Chapter 3

So this is Faron woods... the twilight makes it look immensely dark. I look over at the wolf and Midna is visible on his back again... but she's wearing a shield on her face and holding a sword.

"Hm... so these are weapons you use in your world?" she said as she swings the sword all around the place and I barely dodge, "You really think this thing can slay the creatures of twilight? Well, I won't use these, but I'll hang on to them for you!" she said as the sword and shield disappear, "Alright, a promise is a promise... I trust you, in exchange for my help I need you to gather some things for me...but enough about that. Do you hear that noise? It's the lamentation of the spirit that had its light stolen." she changes the subject... part of me knows she has her own agenda but she's been helpful for now and I have a feeling I should stay with the wolf... he might also know something about me. "Better get going, don't you think? Don't blame me for your worlds fate if you don't hurry up and find the light." whatever kind of world Hyrule is... it appears they put their faith in one wolf... who might not actually be a wolf? We continue then the same strange pillars from before surround us and we're trapped inside! And this time three shadow creatures appear! I froze... what am I supposed to do? The monsters charge at us but the wolf quickly takes care of them and the pillars disappear. "Hey! Girl!" Midna yells at me and I snap out of my blank stare.

"S...sorry." I said following after them and we get to a spring that is similar to Ordona's. At the far end of the spring were small fragments of light floating around but they were very dim.

"I am a spirit of light... blue eyed beast, look for my light... retrieve the light stolen by the dark beasts... and keep it in this vessel. A strange vine with glass grapes float down. The wolf grabs it then looks at me. I hold out my hands and he drops the vessel of light into them.

"You want me to help?" I asked surprised and the wolf nods. I don't know how much help I'll be...

"Find... the insects of darkness... they took the light." the spirit said, so we just need to squish a few bugs to get the light back. We leave the spring and enter deeper into the forest and enter a tunnel where I see two bugs... but they are a lot larger than I expected...

"Those are the biggest insects I've ever seen!" I said shocked, they were flying shadow beetles that were bigger than my head. The wolf doesn't hesitate to attack the two bugs and after they disappear two lights appear in their place and float towards me. I hold out the vessel and the lights get pulled in and two of the glass grapes glow. We continue looking for the other fourteen, we keep finding the insects until we just needed two more, "This isn't as difficult as I thought it would be." I said as pillars fall from the sky again, "Spoke too soon..." and Midna laughs at my comment, just as three shadow creatures appear, they all look at me... they must be attracted to the vessel of light. But before they could even reaches me the wolf guards me and finishes them off. The pillars disappear and we make it to a strange large tree that looks almost like it's been made into a house or something. We find and take the last two lights from the defeated insects then go back to the spring. I hold out the full vessel and it floats out of my hand and drops into the center of the spring and the wolf's body begins to glow and the twilight starts to fade away. A large ball of light appears and holding onto it is a monkey like creature made of light floated above the spring.

"My name is Faron. I am one of the spirits of light who dwell in Hyrule. I use the life force of the goddesses to protect this forest. O, brave youth... in the land covered in twilight, where people roam as spirits, you transformed into a beast. That was a sign... the power of the chosen one rests within you... and that they are awakening... Look at your awakened form." I look over where the wolf was and there stood a boy who appeared to be my age standing next to me. He looked himself over as I stare at his golden hair and bright blue eyes and pointed ears just like the Princess we met. He was looking at the green tunic with chainmail underneath and a white undershirt and on his back were the sword and shield that Midna had earlier... on top of his head was a matching green hat that was long and pointed going down past his shoulders... my heart began to throb... I ... I know him... "The green that is your garb once belonged to the ancient hero chosen by the goddesses. His power is yours. His is the true power that slept within you." my head began to spin as I could imagine a younger version of this boy with less armor opening a large door and finding me.

"Link..." the words slip from my mouth as the guy in front of me looks at me surprised,

"How do you know my name?" he asked,

"I... have we... met before?" I asked but he shakes his head... but then who was that boy with the same name... and same face...

"You are the hero chosen by the goddesses," Faron continues, "Brave Link... a dark power rests in the temple deep in these woods. It is a forbidden power. Long, long ago, I and the other spirits of light locked it away. Because of its nature, it's a power that should never be touched by any who dwell in the light. But this world weeps beneath a mantle of shadows, and so there is no choice... you must match the power of the king of shadows." Oh great, more things to do... "Daughter of light..." Faron looks at me.

