I personally think this is one of the best chapters I've ever written…Yesh how very pompous of me…anyway I put this through some serious revision – more because I realized it was too disjointed and the scenes did not flow the way I wanted them to. Plot points I hinted at, at the beginning should have been addressed better by this chapter and when I looked at it more critically – I discovered they were not.

So once again – off we go – again...the same but so, so not

You knew there was a bad guy out there somewhere, I think I mentioned him earlier...bout time he put in an appearance...must suffer from stage fright - Or maybe the author chick hates his guts...

(Oh my, I think I lost my ability to disclaim…woe is me…)

Nagori, Saimon and Senkyoku
by achitka

Chapter 14
Five Arrows...One Broken...

…when you deny the truth of your heart, you'll discover you're only denying yourself…

The Hero of the Winds stared at the bottle that held the tekuragari. Kage's glow remained that sickly orange color and Link gave the bottle a little shake. "By Din, what have I unleashed? You never left me did you? Why Kage?" While tempted to smash the bottle, Link knew that would only set the little monster loose again.

He understood now what Tetra's little package meant and if he'd had his head screwed on straight, he would have figured it out sooner. Pirate code. Tetra's simple code. He knew it backward and forward. Five arrows...one broken. Each one represented a person important in his life, and a warning... Gods could I have screwed this up any better?

Even with his ability to harness Cyclos's winds to move himself around the sea quickly, something told Link, his little sister was in danger right now and no matter how fast he moved, he'd never reach her before it was too late. Link stared off in the direction the gull had taken. His only real hope of finding Aryll, lay with her friend, Jake, they always knew where to find her. Link wanted to be wrong, but he knew he wasn't.

Tetra all but spelled it all out for him and he didn't believe her. He'd let himself get just as wrapped up in his own anger as Tetra did and chose to ignore his instincts. Now, Master Sturgeon was dead. His Grandmother and Master Orca were missing. Aryll was out on the ocean somewhere with the other tekuragari, while Tetra skipped through time like a rock on water. Playtime was over as the situation went from annoying to deadly in less than a day.

Link's gaze shifted when he heard one of the timbers of his home give off a pop as the wood continued to smolder. It was almost full dark and everyone would be having dinner. They'd not left a guard. He'd wondered about that. He needed to move and, Link supposed, he should be grateful no one was out as he shoved the bottled tekuragari back into his pack. At least he'd be able to keep track of the little monster. Link pulled his pack closer to himself and noticed Master Sturgeon's book was still there on the ground beside it.

After some hesitation, Link picked it up and ran his hand over the gold lettering on the front. After being through that fire, you'd think it'd be singed or damaged somehow, but it wasn't. The inlayed script was not one he was familiar with, but he decided it might be useful, if only for the illustrations. Link reached into his pack and pulled out one of his own books then slipped Master Sturgeon's in its place. He put his pack on and was surprised to find that the large book did not seem to add any weight at all.

He was about to rise, when Link thought he heard a shaky voice in his head say, (Be wary...)

Link felt it then. A weird something that was so completely out of place, he knew it meant trouble. Link sat back against the tree with his hands in his lap and tried to focus on that. Whatever it was, felt very near and after a moment a shadowy figure approached him. Al had named it Hitokage, the shadow soul. Link stared at the figure and blinked. No wonder Al was afraid.

The shadow's pale skinned face appeared to be a perfect copy of his own. Right down to the smallest detail, except for those eyes. They were all darkness and wrong and Link could tell, they were completely without mercy. When it spoke, Link was startled to discover it sounded like him as well. He'd fought and defeated some obnoxious monsters in his travels, but this one actually unnerved him.

"It was good of you to send the Guardian away," the creature said. Link continued to stare. It was just too weird hearing his own voice coming out of the shadow man's mouth. It stopped a short way away and grinned horribly as it said, "It will be so much easier to take you, or if you choose poorly, destroy you before you learn too much." It chuckled and pulled out a staff that looked a lot like his own except, Link noticed, it lacked the scripts and emblems. "I'd have gotten around to you sooner, but there was an opportunity for mischief, I couldn't pass up. Besides you've managed to untie yourself, and I'm a bit bored now," it said when it continued forward. The creature raised the staff and said, "Let's see what you're made of little hero."

