of that matters now. Mudora can do whatever he wants to this ugly world. Maybe I would've cared at one point, but several hundred years in the Twilight can change a person." He looked at Kari resolutely. "The only thing I care about in this world besides you is the village. I want to restore it, and I have a plan to do so. I want you to join me, Kari. Nothing would make me more proud."
A small smile crept to the Sheikah's lips. The idea of walking through a restored Kasuto with his father's approval seemed too good to be true. The smile slowly faded as reality struck. "But how?"
Zant crossed his arms and looked to the mountain's peak. "By returning to the past and changing it. We can use the Ocarina of Time or the Harp of Ages. We just have to take one of them from your traitorous friends."
Kari's eyes widened. "Is that really possible?"
"Do you doubt my word?"
The wind tamer quickly shook his head. "Of course not, Father. But I was just wondering about Mudora's plan."
"What about it?"
"What is he planning? And will it interfere?"
Sharlo shook his head. "He claims to have a way to rebuild the world into a peaceful one without war or violence. As for whether it will interfere, you let me take care of that."
Kari shrugged his shoulders. "That doesn't sound so bad."
His father looked to the other side of the village. "Trust me. His plan to get there is not as pretty as it sounds. However, if you join me, you won't have to worry about any of that."
The wind tamer dropped his gaze. "I'm not sure. You were supposed to be the enemy. Something doesn't feel right."
Sharlo grinned smugly. "I wasn't the one who betrayed you."
"I know…but still."
"It seems we have a visitor," Sharlo remarked. His eyes swept across the pristine snow to where a wolf appeared on the horizon. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "You've heard what I have to say. I'll let you decide where your loyalty lies. Will you help me rebuild Kasuto, or will you return to the man who betrayed you?" He took his hand off Kari's shoulder and turned to leave.
"Father! Wait!" Kari called out, but it was too late. His hand was greeted by empty air as Sharlo teleported away.
Kari felt his muscles tense and freeze like ice as he turned to face the wolf. Only his eyes moved as they traced the lupine's path among the ruins. An intense loathing boiled beneath his winter-chilled skin, seemingly melting the snow that had settled on the back of his neck.
At last, the wolf caught sight of Kari and dashed across the frozen debris, carefully slowing his approach the closer he came. The animal's ears slicked back, its stomach lowered to the ground, and its tail drooped between its legs, creating a shallow groove as it dragged in the snow.
Link had slowed almost to a crawl by the time Kari's judgmental gaze stopped him. There was a stiff silence between the two, broken only by wind's howling. The animal slowly raised its head to look at Kari with its mournful blue eyes.
"So that's how you found me," Kari grunted. "I'm surprised you still picked up my scent in the snow."
The wolf slowly shifted into the shape of a human. The once-proud hero stood before his accuser like a small child, his hands fidgeting nervously by his lap and his eyes unable to meet the Sheikah's accusatory gaze.
"Kari…I'm so…"
The Sheikah held up his hand and shushed him. "Don't waste your breath. No amount of apologizing will bring him back."
"But I can explain myself!" he shouted, mustering what little confidence he could.
The wind tamer looked away, the winter gale tugging at his cloak and bangs. "What difference will it make? It can't take away my pain." He looked at the grave that was supposedly his. "But I am not unreasonable. If you feel it will help, I suppose I will listen."
Link kicked at the snow with his boots. "The other woman in the cave…that was my mother. It was the first time I'd seen her in a long time. I thought I was finally going to make up for lost time. You know…since she was gone for much of my childhood. But then…he attacked her and I thought I had lost her. So well…."
Kari glared sharply at him, raising his voice. "And you think that justifies what you did?"
The hero looked at the ground sheepishly. "Of course not! No amount of words can ever make up for what I did." He sighed. "I don't expect you to forgive me or come back for my sake. But the others still need you."
