Long ago, the evil wind mage Vaati cast a pall of darkness and fear over all of Hyrule. A lone hero stood against him. When he drew his sword, the hero magically split into four. Together, the four heroes trapped Vaati and his power below a stone seal.

The seal is in a temple somewhere in Hyrule...and held in place with the magical weapon we call the Four Sword.

The young girl rose up from her bed. She sighed. It was the same dream as before, a sinister cloud filling the sanctuary, defiling what should never be defiled.

Somehow, Princess Zelda knew the Four Sword had been compromised.

For a place so close to the nation's main stronghold, Hyrule Castle Town was surprisingly vulnerable. It was a port surrounded by ocean on three sides, with the remaining fourth being dry land. The old age of great wars had long since passed, with the only threat nowadays being the occasional pirate crew.

Such as the one that launched their attack during dusk.

The rabble of pirates ran through the streets, breaking into homes and making off with whatever valuables were left unsecured. The captain, Jago, was strutting through the central square as his quartermaster and the first mate followed, each carrying a sack of plundered goods. For his part, Jago was dragging a screaming, kicking young woman behind him.

The townspeople in the square were all running and scattering. With one exception.

Jago's eyes fixed on a lone young boy walking towards them. He was short, with ruffled blonde hair beneath a green cap. He wore a green tunic as well, and he carried a scabbarded sword in his right hand. His blue eyes were cold, and his mouth was clasped. He did not seem to care who he was walking towards. Without warning, he moved his left hand and took hold of the sword's handle.

Jago twitched, and the girl almost escaped, but he held her fast.

The left-handed hero, Link...surely he was not this young...

Jago did not hear his comrades shouting as the boy got closer. Without warning, the boy took the scabbard in his right hand and threw it straight at Jago's forehead. It struck true, Jago reeled, the girl broke free, and the other two pirates swore and dropped their loot.

"You're dead, kid!"

Each pirate drew his sword and made a move toward the boy.

The youth glanced to make sure the girl was fleeing to safety, and then quickly sized up the marauders. Each had a weapon at the ready, and each seemed to conform to one of the three basic sword strategies. Jago was a tall man with long arms, allowing him to strike from a distance. The bandanna-wearing first mate was burly, with arms thick with more than enough muscle to cleave straight through bone. The eyepatch-wearing quartermaster was leaner than the other two, with a shorter blade for close contact.

The hero was alone against an out-striker, a bruiser, and a swarmer.

But fortunately for him, he had spent enough time reading the scrolls and books to know how to handle such fighters. After all, he had taken down a dozen of these lowlives already.

The Captain of the Hylian Knights spurred his horse forward, not having to look back to know that his three compatriots were right behind him. He was at the lead as always, and he was prepared as always. He wore a steel breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves over his green tunic and rough cowhide pants. He wore a darker green cape, as required by tradition, but he had modified it to come off at just a flick of the clasp near his neck, if he needed it gone in a fight. He had a short sword at his waist, a shield in his left hand, and a long mace holstered at the horse's side. Gripping the animal's reins a little tighter in his right hand, he turned a corner and prepared himself for a fight at the pier.

The men behind him steeled themselves as well. They shared the same equipment as their captain, except for their tunics; the three knights wore red, blue, and violet to distinguish themselves from the captain's green. They rode their horses ably, ready to follow each other in the brawl they were almost certain to find themselves in.

But there was no disaster to resolve.

The people in the city were bustling about, clearing the ground of debris and patching up smashed windows. The knights looked around in confusion as their leader moved his steed forward to address a group of citizens who were tying up a trio of bloodied, beaten pirates.

"Citizens! Is there anyone in need of help?"

One of the townsfolk, an older man, waved and grinned. "There's no problem, sir! All of the pirates are down! It's all over!"

"What?"

Then the captain grimaced and shook his head. "Him again?"

He dismounted his horse, not minding the stares of his fellow knights or the townsfolk. He walked behind a nearby house, and sure enough, the boy was walking down the alleyway.

"Link, wait!"

Link turned around, but he did not so much as salute. He had a neutral, bored expression to counter the captain's indignation.

"You know better to act on your own! We Hylian Knights work as a team!"

Young Link had no change in his expression as he watched his father ride his horse closer.

"All you had to do was wait a few minutes!"

