The silence before a battle can be haunting. Even the most seasoned of veterans can be unnerved by the calm before the storm. The wait… the dreaded wait, it can be unbearable to some and barely manageable for most.

The sun was mere seconds away from breaking free of the horizon's grip when the Twilight Gate activated once again. For the Noruidians, Hyruleans, and Sheikah who stood there waiting, it had only been a few minutes since Adla had notified the Twili warriors that war was imminent.

Upon hearing the Sheikah's warning, one of the warriors had wordlessly opened the gate and gone through without a moment of question. Time was of the essence, and the Twilight Realm and their queen needed to be notified. The gate became quiet once more with the sole remaining Twili standing guard in front of the black glass obelisk between the stone guardian's giant hands. The Light Worlders preoccupied themselves with their hushed discussions of possible battle plans, referring to Vahlymor and his battle expertise. These were Noruidian waters, after all, and the Tulul were all but foreign to the Hyruleans and Sheikah.

Malia had positioned herself strategically up on the canyon wall along with Balin, and the pair kept watch for any signs of a possible ambush. From their positions, they could just barely see the southern point of the island where the Windfall was anchored nearby… and where the enemy was apparently gathering. However, everyone back looked over at the gate in relative surprise when the intricate white lines of the carved pillar of volcanic glass began to shine once again. The circles of the portal brightened with light and began to spin before slowly sinking into the black pillar. The small group of Light Worlders watched with varying levels of wonder as they waited to see who would emerge from the Twilight Gate first.

Walking side by side, Link and Midna were the first to exit the Gate. Although quite different in stature, each bore an air of formidable impressiveness in their own right.

Midna was once again in her battle armor and her mere presence was enough to strike the Light Worlders with awe: her height, her exotic beauty, and her magnificence. Link was alive and looking well: garbed in his legendary Hero's Clothes and his Gerudo spaulder protecting his left shoulder. His Hylian Shield and the Master Sword could be seen upon his back along with his flowing crimson knight's cape. The Hero Chosen by the Gods held his own distinct air of authority and prominence, even as he strode beside the towering figure of the Twilight Queen. For those who knew him well, namely Sir Arvid and Ashei, Link appeared… different to their eyes. It would be difficult for either of them to put it into words, if words to find were even possible. Perhaps it was the lasting light of the Twilight Gate behind Link, but there was something definitely different about the knight.

If they had the chance to ask Link, the knight would've simply explained that this difference about him was due to the fact that he was a spirit within flesh. However, this was not the time for such talk as pair walked towards the group and came to stand before the awaiting Light Worlders. Link nodded in greeting with a simple smile while Midna wore her classic smirk. Sir Arvid and Captain Ashei stepped forward and saluted Link in unison, to which Link returned steadfastly. Vahlymor inclined his head towards Midna out of respect, and this action was mirrored by Simin. Adla kept to herself and only looked at the Twilight Gate with probably hopeful eyes (though this was impossible to tell of a Sheikah). Before any other formalities could happen, the Twilight Gate brightened once again and the first of the elite Twili warriors following their queen began to funnel into the Light World: two by two… and they just kept coming.

Midna had explained to Link while they travelled to the Gate that as long as the Twili did not remain in the Light World for longer than a day, then they shouldn't feel the strain of being away from the Twilight Realm and should remain in good fighting form. After three days, their strengths would be depleted completely. The Twilight Queen herself couldn't participate in the battle. Not because she didn't wish to fight or anything of that sort, but for the sake of her realm. Her people needed her for protection and she would not leave them defenseless… not even for Link and Zelda. All the same, she would wait by the Gate until everyone was ready to move out before she returned to the Twilight.

The Sheikah, the Noruidians, the Hyruleans, and the Queen of Twilight stood aside and watched the warriors march into the Light World for the first time. Within minutes the box canyon was filled with a few dozen Twili warriors, who stood in perfect lines and all were waiting for their queen's command. Midna had clearly exaggerated to Link when she said that he'd be leading an "army" of Twili warriors, for this was closer to a platoon. The Twilight Realm had never had a large standing army and many of the warriors present were from Midna's personal guard; this was her method of repaying Link and Zelda. Even if the Twilight Realm wished to increase their militarization, the Twili simply did not reproduce very fast. During his usurpation, Zant had decimated the Twili population when he forced many to become Shadow Beasts through the corruption of dark magic. The bravery of the Twili warriors and their loyalty to their queen was something to be marveled at. Every single warrior knew very well that they may never return to their beloved Twilight, that they may die under the harsh sunlight of the Light World. Thus was their devotion to Midna.

With the last Twili seemingly in place, the Twilight Gate fell silent once more. Prince Vahlymor turned to Queen Midna and bowed nobly.

"It is a true honour to meet you, O Queen of Twilight! I am Prince Valymor of the House Aethelwulf, Second Son of His Majesty King Vasailek, Commander of the Royal Navy, and I extend upon you on behalf of myself, my fellows, and the Kingdom of Norduidia, my deepest and most profound gratitude for your assistance in our plight!"

Midna slowly smirked down at the Noruidian and the tall Twili ruler glanced down at Link, meeting his eye, before commenting loud enough for the prince to hear. "He sure does like to hear himself talk, doesn't he?"

Link only smirked back but said nothing.

Vahlymor straightened and the prince's classic charming smile never left his expression. He set his hands behind his back and looked up at the queen to respond to her.

"Only when the occasion calls for it, Your Majesty. I much rather prefer the cut and dry, straight-to-the-point method, personally. Now that royal decorum is out of the way, shall we talk strategy?"

