Brigo watched Link and his spearmen dart between a pair of Hatenoan homes en route to the village's northern fields. He hoped they arrived in time, but the patrolman had his own hands full with the imminent frontal assault.

Most of the archers had already left their stations, leaving only the crossbow crews on the tower platforms. Now, nearly all the remaining defenders were gathered together on the road just inside the main gate - some four score villagers and one patrolman against Hylia knew how many pigspawn.

"Right, then!" he bellowed to get their attention. "I want a score of yeh wi' bows drawn standin' behind the rest! Whoever's got arrows, give 'em to the archers! You lot'll keep up a steady volley when they charge. That should thin out the pigspawn enough for our spears to do the rest!"

The villagers quickly set about rearranging themselves. Brigo could not help noticing husbands and wives, along with children near enough to adulthood to take part in the battle, ensuring they stood next to one another. His bravado was not fooling them any more than the success they had enjoyed most of the night. The enemy's numbers were outlasting their arrows. They knew these next moments might be their last.

At best, Brigo figured the Ganonspawn outnumbered them two to one. Patrolmen would fall under such odds, let alone newly trained farmers. Strange. For some reason, he had really let himself believe that Link would lead them to victory. There was just something solid about the lad, as though anything and anyone tied to him would endure whatever storm came their way.

That was likely why the village had held out this long. Now, a wave of evil was gathering to drown them all. Brigo could see the first line of bokoblins appearing on the path. They were ready to charge.

"Spears dooooooown!" the patrolman barked out. "Bows readaayyyy!"

The front ranks of villagers crouched in the dirt path, leaving a clear and direct line of sight for the archers behind. The pigspawn would be within range any second.

Or would they? Brigo frowned. The bokoblins he had glimpsed were not advancing. They appeared to be milling about in place, as though confused about what to do next.

Keeping his right arm up to signal the archers just in case, the patrolman took a few steps forward. Between the wide gate posts, he could see most of the pigspawn were now turning toward the woods behind them. Why?

Then, cutting through the tense air of waiting, a clear, high note sounded from beyond the Ganonspawn. A battle horn, and one Brigo knew well.

"Help is here, lads!" the patrolman bellowed, waving the villagers forward toward the gate. "Help is here! Chaaaaaarge!"

The combination of the sounding horn and Brigo's cry caused a mighty roar to erupt from the normally peaceful villagers. As one, they poured forward behind the patrolman, whose heavily accented curses flew furiously from his tongue as he waived his spear aloft. The wave of Hylians passed through and around the gate, picked up speed on the path's downward slope toward the woods, and slammed into the disjointed Ganonspawn.

Brigo was already dispatching his second bokoblin when he saw the first reinforcements pushing through to meet his own party. Rensa led them, swinging a viciously spiked mace in one hand while fending off pigspawn with a shield in the other. There was Giro, his battle axe cutting down bokoblins at a speed that belied his rotund form. Even the unflappable Tasseren was there, his ever-present quill replaced with a two-handed sword that hewed down every snouted face it met.

Dueling Peaks Stable only partially accounted for the turning of the battle's tide. Swift as shadows, masked Sheikah warriors darted among the trees, dealing death to the Ganonspawn. Curved swords and sinuously pronged spears cut down bokoblins and moblins alike. Brigo recognized Cado, his half-covered face emotionless as his sword made whirling patterns that left mortally wounded Bokoblins in its wake.

Using his spear to fell another offending pigspawn, the patrolman saw that the Hatenoans were more than holding their own. Their mad charge into the already confused ranks of Ganonspawn had completely discombobulated the enemy. The villagers attacked in small groups, their homemade spears easily outreaching the bokoblins' rough-hewn clubs. Ivee and Thadd had joined them, exchanging their stationary crossbows for the chance to fight alongside their countrymen.

Compared to holding the entrance throughout the night, the open battle in the forest seemed to last but a moment. Brigo rose from slaying one last bokoblin to find that no others were in sight. The villagers kept turning about uncertainly, dazedly wondering whether this was just another lull before another wave of the enemy would come crashing forth.

Instead, only Cado and Rensa approached while the rest of the reinforcements were either leaning on something to rest or cleaning their weapons of Ganonspawn blood.

"You have done well by these farmers, Brigo," Rensa said with a nod, his equerry's hat somehow still impeccably perched on his head. "They fought ably and with pride thanks to you."

