The Legend of Zelda: The Hero's Twilight, a 'Legend of Zelda' fanfic by Tsunami Storm

Chapter 4: Revenge

"Let me guess, this is your house, right?" Time asked his descendant as they left the spring and were just about to continue into the main village. Twilight nodded, and Ilia smiled. "The whole village pitched in to help, but Link built most of it himself."

"Is that so?" Time answered, impressed. "I too lived in a treehouse that I hollowed out, as did all the Kokiri. Until I was around fifteen, anyway, when the King and Princess Zelda insisted that I start living at the castle." He chuckled. "And I use the term 'insisted' very loosely. It was more of an order in Zelda's case."

Just then, Bo came running out of his house and stopped the three in their path. "Ilia! Where have you been?! I've been worried sick!" He puffed, already out of breath.

"Father, I told you this morning that I was going for a walk in the forest with Link! Did you forget already?" Ilia laughed playfully.

"No! But- but that was hours ago!" Bo argued. He was doing a pretty bad job of hiding it, but everyone present could see that he was relieved his daughter was unharmed.

"I am afraid that was my fault, sir." Time spoke up. "They were… unavoidably detained by unforeseeable circumstances." He explained, and the mayor of Ordon finally noticed that there were two Links present. He kept looking between them and mouthing soundlessly like a beached fish.

"Wh-what in the world?" Bo gasped. "Now there's two of you?!" He spluttered, gaping at who he thought was the Link he'd watched grow up. Twilight chuckled once and shook his head politely.

"I am a distant relative of his, just visiting for a while. And it's purely a coincidence that we look almost identical." At this, Time shared a conspiratorial wink with Twilight, who smiled again.

"You're his relative? But how is that possible? Our Link doesn't have any family. He told us himself." Jaggle asked, walking up to the conversation with his wife Pergie. "He's been alone ever since the day Rusl an' Ilia brought him 'ere from Hylia-knows-where."

"Well, then he was mistaken." Time chuckled, shooting another wink at his descendant. "We're distant relatives, not twin brothers." He explained. "I came here from a very faraway land to see the renowned beauty of Hyrule, and to visit the only living family I've got left: Link."

Sera gasped in sympathy. "Oh, you poor dear. All alone in this world and barely an adult. You must stay with us. At least for one night." Beside her, her husband Hanch agreed.

"Oh no, I couldn't impose." Time refused, but Bo put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We insist." He growled kindly, a twinkle in his eyes.

"O-okay." Time stammered, but then remembered his etiquette. "Thank you for your generosity and hospitality." He bowed, grateful.

"Um-" Uli began shyly, and the nineteen-year-old Hero turned to her. "Forgive me, but- your accent, the way you use your words-" She trailed off, but Time got the message. He laughed.

"Oh, yes. Forgive me. Where I come from, we speak what you would call 'ancient Hylian'. I suppose it is a bit more- archaic than your language, my Lady. My apologies." He bowed, causing the mother to blush.

"Oh, no need to apologize! It just- intrigued me, that's all." Uli stammered, flustered.

"Rusl and Uli are our local 'historians'." Bo explained to Time. "Ask either of them anything about the era of the legendary Hero of Time and they'll happily answer any of your questions." He laughed, gently teasing his best friend's wife- who turned redder.

Time smiled at the woman in interest, curious to see how much of what these 'historians' knew about his time was accurate.

"Ah, where are our manners? We haven't asked you your name!" Pergie laughed, speaking for the first time and looking at the Legendary Hero- who was hiding in plain sight.

Time looked down at the ground. He'd been hoping to avoid this question. Ah well. "My real name would only cause confusion, but you may call me 'Time'. That's what all my friends called me back home." He smiled at Twilight, who realized he must have been talking about the Sages. "Among other things." He muttered under his breath, but only the two teens heard it.

"Oh. 'Time', huh?" Talo commented, walking up behind his parents. "Cool name. Mine's Talo, an' this is my kid brother Malo, of the Hyrule-famous 'Malo Mart'!"

Malo grimaced at his brother, but waved 'hello' all the same. "Greetings. Welcome to Ordon Village, famous for our goat cheese and health-restoring milk. Rusl's also a decent swordsmith, so we've got that too."