The world started to move in slow motion and Link recognized that feeling. It was something he'd not felt since his fight with Ganondorf. The feeling of being outmatched, in over your head...out right panic. He didn't like it and this time, he was alone. The wound he'd taken in that battle left a scar that ran the length of his left arm. It felt hot and Link absently flexed his fingers. Even though fairy magic healed it during that battle with Ganon, it still ached sometimes but right now it blazed. Link wondered idly if the mischief the shadow spoke of had anything to do with Tetra and found himself thankful she was not on the island.

Link managed to tear his gaze from those blood red eyes and watch the staff as it rose. There was no doubt in his mind what would happen when that staff hit him...

(MOVE!)

Jolted back to reality, Link pulled out his own staff, barely in time to deflect the first blow. He ducked as a shower of blue sparks cascaded over him and he rolled away through the bushes. The leaves above him caught fire when the other's staff struck the bush in an effort to find him. Link scrambled to his feet and headed in the direction of the beach. Whatever that nightmare was, Link wanted to keep it as close to the shore as possible. His shadowy self walked toward him as it idly spun its staff.

"Running? How can that be?" the shadow said in mock surprise. Link continued to move closer to the water. "So, the little hero has armed himself and with the kibou staff. Well, how very ironic, I could show you the true power of that staff... but..." the shadow smiled, but this did little to hide its contempt. "It appears you won't live long enough to learn how to use it properly. It really is a shame. I could use a little help."

Link did not respond but continued to back away and tried to empty his head. He found this difficult to do, when every part of his being screamed for him to get the hell out of there. It was all he could do to stay put. As the shadow approached, Link tried to focus on the shifting darkness that made up his adversary's body. He got the distinct impression that if he looked into those blood red eyes again, he wouldn't be able to look away.

I should never have come here, Link thought, this is just the thing I was trying to avoid. Distracted for only that moment, Link almost didn't see the others staff in time. He winced, and danced back as he just barely managed to deflect another blow. The shadow's staff had only grazed his arm, but the scar there felt as if set on fire anew and Link's arm throbbed. Irritated with himself, and he was quite sure he'd met his match, Link started to take another step backward, until Orca's voice floated up from his memory.

assume structure

Structure...the word tumbled through his fear and Link automatically stopped backing up. Don't think, just do. That was what he'd been taught, so Link set his stance firmly in the sand, found what he hoped was center, and waited.

"You cannot defeat what you do not understand," his shadowy self said as it approached.

Link shuddered but did not answer as waves of blackness slid off the shadow toward him. They reached out toward him from the shadow, but Link didn't move from his chosen spot. Instead, Link focused all his attention on the staff that now moved at an unnatural speed in front of him.

intercept and destroy

The barest movement in the others arm, showed the direction of the next attack, Link parried it, then another and still another. After awhile, Link, was able to disrupt the other's flow and they fell into an odd broken rhythm. Eventually, Link lost track of the number of hits he had deflected.

face

"I'll take that old man apart when I find him," the shadow muttered as it pressed its attack. Link could hear the shadow's irritation, but he ignored it.

(Just the staff, don't lose track of the staff) the tiny voice said.

Good advice.

Link took three steps back, but stopped when one of his feet bumped against a fishing boat. With nowhere to go, all Link could do now was keep his shadowy self at bay.

Not good.

He would tire eventually and that would be that. Still Link managed to keep up the defensive posture.

stop

Link felt, as well as saw the tension and frustration as it built within the shadow. It wanted something more from this battle that Link wasn't giving it. He had no idea what that might be, so he continued to defend. Somewhere Link's consciousness became aware of the emblems on his staff now glowed very brightly.

(no magic, no magic, no magic...) the small voice in his head repeated like a mantra.

Okay, no magic.

Random thoughts of his home and family flitted through his head and he found this oddly calming. The shadow was nearing its breaking point and Link decided he'd better figure out how to get out of the way...somehow.

(Watch the staff... wait for it...) the little voice said and unexpectedly there it was.

break

Gotcha, Link thought and dropped beneath the other's weapon as he brought up his staff just far enough to catch the back swing. The rapidly spinning weapon ricocheted back toward it owner with frightening speed and the shadow's face took a glancing blow from his own staff. Link almost lost his grip on his staff from the impact, but it produced the desired effect as the other was startled enough that Link was able to return to his feet and bring his own weapon down behind the other's knees. The shadow didn't fall but was forced to leap backward to keep its feet.