"And Link and Dorian," the patrolman reminded him wearily. "I could no 'ave done it without 'em. Right special young lads, they are."

Cado, however, was still eyeing the woods askance as though something else might emerge.

"What was leading the Ganonspawn?" the Sheikah sharply asked through his balaclava. "So many would not attack without one to goad them. Surely Dorian said as much?"

"Aye, 'e did, but yeh did no see it here?" Brigo asked, surprised. "I thought for sure that—"

He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering why his two younger companions were not here.

"A party attacked from the north," the patrolman said hurriedly. "Odds are whatever demon that's leadin' the pigspawn was with 'em. Link and Dorian went to help. We've got to go, now!"

Cado and a handful of Sheikah darted away at once, while Rensa called out to the stablemen.

"Those of you able to bear arms once more, follow Brigo!" the equerry commanded.

Brigo took one deep breath, then ran back with the others toward the village, hoping he was not too late.

Link's heart hammered to get outside of his chest as he raced along the small fields that covered the man-made plateaus among the hills. He could clearly see the signal torch where Reede's band was stationed. It cast distorted shadows that flickered on the mountain wall marking the northern border of the village.

Dorian's vague form was further ahead, and Link heard him shout as he joined the fray. Link's heart unclenched slightly. The Hylians were still fighting. There was still a chance he had not failed them.

The battle was on the far side of the last field, which Link crossed at a dead run. He did not stop to slay the first bokoblin he saw. He merely whipped out his short sword and killed it in passing, slashing its throat in one fluid spin that left him facing the enemy.

Link could see most of the Hylians were already dead, the rest holding their ground only because of the reinforcements' arrival. Dorian was a darting shadow of death, his short, curved sword gleaming firelight as it flickered from one Ganonspawn to the next. Reede bled heavily from a wound in his side while fending off another bokoblin with his spear. One of Link's men joined the village head, and together they ended the beast's life.

Link's eyes, however, were drawn to the horror in the middle of the madness. A skeleton, as alive and mobile as the humans around it, had just finished carelessly removing its scimitar from the now lifeless body of another slain Hylian. Its eye sockets were empty and lifeless, yet Link was not surprised to see the nightmarish head turn to face him. The cavernous mouth opened as though it might speak, but no words issued from within bone-white jaw and teeth. It must have communicated, however, because a towering moblin and pair of bokoblins immediately broke away from the fray and charged straight toward him.

Link held his ground until the last possible instant, when the quicker bokoblins were nearly upon him. Then he pivoted, his short blade slicing up across one's snouted face and then back down through the other's skull.

His right arm was still finishing the second killing stroke as the left reached for the slate, which Link pointed straight at the oncoming moblin. A flash of gold light erupted from the Sheikah device, freezing the beast where it stood. That was all Link needed to run his blade through the Ganonspawn's heart. When the stasis rune's power flickered out, the moblin simply fell where it stood, dead before it hit the ground.

Then the skeleton was on him, leaping out and striking with a speed and strength that would kill most within seconds. Link turned aside the furious onslaught without thought, his short sword moving like steel liquid reflecting the torchlight.

The creature was left lunging, and Link swiftly dismembered its sword arm from the thing's body. A leg came next, then the bone-white skull. Link pivoted out of the last blow, stepping backward to witness his enemy's demise.

Instead, Link's eyes grew wide with shock. The severed limbs were already flying back to the body of their own accord. The skull was last to reunite itself with the thin neck bones, its visage still frozen in emotionless death. How did one kill something already dead?

"The head, Link!" Dorian shouted while avoiding the wild swing of a moblin's club. "You must pierce the head!"

Link moved forward once again, his sword raised. The skeleton's jaw parted as it readied for the attack.

No, boy. I will be Karanlik, and you will fail once again.

The creature's words did not come from its parted jaws. They sounded from within Link's mind, their voice carrying the weight of despair. Darkness threatened to overtake his senses. He staggered, trying to keep his sword up against the creature's attack. What was happening?

I see your heart, boy. I see the failure that haunts you. Know that it will seize you tenfold when the Master returns to claim what is his.

Link fell to one knee, his arm struggling to keep his blade raised, his eyes fighting to keep the skeletal figure in their sight. The darkness swirled, threatening to engulf him.