Finally, Link shook his head. "These people didn't have a few minutes to spare. If I had waited, the pirates would have gotten away." He turned on his heels and waved dismissively. "And I work better on my own."

"What are we going to do about him?"

Princess Zelda watched as she saw the older man pace in front of the throne. "Link is skilled, no doubt, but he's entirely too overconfident and insubordinate! What would you have me say to my son? What would you have me do?"

The princess smiled. She was sixteen years of age, but had the demeanor and poise of someone at least a decade older.

"Do not worry, Captain Alphon. I have talked to your old friends among the knights. If Link had a childhood like yours, then he will have an adulthood like yours."

Captain Alphon looked a little flustered, but he bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness. I shall see myself out."

After Captain Alphon walked to the ornate iron door and slipped through it, Zelda remained in her seat, waiting. Sure enough, the green-clad boy jumped out from behind the throne. He was holding a pouch in his left hand.

"All done with him?"

Zelda did not nod, but instead gave Link both a smile and a raised eyebrow. Link tried to match her gaze, but he finally gave up and shrugged.

"I took down the pirates, you know." He folded his arms. "But it still wasn't good enough for him!" He dropped his voice to mimic his father's gravelly tone.

"You shouldn't do this, shouldn't do that!" He shook his head, and his voice returned to normal. "What more does he want?"

"Respect." Zelda's voice dropped and became sterner. "Which is literally the least you can offer him."

Link huffed. "I can give it a try."

There was a pause, and then the princess spoke up again. "I will assume that is not the only reason you're here."

Link grinned, reached into his pouch, and pulled out a flower. It was tiny, with orange petals and a pale golden center.

Zelda's smile matched Link's. "Is it wildflower season already?"

Link gave a mock bow. "I'm happy to report that it is."

Zelda accepted the flower, and Link let his shoulders fall. "We used to play in the flowers all day long. Now...you're too busy to even go out and see them."

Zelda put her nose to the flower. "True, but when you bring the wildflowers to me...I can see the whole of Hyrule."

She smiled, but she knew the bliss could not last.

"Link...I need you to come with me. We have to check the Four Sword Sanctuary."

The Four Sword Sanctuary was not particularly grand. It was a small chamber set into the basement of Hyrule Castle, with gray-green stones comprising the walls, floor, and ceiling. Each wall had a large, decorative eye engraved into the stone. In the exact center of the room was the Four Sword, stuck in its pedestal.

Even from a distance away, Link could appreciate the beauty of the sword. The hilt was made of shining brass, and the crossguard bore the eye sigil across it's length. The green jewel in the pommel seemed to sparkle, and the blade above the pedestal was blemishless. Nonetheless, Link took note of the Princess' worried face.

Could the Four Sword really be compromised? He thought. Could the demon Vaati escape? Could Hyrule be in danger? He tightened his grip on his sword and pushed the thought away.

I'm Link! I can handle anything that happens all on my own! I...

His thoughts were cut off as a column of shadow manifested beside the Four Sword. Zelda gasped, and Link drew his sword. Then almost as soon as it appeared, the column disappeared. In its place was a lone boy.

His hair was purple, and both his hat and tunic were black. But he looked exactly like Zelda's protector.

For the first time in a long time, Link was lost for words. "Who...who are you?"

The stranger smirked and chuckled. "Me? Nobody. Just the hero, Link."

Link scowled, steeled himself, and launched himself forward. He swung his sword in an arc, but the stranger simply lifted his hand. Link's jaw dropped as the stranger caught his blade between his thumb and forefinger. He struggled, but the sword would not budge. Abruptly, the antagonist sent a punch straight into Link's stomach.

The boy gasped, doubling over as his lungs fought to get back air. He heard his enemy sneer and flip the sword, catching the hilt in his hand. He began to walk past Link, not sparing him a second glance.

Link did not have to look behind to know that Zelda was the next target. Without a weapon, there was nothing he could do. Still gasping, he pushed himself forward and snatched the hilt of the Four Sword. He tried to pull it once, and then again.

"Link!" That was Zelda's scream.

Link gave it another try, and this time the Four Sword came right out of the pedestal.

And then there was not a single Link standing near the pedestal; there were four of them.

One in green, one in red, one in blue, one in violet.

Having taken another look at the Four Swords manga, I hope to put my own spin on it!:)