Midna lightly chuckled and gestured to Link.

"I will not be joining in on this fight, as much as I may wish it. Link will be leading my warriors on my behalf. They are prepared to meet the foes you face and will do so with the might of Twilight!"

Vahl chuckled and nodded heartily at the queen.

"I look forward to seeing them in action, and there will be action: this I can assure you!" Turning to meet Link's eye, Vahl gave the Hyrulean hero a respectful nod and said, "Ah! Sir Link! How fortunate are we that you have returned to the land of the living and are no longer on all fours! Unless, of course, you still retain the ability to change forms?"

"I'm afraid not," Link replied. "Though, even if I could, it's hard to lead men into battle as a wolf."

"I can only imagine," Vahl replied, before addressing Midna once more. "As much as it thrills me to see your courageous warriors, I fear that they may be more of a detriment than a benefit. The enemies of my kingdom, a water-dwelling race called the Tulul, who can control water and susceptible minds if one dares to get too close. I fear that your warriors could potentially only increase the enemies we may be facing. I am not, of course, accusing your warriors of being weak-minded, but I would rather not give the Tulul an opportunity to test their mental limits."

Midna shrugged and nodded, agreeing with the prince.

"I see your point, Light Dweller. Yet, as I said, I have promised Link here that I would provide the might of Twilight… and I have."

Midna lifted her hand and snapped her fingers and the Twilight Gate reactivated once more. The Twili warriors nearest to the Gate moved aside as Twilight particles flowed from the Gate and reassembled, revealing a large machine of Twilight design: a machine of war. The contraption was square-shaped, compact, and on wheels. Albeit large, it looked to contain more than its reasonably simplistic exterior appeared to be. The Twili took positions on either side of the war machine and pulled it away from the black obelisk, only for another to materialize from the Gate.

"With these, my warriors will have no need to get near the waters that surround this land," Midna explained, gesturing to the war machine.

"What are they?" Simin asked, clearly fascinated with the Twilight technology, as yet another machine appeared from the Twilight Gate

"Twilight catapults," Link replied simply, having been briefed about all of this while he and Midna had walked from the palace to the Gate.

In total, four war machines were brought to the Light World, followed by four carts. Each was loaded high with bright blue spheres that glowed with an inner light, inlaid with intricate Twilight designs upon each. Each sphere was roughly the size of a person's head. With four catapults, that meant that there would be five Twili warriors operating each one: two to reposition the catapult, one to calculate the range of distance, one to tighten the wince, and the last to load the payload and release the bucket. Surely this would assist the handful of travelers in their Sisyphean battle against the formidable host of Tulul.

Not to mention the yet to be revealed mastermind behind these dangerous series of events… that all began with a single Dark Arrow almost two months ago. This mystery was near the forefront of Link's mind, but he kept this to himself.

Smirking at the Twilight catapults, Vahlymor looked as giddy as a child with a new toy and he grinned over at Simin.

"Combined with the firepower of the Windfall if required, we might just stand a chance to hope!"

Simin regarded the catapults with a critical eye, rubbing his chin in thought, before offering a small nod of possible agreement.

Sir Arvid then stepped forward to Link's side and asked, "What of Queen Zelda, Sir Link? And Master Falk?"

Link met his fellow knight's eye before he glanced over to briefly meet Adla's intense crimson stare. Turning back to Arvid, Link replied, "For the queen's safety, Midna and I deemed it best that she remain within the Twilight until we have dealt with the danger ahead of us. Falk is… still recuperating."

Whether or not Midna glanced down at Link when he spoke his lie is up for debate and Arvid had no reason to doubt his superior. As far as he was concerned, Zelda was safe; however, Adla did turn away and what this could mean was impossible to interpret.

That settled, Link turned to the Noruidian prince and asked, "Where are we headed?"

Any ill feelings that the Hyrulean knight might be harbouring towards the prince, namely the fact that Link had been naked and intimate with Zelda, Vahl's fiancé, mere hours before, were inconsequential. He was the Hero Chosen by the Gods and there was an enemy to face, and he would do so with the courage and determination inherent to his ancient heroic bloodline. Personal feelings be damned.

Vahlymor caught Link's eye and smirked.

"The southern point of the island. Todd and Crevan signaled us from there and I can assure you that we probably have quite the fight on our hands. I'm glad that you brought us some friends. We'll need all the help we can get."

Link only nodded and turned his head south, eyeing Balin and Malia up on the top of the canyon.

"Well… I wasn't revived just to stand around and chat," the Hylian said after another moment, meeting the prince's eye. "To battle then… friend."

/

With only the two Gate warriors remaining to stand dutifully beside their queen, Midna watched as the last catapult was pulled around the corner of the far-end of the box canyon and out of her view. Sighing, the Twilight Queen narrowed her eyes and turned her exotic eyes towards the south. She could feel the darkness emanating from that direction: the sheer magnitude of what she sensed worried her. She feared for Link and she feared for her realm: this threat was so near to her metaphorical doorstep, after all. Turning on her heel, she glanced at her warriors and nodded to them.

'None are to enter without my permission,' she commanded in native Twili.

Her warriors saluted her with stern understanding. They also understood that this command included themselves.