The Sheikah looked towards the towering peak of Death Mountain. His own anger felt like the lava churning deep beneath the mountain, just waiting to erupt at the right moment.
"You were right about one thing: no amount of words can make up for what you did. Only one thing can satisfy me, and that's justice."
Link looked up hopefully. "What do I need to do?"
Kari scowled. "Sheikah law demands fair recompense. An eye for an eye. A life for a life." He readied the Wind Waker. "You took a life, so now you must give yours. You can do so willingly, or I will take it from you."
Link laughed nervously. "That's absurd! You're joking right?"
Kari bent his knees like a sprinter. "If that's how you feel, then I'm afraid this discussion is over."
The rush of air came so quickly towards Link that there was no time to react. The blast hit him in the gut and swept him off his feet, causing him to slide into the snow on his back. The white powder sent chills down his neck as he tried to jump to his feet, but the snow hindered his movements. Just as the hero regained his footing, Kari's knee connected with Link's stomach with another crushing blow.
Spit flew out of the hero's mouth as the wind forced itself out of him. While the hero tried to recuperate, Kari quickly followed up with an upper cut to the jaw; Link's head jerked upward with a sickening crack. The Sheikah finished his combo with a strong kick to the stomach, sending Link staggering backwards like a drunken man. Kari stepped back and watched him, mentally anticipating his opponent's next move.
Link braced himself and regained his footing. One hand clutched his stomach while the other rubbed his jaw. "You put some power behind those punches. That really hurt," he said with an amused chuckle. He pulled his hands away and grabbed his shield. "So you really want to fight, huh? Guess I have to play defensive until I can talk some sense into you."
Link felt partially naked holding only his shield and not his sword. The metal was frighteningly cold and stung his wrist. However, he had no time to think about it. The wind tamer came at him again. A fist flew towards his face, but the Hylian Shield rose in time to intercept it. The metal rung with a low ding as it made contact with bone and skin. Kari yelped and pulled back his fist, but continued mercilessly with the other hand. Link's instincts guided his blocking, causing Kari to pull many of his punches at the last second. Eventually, he resorted to using his legs, kicking at the shield with surprising force. Each impact caused harsh recoil, slowly pushing Link backwards.
Their grunts echoed across the ruins as Link fought to keep up with Kari's speed. The chilly weather numbed his hands and slowed his reflexes, only compounded by the heavy weight of the sturdy shield. Kari seemed to be tireless, fueled by adrenaline and rage. Each kick felt stronger than the last and harder to block.
One kick came so hard that it forced Link to stagger backwards, his arms flailing through the air to keep balance. Kari saw his chance and broke through Link's guard, grabbing the shield and forcing it to the hero's side. Link struggled to bring it back in front, but he simply didn't have the leverage. Kari capitalized on his advantage and twisted the shield. Link scrambled to readjust as his arm twisted more and more into an unnatural position. Kari continued twisting the shield violently until he heard a sick pop.
"GAAAAHHHH!"
The Sheikah backed away as Link scrambled to pull his arm away. The heavy shield dropped to the ground with a clunk as he finally freed it. His wrist throbbed uncontrollably, soon becoming red and swollen. Link knew instantly it had been dislocated.
"You cannot defend yourself anymore. How will you fight?" Kari taunted from a safe distance away. There was a sickening sense of satisfaction in his smirk. This was no playful sparring match; this was a fight to the death.
Link's right hand throbbed uncontrollably. He tried to ignore it as his left hand grabbed the Master Sword and sliced it through the air.
"I only need one hand to beat you," Link said, hiding behind a playful façade. On the surface, he acted like there was still a chance of talking things through. Yet, deep down, his hopes for reconciliation faded with every blow they exchanged.
"We will see about that," Kari said. His face remained as hostile as ever, the scowl passing the remark off as little more than a nuisance.
He leapt through the snow towards Link, blasting a gust of air in his direction. The hero rolled to the side. His arm hung loosely like a sack of meat, making evasion even more difficult. He saw Kari approach and readied his weapon. Although he didn't want to use it, he had no choice.
