The door creaked open for a short lifetime, and when it finally rested he was greeted with the sight of about a dozen knights in full armor lined up shoulder-to-shoulder and two deep across the entryway, restricting access to the rest of the castle. He stepped through and the door immediately began to swing shut with another extended groan.
Between him and the guards stood an elderly knight, also in full armor but for the helmet. "No one's knocked on that door in any of our lifetimes. Nearly scared the daylights outta me, sonny," he admonished lightly, and then he just… stared.
After a moment, one of the guards cleared his throat pointedly. "Argus."
"Eh? Oh, right. Sorry; we were expecting you to come to the castle eventually, see, just not through the front door. Seems every time we get some news lately it's about you and your adventures. Just about exactly how I'd pictured you; not as dark, maybe. Now, before we let you wander around the castle, can you show us where you've been Marked by the Goddess Farore?"
The Triforce outline had become much more prominent, and a series of soft clanks accompanied the knights lowering their weapons and relaxing, though they didn't unblock the entryway.
"Well, I'll be," Argus marveled aloud.
"So I should've used the back entrance?" Shadow Link asked, lowering his hand.
"Oh, no; that's no better. Can't even get deliveries that way anymore; without that hidden passage, we'd have been starved out of the castle long ago."
The Shadow frowned. "Hidden passage?"
"Oh, sure. Runs safely underground all the way from New Castle Town right up by the Guards' Chamber in the basement."
"Of course it does," Shadow Link sighed. "Well, I'll certainly do so from now on. That was a pain in the ass. Among other places."
Argus chuckled. "I'm sure it was. Ain't safe out there, that's for sure. Well, all right, everything seems to be in order. Captain," he said, turning to a knight who stepped forward quickly and nodded, "escort our visitor to the library."
The captain stepped forward and nodded to Argus, then turned toward Shadow Link. "This way," he said, then turned and began walking. The Shadow followed, and half the guards present fell into step alongside and behind him.
Down corridors and hallways they went, up stairwells, past a vast dining hall that looked to have the beginnings of dinner being laid out, and all sorts of mid-sized chambers, smaller rooms, and hallways until they reached the grandest library he would likely ever see.
Bookcases lined nearly the entire space— a vast room with two floors of high arches and ornate columns that held large torches for both light and warmth, multiple desks and reading nooks with cozy-looking furniture, and featuring what seemed like all of the books that had ever been written in the entire history of Hyrule.
The cavernous quality provided by the high, cathedral-like ceiling lent a feeling of solitude to the space despite the guards standing sentry near the closed door. With nothing to do but wait, Shadow Link wandered over to browse the titles on the nearest bookshelf— only to turn a moment later when another door opened to admit another dozen knights. He frowned, as the amount of guards now present seemed like a bit of overkill, but the reason soon presented itself as a stately, older man with a well-groomed head full of white hair entered.
Even without the golden crown it would be obvious that this was the high ruler of the land, King Rohm Bosphoramus Hyrule— his clothes were clearly tailored from sturdy, high-quality fabrics, fit his tall, robust frame perfectly, and were accented with intricate embroidery in golden thread. He also carried himself with a confidence and sense of power that had the potential to be quite intimidating. His face was neutral, though his eyes held a sharp, assessing look as they honed in on the Shadow.
"So. You are the Shadow who became the Hero."
"I am."
"Mm. Highly unusual," the king said, stroking his beard with a thoughtful frown.
"So I keep hearing. But it's been made abundantly clear to me that it's necessary, and there's no one else to do it, and it's by my hand Link's gone so here we are."
"Hmm. Yes, I understand. It is an enormous responsibility to shoulder, and you have certainly earned our respect and gratitude for having done so," Rohm praised, sounding sincere. "You know, I knighted young Link myself and appointed him as my daughter's personal guardsman before he was Chosen and left to fulfill his fate. He came to the castle quite young and spent nearly all of his life in service to the kingdom. He was a truly exceptional swordsman."
"I can attest to that fact personally."
