I

It's been a long time since I thought about him, but it was hard not to when watching a shadow puppet show in the ballroom of the castle, a single, long table sat at one end with a throne in the center for Zelda, me at her left, and the many other seats occupied by important guests. Hyrule has been peaceful for years, save for the bandit organization that still clings to existence despite us knights' best efforts. There's just no reason to think about my shadow anymore. I have Zelda to worry about, and my duties as head knight. Since my father retired it's been stressful, but challenging and fun to lead the knights of Hyrule. It's nice to have people looking up to me now as well, and the skills I learned from the four swords have made me a good leader, I think.

My name is Link. I'm known as the left-handed swordsman and captain of the knights, as well as the hero of the four sword. Quite the resume for someone who's only 17, but I try not to let the fame get to my head. I take my responsibilities seriously and contribute as much as the lowest rank. Hyrule doesn't owe me a rest just because I saved it, it's my job as a knight to be the best I can be and help anyone I can. For the most part that's fine with me, save for the nagging bit of Blue yelling for a reward.

Blue, ¼ of me. The angry, aggressive bit of me with little patience. There are others as well, I learned. 4, in fact. Red, who surfaces most when I'm around Zelda. The childish, playful, loving part of me has helped me a lot with my relationship. Vio is the patient, collected part of me that contributes strategy to my list of skills. Finally there's Green, who is the most evident normally. The responsible, heroic part that my knights and land require me to be.

It seems odd to be calling the different parts of my personality by name, but before my encounter with the four sword all four were always there. They were more evident as well, striking out at random times and making me an overall unharmonious person. Rude, independant, cocky, and stubborn, Blue and Vio, the two that, when separated, perhaps suffered the most discord, were the most prominent parts of me and many saw me as a stubborn brat.

When darkness attacked the land and I pulled the four sword the four parts of me separated, fought, abandoned, and abused each other. But after we got over our differences we began to work together as a team and banded together in harmony. That's why I've mellowed out now, become balanced.

But that's not how I saved the day.

No, it was the fifth, mischievous, mislead, outcast part of me that did that. The forgotten one who was more a part of me than I realised until he stepped up and, at the price of himself, became the hero.

The one Link I am today gets too much credit, as it was his shadow that was the true hero.

I've never forgotten my adventure, but over the years my responsibility has taken priority in my mind and Zelda in my heart. The present left little room for the past and my memories have surfaced less and less. Now though, with the shadowed figures dancing behind a coarse cloth before me, with my body cased in a heavy cape and an uncomfortable, but ornate armor uniform, the beautiful princess seated beside me with me as her guard, now the memories come rushing back and my eyes see more than puppets and their shadows. They see evil sorcerers and brave heros in the dancing light. They see the shadowy smirk of a proud, but frightened villain turn to the pained grimace of a martyr.

I can't help but bow my head or reach a hand to my lips.

"Link?" Zelda's worried tone strikes a chord of guilt on my heartstrings and I muster a half-smile for her sake.

"Yes, Princess?" She hates when I use her title, especially since playful games in the garden and childhood friendship has grown into tender embraces and the promise of marriage.

Zelda sighs predictively and gives me a lovingly annoyed look and emphasises my own position. "Captain, what's the matter? I should hardly believe the story of a cocky hare should bring a hero to such distress."

Though it's improper, and we both like to keep the illusion of propriety, her hand slips into mine and I can tell she's honestly worried, which in turn worsened my mood. Normally she would assume I had a headache or was bored, or if I were sad that it was just a sad memory, but she's been acting on-edge lately. Zelda had had premonitions before in the form of growing unease or bad dreams, and, though I've not asked, I'm certain she's had such a feeling for a few days now.

I blamed the wedding, due to take place in less than a week, but I begin to question that when I see the unmuffled concern in her expression. "I should be asking you what's wrong, Zelda, but I don't think now's the time." A small smile pulls at the corner of her lips and I return it with the most reassuring look I can muster and a brief squeeze of her hand. "I'm going to go for a walk, I just need a bit of air."

A shadow crosses her expression but she nods, giving a fake smile. "Hurry back."

"I will." I leave her with a kiss on her hand and make my way away from the chattery hall and through the sparsely populated corridors of the castle till I make it outside to the courtyard, debating whether or not to escape the high walls into Castletown. Zelda's behavior makes me hesitate but the breeze that starts up, cooling down the uncomfortable heat of my uniform is enough of a relief that I leave the castle behind and make my way towards the night market.

