"Hey, Princess…"
"Hm?"
The princess and the pilgrim stood by the riverbank with their horses, watching as Paya learned how to properly prepare her own steed. As the Sheikah struggled, dealing with constant neighs and snorts from her horse, Zelda and Celessa watched on, the roar of the swiftly flowing river beside them muffling their voices.
"I haven't asked since it felt like a touchy subject, but…" Celessa began, "how do you think Link is doing?"
"How do I believe Link is faring, you ask?" Zelda repeated without taking her eyes off Paya. The pilgrim nodded, to which the princess hummed again, only responding after a few moments of thought. "I'm worried, If I'm being honest. The last trials he had weren't very kind to him. I understand these trials are being given to him by the Master Sword itself, so logically I should have nothing to fear, but…"
Frowning, she looked away from Paya and back at the road that traveled up the hillside, the road that she knew led right to the dense, misty forest Link had disappeared into a few days prior.
"Sorry," Celessa said, noticing the princess's concerned gaze. "You just haven't talked about it, and… Well, I guess that's for good reason—"
"I think he's fine," Zelda suddenly said, turning back to Celessa. "I wish I could say he was better than that, but that would be too optimistic even for me. But, what I am sure about is that he's alive, and at least doing okay."
Celessa stared at Zelda, slightly taken aback by her answer, but eventually smiled.
"That's a good way to see things," she said as she went back to watching Paya now try to mount her horse. "I'm glad you have so much faith."
"I feel as though if I didn't, that would make me a fairly poor lover to him," Zelda said with a light chuckle. "He'll complete his trials and make it back to us safe and sound."
Noticing Celessa's nod in agreement, Zelda smiled before turning her attention to the castle in the distance, with only its shadowed towers visible beyond the trees.
He'll come back to me, the same way he always does, she thought to herself. Link… I do hope I'm correct. Please be alright in those trials.
As Zelda stared at the castle, she hoped and prayed that Link was safe inside the forest he had disappeared into; yet, unbeknownst to her, he was in an entirely different forest. This one wasn't suffused with the Great Deku Tree's magic; there was no wind to guide him nor torch embers to show him the way. He was in a place he had never been before, and it was a place Link certainly knew wasn't in the Hyrule he'd crossed many times over.
The rustling of leaves echoed through the forest as Link painfully made his way past the thick tree trunks and logs. He had already ventured through multiple caves, passing over bridges made of roots and rivers that had flowed around the few areas of grass and soil the trees hadn't overtaken. Still unclothed, bleeding from multiple wounds all over his body, and lost in an unknown location, he continued forward, passing through more caves and trees. Though he didn't know where he was, it still all felt vaguely familiar.
"Zelda—or, Hylia— said the Sacred Realm can take different forms," Link mumbled to himself as he continued on, using the trees to maintain his balance as he placed his palms on their bark with each step. "Last time, it was an ocean. Now it's a forest. Is it because this has to do with the Master Sword? It always finds its way back to the forest, doesn't it?"
Hee hee! A new friend! A new friend!
"Hello?" Link called out, stopping in the thick grass to look around. He could hear it, the faint, high-pitched laughter. It sounded as though it were coming from above, as if a child was jumping between the branches, a child he couldn't catch a glimpse of. "Is someone there?"
I'm always here! Always watching. Always protecting. That's the job he gave me.
"He? He who? What are you protecting?" Link asked, still peering up into the leafy canopy above, yet the childish voice simply giggled.
Hee hee! You'll see, you'll see! the voice said. He gave me a job, and I made another friend because of it! Now I make another! Another!
"Another?" Link asked. "Do you mean me?"
You! the voice said excitedly. You! You! Will you play with me?
Link frowned. It wasn't as though he didn't want to play with whoever was watching him, but the fact remained that he was still in the Sacred Realm and his body hadn't healed yet. The trials were still in progress.
"What… kind of game?" he asked carefully. The voice laughed gleefully.
Hee hee! Hee hee hee hee hee—!
Suddenly, the breeze within the woods strengthened. The creaking of tree trunks and the scratching of branches grew louder. He winced at the wind, raising a weak arm to try and shield himself from the flurry of dead leaves that filled the air. The gusts grew more violent, almost forcing Link off balance. Over the noise of the forest, he barely heard the long, echoing ring of what sounded like an instrument.
Was that a… trumpet? Link asked himself, trying to keep his eyes open in an attempt to stay as guarded and vigilant as his weary body would allow.
As the wind and leaves continued to swirl around him, he felt his body growing heavier. His wounds screamed in agony at the weight, but nothing felt heavier than one of his arms. Confused, he managed to stretch it out, barely able to see that a sword had appeared in his grasp. It was a sword he had never seen, fairly basic, with a thick guard that he could tell was hand-made with old tools, yet it had a fine iron blade, only rivaled by the swords the royal guards had used in the castle. Whoever made this sword crafted it with care and passion.
Finally, the turbulent winds started to calm, allowing Link to open his eyes wider, but before he could look down at himself, his ears perked up. The trumpet in the air had started to play a tune, and along with that tune was a strange rattling—one he knew wasn't coming from the branches above. He looked up at the canopy above, trying to get a glimpse of the trumpet player, but all he saw was a blur of wood falling toward him.
Before he could force his body to move, the creatures had surrounded him, crashing limply to the ground, crunching the dead leaves under them. They looked like strange bodies carved from old, rotting wood. Their legs and arms were thin, yet their torsos were thick. They were decorated with necklaces of wood, and capes of leaves held together by vines. They looked like puppets, and nothing encapsulated that more than their heads. They were perfectly round and placed just off center, and it was clear they'd been poorly attached as they rocked back and forth. Their faces were drawn onto the smooth wood of their heads—circular, red eyes with black pinpoint irises, and a wide sharp-toothed grin.
