Link staggered backwards from Impa's hard blow to the chest, struggling to steady his feet. She gave him an apologetic look, but they both knew it was only another day of training. It happened to both of them alot, but they always felt a pang of guilt when they struck each other during their practise. Link and Impa knew each other's techniques very well, almost too well. But what could one expect after them fighting each other for months on end?

Link felt tired of fighting the same opponent. Even though he never consistently beat the young Sheikah woman, he still wanted another competitor, another challenger perhaps. Just to make things interesting. Even then though, he doubted if he could really take on another fighter. Kakariko Village only consisted of Sheikah tribe members, and all their warriors possessed hard earned powers that no Hylian could gain, no matter how hard he might work. The truth was he wasn't Sheikah, so special abilities didn't run in his blood, which always gave him a disadvantage despite his impressive skill.

It wasn't all bad at least. Training with one of the village's most promising athletes turned Link into a young Hylian fighter that was not to be reckoned with. Despite his lack of Sheikah abilities, he was still a fair competitor. He was a child prodigy, a hard worker, and became stronger everyday. Learning with one of the strongest races in all of Hyrule gave him technique and preparation that he could not gain elsewhere. But swordplay was always his favorite method of combat, and he dominated that playing field even amongst the Sheikah.

Link gained his footing back, and raised his sparring sword as he anticipated his next move. Impa let her guard down to put her hands together so she could make the necessary hand signs to teleport, but Link's lightning fast reflexes kicked in, seizing his chance and her moment of weakness. He jumped to her side, a blind spot, and hit his blade against the back of her knee. As Impa lost her balance he struck her side, and with her hand down to her stomach, he raised the tip of his sword and brought it gently against her neck, ending and thus winning the match.

"Good round," Link panted.

Impa straightened her back and nodded as she wiped the sweat off her forehead, "Thanks, not too bad yourself! You got me that time, I'm impressed."

"As am I."

Impa and Link turned to face Cato, who had been paying close attention to every tactical move his students made. "Good job both of you. You both are getting stronger every day. Although Link, I am very surprised. It's not every day you find an almost thirteen year old Hylian boy making rounds like that against a seventeen year old Sheikah. Very good work."

"Thank you sir!"

Cato turned to face Impa, "My advice to you, don't let your guard down when pausing to summon your powers. Keep up your head, and keep yourself distanced when lowering your guard. If you master the skill of a perfect guard, your opponent will have no weak moment to take advantage of. But great job, I'm proud of you too."

Impa grinned, "Thanks dad."

Cato started to stretch his arms, "So Link, I'd like to try something new today. Since we're almost done anyway, we might as well end the day with a bang, eh?"

Link internally panicked in Cato's sly tone, Oh no please no. I don't know your idea but I don't like it already. No wait, it might be interesting! As long as I don't have to fi-

"I want you to fight me this time."

Oh, how wonderfully perfect. I take back any thoughts of a different opponent. I like Impa. Is there an undo button for thoughts?

Link would have objected, but he was too tired for arguing, because he knew it would get him nowhere. Impa was visibly shocked, as Cato had never spared Link up until that point. He had fought and trained with Impa on many occasions, but never her younger competitor.

Link took in a deep breath, got into a ready stance, raised his sword, and nodded his head, grateful that among all of the powers the Skeikah could possess, mind reading wasn't one of them.

Oh I am so dead and screwed.

Alright stay positive.

Alright who am I kidding, I'm positive that I'm so dead and screwed.

I'm also really hungry, I want food. I wonder if you can cook Blupees, and would they have a special taste to them?

He was very, very grateful that they couldn't read minds, actually.

Cato grinned at Link's eager and ready stance, "Ah ready as ever I see. I'm glad you didn't try to resist this new trial, it shows your willingness and bravery. Good traits for a future knight indeed."