What Link held back in power, he tried to compensate with quantity. Each slash followed one after the other, leaving no chance for Kari to counter. However, the Sheikah's movements were fluid like water, each evasion moving smoothly into the next. The blade glimmered as it sliced through the air, several times grazing his clothes, but never once was it quick enough to strike a clean hit. The two continued their game of cat and mouse even as the snowfall continued around them.
Link thrust the blade of evil's bane straight towards Kari. He leapt on top of it, landing with two feet on the blade's edge. Link was shocked. The Sheikah stood there for a moment, his weight pushing the weapon towards the snow, before jumping off it and over Link's head.
The hero knew Kari would attempt to attack from behind when he landed, so he prepared himself. He executed a spin slash as soon as the wind tamer's feet touched the ground, knocking him off balance and leaving the swordsman ample opportunity to follow up.
Link calculated each of his strikes with precision. He refused to land a killing blow, so he swung with less force and aimed away from vitals. Unfortunately, this handicap made it impossible to hit the nimble Sheikah.
Seeing that Link's blade gave him the advantage in close combat, Kari retreated atop one of the graves. He summoned a powerful wind to stir the falling snow into a ferocious storm. The sudden blast of chilly frost caught Link off guard, causing him to shield his eyes with his sword arm. The blizzard-like conditions toyed with Link's senses. The blinding snow and howling wind hindered his vision and hearing, making it impossible to detect anything more than a few feet away. Kari was clearly using it to hide.
The Sheikah stalked through the blizzard like a lion hunting its prey. He could hear Link's yelling above the howling winds, but he didn't care. In a way, it was satisfying to see the hero helpless for a change.
Suddenly, a small glowing red light appeared in the middle of the storm. At first, Kari couldn't identify it. But soon it soon grew bigger and brighter, filling the air with surprising warmth. It was then that he recognized what Link was doing.
Din's Fire!
The wind only seemed to anger the flames as they consumed the surrounding snow. Kari dove behind the nearest pile of ruins as the intense heat rushed towards him. His skin grew uncomfortably warm as the flames passed by him.
As Kari peered around the corner, Link stood in a crater of melted snow. Ash and char lay on the surrounding rocks, and the adjacent snow kept its distance like a plague. The hero remained unperturbed. His eyes were hard and battle ready. He knew now that if he was to win, he couldn't hold back. Any chance of discussion was over. He would have to bring Kari back by force.
Link threw a bomb in the wind tamer's direction. Kari saw it well before it hit him and used the wind to blow it back in the hero's direction. Link reached for his Gale Boomerang and threw it at the explosive sphere, preventing an explosion in his face. The projectile sailed out of sight with the bomb, disappearing behind a pile of rubble.
The hero's sword arced through the air as he came at Kari with a jump slash. Kari spun around it and grabbed Link's other wrist before he could follow up with another attack.
"That was a poor maneuver," the Sheikah chastised. "Now I can break your other arm."
"You might want to duck first," Link cautioned, kicking Kari in the gut to loosen his grip. The hero dove out of the way just as the Gale Boomerang traveled back to the two of them with its explosive cargo.
KABOOM!
The explosion rocked Kari's world and sent him reeling against a wall of debris. His ears rung like bells and his eyes saw nothing but white spots. He stumbled to regain his balance, completely unaware that Link had closed in on him.
The throbbing in his wrist was unbearable, but Link knew he needed both hands to do what he wanted. Grabbing Kari's arm, he leaned his weight forward and backward to gain some momentum. When he felt he had enough, he front flipped over Kari's arm, twisting and dislocating the entire limb in the process. The hero's wrist pulsed with pain, but he landed on both feet. From the Sheikah's agonizing scream, Link knew his move was successful.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Link said as he turned to the dazed Sheikah. "But I'll break your legs too if you don't come back with me. There's too much at stake for me to take any chances."