They were already creepy, but they became horrifying the moment they stood.
It was as if they were being pulled by invisible string, held up by their shoulders and elbows; an ensemble of sinister marionettes. With their arms outstretched, they danced on their toes, creaking and clunking as they began to circle the Hylian that had appeared in their domain. They swung around on their invisible strings, their heads twisting loosely left and right, their arms and legs jerking spasmodically at the pull of their unseen puppet master.
"Uh, this is still a game, right?" Link asked as the wooden puppets circled him, readying his sword as he watched each set of red eyes quickly shift in and out his sight.
From the blur of circling wooden creatures, Link noticed another body fall from the trees. As it fell, the sound of the trumpet grew louder, and instead of falling limply like the others, it landed on its feet. It was much smaller than the others, and its movement was filled with far more life than the puppets. It wore a cape similar to that of the puppets, but his leaves were green and alive. He was more clothed, with a dirty brown tunic, matching boots, and a long, pointed hat. With a lantern in one hand and a trumpet in the other, he bounced around, playing the same tune before stopping in front of the cave of roots and stone Link was about to walk through earlier.
Hee hee! This is a game! the imp-creature said, lowering its trumpet.
Twirling on his toes, he turned his back to the tunnel to reveal a face similar to those drawn on the puppet heads, though his was real. On his gray skin were two large red eyes, slitted nostrils, and a creepily long,wide, toothy smile that appeared frozen in place.
I played it with him! Now I play it with you! he said excitedly. Play, play, play!
"Him? The same one who gave you this… job?" Link asked, still trying to protect himself from the puppets circling around him.
Not him! Another him! Another friend I played this with! the imp said. Hee hee hee! Play, play, play!
"Wait, who are these two?" Link asked around the puppets. "Who are your friends? Do they have something to do with this trial— with the Master Sword?"
Play, play, play! the imp continued to say. His voice had suddenly become louder and more aggressive, practically shouting. Play, play, play!
"We'll play! We'll play, but—!"
Play, play, play! the imp had started to scream. He stomped on the ground so hard the entire forest began to shake, almost dropping Link to his knees. Play, play—PLAY!
With a gasp of breath, the imp suddenly blew into his horn, forcing a stronger gust of wind and dead leaves toward his playmate and the puppets. Link winced in pain as the winds blew around him again, but noticed the puppets stop spinning around him. He was only able to take one breath of relief before noticing the puppet directly in front of him had its arm violently jerked upward by the invisible string that held it.
With a creak, the puppet brought its arm down, only to be sliced off by the iron blade that had been gifted to their target.
Gritting his teeth to push through the pain, he gripped the leather handle of his sword and with a shout, he gave a powerful spin, slicing down each puppet that surrounded him. As the puppets clattered to the ground, Link dropped to one knee, gasping for breath as he looked up with tired eyes into the imp's. Somehow, even with a frozen, unmoving smile, the imp's grin seemed as though it grew wider.
Hee hee hee! Let's play.
With another deep breath, the imp blew into his horn, creating another round of gusts and leaves that summoned more puppets down from the tree branches. As the puppets began to dance around Link's kneeling body, the imp laughed before darting off through the tunnel. Tightening his grip around his sword, Link watched through the puppets' spinning legs as the imp disappeared deeper into the forest.
"Alright. Let's play."
Spinning his sword between his fingers, he swung, cutting off the legs of the first puppet that flew in front of him. The first puppet fell, causing the others following it to crash into each other. Pushing himself to his feet and performing a flurry of blows, wooden arms and legs fell to the ground, followed by their torsos and heads half a second later. With the second wave of puppets lying lifelessly on the ground, Link looked toward the tunnel the imp had disappeared through before hearing another trumpet blast, followed by the same tune the imp had been playing since his arrival.
They aren't strong at all, even in numbers, Link thought as another army of puppets fell from the trees. It's a game of attrition from what it looks like, and if that's the case—
With another barrage of swings, the next wave of puppets were down.
— I'm done for. I haven't healed from the floors the Master Sword put me through. So—
Pushing through the pain, Link darted through the tunnel after the imp.
—I gotta win this game of his as quickly as possible!
With his body screaming in pain, he burst through the tunnel into the next clearing, where a waterfall cascaded from one of the natural stone walls, merging with the river that flowed nearby. The moment he stepped out, he heard another blast of the horn. As more puppets clattered in front of him, he could hear the tune playing again, even over the sound of the rushing water. It sounded louder than when the imp had run off. He was here, hidden somewhere in the forest. Cutting down the new wave of puppets, he ran as fast as he could, following the river before disappearing into another tunnel, following the trumpet's notes.
He could tell he was off-balance; each step felt as though he were going to fall over. His sword felt as though it were growing heavier with every passing moment he held on to it. The pounding in his head continued to worsen. He wanted to turn back, to drink from the river he had passed, but he continued forward as another call from the trumpet sounded. He swung his sword the moment he emerged from the tunnel and into the next area, cutting down the puppets that stood in his way. Unfortunately, one of the puppets, having only lost one arm, creaked its remaining arm up and swiped it down, striking Link in the back, sending a painful jolt through his body. Link's earlier injuries coupled with the puppet's strength caused him to stumble, yet he caught his balance before he could fall and swung the sword wildly, cutting through the puppet at the waistline.
Where are you? Link asked himself as he looked around the forest. The trumpet was loud, almost as if it were playing in his ear. Where?