Stepping up to the Twilight Gate, Midna held up her hand to activate it before stepping through. The disintegration into Twilight particles was a familiar sensation and it roused a smile to the queen's face. Quickly, however, she once again stood within her realm. Closing her eyes, Midna breathed in easily the air of Twilight. Even her, being the Queen of Twilight, wasn't entirely comfortable in the Light World, so being back home instantly made her feel more at ease. Her moment of peaceful contemplation was disrupted all too soon when her senses alerted her of something amiss. Opening her yellow eyes into dangerous slits, Midna stared into the relative stillness of the Gate's chamber. She should be alone… but she knew that she was not.

"Come forward. You're already late…"

There was little that happened in Midna's realm without her knowing, after all. The Queen of Twilight watched a figure emerge from the nearby darkness: a lithe figure, with crimson eyes, who moved as silently as a shadow. Midna regarded the shorter figure and smiled slightly, before inclining her head towards them. She then stepped aside and out of the way of the Twilight Gate, allowing them to leave the Twilight Realm.

"I have said it once before… Light and shadow can't mix. However, it would seem… that you have found a way. Interesting, I do admit. Nonetheless, never forget that there's another world bound to yours. I expect we shall never see one another again. Best of luck and… do me one last favour and make sure that idiot of ours doesn't die again, will you? He truly is hopeless."

With that said, Midna gestured towards the gate and activated it with a fluid hand motion. The shadowed-figure inclined their head towards the Twilight Queen. Without a word, they hurried towards the spiraling Twilight circles to disintegrate into particles and cross between realms. Midna watched them leave and her smile fell with a sigh. She wished she could do more, but she could not leave the Twilight Realm, or her daughter, unprotected… not against such a great evil and power. Midna knew that she could not destroy the Twilight Gate as she had with the Twilight Mirror, for the Twilight Realm and the Light Realm needed to remain connected in some capacity. Destroying the Mirror at the Arbiter's Grounds had been out of necessity, for being so close to Hyrule only promised future possible dangers. Of course she had known about the Twilight Gate, which had proven to be much more safe given its reclusivity. Without this physical connection with the Light World, the Twilight Realm could crumble and fall into permanent darkness, inevitably becoming another branch of the Dark World.

Midna could only hope that Link could vanquish this evil as she had seen him do before. She believed this in her heart to be possible, but only the future could reveal the truth.

/

The sun had risen well above the horizon and a clear blue sky mirrored the blackness of the Isle of Blight's bleak and barren landscape with shimmering mirages. Having been plagued by the overbearing cover of the Sheikah's storm for centuries, the bare and black rock of the island quickly absorbed the unadulterated heat of the sun. Heat waves baked the land as far as the eye could see. Sweat droplets appeared on many of the brows of the small group of intrepid travellers as they made their way slowly towards the southern end of the isle. The Twili warriors, burdened by their machines of war, slowed the group's progress and Link could see how the unrelenting sun affected the burly soldiers. They made no complaint, however, for each one knew what was at stake: the secrecy of the Twilight Gate's location and safety of their beloved Twilight Realm.

Link was less affected by the increasing heat of the day in comparison to some of his other companions; Ashei in particular, being native-born from the Peak Province, was clearly not pleased with the conditions in which they were to battle in. It remained up to deliberation as to how much actual fighting the Hyruleans and Sheikah could engage in, for Simin and Vahl vehemently assured their fellows that the Tulul and their mind-manipulation powers could be their undoing. Coming too near the beach and the water's edge would be suicide. Balin and Malia had gone on ahead some time ago to scout out the situation and they should be returning with their report any moment. Link himself was unsure if his mental resistance as a spirit would be enough to withstand the power of the Tulul. In this he silently agreed with the prince that they could not afford to test any of their limits.

How exactly the day was about to unfold was unknown to all of them. That is, until, the lithe and silent figures of Balin and Malia jumped down from an rocky overhang and Link lifted his arm for his Twili platoon to stop. Stepping forward, Link joined Vahl and Simin to meet the scouting pair, with Adla, Arvid, and Ashei hanging back within shot.

"How many?" Vahlymor asked bluntly, getting straight to the point.

"By my count, nearly fifty heads of Tulul at the surface: arranged and armed for war," Balin replied in his gruff voice.

Link glanced at the prince when the man simply crossed his arms, for his expression was unreadable - surely a result of the Noruidian Hollowing technique.

"Which means that there could be double or more of them waiting beneath the surface," Vahl commented.

"That's not all," Balin continued, prompting a small arch in Vahl's brow. Balin turned towards Link and said, "Your dark self is there, standing on the beach. He just stood there, staring inland, and was smiling. I think he knows that we are coming."

Everyone turned or looked towards Link, who maintained his own stern expression.

"You think that he means to face you one-on-one?" Vahl asked.

Link nodded.

"He's vain and cocky. He most likely believes that he can defeat me in single combat and that the rest of you won't put up much of a fight."

Vahl lessened his Hollowing slightly to allow a small smirk appear on his lips before he asked Link, "Since you share his appearance, is that what you think as well?"

Link glanced over to meet the prince's vaguely amused expression before the knight replied, "I think that he'll soon regret stealing my image and underestimating us."

Seemingly satisfied with Link's assertion, Vahl nodded and crossed his arms in strategic thought.

"We have the advantage over the Tulul being on dry land, but we must keep their attention directed towards us as much as we can lest they set their sights on the Windfall. While I have complete faith in Todd and Crevan's ability to man the ship's guns, if a horde as large as the one Balin here says is waiting for us… well… I personally don't care to spend the rest of my days stranded on this bleak island." Shrugging casually, Vahl exhaled slowly through his nostrils before pulling out a long and thin tube with a small, braided string hanging down from one end. "The Windfall will only engage if I signal them to do so, and I only will do this as a last resort. If we can avoid this, then that would be the best case scenario."