"Are you talking to me?" I asked looking confused,

"My apologies, this must all be very confusing to you... but all will become clear. Follow the chosen hero and your memories will return... but be wary, those memories come with a price." he said disappearing.

"Wait!" I call out, I have so many more questions, was this really the place I was taken to seven years ago? And if so why would those memories come with a price?

"So..." Link said as I turn around to look at him, "I'm Link... although you already knew that..." he said

"I'm Pura... it's nice to meet you." I said,

"Yeah..." he said, he seems kinds of quiet and shy... for some reason I imagined him being more outgoing.

"Can I ask a question?" It's been eating at me since the beginning, he nods in response, "Why bring a complete stranger along?"

"Oh... because... I... I had a dream about you..." he blushes and I start to blush as well,

"Well... that's new... but not surprising with the day we've had." I joke,

"I don't mean for it to be weird..."

"No, I understand, and I don't want it to be weird since I think we'll be traveling together for a while longer." I said and he smiles,

"Well then, shall we?" he asks and I nod and we walk deeper into the forest, all of this felt weird... everything felt... off.

"Let's head to the temple." Midna said from Link's shadow,

"I'm going there because Faron told us to... not because you say." Link said his personality changed a bit, more upfront...

"That's no way to treat your master!" Midna said,

"You're not my master! We're acquaintances assisting each other for their own benefit." he said firmly... he was kind of intimidating...

"Fine then! Have it your way." Midna said and Link sighs,

"So those friends Midna showed us... do you know who took them?" I asked changing the subject.

"It's probably the same monsters that imprisoned us." he looks down, "I hope their okay... not to mention I heard the other kids from my village have gone missing too" he frowns,

"Hey, you saved me, the least I could do is help you find them... although I don't know exactly how I'll help... I wish I had my bow." I said as link gives an expression like he just had an idea,

"Here!" he pulls a slingshot out of his pouch, "It won't do much damage but it you can stun enemies before they get to close." he said,

"Thanks." He hands me the slingshot, I grab some rocks from the ground and put them in my back pocket. We keep moving forward and a strange plant like monster pops out of a ground, I back away.

"Try hitting this monster." Link said and I hold up the slingshot and pull back the sling with a rock and release it, it hits the monster in the head and it jolts up and stops moving like it's stunned. Link walks over and cuts the vine connecting the head to the ground, killing it.

"Seems easy enough." I said, it's similar to a bow but not as powerful.

"Still, stay close." he said as we make it to a strange hut. There was a guy sitting by a fire with a large afro where several birds were resting. He stares at us as we walk up looking us both up and down,

"Wow... I don't usually see other humans around these parts." he said to me, "And you're traveling with an Ordonian,"

"Ordonian?" I asked,

"It's a Hylian who lives in the Ordona province." Link said,

"You seemed familiar, but then your clothes seemed kinda different... not to mention her clothes... "He commented on my Jeans and tee-shirt.

"What's wrong with them?" I asked defensively,

"Sorry... it's nothin' I've seen before... but then... things have been a little rough around here lately, so you should two should watch your step. Okay? There are so many monsters now... I got scared and locked the path leading to the temple." he said,

"But that's where we're going." Link said,

"Hm... you do look geared up for it, why not." he hands Link a small key, "Also, the woods on the other side are covered in a really thick fog, so make sure your lantern in full." he said and we both look at each other. "You don't have a lantern? Here, I have a spare" he hands Link a lantern.

"Thanks." Link said,

"No problem, but it will cost you for oil." he said,

"How much?" I asked,

"One hundred Rupees." he smiles,

"One hundred what?" I asked,

"I got it." Link said handing the guy a couple of gems and he hands Link a bottle full of oil.

"Have a safe journey." he smiles and waves to us as we head over to the locked gate that leads to the temple. Link unlocks the gate and we continue, we walk in silence until I notice him staring at me.