Cato slowly walked in front of Link, never breaking eye contact. Link stared him down right back, anxiously waiting for him to make the first move. The cool breeze that previously blew through the fall colored trees surrounding the plain the warriors trained on seemed to cease, as if the wind itself held its breath in anticipation. Leafs colored with their usual fall attire still fell around them, and despite the tension and suspense, the area still held a certain peacefulness and serenity. It was truly an ideal place for uninterrupted concentration, although Link wished that whenever he was here it wasn't for work and physical labor. He wished for once he could just simply enjoy the view.

Cato squared up in front of Link, his short gray hair gently shifting in the soothing breeze.

"Let us begin."

After one sudden swift motion with his arms, Cato's hands started to glow with a dark blue aura. His eyes almost seemed to flash an orange color, but maybe Link imagined it. He knew every Sheikah trick in the book, and Cato was going to push Link to his limits. He might have been only twelve, almost thirteen, but Cato knew Link had a skill that was unmatchable, a skill too good to simply be a coincidence. He would make Link the strongest he could, to fully prepare him for whatever might lie ahead in his uncertain future.

Cato took one step back, and then flashed before Link's eyes. Link watched in shock as Cato seemed to run toward him at an un-naturally fast pace, so fast he appeared as a gray blur. His movements were so blurred and unpredictable, that Link felt his wooden blade knocked out of his sore hands, and another blade pressed against his neck.

Cato shook his head, "Tsk, tsk, Link. I expected better. That was what, seven seconds?"

"Well I didn't know that you people could use, superspeed or whatever that was! That's not even fair! I can't-"

Cato interrupted Link in a confident voice, "No I'm sure you can. As I've told you this before, this is preparation for what is to come. Unfortunately, the Yiga clan can harness these powers too, and they will not hold back on you, if the day comes you must face them in battle. You must learn to fight every race and every competitor. You have an impressive talent Link, but I know you can be better."

"But sir, I can't go up against you! You're too good!" Link stated exasperatedly.

Cato shook his head gently with a smile, "I know I may be good, but I want you to be better. We will leave when you have your blade against my neck, or any weak point. I want you to beat me, so don't hold back."

Link nodded, got in his readied stance, and raised his blade despite his tired state. He was quite sure he would never even come close to winning against Cato, yet nonetheless he was determined to try his best.

After lost match after lost match however, Link's determination slowly faded. From unmatchable speed, teleportation, stasis, clones, and unmatched experience, Link didn't seem to stand a chance. But that didn't mean he was at total loss, in fact, he even came close a few times. His ability to predict and react, reflexes, natural speed and strength, combined with his endurance made him a good competitor, but he still always fell short.

Cato cloned again, a move Link was getting used too. He attacked the closest one, and with one well aimed strike the blue clone dissipated into nothing. The sound of a wind like movement hit Link's pointed ears, and with a backflip, avoided another clone. As the blue phantom passed him, Link quickly shot his sword through the glowing being's stomach.

"Gah!"

Link instinctually turned around and looked behind him to see the real Cato gasping for air. One fatal blow to his clone didn't kill him or leave a visible wound, but didn't necessarily tickle either. Link smiled, this had to be his chance. The adrenaline running through his veins, along with the excitement of his progress in the match fueled him, giving him new strength and energy. He tightened his grip on his sword and ran toward Cato, who was on one knee in the grass. The sound of Link's feet hitting the ground and approaching him caused Cato to look up, and, smile?

Link was taken aback, but didn't cease running. Cato quickly jumped back to his feet, looking as calm and collected as ever. With one complex motion with his wrist, Cato backed up in a blur.

Link bit his lip in vexation, Ah damn it. Damn this, damn that. Of course after I put a hole through blue Cato number twelve, you go back to your superspeed trick. Screw you too.

Link's loss in the upper hand of battle frustrated him immensely. It seemed like an unbreakable pattern. He'd come close, so close! Only for Cato to make use of an ability that he could never use himself, leading to his inevitable defeat. Motivation no longer kept Link going, now it was his growing annoyance and anger.