"So, the little hero thinks himself more than a swordsman, you have potential. You could be so much more than you are now."

Link wasn't entirely sure what the shadow meant, but still did not reply. He moved in a half circle around it and now had the room he needed. So Link centered himself once more, planted his feet and waited. When the shadow realized that he was still going to fight, it growled and spat, "You're going to regret that!" And came at him again.

Link noted the shadow's accuracy was down but the sheer intensity of its attack took him aback and Link struggled to keep up.

(Watch the staff...)

break

Again, the shadow man left itself open and Link was able to catch that back swing and send it ricocheting back. This time Link only managed to bring his own staff down on his opponents elbow. There is no way that was going to work a third time, Link thought. He needed to end this, but for the life of him, he had no idea how.

(Watch the staff, watch the staff, watch the staff) the voice kept up the reminder as Link struggled to find a way out of his current situation. The only way appeared to be an all out assault, but Master Orca's reminder was stuck in his head. What did it want? As they fought Link realized the shadow was actually leaving itself open on purpose and every time Link took the offensive, he realized his thoughts felt a little cloudier. Link tried to put a damper on his own growing anger but it was getting harder to think.

(Watch the staff...watch the staff...)

"You feel it don't you..." his shadowy self said with an unnaturally wide grin. Worse, the shadow's voice turned deathly calm and now worked its staff with ease. It wanted...no hungered it for him to attack.

(Watch the staff...watch the staff...)

"The pitiful power you wield is nothing compared to what you could become..."

Link struggled again with an almost overwhelming need to strike his opponent. He almost couldn't hear the little voice in his head anymore. His thoughts felt gummy as his own anticipation raked at his concentration. Link's jaw clenched as he forced himself to keep his mouth shut and refused again to respond to the shadow's taunts.

The shadow twisted his look alike face into a snarl and its voice betrayed its impatience as it shouted at him, "Fight me! You know you want to!" and plunged forward and unleashed a new torrent of strikes.

(Watch the staff...)

Link knew he was in trouble. His arms and legs were moving on instinct now...just one good hit, he thought and he almost glanced up...

(NO! That would be bad...watch the staff...watch the staff...)

break

Tetra righted the chair and leaned over the unconscious pirate. She patted his face in an attempt to wake him up. "Hey," she said in a hushed voice. She didn't want to wake Aryll, who lay curled up in her bunk. "Hey...come on you..."

Gonzo groaned and slowly opened his eyes. With surprising speed, he sat up and glomped her in a hug that threatened to crush her ribs.

"Gonzo..." she managed between squeezes. "Gonzo..." He was crying. "Oh for love of...GONZO!" He let go and looked at her with the stupidest grin she had ever seen on him. It was infectious because she could feel her own smile as well and asked, "Feeling better?"

"Yes..." He pulled off his bandanna wiped his face. "Thank the Goddesses you're back."

Tetra felt her smile fade, and she looked at the Captain. "I resigned remember?"

"But, I thought..."

"Yeah? Well think again." Tetra looked at Aryll and said, "I'll have to leave and soon."

"But you just got here."

"I'll stay for a bit, but I can't stay in one place for very long. Besides, I can't help Link if I stay here."

"Is there anything you need for us to do?"

"You're doing fine Gonzo. I know I left you in a bit of a lurch, but you're up to the task. Look, you haven't sunk the ship yet right? Just keep an eye on that one," Tetra said pointing at the sleeping girl.

"Yeah, well you can see how well I'm doing in that area," Gonzo said as he looked over at Aryll as he got up. "I should have kept better track of her. I might have noticed she was having the life sucked out of her."

"I don't really think you can blame yourself for that," Tetra said as he helped her to her feet. "Gonzo has Aryll ever mentioned anything unusual about Jake and Jasper?"

"Other than the fact that that at least one isn't really a seagull? No, not much really."