He twisted and turned his sore body, trying to locate the little imp before noticing an outcropping of natural rock that looked very climbable. Furrowing his brow, an idea sprang to mind. Limping over, he climbed up the ledge with as much strength as he could muster, where he could see the imp dancing to the notes he was playing on his trumpet.
"Hey—!" Link called out, but before he could finish, the imp blew his trumpet once more, summoning a fresh contingent of puppets. "I said hey!"
Pushing himself forward, he swiped his blade through all of the puppets in one swing. What he hadn't anticipated was for the sword to strike the imp standing behind them as well. As the puppets fell to the ground, the forest-dweller shrieked as he backed away.
"I'm sorry!" Link said immediately as guilt flooded his chest. He had just struck a child. "I didn't mean to—! Are you oka—?"
Before he could finish, the imp laughed, jumped up, and vanished into thin air. Confused, he looked around before peering over the ledge to see that the child had reappeared in front of yet another tunnel. With a jolly laugh, he sprinted and disappeared through it. Link frowned.
I was wrong, he thought as he climbed down the ledge. It's not a game of attrition at all. It's hide-and-seek… with some extra rules.
Link chased after the imp, trying in earnest to catch up. Unless he teleported again, there was no way his little legs would let him get too far. He ran through the tunnel, exiting the other side only to find another few tunnels, but one had a light that was quickly disappearing– the imp's lantern. Following the light, Link ran through tunnel after tunnel, striking down whatever puppets appeared. Tunnel after tunnel, path after path he ran. Sometimes the light was seen at the end of the tunnel, and other times it appeared on the strange walls of nature. For an imp, he sure was fast.
After what felt like an endless succession of tunnels, Link finally reached a pond with a collection of unusual stone pillars standing tall in the middle of the water. On the shortest stone pillar, right in the center of the pond, the imp was dancing merrily as he played his trumpet.
How do I reach him from here? Link asked himself, striking down another horde of his wooden assailants. Looking around, an idea came to mind. Reaching down, he picked up a stone, and with a painful, deep breath, he allowed time to slow. Let's hope I can throw half as hard as I threw that snowball that day!
Allowing time to resume its normal flow, he chucked the stone as hard as he could, striking the imp right in the forehead. The woodland creature fell backward—his hat nearly flying off of his head—before disappearing again. Reappearing in front of yet another tunnel, he stomped again in anger, shaking the ground before sprinting off again. Tiredly, Link chased after the light again.
He felt as though he had been "playing" with this child for hours. He had found and struck him multiple times; on tree trunks, behind rocks, and even at the top of the trees themselves. Link's already low energy was depleting fast. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up. His form was getting sloppier as he cut down the endless horde of puppets. Finally, the imp came to a stop in front of another tunnel, where Link, gasping for air, stopped before him, hoping the game was over. Instead of claiming it was over though, the imp jumped, shaking the forest harder than ever before, this time bringing Link to his knees before darting through the next tunnel.
Come on, Link told himself as he climbed back to his feet. Move! Go!
Forcing his weak legs forward, Link ran through the next tunnel, following after the imp's light. This tunnel was different, however. Instead of the natural stone and tree roots that had made up all of the previous tunnels, this one was carved out of brick; old and covered in moss. He ran until he reached the end, where he found himself standing on an elevated ledge, looking down at what appeared to be the ruins of an old structure, reminding him of the ruins he explored in Hyrule Field. It was easy to tell they had once been elegant and tall, yet all that remained were brick walls and moss, with only a canopy of trees to serve as a roof to protect anyone from the sun.
These ruins didn't concern Link though, not in the slightest. No, what had his full attention was the imp dancing on a pillar in the center of the room, playing his trumpet as he summoned another horde of puppets.
If I jump down there, I won't win… Link thought as he looked around at the dancing wooden puppets. Perking his ears up, he heard more creaking and rattling from behind. Turning back to the tunnel, he could see a swarm of red, glowing eyes in the darkness; more puppets dancing their way toward him. And I won't win from up here either.
Gripping his sword tightly, he looked down at the courtyard ruins that stood before him, staring at the stone brick pillar the imp danced on, and taking note of the puppets that surrounded its pillar. After a few moments, he looked behind at the swarm of puppets heading toward him from the tunnel. Giving it some thought, he closed his eyes and nodded.
It's all I've got, he told himself, facing the ledge once more. It's all or nothing on this.
Holding his breath and ignoring the pain throughout his body, he took a few steps back before darting forward as fast as he could, and with as much of a push as his weak legs would give him, he flew into the air. He could tell time did not slow as much as it usually would have as he watched the imp dance around on the pillar, but that didn't matter. Slowly flying through the air, he held the sword he had above his head before throwing it as hard as he could. The iron sword spun in the air down to the pillar before striking the imp directly in his little chest.
Dangerously close to passing out, time once again resumed its normal flow as Link fell to the ground, landing in the cluster of puppets. He crashed into their bodies before finding himself lying on the mossy stone brick floor. Link managed to open his eyes just slightly in order to see the army of puppets that surrounded him with all of their wooden hands raised, ready to strike him to death as the sound of the imp's trumpet blew again.
Ah, man, Link said as he closed his eyes. Did I fail? Is this really it? If it is, then this is gonna be an awful way to go out. I really gave it all I could, too—
Suddenly, he heard an echo of wood clunking and clattering to the ground. His eyes opened again, only to see that he was now alone in the ruins. He looked around to find the sword he was given laying on the ground nearby, though the imp was nowhere to be seen.