With his left hand glowing a dark blue tone, Cato began to run at Link again, in that same daunting blur of unpredictable motion. As much as his head said 'run away', something struck him.

Run toward him.

Charge him.

Link gave into this sudden and unexplained impulse. Usually he would hold his ground, but this time he ran right towards his opponent.

As the two got closer, another thought struck Link. It hardly was his thought, like it was another voice speaking to him through his own mind.

Imagine, just imagine. What if I could slow time around me? Picture all hurried movement slowing around me at my command. Visualize the unique ability to slow time around myself. Envision the power to perceive action and time at a faster rate than those all those around my own being.

Link grinned, imagine that.

As Cato hurriedly got closer to Link, ever still approaching at his abnormally fast speed, Link felt a sudden wave of a feeling he could not place come over his body. Strength? Power? The touch of Hylia herself? He couldn't say, nor did he have time at that moment to ponder what he could exactly call it, but whatever it was felt amazing. He closed his eyes for a split second then opened them again, and could feel his shining blue eyes flash with a new empowered sight.

Only a few feet separated the two fighters, and Link felt a sense of preparation and confidence that he had never had before.

And then, he willed time to slow down.

The once blur and speeding Cato turned into a hardly moving figure. His every move and motion was so predictable, and so much slower. Link didn't know how, but he did it. He commanded his bright eyes to perceive action at a decreased rate. And yet, his own movement wasn't hindered in the slightest.

Link didn't stop to think about his new unexpected gain, instead he channeled his focus on beating Cato.

It was so easy.

He watched his every move in slow motion, and attacking him was almost too simple. A blow to the stomach, and a hit to the back for good measure. Link was a bit salty after getting beaten by him time and time again, after all. Link paused a split second to watch as Cato fell to the ground, totally taken by shock, surprise, and confusion. Within a second, Link triumphantly placed the tip of his wooden blade against Cato's neck, an experience he thought he would never have.

"I win! Oh my Hylia! I actually did it! I won! Did you see that Impa!?" Link cried out excitedly as he jumped in the air waving his sword. His exhilaration at his feat totally blocked his thoughts of how he had actually accomplished his win in the first place. He was just an elated twelve year old, oblivious in the moment of what had just taken place, and what great significance his new and unexpected battle advantage could mean for his future.

Impa stared at her dad, then back at Link with her mouth hanging wide open, "B-but- how?"

Cato blinked, still trying to comprehend what had just taken place, "Wait, did you just- But how is that even possible?!" Cato glanced over to Impa to see if she had witnessed what had taken place before their eyes. She could only give him an awed look in response, words seemed to escape her.

Link smiled a wide and goofy grin, "I don't know! But wasn't it awesome?"

Cato steadied himself, "Alright, alright let's speak about this rationally and calmly. What the hell just happened, and how the hell did you do it!?"

Link stopped jumping about, because for the first time he was now truly thinking, Oh my Heavens. How did I do that? It started with a thought, then a will, and then it just- well it just happened! It was like slowing down time, like seeing everything in slow motion. But wait, why can I do that?

He shrugged, now in awe himself, "I-I don't know! While you ran toward me I-" Link began to describe everything that went through his head. He did his best to explain his new found ability to his two Sheikah companions, who listened in attentive wonder.

Cato shook his head, now smiling, "We've got to tell Akilah and Purah!"

"Yeah come on Link! This is completely crazy, but completely great! I don't know why you can do that, but you can! Let's go!"

With that the three training warriors ran off to home, racing to break the unbelievable news first. Impa was the first to reach home first, and burst through the doors, her sudden appearance startling her mother and sister, who were seated at the living room couch looking together over some sort of Sheikah transcript.

