The Legend of Zelda: Prince of the Sea

by SushiSheik

Five years have passed since the events of Twilight Princess. Link has become a knight under Queen Zelda and the kingdom prospers. Then the day comes where a single Dark Arrow destroys this fragile peace and darkness returns to the kingdom. To save his Queen and Hyrule, Link must prove that his spirit is stronger than being a hero or knight... even if it costs him his life -ZeLink

30. Chapter Twenty-Nine: Knights

Death felt soft to the touch.

Link grunted lightly. His eyelids fluttered weakly, but failed to open. Sleep coaxed him to return into the darkness. He didn't wish to face the Afterlife, not again… not yet. He was comfortable where he sat, with his arm embracing the soft warmth of Lady Death, whose hair smelt sweetly in his nostrils. The knight's chin was upon her shoulder, his head against hers, and he could hear her gentle breaths echoing through the hollow emptiness in his ears. Flowers… she smelled like flowers, almost like how… no, that was impossible. There was no way that she was also here in the Afterlife with him.

She was far away. She… was safe. Yes, that had to be it. His heart was only whispering to his senses a sweet memory, a lullaby, to soothe his weariness in death.

Still… he had to be absolutely sure.

The man's eyes cracked open. His blurry vision struggled to focus on the grey landscape that he found himself in. The fingers of his left hands twitched and Link discovered that his palm rested over something that was long and cylindrical. How curious… it almost felt like a sword's hilt… but how could that be? Why would he have a sword if he was dead? Blinking his eyelids lazily, Link shifted his chin and the left side of his cheek pressed against the silkiest hair his stubbled cheek had ever felt. Smiling tenderly, the knight inhaled softly and a pleasant tingle crept up his spine. His senses were filled with the sweet floral scent and euphoria lulled him into an affectionate peace. He didn't want to move, but he did wish to see the face of Death who was seated against him on the ground. Opening his eyes more and compelling his vision to realign, Link turned his head as he pried open his lips. He wished to gaze upon Death and see if she was as beautiful as his queen.

That was his fleeting wish… Until, of course, the man realized that the woman whom he embraced was his queen.

"Zelda?" he whispered, lifting his head from upon her shoulder. He peered at the side of her head and worry clouded his expression. His mind quickly cleared and the knight was jolted with wakefulness.

Coiled with concern, Link failed to notice how his spoken word echoed around through the nearby drifting white mists. All of his attention was on his unconscious queen. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing softly, like she was asleep. She was seated between his legs, with the knight finally realizing that he was kneeling, not sitting. His left knee was raised and the queen was securely tucked against his leg and held securely against his body by his left arm. The Master Sword was laying across her legs and Link still held the sword's hilt. Releasing the blade, its hilt striking soft sand, Link brought his hand to tenderly hold Zelda's chin. He shifted her head so that he could inspect her face properly. The man creased his brows when he saw the drying blood smeared on the side of her cheek. When he tried to move his right arm to turn Zelda more towards him, pain shocked through his being. Grunting and squeezing his eyes closed until the wave of pain ebbed, the man's memory began to reignite and he snapped eyes open wide.

The beach! Dark Link! Kagameera! The tidal wave!

Sudden panic spurred Link to frantically look around and he took up the Master Sword in defence again. The knight saw that they were on a beach of grey sand. He could not tell how far the beach stretched, due to the wisps of white mists that flowed around the range of his vision. The sky was a watercolour painting of greys and whites, with faint shades of various colours whispering through the flowing stillness. Somewhere far away the faint heartbeat of the shore could just be heard, but was hidden from the man's view.

Releasing his held breath, the sound reverberated across the grey beach. Link relaxed when he recognized the space. He set down his sword and once again caressed Zelda's face, his expression thoughtful as he regarded her sleeping form. He knew that while they sat there in the Ghostly Ether that they would be safe. How they came to be in the realm, he had no idea, and frankly… he didn't care. All he cared about was making sure that Zelda was okay.

"Zelda?" he spoke again, his heart panging when the only response he got was his own word reflected back to him by the mists.

"She'll be fine."

Link looked up with a quiet gasp and instantly took hold of the Master Sword once more. He glared at what he saw because he was positive that he and Zelda had been alone seconds before. There, seated cross-legged only a few feet in front of Link and Zelda, was none other than Dark Link. The hero's dark counterpart looked normal, as in he was a monotone Hylian knight once again, but there was something… different about him. He looked… thinner, and not because he wasn't a massive wolf anymore. No, the dark knight looked almost… translucent around his edges. Maybe it was a trick caused by the shifting mists, or Link's blood loss, but it almost appeared that Dark Link's shape was not wholly solid.

Whatever, not like Link cared. The green-clad knight scowled. He lifted his sword even more, rousing a glimmer of brighter light from the blade before his arm began to shake. Dark Link scoffed and shook his head slightly, his crimson eyes were half-lidded and lacked his usual volume of mockery.

"You can barely hold that sword, huh? Pathetic… So then… tell me, O noble hero: how do you plan on protecting Zelda if you can't even lift your blade?"

"Are you the one who brought us here?" Link demanded, ignoring Dark Link's goading. He kept his tone hushed as he did not wish to wake Zelda from her rest.

Dark Link smirked before he answered.

"Indeed, I did," he replied with a quirk of his brow. "What? Are you gunna come over here and give me a kiss to show your gratitude? Sorry, I'm flattered, but… I'd rather receive one from her."

Flashing Link a wink, Dark Link chuckled under his breath. Curiously, however, his usual arrogance was considerably dimmed. Either he was just as weary as Link was, or he too was being quiet to allow Zelda some sleep. Link remained silent and continued to glower at his shade. He did, however, set the Master Sword aside on the grey sand beside him where he could easily reach it. With his left arm freed once again, Link gently wrapped it possessively around Zelda to make a silent statement to his counterpart.

Keep your hands off of her.

The pair of knights stared at one another for what felt like a long time. In reality it was probably only a few minutes, but neither of them wanted to be the one who spoke first. The only sounds that permeated the dream-like plane were Link's controlled breathing and Zelda's soft sighs of sleep. Dark Link made no sounds at all and sat so still that he could've been mistaken for some grim statue. Only when Zelda stirred slightly that Link broke eye contact to check on his slumbering queen, to which Dark Link scoffed a dry chuckle.

"As much as I love watching her sleep, you should really wake her. There's… a lot that I wish to tell you- well actually tell her! But… you're here too, so I guess it can't be helped. You know that we can't stay here forever, so hurry it up."

Link glanced up to glare at his doppelganger, before looking back down at Zelda and he sighed. He hated to admit even as a thought that Dark Link could be right but… fuck. He was right. Zelda's rest wasn't true sleep, not here. Their bodies remained in the Light World and this realm was merely a void for their spiritual selves to venture to and existed outside of time. Like all the times before, once they left the Ghostly Ether they would return to the Light World with barely any time having elapsed. Of course, back in the Light World Link and Zelda had been moments away from being crushed by an ocean's worth of tainted water. So… prolonging their stay in this realm of greys wasn't a terrible thought.

"Zelda," he called softly, rubbing the side of her cheek with his thumb.

The woman stirred lightly at his touch, but it wasn't enough. With regret softening his features Link exhaled through his nostrils before he gently patted his queen's cheek to try and wake her. Groaning softly, Zelda parted her lips and her eyes moved behind her eyelids. A small smile appeared on Link's lips and he continued to tenderly caress her cheek to coax her further into wakefulness.

"Zelda. It's time to wake up."

The queen's beautiful blue eyes were previewed when her long eyelashes fluttered with a sigh. Link chuckled lightly and Zelda moaned, turning her face into his chest. She half-opened her eyes and her noble brow creased with drowsy confusion.

"Zelda, are you alright?"

Turning her head so that she could meet Link's concerned eyes, Zelda slowly blinked and searched his face.

"Link? What- what happened? Where… are we?"

"The Ghostly Ether, Your Majesty."

Link looked up with a frown and Zelda rolled her head further until she caught sight of the smirking Dark Link. The fiend had remained silent the entire time, watching the two, wishing that he could switch places with Hyrule's Hero. Now that his queen was conscious he craved her attention to be on him.

"Knil?" Zelda whispered, her eyes blinking with sluggish bewilderment.

That earned a true smirk from the Dark World knight.

"In the flesh! Or… well, close to it, at least."

Knil raised his hand and fluttered his fingers. His digits wavered and flickered from the quick movement, briefly turning translucent until he stopped the movement. The shade's red eyes glance at his hand and he simply shrugged and crossed his arms.

