‘Ani’ was just a few miles out of the way, now, gaining speed as she got closer to the castle. This ‘other Ani’ seemed confused, but just as infatuated with Hyrule as the original- knew all the monsters, the lay of the land, and something she never expected.

You know how?

“I would be able to use the power, but in this body, they are not awakened.”

Yeh... wouldn’t help that much anyway, I’m really weak.

“In body, but at least you have a decent amount of knowledge.”

Right... I’m an idiot too, so whatever.

“So critical of yourself.”

How much longer until we get back?

“Not much longer now... an hour at best.”

Cool... Hey! How come you’ve never come out before?

“I could not make contact with you, even though we inhabit the same vessel.”

What triggered it, then?

“That structure, apparently.”

What was it?

“I do not know... but it feels very familiar... As if I have been there before, but I ... do not recall.”

There was a long pause after the others response. Fed up with the silence, Ani spoke up again.

Do you think they’re worried?

“Who?”

Link, and Sheik, and Zelda... that I haven’t come back yet?

“I am not sure. Perhaps,... You are a necessity.”

Ani nodded mentally, her body still in a light jog. Without warning, something hit her like a slap in the face.

Wait! I noticed something weird about it, it kinda looked like Ganons old castle... is he back!? Is that why they need me? ...To seal him again?

“That would be the case.”

Damn... they never even told me... I’m gonna bust some ass when I get back!

“If I allow you to take control again.”

You- ...That’s not fair! C’mon!

“If you want to awaken your power, I suggest that you allow me to keep control for a while... I have not had a physical form in so long.” Her eyes raised to look at the sun setting at an angle from the castle. “...Hyrule looks so different...”

You’ve been here before?

No reply.

Come on!

She shook Ani’s head.

Fine, be that way! ...My body and you just take over, nir nir nir...

She continued to mock the woman with an odd high-pitched voice, as well as odd noises.

~~

Paced steps echoed on the ebony marble floor that could even be heard from the entrance hall of the dark structure.

“She was here...” A voice muttered with the pacing steps. A cloaked man was stepping along the circumference of the black insignia etched into the center of the room. “You came in contact with her...” The man drew out every syllable when he spoke, taking out their very essence. His arm was drawn out and pointed towards a darkened corner of the large room.

“You attacked her, but did not bring her back with you?” The man’s hand fell back to his side, concealed once more by the cloak.

It was Ganondorf’s turn to speak. “He was not ordered to. My control over him is limited to basic body control; he is devoid of thoughts he was not given.”

The man stopped pacing and turned his hooded head to face Ganondorf. One of his eyes was visible against lightly tanned skin, strands of dark hair falling around it. The pupil was thinner than a normal one, but still as a slit against the silver outer rim. Inside of the silver was a bright gold. “I understand this, but there is always me. I am more persuasive than you.”

Ganondorf nodded. “Even so, I don’t think it wise to do that just yet; his puppet state seems better for now.”

“Very well...” The cloaked man turned to Dark Link in the dark corner, he was barely visible with his own cloak. “Go and find the girl; the eighth sage. She should still be nearby...”

Without a response Dark Link dashed out of the structure in a blur. “Now,” The man turned back to Ganondorf after watching Dark Link exit. “What are you planning to do with her?”

“With her, if not dead, then at least on my side I can stay out for as long as I wish.” He responded, getting comfortable on the thick marble.

“I see... What fun can be had when time is on one’s side.” A smirk played across what was visible of the mans face, but it wasn’t cold- more like a playful grin.

“Also, so long as they cannot enter this place with her, we’re safe. They don’t even realize that this is her temple.”

“Again, most things are on our side, but...” He trailed off.

“But, what?” Ganondorf tried to provoke an answer.

“There is still the matter of Dark Link; He’s fighting back. He should not be doing that, are you losing your touch?” The man seemed to not even take a quick breath in the entire sentence.

“Doubtful.” Ganondorf scoffed. “I was not sealed away for so long that I have grown weak. Perhaps my absence has just made Dark Link stronger?”

“Perhaps... But the girls power... it is aiding him. He cannot stay around her for to long. Though her power is sealed, she still emanates a great deal of energy, allowing him longer breaks in your control each time. Dark Link nearly walked away from her last time and they even held a conversation.”

“Yes, it is troublesome... We shall have to keep her in the lower section. He won’t be able to get in there, even if I’m not in control of him.”

“Good.” He rose a hand to flick a few strands of hair away from his eye. “She seems interesting... I’d like to find out more about her.” He smiled, words and eyes filled with an eerie warmth that seemed unbefitting.

~~

You realize that this is exploitation!?

Again, no response came from the woman in Ani’s body. She continued to walk, just outside of the castle walls getting closer to the outer enclosing fence.