"Hey you two will never believe it, but Link just did the craziest thing!" Impa exclaimed. "That kid is special, and he's got something coming and I don't know what, but he just slowed down time! He actually has some sort of slow motion vision! He and dad were fighting and then he turned into a blur! He beat dad in a sparring match! It was so sudden and unexpected, and we don't know why or how, but he did! Can you guys believe it?!"

Akilah and Purah's eyes widened, wondering if Impa was hit on the head the wrong way during practice.

"Sweetheart, not a word you just said made a single ounce of sense," Akilah said gently, and inwardly panicked for her daughter's mental health.

"Yeah you loon, you sound crazy," Purah snickered, "I knew all that physical strain would get to your head one day, it was only a matter of time."

Impa rolled her eyes. "No no you both have the wrong idea! It's true, you'll have to see for yourself!"

Akilah stood up, and shot a glare to Purah, who was still hysterically giggling without any shame.

"Here come on Impa, sit down and let me get you some tea. Nayru knows it might do you some good."

Before Impa could object, Cato and Link burst through the door. Akilah looked relieved to see her husband, and hoped he could help clear up Impa's seemingly delirious appearance, "Hey honey, Impa is claiming Link can now slow down time. Can you help address this uh, issue? Did something happen out there to her? Wait. Did you push her too hard out there?!" Akilah suddenly grabbed the collar of Cato's shirt, but was confused when he broke out laughing.

"Akilah, you have the wrong idea."

"Oh thank the goddesses."

"She's telling the truth."

"Oh that's good- wait I'm sorry what?"

Akilah and Purah were now leaning over facing Link, wondering if he was the only sane person of the three.

"It's true Mrs. Akilah! Here let me show you!" Link said eagerly.

Akilah and Purah looked at each other in disbelief, then back at the athletes in front of them, "Either you three all ate the same wrong plant, actually have experienced some omen from heaven itself, or are playing some weird joke, which might I add, isn't funny in the slightest. Come on Purah, let's see what they are talking about," Akilah sighed, trying to keep herself as composed as she could.

Link and Cato ran out of the house, followed by Impa. Akilah and Purah hung back a bit, for they decided that they should keep their distance for safety measures.

Link and Cato squared up in front of each other, both wielding their wooden sparring weapon of choice. Link tightened his grip on his sword, and Cato started to scrape his two kodachis together, both staring each other down, like any other sparring match.

"Now Link, I want you to beat me again, just like last time. I won't go easy on you, nor should you on me. I want you to try to perform that power again, just like last time. Show em what you got!" Cato encouraged, too excited to fully process the significance of Link's new found ability.

Link nodded, and raised his sword like last time, doing his best to fully focus. He pushed away the fact that he was being watched by judging eyes, he pushed away his doubts on whether or not he could really execute this unexpected power again. Instead, he just mentally prepared and focused his mind, and that was all it took.

With one motion of his wrist, Cato's hands were surrounded in a blue glow, and his eyes seemed to flash orange. He did a backflip and became a hardly distinguishable blur. Then he charged toward Link in his superspeed state, bearing his two traditional Sheikah short swords. Link anticipated this, and smiled. Usually in such a scenario, Link would have been terribly nervous and unsure of himself. But it was only in front of those he loved, and the idea of this new power gave him great confidence. He ran to meet Cato halfway, and right before he was mere feet away from his opponent, he willed time to slow down once again. His eyes felt like they were hyper focused, and his whole being felt stronger.

He focused on time itself, and every one of Cato's now slow motion movements. He jumped to the side, avoiding his kodachis. Now behind him, he struck his blade between Cato's legs, causing him to trip over Link's sword, and his own feet. As soon as he had fallen to the ground, Link snapped out of his concentrated faze and placed the tip of his sword at Cato's neck before he had time to jump up.

Cato, Link, and Impa immediately turned to face Purah and Akilah to see their reactions.