Lightly gasping at the sight, Zelda stiffly began to sit up and winced at the movement. Link tried to help but there was nothing he could do. She managed to shift her position so that she was seated with her back flat against the knight. Ths in turn allowed Link to set his left hand down so that he could extend his cramped left leg and shift his right calf out from beneath him. With a grunt, he extended both legs on either side of Zelda and he replaced his arm to embrace his queen protectively, gently pulling her against him. His right arm was completely unresponsive, but at least here Link wouldn't need to worry about bleeding more. Their aches and pains were merely echoes of memory, connections of their minds to their real bodies. This meant that they weren't in any "real" pain here. This was why when Link had trained with the Hero's Shade, the Hero of Time's blows never caused Link any real harm when he returned back to the Light World. With their new positions, Link resumed to scowl at Dark Link from over Zelda's shoulder.

Dark Link had replaced his smirk with a remorseful frown. He wasn't looking at Link, he could care less if that bastard was glaring at him. So what? What else was new! No… what he was focused on was every wince, every shudder, every trace of pain in Zelda's face as she moved. So what if the pain wasn't real in this realm? It still caused her discomfort, she still experienced it. Her pain was his fault and he hated himself for it.

"Knil? You brought us here?" Zelda asked as she set her right hand light upon Link's arm that held her.

Knil scoffed and then shrugged nonchalantly.

"Yeah… I mean, I figured that it was the least I could do for, ah… stepping on you. Sorry again for that, but, in my defence, I didn't know it was you, and… it's not like I had the best control over myself." Knil shrugged again before he set his elbows upon his knees and regarded the pair. "Well to be honest, I brought you here, Zelda. He just sort of tagged along…"

"Regardless," Zelda replied with a nod of her head, "you have my thanks. As for my injuries… you are correct in that I was not myself, but that was my intent. I knew the risks."

Dark Link scoffed and smirked, but a bit more life entered his eyes upon hearing Zelda's words. Link, on the other hand, was beginning to feel like a sideline spectator.

"Zelda… can you please explain to me why you're being so civil with this creature? And… what the fuck is with the name?"

Zelda turned her head to meet her knight's irritated expression while Dark Link sniggered smugly.

"There is no sense in fighting here, so being civil is the least we can do and our best option to get some answers," Zelda explained calmly. She then smiled and added, "I am the one who bestowed the name Knil to him: it's Link backwards. I thought it fitting."

Link gave her a stupefied look and Dark Link erupted into cackles from where he sat. Link growled and glared over at Dark Link with an expression of indignation. Zelda simply reached her hand up to cup the side of his face to settle him down as she looked over at Knil unbothered. Grumbling under his breath, Link did quiet down but his mood had soured exponentially; he felt like the last one to learn about an inside joke.

"Knil," Zelda addressed, waiting for the shade to grin over at her like a lovesick puppy. "If I understand our situation correctly, are you offering some clarity into how you came under the thrall of Kagameera? I recall you saying something before about a deal… Are you able to elaborate?"

Dark Link sighed with the tone of a man in love. He set his chin upon his hands and gandered over at the Hyrulean Queen with adoring eyes. Frankly he made Link sick with rage.

"Zelda… my beautiful Zelda. Let me say before I begin my Ghostly Ether storytime here that… I could listen to you talk for hours. I did, you know, back in the castle? I watched you and I listened to your every word. And-"

"Cut the bullshit and answer her questions!" Link spat, his hold around Zelda tightening from his restrained aggravation.

Zelda tutted her tongue lightly but Link didn't care. He wasn't just going to sit there and listen to this psychopath casually talk about how he stalked her from the shadows!

Dark Link only chuckled and grinned with devious amusement. His crimson eyes glowed brighter for a moment, his irritation provoked by Link's interruption. However, he once again shrugged and once again leaned over to set the side of his against his left fist in a casual fashion. Gesturing with his right hand, Dark Link met Zelda's serene gaze once more and he smiled.

"My apologies, my lady. I tend to get carried away when I think about you." Sighing, Knil traced his fingers on his knee and began to answer. "So… you want to know about that bitch, Kagameera, and how… I got tied up in her filthy plans? I guess…" he said with a breathy sigh, clearly painting on the dramatics, "that I best begin by telling you how Sand-Bitch first rose to power. As I have come to understand, what she told you is indeed the truth. Kagameera is the older half-sister to that fool Ganondorf, making her one hot old woman, only two centuries young. Not that I find her attractive in the least," Knil confirmed with a shrug. "Not my type."

"And the Twinrova did save her from meeting the same fate as Ganondorf two hundred years ago?" Zelda inquired.

Knil nodded.

"Apparently so. Those witches saw the writing on the wall at the end of the Civil War, but couldn't save their precious baby boy from his own hubris. So they grabbed the next best thing, which was Ganondorf's ever-obedient sister. Those Gerudo witches had extensive knowledge of dark magic, and somehow they figured out that going to stupid Noruidia would somehow benefit them. I can't for sure. But, what I do know is that those creepy-ass witches sacrificed themselves so that Kagameera could inherit all of their powers and all of their knowledge. How they accomplished such a feat? Even I have no fucking idea, but the how doesn't really matter in this case now does it? What does matter is that they were successful and Kagameera suddenly became one of the most powerful magic users of the Light World. However, she faced a problem: she couldn't return to Hyrule."

"Why?" Link asked, before he sneered and looked aside, annoyed by his own curiosity.

Knil thought it was funny, and he arched his brow and lifted his head at the question. "Glad that you're keeping up with me," Dark Link mocked, a wry smile playing on his lips.

"Could she not return to Hyrule because of my ancestor?" Zelda asked, speaking up when she heard Link inhale in preparation for some sort of comeback.

"How beautiful, intelligent, and insightful you are, my dear Zelda," Knil complimented. "Indeed… your ancestor, the equally as beautiful, and blonde, Princess Zelda was particularly gifted with spiritual powers. She would've sensed the moment that Kagameera set foot back in Hyrule, and this power only increased as that Zelda aged and became queen. Even Kagameera with all of her dark powers couldn't take on the united might of Hyrule."

"And you know this because…?" Zelda prompted, leaning forward with her question but was held back by Link.

"From his best buddy… the fucking Hero of Time," Knil replied, mocking the hero's title. "I learned that tidbit from him and his delicious regrets… Anywho, back to my tale. Kagameera was stuck in Noruidia, with a bunch of dark magic at her disposal, and a healthy vendetta against all of Hyrule with a particular interest in its Royal Family. She must have sensed the Twilight Gate on the Isle of Blights, or perhaps the Twinrova bitches somehow knew about it. Either way she found the gate and she forced it open." Knil shrugged and looked aside thoughtfully before he added, "Maybe she even sensed her brother trapped within and that's how she found the door. I don't fucking know. Bottom line is that once she was in the Twilight Realm, she found her brother and it was Ganondorf who informed her that the Demon Sword of Demise was somewhere in that depressing realm."

Pausing, Knil sat up and crossed his arms and closed his eyes. His expression was contorted with thought, as if he was trying to gather his memories.

Link glanced between the thinking fiend and Zelda, who was watching Dark Link with intrigued intent. The knight frowned and moved his arm so that his hand found hers. He covered her hand with his, which earned him a break in her attentive concentration and she looked up to meet his troubled gaze. Zelda offered him a smile and turned her hand to hold his, palm to palm. The simple movement coaxed a smile to peek from the man's lips before he raised his eyes and instantly connected with Dark Link's black-hearted stare. Link felt his blood boil and beside him the Master Sword glimmer in response to its master's anger. Only when Zelda turned back to face the villain did Dark Link blink and return to his casual indifference.

"How do you know all this?" Link asked, continuing his glare at his counterpart.

"Ah ah," Knil tutted, waving his finger at Link, and earning him a deeper glower from the knight. "All in good time, Hero-Boy. It's called building a narrative." Dark Link crossed his arms again and smiled over at Zelda before he continued. "So… the Twilight Realm. The Demon Sword of yada-yada who cares. The dumbasses of that realm are dreary idiots. First they just let some random bitch enter their realm, talk to their prisoner, and then just stand by while she finds an evil and sentient sword. Talk about your royal case of fuck-ups. But Ganondorf… well, no arguments there that he was the biggest fuck-up of them all. There he was, imprisoned, weak, and stabbed through the gut with a sword…" Knil trailed off to flash a cocky smile at Link, "and his big sister is just supposed to hand over a weapon that's older than myself… and I am pretty fucking old. Still hot, though."

"You're referring to, of course, how you mentioned before after the avalanche that you were created from the regrets of the First Link, correct?" Zelda answered, her heart beating harder from Knil's history lesson.