"Then it is most fortunate that Her Majesty Queen Midna gifted us with her bold warriors and impressive battle machines," Simin commented approvingly.

"Exactly," Vahl replied with a grin.

Link, who had been listening quietly as he stared up at the southern edge of a nearby ridge, frowned slightly as his companions continued to strategize in hushed tones. Hearing that Dark Link was out there, waiting for him, daring him to battle filled Link with an array of complex emotions. Admittedly, he was still adjusting to being back in the Light World in a mortal body and having to manage a full spectrum of feelings. He felt vengeful upon conjuring Dark Link's image, standing over him back in Faron Woods as his dark blade plunged deeper into Link's flesh. He felt rage thinking of how Dark Link had coveted Zelda in Hyrule Castle, and how the fiend had been the one to save her from the avalanche. He also identified confusion thinking of their last conversation out in the wilds of Noruidia. Dark Link had uncharacteristically warned Link about Zelda potentially coming into contact with the waters of the ocean. This apparent concern and the reasons behind it continued to trouble Link. He couldn't help but suspect that this was all some sort of elaborate game that Dark Link was playing at. However, Link couldn't help the nagging thought that wondered just how big of a player his dark doppelganger truly was. The knight's instincts were telling him that there was someone else pulling the strings who had yet to reveal themselves.

Furrowing his brow with resolve, Link looked over at his conversing companions. His gaze then panned over to the rigid forms of the Twili warriors standing by their catapults. Midna left them under his command, that's what she had said.

Sorry, Midna. Plans change as the situation changes.

"Prince Vahlymor," Link said suddenly, rousing the prince's discussions to pause and everyone looked back over at the Hyrulean Knight.

Gesturing for the prince to follow him, Link walked away from the group a few feet before he stopped. Once the prince was at his side, the knight stoically looked ahead for a moment longer before he revealed his thoughts.

"I trust that your station as the Noruidian Naval Commander means then you're quite comfortable with overseeing many men, correct?"

"Of course," Vahl replied lightly, a small smirk still playing on his lips as he looked at Link from his peripheral.

Link nodded and turned his head to properly face the prince.

"Even given my various titles, I do not deny that you have more experience in larger scale warfare than I," Link admitted, before gesturing towards the Twili warriors with his chin. "Therefore I will leave instructions with the Twili that going forward they will adhere to your command. If battle is warranted, they will listen to you."

The Noruidian prince simply nodded as he regarded the Twili platoon before looking back at Link. "Very well. Though… I am prompted to ask: what of you, Sir Link? What is it that you intend on doing?"

Link met Vahlymor's eye and for a split second the Hylian felt the spark of jealous fury knowing that this was the man who was to wed Zelda. However, the moment passed and determination filled the Hyrulean Knight.

"What the gods chose me to be," Link replied evenly, before turning his body to fully address the prince. "This is my fight, and I say this not for any glory or to prove anything. Just try to understand that this is why I am who I am, Hyrule's Hero, chosen by the gods themselves, and why I was able to come back. If it can be helped, do not engage unless I have truly fallen. There is a greater power at work besides Dark Link and it is my duty to put an end to this evil… just as my predecessors before me have done."

Prince Vahlymor regarded Link's gaze and said nothing while he considered the knight's words. Link knew that if their circumstances were different, he'd probably quite like Vahlymor's company. The prince seemed to be a decent man, a capable leader, and if Link had nothing else to go on he knew that Vahl's men were utmostly loyal to him. All the same, he was the man who was to marry the woman whom Link loved and, therefore, no true friendship could ever bloom. Whatever the prince might've been thinking was hidden from Link's knowledge, for the man only nodded after another moment before he gave his reply.

"I understand. Do what you must, and I will follow."

Returning the nod, it only took a few minutes for Link to issue his orders and everyone understood the plan going forward. Link would approach the beach alone, with Adla and Malia joining him to the beach before hanging back. Meanwhile, Vahlymor would lead the others and position themselves just out of sight. That way if, or when, things turned sour after Link confronted Dark Link, they would have the element of surprise on their sides when they moved up into range and unleashed the Twili catapults. An outright assault was the last thing Link wanted to happen, because as Vahlymor said himself and the Windfall was engaged or discovered, then they all would be stranded on the island.

Vahlymor, Simin, Balin, Ashei, and Arvid watched as Link ran off with Malia and Adla flanking him. Turning a corner, the trio were soon out of sight. Just as the group began their slow progression forward, Balin narrowed his eyes upon catching the quick flash of movement ahead of them. The speedy figure was only visible for a few brief second before disappearing behind a set of large boulders. They were headed directly south and towards where Link and his Sheikah shadows were headed. The sighting, albeit quick, was long enough for Balin and his keen eyesight to see them.

"It would seem that Falk will be joining his sisters after all," Noruidia's best tracker commented under his breath to Vahlymor, who only nodded.

/

Ever since the storm surrounding the Isle of blights had been dissipated, there has been nigh a breeze to dissuade some of the relentless heat from pummelling the dry landscape. Link's Hero's Clothes did an admirable job of maintaining his body temperature from becoming too overheated. Regardless of his tunic's magical properties, tiny beads of sweat populated beneath his hairline and tickled the back of his neck. The Sheikah, in their tight-fitting clothing, were designed to survive the weather of the mountains, yet neither Malia nor Adla seemed phased at all by the constant sun.