"Oh they both aren't. It's funny, but I get the impression that neither started life as one," Tetra said and saw the surprised look on his face. "I just don't have a clear idea of why they're seagulls now." She knew the answer was a simple one and it irritated her that she couldn't see it. "And Gonzo, don't tell Aryll this, but her Grandma and Master Orca have gone missing."

"What? Where are Mako and Zuko?"

"Don't know, Link didn't mention them, but he may not have known they were on the island."

"When did you see Link?

"I don't actually have time to explain all that. Trust me, I've seen him more often in the past three days than I have in the last six months."

"You think I should take her back to Outset?"

"That's up to you, but if you do you might want to have a look up in the Fairy Wood to be sure her Grandma and the old warrior aren't there."

He nodded, "Where did you leave Niko?"

"Oh, he's at the Forest Haven," Tetra smiled to think of Niko as the lone protector of the koroks and the Great Deku Tree.

"We could swing by there and pick him up."

"No, he's fine and needed where he is."

"Well, I find that hard to believe, he can be pretty childish sometimes."

"What do you want him back here for? Is the laundry starting to pile up?" Tetra asked hotly. She was starting to get irritated with his attitude.

"Actually no..." Gonzo said and looked a little sheepish. "Seems Aryll did quite a bit of it today. She collapsed after wearing that thing and doing a ship full of laundry. I think it was the thing's doing," Gonzo said as he put the bandanna back on his head.

"Why would Aryll be doing laundry?" Tetra asked. Gonzo cleared his throat and ignored the question, so she asked a different one. "What thing?

"Jasper showed up with a crystal pendant. Aryll said it had a fairy trapped inside or maybe it was two. Didn't make a whole lot of sense. The fairy claimed she was dangerous. Said she was someone named Delia's missing part. But here's the kicker; remember the guy on Great Fish? The scrawny one that was askin' about Link?"

Tetra nodded. She remembered the creepy little bastard. She was the one that ordered him off her ship.

Gonzo continued, "Turns out that, that man wasn't. It was this Delia who's calling herself Kei now. Aryll said the fairy called herself Senkyoku at first, but later, before she passed out, she said the fairy was calling herself Kageri and kept that she was dangerous.

Saimon's frantic voice going on about Mei and Kei bounced around in her head. Tetra wondered how the fairy was doing since he wasn't with Link when she saw him this last time. Where did that one get off to? Tetra stopped in her thoughts, those shadows that were following Link on the island. If the fairy in the crystal had two names then maybe Saimon was similar and the tekuragari that Jake caught was really Saimon and if it was Saimon then what could have changed and what was the other? They both fell silent until Tetra grabbed her left arm and yelped in pain.

"What's wrong?"

"Damned if I know, but my arm feels like it on fire," Tetra said and she rubbed it absently. "What did you do with the crystal?" The burn subsided and turned to a dull throb. She'd only been here for a short time so something must still be happening on Outset. I'm falling behind again. Tetra thought.

"I left it on Ice Ring," Gonzo said.

"As good a place as any I guess," Tetra said.

"Not soon enough I'm afraid," Gonzo said and looked over at Aryll.

Tetra heard his concern and she looked up at him. His anxiety was clearly written on his face and she felt a moment of guilt. She'd dumped a lot on him and hadn't given it a second thought. Tetra put a hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. "She'll be alright Gonzo, Jake says she just needs to rest."

Gonzo looked back at her and nodded.

A second twinge in her arm reminded her she needed to get moving again and she said, "It's been a good visit, Gonzo, but I can't stay any longer, so listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."

Gonzo nodded.

"First, Jake said that crystal you dumped on Ice Ring has a creature in it called a tekuragari, nasty little thing that will kill you if you spend too much time with it. That's what made Aryll sick. Jake said there are only two and one was captured on Outset, but I don't know where it's being held." He opened his mouth to ask her something and Tetra said, "I don't have time to explain how Jake told me that, probably the same way Jasper told Aryll." Tetra rubbed her arm again, "Second, get the hell out of this area. I get the feeling Aryll is a potential target for tekuragari, but I still haven't figured out the why part so better safe than sorry. Where you go is up to you, so use your best judgment."

"That manfish seemed to know something about the crystal," Gonzo waved off the questioning look she gave him. "Never mind any of that, what else."