There was an unsettling silence as the Sheikah nursed his dislocated arm. His breathing was heavy and labored like a woman in childbirth. He clutched the Wind Waker possessively to his chest with his other arm, not bothering to look Link in the eye.
"This is your last chance, Kari. Please, I'd prefer you came with me voluntarily."
A slight wind began to stir, pulling on Link's hair and blowing drifts of snow into the air. The Sheikah slowly stood up, his back brushing against the debris behind him. The wind began to blow harder, causing Link to shield his face with his good arm. The Sheikah looked into Link's eyes, red irises filled with anger and fury.
"How dare you!"
A cyclone suddenly picked Link up like an invisible hand and tossed him in the air, forcing the Master Sword out of his grip. The currents flipped and spun him like a vicious whirlpool. Link tried to reorient himself, but it was impossible; he was completely helpless. He felt like a bird with a broken wing as the wind flipped him at its will. The pain in his wrist pounded through his whole arm, and to make matters worse, a squirt of blood tickled his cheek. Link guided his hand there and felt the warm fluid against his fingertips; the source was only a small nick no bigger than a paper cut. Had the wind done this?
"Ouch!"
He felt another sharp cut against his arm. And another on his neck. What was cutting him? Had Kari somehow transformed the wind into a blade? He barely had time to mutter the incantation for Nayru's Love before the overwhelming force of the attack sliced into his body.
Kari tried to ignore the pain exploding in his shoulder as he spun Link around in the chaotic wind currents. Each of them had been converted to sharp gales capable of piercing the skin. He could sense the resistance from Link's protective spell. He focused all the harder, trying to penetrate its defenses.
Link thought he was going to be sick. His stomach rose and dropped, twisted and turned, flipped and flopped with every turn of the wind. He heard the scratching of the wind against Nayru's love like a knife scraping glass. That shield was the only thing protecting him. With each second, more scrapes and cracks appeared on the crystal surface. The wind howled fierce at him from the outside, beating aggressively against the barrier like an angry giant. Link knew if he stayed there much longer, he wouldn't survive.
Kari saw that the shield still held. With a loud yell, he strengthened the wind even further. Snow flew through the air and pelted his face. Piles of debris toppled from the overwhelming force, while small rocks flew through the air. The howl of the wind was deafening, and its strength threatened to take even Kari with it. Every ounce of concentration in the wind tamer's mind was aimed at strengthening and maintaining the spell. His breathing was slow and labored, his muscles full of fatigue, and his arm burned with pain. But for the time being, his rage allowed him to ignore all of it.
Link began to panic. The shield was quickly weakening. The pain in his wrist and the sickening disorientation tore at his concentration. The strength of the wind was overpowering, and soon it threatened to cut him to shreds. He watched with anticipation as one final large crack spread across the crystal barrier. He took a deep breath and prepared his body.
The shield crashed with a loud shatter, leaving the hero vulnerable to the merciless winds. They tore and dug at his skin, slicing at his muscles and shredding his hair. The injuries that formed were small cuts, no larger than a bug, but they were numerous like the stings of a hornet hive. His arm seared like it had been soaked in acid, and his entire body convulsed from the overwhelming shock.
Not long after Nayru's love broke, Kari was forced to stop the spell. The pain in his shoulder reached a breaking point, and his body was too weak from the effort required to maintain the spell to hold him. The wind slowly died down and Link dropped helplessly to the ground. Kari fell to his knees and drooped his head, breathing heavily to catch up. His vision was blurry again, and he could barely move.
Link's body hit the ground like a hammer as he landed into the snow. The chill stung Link's cheeks as it sprinkled back to the ground. His entire body felt numb, and his mind could barely think straight. His stomach reeled inside from all the tossing and turning, and his breath came to him in fits. Everything felt surreal, from the ringing in his ears to the flashes in his vision. It was only because of his incredible endurance that he was still conscious, or else his body would've gone into shock long ago.