"Hmph. Indeed. And yet you managed to best him, so it follows that you are also particularly skilled with a blade."
Shadow Link acknowledged the fact with a nod.
"In fact, we've been told that you held your own against Ganondorf himself but a few days ago." Admiration flashed in the king's eyes, brief but unmistakable.
"I did, and you should know that he told me that he plans to—"
"Wait, wait, hold on a moment," the king interrupted, holding up a hand. "My advisors are en route; if you would keep your tale until they arrive, you won't have to repeat yourself."
Shadow Link nodded again and stayed silent.
"You know, you are not quite as I had pictured you," Rohm said thoughtfully. "Young Impa tells me you change color slightly when you laugh?"
"Among other times, yes. I appear to be getting lighter. It really just looks like the Mark is getting darker to me, but it's probably a combination of the two," he said with a shrug, suppressing a smile at the king using similar nomenclature as what he'd come to in his head for the multiple generations of Impas.
Rohm asked to see his Mark, then hummed and nodded when shown. "Excellent. It seems that the flow of information reaching us remains accurate. Always good to verify now and again."
Two more doors opened and closed somewhere on opposite ends of the upper level, but only one set of footsteps accompanied the new arrival(s) down the corridor to the stairs and then Princess Zelda came into view. With her— making no noise as they walked— were Impa-the-Younger and a slightly older woman who could only be Impa's mother.
All three of the women were approximately the same height and general build, and they walked with a similar lithe grace. Zelda had long, yellow-gold hair, and the highlight of her winsome features were the bright green eyes that locked on Shadow Link as soon as they found him, though her expression remained blank. The Impas could be white-haired, red-eyed twins if not for the soft lines around the elder's eyes and mouth.
"Ah, good; we're all here," King Rohm said, clasping his hands behind his back while Zelda and Middle Impa came to stand on either side of him. He introduced them both, adding, "I believe you already know Young Impa."
The Sheikah maiden came forward and grasped his forearm with a warm smile and a deliberate touch to his hand that was obviously for the king's benefit. "It's good to see you again, Shadow Link."
He nodded at her in return.
"You've had quite the adventures since we last met," she said, moving to stand next to the princess.
"I have, and I'm sure you don't even know the most important parts yet," he warned, then took them through Zant's tale, his confrontation with Ganondorf, discovering Midna's fate, and destroying the jewel in which she'd been imprisoned. "She's been fighting by my side ever since because she can't go home quite yet."
"Why not?" Zelda broke her long silence to ask.
"I wasn't able to free her all the way."
"What do you mean?" Young Impa asked.
Her mother inquired, "Where is she now?"
"This is most unusual," put in Rohm, looking concerned.
"She's in my shadow, but she reformed the jewel in my sword so she can still lend her power to it. She's stuck as an imp because she wouldn't let me destroy the Fused Shadow on her head."
All four of the people directly in front of him, and likely several guards behind, exhibited the same confused expression. It was Young Impa who asked, "What does that mean? Where exactly is Midna?"
A flash of turquoise at his feet drew a few gasps and put the guards on alert, weapons at the ready. Every eye in the room snapped to the imp, floating at head level near his shoulder. She rolled her visible eye and put her hands on her hips. "I have to say, so far the hospitality of Hyrule has been sorely lacking."
"Oh, my," Zelda gasped.
"Princess Midna of the Twilight Realm?" the king boggled.
"King Rohm Bosphoramus Hyrule," Midna replied with a nod. "I'd say it's good to meet you, but I'll save it for when I'm back to normal and can look you in the eye without floating."
"Yes, of course. Uh, welcome to Hyrule," he finished somewhat lamely before introducing the women again. Young Impa came forward to shake the imp's hand first, coming away with a small, satisfied smile after and a nod for the king, who finally waved the guards off without tearing his gaze away from the visiting princess. "Stand down. We've no enemies in this room," he ordered as Mother Impa and Zelda greeted Midna.
The elder Sheikah asked, "Do you know how to remove the helmet without destroying it?"