Instead of the hero that saved Hyrule, you will be the symbol of its downfall. Just as you once were.

Dorian was shouting something, but Link could not parse it into words. The Sheikah's voice was muffled, as though uttered through thick wool. Then the darkness took shape and form.

Link was once again running through the raining darkness. Branches scratched at his already bleeding face, but he did not stop to wince or massage his wounds. They had to get away.

Just as you once were…

He felt resistance from his left arm. The woman attached to the hand he was holding struggled to keep up. Link did not slow down. He pulled her forward, ignoring the fatigue that threatened to overtake them both. They must get away.

The symbol of Hyrule's fall…

Movement to the right. He flung her out of harm's way and drew his sword. But it wasn't his sword. This blade was longer, its hilt made for his hand just as he was made for this weapon. Out of its sheath, metal not of this world glowed blue.

You will fail again...

A single eye flared blue and red light in the darkness. Link snarled at the thing, willing it to attack him so his charge — so Zelda — could escape. Anything was worth that. Anything.

You will fail her again…

Blue light erupted from the eye, and Link had only a split second to meet it with his blade.

The clash of the scimitar's blade against Link's short sword snapped him out of the dream that wasn't a dream. The skeleton snarled noiselessly, enraged at being robbed of its kill. It swung again and again. Each time, Link turned it aside as easily as breathing, his sword a seamless extension of himself, commanded without thought.

This time, Link severed the creature's sword arm, then both legs. It collapsed on its chest. The skull twisted grotesquely until it was facing him from the ground.

The King of Darkness will rule this world for time without end.

A flickering image stole across Link's mind. It was a man, staring austerely down from a great height, his sloping forehead and hawkish nose emphasizing his domineering presence. Then it was a great boar, its eyes gleaming yellow above a massive snout and pair of razor-sharp tusks. Finally, it was an unintelligible creature of writhing limbs and and razor-sharp claws. Only its skull-like face was discernible.

"No," Link murmured, "he won't."

He stabbed at the skull, but not the one in his vision. The blade pierced his fallen foe's head between the eyes. It let out a shriek, one Link and everyone else in the field could hear. It was a death cry, but hollow and empty, as though it had waited too long and now lacked a soul behind it. The length of Link's sword smoldered, then disintegrated into black ash. Then the skull exploded, its fragments turning to dust immediately too fine to see.

The remaining bokoblins screamed as well, then frantically tried to flee back down the partially hidden path toward Ovli Plain. They were met by Cado, Rensa, Brigo and a host of newly arrived Hylians. The reinforcements made short work of the remaining Ganonspawn, not one of which escaped.

It was then that Link realized he had sunk to his knees. He was sweating profusely, his hands shaking as though a fever had seized him. Dorian was at his side instantly, his hands seizing Link's and gripping them tightly. His young eyes were drawn with concern.

"It is written," the Sheikah said quietly, "that a Stalfos can force a man to witness his worst fears and turn them into lies that sound as truth. I do not esteem lightly what you may have seen, but you must know that Ganon would have you fight yourself rather than face him."

Link's tremors subsided. His skin cooled. His blue eyes lifted to meet Dorian's brown ones. Exhaling audibly, he nodded.

"Thank you, Dorian," he said. "You are a credit to your people, both as a fighter and a friend."

The young Sheikah's face did not flush as it might have just days ago. Instead, he inclined his head forward.

"You are truly the Champion of Hyrule," Dorian murmured so only Link could hear. "I am honored to fight alongside you."

Link laid a hand on the young Sheikah's shoulder in reply, then rose with his help. By the torch's light, he could see an extremely pale Reede being supported by another villager. Ten or so others remained, leaning on spears and gazing about in startled bewilderment. Link could almost read their minds. Is it really over?

"I say, lads, are yeh all right o'er here?"

Brigo's shout startled everyone, including Link. The patrolman ran up to them, a fair bit of blood trickling down from a gash on the side of his head. That wasn't stopping him from grinning like a madman. At this point, Link wasn't sure what that meant.

"Has the gate fallen?" Link demanded. "Do we need to fall back?"

Brigo's hearty laugh lifted Link's heart more than he could possibly know.

"The only thing that's fallen is every pigspawn wot wanted to take Hateno," the patrolman answered with a broad smile. "Yeh did it lad! The village is safe! We've won!"