Time raised his eyebrows in surprise, not expecting a four-year-old to be speaking like an adult. "Yeah, Malo takes some getting used to. Boy genius and all that." Talo commented, but Time smiled and knelt down, shaking the toddler's hand.

Continuing with the introductions, the rest of the clan introduced themselves and Uli explained that Rusl and their son Colin were gathering branches in Faron Woods for winter. Fado had also joined the conversation and seemed to take an immediate liking to Time, as if he could sense the fact that he was good with animals.

Suddenly everyone heard a bleating noise from the ranch, and both heroes looked up to see an Ordon goat barreling straight for them. Time jumped and rolled out of the way, but Twilight held his ground- knowing just what to do. He quickly donned his Iron Boots for some extra leverage, then grabbed the charging ram by its fused horns and wrestled it to the ground. Tired out, the billy calmed as Link put a hand on its neck, then it got back to its feet.

Time was impressed. He's pretty good. I can see how he earned the respect of the Gorons. He thought as he followed his descendant to the ranch, the billy capering along beside them as if nothing had happened.

As they entered the pasture, the sun was beginning to set in the west, bathing the landscape in its yellow-orange glow. Twilight smiled sadly, lost in the past. Midna loved this time of day. I hope she's doing well in the Twilight Realm- goddesses, I miss her.

Time- meanwhile- was busy petting one of the goats and her kids, speaking softly to them in words Link could not quite make out. He gave the mother one last pat and turned to his former student, who smiled- enjoying the peaceful sunset and the gentle breeze that always came with it.

Without warning, a woman's scream rent the evening air and both boys gasped in horror. They sprinted through the gateway back to Ordon, dreading what they might find there. The goats were restless, as if they could sense an evil presence that the boys could not.

The two heroes arrived in the simple village only to find it in flames. All the villagers were crowded into a small area near the center of the settlement, surrounded by undead enemies. ReDeads, Gibdos, Stalfos and zombie-like Bulblins had trapped them, pointing swords and clubs at them. Uli was shaking with fear and dread, holding her baby daughter close. These beasts had come from Faron province, and Rusl and Colin had not yet returned. She worried for the fate of her husband and son. It was she who had screamed.

Both heroes drew their weapons- Twilight his 'new' blade and Time his bow- preparing to save the inhabitants of Ordon. In Twilight's case, the people with whom he had grown up. Time had no such connection with these people, but- as a Hero and a former knight- he could never abandon the innocent.

The monsters turned from their prey as the boys ran forward, distracted for a moment. That was their last mistake as Time shot Light Arrows at them while Twilight disposed of the rest with his enchanted blade. For a moment, it seemed that the heroes would be victorious.

And then that moment ended. A chilling laugh rent the night sky, sending shivers down everyone's spines- a laugh Twilight knew all too well.

"You fools!" The voice breathed. "You shall all be sacrificed to revive my master!" It announced, at last taking a physical form. Time and most of the townsfolk recoiled in shock and revulsion at the sight, but not Twilight. After all, he had defeated this specter before in the ancient Arbiter's Grounds. The doomed prisoner, Deathsword.

"Never!" Twilight roared, running at the corporeal spirit and preparing for a jump-slash. Behind him, Time nocked another arrow, feeling his inner magic fading. He only had enough for one last arrow. Better make it count.

"I think not, boy!" Deathsword wheezed, throwing his oversized butcher-knife at the ancient Hero, forcing him to duck and roll to avoid the flying cleaver. Unfortunately, one of the zombies seized this opportunity and threw its club- which connected with the reborn Hero and knocked him out- rendering him useless for the moment. Beth and Talo gasped.

The giant sword returned to its master and Deathsword prepared to take another swing at Link. However, the teenager wasn't going to let it be that easy. He rolled out of the way just as the fiend's blow landed, performing a perfect 'Back Slice' on the phantom's unguarded back- just as the Hero's Shade had taught him. Looping back around, he attacked with his shield, then somersaulted over his opponent and gave him a good whack with a 'Helm Splitter'.

The demon screamed in pain and rage, hardly believing that one mere mortal could do so much damage. He flew backwards, out of range of Link's blade for a moment while he planned his next move. Time for something new.

Muttering something in a long-dead and forbidden tongue, Deathsword plunged his blade into the ground and raised his mottled, rotten hands over his head, summoning a giant orb of dark magic between his palms. Link gasped and readied his shield. He had blocked magical attacks before. Little did he know that this time would be different. The cursed inmate growled in triumph as he threw the orb at the young Hero, confident that the orb would fulfill its dark purpose.

