Link's P.O.V.

Scattered feathers illuminated a dark room. Its luminescent glow seeped within the darkness. I knew it all too well and so did he. The Shadow would not allow for it. He threw a fit actually, wrecking objects here and there, punching walls, yelling bloody murder at the ceiling. "Why?" he questioned as he opened the miniature bag of red velvet, its aquamarine colored contents spilling onto the floor, "Why are you trying to fight?" He was talking to the Light. When the Light saw the bag's precious contents, he did his best to gain control, but as always, the Light was too weak and the Shadow reigned supreme.

Me?

I'm just the conscience of the Link that was, the combination of both Shadow and Light if you will. I'm the part the Shadow refuses to listen to, the part that is stuck within the depths of his soul and mind. I was nothing.

Well, my narration has ended. Perhaps we'll meet again? The Shadow is taking over, so I will bid farewell for now.

I WILL have Caeus by the throat when he gets back. How dare he send me this little bag of ... of... I don't know! Where is that Twili-man? He hasn't showed his face to me in two days. Did he know? He couldn't have. When he handed me the bag he said he didn't know what was in it. He looked sincere. He found this bag near them. Maybe they plotted it on purpose? Again, I say, where is Caeus? I need him to answer these questions.

Asking myself these questions will not do me any good though. I stormed off into the main headquarters to find my many Twili minions. They all observed a map of Hyrule in peace as whispers floated across the room, their fingers pointing here and there.

"You there! Tell me, where is your commander?" my voice boomed in the room, and echoed against its dark walls.

This is not you, Shadow. Now let me out and set me free. You've done enough as the Shadow. It's time you let the Light have some control. Or better yet, stop throwing me to the depths of your mind and listen to me for once.

I shoved the voice back. Such a nuisance. How is it that the original Link is finally able to speak to me? How is it that he is able to break through the interior wall I had built to stop him?

I can hear you, you know. That wall has crumbled ever since you opened that tiny red bag. You want to know why?

Of course I didn't.

"My apologies, Sir, but Caeus just left the vicinity and is in the field of work as we speak," the Twili replied in a low tone, eyes not daring to look at my own.

Caeus has left? How can that be? That man almost never leaves unless speaking to me first. But my mind became at little at ease knowing that Caeus did in fact return and do his regular duties. But that did not change the fact that I needed him to answer my questions now. Whatever the velvet bag was, it must've been some sort of ploy. A trap even. A trap to have myself weaken so that my better half could easily take control.

And it's working, is it not? Come on, Shadow. You certainly can't deny that you're feeling a bit weaker now. See? Even your state of mind is unstable. You're becoming paranoid. You're doubting Caeus, your most trusted visor. Now tell me, Shadow, do you not feel a sensation knocking at your senses? Do you not feel something aching in your chest? Do you not feel her presence? Or do you not feel any of those at all?

Everything he said was true. Every last word. I can feel the memories pattering against my mind like the hard rain droplets against a window during a strong storm. Something aches in my chest, but I do not want to admit it. It was the feelings I had tried to stow away just as a parent tried to stow away a broken toy that they didn't want their child playing with. And I felt her presence because of those memories with her.

Those stupid memories came from the velvet bag. I did not want to remember a single one of them, but here they were, flushing into my memory like roaring waves.

I was told I could win (Y/N) over if I let the Shadow, myself, take over, but it didn't work. In fact, she ended up despising me to say in the very least. I offered her a seat next to me in my kingdom, but she declined in a split second. I told myself she would eventually agree to it, but it seemed to be the opposite. She was sticking with her answer to the grave. And I would not allow it.

I hate to break it to you, Shadow. But (Y/N) is fierce with her decisions. She will stand by it no matter the consequences.

I said I'd give her time until we met again. But when would the perfect time be? Not now. Definitely not now. My state was unstable. (Y/N) off all people would notice and use this to her advantage.

Shadow, just let me take over if you don't want your meeting with her to end on a bad note. Trust me, you're going to regret not listening to me when the time does come.

You feel you're tough and that no one can stop you, but (Y/N) is the definition of real power. She's a leader and knows how to use her powers skillfully and well. I was so naive for letting you take over because now I am but a lone voice talking to you at the back of your mind. I let you take over because my emotions got the best of me. I let you take over because I thought that power was knowledge and more power meant being closer to (Y/N) but I was anything but right.