Reede smiled wanly, his right hand struggling to staunch the flow of blood from his side. "Oh thank Hylia!" he said weakly. "Oh thank Hylia, Hateno is safe!"

"Get 'im to whatever yeh've got for an infirmary, lad," Brigo told the villager who was helping to keep Reede upright. "Whatever head business 'e's got can wait 'til 'e's back on 'is own two feet."

The man nodded and, with a spearwoman's help, half-carried Reede back toward the main village road. Link nodded toward the patrolman's bleeding face.

"You should probably go, too," he said. "Your mammy wouldn't blame you for getting that looked at."

Brigo snorted as he wiped the side of his face with an already blood-soaked hand. "Me mammy'd give me worse for belly-achin' and complainin' about a scratch like this, and that's a fact!"

"Did you slay all the Ganonspawn?" Dorian asked, having just joined them after cleaning his blade.

"Most of 'em," Brigo replied thoughtfully, though the action caused him to wince. Wrinkling his forehead was apparently just enough to send his wound throbbing anew. "A few might've slipped off. I don't suppose yeh found the creature wot was leadin' 'em?"

"A Stalfos," Dorian confirmed with a nod. "It found this pathway in and nearly broke through before Sir Link showed up."

"Before you showed up," Link began to interrupt before Brigo's alarmed shout overrode him.

"A Stalfos!" the patrolman yelped. "Yeh mean those graveyard demons are alive and exist today? Do no tell me young Link here slew the same monster me mammy used to threaten me with at bedtime!"

"That would explain the Ganonspawn's flight straight into us."

Cado's clipped tones were accompanied by the man himself, who in turn was accompanied by Rensa. The two leaders, Link was relieved to see, did not appear to have suffered any lasting injuries from the battle.

"You have done well, Master Link" the Sheikah observed with the exceedingly strict bow of his people. "Despite our arrival, the village would likely have fallen without your aid."

"Yes," Rensa mused aloud in his deep tones. "Your deeds are indeed deserving of a hero's tale. I am surprised our Brigo had a hand in them at all."

Brigo snorted.

"I ruddy well swallowed a meal-full o' pigspawn before you lot showed up fer the table scraps!" The patrolman appeared on the verge of continuing before catching Cado's uplifted eyebrow, which caused him to hastily swallow whatever indignation remained to him. "That is, what I mean to say is, bloody good timing yeh had! Did yeh push on through the night to reach us?"

The Sheikah nodded. "Our scouts brought word that the Ganonspawn were readying to attack, so we made haste along the main path to meet them."

The equerry shook his head. "I have never witnessed anything like it. An army of Sheikah warriors carrying stones that light up at night. We are fortunate they recognized us as friends."

"We crossed paths on Ovli Plain," Cado continued. "Though I do not doubt our warriors, I feel that even we would not have been enough aid without those from the stable."

Someone else entered the small circle of Hylians. It was Ivee, who wasted no time hugging and kissing Cado and Rensa on the cheek.

"Our village head is being tended to, but I thank you both on behalf of Hateno Village," she said warmly.

"It was nothing less than our duty," Cado intoned with another formal bow. "We are only sorry we did not arrive sooner than we did."

The night sky was softening. Oncoming dawn's telltale light was beginning to illuminate the village. Link could now see dark shapes, unmoving, lying scattered on the recently harvested field. Among the slain, Link saw a boy no older than fourteen. His mother will be looking for him, he thought numbly.

A familiar hand rested on Link's shoulder causing him to look up. He did not remember Brigo's face looking so blurry before.

"We'll honor the dead, lad," the patrolman said softly, "with those who are still alive thanks to yeh." Brigo was not smiling anymore, but somehow his look of concern was more comforting to Link than his friend's largest grin. "Then we'll have a great feast to celebrate those living."

With the diminishing darkness no longer able to hide his tears, Link quickly blinked them back. Dawn's light was slowly revealing the village homes as a series of black silhouettes. Link's eyes sought the easternmost hill, from which sprouted an extremely tall and ungainly abode. Despite the early hour, smoke was already rising from the chimney.

"The feast can wait," he said, his hard blue eyes locked on the hilltop. It was easier, far easier, than facing the fallen. "I have business with Impa's 'friend.'"