"No," the imp replied, "and I must take it back with me. We'll most likely have to destroy Ganondorf, and with him the magic holding it in place."
"Oh, well, if that's all," Shadow Link snarked, drawing a smirk from Young Impa, but a confused look from Zelda.
"You've already beaten two of the four elemental trials," she said. "Continuing on as you have been is the surest course to finding the Triforce."
"Imprisonment isn't the answer," Shadow Link asserted. He looked at the princess. "Reform the Champions' Guild. We have to destroy Ganondorf for good."
"I think you are correct." Her face went from looking concerned to determined. "Which means the time for study has ended. I must increase my efforts to awaken Hylia."
"Now, Zelda…" the king began, but she cut him off.
"No, Father." The steel in her voice should have surprised him, but it didn't. "It is clear that our Destiny is upon us. I must do all that I can in defense of the kingdom. Send out emissaries to the four kingdoms that we shall need their Champions to begin preparations for battle. I shall begin my own preparations to travel to the Great Goddess Statues."
The library was engulfed in commotion, most of it cautionary or outright negative and coming from the king. None of it had any effect on Zelda. It was clear from the set of her jaw that she was mulishly set on her course of action.
Shadow Link met her eyes. "I understand. But you should know that Ganondorf is planning something nefarious with what he referred to as princesses— plural."
"I can vouch for that," Midna said. "In more ways than one."
Zelda's jaw remained set and she shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I must go."
The king's brow furrowed mightily. "Was there any indication of what he's planning?"
Both Midna and the Shadow shook their heads. "No," he answered, "but he's already responsible for imprisoning both Midna and Mipha, so if you're going on a journey, Princess," he said, turning to Zelda, "you need to be on your guard at all times."
"I'll be going with her," Young Impa assured him.
"I'd expect no less," Rohm agreed with a nod. "Thank you."
Impa's mother spoke up. "It has been a while since I returned to Kakariko, so I will leave with you."
"Very well," the king nodded. "Safe travels, all of you," he said, though he looked directly at Zelda, of course. Oddly, there was no talk of taking a contingent of guards.
"No need," Impa told him. "Zelda and I often travel together alone. She goes in disguise and no one even knows it's her. Guards would not only slow us down but also announce our presence to all and invite trouble."
That gave Shadow Link an idea. He fished out the jar containing the Fairy he'd picked up before receiving Mipha's Grace, holding it out to the princess. "You should take this. It's dangerous out there, and you'll be needed to defeat Ganondorf."
There were a few beats of dead silence in the room as every single eye fixed on him.
"That is… incredibly generous of you… Shadow Link," a wide-eyed Zelda offered hesitantly as she took the jar. "Thank you."
He shrugged. "I have a charm from Mipha that does the same thing without leaving an awful taste in my mouth." His mouth twisted and he shuddered a little at the unpleasant memory. "It's all yours."
"Oh, my," Zelda said, eyebrows in her hairline. "How extraordinary."
King Rohm cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly. "Ahem. Indeed, yes. Well, then," he said, clapping his hands together once, "if there is nothing further," he paused to look around the small gathering, then continued, "let us adjourn for supper. You are both welcome to join us in the dining hall, and to stay in the castle as long as you please. One of the guards will show you to your room. Anything you need, simply ask."
The king and Impa's mother nodded at Shadow Link and their respective daughters and turned to leave together, taking the guards with them.
Zelda and Young Impa had remained. The princess eyed him curiously. "You really are nothing like I'd imagined, even with what Impa has told me."
"I'm full of surprises," he shrugged.
Midna chuckled, "You're certainly full of something."
"Pretty sure it's mostly sarcasm and spite," he said.
Impa snorted and Zelda huffed a nearly-silent laugh into her hand. "I really wasn't prepared for your sense of humor," the princess remarked. Her face fell slightly. "You remind me quite a bit of Link."
He frowned. "Maybe in some ways, but I'm no Hero. Once this is done, I have no interest in spending my life in service to the kingdom— or to anyone, for that matter."