The knight and the Sheikah moved in relative silence across the rocky terrain and through various winding and narrow ravines. Malia was vaguely leading them, silently leading her sister and Link back along the way that she and Balin had taken during their scouting mission. The only sounds they made were the faintest of footballs from Link's leather boots, the faintest billowing of his cape, and the occasional clink of his sheath rubbing against his Hylian Shield. Such inconsequential sounds usually would cause no reason to concern, but the utter lack of wind or any signs of life on the island meant that every rock was just waiting to echo and announce their location.

Link recognized this heightened awareness. This anxiety over barely audible words was just his instincts prepping for battle. He felt the same way out on Hyrule Field… all those years ago. There had been a breeze strong enough to stir his hair, he could feel Epona's strong breaths beneath the saddle, and Zelda's warm presence on the back of his neck. The field had been quiet, save for Epona's occasional snorts, but the mare might as well have been breathing a storm through her nostrils with how loud she had sounded. That's how it seemed to Link, as he stared out across the plain at the smiling face of Ganondorf Dragmire. Link's hero instincts saved him from the bottomless rage he felt that day that threatened to consume him and take him into darkness forever.

The rage of revenge for Midna's death and the deaths of so many Hyruleans.

Link wanted to think that the past was done, but he was living proof that time wasn't as finite as some would think. He was a living spirit, a descendant of a heroic dynasty. Link has stood within realms beyond time with his predecessor who, according to him, had personally travelled through time. The knight had to focus on the now, on what was important, and that Dark Link was not too far away and waiting for him.

Fortunately the heartbeat of the ocean's waves breaking on a nearby beach steadily filled the air and covered all of the miniscule sounds he and the Sheikah produced. Malia lifted her hand to signal for them to stop and the trio knelt behind a collection of large boulders. The younger Sheikah turned towards her sister and after a whispered flurry of her native language, Adla translated to Link.

"Around this rock is the top of the beach, with a small hill that falls towards the water. The Shadow Traitors will have an advantage with their war machines. Your dark twin… Malia says that he is standing a short way from the water's edge."

"How far from the water?" Link asked, glancing at Malia.

Adla briefly exchanged hushed words with her sister before responding to Link, "Two cart lengths."

Link frowned at the distance and was already imagining the battleground that lay just beyond. Simin and Vahlymor had informed the Hyruleans at length of their knowledge of the Tulul. According to them, the Tulul with their powers over water could theoretically create a wave large that could sweep Link into the sea, even if he stood well up on the beach. Their emotion-manipulation powers required shorter distance and sustained presence to completely overtake a man's mind; therefore Link was less concerned with this ability than their water magic. This meant that his battle was reasonably simple: stay away from the water's edge and keep Dark Link between himself and the sea.

Simple enough in theory, but Link knew that he had only had tastes of Dark Link's powers. Only the Goddesses knew what other devious tricks the bastard might have up his sleeve.

After a moment longer, Link nodded and began to say, "Right. Hold here un-"

All three pivoted into defensive stances when the tumbling of pebbles announced the arrival of an otherwise silent character. Link, with his hand on the Master Sword's hilt, blinked at the sudden appearance of a third Sheikah. Malia and Adla were quicker to respond, however, than the man's confusion could begin to seep into his expression. Lowering his hand and coming to stand, the Hylian man watched the pair of sisters approach the Sheikah man. Perhaps it was the norm for Hylians to embrace their loved ones in such situations, but not for Sheikah. Instead, the sisters stared at the man with their intense eyes and gave no gesture or word of greeting. Link, unfortunately, did not dwell on the moment to perhaps guess that this was odd.

"Falk! You're alright," Link said quietly, though there was a smile in his tone and on his lips.

The young Sheikah man held up his hand to Link and his crimson eyes looked between Adla and Malia.

"I am… not Falk."

Link's confusion returned and he narrowed his brow suspiciously. This… wasn't Falk? But he looked exactly as the young man had… not that Link had seen much of the Sheikah's features aside from his crimson eyes, white bangs, and long white hair braided down his back. Falk looked so similar to his twin sister, and so did this young man.

"Falk… has passed through the Eye with no shadow," the man spoke slowly, his soft voice muffled by his cloth mask, as he addressed the pair of Sheikah sisters.

What this meant was unknown to Link. He could only observe as Malia and Adla, their backs towards Link. The sisters returned the man's gaze before both of them bowed their heads towards him in unison and they raised their hands to perform some sort of gesture. They remained like this for only a moment before they returned to their neutral stances. The moment gave Link the chance to realize that he had never heard Falk speak before and the softness of the young man's voice slightly surprised the knight. Just as Adla turned to meet Link's puzzled expression did the knight notice that there was one defining feature missing from this "Not" Falk: the Sheikah Eye from the middle of his forehead was missing.

"Our brother has gone. The one who stands before us has been reborn. Thus, they must be known by a new name."

Adla looked back at the Sheikah and so did Link. Meeting the young man's mysterious eyes, Link felt a shiver of familiarity deep within his spiritual core. Why he felt this, he did not know.

"I bestow upon you the sacred name of… Sheik," Adla announced. "May this name guide you in the battle to come. May the infinite darkness mask your blades."

Sheik the Sheikah… to Link, it didn't sound very unique and, admittedly, he was still registering that this young man wasn't Falk… or maybe he was? Perhaps because Falk had nearly died, that meant for the Sheikah that spiritually, or symbolically, the "old" Falk was dead. Hence the new name… maybe? That made sense to Link, somewhat… but that didn't explain the absent tattoo. However, now was not the time to sit down and discuss cultural practices and significance.