The market usually only is open during the day but enough guest have come to Castletown for the wedding that it's been made into a festival with celebrations planned until the day after the event itself and starting several days ago. With such a prosperous kingdom it's not that surprising to see the people celebrating so freely and it makes me fulfilled to see them feeling so safe and happy. Music is audible several streets from the market but the lights alone would be enough of a guide from anywhere in the town. Hundreds of torches, and a bonfire light the plaza round the water well and the streets surrounding it where stalls line the roads, packed together and well-populated with potential buyers. The sights and scents ease my mind and I smile at those who call out to me or salute me for my uniform, browsing the occasional stall that catches my eye. I buy two books from one, one for myself and another my fiancee and move on, keeping to the less-crowded streets rather than the bustling plaza.

After wandering for several minutes I decide it's time to get back and start making my way back to the castle, the stalls and market-goes thinning the farther I make it. I have little interest in them, as I carry more than enough with my uniform, two books and a half-eaten pastry, but the very last one catches my eye. Tucked into the mouth of an alley, lit but a few low-burnt candles and what light traveled from other stalls, built with two haggard crates pushed together covered with a ragged cloth, it's plainness was what set it apart as odd. The other stalls were all decorated, bright, and friendly where as this one was shabby, dim, and almost eerie. The owner was no more inviting with a weathered, angry face with sloppily-trimmed, pitch-black facial hair. Somehow I recognised him as a bandit I caught years ago. His sentence must have been served.

I can't tell if he recognizes me, but he seems indifferent to the approach of a customer. This is no wonder, as the goods he has out are as worn as his stall. A few cracked pots and vases, a rusted dagger and knife, and an eerie, cracked wooden mask. My eyes travel over the goods but I feel like there's something more to them and look at the man. "Good evening."

"'Lo." Is the grunted response.

I examine the blades and the mask carefully, looking for relief of the strange feeling I have. The man laughs. "Yer not gonna find anythin' special about them, what you see is what ye'll get. No need to feign interest." I return the mask to the crate and the man narrows his eyes at me. "Ya know, you seem ta be well-off and stately. Ya some foreign lord or somethin'? I have a sword ya might like."

I nod and watch as he reaches for something behind the crates and straightens himself, a very familiar sword in his hand. "It's a real deal at 200 rupees, it's a beaut."

The ex-bandit obviously had no knowledge of it's true worth. Though the scabbard is worn leather, frayed in several spots, there's no mistaking the magnificence of the blade. A gleaming gold handle and guard, a bit of the pristine metal visible between handguard and sheath. It's the Four Sword, I instantly recognise it.

"How- Er, where did you get this?" I ask calmly, trying to hide my worry. The sword was meant to seal away a great evil, left in that grove. What in Hyrule is it doing here!?

The man shrugged. "I dunno. Just happened upon it, I suppose."

"Did you pull it from a pedestal?" I hiss, my own tone surprising me. He looks shocked and stumbles for a response but I cut him off. "Yes or no, did you pull it from a pedestal?"

He swallows and nods and a thousand thought and emotions well up inside of me "Yes."

"How long ago?" I demand, barely repressing the urge to grab a handful of his mangy clothes and shake the answers from him.

"A week or so? I don't remember!"

I glare at him and tear the sword from his hand, careful only to touch the scabbard and not the sword itself.

"How did you know?" he asked timidly, looking at me more closely.

I narrow my eyes. "My name is Link. I used to be known as the Left-handed hero. At least that was what you called me before I arrested you. I'm taking this, by the way."

The stupid man swallows. "Um...You haven't payed."

"You're lucky to walk free tonight. Don't push your luck." I level a final glare at him and turn with a dramatic swish of green cape and gleam of silver armor. The sword missing from the pedestal, Zelda's unease, together it painted a very worrying picture and I sprint back to the castle, cursing the stupid armor every step of the way with the four sword clasped tightly in-hand.

I don't make it farther than ten feet from the wall of the courtyard before an invisible force repels me, my momentum and added weight carrying me to the ground. After a moment of dazed confusion I'm on my feet again with my own sword in hand, the four sword discarded at my feet whilst I strike the barrier again and again, grunting and shouting. Everytime the metal simply deflects off the spell despite my best efforts.

"That's not going to work, you know." A sly voice beside me laughs. "It's magic, you'd have more luck with this magic sword, though I doubt that'll work either."

I turn and am faced with a discolored mirror image of myself holding the four sword by its blade, handle offered to me. A smirk firmly in place, my shadow has grown with me. His purple hair gleaming in the moonlight, I notice he's wearing my armor, though the metal is a smokey grey instead of my shining silver and the cape jet-black and longer than mine of emerald green.

"Nice armor, by the way. All I wished for when I went back to being your shadow was to be given physical form again so I could be weighed down by a hundred pounds of metal and cloth."

"Shadow…"