"First Link?" Link repeated, thinking back to what the Hero of Time said back in the Spirit Realm, how the Crimson Loftwing had belonged to the Second Chosen Hero. That of course meant that then there was a First Chosen Hero. Link knew that he once knew this but such knowledge was now beyond his reach as a living Spirit.

"Right you are, dear Zelda," Knil replied, ignoring Link. "The Demon Sword is much, much older than even the deeply flawed First Link. I don't even know the sword's whole story… Maybe if I was back in the Dark World I would know more but here? In the state that I'm in?" Dark Link gestured to himself and once again his form wavered with translucence. "I just couldn't tell you. All you need to know, Zelda, is that the sword was wielded by Demise, the progenitor of Ganon, the one who inevitably caused the death of the Goddess Hylia. That black sword has witnessed the death of a goddess, and whether or not it was the blade that cut her down might never be known. What I do know, however, is that the sword has a mind of its own. Mere mortals might have uncovered the weapon, I believe it was the traitors of the Sheikah who were banished to the Twilight Realm who first discovered it. But fortunately, or unfortunately I don't fucking know, for them the sword had been weak then. Quiet, unable to act. The only reason Ganondorf had any knowledge of it was because it had been feeding off the very fabrics of the Twilight Realm, sucking at its power like milk from a tit, from the moment it was taken out of the Light World. The sword grew strong enough to make its presence known and bided its time until some fool dared to retrieve it. The Twilight fools are apparently immune to its call, so Kagameera had to be that fool. The sword called out to Ganondorf, who sent his sister on a quick fetch errand. She was all too happy to please her big, bad, bastard of a brother and went and found the sword. Probably wasn't hard, because the sword wanted to be found, especially by someone like Kagameera. Someone who had a considerable amount of dark power at her fingertips but possessed a malleable mind."

Knil paused to glance between the two Light Worlders and chuckled lightly. They were hanging off his every word, as much as Link might've denied it. Still, there was no denying the fact that Dark Link revelled in the attention. Besides… he had been wanting to reveal all this for some time now and not that he was free of his muzzle he would continue his story. For Zelda's sake… as penance for harming her and breaking his promise. He was a being of his word. To her, at least.

"As I was saying… Kagameera was a fool, just as Ganondorf was. To think that either of them thought that they could control the Demon Sword!? Ha! It's a joke that never stops being funny, at least to me. The moment that Gerudo bitch gripped the sword's hilt its spirit overwhelmed hers. She might not have even realized it at the time, for it might've been subtle. Whatever the case, the sword was in possession of someone with considerable power and the first thing it did… was fucking mock Ganondorf to his stupid, filthy Gerudo face! Oh… to have been there and seen it! All I know is that Ganondorf saw his sister with the sword. One minute he thought that hwa song to be freed and the next she laughed at him and refused to hand over the sword. She even made a comment that he had his own sword already - the one sticking out of his gut! Ha! The Demon Sword… has a sense of humour, that's for sure." Knil paused and laughed darkly, shaking his head in mild admiration, before he sighed and continued. "Ganondorf may have been tainted by Ganon's Malice, but he was small fry compared to the real deal. Demise. But… Demise no longer exists and Ganon is his… successor? Sure. Ganon was unavailable with Ganondorf being in the state he was in. So… Kagameera left the Twilight Realm. She abandoned the very brother and king that she worshipped and, well, I wouldn't put it past those barbaric sandrats to engage in incest with their so-called kings. Speaking of Ganondorf… I guess he might've learned the trick of sapping the Twilight Realm of its power to regain his own from the sword… Maybe. But then, who can say? Not me. Not about that, at least. Whatever. Eventually he was able to manipulate that weak-minded buffoon Zant and break free, but you know that story. "

Zelda tensed at the mention of Zant and Link gave her fingers a squeeze. What Dark Link was telling them was… in short, incredible. However, the bastard had yet to actually address any pressing matters. Specifically his deal with Kagameera or anything to do with the Dark Arrow or the Tulul. Link would remain silent for Zelda's sake and begrudging allow for Dark Link to continue to have the spotlight. The fiend didn't seem too fazed about shortening his story, so perhaps that meant that he had control over how long he could keep them within the Ghostly Ether. Link knew that time meant little in this dream-like realm, but they couldn't remain forever.

"So that brings us to the part of the story where Kagameera returned to the Light World with the Demon Sword in her grasp. She might not have even had a clue that the sword was using her, sucking her dry of her powers to rejuvenate itself. Kagameera was nothing but a dumb mule, a temporary wielder. The sword always had a stronger master on its mind. The sword's one true master has always been Demise, but a god would be an agreeable substitute."

"A god?" Zelda voiced, before she added, "The Prince of the Sea?"

Knil grinned wickedly and flashed the queen an impressed wink.

"I see… so you know about Prince Fish-Fucker? That's good. Saves me the hassle of telling you." Uncrossing his arms to set his palms on the ground behind him and extending his legs, Dark Link lounged and sighed. "The gods… are on a whole other level than some simple-minded mortal. Demise was… a god, in a way… I think, but this so-called Prince of the Sea definitely is one. Maybe not as mighty as the Goddess Hylia was or any of the Golden Goddesses, but a god nonetheless. The sword was drawn to the god, deep down in the dark depths of the ocean. Those fish freaks, the Tulul, worship the god and protect his Lord Sleepyhead. Kagameera used her powers to convince the dumb fish-heads that she was the god's lover or whatever. They foolishly lowered their guards and she got into their heads. Literally. Once she gained access to the god's chambers, Kagameera, being controlled by the Demon Sword, tried to pass the blade to the god. Simple right? Fortunately for… well, every living mortal, the god proved more difficult to control than some dumb fish. Apparently as long as he remains asleep, the sword cannot be placed in his hand, meaning the sword can't take control of his mind and great power. I don't know why that is… Frankly I think it's pretty stupid, but! Such is the way of deities, I guess."

"It's been almost two hundred years and the Demon Sword still hasn't possessed the Prince of the Sea?" Link reiterated, frowning at his own statement.

Dark Link clicked his tongue and arched a brow at his Light World counterpart. "You're not very bright, are you?" he asked condescendingly, before rolling his eyes and affirming. "Yes, dumbass. And you better kiss your ass for luck that it never does."

"The power that the Prince of the Sea must must truly be great, if he has to be able to withstand the sword's influence for so long," Zelda commented, once again squeezing Link's hand to keep him calm.

"I guess," Knil confirmed, briefly narrowing his eyes at Link before returning to lovingly gaze at Zelda. "The sword has been slowly siphoning the god's power over the years, but it's barely managed to scratch the surface. Think… trying to drink the entirety of Lake Hylia, but doing so one droplet at a time. As long as the Prince of the Sea remains asleep, his power is locked." Knil paused again to yawn, but in doing so his entire body momentarily faltered in solidity. Blinking away his apparent fatigue, the dark knight returned to being mostly solid though his white hair had a transpicuous quality that it lacked before.

"Knil? Are you… fading?" Zelda asked with concern clear in her tone.

Dark Link looked over at her with a sleepy facade and offered her a grateful smile.

"All in good time, dear Zelda." He repeated the same words he had taunted Link with. Unlike before, however, Dark Link spoke with a gentle sincerity like he was trying to ease her concern.

Link did not care in the least if Dark Link was fading and he just wanted the information the villain was stringing them along with.

"If Kagameera and the Demon Sword couldn't take control of the Sea God as quickly as they thought, they just… what? Just passed the time by making the Tulul go to war with the Norduidians? To what end?"

Dark Link dragged his gaze from Zelda's to meet Link's and he gave him a bored expression.

"Because they could. Because… What the sword desires is destruction and chaos. Take your pick. Though what is known for sure is that above all else, the sword desires the revival of its master. Such a feat isn't exactly possible… without the Descendant of the White Goddess." Knil looked back at Zelda before he said, "Sorry to be bearer of bad news, Your Majesty, but that's the big secret. The Demon Sword needs you if it wishes to even try and bring back Demise. By the time the sword gained enough power from the Prince of the Sea, your predecessor, the blonde Queen Zelda, had already aged and lost her powers. Or maybe she had died at that point? I'm not sure. Whatever the case, she was well beyond the sword's grasp. That left only one option for the sword: bide its time and try to crack the fish-god open until another was born into the Goddess' bloodline with substantial spiritual powers. That brings us to not that long ago…"

Knil's last word echoed through the air until he faded into the mists. The shade's eyes fell to the grey sand between himself and Zelda and Link and his expression turned harder. The dark knight's hands tightened into fists and his red eyes flashed with rising anger. Zelda watched the display and once again tried to lean forward as if to try and comfort Dark Link, but her knight's arm around her waist stiffened. Link's expression hardened and in that moment he didn't care if Zelda was his monarch: he would not allow her to get nearer to the villain. Link didn't trust the bastard and no matter how much Dark Link resembled him, Link would not allow her to forget that Knil was dangerous.