Nodding, Link said, "Sheik… right. Glad you could make it. To catch you up, I'm going on ahead to face Dark Link. Alone. Your sisters can fill you in on the rest."

Drawing the Master Sword from its sheath and taking hold of his shield, Link strode past the trio of Sheikah without another word. He had to focus. Too much time had been burned already and he doubted that Dark Link would just stand there on the beach all day. Rounding around the last boulder, the knight's eye glanced back towards the Sheikah and he could see Malia and Adla already beginning to explain to Sheik the plan. The look only lasted a second before the siblings were out of view, but as Link walked away something odd whispered in his brain.

It must've been Link's imagination but, Sheik… looked to have been slightly shorter than Malia. The Sheikah twins had always been the exact same height, Link was sure of this. Their height was one of the reasons why it had been difficult to discern between the pair during their journey. With a frown, the knight pushed this from his mind. He reasoned to himself Malia must have been standing on raised ground or Sheik within a depression. Nothing else made sense and besides, it did not matter.

Ascending the small hill of black sand to come to a stop, the wide expanse of the sea suddenly and vibrantly made itself known to the Hylian's blue eyes. The unbroken line of the horizon meeting the ocean made it difficult in places to see where the sky ended and water began. The white foam of the tide mixed with the azure and turquoise of the shallows, while the waves gently broke upon the black sand of the beach.

None of this mattered: not Sheik's arrival, not the ocean's gentle breathing, or even the heads of the Tulul stationed amongst the waves. In that moment, all that mattered to Link was the one figure standing there upon the dark sand. The black figure remained motionless against the backdrop of the everchanging waves, like some sort of red-eyed black sand sculpture whose grin widened upon seeing the Hyrulean Knight's arrival.

Dark Link chuckled and said under his breath, "It's about fucking time…"

While it may be possible that with the breeze Link heard Dark Link's utterance, or at least could guess what he said. Regardless, the knight did not react. Instead, he stared hard down at his bleak doppleganger with a subtle frown on his face. He was stalling for time, allowing for his comrades to slowly get into position, but Link also knew that he couldn't just stand there forever. With his cape softly moving behind him, filled with the gentle ocean breeze, the knight slowly descended down the beach to meet Dark Link once again. His boots sank into the black sand with each new step he took, possibly foreshadowing the battle to come. A swordsman's duel was best on flat and solid ground, but choice of arena was never guaranteed in battle. Considering the sand of the beach, Link was silently thankful for his training with the Gerudo amongst the sands of the desert. The Hyrulean Knight appeared casual and neutral, but his instinct was honed and wound tightly. If Dark Link tried anything, Link would be ready. He knew very well that this could be a trap, but he still walked forward. Stopping about ten feet away from the smiling fiend, Link subtly shifted the Master Sword's position to glint the sun's rays directly in Dark Link's eyes. Forced to squint, Dark Link's smirk faltered into an annoyed frown and Link revealed his own small, empty smile.

In that moment, the two Links switched positions: where one had been smiling and the other frowning, now they were reversed. True reflections of one another: mirror images.

Silence stretched on between them, tightening the tension in the air, goading either one of them to speak first. With a scoff, Dark Link retrieved his haughty smirk and got the first word in.

"So. You sidelined Zelda in the Twilight, huh?" Dark Link asked with a casualness that made Link's blood boil. "Doesn't matter, you know," he continued with a shrug. "I'll be going to see her shortly and… keep her company in your absence, if you know what I mean."

The fiend's words and their implications were enough for Link's expression to shift back to his determined, unamused frown. He chose, however, not to indulge Dark Link and would rather the bastard keep Zelda's name out of his filthy mouth.

"When are you going to drop the bravado and bullshit and step aside so I can fight a more worthy opponent?"

Dark Link's expression broke briefly with fury and confusion, before he smoothed it over with a laugh.

"The fuck you going on about?" Dark Link sneered with a grin before glancing at the surf and the heads of the Tulul tha bobbed along with the incoming tide. "What? Them? You'd rather fight these fish-fucks over me?" Dark Link then dramatically set a hand over where his heart should be and sighed. "Ouch! I think that's the most damage you've dealt to me in centuries!"

Unmoving, Link continued, "No… your master. I think it's high time I meet whoever has been pulling your strings and orchestrating all of this from the start. Who was the one who created the Dark Arrow?!"

Subtly licking his lower lip, Dark Link narrowed his eyes at Link and his red eyes flashed dangerously. That is, until he resumed his smile and chuckled once more. Folding his arms, he grinned over at his Light World counterpart and exuded his cocky composure.

"You're cracked in the head, Wolf Boy! No one… is master over me."

Dark Link's words held weight and he enunciated each syllable with barely-hidden threat. However, Link saw how the black knight's gaze shifted around slightly. Perhaps it was just Link's imagination, but his instincts told him that there was something… off about his enemy. Well, more unhinged at least than what Dark Link had exhibited in the past. Maybe it was because they were connected (as much as Link hated admitting this), but… he couldn't shake the feeling that was telling him that Dark Link was… Was he nervous?

Without a hint of his intentions or another moment of stalled time, Dark Link suddenly dashed forward with surprising speed. Swinging his right arm through the air, his dark blade manifested from his limb and clashed with the steel of the Master Sword from Link's masterful counter. A sandy beach was not the most ideal location for a duel and Link furrowed his brow when he felt his boots sink further as he held off Dark Link's monumental weight and power. The villain's eyes were wide with madness and he grinned a smile of murderous glee. Wth their faces mere inches apart, Link strained to hold off his foe and could feel his stance faltering in the loose sand. The dull sheen of Dark Link's obsidian-like blade was outmatched by the brilliance of the Master's Sword raw aura and Link managed a smirk when he saw how his doppleganger's eye subtly winced away from the glare.