Hee hee hee! That was fun! The imp's voice could suddenly be heard. You played! You played! You're a friend! A friend! A friend! Now you can go!
"I can go? Where am I going…?" Link asked tiredly.
Through the door! Through the door! Good luck, and thanks for playing! Hee hee!
Suddenly, the winds in the forest calmed. The scratching of branches had come to an end, and even the sunlight appeared to brighten. Exhausted, sore, and disoriented from his fall, Link's eyes began to close, ready to fall into slumber just as he had done when he first arrived in the forest.
No…
He forced his eyes back open before the darkness could take him.
Get up… You need to keep going.
After a few moments, he slowly rolled over, ignoring the blood that had spilled onto the mossy floor. Crawling over to the sword on the ground, he picked it up and used it as a crutch to get to his feet. Inspecting his surroundings, he saw only one single doorway in the ruins; the only one the strange imp could've been referring to. Still using his sword as a crutch, he walked toward and through the doorway, following what was once a twisty, brick hallway until he reached a clearing in the forest—one more open than any of the clearings he had encountered before. Owing to the exhaustion within his body and mind, it took him a second to realize it was only clear of trees because of the large ruins that stood before him. Most of the walls had decayed, and the majority of its floor had been covered in grass and moss. Still, even through the overgrowth, the Hylian Crest was visible in the center of the floor, and near the back, Link could see a large wall with a door to match its size.
What's a building of this size doing out here alone in the middle of a forest? Link asked himself as he walked down an old staircase to the floor. Where is this? Why am I here…?
He could feel himself beginning to lose consciousness again, yet he pressed forward, limping toward the door in the distance. Stepping over the crest in the center, he walked toward the doorway, passing two huge, strangely-shaped statues that held large hammers as if they were guarding the place behind them. Entering the doorway, Link walked up the enormous staircase–pretending the stairs didn't bother him with such a tired body–until he reached the top, where he was met with another clearing. Instantly, he knew this was where he was meant to be, for in the middle of the clearing was a pedestal and a very familiar sword, with its purple wings and golden accents sparkling in the sunlight.
"Found you…" he murmured.
Limping forward, he crossed more mossy stone flooring before stepping onto a low, square platform, where he finally stood before the sword that had brought him here. Letting the iron blade he had been using as a crutch clatter to the ground, he reached out and took the purple-winged sword by its green leather straps, and with the last of his strength, he pulled.
"Huh… You didn't resist," Link said, holding the Master Sword up. "I thought… for sure that… you'd… give me some… troub…"
The clearing and ruins faded to darkness as Link's body finally gave out. Letting the sword fall limply to his side, Link's body tipped toward the empty stone pedestal in front of it; yet, before he could fall completely, he landed in someone's arms.
"You did it. I'm proud, though you did it a little differently than I expected. Still… You really do have our spirit."
...
Link woke with a gasp. He quickly sat up, expecting a wave of pain throughout his body; and yet, he felt nothing. His body felt normal, maybe even better than normal. He intended to look down to see if his body had been fully healed, but his eyes were instantly captivated by his surroundings. No longer was he in an artificial forest in a Sheikah room nor was he sitting in the thick mossy grass of a "real" forest with puppets threatening to beat him to death at a child's command; instead, he found himself in a building far larger than the ruins he had explored in just—what felt to him—a few seconds ago.
The room he found himself in was so large, the entirety of those ruins could fit inside this section of it alone. It was a large oval room, with an incredibly high ceiling with multiple chandeliers, walls that were crafted and carved with various ornate details, a row of balconies set high up on the walls, and floors with large, elegant designs in tiles of both light and dark gray. Instantly, Link knew this was a castle. He had lived in a castle long enough to know an entrance room when he saw one, but this wasn't his castle. This place was far more embellished, even compared to Hyrule Castle a hundred years ago, and once again, this was not a place he recognized.
"Still in the Sacred Realm, huh?" Link asked as he picked himself up. "This place isn't on the map either–and there's no way I would've missed it. Hello?"
There was no response other than the echoes of his own voice bouncing off the detailed walls.
"No one?" he asked as he began to walk. "Is this another trial? But… I'm healed. Why would it still be going on? Hello? Is there really no one here?"
Again, there was no answer. Still walking across the floor, he looked over his shoulder to find the Master Sword sitting on his back. While it felt good to see the sword, this only confused him more.
"I found you, but I'm still here," Link said. "Is this still the trial? Or is this something else?"
The sword didn't answer. It remained silent as it rested on his backside. Link blew air through his nose.
"Yeah, that figures," he said.
With a sigh, he kept moving before eventually finding a door. He continued through the castle, passing through tall, octagonal rooms and high-ceilinged hallways that were lined with fancy blue carpets. The walls of the castle were finely decorated, adding to their intricately detailed, carved stone walls. Weapons and shields flanked each door he passed through, paintings and dark red banners hung from the walls, and statues of shiny armor stood sentinel all around. Every time he passed one of these statues, Link tensed, nervously expecting one of the armors to suddenly attack him, yet this didn't happen. Eventually, he reached two doors, one on each side of the hall. Both were tall, rectangular double doors, each unmarked and providing no clues as to where they led. Making a choice, Link entered the door on the left.
Instantly, he was met with a thick fog.
What the— what is this? he asked himself as he stepped through the doorway. Is this the Great Deku Tree's fog? No… No, this is different… Is this a… cloud?
Pulling the Master Sword from its sheath, he swung it at the fog, allowing him to see a bit clearer than before. He was outside, on ramps that seemed to be connecting to other towers of the castle. He couldn't see properly, though. He could only see a stone path that traveled up one side of the wall to a higher level, and a bridge that led to a tower he was unable to see the top of. The fog was too dense.