They were absolutely priceless. Akilah's mouth fell right open, and Purah looked like she was about to faint on the spot. Their eyes grew wide and both leaned on the railing of the house to support themselves due to their sudden dizziness. Cato and Impa burst out laughing, and Link even managed to bow despite his snickering.

"Nope. I c-can't. I literally don't k-know how respond. I mean how to respond! I don't know how to respond!" Akilah stuttered, in utter disbelief. Purah only shook her head, unable to speak.

"Didn't we tell you?! See, we're not crazy! It's a gift from Hylia herself, and we have no clue why! Ahh hell this is not how I thought today would go at all!" Cato exclaimed grinning from ear to ear. Purah only nodded again, still not able to speak.

Akliah tried to force herself out of the confused and shocked faze her mind was currently in, "Link, did that hurt? Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine! I mean I feel a bit dazed and drained after, but other than that I've never felt better!"

"Alright, can we come inside so we can, I don't know, talk about this? Din's fire, this is crazy. I need to sit down," Akilah said, smiling in spite of herself. As an avid researcher, a million theories and thoughts ran through her already crowded mind. Link felt five inches taller, and Impa and Cato couldn't be more elated and proud. Poor Purah was still struggling to find her voice.

And so they discussed the new discovery to the last detail. Well, Akilah was really the one leading the so-called 'experiments'. She asked Link question after question, and ran tests on his eyes and heart beat. She found that Link couldn't hold his slow motion trance for long, and he could burn it out after using it for an extended period of time. His average time to hold his special vision out was around ten seconds. This led to him being completely out of breath, and over all exhausted. But she reasoned that if he continued to build his stamina, he could hold this new power for longer bouts. It seemed to use energy from his body, and even burn calories, just like an average Sheikah person's normal abilities. Upon realizing this, she concluded that the ability was specially assigned to Link, just like the Sheikah were specially given their powers by Goddess Hylia. But the one question that remained unanswered, why Link?

"So I guess I'll just have to wait and see why I was given this skill, right?" Link asked after Akilah had finished explaining the scientific aspects of the unexpected gift.

"That's right kiddo. You've got quite a future ahead of you, I can tell you that. The best we can do is continue to pray and prepare. Now, let's take a break for dinner. I'm sure you're very hungry after all of that physical exertion."

*This time skip to after the conversation filled dinner is brought to you by the fact that Purah finally got her voice back*

After the evening meal, Impa, Purah, and Link all retired upstairs. Link personally wanted some time alone to read and process his thoughts, but Impa and Purah kept up their sibling nonsense. Things like throwing cups and other random objects to see if he would be able to catch all three things at once was starting to get really old.

"Ow hey! Quit it! I'm trying to read!"

"Oh come on, just one more time!"

"No Purah! I'm not catching all three of your books for your entertainment!"

Impa, who had left Link alone a bit ago, popped into his room, "Hey quite it nerd, leave the man alone."

Purah rolled her eyes, "Ugh fine. It's not everyday you find out at least one of your siblings turns out to be cool."

"Oh wow, real mature. C'mon, give him some quiet time, he's got a lot going through his mind right now. See ya later Link, I'll check up on you later!" Impa called after her as she walked out of his room to go read one of her own books. Link smiled, then looked back at Purah who was still standing with three books in her hands giving him an expecting look.

He sighed, "What is it?"

"Just one mor-"

"No."

Meanwhile downstairs, Cato and Akilah sat on one of the couches in the living room, de-escalating after their long day. Cato was just watching Akilah going over some papers covered in neatly drawn pictures and Sheikah writing. He simply watched her hazel eyes as they darted around the transcript, focused and deep in thought processes that were enough to give any one else a headache. He felt a bit stupid, as he was beginnging to feel envious of the article she was giving all her attention to. But nonetheless, he was content to be around her, and watch her eyes as they traveled and stared off into the wall as she pondered something. At one point she looked over her paper, and blushed when she noticed Cato's staring.

She cleared her throat. "What are you looking at, hmm Cato?"