Twilight used his 'Shield Attack'- intending to send the spell right back at the fiend- but to his horror, the orb passed right through the shield and sank into his chest. He gasped in pain and fell to his hands and knees, his breath coming in strained, harsh bursts. He cried out as the orb of darkness changed him to a form he never thought he'd take again:

The sacred beast.

Determination outweighing his fading consciousness, Twilight stubbornly refused to pass out, glaring and growling at Deathsword. He lunged at the specter, but his evil purpose had already been accomplished. He laughed cruelly. "You see? Your supposed 'Hero' is actually a beast of the shadows! He and his kind attacked your home and stole your children!" He cried as he faded from sight. "He's no Hero! He's a demon!" He cackled as he disappeared into the dark of night.

The men of Ordon gaped at the wolf before them, still too stunned to speak. Some of the women were crying now that it was over, and the children huddled close to their mothers- afraid of the wolf that stood before them. Twilight's blue eyes were wide with fear, but also shining with tears of regret and sorrow.

"Unnh." Time groaned as he regained consciousness, putting a hand to his head. I could really use a helmet for times like this. Why'd I leave mine behind in my tomb again? Well, it is kinda dated and looks odd, but it's better than nothing. He thought absently, but then gasped when he saw his spiritual brother- as a wolf- backing away from angry-looking, torch-wielding Ordonians. He bravely stepped between the transformed Hero and the villagers, arms spread wide.

"You would attack one of your own when he is already cursed?" He asked incredulously, causing some to falter. "He's exactly the same boy who lived here, just in a different form. Have mercy, for the sake of pity!"

"Mercy?" Bo breathed, angrier than either Link had ever seen him. "Did he and his kind show mercy when they took our children from us? Two years ago, did he show mercy to our only swordsman left in Ordon? No! Rusl was wounded badly, and if it hadn't been for his skill, he would surely have fallen!"

He glared at the wolf behind Time, who shrank back and bowed his head. "When Rusl and Ilia first brought you to us, I didn't know what to think of you- a child- but now I do. My judgment is passed:" He continued. "EXILE!"

Twilight gasped, his expression horrified and hurt beyond measure. Suddenly a drumbeat sounded, and someone was playing a wooden flute. But it wasn't a happy tune that echoed through the burning village. Jaggle and his wife Pergie were the first to begin the song of judgment, and one by one the others joined in. All but Ilia, who had tears in her eyes.

Jaggle: "Deception!"

Pergie: "Now banned!"

Sera: "Evil as plain as the mark on his hand!"

Hanch: "Deception!"

Talo/Malo: "An outrage!"

Hanch: "Disgrace!"

Beth: "For shame!"

Bo: "He asked for trouble the moment he came!"

Jaggle: "Deception!"

Talo/Malo: "An outrage!"

Fado: "He can't change his stripes!"

Pergie: "Now banned!"

Beth: "For shame!"

Fado: "You know these Outsider types!"

Sera: "Evil as plain as the mark on his hand!"

Hanch: "See you later, agitator!"

Jaggle: "Deception!"

Talo/Malo: "An outrage!"

Fado: "Just leave us alone!"

Pergie: "Now banned!"

Beth: "For shame!"

Fado: "Traitor, go back with your own!"

Bo: "He asked for trouble the moment he came!"

Hanch: "See you later, agitator!"

All: "Born in dark, but raised in light,

Helpless now to change his plight.

Let him run, let him live,

But do not forget what we cannot forgive!

And he is not- one of us,

He has never been one of us!

He is not- part of us,

Not our kind!

"Someone once- lied to us," They sang, glaring at Time- who glared right back.

"Now we're not so blind.

For we knew he would do what he's done,

And we know that he'll never be one- of- us!"

Uli: "He is not- one of us-"

Sera: "Deception!"

Beth: "Disgrace!"

Talo: "Deception!"

Malo: "Disgrace!"

Pergie: "Deception."

Twilight whimpered in anguish as he took one slow step backward, then two, and- with a final sniffle- ran off into the dark forest, a large tear dropping from his blue eyes.

"No! Link!" Ilia cried, trying to go after him, but her father held her back.