Confused, he traveled up the stone ramps, climbing to the castle's higher levels by circling the center tower. He could just barely make out other towers through the clouds, connected by bridges and arches, but only if he squinted. Eventually, after what felt like an endless amount of steep ramps, he reached another set of double doors that led back into the castle. Re-entering the castle, he crossed a few more rooms until he reached a staircase, which unsurprisingly, took him to yet another room. The pattern followed; room after room, staircase after staircase, yet the rooms, he noticed, were slowly getting smaller while the staircases grew taller.
Finally, after one more large, winding staircase, he reached what had to be the top. It wasn't a room, but a narrow hallway, with a door larger than any he had seen thus far. Stepping in front of the door, Link furrowed his brow. This felt too ominous.
"Is this where the real trial is?" Link asked the sword.
As expected, no reply came from the winged hilt. Turning back toward the door, he took a deep breath, placed his palms on the wood, and pushed. With a rumble, the door opened, revealing the outdoors to him once more. To his surprise, he wasn't met with the fog he had witnessed earlier. This high up, the air was clear, but it most certainly wasn't normal. Carefully, Link stepped out, noticing two walkways on his left and right. It took him a moment to recognize that they were two gigantic staircases, with their first steps beginning near the tower's edge. Still on guard, he walked through the pathway the staircases created until he reached the edge of the tower. He began to turn, ready to walk up one set of stairs toward the room that waited at the top, and yet, he paused. Entranced by the unusual view, he walked to the tower's edge and looked out.
What he saw before him was a sea of clouds. There was no land; or if there was, the clouds were too thick to see it. Above him was no sky, just another barrier of thick, puffy clouds. All he could see was the clouds, and the tops of castle towers. Their pointed roofs were covered in blue shingles, while the stone brick that made up the towers walls were as white as the clouds themselves.
"Is this… the top of the castle?" Link asked in awe.
The more he stared, the more he could make out. Beyond the towers that pierced the heavens were other structures, barely visible through the fog in the distance. They were the tops of other tall buildings, and even what looked to be a volcano, yet all of them were too obscured by the mist to get a clear view.
"Why is everything covered in clouds? Seriously, where am I…?" Link asked himself.
He stared at the sight for some time before finding the will to tear his gaze away. He had a trial to do. Again, he began to avert his eyes, ready to head up the staircase to the final room— the tallest tower of the castle— until something else caught his eye. Before he could turn, he looked back over the edge of the castle wall, staring down at the cloud flooring below. He furrowed his brow and squinted as hard as he could, ensuring to himself that he wasn't seeing things.
There was a figure down there, standing on the clouds themselves.
He stared at the figure before looking back at the tallest tower behind him. As much as he'd been compelled to travel up the staircase, he just couldn't help himself. He jumped off the ledge of the castle tower and skillfully began his descent. Climbing down towers and across stone bridges that connected to other towers, he made his way down to the cloud flooring. As soon as he was close to the bottom, he gathered as much courage as he could and let go of the wall, breathing a sigh of relief when his feet planted themselves firmly on the clouds instead of falling through. Confident that he could walk on the clouds, he began his trek toward the figure in the distance. He hadn't realized just how far away the person was until a few minutes after his walk had started, but eventually he grew close enough to start making out the figure's details.
It was a man's figure, one not much taller than his own. Only his back was visible, for he was turned away from the castle towers. What could be made out was the bright, shining chainmail tunic he wore, decorated with deep red cloths that were draped over his shoulders, down his torso, and tucked under the belt around his waist. The most noticeable feature Link was able to make out was the familiar blue and silver shield with a red painted bird emblem on his back, along with a long, pointed red hat. As Link drew closer, he could see the man holding a sword in front of him, with his hands on the pommel and the tip of its blade in the cloud flooring. At the sight of the weapon, Link furrowed his brow in caution.
The moment he got close enough for his steps to be heard on the soft clouds, the man's pointed ears twitched. Slowly he began to turn, to which Link raised his hand toward the purple-winged sword on his back, only hesitating when the man's kind blue eyes and smile were revealed.
"You made it," the man said. His voice was calm, giving off an aura of tranquility Link aspired to have, yet he kept his hand firmly grasped on the Master Sword. At this, the man's smile softened. "It's alright. I'm not dangerous."
"Are you sure?" Link asked carefully. "Last time I thought someone wasn't dangerous in here, I was attacked by a swarm of puppets."
"Hm, I guess I can't blame you for being wary. Skullkid's manner of play can be a bit… off-putting," the man said. "Still, I do hope you'll come to trust me. I did lend you my sword, after all."
"Your sword?" Link repeated. Suddenly, the iron sword in the man's grasp looked familiar. "That's the sword that appeared in my hand when the kid attacked me… That was your doing?"
"That, and the clothes you wear on your back," the man said kindly as Link lowered his hand from the green-strapped handle. "I didn't think it'd be fair to keep you naked in a place like the Sacred Grove."
"Clothes?" Link repeated again before looking down.
He hadn't noticed the clothing he had been wearing; an old, worn out green tunic with a gold chainmail underneath, along with a white undershirt, matching trousers, and a pair of firm boots. Even his hat matched the red one the man in front of him wore, except his was the same dark green as the tunic he had been given.
"That's why my body felt heavier…" Link mumbled as he looked at his hands, taking note of the leather gloves and arm guard that covered them. "Are these yours too?"
"Hm," the man nodded. "I wore them a long time ago. They were actually hand-me-downs, in a way. I was told that garb once belonged to the ancient hero chosen by the gods."