Red potion! Drink a red potion!
In a brief moment of lucidity, Link remembered the red potions he had bought while in Zora's Hall. He fumbled for one in his satchel and thanked the goddesses it didn't fall out in all the chaos. The small glass bottle felt heavy in his hand, so he tried rolling it up his body and towards his mouth. He bit the cap and pulled weakly to uncork it, and then dribbled the red medicine down his throat. Red potion stained his cheeks and his collar, but he didn't care. Slowly, he felt some strength return and his pain start to numb. It wouldn't fix his wrist, but at least he would be able to move now.
He rose to his feet and dropped the glass bottle into the snow. He grabbed his sword and approached the wounded and exhausted Sheikah. Kari sat helplessly with his back against a wall, his dislocated arm draped across his lap, and his legs spread across the ground. He looked up at the hero, but didn't seem entirely present.
"I could end this right now," Link said, standing over the Sheikah to assert his authority. His weapon turned restlessly in his hand.
"Yes, you could," Kari replied.
"But I'm not going to," Link said, placing the sword back in its scabbard. He dropped to one knee so he was eye level with Kari. "I want to say how incredibly sorry I am, Kari. I know what I did caused you incredible pain." He bowed his head. "Please forgive me."
Every muscle tensed in Link's body as he awaited an answer. His heart pounded against his chest. Sweat tinged his brow, and the anticipation numbed him even to winter's harsh chill. His wrist was swollen and red, and the stinging was overwhelming. But yet, given the circumstances, Link barely paid attention to it. His entire focus was on Kari's every movement.
The Sheikah looked up at him and back to the ground. He began to move the Wind Waker from one side of his body to the other like a metronome.
"I still want justice, Link." He paused to look up at the sky. "But I'm not going to kill you."
Link let out a large sigh and sat in the snow. He was exhausted, and awaiting Kari's decision had sapped the small amount of strength the red potion had given him.
"That's a relief."
But there was something disturbing about the way Kari stared at him. Link could tell the Sheikah wasn't finished speaking.
"I'm not going to kill you because I have decided it is more fitting that you take your own life."
Link's eyes widened. "What?"
But Kari had no need to explain himself. He activated the Command Melody just like Mudora had taught him. The wind tamer felt his consciousness rip from his body and insert itself into that of his friend.
The feeling was unlike anything Link had ever felt before. Even as a wolf, he had been able to influence his actions, but this was completely different. He became vaguely aware of a foreign presence invading his mind. He felt his control over his body beginning to slip.
But he would not go down so easily.
"Get out of my mind!" Link shouted, cradling his head and falling to his knees.
"This is justice!" Kari shouted back, closing his eyes as he fought against Link's mental resistance.
The mental effort it took to keep Kari out was exhausting. Link thrashed in the snow, yelling and screaming as he fought for dominion of his mind. He rose to his feet for an instant, but then collapsed back in the snow with another cry. He began to roll around, mumbling beneath his breath like a madman. The Triforce glowed brightly on his left hand.
Soon, he transformed into a wolf. The proud and wild animal let out a great howl. It would not be contained. It refused to be dominated. With a loud snarl, it pushed fiercely against Kari's encroachment, gaining control over its muscles. It slowly stood and stalked through the snow towards the Sheikah, keeping its head close to the ground as if fighting a fierce wind.
Fear filled Kari as he sensed the animal's approach. What if he lost control? But as he thought of his father, Midna, and Kasuto, that fear turned to resolve. That resolve strengthened both his anger and his concentration, and he pushed back into Link's mind with a new aggressiveness.
The sudden surge stopped the wolf in its tracks and forced it to become human once again. Link fell to his knees, this time feeling his grip starting to fade. The Triforce still glowed brilliantly on his wrist, providing him just enough strength to stay in the fight.