Coming in closer until the tips of their noses nearly touched, both men struggled to overpower the other. Neither would back down and they both knew it. That is, until Dark Link uttered a faint whisper that nearly shattered Link's focus.

"We can't let Her get Zelda."

The hero's eyes widened slightly before he barked out a groan of unexpected pain when Dark Link dealt a headbutt right into the bridge of his nose. A stream of hot blood flowed down his lips and into his mouth, filling his taste buds with coppery sweetness. Groaning through the burst of pain, Link glared at his rival and only by sheer will and years of training did he not lose his stance. He did, however, spit a glob of saliva and blood right into Dark Link's face in response to such a cheapshot. Forced to shut his eyes, Dark Link roared and gave Link a push before stepping back to hastily wipe his face with the back of his left hand.

Link took this opportunity to backflip to widen the distance between them and find better footing. Returning to his defensive stance, the Hero Chosen by the Gods wanted desperately to retaliate and attack Dark Link but he reminded himself that he could not be drawn in closer to the water's edge. With blood still trickling down from his nose, Link watched his adversary give him a look of disgust as he wiped off the last of his blood from his face. That is, until Dark Link paused and looked at his hand only to chuckle as the smeared blood absorbed into his grey skin.

"Ah, that reminds me… once again, thanks so much for your generous gift of blood that allowed me to walk within this realm once more. It fills me with boyish glee to see you bleed on my account," Dark Link commented with a malicious grin.

Link, on the other hand, maintained his deadset expression and he ignored Dark Link's attempt to goad him. He was, however, still considering what the fiend had whispered to him.

Her… who was Her? A woman was after Zelda? If so, did that mean that Dark link had not a master... but a mistress?

Was Dark Link warning him? Was he actually trying to keep Zelda from harm, like with the avalanche? But… why? Why was Dark Link warning Link at all? Was this some sort of trick? Or… was this like before when he had warned Link about Zelda not being to touch the ocean? If so, was there a reason why Dark Link was bringing up Link's blood and his "creation" now of all places? Was he trying to tell Link something?

Link, for one, was tired of being at the whims of Dark Link's shadowy games.

Spitting out more blood from his mouth down onto the hot black sand, Link pointed the tip of his blade at Dark Link to shout his demands.

"I am giving you one chance! Tell me: who was it that crafted the Atishokull?! I know that it was only by the black magic in that poison mixed with my blood that you entered the Light World at all! But there are few, if any, who remain that wield this power! Name them, now! If not, I promise you that you will die on this beach. You will die a coward... leaving nothing but an oily mark in the sand. A true disgrace to the noble line of Heroes that you so proudly pretend to be a shadow of! Now, speak!"

Link was playing his hand: provoke Dark Link enough to reveal any piece of information he might be hiding.

Dark Link, however, had other plans. Raising his left hand to flip Link off, the self-proclaimed King of the Dark Realm began to shift his hand into another blade to match his right arm. His red-eyes never left Link's as he asserted with an empty expression. "You're such a fucking idiot! If you used your fucking head for once, you'd realize just how stupid you sound. I mean, just think about it: if I was a puppet on strings as you say, then how the fuck could I ever name my puppeteer? Tch… and you call me a disgrace of the Hero's bloodline? You're a goddessdamned dolt!"

Shaking his head with mocking disapproval, Dark Link maintained his neutral expression as he brandished his dual bladed-limbs. Link narrowed his eyes and blinked, thinking for a second that he saw genuine regret in his rival's gaze. This thought quickly vanished when Dark Link suddenly dashed forward to once again engage Link in combat.

The pair of swordsmen danced a dance millennia old. Each were masters of the blade and equals in skill. This was the inevitable consequence of being Dark and Light counterparts, as neither could get the upper hand over the other. Dark Link may wield twin blades as his arms, but Link was paired with the power of the Master Sword and the reliability of his Hylian Shield. Each strike was countered, every slash was dodged, and all attempts at trapping Link against the water's edge were thwarted. Link tried as best he could to subtly drive their battle up the beach and towards his comrades, but Dark Link was just as skillful in making sure that the Hyrulean Knight gained little to no ground. The opponents were at a stalemate and were surely promised to be engaged in their dance until one of their strengths finally relented to the other.

In reality, however, both were stalling for time.

Link was granting his fellows the allotted time needed to get into position, while Dark Link was delaying the inevitable. The dark fiend knew that it was only a matter of time before their dance would have to end, but that didn't mean that he couldn't try and have some fun while he could. for odl times sake. Slicing through the air, Link coupled his attack with a thrust of the Master Sword. Dark Link leapt up to avoid being skewered by the sacred blade. With deft nimbleness and surprising grace, the black knight landed on the blade of the Master Sword to smirk down at his Light World counterpart. The moment only lasted a half a second, before Link slashed his blade and Dark Link backflipped back onto the beach. The swordsmen returned to their mirroried defensive stances, except Dark Link chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"I bet you're wondering why I'm laughing," Dark Link commented as he arched his brow and met Link's gaze.

"To be honest, I fail to care about which thoughts go through a lunatic's mind," Link retorted dryly, taking the moment to adjust his stance.

Dark Link only chuckled once more.