"Third, Jasper and Jake, there's way more to those two than meets the eye, so...I don't know maybe get Aryll to talk to them and see if she can figure out what they are up to, assuming, either shows up. Fourth, I need to change. So get out."

"Huh?"

It dawned on him what she said and he laughed and exited the room. Tetra pulled out some clean clothes and changed quickly. She picked up her pack and was about to get Gonzo when she heard, "Tetra, will you be with Link from now on?" Tetra turned to see Aryll sitting up on the bed. The girl's eyes were not all the way open and she said with a dreamy voice, "I know that will make him happy."

A knock on the door distracted Tetra and she yanked it open. The half-awake girl on the bed continued, "Stupid dope, I wonder why he just doesn't tell you?" Aryll smiled and yawned when she saw Gonzo come back into the cabin. "Hoy Gonzo...I mean Captain..." Aryll said and sank back into the pillows. She pulled the blankets closer around her neck and mumbled, "Besides he's so unfocused when you're not around."

Tetra raised and eyebrow. "So do you think she'll remember any of that later?"

Gonzo shrugged. "I have no idea what goes on in the female mind. Uncharted waters."

Tetra rolled her eyes at him and pushed him out of the way of the door. "Whatever, just make sure you stay with her until she up and around again, and Gonzo try not to wait too long to tell her how you feel."

"Sound advice." Gonzo said with a little laugh.

Tetra turned back and said, "If that remark is related to the current state of affairs between myself and Mr. Namaki, I assure you he has been made well aware of the situation."

"Situation is it now. Well, that is a big step for you two. Not that I'm one to give advice, but I'm sure you covered it in your usual straight forward manner."

"You are so lucky I have to leave," Tetra growled. He was enjoying his I-told-you-so a little too much.

"Hey! Watch how you talk to the Captain now."

"Thirty-Six hours Captain, meet me in the crows nest."

"Right."

Tetra took two steps out of her cabin and stopped. Where the hell am I going? I'll never get used to this, she thought. She placed an image of herself in the watchtower on Outset Island, firmly in her mind and with a strange waver of the air...she was. Tetra stood overlooking the bay and gasped when she saw the smoking ruins of Link's house. Worried, she looked around for any signs of him. Something moving on the beach caught her attention, so she pulled out her telescope and saw Link and someone else fighting furiously near the water.

She focused the telescope on Link's opponent and when she realized exactly what it was she was looking at, she dropped down to the floor and shuddered. She'd spent all this time running from that monstrosity and now there it was not two hundred paces away. Her mind was racing as she tried to come up with something that would dispel a shadow. Light? Tetra pulled out the bow and notched an arrow. She focused the magic and the tip came alive with a brilliant light. As soon as she loosed the arrow, a burning pain engulfed her hand and she almost lost her grip on the bow. Tetra looked over the edge at the combatants. Link was still holding his staff, but it was clear he was tired. The arrow must have gone off to the right, probably in the water. Her aim was never that bad. Crap, she thought and notched another. She ignored the pain in her hand as she tried to remain steady enough to focus her magic. Tetra was about to let it fly when she heard a voice behind her.

"Ju really chould wait."

Tetra spun around, arrow still notched, toward the voice. The light at the tip showed her a boy with messy blonde hair and amber eyes. She released the magic and stared at him as he leaned against a post on the other side of the watchtower. Tetra recognized that accent and fumbled with the bow before she asked, "Where in the nine hells did you come from?"

"I was here all zee time, ju were just not payink attentchun," the boy said petulantly.

"Why don't I believe that."

"Troost ichuus ees my guess," he said it with a smile and his tone was light. Tetra wanted to retort but again felt that weird familiarity she experienced with Jinchi, but with this one it was stronger. She knew the why was right there under her nose but amber colored eyes? Very distracting. She stared at the boy for a moment then asked, "Jasper or more rightly, Chiyuu perhaps?" There was a moment of surprise that crossed his face but it was quickly banished as he nodded and bowed with an odd flourish. Tetra now noticed he held the arrow she just let loose. "Did you? But how?"

"Zat ees not important. I came to warn ju," he said, "Ju mus let zat fight alone, Preencess."

"I don't understand, you mean I can't use any magic?"

"Note essactly, but ju mus let Leenk ween or loose on his own."