"That guy's comments... you do kinda stick out." he said,

"Yeah, I was surprised to see another human. I thought everyone in Hyrule was a Hylian." I said

"No there are also other races, like the Gorons and the Zora's" Link said "But you don't run into as many humans as you do Hylians, meaning you will stick out more... and your short hair doesn't help, we'll have to find you a hat."

"Is it really that big of a deal?" I asked,

"It might not be... but when we were imprisoned I was a beast, they don't know what I look like, but they know you're human, they may have scouts looking for you like how Zelda commented that the creatures were also looking for Midna." Link said, he thinks things through so critically, it's really impressive.

"I didn't even think about that..." I said as we get to a clearing and we're stopped by a strange purple fog.

"We'll worry about it when the time comes, for now this fog is our issue." Link said as he pulls out the lantern and fills it with oil and lights it up. He holds it out and in a flash something speeds by us and rips the lantern out of Links hand. "Hey!" we look ahead and see a grey monkey with a rose next to her ear holding the lantern on a stick. She runs over to the fog and waves the lantern around and the fog disperses around her. The monkey looks back at us and waves.

"I think she wants us to follow her..." I said as we follow her and she leads us through the fog. While walking my head starts to feel dizzy, there must be something in the mist. Link grabs my hand and pulls me closer to him and the monkey.

"Don't get too close to the mist, its poison." he said and we continue to stick close to the monkey.

After some time we finally make it out of the fog and get to a wooden gate. The monkey drops the lantern and runs ahead.

"Should we follow?" I asked,

"We're heading that way anyway." he said letting go of my hand and walking over to grab the lantern. It took a minute to realize that we held hands that entire time... "You okay?" he asked,

"Yep, all good." I quickly said and we continue. We get to a large tree that we saw before, we continue forward but are stopped when a large golden wolf blocks our path.

"Stay behind me!" Link pulls out his sword and shield, then the wolf jumps at us and I'm blinded by a bright light.

We both wake up in a strange place, the ground was covered in mist and in the distance was a large castle... This feeling again... I've also been here before.

"Where are we?" I asked as we both look around, when we turn around we see a ghostly skeletal figure wearing golden armor that looks weathered even having moss growing on it. The figure is holding a sword and shield ready to fight. I looks at its head and only its left eye glowed with life, even though it was a red that sent chills down my spine. Link pulls out his sword and shield and strikes at the thing first but he's instantly thrown back to the ground.

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage." The ghost lowered his sword as Link stands back up. "You may be destined to become the hero of legend... but your current power would disgrace the proud green of the hero's tunic you wear. If I were an enemy, you would have lost and the girl you swore to protect would be taken." Link looks back at me then turns back and glares at the armored specter, "You must use your courage to seek power... and find it you must. Only then will you become the hero for whom this world needs. If you do find true courage, and you work to save Hyrule from the horrors it now faces... then you will be worthy to receive to secrets I hold! I will train you!" he said,

"You seem to have a lot of knowledge, so I accept" Link said,

"Then listen well, enemies that are filled with energy will quickly recover and attack again even when stunned by a powerful strike. The ending blow is a secret technique you can use on stunned enemies to end their breath before they spring back into action. Now, try it on me." he said as they clash their blades together signifying the start of a sparring match. Link strikes the armored ghost and he falls back to the ground and Link jumps in the air and drives his sword into the ghost's chest. Link jumps back and the ghost stands back up. "Very good, the first hidden skill has been passed on! There are six other hidden skills to help you but this is all the time I have."

"What do we call you?" I pulled up the courage to ask,

"I am known as the Hero's Shade." He said, the tone of his voice sounded sad. "You're as beautiful as I remember." he said and I blush,

"Wait! Does that mean you know me?" I asked,

"Yes, but your questions must wait for another time, Pura..." I frown as he looks Link" A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage... remember those words... farewell..." he said as we're blinded by a light as we wake up back in the forest.

"That was weird..." Link said,

"The sacred realm!" I said,

"What?"

"That's where we were!" I said,

"How do you know that?" Link asked,

"I'm... not sure... the words... just popped in my head." I said as I frown, just as something pops in my head it leaves just as quickly, and I'm left with more questions.

"It'll all come back to you eventually, don't try to force it." Link said,

"Are you two done bonding?" Midna said, "We have work to do!" she said as we look up towards the temple wondering what horrors we'd find.