"I see." It was Zelda's turn to frown. "You know, Link did not necessarily choose a life of knighthood, either. He came to the castle as a very young boy after his family perished in an attack on their homestead. He showed a definite aptitude with a blade and followed the path set for him not out of a sense of duty, but because he simply longed to feel connection, as all of us do. He accepted his Destiny, yes, but he struggled with it mightily. He felt deeply the heavy burden of the expectations of Hyrule, literally carrying the weight of the fate of the world on his shoulders. It was why he stayed silent in public after being Chosen— he was terrified of saying the wrong thing and tarnishing the people's image of their Hero."
His mouth twisted wryly. "Well, so much for that."
"Nah," Impa assured. "You're doing just fine."
Zelda tilted her head to the side for a moment as she looked at him, then nodded. "Yes, Impa, I believe I agree. Have you decided where you're headed next?" she asked him.
Shadow Link shrugged. "Didn't really choose many of the places I've been so far. Something came up and I went in that direction. Except Hateno; I did choose to head there."
Her face fell. "Oh. Right." She looked at him, but didn't quite meet his eyes. "I am not angry with you," the princess said, then amended, "anymore. I miss my friend, but I understand the circumstances and I don't hold it against you. You were simply the tool Ganondorf used."
He nodded, and was going to leave it at that but Midna reached out unexpectedly and flicked his ear. "Ow!" He rubbed his ear and glared at her.
She remained silent, but put her hand on her hip and pointedly rolled her eye toward Zelda.
Still frowning, he nonetheless ground out, "I am sorry for my part in your loss."
"Truly extraordinary," Zelda said with a small shake of her head. "Apology accepted. Safe travels to you, Shadow Link, and good luck in your quest."
He nodded. "Same to you."
Impa shook his forearm warmly before following Zelda from the library.
The room he was given in the castle was larger than his entire house in Hateno.
Consisting of a bedroom, a dressing room, and a bathroom, the large space was kept warm by several fireplaces, with heavy tapestries and large rugs lining the stone walls and floors to offer some insulation from the chill of the stone.
While he appreciated it, he couldn't help but shake his head at the excess. Royals, he thought.
"Adequate," Midna noted. It was easy to forget she had a palace of her own at home. "I'm starving." And that she was both a princess and an incredibly powerful being even while cursed. She produced another golden apple and devoured it, licking her fingers afterward.
He shook his head and went to find the dining hall, seeing the flash of color as Midna disappeared into his shadow.
Several delicious courses later, he plodded back to his room, overstuffed and yawning. Midna detached herself and found a lap blanket and comfy chair to curl up on and he slid into the large and incredibly comfortable bed.
He awoke some time later, confused at first as to what had roused him but an odd glow drew his focus to the huge fucking wolf sitting on its haunches near the door to the hallway. Golden light surrounded the ethereal canine that was simply staring at him, and a simple, hauntingly beautiful melody played softly in the air.
He sat up in bed, eyes sliding over Midna's slumbering form on their way to meeting the wolf's. The music increased in volume as the animal stood, and something in its gaze made it clear it wanted him to follow as it turned and walked through the solid oak door.
Sure now that he was dreaming, he nonetheless rose to obey, trailing the luminescent lupine for what seemed like hours up and down what could possibly be nonexistent corridors and staircases.
At last, the wolf disappeared through a door that opened into a bright white space full of… clouds?
The door closed silently behind him and disappeared, leaving him in this odd dreamscape with the golden wolf staring at him. A moment later, the animal sauntered into the middle of the room, turned in a circle and began to grow taller.
In a blink he was faced with a shadowy, skeletal armored figure holding an enormous sword. The armor bore some unfamiliar iteration of the Hyrulean crest, as well as… moss and ivy hanging as though the knight had lain dormant on the ground and nature had begun to reclaim them. The armor seemed much more tangible than the person wearing it— in spots there appeared to be nothing at all, like the midriff, which was disconcerting as nothing seemed to join the top and bottom halves. There was something familiar about them… He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was a strange awareness gnawing at the back of his mind.