"The ancient hero chosen by the gods… Then they were handed down to you…?" Link murmured. After a pause, he looked the man in the eye. "That kid… Skullkid, you called him… He was protecting the Master Sword, wasn't he? And you… You said his name as if you knew him. Are you… one of the two friends he mentioned?"
The man's smile grew a bit wider.
"I am," he said. "Hello, Link. I'm a hero chosen by the golden goddesses, and technically the goddess Hylia herself. I defeated the self-proclaimed King of Twilight, and the Dark Lord that threatened Hyrule. Due to my victory, the princess gifted me the title, the Hero of Twilight. My name… is Link."
Link's eyes widened as he stared at the man standing before him, only now able to see his facial features entirely. He had a sturdy face with a strong jawline and chin, though surprisingly, his cheeks were somewhat round. To add to his almost conflicting features, his eyebrows were long and angled, with eyes that were sharply shaped, yet his irises were bright and soft. He was the epitome of balance between stoic and gentle, and it was clear that even if he looked a little different, it still felt as though Link was looking into a mirror.
"Link, huh?" Link asked his counterpart. "She mentioned that we always end up with that name…"
"She?" the Hero of Twilight asked. Link nodded.
"Zelda, or Hylia… Whoever she was when I was in here before," he explained. "She liked it. She said it was a cute name."
"I see," the Hero of Twilight chuckled. "She works in mysterious ways, that princess does."
"So… Why are you here?" Link asked simply.
"You still seem a bit guarded," the Hero of Twilight said. "I'd hoped that when I told you who I was, you'd relax a bit."
"I want to. Trust me, I do," Link said. "But… I'm guessing you don't have a weapon for nothing. I'm still being tested, aren't I? Isn't that why I'm here?"
"That's an understandable conclusion to come to. A smart one, actually," the Hero of Twilight said. "You're right; the Trial of the Sword is still going on, but believe it or not, I'm not here to test you."
"You… aren't?" Link asked, to which the hero shook his head.
"I'm not," he repeated. "I'm here to teach you."
"To teach me?" Link now repeated. "To teach me what? I thought the trials were so I could be tested—"
"And you can't have a test without having learned something, right?" the Hero of Twilight asked, now twirling his sword around. "It'd be like asking you to catch a goat by the horns without teaching you how to plant your feet."
When Link furrowed his brow at the strange comparison, the hero chuckled.
"I used to be a farm hand," he explained. "Even now I still help out with the goats, whenever I visit home, that is. They can get a bit rowdy."
"Okay… What do you plan to teach me then?" Link asked as the hero began to casually walk around the clouds. "You say you used to be a farmhand, but that armor tells me you became a knight, and a high ranking one at that. Are you gonna teach me the way of the sword?"
"Kind of," the hero said, swinging his sword around as if warming himself up. "I definitely plan to teach you a few moves, but none of the basics. I'm a part of you, so I know your skill not just with a sword, but with a variety of weapons. Even amongst your predecessors, you're pretty incredible with a weapon."
"Thanks, but I can always learn more," Link said, watching as the hero honed himself. "Especially from a hero that didn't fail like I did."
"If you think every hero was perfect before you, then you're sorely mistaken," the hero said, pointing his iron blade at Link. "But, that's a topic for later. You're right; you can always learn more, and what you'll be learning from me in this realm is how to use that sword on your back."
"How to use the Master Sword?" Link asked. The Hero of Twilight nodded.
"You've held that blade longer than any hero before you ever has," he said. "But you struggle to use it completely, and to no fault of your own. You're under different circumstances than the rest of us were under. The Master Sword has never been awake for more than a few months at a time, but you've held it for years, and in its weakened state. Because of this, you aren't used to feeling its full power, nor do you know when to waken it. So—"
Suddenly, the knight disappeared, leaving a puff of cloud behind him. Immediately, Link went for the handle of the Master Sword, pulling it free as he twisted on his heel. He swung behind him at the hero that had appeared there, yet, before his blade made contact, the hero jumped.
He's fast, maybe even as fast as I am, Link thought as he tried to react, but it was pointless.
The hero flipped in the air, flying over Link's head, and before he could counter, the hero's iron blade struck Link in the back, sending him flying. As the hero landed on his feet, Link landed face first in the clouds.
"You were close," the hero said, as Link pulled his face out of the clouds. "If you had used a proper Mortal Draw, you might've had me. You're far more skilled than any of us were in the basics, but we have skills that a regular teacher couldn't ever show you. You may have used them before—"
"—during the fight with Maz Koshia," Link finished, still on the ground as he looked back at the Hero of Twilight. He recognized that move the hero had used and even recalled using what was known as the Mortal Draw against the monk during their duel. The hero nodded.
"The Hidden Skills," he clarified. "You used them during your fight with that monk because in that moment, you and the Master Sword were one. Your spirit and heart were aligned with that blade. What you need to do is learn those skills in order to use them without the need of the Master Sword, yet hone yourself to where your spirit is always aligned with it."
"That almost sounds like training myself to be strong without it," Link said as he properly picked himself up. The Hero of Twilight smiled.
"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage," he said. "That sword may make you stronger, but it only enhances the power that sleeps within you. To bring out that sword's true power, you first need to strengthen yourself. Use your courage and find that strength."
Link stared at the Hero of Twilight, taking in the words he said before taking a deep breath. After exhaling, he gave the hero a strong gaze, which the hero returned.
"That's a look I like to see. Here—"
Reaching back, he pulled the shield that hung behind him off its belt and tossed it. Catching Link off guard, he caught it, stumbling back a bit when he did.