What do you think they’ll do when you waltz in and aren’t weird like me?

She paused, remaining stationary as she held her hand around the cold black steel of the fence. “...I shall just have to act like you, then.”

How do you intend to do that when you’re all ‘olde’ English, can’t do a southern accent, let alone an American one, and don’t know all of my vocabulary?

The woman fell silent, eyes gazing at the ground behind the fence. “...You make a good argument.”

So you’ll let me have my body back? Her voice was filled with childish glee, even with the thick echoing of the mental speak.

“No.” Was her simple response, and she climbed over the fence after getting a good foothold.

WHAT?! Oh, come on! After all that you’re still gonna be a bitch about it, just ‘cause you haven’t been alive for a damn long time or something?!

She stopped walking again, eyes wide. “...Alive...? I have... not?” Her hand slowly crept towards her mouth, covering it with her parted fingers. She convulsed and fell to her knees, using the castle wall as a crutch.

“They... Goddesses said... ,” Ani cut her off.

Goddesses? You were with the Goddesses?! Who the hell were you, anyway?!

She continued with her scrambled logic. “Said I would... be sleeping... Ryo, she-...” The woman fell silent again, dropping her hand to the ground just like her gaze.

...Ryo? ...Wait, who’s Ryo?

“Din... Nayru... Farore... .....Ryo... ...”

Another long paused followed this as Ani tried to comprehend who this woman could have been if she had met the Goddesses, as well as who this Ryo person was.

The hoarse voice of a soldier cut both of their thoughts short. “I heard someone over here!”

Fuck...

“Where have you been?” One of them said as they helped the downed ‘Ani’ to her feet. She was shaking terribly.

Another said, “They’ve been worried sick, you know.”

“...Link... Zelda... and Sheik...?” She muttered, forced by Ani so she would seem more herself.

“Of course! You are very important.” One other spoke up.

“How does she keep escaping, anyway?” The last of them muttered to another.

~~

Ani had been confined to her room once again after a loud ‘discussion’ of her escapes, mostly lead by Zelda. Ani had forced the woman to retort a few times, but had gotten no information out of it. Link hadn’t even bothered to speak with her about it, but Sheik had joined in with Zelda.

They’re gonna yell at me, but they’ve been lying to me this whole time... What the hell is up with that?!

She paused for a moment, but continued in a much calmer tone.

You never told me your name...

The woman didn’t respond immediately, she was infatuated with a knot in the wood floor, or at least that was where her eyes were drawn too. “...Lirin...”

Lirin? Heh... cool... What did you mean earlier? The Goddesses? ...Said you were sleeping?

She exhaled sharply as her response.

Ani nodded mentally, thinking it best not to pry on that subject at the moment.

So... Why are you in my body? ...Psh, and when can I get it back? She was trying to hold a more bubbly tone in the latter half of her question, but failed at it.

“...I am you... in a sense...” She let herself fall back onto the cushion of the bed, now watching the ceiling. “...But I am not...”

You’re me but not? ..Riddle?

“If you would think about it, it is not as difficult as it comes off... I was you. Had your position, at any rate... but that was...,”- Her eyelids drooped-“...So long ago...”

You were the original!?

“Please not so loud... I have a headache already...”

I’ve got a headache... She confirmed haughtily. Wow... The original sage of oblivion is in my head? Do you know how fucking trippy that is!? Her laugh echoed.

“And yes... I am- ...Was the sage of oblivion, but that has been appointed to you- my reincarnation.”

Ani paused, looking dumbstruck in the back of her own mind.

Re... incar-...nation? ...You’re my past life?!

“So it would seem.” Lirin replied flatly.

Lirin... When can I get my body back...? I can’t stand this...

“Once I am used to your body... Also... I am not certain I can relinquish my control to you... I have never been in this situation before- please don’t yell.”

She stopped Ani just as soon as she opened her mouth.

Great... What if I’m stuck like this forever?!

“I doubt that,” Lirin scoffed again, sitting up and stretching in similar way to Ani’s- cracking most of the crack able joints. “It should only last until either your power is awakened,”-she stood-“Or we go back to that building.”

You said it seemed familiar, ...right?

“Yes... an aura that I remember well.”

Did you have a temple?

Lirin paused before answering again. “...No. ...I do not think so, but... “

Hard to remember?

She nodded.

Don’t worry about it... We’ll find out eventually anyway... I think we both need some rest now, though...

“That is the most sane thing you have said this entire trip.”

Ani laughed, but yawned in the middle of it.

Yeh, yeh... Make me go to sleeeep!

“Very well.” Lirin got up and blew the two candles out that were lit from atop the dresser and crawled beneath the covers, not even bothering to change from Ani’s clothes into the night ones.