And that's where my voice was wrong. Just because he was able to speak to me now... that did not mean I would allow him to dictate my actions. I am the stronger and better Link. I know what I am doing with my plans for the future. I will get (Y/N) to join me at my side. The voice is just a voice. He has no control over my actions, only my conscience.

And the conscience can be easily ignored.

I snapped out of my internal conflict with my original self. He was pathetic. What did he know?

I know everything.

"Send more troops out. We need to have Hyrule destroyed within five days. On the fourth day is when I will plan my return to Hyrule Kingdom. That's when I will search for them. No one is to stand in my way or disturb me unless you have vital information. Is that understood?" All the Twili minions stood rigid, and I could tell they had no idea what to do next. With their commander Caeus not here, they had no idea where to strike first.

The doors busted open to reveal the only other half Twili, half human looking creature in this part of the world. His cloak looked ripped and teared to shreds. What seemed to be sweat ran down his panting self. With a struggle in his steps, he walked stumped forward and fell to his knees. He looked like he was almost beat to the pulp.

"I... have... " his amber orange orbs looked up to mine, struggling to stay open, "found... them..."

His fatigued body fell completely to the floor as the other Twili rushed to his side, staggering to place the man on their shoulders.

I guess I would let him take over just this once...

"Cancel the plan until further notice and take Caeus to his room. Get some medical attention and try to figure out what's wrong with him. Check his vitals and make sure everything is okay." I watched with pity as they took him away. What happened to him? I've never seen him so weak before.

You're only getting this one chance, Light, in taking my place. We both know you can only last so long.

"Give me some more time, and I'll let you take over again. I just want to visit Caeus and see how he's doing."

You're lucky I actually find Caeus useful to all this. Go check on him and I'll leave you alone for once.

I couldn't help but be grateful to the Shadow. It was good to know that he wasn't selfish all the time. Of course he only viewed Caeus as a mere servant and pawn, but at least he knew his worth.

I walked to the room in which Caeus lay and approached the quietly breathing figure. Small breaths filled the room as his brow furrowed even in his sleep. Something was definitely troubling the Twili-man and I needed to figure out what.

Another Twili figure who was the nurse bowed and stood up after checking his pulse. "It's steady, Sir. He's just overworked."

"Thank you for the update," I said with a whisper. Had the Shadow told him to commence so many battles that it was too much? But even so, all Caeus was directed to do was make sure the creatures didn't attack the (L/N) family.

His fatigue couldn't have been caused by that.

He has been quite absent lately...

What exactly have you been up to, Caeus? Why haven't you been showing yourself to the Shadow? I can't help but think something is awry. Something has been off these couple of days and I must give points to Caeus for being able to contain himself.

His usual dark robe was removed to allow more breathing room and under the scarce amount of dark twilight sky that shone through the room, something glistened under it. The light somehow distorted its color so I stood in front of the window to cover the light. I looked at the object the rested upon Caeus's chest. What was it? It looked unfamiliar. I don't ever recall giving Caeus a trinket of some sort, let alone something as great as a necklace.

I grabbed the object and looked at it. My eyes enlarged and my hand shook. I could feel it and the Shadow could feel it too. This object Caeus wore, it was something that was actually familiar to me. It was something gifted to Caeus the first time I met him back at the ranch in Ordon. It reminded me of the time that I was so carefree and had nothing else to worry about. The world was calm back then. A person could easily roam around without the worry of being ambushed. Memories flashed before me.

"I'm sorry, Caeus, for all the work that is being forced upon you."

And I'm sorry, but your time is up. It's time that the Shadow take his place. Your are not good for my state.

Anymore of feeling guilty for everything and I would've become weaker. Did he really think I would let myself be affected by something like a simple necklace?

I just had to wait until Caeus recovered.

The battle would be at a halt for now. But Hyrule better prepare for the war.

Author's Note

Sorry if this chapter kind of sucked. Whoops.

So I may or may not have accidentally published this earlier by accident. Whoops, again. But anyway, I'M ALIVE, YO. And I'm finally back to finish this story. I'm assuming maybe about five to six chapters are left? But do not fret, the third book to The Best Knight? is something you can all (maybe) look forward to ^^

Date Published: October 26, 2016