Chapter 1

"Oh, Link, you're already awake." Zelda said, walking into the tent. Her blueish purple dress flowed gracefully around her as she walked.

"I didn't sleep last night..." Link said. Zelda walked over and sat on the edge of his bed.

"Why not?"

"I kept having nightmares about... well... you know..." Zelda put a hand to Link's cheek.

"Aw, butterfly, I'm sorry you keep having these bad dreams. I wish I could take them all away from you." Link smiled.

"It's all ok. I can handle it. It's just annoying, you know? I love sleep and if I can't sleep, I'm cranky."

"Yeah, just like a little boy." Link stood up.

"I'm not little!" Zelda stood up.

"Haha, I know. I said like a little boy. Though, I am still as tall as you."

"Shush..." Zelda kissed his cheek.

"Ready to get breakfast?"

"Definitely!" Link grabbed his tunic and chain-mail off the table and slipped both on over his white undershirt. He then slipped on his gloves and boots and fastened the belt around his waist then grabbed his sword to put it around him. He then followed Zelda out. They were starting to walk toward the dining tent when a bright, dark blue flash lit up the sky in the distance.

"What was that?!" Zelda shouted.

"I don't know. Let's go see." He put his sword on his back and began running, Zelda followed close behind.

"Where are you two off to?" Professor Owlan asked as they ran by.

"Can't talk now." Link said and they continued on. There was another bright flash of light, this time, a bright green color. It looked to have been in a similar area. They ran until they found what they called The Great Tree. Near the edge of the water at the base of the tree was a boy lying unconscious and bleeding.

He wore a white tank-top with dark grayish purple pants and a blue cloth wrapped around his waist held in place by an orange ribbon. His hair was a dirty blond color. Link approached, but an arrow came and struck the ground in front of him.

"What the..." He looked toward the direction of the arrow and saw another boy jump down. He was aiming another arrow at Link. "Uh, hi. Um, could you please lower your weapon?"

"What are you planning to do to that boy there?" The new boy wore a light green tunic but without the usual hat, revealing his light blond hair tied up in a ponytail. He wore white leggings and a white sleeve undershirt and semi-light brown boots with golden buckles.

"I want to help. Just relax and lower your weapon, ok?"

"Remove yours first."

"Ok, just don't shoot, alright?" Link took the sword off his back and tossed it on the ground. True to his word, the boy lowered the bow and put the arrow back. "Who are you? What are you doing in these woods?"

"I'm not sure what I'm doing here, I will say, my name is Link."

"Really? My name's Link too."

"I see. That's strange..." The First Link looked at the boy lying on the ground and stepped over to him.

"His shoulder is bleeding, we've got to get him back to our camp. We have medical supplies there."

"We should wrap up the wound first so he doesn't continue to bleed."

"Links, wait, what if he's dead from losing too much blood." Zelda said.

"He's still breathing. We can save him still. We just need to wrap up the spot of the wound so he doesn't bleed too much." Link 1 pulled out a cloth from his pouch and pulled the boy's tank top sleeve down to patch it up. "Looks like he's been stabbed with a large sword, the poor boy..." Link 1 tied the cloth tight to keep it on there and then turned the boy onto his back so he could pick him up.

"This is going to get really confusing having two Links." Zelda said.

"I could take up a nickname." Link 2 offered.

"How about Madas? That means Link in the ancient language."

"Mad ass..." Link 1 said, trying not to laugh. Zelda hit him upside the head. "Ow! Ok, I deserved that..."

"Hmm, I'm not sure." Link 2 said.

"Ok, maybe... um-"

"Let's worry about it later. We need to get this boy some medical attention."

"You're right." Link 1 tried to pick up the boy, but he squirmed around and couldn't pick him up. "Ok, this kid is stubborn." Link 2 stepped over and lifted the boy up with ease, the boy curled up closer to him. "How did you do that!?"

"Guess I just have the magic touch. Please, lead the way."

"Sure." Link 1 (Who will now be known as Sky) started walking, Zelda following close behind him. Link 2 (Who will now be known as Time) followed behind them quickly so he didn't get lost in the large woods. They eventually reached the camp. At first, they attracted no attention, but Fledge noticed and came walking over.

"Hey, who are they, what's going on?"

"I don't really have the time to talk right now. The boy being carried is hurt. Is Professor Horwell here?"