The semi-spectral knight spent a few moments sizing him up— there were no eyeballs, and only the left socket housed a small red glow— then readied sword and shield, obviously inviting attack.
Shadow Link suddenly found his own sword and shield in his hands— as if conjured by a thought he'd not had— and obliged, putting a decent amount of effort into the blow.
He was knocked down before he could even blink. "Whoa."
"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage and conviction," the knight said, facing him in a ready position once more. "To save Hyrule from the horror it now faces, you must learn the seven ancient techniques it is my duty to pass along."
Shadow Link rolled slowly to his feet and set his stance, but left his arms at his sides. "Yeah? Who the hell are you?"
The knight eased his stance, resting both palms on the pommel of his sword that was stuck in the ground before him. "I am the Hero's Shade, the embodiment of legacy and honor. I have vowed to impart my knowledge to one who possesses the spirit of the Hero but, alas, had no successor of my own and have been waiting some time for the opportunity."
Shadow Link frowned. "What does that mean? Are… were you Link?"
"Yes and no. I was known as Link, yes, but I did not originate in this Hyrule. I was sent back in time from my Hyrule— which had been nearly destroyed by Ganondorf's rule— to stop him before he became a problem, leaving my own timeline without a Hero and my new timeline without the need for one."
Shadow Link was assailed unexpectedly by a heaviness in his chest he couldn't explain… Sadness? But right along with it came a sense of wonder and even a little thrill— Navi had mentioned lots of other realms, but none of them had been named Hyrule… and time travel?
"It matters not," the spirit warrior said. It was unclear if he'd heard the thoughts or simply wished to move on. "You bear the Mark of the Goddess and so are deemed worthy to master the hidden techniques. Are you ready for the first lesson?" Receiving an affirmative nod, he challenged, "Take sword in hand." He waited until Shadow Link had done so, then said, "Enemies that are full of energy will recover quickly and attack again, even when stunned by a powerful strike. You can use the Ending Blow on a downed enemy to end their breath before they spring back into action."
The Shade demonstrated, then invited Shadow Link to try the move on him. He was successful on the first attempt, and stepped back as the knight regained his ghostly feet.
"Well done. You have mastered the first of seven skills. Use it well," the Shade advised, saluting him with his blade. "Dawn approaches. Go. We shall meet again."
His eyes opened again to find Navi hovering right in front of his face, tiny features scrunched up as she squinted at him. "Something happened; who visited your dream last night?" He'd never heard her so curious. He told her, and her eyes widened. "You were visited by the Hero of Time?! Oh, my goodness. Tell me everything."
He obliged and even Midna was intrigued, floating nearer as he explained. "We should test your new skill. Let's find wherever the knights train around here."
Shadow Link's stomach chose that moment to grumble loudly. "Ugh. In a bit. I'm going to find some breakfast and take care of some other needs first."
He walked into the dining hall a little while later to find Impa and Zelda already there. He helped himself to some eggs, bacon, seasoned mushrooms, and salty potatoes before asking Impa where he could train.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "I would think you'd practiced sufficiently yesterday fighting your way to the front gate."
He shrugged. "Do you know where it is or not?"
Now she cocked her head at him. "If you give me a minute, I'll lead you there and work out with you. I could use a good session before Zelda and I head out."
He agreed, and waited for her to reappear in the doorway before following her down a maze of stairways and corridors to what must be the basement. "Right through there is the tunnel to New Castle Town," she said, pointing.
He nodded, making a mental note of it, and a few moments later they entered a large room filled with all sorts of training equipment. The sounds of castle soldiers in mock battle— clanging swords and occasional laughter and good-natured yelling— leaked through a wide double-doorway that obviously led into another training area.
Impa stopped in the middle of a large, open area of the room obviously meant for sparring and spun to face him, kodachi in hand. "Let's see what you've got," she challenged with a sparkle in her eyes.
He drew his sword, and a flash of turquoise at his feet brought it to life.
Impa shook her head. "Magnificent." Then she grinned, holding out her hand and waving him toward her. "Come on."