"You wouldn't get it… even if I told you," the villain admitted as his crimson-eyes glinted grimly. "Time… is a funny thing. Tends to repeat itself. I mean… just look at us here. I am, once again, nothing more but a distraction and you… have no idea what's coming."

Dark Link's words came softly, almost thoughtfully. The monochromatic knight regarded the Master Sword and its brilliance for a moment as his memory drifted back to another place and another timeline. The sound of echoed footsteps upon water and the image of a barren tree, standing alone amongst a void, flitted across his mind. He had been defeated then, and as much as he hated to think about it, he knew deep down that it was likely that he'd face defeat today. He was a Shadow within the Light World, and now Link had the added strength of being a Spirit. Dark Link was at a disadvantage, but he was not the only one aware of this. He hated his role, the part that he was playing, and how his freedom here in the Light World was nothing but an illusion. His senses triggered and a grimace destroyed his thoughtful expression. Without clear affliction, Dark Link winced, taking an involuntary step back, before his gaze reunited with Link's.

The Hyrulean Hero was still contemplating his counterpart's cryptic babbling as he watched Dark Link's displaced reaction. Dark Link had called himself a distraction, but why? Couplign this odd statement with what he had said earlier, about not being able to speak of a possible puppeteer, reaffirmed Link's suspicions. There was something else at work here, something, or someone, hiding behind Dark Link and either directly or indirectly controlling his actions. A female, perhaps, who was after Zelda for reasons yet to be revealed. If this was the truth, then why was Dark Link trying to warn Link? Was this unseen enemy so formidable that even Link's own dark reflection feared it? Link watched how Dark Link's smirk disappeared, only to be replaced by a look that resembled melancholic desperation. The sudden change was odd enough for Link to blink and peer at his opponent's face more intently. Narrowing his brows in a suspicious yet questioning manner, Link braced himself for some sort of trick or sneak attack: the only plausible explanation for his adversary's strange behaviour.

An expression of unexpected incredulousness broke through Link's natural knight's mask at the two grim words he heard uttered from Dark Link's lips.

"Time's up."

The knight's confusion was barely able to reflect in his eyes before he was forced to jump back on instinct when the surf suddenly exploded behind Dark Link. The inexpicible geyser created a high tower of swirling water that twisted up into itself to form a tall and thin tornado of seawater, as high as an Ordonian tree. Spray misted around the spiralling column of water, casting small rainbows to dance against the bright day. The Tulul had disappeared from view a few moments before the water spout appeared and Link backpedaled quickly to put further distance between himself and the water's edge.

Adjusting his grip around the Master Sword's hilt, Link glanced between the vertical whirlpool of water and his shadow doppelganger standing there upon the black sand. Dark Link remained motionless and gave the towering water behind him no acknowledgement whatsoever. He simply continued to look over at Link with a miserably resentful expression. The Hylian knight grappled with knowing how exactly he should feel about Dark Link's warnings and he struggled with the gravity shown in the villain's face. Frankly, it unnerved Link, even more so than the threatening form of the spire of water.

What happened next was not intended: a hero's reaction and not one based in sympathy. Link's breath caught and he took a half-step forward when the water quickly snaked towards the beach and crashed upon Dark Link's solemn visage to consume him. Link observed how the swirling water wrapped around his opponent, cloaking Dark Link in a womb of churned seawater. The black knight remained unaffected as his watery cocoon billowed his white hair and lifted the tip of his black floppy hat. His wavering image became a mirage of black and dark grey, with the burning embers of his staring red eyes to act as the only constant within his watery chaos. Dark Link's lasting look finally ended when the water encasing him began to leech his inky essence and swirl around him, dying the orbiting waters black.

The surface of the watery orb began to solidify, like a casing of black ice, and Link readied himself. He could sense that something was coming, something big. Master Sword in Link's grip shimmered with its light of evil's bane: warning its master of the beast that was building. Up at the top of the beach, Sheik stood next to their Sheikah comrades with the line of Twili warriors next to their war machines stationed behind them. The newest Sheikah watched the Hero Chosen by the Gods await his newest challenge. Sheik's chest tightened at the sheer pressure of dark shadow energy pulsating from the nightmare egg and the Sheikah tightened their fist. The dark power were growing within the black sphere, far surpassing the power displayed by Dark Link moments before.

A crack suddenly appeared from the inky eggshell and red light bled out from within. Sheik narrowed their eyes and prayed that Link was prepared to face the darkness he now faced.

The beast was hatching.

A/N:
Oh lordy lordy... is it June already?!

I've been… busy, okay? I'm getting married this year and it is insane how quickly the months go by. I swear, I have been chipping away at this chapter over the months, and I still have so much more to write. However, I feel bad for people who might be waiting and… considering that this is a MAJOR chapter and I have a HUGE battle planned, I realized that the chapter would end up being closer to 20,000 words… probably... maybe? Either way, a pretty long read in one go.

So! Two parts it is. I will be working on part 2… when I can. And then after this big chapter, there… should be a couple more and then an Epilogue?
I AM GOING TO FINISH THIS BEHEMOTH OF A STORY, OKAY!

As always, I love hearing from you folks! Just remember that I'm always open for constructive critiques, but please don't be mean just to be mean. If you don't like my story, that's cool, just remember to be kind :3 This is a fan's labour of love, after all!

Liking the story so far? Feel free to leave a comment/review, and/or my DMs are open to suggestions and questions.

More to come! Stay tuned and stay classy, folks!

Cheers!

~Sheik