"Is this the Hylian Shield?" he asked, staring down at the red emblem and the three triangles displayed on its blue surface.
"It's a Hylian Shield, but not the Hylian Shield, the one you once held," the Hero of Twilight said.
"Right, Grante did say there were replicas made," Link murmured as he inspected the Shield. "It looks a bit different from mine, though."
"The design has changed a bit through the ages. The Royal Family kept the real shield safeguarded well," the hero said. "Still, I think this one will serve you just fine against me."
"Are you sure? That leaves you shieldless, doesn't it?" Link asked, sliding his free arm through the straps. "It seems a little unfair…"
"If I need a shield, the Sacred Realm will give me one," the hero said. "But, for now… I won't need it."
"Hm," Link hummed with a confident grin as he tightened his grip on the shield. "Whatever you say. Man, this brings back memories. I miss my Hylian Shield…"
"Alright, are you ready?" the hero asked. Taking another deep breath, Link readied his sword and shield. "Let us begin."
"Hey, before we do… What should I call you?" Link asked as the hero readied his own sword. "Should we both just go by Link?"
"Hm… That's a good question," the hero said thoughtfully as they began to circle each other. After a few moments, he smiled. "You're Link. You're the one who's alive and well, while I am here. I think it'd be best if you called me… Twilight."
...
It was difficult to tell how much time had passed. For what felt like days, even weeks, Link dueled with the Hero of Twilight. Clang after clang, their swords crossed as they sparred on the cloud flooring. It was impressive to Link just how well the hero of a time long ago could keep up. Sure, he was a hero just like himself, but to actually experience the feeling from the opposite end of the sword was something else. This was the first time someone truly matched his own skill with a blade.
"Come on!" Twilight called between their current duel, knocking away the Master Sword's blade with his own. "Your sword is an extension of your arm, an extension of yourself—!"
Twirling his sword, he suddenly sliced so quickly, Link was forced to block with his shield.
"—I know," Link said, pushing the iron blade away with his shielded arm. "I learned that day one of training!"
"And that's why you have to push past that," the hero said, easily knocking away another flurry of Link's blows. "The Master Sword is not just an extension of your arm; it's also an extension of your spirit, your skill, and your courage. Not only that, for you are an extension of the sword. It senses your courage and your strength, but it also feels your hesitancy, your fears, your nerves."
Suddenly, Twilight's eyes became stern, a sign Link had learned to interpret well during his time spent with him. He was planning to attack seriously, as if bringing out an inner beast that lay inside. With intense speed, the hero charged, twirling his sword as he sprinted toward his student. Link furrowed his brow.
He twirls his sword to throw off his opponent; to cover which direction he'll swing, Link thought, but his attack patterns should stay the same. They're actually similar to mine, so— Left, right, left, and strong attack!
With each one of Twilight's strikes, Link managed to deflect with his sword, though for the last attack, he backflipped. Allowing time to slow as he was upside down, he intended to look down at the hero still planted on the clouds, yet that's not what he saw. Instead, he saw Twilight jumping after him with his sword held at his side. Unexpectedly, the hero swung in the air, a place Link couldn't dodge. With his chest slashed, Link fell, his back hitting the clouds. Groaning, he began to pick himself up, only to find the Hero of Twilight still in the air, flying down to the ground with his sword prepared. Horrified, Link crawled backward believing that would keep him safe, yet the shockwave of the sword blade hitting the clouds sent him rolling away.
"A jump strike," the hero said as he straightened himself. "Another one of my hidden skills. You seem tired. You aren't giving up already, are you?"
"Heh, not a chance," Link grinned, wincing as he pushed himself off the ground. "I haven't been able to spar like this in a while. Don't tell me I'm boring you, am I?"
"Hm. Not at all," the hero smiled. Though Link didn't hear it as he prepared himself for the next trade of blows, Twilight added, "is this how you felt teaching me, Rusl?"
...
Their swords continued to clash, though their movements had gotten much faster now. No longer was there banter between them, nor were there any more moments of lighthearted fun. Without realizing, their eyes had permanently become that of beasts; their spar no longer a simple exercise, but a true duel between heroes.
With his sword and shield ready, Link watched as the Hero of Twilight charged him again. His movements had become more sporadic, like a wolf hunting down its prey. The constant jumps from left to right, the twirling of his sword, the intimidating glow behind his eyes. This was the Hero of Twilight.
There was hardly any distance between them anymore. Anytime one or the other tried to create space, the other would close in, pouncing at the chance to gain the advantage. Regardless of the situation though, a grin consistently appeared on one or the other's faces.
With another clash, the two skidded a few feet away from each other. Immediately Link readied his borrowed Hylian Shield, knowing full well the wolf before him wouldn't wait. As expected, Twilight charged forward again, darting from side to side to close the distance. To Link's surprise, though, instead of attacking head on, the hero rolled to the side. Though the tactic itself was unanticipated, Link furrowed his brow in concentration. While he hadn't recognized the move immediately, he knew where the strike would lead.
As fast as he could make his arm move, he brought the Master Sword up as if he were going to sheath it. Twisting on his heel, using as much control as he could to move with precision, with only half a second to spare, he managed to deflect the oncoming strike from behind. Grinning at Twilight's incredulous look, he moved as if to swing again, something the Hero of Twilight instantly began to prepare for, yet it wasn't the sword he struck with, but the shield.