Of course, he'd suspected she was a capable fighter but he was unprepared for her speed and agility. She was clearly skilled, and it took longer than he'd care to admit— as well as a little bump in power from Midna— to knock her down at last. He executed the Ending Blow perfectly, stopping the blade just short of piercing Impa's chest.
She grinned up at him. "Well done."
Movement in his peripheral vision drew his gaze to the doorway, but it was a mistake. Impa took advantage of his distraction to turn the tables on him, knocking him flat on his back. "Focus," she taunted.
"Fuck off. Who is that?" He asked as he climbed to his feet. The new arrival was dressed in blue and white, bearing the Sheikah Eye on their chest and entire face covered but for the green eyes watching him interestedly. Something about the person seemed familiar, as well, but he couldn't immediately place them.
"That's Sheik," Impa said. "Next to Link and myself— well, now you, of course— they are the most skilled warrior in Hyrule."
Shadow Link's eyebrows shot up. "No shit?" Then he smirked at the newcomer. "This is the first I'm hearing of you."
"Just as well," Sheik said. "Come. Test your might." The muffle over their mouth disguised their voice equally as well as their face, but the challenge was unmistakable.
"Okay," he shrugged, and attacked. Sheik, too, was incredibly skilled, and Shadow Link found himself concentrating very hard and exerting nearly-maximum effort to finally best his opponent.
"Adequate," Sheik allowed.
The Shadow snorted. "Says the person looking up at me from the flat of their back."
Sheik nodded, gaining their feet gracefully. "You are skilled. But you also failed to capitalize on at least five opportunities to strike that I can count."
He shrugged. "Still won." Damn it.
Sheik nodded, then assumed a ready position. "Again."
The three of them sparred for hours, each clearly impressed by and impressing the others, grudging though it might have been. Finally, Impa called a halt. "Whew! I'm starving. Let's get some lunch."
Sheik bowed and disappeared wordlessly and soundlessly from the room as quickly as they'd come, leaving Shadow Link and Impa making their way back to the dining hall where a vast spread of a variety of both cold and hot meats and vegetables, cheeses, and breads had been laid out.
They helped themselves, Midna picking curiously at a piece of yellow cheese on his plate and making a pleased sound when it hit her tongue. "Delightful. What plant does it come from?"
He shrugged; the origins of most things were outside his realm of knowledge.
"I can answer that," Zelda said from the doorway. She proceeded to explain how cows produced milk, and how that was further processed into cheese while she made her own plate and came to join them at the table.
She and Impa did not hesitate to include him in their conversation, though it was mostly travel plans and he merely nodded in the appropriate places, frankly more interested in the delicious sandwich he'd fashioned for himself.
There was a lull in the conversation, and he raised his eyes to find Zelda looking through him, appearing lost in thought. He noticed that her cheeks, forehead, and neck were flushed and the roots of her hair had little flyaway curls like he got when he'd been sweating. He probably had them now, as a matter of fact, which brought to mind the mysterious Sheik, who shared the same general build and fluidity of movement as Impa and Zelda. The princess refocused and shook her head, finally looking away, but the gears had already begun turning in his head.
After lunch, he and Impa returned to the training room to spar some more. A few minutes into their first round, Sheik appeared in the doorway once more, silently watching for a moment before unexpectedly jumping in to cross swords with both him and Impa. "The swarms of monsters don't take turns, why should we?" Sheik asked.
"Good point," Shadow Link paused, then gave voice to his hunch. "Princess."
Sheik's green eyes scrunched as though the face beneath the covering was smiling. "Excellent deduction. Father insisted I be trained in combat since he couldn't stop me from sneaking out when I was younger. Or since," she said. She didn't drop the face covering, though she did speak normally under it so now he recognized her voice. He wondered how many of the castle guards she'd bested in disguise.
"All of them," Impa chuckled. "Going a single round with Sheik is how many pages choose to earn their knighthood. The Captains of the Guard have each gone three rounds a piece to earn their rank." The pride in her voice made it clear she had been there with Zelda the whole way.