"I tried not to think about it… I tried telling myself that they weren't mine. That they were yours! But it's hard to separate memories when I know that they're mine and aren't mine."

Knil's voice was low and hoarse, and he lifted a hand to point at Link's face. In response, Link finally removed his arm from around Zelda but only so he could retrieve the Master Sword.

Dark Link ignored him and continued his cryptic speech. "The Demon Sword waited for signs of your birth Zelda and once it had them, all it had to do was wait for a bit longer until your powers… ripened. As you grew and aged, your powers matured. However, the sword also sensed that the Chosen Hero was to be born: a problem it wanted to avoid. Obviously the Demon Sword doesn't care too much for the successor of the Hero that defeated it once upon a time. That meant only one thing… remove the obstacle."

"What are you getting at?!" Link demanded, though the man had a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut.

Knil lifted his crimson gaze and Link was almost taken aback by the remorseful expression of his dark doppelganger. He looked sad and angry. At what Link could only guess at. Dark Link's expression was so raw and unnerving that Link raised his left knee slightly to rest the blade of the sword upon the leather of his boot. The Master's Sword tip pointed directly at Dark Link's heart. Zelda moved to rest her left hand upon his arm and she held her sore torso with her other.

"What am I getting at?" Dark Link replied, his voice echoing around them and reverberated his coiled vengeance. Knil began to chuckle darkly and shifted forward so that his hands rested upon his knees once again. "Here's a story just for you, Link. Once upon a time there was a man and woman who fell in love. They got married and lived a simple life in a small village. The man owned a ranch and his wife helped him tend to their goats. Everything was grand and happy…"

"No…" Link whispered, but Knil continued.

"That is until one day the man and woman left their small village to go and deliver some cheese from their ranch. They had done this mundane task many times before, so they had no idea that they would never see their quaint little village ever again. Once they reached the large lake that they normally walked beside, they had no way of knowing that they would soon be dead."

"You bastard!" Link shouted and lifted the Master Sword to point it at Dark Link.

"What? Do you think that I killed them? Because if you do, then you're honestly a lot stupider than I could even have imagined! Fuck off and use your head for once!"

Dark Link's voice was full of disgust and he narrowed his brows dangerously at his Light World counterpart.

Zelda wrapped her hands around her knight's arm to force him to lower his sword. "Link, please! Just allow him to explain!" Zelda urged, sensing that Dark Link knew the truth behind Link's parents' mysterious deaths.

Link trembled with rage and he reluctantly allowed for Zelda to overpower his arm. The Master Sword landed upon the grey sand and the knight once again wrapped his arm around the love of his life. He had her and would focus on her warmth rather than imagining choking the perverse life out of Dark Link. Still, his menacing glare never left Knil's.

After a long moment, Knil grinned wickedly and through clenched teeth he said, "Thank you, Zelda. As I was saying… It's a tragic story shrouded in mystery. No one has ever figured out if the lives of Sigurd and Jola were deliberately taken that day or if they truly died accidentally. The truth is… it's your mentor's fault. The glorious Hero of Time…"

"Like hell it is!" Link spat back.

"Well… okay, it is and it isn't," Dark Link conceded with a half-shrug. "When the Demon Sword sensed that the next Chosen Hero was going to be born, Kagameera used her vile magic to create a spell of possession. After almost two hundred years of siphoning power from the Prince of the Sea, the witch had become quite skilled in water magic. So, logically, she cast her spell on a powerful being of the water who also just so happened to have a weak mind due to advanced age."

"Oh goddess… The King of the Zora!"

Link finally broke his stare down of Dark Link to look aside at Zelda. Her expression was aghast and her fingers tightened their hold on his arm around her.

"Correct," Knil said simply, his tone indifferent. "The king was old and was the perfect puppet for the witch's spell, especially given the great distance between caster and pawn. The king easily fell under Kagameera's control and she used him and his water powers to drown the Hylian couple walking beside Lake Hylia. The Demon Sword knew that within the young couple the blood of the Chosen Hero flowed, so it dispatched them before the child could be born. However…" Knil exclaimed, holding up his finger, "due to the Hero of Time's preference for fucking around and creating new timelines, he unintentionally created a time barrier around his would-be successor. This probably happened when he time travelled for the last time. Link… you were seven years old when our- your…. parents died, because the Hero of Time has a relationship with seven year cycles. You were blocked, protected. Even Kagameera and the Demon Sword did not sense that you were already alive when the Zora King drowned your parents. The sword probably sensed your unborn brother's blood, which, I guess if he had been allowed to be born, would've marked the first time that two children would've been born into the Chosen Hero bloodline. Fate, it would seem, denied this event. Maybe it'll happen one day, in another timeline perhaps."

Zelda wrapped her arms around Link's and he tightened his hold on her even more, causing her to flinch slightly. The queen made no complaint as she met Knil's eyes and she gave him a small nod to continue. She couldn't see Link's expression from her peripheral vision, but she heard his heavy breathing in her ear and could feel his heart beating hard in his chest through her back.

"Anyway… the bottom line is that your parents and brother were killed for nothing. The Zora King's mind was corrupted and poisoned, rendering the fat fool dumb and paralyzed. He died soon thereafter. Heh… No wonder the Zora Prince was a pathetic wimp who refused to become king for years. After all, he watched his father succumb to an illness with no cure: mute and tortured by pain." Knil shrugged again and truly didn't care about the tragedies that had befallen the Zora Royal Family. He proceeded with his exposition. "The point is that Kagameera and the Demon Sword thought that they were successful in their assassinations. Link, you lucky little doggy! You continued to be protected even beyond Fairy-Fucker's time-travelling fuckery. I'm guessing the Light Spirits had something to do with your protection. Seems likely enough. That, and the fact that you never really left the Ordon or Faron Provinces, you introverted idiot."

Link was practically vibrating from contained emotions and anger. It was only his training and Zelda's presence that stopped him from leaping up and driving his sword through Dark Link's heart. Surely Dark Link was aware of this, and his small smirk revealed his devious glee in insulting Link where and when he could.

"Moving on, you both know this part of the story. Zant. Twilight bullshit. Ganondorf was defeated… again. Whatever, fuck… yay Hyrule! I've seen it time and time again. While all of that was happening, Kagameera unleashed the full might of the Tulul upon those Noruidian fools. Why? Probably because she wanted to present the defeated kingdom as a present to her brother. Keep in mind that Kagameera is an empty puppet of the Demon Sword. She lost her free will when she drew that cursed blade. Don't have any sympathy for her, though. She was a psycho bitch from birth just like her brother. Kagameera's desire to "appease" her king was false, probably just a manifestation of the sword's will in wanting to get ahold of Zelda and Hyrule. Maybe the sword recognized Ganon's spirit within the Gerudo bastard? But, who knows. When Ganondorf was defeated, it proved to the bitch that you, Link, were actually alive and protecting the Goddess' Descendant. That was when Sand-Bitch began to concoct that poison, that sweet, sweet poison that would eventually allow me to walk within the Light World."

"And it required six years to create the Atishokull?" Zelda clarified, her fingers rubbing Link's arm to soothe her knight's turmoil.

"Apparently," Knil said with a shrug. "Kagameera's plan was simple: shoot Zelda with the Dark Arrow and trap her soul in the Dark World. From there the Demon Sword thought that it could just take your soul and use it how it pleased. Ha!" Knil scoffed incredulously, venom leaking into his expression. "The sword either forgot or didn't know that I am the King of the Dark World and I would've never just allowed your soul to be used in such a way. But… fortunately it didn't come to that, and instead I got a lovely visit from you. You were such a joy to hunt and… believe me, I enjoyed every moment of it." Grinning darkly at Link, Knil gave him a small wink which finally sent Link over the edge.

The Hyrulean Knight roared and moved to pull Zelda to the side. He needed her out of the way so that he could grab his sword and stab that grinning motherfucker in the face again and again to finally kill him once and for all! Zelda, however, stubbornly remained in her seat and raised her voice.

"Link! Contain yourself! And Knil! Tone down the… insults, if you would please!"

Knil held up his hands innocently as Link breathed heavily and his hand refused to leave his sword's hilt. Swallowing hard, the knight exhaled loudly through his nostrils. If Zelda weren't literally seated against him then he would've rushed towards Dark Link without any hesitation.