Tetra almost collapsed when her leg buckled and was suddenly in great pain. "Damn it!"

Chiyuu's eyes flicked to the battle below and he cocked his head as he looked at her strangely. Just like that, he seemed to reassess her importance to the situation on the beach. When the pain slid back to a dull throb, Tetra looked back at the fighters. The shadow was moving Link around closer to the water. Link limped a little and Tetra could feel his exhaustion. When the boy joined her at the rail, Tetra rounded on him and grabbed his arm forcing him to face her. "Damn it kid I know there has to be something I can do! Whether you believe it or not, I have the sinking feeling that if he goes I'm gone too. You know I don't have time to figure it out so just tell me what it is!"

Chiyuu looked down at the beach again and appeared to be having an argument with himself. Tetra's irritation continued to mount and she was tempted to crack the little brat upside the head. "Seriously would you mind speeding it up a bit?" He looked back at her and shook his head as he gave a snort of amusement, shrugged and said to her, "Lend him jour wisdom preencess. Wees zis he may be able to rezist zee temptations being laid before heem."

May be able to? Tetra looked down at the beach again. Fine, she thought and ran a quick survey through her head on how she might do something like that. She was startled when her own Mother's voice answered.

Well, I see you are fine grown, little Miss, listen carefully and do not hold anything back.

Tetra's anxiety heightened as she listened to the instructions. She needed a conduit and more magic than she currently could handle. She felt a moment of despair but realized Chiyuu had moved away and was already sitting at the center of the watchtower, waiting.

"Jour connecktion wees zat one ees much stronger zan I thought," He mused and he gestured for her to join him. "My own mageeks are not so great, boot eet chould be enough."

Tetra glanced back at Link again and realized he was only defending. No offensive moves whatsoever. Why was he holding back like that? Determined now she sat with her knees touching his and as Chiyuu took up her hands, Tetra felt an odd flutter within herself. The strange sensation of familiarity returned more intensely than the last time and she teetered on the brink of some realization. She lost track of it suddenly and she didn't understand how either of the pair were able to do it, but he regarded her now with amber eyes that were no longer a child's. Not the fierce intensity she'd seen in Jinchi's but more akin to a knowing wisdom that again tickled her memory. When Chiyuu looked deeply into her eyes Tetra decided she'd have to figure that out later.

"Furst, ju must close jour eyes and think of him. Eef jou open zem too soon ju weel break de leenk," he said and Tetra nodded in reply. "No matter what ju see, ju must always stay focused on zat one ting."

Tetra took three deep breaths and as she exhaled the last, she found herself floating above the two combatants and like water running down a drain, she felt herself pulled into Link. Her consciousness settled next to a much younger thought, it ran from her and was replaced by another, then another. This continued in rapid succession until his thoughts streamed by her in a river of confusion. It took her a few moments to figure out she how to stop one when she focused on it. However, she didn't now how to pick out the ones she wanted to see. Most she focused on brought up memories of his family and his feelings associated with them. She mentally tagged them to keep track of their whereabouts.

In almost no time, she was sifting so quickly, she inadvertently brought up the memory of a redead and almost lost contact. Even Link's distant memories of that undead creature's scream made her blood freeze and she cringed. Link had had to face some terrifying things in his life, but he had always won over.

Once she felt she'd collected most of the memories she thought she needed, she plucked up one more. Tetra was startled when she saw it was a memory of her. She was looking out a window but from his view of her, Tetra couldn't tell where they were. It looked familiar, but it wasn't recent and had the fuzzy quality all the older ones held.

Link's feelings surrounding it were calm and contented. Tetra heard an odd discordant melody float up through the morning air. So familiar, but still could not place the scene within her own memories. That only lasted until her remembered self, looked back toward Link. When that Tetra looked into his eyes and spoke she instantly remembered the scene. It was the day when everything between them changed and not for the better.

Tetra's eyes opened and with a jarring snap she was back in her own body. She gasped as she fought back the urge to weep. She understood now what Chiyuu meant. Monsters she could handle, memories of her own cruelty were far more painful. Another thing she would need to fix if she could but deep down, she was worried she wouldn't be able to. She heard Chiyuu sigh and Tetra forced herself to meet his eyes. "Send me back," she whispered flatly.