When they finally halted for dinner, Shadow Link was assured in both Impa's and Zelda's likelihood to survive whatever incidents arose in their travels; moreso thanks to the Fairy he'd given her. Also, they'd apparently been doing it for years before he'd come along. His respect for both women had ratcheted up a few notches each. These were no untested youths, they were warriors in their own right.
After they ate, they parted ways for the evening, the women informing him they'd be setting out in the morning.
"Until we meet again," Impa said, grasping his forearm and reaching up with her other hand to give his shoulder a squeeze.
"Safe travels," he bid them both before making his way back to his room to prepare for a bath— which turned out to be the most luxurious thing he'd ever subjected his body to.
He sank into the wide tub full of hot, soapy water and groaned at the glorious sensation.
When he finally emerged, the water was tepid and his skin was wrinkly and pale… er than normal.
"Do you think the Hero's Shade will visit you again tonight?" Midna asked.
He shrugged. "We'll see in a little bit, I guess," he said as he climbed into bed. He closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
He heard the soft song that surrounded the wolf before he even opened his eyes, and found himself humming along as they wandered the dream hallways.
"We meet again," the Hero's Shade greeted him. "You have a little more of the look of the Hero than you did before. Are you ready to learn the next Hidden Skill?"
Shadow Link nodded.
"Very well. My next lesson is the Shield Attack. No matter how well-tempered a blade is, if a foe is clad in armor and bears a shield, the sword will do minimal harm. When facing such a foe, thrust your shield against them to make them recoil. Open a hole in your enemy's defenses and then strike without hesitation."
The Shade demonstrated, then Shadow Link took his turn, executing the move perfectly and following up with a spinning attack.
"Excellent!" the Shade praised. "This move may also be used to repel enemies' projectile attacks. Prepare!"
And that was all the warning Shadow Link got before the knight sent a ball of energy hurling toward him. He deflected it reflexively and sent it back to the Shade, who let it knock him down.
"It seems you have used your shield in this manner before. Good. You will repel your enemies' attacks with ease," the Shade said, standing at ease. "Morning comes. We shall meet again."
"Well?"
He woke abruptly to find Midna hovering right above his head, face resting on both fists, Navi twinkling near her shoulder. "Good morning to you, too."
"Blah, blah," the imp dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Did the ghost visit you again?"
"He did."
"Great!" She said, clapping her hands once. "Let's eat so we can go train."
When they finally reached the training room, they found it nearly half full of people already mid-practice. Kampo was there, watching over several pages and squires as they sparred together and worked individually on techniques.
"Well, hello again!" the familiar knight greeted, raising his hand toward Shadow Link. He said something to his charges and made his way over while they kept at it. "Wow! You're so much lighter than when I last saw you. I heard you've been having quite the adventures. Looking for a sparring partner?"
Kampo sent him into the next room to train with the advanced knights, and Shadow Link kept himself busy all day, fighting and answering questions his various partners tossed his way. None of the knights balked at his appearance or made him feel unwelcome in any way. A sense of… camaraderie filled both rooms; the sounds of rigorous training mixed with bouts of boisterous laughter and good-natured teasing and lent an overarching positive air to the space, and when he settled down in bed that night, he found himself smiling.
"The third Hidden Skill is the Back Slice," the Hero's Shade told him that night. "A Shield Attack is no match for an enemy protected not just by a shield, but by a thick, full-body coat of armor. Such enemies are often focused on guarding against frequent frontal attacks— leaving their rear unprotected. To perform this move, roll around your foe, then execute a jumping slice. Observe."
The next night, Shadow Link learned the Helm Splitter: "It is difficult to perform a Back Slice against fully-armored enemies that move swiftly in combat. In those cases, after you use your Shield Attack to make them flinch, leap into the air over their head to greet them with your blade from behind."