"Yes, yes… of course, dear Zelda. I shall… try." Taking a deep breath, Knil cracked his neck to the side before continuing. "Where was I… Ah! Of course… the Dark World. My home sweet home, as they say. When the Hero of Time saved Link and returned his soul to the Light World, Kagameera and the Demon Sword needed to adapt their plans. The Sand-Bitch knew that the poison was in the Chosen Hero's veins and that there was the possibility that he'd seek out her fellow Gerudo to get rid of it. That is when she summoned yours truly. She offered me a deal: Kagameera would provide me with a physical body that would allow me to survive in the Light World. In exchange, all I had to do was… complete a reasonably easy task… one that I was more than happy to agree to…"

Looking aside and reaching up to rub the back of his neck, Knil smirked over at the pair of Hylians. His brows twitch with amusement and Link knew what he was about to say.

"You piece of shit… You sick fuck!" the knight snarled. "Don't you DARE speak another word, you perverted monster!"

Knil just shrugged and innocently lifted his hands.

"That was the deal! I was to take over Link's body and… ensure that the queen's first child was mine. How could I possibly refuse such an offer? It's literally one of my dreams come true. But! Before I agreed, I demanded one condition: that you, my beautiful Zelda, would not come to harm! I could never dream of harming you, and-"

"Yet you did! You HURT her! You fucking bastard!"

Knil froze at the ice in Link's voice. The dark knight's eyes spasmed with anger and the air around him wavered, stirring his white hair. Dark Link licked his lips and looked aside, his hands balled into fists upon his knees. He shut his eyes tight and looked to be muttering to himself, keeping himself contained. When he turned his head back towards Zelda and Link, Dark Link opened his eyes to reveal a mask of quiet regret rather than anger. Slowly, he nodded his head.

"It's true. I did… and that is why we're all here and I am speaking more than I have ever before. All of this is my gift to you, Zelda: my penance. So… Zelda, my love, would you please tell your dog to quit his barking… or he will NEVER leave here alive…"

Dark Link's threat rang around them. His words circled around them by the realm's echo, as if the Ghostly Ether itself would hold the dark being to his word. Link growled through his teeth and lifted the Master Sword. He paused with a frustrated grunt when Zelda lifted her hand in silent command. With pronounced movements, Zelda stiffly shifted out of her seat between his legs and shuffled to sit perpendicular to him, next to his right leg. Link stared at her with a hard expression but didn't move or say a word. Once the queen had forced her sore body into a cross-legged seat, she looked between Knil and Link before she finally spoke.

"There will be no more outbursts. Do I make myself clear?"

The Queen of Hyrule stared at her knight with her perfect posture and regal expression: a composure befitting a woman of her station. Link's hard mask broke and he frowned before looking away. Scoffing under his breath, he brought in his legs to loosely sit cross-legged himself and released his hold on the Master Sword.

"Understood, my queen," he answered curtly, taking his left hand over to physically move his right arm so that he rested on his lap. The pain he felt creased his face but he made no sound.

Satisfied, Zelda looked back over to Knil and met his soft, adoring gaze. She did not change her impassive expression, which earned her a giddy chuckle from the shade.

"Understood, my beautiful queen," Knil replied in a breathless and loving voice.

Zelda nodded. "Then, please, continue."

"As you command, my lady!" Knil answered as he loosened his fists and tapped his fingers on knees. "Where was I… oh! Yes. The deal, the plan. It should've been easy, and I nearly succeeded. The Atishokull was burned. I was able to walk in the Light Realm and lo and behold I effortlessly ambushed Link in Faron Woods and impaled my blade through his belly. I was mere moments from victory. His soul would've been trapped in the Dark World for good and I would inhabit his body and take over his life. From there, a little romance and time was all I would've needed in order to uphold my side of the deal. If I'm anything, I am a reflection of many millennia's worth of courage and confidence from foolhardy heroes. I was sure of my abilities and my love for you, Zelda. I knew that you would be receptive to my affections because I am not afraid to show how much I love you. Unlike some people we know… who couldn't even kiss you without fucking it up."

"Get on with it!" Link grumbled. How Zelda could just sit there and hear Dark Link's depravity without reacting was beyond the knight's comprehension. Her decorum was a trait to be marvelled at.

Knil simply rolled his eyes.

"I was so close to victory… but then, He had to show up! The fucking Hero of Time on his stupid-ass bird! Like, what the actual fuck was that! But fine! I adapted! While I didn't care for it, trust me when I say that, my only option to salvage the situation was to briefly take over your lissome body, Zelda. If I accomplished that then I would've used your lovely hand to remove the Master Sword that the Hero of Time had oh-so-kindly stabbed through Link's gut. With the blade removed, then I would have slipped into his body. Your knight would have healed from his terrible fate, and all would've been grand. But no! Yet again I was thwarted when Wolf-Boy himself showed up… Frustrated is putting it lightly to how I was feeling."

Sighing, Knil reached up to remove his black floppy hat and reveal all of his white hair. It was identical to Link's, low ponytail and all. Dark Link ran his fingers through his hair exactly how Link did when he was irritated, embarrassed, or thoughtful. The shade's expression darkened and a frown appeared on his face, mirroring Link's. Slowly Dark Link shook his head as he thumbed the material of his hat.

"All I wanted was to finally have the chance to be with you, Zelda. That's all. For millennia I've been alone… That's why I took the deal, but in doing so I became a slave to Her… my Mistress… Kagameera. The Sand-Bitch herself was nothing more but a puppet to the Demon Sword, but I still agreed. I was… desperate. Lonely. I wanted what your knight was wasting. I had to push forward. I had to tell her that you were heading towards Noruidia, and she ordered me to help you. Not that she had to, and she knew that. She knew that I would protect you, because I love you. That is why I saved you from the avalanche, but I do admit now that I had ulterior motives. I couldn't tell you then, but… I tried. I tried to tell you as much as I could, Zelda. My will to protect you, and my love for you, is stronger: it's kept me going for thousands of years. That's why I warned Link about you not touching the ocean. If you had, you would've instantly been overwhelmed and your soul inevitably taken. Kagameera did not have complete control over me, after all, for I am Link, King of the Dark World, and not even the great Demon Sword of Demise can put a permanent leash on me. Perhaps… that is why I found out what I did. I am not sure if Kagameera knew that the longer I lived and breathed in the Light World, in a body of her making, the more I began to learn about her. I was gaining her memories. Maybe she did know and just didn't care. She thought that I was under her boot heel. She knows… my weakness, after all. It's my desire to remain physical in the Light World. She tightened that noose around my neck to try and keep me in line. Regardless, that's how I know everything. The truth, and why I am more than happy to tell you the truth. I want that bitch to pay for daring to treat me like nothing more than her errand boy. Her pet wolf."

Turning his head, Dark Link spat after his last word and scowled into the distant mists and greyness. The pain and injustice in his voice was clear even when he cleared his throat and busied himself with putting his floppy hat back on. Zelda's expression had softened and she looked back over at Link, who had his face turned away from her to thoughtfully stare into the distance of the Ghostly Ether. They all had a lot to process, but Zelda still had at least one more question.

"Knil… are you fading because you have lost the physical form given to you by Kagameera?"

"Not exactly," Knil replied, meeting her eye with a smile. "I am a being of the Dark World, so within the Light Realm I am a mere shade. A shadow. It is not my realm, therefore I do not have all my powers or strength. Here -" Knil paused to gesture at the greyness around them "- within this realm of dreams, I have enough strength to keep us here so we can have this little chat of ours. Once we leave, that will be a moment for bittersweet farewells. I have no power left to remain in the Light World: I used the last to take you both here. No, I will return to my kingdom and be alone in the dark once more."

"As unfortunate as that may be…" Link quipped with dry sarcasm. "Let's not forget that the Demon Sword broke through our light barrier. Once Zelda and I return to the Light World, there's an ocean's worth of water seconds away from crushing us both. I might be able to save Zelda from drowning with my Zora Armor, but I won't have the time to get it out and put it on her. The most likely scenario is that she'll be captured by Kagameera. I… I don't know how to save her."

Both Zelda and Knil turned towards Link who revealed his grave expression.

"The past is the past, but the present is what I care about. Because of your damned teeth, I can't fight! My body is on the verge of collapse from loss of blood, and Zelda shouldn't be moving at all. How can we win? How can we beat Kagameera and the Demon Sword?"

"You must be truly desperate if you're asking me." Knil pointed out with a smirk.

"My duty is to protect Zelda," Link replied with squinted eyes. "I don't care where the help comes from if it means that she's safe."