"Yes, he should be in the medical tent."

"Good. Let's go." Sky continued on towards the medical tent, everyone else followed. Sky walked in quickly. "Professor, there's someone here who needs medical attention."

"Oh, is that so? Bring them on in." Time carried the boy inside. "Set him on the bed gently, alright." Time nodded and walked over to one of the beds, gently setting the sleeping boy down. "What seems to be the trouble?"

"There's a large gash in his left shoulder." Time explained.

"I see. Wait here a moment." Horwell walked over to a basket and shuffled through it until he found a needle and threat used to sew up wounds on skin. Sky put a hand on the left side of his stomach and his eyebrows furrowed. "It's probably best to sew up the wound. If you guys wish, you can leave."

"The sight of blood makes me nauseous, so I think I'll step out. I'm nauseous enough." Fledge said and then left the tent.

"I'll go keep him company." Zelda stepped out after Fledge. She didn't really like blood all that much either and it made her cringe to see someone's injuries sewed up.

"I'll stay here, right by his side if that's alright." Time said.

"That is fine." Time grabbed a hold of the boy's hand. "I will get started." Time nodded. Sky sat on the ground and closed his eyes. He didn't care much for the sight of blood also, but he wanted to stay. Horwell undid the cloth around his shoulder and got started on sewing the wound. Instantly, the boy's fists clenched tightly. Time reached up with his free hand to pet the boy's head to calm him. He could hear the boy whimpering from the pain of the needle. Horwell soon finished and then wrapped the wound up with a new cloth.

"Do you have any sort of pain reliever?"

"Yes, some herbal soup. It's rather cold now, but still fresh. The herbs chosen will relieve some of the pain once it activates."

"Could it be possible to give him some so when he wakes, he won't feel much pain?"

"Of course. Link, will you go get some for me." No response came. "Link?" Horwell looked over at Sky and saw him lying on the floor. Horwell sighed. "Zelda, can you come back in here, please?" Zelda walked inside the tent. "Your boyfriend's asleep on the ground again." Zelda looked over at Sky then at the professor.

"He told me he didn't sleep last night."

"Again? More nightmares?"

"I think so." Zelda walked over and knelt down next to Sky. She tugged at his ear and he woke up. "Come on, Link. The ground is not really a good place to sleep." Sky nodded and sat up.

"You should go get some rest, Link." Horwell advised. Sky shook his head.

"I don't want to..." He said.

"Link, don't be stubborn. You have to sleep. This is the third time this month you've fallen asleep on the ground due to your lack of sleep lately." Zelda said.

"If you insist."

"Good. Now go. I'll help the professor from here." Sky nodded again and walked out of the tent. Zelda walked over to the bed where the boy slept.

"Zelda, could you do me a favor and get some of the pain relieving herbal soup for the young boy here?" Horwell asked.

"Sure. I'll be right back." Zelda then walked out of the tent. Time brushed the bangs off of the boy's face.

"You really care for this boy, don't you?"

"Honestly, I have no idea who he is, but yes, I do. I feel a strange attachment to him that I can't explain. It's almost as if he's mine to care for."

"I believe I understand. It was like that with Zelda and Link. Link had a very troubled childhood, but Zelda always sought to take care of him, ever since she first met him, she's been looking out for him. Though at first, he didn't care much for her."

"Wow, that's a bit difficult to imagine, they seem so close."

"Yes, they are. They have shown so much courage, it has given us here courage as well."

"That's good. Courage is a great thing. Something I often say is, 'A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.'"

"Those words sound true. You're a very wise young man." Time smiled and then looked down at the boy. Horwell looked a bit closer at the two. "There's something strange about the both of you."

"Is there really?"

"Yeah." Zelda soon walked in with a bottle of the herbal soup. "Thank you, Zelda."

"Here, I'll give it to him." Time said, holding out his hand to take the bottle. Zelda handed it to him. He uncorked it and gently lifted the boy up a bit at an incline so the soup would go down better.

"A whole serving should do." Time nodded and poured the soup into the child's mouth. After it was gone, he set the boy back down gently.

"I can probably clean up his shirt of the blood."