"You," he stated bluntly.

Akilah shifted her eyes back to the page, trying to distract herself in hopes her face wouldn't turn too crimson.

"Are you almost finished with whatever you're working on?"

"Why? Is my blueprint making you jealous?" Akilah snickered.

Cato fake scowled, "I never said that. What are you working on, anyway?"

Akilah's face brightened, "Well you see, there was a request sent in from Central Hyrule, asking if there was some way that our researchers in Kakariko could find a way to upgrade the Guardian stalker laser beam. We've been messing with the mechanics for quite some time now, and I feel really close to a breakthrough! The power source of the beam comes from an explosive energy that is built up in the middle segment of the body of the guardian, then transferred to the so called head portion of the robot. That stored energy is then released through a consistently timed process then shot through the 'eye' creating massive damage to wherever its target lies. If I could only find a way to build up the energy, without causing spontaneous internal combustion within the stalker, then perhaps we might be able to increase the overall damage, maintaining the safety of the guardian!"

Cato blinked in visible confusion, "If you could repeat that in Hylian, that would be amazing."

Akilah smirked, "It means I want the stalker guardians' laser to make more damage, you still follow? But at the same time, too much damage causing energy stored up in the same place could cause the spider robot to explode. You see Cato, we don't want the robots to hurt themselves, you understand? So with all the catch twenty twos, it makes my job harder, if that makes any sense to you," Akilah finished her mock explanation, trying to keep a serious face, although keeping serious faces was not her forte.

Cato gave her a hurt expression, which Akilah returned with a cheeky smile.

Cato sighed, "Don't you ever take any breaks?"

Akilah scooted closer to Cato so she could lean up against him as she continued to write her notes. "Sometimes."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "I think you should really consider redirecting, or rerouting your energy, so to speak," he flashed her a flirtatious smile.

Akilah playfully shrugged, "I guess I could take your suggestion into consideration."

As she closed her eyes and leaned closer to her husband, an idea struck her.

Akliah suddenly pulled back, "Cato that's it! Redirect and reroute the energy! Oh you did it! I could simply redirect and reroute the laser energy that is stored and shot out of the stalker guardians! Add a few extra wires here and there, and it should work. Sure it's super risky, but it might just work!"

Akilah jumped up off the couch and started to collect a bunch of her papers and scrolls, along with her quill pen. She started to search around the house for the remaining transcripts and blue prints she might need. Cato watched her scurry around the house in confusion.

"Hey uh, what are you doing?"

"I'm going down to the research center to test this new theory! Oh where is that last sketch? Purah! Do you have any of my technology sketches?"

Purah walked downstairs, followed by Impa and Link, who simply wanted to come see what all the commotion was about.

Purah nodded, "Probably. Which one do you need?"

"Guardian stalkers."

"Oh yeah that project! I'll see what I've got!" Purah ran back up stairs, and after enough shuffling around her massive collection of sketches and outlines, she came downstairs with the necessary papers and handed them to her mother.

"Thanks sweetheart! This should be most helpful."

Purah smiled, "Could I come with you?"

She shook her head. "Sorry, not this time. This experiment is at high risk, you know how projective energy from guardians can be."

"But I'm coming. I want to lend a hand, and I don't want you to go alone," Cato stated. Akilah knew she wouldn't be able to talk him out of it, so she nodded.

She straightened her handful of papers and gave Impa and Purah a final hug before she practically ran out of the door, "Good luck you three, stay safe! I should be back in a bit, love you!"

Cato ruffled Link's messy dark blonde hair, "See you in a bit."

With a final wave, Cato walked out the door to follow his wife, eager to see what the experiment would entail. Impa, Purah, and Link smiled and waved back, then all just sat in the living room together, waiting for their parents to come back home.

_-+-_

But they never did return. All three of the children jumped up with their pointed ears perked up in alarm when they heard the explosion come from the research lab.