Zelda watched her knight tenderly. Link had just recovered from his near-fatal injuries thanks to the Sol Dew. Yet here he was already knocking at death's door. He was committed to continue to fight: fight for her, even if it killed him again. From where she sat she could see the terrible state that his right arm was in. His crimson cape that Adla had used to wrap the wound was dyed to a deep maroon, saturated with blood. His green tunic was torn, though would mend itself with time back in the Light World. It was his white under chemise that truly reflected the wetness of his blood and how it would not dry while they remained in this realm.

Knil smirked wider, brandishing his white teeth within his grey skin.

"What a coincidence? We share the same duty, but, ah… don't expect me to apologize for the bite." Running his tongue over his teeth, Dark Link chuckled darkly before he lifted his right hand and slowly wiggled his fingers. His crimson gaze fell onto Link's ruined arm and his smile widened.

"You have a plan, don't you?" Link growled as he fought the urge to rest his left hand upon his right arm. Instead he subtly flipped Dark Link off.

Zelda looked at Knil and asked, "Knil? Can you help us?"

"Perhaps…" Knil admitted, nodded slowly before meeting the queen's beautiful blue eyes. "But… it would require for Link and I to trust one another and… I think Death Mountain would have to freeze over in order for that to happen."

Link scoffed.

"Try me…" he retorted.

Dark Link grinned tauntingly at Link.

"With pleasure. As I see it, even if you manage to survive the tidal wave and protect Zelda, the damage has already been done. You two certainly displayed an impressive show of sacred power. I could tell that the Demon Sword was drinking it up, but I couldn't do anything about it. Every blast you hit me with was absorbed into that black ooze that the sword absorbed once I was released from my contract. With that kind of power at the sword's disposal, it may just have the edge it needs to finally waken the Sea Prince. I can't be sure, but I was still connected to Kagameera during our fight and that idea kept popping into my head, so it must've been in the witch's. Call it a backup plan if they failed to take hold of Zelda and her soul."

"So what are you proposing to be done, Knil?" Zelda asked.

Knil shrugged and held up his right hand.

"It's simple: your heroic knight gives me control of half his body. I need his… help to return to the LIght World, and you need my strength to do anything. Not only am I positive that I can protect you both from the wave, but if we take down Kagameera and separate the sword from her body, then we can stop the Demon Sword from waking the Prince of the Sea!"

"No," Link stated curtly and gave a stubborn shake of his head.

Knil arched his brow and cocked his head to the side as he regarded his counterpart.

"So much for doing whatever it takes to save Zelda. Just… listen. If we combine powers, then we have a chance! If you want to go it out alone, then fine! But you'll end up drowning or getting your arm ripped off, and Zelda will get her soul sucked out of her. Choose wisely, Sir Link, unless you have a better idea."

"Anything would be better than that! You? Sharing my body with me?! That was your goal the entire time! Why would I just let you in!? How could I trust that you won't take my body over completely?!"

"I didn't say your entire body… just half…"

Zelda remained quiet and looked between her two knights as they began to argue. Link with his stubborn bitterness and Knil with his sarcastic haughtiness. They were more alike than they realized, or cared to admit. The queen was going over all what Dark Link had said and his proposed plan. She had to agree with Link in that allowing Knil to take over his body was… risky. However, no matter how many times she went over their situation, she couldn't think of any plausible solutions. Frowning and resigning herself to seriously consider Knil's proposal, Zelda raised her hand patiently and waited for her knights to notice. It took them almost a minute for them to stop their circular argument and look at her.

"Zelda?" Link asked, looking at his queen and blinked curiously.

"Do you have a question?" Knil added, his voice mixing with Link's echo.

"Yes, I do…" the Hyrulean Queen replied nobly, looking towards Knil. "Can you offer any assurance that in the instance that if Link were to allow your consciousness into his body, you won't be able to take total control?"

Knil smiled at her before glancing over at Link.

"My dear Zelda, I am strong… but, even I can't deny that as a shadow I cannot compete with the light of a Spirit, which… Link is. He has to allow me to enter his body and just as easily he can kick me out. Probably. Besides," Knil continued with a shrug, "all I need access to is his right arm and eye. That arm of his is useless, but I will provide him with a blade that will cut through that witch's body with ease."

"A blade?" Link repeated, still frowning. "Why would I need your blade at all?"

Rolling his eyes, Knil shook his head slowly at Link before he replied, "Think! If we're going to work together, then you can't bring the Master Sword. I can't be near the sword long enough for us to be victorious. That Blade of Evil's Bane will kick my ass back to the Dark World before we can even begin to protect Zelda. Besides… you swinging that sword so far underwater will just get you killed. I, on the other hand, won't be so easily affected."

Link's gaze drifted down to his legendary sword and his gut twisted uneasily. Abandoning the Master Sword to team up with Dark Link? The very thought just sounded so inherently wrong to the hero. The Master Sword was created by the Goddess Hylia, Link knew that much, so shouldn't such a holy sword be their best bet to defeat an equally as ancient and strong blade? Dark Link himself alluded to the fact that the Demon Sword was once defeated by the Master Sword, so why not again? The knight frowned and became more aware of the dull pain that was his right arm. Fuck… the bastard was right. With the condition of his arm, he'd probably pass out from blood loss before he even made it off the beach.

Did that mean… he didn't really have a choice? Dark Link truly did seem like he would do anything to save Zelda, and so would Link… If this was their only chance, then… perhaps he had to take it. After all, if it meant that Zelda was safe.

Then yes. Fine. He'd do it.

"If… I leave the Master Sword with Zelda, what do you propose that I do? Am I simply a body for you to hitch a ride in and that's all?"

"No! Of course not," Knil replied, waving him off. "You will make sure that we don't get killed by utilizing that Hookshot of yours. We'll need to be quick if we're going to survive."

"You speak as if you know that I haven't already slayed Kagameera," Link retorted curtly. "Don't forget! The last that we saw of her she had a blast of the Master Sword's energy engraving into her body! How do we know that once we return we don't find her corpse hewn in two?"

"Tch!" Knil scoffed with scorn and mocking. "I hope that we do! But it won't matter, because it's the sword who is in real control of Kagameera. She's been nothing but an empty vessel filled with false will for centuries! Death for her would be a blessing. As long as the sword has even half a body to work with, it's dangerous. All we have to do is isolate the sword completely. Its spirit is locked, so without a body to control it'll be back to being nothing more than a weapon."

"And if you are successful?" Zelda asked, her unwavering gaze upon Knil. "If Kagameera is indeed slain and you and Link manage to separate the Demon Sword from her body, what then? What becomes of the sword?"

"We take the Demon Sword back to the Twilight Realm," Link answered in Knil's stead, earning an honest smile from the shadow knight. "Maybe we can hide it there with Midna's help."

"Well, well, well… would you look at that? You took the words right out of my mouth."

"Don't… don't smile at me, you creepy bastard…"

Link visibly shuddered and leaned away from Knil.

"Are you saying that you are confident that you won't also be possessed by the sword like Kagameera?" Zelda interjected with her voice slightly hitched with apprehension.

"We surely won't if I have the Master Sword…" Link pointed out woodenly.

"That won't work!" Knil replied, exasperated. "I cannot be of any help with that sword in your left hand!" He pointed at the Master Sword laying at Link's side and shook his head before meeting Zelda's worried expression. "I admit… It's a risk, but do not forget who we are. Link here is not only the Chosen Hero, but he's a Spirit. By definition he's much more resilient than some random mortal's soul. Then, of course, there's myself, and… well… I can't wield the sword. If the sword wished for me to be its master, then it would have already abandoned the Sand-Bitch. It didn't. Why? Because… I am no soul, I am no mortal. I am not of the Light World!"

"But the sword's goal is possessing a god? Why not you?" Link asked pointedly, regarding Knil with rekindled suspicion.

Knil just sighed with exasperation and eyed the sky. It was starting to darken slightly.

"Are you insinuating that I'm a god?" Dark Link asked as his gaze descended and he brandished his teeth with a roguish grin.

Link baulked and gave Dark Link a dirty look. "You know that's not what I fucking meant! What makes you so special that the sword wants nothing to do with you? I mean… I get it… who would?"

Dark Link's expression fell and he regarded Link with tedious loathing.

"For fuck's sake, can't you keep up? I don't have a physical body in the Light World, moron! The one I had was created by dark magic and your blood… not very suitable for a spirit sword! And the possession of a god isn't easy. After all, the sword's been trying to do it for almost two centuries. There isn't even a guarantee that if the god were to wake up that he could become possessed. Like I said, the Demon Sword has been passing time until it could get its metaphysical hands on Zelda. If we can get the Demon Sword back to the Twilight Realm, then it can become dormant once again."