"Alright." Time undid the ribbon around the boy's waist so the cloth that was held by it would uncurl so it'd be easier to take the shirt off. Once the shirt was off, Time handed it to Zelda and she walked out with it. Time looked back down at the boy and saw so many scars littered the boy's chest and stomach. There were a couple he recognized that he had as well in the same spot and roughly the same size.

"The poor boy must have seen a lot..." Horwell spoke. Time nodded.

"What I don't understand is, he seems to have some scars in the same spot and roughly the same size and shape as a few of mine."

"That is rather odd. It may just be a coincidence."

"That may be. Whatever the case is, I hope his mind isn't too damaged." Horwell studied Time's face closer as well as the boy's.

"You two look very similar. You both could very well be brothers."

"You really think so?"

"Yes, however, the way you act towards him, you're more like a father." Time smiled a little.

"I'm a bit too young to be a father, especially for someone about his age. He looks to be roughly the age of fourteen. I'm seventeen."

"Really? I would have thought you were in your twenties. You have quite uh, what's the word..."

"Older appearance I am guessing is somewhere along the lines you're looking for."

"Yeah, that works."

"It's very common for people to mistake me for someone older. Many where I'm from thought I was in my teens when I was only a child. For all we know, this boy could be much younger or much older than we think."

"To me, he looks no older than Link. Link is barely nineteen, but he has the face of a fourteen year old."

"I thought he had a rather young face. Doesn't help that he's rather small. I kind of tower over him a bit."

"Link has always been on the small side. He was born prematurely. I'd say three or four months early. His mother fell down a flight of steps and it proved fatal."

"That sounds terrible."

"It is quite saddening. Though, he acts much like his mother does. She was so carefree and quite the dreamer."

"That sounds nice. I wish I knew someone who knew my parents. All I know is, my father died in battle and my mother fled with me in her arms to get me to safety. I was an infant when it happened. I was told by someone who was my caretaker after my mother died of mortal wounds."

"You poor young boy."

"It's all alright. It doesn't affect me too much. I didn't even know them. A part of me wishes to have at least known them a little. Oh well, the past can't be changed so there's no point dwelling on it."

"That is a good mindset to have." The tent went silent for several minutes until Zelda walked back in with the shirt she cleaned of blood.

"I discovered something kind of weird about the shirt." Zelda spoke the moment she walked in. "It might be because the sleeve slid down his shoulder upon impact, but there's no tear in the shirt at all, not even a little nick."

"That's odd." Horwell stated.

"Yeah." Zelda handed the shirt to Time. Time carefully slipped it back on over the boy and retied the cloth and ribbon around his waist. He then covered him up with the blanket. "Aw, that's too adorable."

"What is?" Time raised an eyebrow.

"You look just like a father tucking his little boy in bed." Time chuckled at Zelda's comment.

"I will take that as a compliment." Time looked back down at the boy when he heard a faint whimper. "Are you awake?" His ear twitched and his eyes opened then snapped back shut due to the sudden light. "Take it easy, alright? You're hurt." The boy tried to open his eyes again and managed to, revealing deep brilliant blue eyes. His ear twitched again as he looked around. "Are you alright?" The boy's deep blue eyes locked with Time's bright blue eyes.

"Where am I...?" The boy asked.

"You're in a place we like to call the Surface. Though, some like to call it the land of Hylia." Zelda said. His ear twitched again.

"Can you tell us your name?" Time asked.

"Link..."

"I thought so. My name is Link as well and there's another man here who goes by that as well."

"Oh..." Twi (who the boy will be known as now) sat up in the bed.

"Try not to push yourself. Can you tell me what happened to you?" Twi grabbed his shoulder and looked away.

"I'd rather not..."

"That's alright."

"Are you two hungry? I can get you some soup if you want." Twi's ear twitched and he looked at Zelda.

"Do you have pumpkin?"

"Yes. I can get you some. What about you?" She looked at Time.

"Um, no, I'm alright."

"Ok. I'll bring you some pumpkin soup, kid."

"I'm not a baby goat!" Twi shouted.

"Um... What's a goat?" Twi raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, I'll go get you your pumpkin soup." Zelda left the tent.

"What is a goat?" Horwell asked.

"An animal with horns and a lot of fur and temper." Twi said and got up off the bed.

"Where are you going?" Time asked.

"I don't want to sit around. I'm going on a walk." Twi went toward the tent flap.