"Arju chure ju want zees?" the young man asked her. "Jou will need to face zee truth of jour own feelinks based on the memooree zat sent ju bak. It will be much harder to reach heem seence the leenk was already broken once."

"I don't care. I'll do what ever I have to," Tetra said. She needed to go back. "I won't let him face this alone."

Chiyuu didn't smile this time and his tone sounded doubtful. "Zen Preencess, we chall do eet again. Ju chould have no trouble recalling zee memories ju haf already collected. Remember a thurd try weel note be possible. Eef ju fail again eet weel be because he haz rejected ju."

Tetra tried not to let her sadness show but probably failed. She nodded and closed her eyes once again. There was resistance this time and she pushed harder until the resistance vanished and she was back in Link's head. She was more surprised when she found herself looking at the enemy through Link's own eyes. It looked just like him, except it was so pale and the shadow man sported a pair of blood read eyes.

(Watch the staff)

Where did that come from? she wondered as she fought down a moment of panic. She tracked the voice back in Link's memory to its source. She focused on it for a moment and an image of a bottle in Link's pack coalesced. It was glowing an odd orangey color and when the voice spoke, it would glow just a little brighter. Tetra recentered her attention on Link, his heart was beating very fast, and his breathing felt a bit labored.

"You feel it don't you..." Tetra heard Link's shadowy twin say, "The power you wield is nothing compared to what you could become..."

Tetra could see the anticipation in the other's eyes it didn't want him dead. It wanted him. It was trying to get Link to think like it. The shadow's whispered voice flowed through Link's mind with an oily slickness that made her feel sick. It could suck you in if you weren't careful. That's why he isn't attacking. He's actually trying to ignore the call to fight. She shook it off and set about trying to reassure Link and show him one after another his memories, Your strength comes from your love of family and home, don't give that away.

His opponent's voice betrayed its impatience and the shadow shouted at him, "Fight me! You know you want to!" and it plunged forward, unleashing a new torrent of strikes.

Tetra sensed Link's conflict but it only took her a moment to realize, that last memory she's pulled up was at the center of his turmoil. Of all the things he could focus on this is what he chose? She heard it then, that discordant melody. It floated around his head jarring his senses, distracting him from the fight and giving her a headache. Tetra knew it was the same one Nagori had sung to her on the ship. This was the core of it and Tetra knew Link was in real trouble now. He was slipping closer and closer to the edge of his tolerance. He was being overwhelmed and Link wanted to strike out so badly to put an end to it, he almost glanced up into those eyes. Now the melody faded and the sound of that whispered voice crept in again swirling all around her. She wanted to scream at it in frustration. Chiyuu was right, she wasn't getting through to him at all now and he was totally distracted by that memory she had pulled up.

(Watch the staff...) the little voice cut through the voice and Link steadied again for a moment. It didn't last long though, as Tetra felt Link's eyes wandering closer to the shadow's face everything around her became clouded in shadows. (NO!) she and the little voice shouted in unison (That would be bad... ) The darkness subsided briefly but she was losing him. Tetra wasn't sure how she knew it, but she did and she knew that Link's inability to hear her was her own damn fault. Please hear me; I know you know I lied when I said I didn't care.But her voice was only barely audible above the shadow's call. Tetra felt her world coming apart.

...Lend him jour wisdom...

Chiyuu's remembered words jolted Tetra out of her desperation. Lend him...nothing else was working, so Tetra called to the Goddess Nayru's power within Triforce of Wisdom embedded in her hand. Never before did she allow herself to delve so deeply into it. She became fully aware of the link she shared with the past bearers and what lay at the source of it. The true power of this piece of the Triforce lay rooted in the truth of her heart. By denying that truth, she'd made herself weaker and easier to control.

Now Tetra was angry and pulled in even more of the golden power until her head felt the pain of it. She'd never felt so much raw strength as her purpose, now fueled by her fury, gave her hope as Wisdom displaced her fear and despair. "I will not let this happen! I will not back down from the shadow again!"

Changing her focus Tetra shouted in Link's head, "You dolt of a fairy boy! You can't leave me now! Snap out of it! You should listen when a girl is trying to tell you she loves you!"

