Chapter Five

“Ghost beneath the Surface”


The building pierced through the storm clouds.

The building was the tallest skyscraper ever to grace Hyrule, much less, the world. It was built on the same spot Link’s Tower once stood in. Link was staring out at the window overlooking the city below him. It was raining again. The sky as black as ever…

Link wore the attire of this era. Black.

He wore a black overcoat on top of his black undershirt. His long pants were black as well. Lightening tore at the sky and exposed his still youthful face from the shadows.

He murmured, “Ganondorf…what are you up to now?” The door behind him opened and in stepped Kiara, her staff strapped to her back. She stopped beside him and gazed out the window as well.

“It seems there is a correlation between Shadow and Light.” Kiara said.

“Oh?” Link didn’t turn to face her.

“It seems a big shot from whichever side has managed to bridge a connection between Light and Shadow. Normally, this would only have a subtle effect. But the connection has been kept alive for much too long. The effect, as you can see, is that the two are starting to merge.” Kiara explained.

Link closed his eyes and said, “…It’s funny how we ended up in this sort of mess. Two realities created by two naïve little kids trying to stop an evil Gerudo from obtaining the Triforce.”

Link scoffed at the thought, “The Zelda I know isn’t the same Zelda I knew when I first pulled that Master Sword from its pedestal. I wonder what happened to her when she sent me back to my own timeline.” He shook his head, “Either she simply didn’t exist anymore…or she really lived on without me.”

He opened his eyes again, “If I had known this would’ve happened I would never have let her send me back. I should’ve stopped her. I never should have given her the ocarina. I should never have sealed the connection between the two timelines and create these two realities.”

“Time Travel is confusing,” Kiara said, watching the rain splatter against the window, “No one could’ve predicted anything like this to happen. No one has figured out how to travel through time without having any adverse effects.”

“Except for the sages, of course,” Link said, “the first generation of sages predicted the clash between Light and Shadow…They forged that damn ring, they created the Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. They set it all up since the beginning. I want to know why.”

“Someone’s coming.” Kiara said, turning around. Link nodded slowly and turned as well.

“Enter.” Link said.

The two giant doors opened slowly to reveal Isaac.

Isaac strolled in and knelt down on one knee.

“You summoned me, your highness?” Isaac said, looking at the ground.

“State your progress.” Link commanded. Isaac paused for a moment before speaking, “Thus far, we have yet to locate your daughter, and the items you requested, sir, are also unknown as of this moment.”

“My patience is growing thin, Isaac.” Link threatened without raising his voice or changing his cool tone, “You have yet to prove your worth.”

“I apologize, sir.” Isaac said, making sure to not look Link in the eyes.

Link thought for a moment, “I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself.”

“Name it.” Isaac replied quickly.

Vale sat on the side of the bed, looking out the window. The walls were bare, nothing to symbolize anyone actually living in that room beforehand.

There was only a bed and two dressers. There was a lamp beside the bed on the dresser, but it was turned off, setting the room in a dark blue haze of shadowed silhouettes.

“Daphnes is already searching for Nayru’s Pearl.” Vale murmured, watching lightening slice the sky, “he’s getting the job done quicker than I am…I still have no clue where the three spiritual stones are.” She puts her head down, “I need a clue. A sign…anything.”

There was a knock on her door. She looked up quickly and turned to the door. She strolled towards the door and unlocked it.

She parted the door slightly and looked through the narrow opening. She saw Drake.

She backed up and opened the door wider. She asked, “What is it?”

Drake looked over her shoulder and at the room, “I’m just checking in on you. I wanted to make sure you’re feeling okay.”

“Oh, well…thanks. I’m fine.” Vale replied with a faint smile.

Drake looked at her in disbelief, “I can’t believe Kale let you sleep in Ayumi’s room.”

Vale shrugged, “He kept insisting. I don’t think I had a choice.” Vale lowered her voice, “How’s Sarah?”

Drake smiled and said, “She’s doing fine, why?”

“She still doesn’t trust me, right?” Vale asked.

Drake sighed, “Yeah, she’s still suspicious about you.” He admitted.

Vale lets out a sigh as well, “I guess it couldn’t be helped…I do look like my TWIN sister, after all. What about everyone else? Why do you guys trust me so easily?”

“Well,” Drake began, “I can’t speak for everyone else, but you’re obviously a different person, although I jumped the gun at first. You have a totally different aura than your sister’s. I can’t explain it.”

“…What about my eyes?” Vale asked. Drake looked at her eyes and said, “Huh, I never noticed that before. You have green eyes. Nice. I guess that’ll help when telling you two apart…Unless she wears contacts.” He realizes that he had trailed off topic. He cleared his throat and said, “Just relax. You can’t expect to instantly earn her trust. You have to prove that we can count on you. Give her some time.”

Vale’s eyes wandered to his hand and she notices something. “What’s that on your hand?” she asked. Drake raised his left hand and said, “This? I always had it. It’s the half of the Triforce, I guess.”

Vale fought back her excitement, “Do you know what it does?”

Drake blinked, “Why? Do you?”

Vale laughed, having gotten the lead she needed, “Take that, Daphnes!” she yelled. Drake blinked.

Vale looked around quickly and grabbed Drake by the wrist. She pulled him in and shut the door.

Isaac walked out of the room. The doors shut behind him.

Kiara and Link were on the other side of the door. Kiara turned to Link, “I don’t trust him.” she said.

Link raised a brow and looked at her, “Whys that?”

“He asks too many questions.” Kiara stated, “He’s hiding something.”

Link smiled, “Don’t fret, Kiara. That’s the reason I gave him the assignment. To test his loyalty to me…”

Kiara looked at Link. Link gently cups his left hand under Kiara’s chin, making her look up at him, “I’ve seen this trick before. If all goes according to plan,” he lets go and turns back to the window, “It’ll end the same way, as well.”