"Don't do this," Link pleaded.
"And why not?" Kari spat back. "You're a murderer."
The words shot right through Link.
"I only killed because I had to," he fought back.
Kari's resolve strengthened. "Zili was trying to help you! What part of that was forced?"
The hero couldn't respond right away. The dead Sheikah's face flashed in his mind. "I…I don't know."
"How many have you slain? How much blood is on your hands?"
Dozens of faces began to surface in the hero's memory. They ranged from the villains and monsters that had fallen to his sword, to the Sheikah he had killed as Lieutenant Ordona, to the faces of Rusl and the Ordonians who had died as a result of his failures. Guilt and regret flooded through his whole body, pulling at his already weak resolve.
"There…there are too many to count. But all I've ever done is try and help people. Isn't that good enough?"
"You cannot erase the blood of an unjust killing, no matter how many lives you save."
Kari's words swirled in Link's head, chipping away at his strength even further. Doubt stormed through his mind like a thunderhead.
"I am…a murderer." His voice was weak. "But do I have to die? Is there another way?"
Kari's voice was soft and hypnotic as he shook his head. "I am afraid there is no other way. This must be done."
Not even the Triforce could provide him the strength to keep fighting any longer. It slowly faded away as Link stopped resisting altogether.
"Then you're…right. I…deserve…to….die."
Those were the last words Link could muster before blackness surrounded his consciousness. The world seemed a distant thought now. The sound penetrating his ears was only a faint whisper. At first, he felt only guilt and shame. But the further he descended into the seas of unconsciousness, the less he could feel even those. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Everything seemed meaningless. He slowly embraced the darkness and the relief it provided and allowed despair to swallow him.
Kari knew he had complete control of Link's body now. The sharp resistance he had felt before was nowhere to be found. He forced the hero to rise to his feet and draw the sword from its scabbard. He held the sword in front of him, with the hilt facing outward and the blade pointing towards him. All it would take is a single stab to end the hero's life.
"Enough!" Mudora's voice halted him. The deity waved his hand, and Kari was thrust back into his own body.
It took a moment for the Sheikah to regain his bearings. But when he turned to face Mudora, anger slowly covered his face. "What authority do you have to stop me? I was about to…"
"Yes, your justice, I know," Mudora stated casually, waving the Sheikah off indifferently. "I watched the whole thing. Such a raw and brutish fight too. It was quite disgusting." The deity grimaced and shuddered. "But don't forget I was the one who taught you that technique. I can just as easily stop it."
"But why? This has nothing to do with you." Kari spat back.
Mudora smiled. "But it does! I want this man alive. He is far more useful to me that way."
"And that gives you the right to interfere?"
The deity's smile was quickly replaced by a scowl. "Since you did so well, I'll overlook your insolence for now. However, I suggest you don't repeat it. You would do well to remember I have much more power over you than you think. If you're not careful, you could end up dead prematurely."
"Kari, you've already proven where your loyalty lies," Sharlo said, standing slightly behind the deity. "I suggest you don't push your luck."
The wind tamer decided to heed his father's warning for now. He looked back at Link. The hero lied still with his eyes closed. There was no movement from his body. "What do you plan to do with him?"
There was a twinkle in Mudora's eye. "Well, I admit this is a development even I did not foresee. I'm still exploring the possibilities. But make no mistake, this fits right into my plan to rebuild this world." His face turned quite solemn. "If he is this strong already, just imagine the power his inner darkness holds."
I can't tell you how long I've been waiting to write this chapter. Okay, maybe I can…several years I'd say. At last, we reach the turning point in the story! That's partially why it took so long to release this chapter; I wanted to make sure it was the best I could make it. The other reason is I just moved to start a new job so I don't have internet yet. I sent this chapter courtesy of Panera Bread wifi. Hooray for chicken Caesar sandwiches! I hope the return to Kasuto didn't disappoint. See you all next chapter!