The sudden silence made Tetra jump and she looked around nervously. She jumped again when she heard a strange breaking sound somewhere behind her and feared the worst. When several others, all of whom bore a striking resemblance to the Link, joined her, Tetra thought, where the heck did they all come from?

Only one came forward and he held an exact copy of the staff Link was using now. Tetra started seeing his golden eyes. They shown in the dim light. Tetra was so taken aback all she could do was muster a weak smile as she waved slowly at the newcomer. She heard "Greetings Princess" though she was sure he'd not said a word as he passed by. He continued forward and stepped into Link's stream of consciousness. Tetra watched in surprise as he just dissolved from view.

"The choice has been made shadow, leave here now." Link's voice crashed down on her like avalanche but it was a confident sound and she felt hope rise in her heart. It was then Tetra realized during that whole fight, Link hadn't said a word. When he spoke for the first time she heard the shadow growl at Link as it began its assault anew. Link smiled and as Tetra heard the word 'break' and her connection was gone. She landed back within in herself with alarming speed and Chiyuu steadied her for a moment.

"Arju alright?"

Tetra didn't answer instead, she scrambled over to the rail and pulled out her telescope. Whatever happened, happened quickly because now only Link stood on the beach as a cloud of acrid looking black smoke cleared. After a moment, she saw him sag to his knees and lean heavily on his staff.

"What happened? The last thing I heard him say was the choice had been made," Tetra said and looked back at Chiyuu. "What choice?"

"Leenk's, he was too jung when his time came to face zees chadow. Eet was zee one blessing granted by zee Goddesses that Ganon could not touch." Chiyuu walked over near her and looked at him. "Zee danger hast passed, but zat dos not mean Hito will not try again."

"Hito? You mean the chadow...Goddesses help me, you've got me doing it," and she looked at Link again. "Where did it come from?"

When no one answered she turned to ask again, but there was no one there. Tetra let out a grunt and sighed, "Nice."

She climbed down the ladder made her way across the beach. Tetra noticed the moon was starting to set, that fight lasted longer than she realized. I'm running out of time again, she thought. She hesitated at the bottom of the ladder. She was pretty sure she'd caught up with the present time but she had no idea how long that would last. By her earlier guestimate she figured she only had until dawn. She was also pretty sure she couldn't totally free herself without Link's help. But that wasn't the only reason she walked to where he was still on his knees near the water's edge. She really did love him. Fine time to figure that out, Tetra thought. A part of herself snickered as she knelt down on the sand next to him. He did not look up and the only sounds she heard, consisted of the surf and Link's still labored breathing.

"I meant what I said," Tetra said quietly, "Any chance we can try again?" Link didn't answer, he only looked over at her with an expression of mild surprise, then promptly fell over face first into the sand.

"Link! Are you alright?" Tetra turned him over to check for damage but as she leaned over him, he reached up and pulled her down. For a moment her anger flared, but for once, it disappeared just as quickly. Instead she felt herself blushing and said as she brushed some sand off his forehead. "You're going to pay for that, Namaki."

"Of that I have no doubt, Princess."

"You're such a jerk, I ought to..." she stopped as that intense anger manifested trying to make her say something awful. Too much had happened for her to ignore it but she also decided she didn't have time to examine that hot mess right now so she kissed him instead. To her surprise he didn't resist but there was some hesitancy. She would have to work on that and this part was going rather well. It was also in that moment that Tetra was struck by a passing thought and she sat up and asked, "Geez, how could I forget?"

"Forget what?"

She looked down at a now thoroughly confused Link and thought, Gods I wish I had time to do this properly. Out loud she said, "I still gotta find Jabun. Where's the King of Red Lions?" she asked as she looked out at the water.

Link sighed and sat up. "Probably near the dock."

"Well, come on let's go." Tetra got up and tugged at his sleeve. "Why are you still on the ground? Come on."

Link leaned heavily on his staff as he stood up and winced. Seeing him up, Tetra started to walk away when the ground beneath her feet started to shake and she was thrown backward into him. She turned to face him and said, "You did that on purpose."

"You think?" he asked.

Tetra noticed then he still wasn't moving. "Fine I'll slow down," she said and looked back at him again. "Can't you hobble any faster?"

"Remind me again what's in this for me?"

So she did.