"Okay… but, wait. You said that the Demon Sword siphoned magic from the realm to get stronger. What's to stop it from simply taking possession of someone else to make its escape?" Link asked pointedly, keen at poking any holes in Knil's logic to try and determine if the fiend was telling the whole truth.

Knil's expression fell with matching irritation.

"Would you fucking learn to listen?! I already told you that the Twili are immune to the sword's call. That's why it needed to wait for Kagameera, a Light Worlder, to wield it! I am no Light Worlder… and I doubt any mortals will be able to access the Light World after this whole shitshow. And if you think of it, having me inside your body with you should keep you safe. Not only from the tremendous oceanic pressure but also from the sword's possessive tendencies. I say should because, I admit, Zelda… I cannot guarantee Link's safety. However, this plan is the best shot we got and frankly… we're running out of time. I can't keep us here for very much longer. You both need to decide what to do and quickly."

True enough, the grey horizon surrounding them was beginning to blur together and darken. Link scoffed under his breath and couldn't help but think how convenient that their stay in the Ghostly Ether was elapsing right as Dark Link was pushing for a decision. Coincidence? He didn't think so. He hated the fact that this "plan" seemed like the only choice they had. He hated it so much! But then he looked over at Zelda and met her eyes, he saw her concern. Back on the beach before their light barrier was broken, Link had told her that he loved her. He wasn't sure that she heard his words, but knew that she saw him say them. She finally knew how he felt and now he faced a choice that could very well mean he could lose himself: that he could lose her. He would do anything to keep her safe and if this truly was their best chance at success… well…

"Fine."

"Link?" Zelda whispered, reaching over to gently cover his right hand. "Are you sure that you want to do this? The risks… are indeed great…"

"But the risks with doing nothing are even greater," Link replied, searching her eyes. "I can't lose you, Zelda. If this works, if we're successful and we lock away the Demon Sword, then that means that you'll be safe! All of this started with that damned Dark Arrow, but now I know a way that can keep you from meeting a terrible fate. Zelda, it's my duty, my very reason for living, to keep you out of harm's way. You know this, and… if I am to die, again," Link added with a dry chuckle though his expression grew serious once more, "then I can only hope that at the very least my death enables you to fulfill your duty as Queen of Hyrule. That is what is at stake, and my fate does not matter. You, however, do. No matter what, no matter… how you might feel, please don't forget that."

Link hoped that Zelda understood what he was telling her and he hoped that he hid how his heart felt like it was being strangled by his sense of duty. They both knew that their love was temporary, forbidden even. Zelda was engaged to another and as Queen of Hyrule, she had to abide by certain obligations. That was why Link refused to admit his love for her until what seemed like the very end. He did not regret his words, but he did regret any heartache he might cause her. Now he had the chance to save her properly and he was going to take it, even if it meant that they might never see each other again. No tears came in response to Link's words. All he saw was a forlorn resolve imbued in the queen's serene features that was married with the small smile she offered her knight. Link's breath caught as he felt his chest tighten, but he maintained his knightly stature.

Knil, on the other hand, had been watching the pair's interaction and was growing impatient… and nauseated.

"Yeah… this is all sweet and gross and whatever, but… can we please make a decision here?"

Link and Zelda looked over at the frowning shade who's expression was strained between boredom and disgust. Knil loved being this close to Zelda, but he hated seeing her and Link together. Knitting his brows together, Link scowled at his own dark reflection before slipping his fingers around the Master Sword's hilt. Stabbing the blade into the sand, the man pulled in his legs and used the sword as support. With effort and pain he began the arduous journey to try and stand. Zelda's eyes widened and hastened her damaged body onto her knees to assist her knight. She winced under her breath and was mindful of Link's mangled right arm. Together they stood and Link both utilized the Master Sword and his queen's aid to make sure that he remained upright. Across from them Dark Link rose with ease, though his appearance rippled translucent with his movement.

"You see? You need me," Knil asserted as he casually adjusted the front of his tunic. "You can barely stand in here! But out there in the real world? You're fucked."

"Shut up! I've already agreed!" Link growled hostility, shooting daggers at the vaguely amused fiend.

The Hero of Twilight blinked a few times to try and rid the blurriness from his vision. Taking a few deep breaths helped centre his focus and his efforts were echoed around him. Shaking his head to clear it, Link inhaled slowly and stood straighter. Catching Zelda's eye, noting her hands on his back and chest to help bear some of his weight, the man flashed her a smile.

"Zelda… could you unbuckle the Master Sword sheath for me, please?"

Returning his smile, Zelda slid her hand across his chest until her slender fingers found the large brass buckle situated over his left pectoral. The motion of her hand stirred the fresh memory of their sensuality within the man's mind and his lips partially parted with a hot exhale. His current injuries would not hinder the memories of her naked body against his and her sleek garments left little to the imagination. If Zelda noticed she gave no indication as she deftly unfastened the sheath's leather straps to remove it from her knight's person. With a gesture of his chin, Link indicated that she should wear it in his stead. Zelda paused and searched his face for a long moment before returning his nod and stepped back. She slipped on the sheath and fastened the straps, albeit it hung loosely due to her smaller frame. Combined with her skintight Sheikah attire, Zelda's battle ready mien stirred the heat in Link's blood and he looked at her with brief prurience. How he wanted her, wanted to be with her… but, alas. Blinking away his feelings and encasing his heart with stones, Link lifted the Master Sword to stand on his own two feet and held out the blade for Zelda to take. She clasped both of her hands around his and the sword's hilt, her fingers hesitant to release his touch. He could see the dolour and fear contained in her sapphire eyes, but the greatest comfort he could offer her was by being successful in defeating the evil that coveted her. Link was the first to break contact so that the Hero Chosen by the Gods could exonerate his grip of his beloved sword.

Directing his intense blue eyes back over to Dark Link roused his resentment and soured his disposition. He took a rigid step forward followed by another until only a couple of feet separated him and his mirror image. Knil made no motion to move and judging by his smirk, he clearly enjoyed watching his Light World counterpart struggle. Crimson eyes scanned down the bloodsoaked, green-clad knight and up again so their identical eyes met. Scoffing slightly, Knil's smirk grew and he extended his right hand for an innocent handshake.

"I'll be needing that right arm of yours." His words were casual yet rang with sadistic satisfaction. Dark Link winked and added, "And your eye too. We're losing greylight here, so try not to resist too much… it'll only make this more difficult." Knil glanced over to Zelda and gave her a wink before saying, "No matter what, my dear Zelda, please stay back and don't try to interfere."

Zelda nodded and stepped back, looking between the pair with an apprehensive expression. With a single graceful motion, she sheathed the Master Sword onto her back.

Link's expression remained grave and his revulsion for his shade was shown in his narrowed eyes. Reaching his left hand across his body, the knight grasped his limp right forearm to lift it. Contorting his face slightly, Link's right hand opened and Knil's eyes flashed with excitement.

"Prepare to scream…" Dark Link whispered and clasped Link's hand in an iron grip.

In a flash of black smoke, Dark Link vanished from view. The ruby earring gifted to him by Zelda hung in the empty air for a half second before it fell to the grey sand with a silent landing. The shade's red eyes were burned into Link's retinas and the knight went rigid, frozen with his right hand suspended in the as if trapped within Knil's phantom grip. His fingers burned with a frigid agony that was slowly creeping up his arm and Link could see the colour draining from his skin into a pallid grey tint. His body shook like he was suffering from hyperthermia, yet hot sweat formed on his brow. The draining of colour crept up his arm, hidden by his clothes and blood, but he could feel its creep as if he were submerging his skin into ice water. Link's lips parted, his teeth bared and clamped into a ferocious mock smile. His eyes stared wide and hauntedly into the dimming sky with his pupils dilated and frenzied. His heartbeat was sprinting and every pulse flooded his vision with darkness that threatened to overtake him. The hero fought back. His breath seized and he grunted painfully when ice pierced his right eye. It felt like six years ago, when Link had been grabbed by the Shadow Beast and pulled into Twilight. His first transformation into a wolf, his Sacred Beast form, had been agony. This… this was worse. The encroaching cold had now spread up to his elbow and his right eye had become a blank slate of white.

When fangs of ice sliced into the wound of his arm, Link couldn't suppress himself anymore.