"You can't." Twi turned around to face Time who was standing right behind him.

"Why not?"

"You are hurt and unarmed. You don't know what could be out there."

"I'll be fine." Twi stared to walk out but Time grabbed his hand.

"You are not going out there, Link." Twi pulled his hand away.

"Don't tell me what to do."

"I'm just looking out for you."

"I don't even know you. Leave me alone." Twi stepped out of the tent. Time held the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"It'll get better, you'll see." Horwell told him.

"I sure hope so. Should I follow?"

"Well, um, I'm not sure."

"I don't want him to get hurt. He's already injured and unarmed."

"It's up to you." Time walked out and tried to decide which way Twi went. He caught up to him rather quickly.

"Link, please, stop." Twi turned around.

"Why are you following me?"

"Because, I want to make sure you're safe. You're hurt. You have no weapon."

"I'll be fine. Trust me. Just, stay away from me."

"Why? I want to help you. I care about you." Time walked up to him and put a hand on Twi's good shoulder. Twi looked down. "I'm here for you, believe me I am. Please, tell me what's wrong."

"How can you care about someone you didn't even know the name of until just moments ago?"

"I wasn't sure of your name, but I had a feeling that was your name. Have you noticed anything familiar about me at all?" Twi stepped back.

"You're crazy." Twi turned and ran.

"Link, come back!" Time was tempted to run after him but stayed put. He felt a hand go on his shoulder and turned to the person. Sky was standing there beside him, he smiled.

"Come on. Let's go." Sky started running and Time followed him. Sky suddenly stopped and looked around. Time stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"I know this atmosphere. We need to go, now."

"Not without Link." A wall of diamonds appeared around them.

"Oh no..."

"What?" There was a strange noise behind them and they quickly turned around. A man was standing there, his skin was grey and his hair was pure white. He wore a diamond pattern outfit. Though, that wasn't what got their attention.

"Hello, Sky Child. Looking for something." He had a hold of Twi who was struggling against the grip around his left wrist.

"Let him go." Time said, he drew his sword from his back.

"I'm not sure you can really make me, child."

"What do you want, Ghirahim?" Sky asked.

"Oh, Link, so quick to get to the point. What, we can't just catch up? Spend a little time together?"

"Let that boy go right now." Ghirahim grabbed the boy's shoulders and pulled him close rather roughly, Twi winced when he felt his injured shoulder being hit against what felt like solid rock.

"Aw. You spoil all the fun." He knelt down close to Twi's face. "I'd like to have a little bit of fun with this one. He's just purely adorable. I could just eat him up." He licked Twi's cheek. Twi's eyes closed tight and he whimpered. Ghirahim then stood straight up. "He's such a pure light being, so much light that it's making me want to feast on his beautiful soul, though I must restrain myself. I have to keep my priorities straight." He pushed Twi forward, causing him to stumble a bit, but he stayed standing and ran towards Time. Time grabbed hold of him, wrapping his right arm around him to make him feel safe.

"Hey, hand me your sword. I'll get rid of him." Sky said.

"What?"

"I've fought him many times. Hand me your sword and get the boy out of here. He's traumatized. He needs comfort and seeing how he went to you, you'd probably be best." Time nodded and handed his sword over to Sky.

"Be careful, alright." Sky nodded and stepped forward.

"Very polite of you to stay still while I talk to my friend here." Sky spoke to Ghirahim.

"Well, I lack mercy, not manors. Do you think though, boy, that you can honestly defeat me with that simple, dull, blade? You barely stood a chance against me even with the Goddess's sword."

"The sword doesn't matter, it's the person wielding it."

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage." Time spoke. Twi looked up at him wide-eyed. Ghirahim laughed.

"Alright then. I suppose I'll have a little bit of fun toying with you before I take what I desire." He said and snapped his fingers. A long black saber sword appeared in Ghirahim's hand.

"Get out of here as best as you can, his diamond walls weaken when he fights." Sky whispered.

"I see. I don't want to just leave you here though."

"I am not your priority. That boy in your arms is and both of you are mine. Now get going." Time nodded and scooped Twi up in his arms like he carried him before and took off in another direction. Ghirahim began clapping.

"How very brave of you. Just remember Sky child, I lack mercy. However, this time, I do not plan to murder you. You see, there is something I need from you that I can't take from you if you die."