Each day, Shadow Link would head to the basement to practice the new skill he'd picked up. He'd come to enjoy the routine, as well as the workout, and had gotten to know several of the knights by name and would even consider them friends. (The word still carried the echoes of rust and sharp edges in his mind, but he was slowly polishing it into something like the people it represented: Anly, Yunobo, Kampo, and even Midna and Navi.)
The next night the Hero's Shade said, "The three skills I have left to teach you have entered the realm of true secrecy. They are forgotten ways that do not leave our line."
Our line. It jarred the Shadow to think of having some form of ancestry; if he'd have had to put a label on it for some reason, he'd have called himself anchorless and ancestorless; an anomaly. Chosen out of necessity but not really one of the long line of Heroes. But apparently enough of Link had made its way into him that he qualified.
He nodded. "I understand." No practicing these with the knights. He was pretty sure he hid his disappointment.
"Very well. Then let us continue with the final three Hidden Skills. The ways of the sword are known to many creatures, and some have strengthened their guards against shield attacks and back slices. The Mortal Draw deals death. There is no defense against it. Take sword in hand."
The technique involved waiting until the enemy was almost too close before drawing and striking the vulnerable space between upper and lower armor in one quick move. Simple, yet incredibly effective.
"Next is the Jump Strike. If you fail to execute it, your life may be forfeit. A standard jump attack is effective against one foe at a time, but this skill is useful against all enemies in the immediate vicinity."
They clanged their swords together, but once they stepped back the Shade duplicated himself twice, and all three of them attacked. The move involved leaping in the air and twisting on the descent, and would leave his back unprotected in the midst of enemies if unsuccessful.
"The final lesson I have to pass on to you is the Great Spin. While you do not possess the Master Sword, your own blade hosts a great power that may be harnessed to use this forgotten skill, the ultimate secret technique. It tests the courage of the one who wields it, and may only be learned by the one true Hero." His voice and face held an expectant quality.
The Shadow frowned. "You do know that I'm not Link, right? I'm Shadow Link."
"You alone remain in defense of Hyrule and have mastered six of the seven Hidden Skills. This makes you the one true Hero. And you will need every skill available to you in the final battles you must face."
Shadow Link sighed. "All right. Let's do this."
"Very well. You already have in your repertoire a basic spin attack. I will now teach you to harness and amplify the power of the energy brimming within you to strengthen and increase the range and damage into a Great Spin." He demonstrated holding his blade before him until it glowed then spinning in a quick, devastating circle. They faced off, and the Shade split into three again.
The Shadow concentrated and felt an unexpected boost in his overall energy. His sword began to emit a silver glow and he executed the new move perfectly, knocking all the Shades down.
The Hero's Shade regained his feet, a single being once more, and sheathed his sword— the first time he had done so in all their meetings. "Although I had accepted life as the Hero, I could not convey the lessons of that life to those who came after, as I have explained previously that none did. At last, I have eased my regrets.
"You who have marched through countless foes, each mightier than the last… You who now gaze to the future with vision unclouded… Surely you can restore Hyrule to its stature of yore as the chosen land of the gods. Farewell. Go, and do not falter, my child."
The extra skills had taken more time to learn, and he didn't wake until after noon. He brought Midna and Navi up to date, deciding there was no further reason to tarry in the castle. After lunch, he headed to the basement to get in a final afternoon of practicing all but the last three Hidden Skills and bid farewell to Kampo and the other knights.
"Whoa," Kampo said by way of greeting. "Your tunic is showing some green."
Shadow Link looked down to find it was true— the gray in his clothes was slowly being overridden by… color.
"I thought I saw it a few days ago, but now I'm certain. It's gotten more obvious since you've been here, even," Kampo marveled. "And your eyes are more like a Sheikah's now. Little bloodshot, but distinct irises." He stuck out his hand for Shadow Link to shake. "Good luck to you, Shadow Link. I'm sure we'll see each other again."
The Shadow took his leave of the other knights in a similar fashion and left the Guards' Chamber feeling good but also slightly… melancholy. It followed him through dinner and into slumber, and he was glad that, for once, his sleep was blissfully devoid of visitors.