The knight's screams filled the Ghostly Ether, resonating like tormented ghosts trapped in a flask. Zelda stepped forward to try and comfort or help Link, but was stopped by Knil's warning. Howling his plight up into the air, Link locked his eyes shut when the searing chill spread from behind his eyeball back into his head. The worst migraine he's ever experienced finally beat the man's legs out from under him and he fell to his knees. His screams persisted, because his Spirit was instinctively fighting against the dark creature wedging itself into his Hylian vessel. The bangs and wisps of hair on the right-side of Link's face were being sapped of colour, slowly turning white. The ice in his skin crawled up to his shoulder and wrapped itself around his collarbone, ushering another howl of pain from the knight.

Then he collapsed forward and stilled.

Unable to stand back any longer, Zelda rushed forward and fell to her knees and began to turn Link over.

"Link?! Link!" she cried, fear seeping into her face while she managed to flip the man onto his back.

The knight's face looked the same aside from the fact that half of his bangs and a streak of his hair had turned ghostly white. The skin of his fingertips of his right hand were coloured a light grey and when Zelda cupped his face, his cheeks felt both hot and cold to the queen's touch.

"LINK! Can you hear me?" Desperation was edging into Zelda's tone and around her the Ghostly Ether's mists were thickening.

Link's eyes suddenly snapped open to reveal one blue… and one glowing red. A wicked smile spread across the man's lips. Zelda gasped in surprise and flinched her hands away. Before she could react further, the knight snaked his arm around her waist and he pulled her closer to press his lips against her. Or rather… he tried to, except for the fact that Link slapped his left hand over his own mouth.

"GET YOUR FILTHY HAND OFF OF HER!"

Link's muffled words were brimming with hate and wrath. Zelda pulled herself away and fell back on her backside and looked on in controlled horror as her knight writhed and growled with animalistic malice as his left arm wrestled with his right. Link was half blind and had no control over his right arm, but that didn't stop his spiritual nature from fighting the foreign entity in his body.

"ARGH! Just-! Just let-! FUCK!"

The darker tone of the knight's growly voice had to be Knil. Link thrashed in the sand, digging his boot heels deeply into the beach. His face was contorted between fury and wild glee and his hands were interlocked in a knuckle-cracking grapple.

"Knil! Link! Stop this!" Zelda's commands shook from her freight.

Link's left eye opened to peer at his queen followed by his new crimson right one. His arms shook before their engaged hands tore apart and dropped to the sand, his fingers gouging the beach. Breathing heavily and trembling, Link focused on Zelda staring down at him with fear-filled eyes as his skyrocketed heart rate failed to slow. If this kept up, the Hylian ran the risk of cardiac arrest. Aggrieved grunts escaped his lips past his unsteady breaths and he swallowed loudly.

"How-?!"

"Well if you quit acting like a horse's ass! This will be a LOT EASIER!"

Breathing through his clenched teeth, Link snarled in the back of his throat. Against his instincts and judgement… he mentally accepted the cold. He had to… for her. Numbness spread down his left arm, replacing the frigid chill. After what seemed like an eternity (when it was only about a minute), Link flexed his right fingers and reopened his eyes. His body felt… whole, yet wasn't. His right arm faintly tingled, like he had slept on it for an entire night and it was just starting to wake up. However, somehow he could tell that his injuries had healed, or at the very least weren't bleeding with severity anymore. Maybe Dark Link's power had knitted the torn muscle and skin together, which was at least one positive outcome. Struggling to sit up, Zelda crept to his left side to hesitantly set her hand upon his shoulder to help him.

"Link? Or… Knil?"

"It's me…" the knight replied, pausing before looking at her with his newfound complete heterochromia iridum. "Link… I'm Link…" he muttered before blinking his eyes, particularly his right one, as if something was irritating him. His vision was still incomplete, but now he could partly see through his right eye, though the image was becoming clearer. He was able to lift his right hand, but struggled to flex his fingers.

"As time passes, our minds will meld and you'll regain full use of your eye and arm… until I need it, of course… I'll see what you see and we will think as one."

Link scoffed and groaned.

"Don't tell me I'm going to be speaking for the both of us like some lunatic."

"No," Knil replied, "I will become a voice in your head once we leave here. Until then, it'd be rude of me not to speak aloud and disallow you, my lovely Zelda, from hearing me."

Zelda arched her brow and searched her knight's face, noting his two-tone hair and eyes. His skin remained the same, which meant that perhaps only his arm had become greyed.

"You tried to kiss me," she accused simply.

"I didn't," Link scoffed.

"I couldn't resist," Knil admitted with a chuckle.

Link could feel Dark Link's consciousness infiltrating his mind and his spiritual awareness screamed at him to keep his most valuable secrets private. Specifically, Link DID NOT want Dark Link anywhere near the carnal knowledge of his and Zelda's forays into lovemaking. For now he could keep Dark Link out from poking his head past a few proverbial locked doors, but the stronger their connection grew, the more keys the bastard was surely going to find.

Shaking his head, Link squinted up at the sky and saw they were now surrounded by a thick fog. The light was faded and their area of beach was shrinking.

"We'll soon be kicked back out into the Light World. We have a few more minutes at most."

"I know," Link responded, before creasing his brow in annoyance. Ignoring the ridiculousness of the situation, the knight forced his wavering attention onto Zelda who was reaching over to grab something from the sand. "Zel-?"

"What's the plan for when we return?" Zelda asked, reaching up to Link's right ear to remove his turquoise earring.

"I will protect you from the water," Knil reassured, his right eye arching his brow as he watched her set the turquoise ring into her empty right earlobe.

"Once the waters recede and it's safe to do so, Zelda, I need you to reconnect with everyone and get back to the Windfall! You need to get off of the island!"

"But-" Zelda began slowing in her mission of placing Knil's ruby earring into Link's right ear.

"We're right, Zelda. With that Sand-Bitch wounded, or dead, the Tulul will most likely retreat with being freed from her control."

"That gives you the best chance to escape and get back to the mainland."

The Hyrulean Queen looked between her knight's crimson and blue eyes, noting how Knil and Link were quickly blending. Only slight tonal changes alerted her to which knight was speaking: Link speaking with his calm seriousness and Knil's words dripping with sarcasm, crudeness, and unfiltered adoration.

"Without the Windfall, how will you return?" Zelda's question rang with hope: indicating that she expected him to return to Hyrule and to her.

"Don't worry, Zelda my love," Knil replied and Link's mouth half-smirked. "We have a shortcut back to Hyrule! Don't we, Goat Fucker?"

"I… hate you…" Link grunted through clenched teeth, but lifted his left wrist to brandish his Mirror of Twilight bracelet. Zelda had noticed the bracelet before but had completely forgotten about it due to their intimacies.

The fog was thickening and was closing in on all sides. The only light that remained was a hollow of faint white light surrounding Zelda and her hero. They had a minute, maybe less.

Link's left hand came to the side of Zelda's face and her slightly panicked eyes met his. The man smiled and his right hand tenderly swept a stray strand of her hair from her face: whether this was Knil or Link was impossible for the queen to tell.

"Zelda. Listen to me, please... Return to Hyrule and don't look back. Don't wait for us-... me. You succeeded in your mission, you brought me back from the brink of death, and I will never be able to thank you enough. You need to live, Zelda, no matter what! For Hyrule… and for us."

"Do not come back for us!"

Knil and Link, it seemed, were in agreement.

Still caressing his queen's soft cheek, her knight leaned closer. His eyes became heavy, but just as his lips were about to meet Zelda's Link forced himself to turn his head away. He ignored Knil's internal tantrum, and instead Link embraced Zelda and held her close. There was no way in hell he was going to allow Dark Link kiss Zelda in his own body, even if Link longed to taste her lips one more time himself. His beautiful queen leaned into his embrace and clung to him with her eyes closed. The fog fell upon them and darkness descended as the Ghostly Ether collapsed.

Then there was quiet.

And nothingness.

Until… the queen and her knight returned to the midst of chaos and were almost immediately consumed by a tidal wave's worth of black seawater.

---

A/N:

Wah-wah-what!?

Haha! That's right! Chapter 29 is in the bag... unexpectedly! Surpise!

Okay, I have a confession. This chapter was not supposed to end the way it did. I FULLY intended when I planned out my final chapters that Chapter 29 was supposed to lead into the "final battle" scene. However... Link, Dark Link and Zelda decided to talk for 14,000+ words so... yeah! I decided to stop it where I did and created a Bottle Chapter/Episode! So much exposition and sass!

I hope that folks enjoy this chapter and don't mind the scene! I love writing dialogue, hence why this beast turned out the way it did. I hope that things all make sense! This chapter reveals seeds that I planted YEARS AGO in previous chapters. I'd love to discuss them with folks in the comments! I REALLY want to FINISH this story and I do feel bad that I went... 10 months without posting? I'm trying to ride this train for as long as I can, so Chapter 30 will be started really quick!

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