Time glared at the villagers in disgust as Twilight fled, disappointment in his now-cold cobalt eyes. His expression softened as his gaze fell on Ilia, and he nodded his goodbye as he played two strange songs on his ocarina. One, the Song of Storms, immediately produced a clap of thunder and a shower of rain to put out the fires, and the second caused a myriad of emerald sparkles to envelop the Hero and transport him deep into the woods. Hopefully he could head off Twilight and calm him down, maybe offer him some comfort in light of this tragedy.

[Song of Storms]

[Minuet of Forest]

Time found Twilight at the gate between Hyrule Field and Faron, silent tears dripping off his muzzle to the soft ground below. Time put a hand on the wolf's shoulder, speaking softly.

"I know how you feel, my son." He imparted, and the wolf looked up at him. "Mido pretty much said the same thing when I'd grown up. The Kokiri didn't trust adults, and they don't age. I too was cast out of my childhood home." He said sadly, sympathy in his light-less blue eyes.

The wolf sniffed, looking at his ancestor. "At least you had somewhere else to go." He countered telepathically.

Time frowned. "So do you. You're a hero, Link. Your friends in the Resistance would never leave you out in the cold. I'd bet any one of them would gladly help out a friend in need."

That's true- Twilight thought to himself. "But they wouldn't extend the same courtesy to a wolf."

"Not necessarily." Time argued. "Ever since my day, it has been forbidden to kill a wolf, for they are sacred beasts. Wolfos are different from wolves. That law was passed long ago, as the goddesses' chosen hero could also sometimes change into a wolf. That has been true for two heroes so far: You, and myself."

The wolf looked at the Hylian in shock, his eyes clearly asking, "How?!"

"Magic." He smiled. "Like it or not, magic is in your blood. As it is with all Hylians. In time, you too will learn how to change your form at will. It's just a matter of concentration. Eventually, you will learn to use it as I have."

Twilight nodded slowly- still sullen and feeling betrayed, but that feeling had lessened somewhat thanks to Time. They sat in companionable silence for a long time, mutually comforting one another.

After what seemed like an eternity, Time sighed, getting to his feet again. "If the Forest temple was overrun with enemies, I think it's fairly safe to assume that the other temples are similarly infested." He commented sourly. "We should head to Death Mountain next, and on the way we can find a way to lift your curse."

Time's words sparked a memory within Twilight, and he suddenly sat up and pointed his nose skyward- howling one of the songs of the temples. The Prelude of Light. Time followed him on his ocarina, and the Hero and wolf disappeared in a vortex of golden sparkles.

"The Master Sword healed me once." Twilight thought aloud when they had arrived. "Maybe it can help me again."

"That's a great idea, Link!" Time praised. "The Master Sword is the Blade of Evil's Bane. If anything can restore you, it can."

Twilight nodded, then ran into the chamber of the sword- Time right on his tail. He slid to a stop before the blade, bowing his head in reverence. The blade glowed with an unearthly light, so bright that Time had to shield his eyes. Twilight snarled as the light enveloped him, slowly expelling the darkness within him and changing him from beast to man. For now a second- and hopefully final- time.

As the light faded, Link got to his feet, breathing a sigh of relief. He checked himself all over to make sure that he still had all the items he would need for his newest quest. Good thing I was carrying all my possessions with me, or they would've been lost in the fire that destroyed my house. I don't have a home anymore. He turned to Time, who was watching him patiently. "Let's go save the world." Time smiled, nodded, and the two heroes left the ruins and made their way to Hyrule Field, heading for the province of Eldin.

End of chapter 4

Next Chapter Teaser: Redemption

I reference my other LoZ story here- that Link wasn't born in Ordon village but came from somewhere else entirely. He's clearly different from the Ordonians, given that his ears are pointed and everyone else's are rounded. Where could he have come from? You'll find out in a future chapter!

I know part of this plot-line has been used before- like in Zelda 2- but I like that plot-line, so too bad!

Yeah, I used the song from the Lion King II: Simba's Pride, but I changed a few lyrics, as the original ones wouldn't make sense. (Link doesn't have a scar on his face!) All credit for that song goes to Disney.

And there's also a quote from Star Wars, Return of the Jedi. Free cookie if you spot it and tell me in a review!

See you next chapter!

God Bless!

Tsunami Storm