"A Mortal Draw followed by a Shield Bash?" the hero asked as he stumbled back. "Impressive—"
Before he could even finish his sentence, Link had advanced. With a gleam in his eye, he jabbed his sword forward, aiming for the hero's abdomen. The sudden appearance of a wooden shield on Twilight's arm was the only reason his sword didn't pierce the chainmail the hero wore.. Pushing the Master Sword away, the Hero of Twilight backed up before readying himself again. Link grinned.
"Using a shield now?" he asked as he readied his own gear. "You're finally taking me seriously."
"I've taken you seriously this entire time," Twilight said in his usual kind voice, though he had the same gleam behind his own blue irises. "You're just getting better. You're incorporating those special skills into your casual swordplay. You're learning. Meaning, it's time…"
Suddenly, Twilight's smile vanished. All that remained was the gleam behind his eyes. Noticing the hero's shift in aura, Link's own face became stern. This was no longer training–nor even a duel. This was a test, a test from the Hero of Twilight.
The two slowly circled each other. The very mist around them felt weighted with anticipation, so intense was the pressure of the atmosphere between them, their souls tense, as if with bated breath. With every small flinch, each tiny step, the other would react, neither making the first move, until finally, the iron sword in Twilight's grasp spun. In less than a second, the two swords were locked together. Sparks flew as their metal grinded against each other, each owner pushing to try and throw the other off balance. Realizing neither would budge, they both jumped back, skidding across the cloud flooring for just a moment before pouncing again, each locking on to what they considered their prey.
Iron sword clanging against legendary blade, legendary blade stopped by wooden shield, iron sword deflected by Hylian Shield. The battle waged on for what almost felt as long as the training itself did. Parry after parry, blow after blow, the knights were evenly matched, until finally, one combatant gained an advantage.
With another shield bash, the Hero of Twilight stumbled back. Unable to regain his balance quickly enough, he watched as Link jumped in the air. Mimicking the same aerial swing the hero had performed against him, he brought the Master Sword down and slammed its blade into the clouds. The shockwave knocked Twilight to his back. As he quickly began to stand, he saw Link darting toward him, but before the hero could strike him, he rolled out of sight. Before Twilight could turn, his back was struck, sending him flying again, landing face first in the clouds. Rolling over onto his backside, he looked up to see Link in the air again, this time with the tip of his sword aimed down at the hero's stomach: the Ending Blow.
As Link landed, he stopped his sword's plunge just before the tip could pierce the chainmail. The two froze in place, with the tip pointed toward Twilight's stomach as Link caught his breath.
"Why?" Link asked suddenly. "Why did you let me beat you? You allowed yourself to be thrown off-guard. If you let me win, then… doesn't that mean I didn't pass the trial?"
"I let you win, because this isn't the trial," the Hero of Twilight said. "I told you before; you can't take a trial without having learned something. Our duel would've gone on forever because we're evenly matched, but that's just it. You were never meant to beat me. You were supposed to learn from me."
Link furrowed his brow. He could tell–he was him in at least some fashion–he was hiding something. Still, he moved the tip of the Master Sword's blade away from Twilight's stomach. Standing, he stepped off before holding out a hand which the hero took to be helped to his feet.
"What aren't you telling me?" Link asked as Twilight dusted himself off. "I get what you're going for; you're saying I was supposed to learn how to properly use the Master Sword's power from you, but… I dunno, that just feels… unfinished."
"Because your journey in this realm isn't finished," the Hero of Twilight said simply. "In fact, it's only just begun. I'm just a step in your growth to become stronger."
"And overcoming you— myself, in a way— wasn't that trial?" Link asked.
"Is that what you expected?" Twilight asked, to which Link shrugged.
"I mean… kinda?" he answered. "It's what made sense in the moment."
To his surprise, Twilight chuckled.
"You will have to overcome yourself," Twilight said. "That's just not what I'm here for. I'm supposed to teach you, and well… regarding the sword, that's what I've done. I can teach you nothing more about the blade. If anything, if you were to use another weapon, you may best me."
"But, I don't feel much different," Link said. "Yeah, I learned to incorporate the hidden skills into my regular style of fighting, but—"
"You don't feel different because it's a part of you," Twilight said kindly. "Look at your blade."
Confused, Link looked down at the Master Sword to find its blade slightly glowing. It wasn't as bright as when it sensed pure malice, but the fact that it was glowing was sign enough. Slowly, Link brought the blade up to eye level.
"Now that I'm paying attention, yeah… This does feel different," he said. "It's like when it senses malice, but… there's no malice here, is there?"
"None at all," Twilight said. "You're adapting; becoming one with the sword. That was my purpose."
"But… That's not it, is it?" Link said. The Hero of Twilight shook his head.
"No. Your real trial starts when—"
"Not the real trial," Link cut in. "There's something more you want to teach me, isn't there? You said it when we first started this; that there was something you wanted to touch upon later."
Twilight smiled.
"I did, and there is," he answered. "But, that only comes down to what you wish to ask me. You didn't think you could read me, and you believed I couldn't read you, correct? I can see it… You have questions for me."
Link stared at the hero, a wisp of cloud passing between them, before he slowly nodded.
"'If you think every hero was perfect, then you're sorely mistaken,'" Link said. "What did you mean by that?"
Upon his question, the Hero of Twilight nodded thoughtfully. Sheathing his sword on his back, he took a few steps before looking back at the castle towers behind them, then glancing at Link again.
"Come on," he said. "Walk with me."
"Walk with you?" Link asked as the Hero of Twilight began to walk toward the thick fog in the distance. "Hey! Where are we going?"
"You'll see," the hero called out casually. "Just follow."
Confused, Link sheathed his own sword and jogged after the hero as they both disappeared into the foggy landscape.