In a daze barely conscious I saw glimpses of Link, then a shroud of white light. A figure standing within it, he was holding out his hand, his voice simply echoes, struggling to catch his words.

“Who?” I felt the quickening of my own breath.

“It is almost time.” I finally heard him, the one who was always calling out my name. “Alex.” I reached my hand out in hopes of reaching this stranger. “I can only help you out a little this time, my light is not strong enough within you yet for us to meet, be patient and use this light until we meet.”

A deep pulse of power rose within me. “What is this?” It was the same as last time when I fought the dark Avis. A white light so pure, it felt revitalising, spreading through my whole body.

“Purify these lands, soon you will awaken.” His voice faded away and I saw Link. I still held my hand to his chest, my seal still strong, my hand glowing white.

“Not possible,” snarled Link. “That should have knocked you down.”

“Sorry to disappoint you.” I backed away, leaving my seal on him. “I can free you now, with the gift he gave me. It never lasts long but will do for this.”

“What are you doing?” His expression was filled with panic. “Please don’t hurt them, please!”

“No one is going to hurt them.” I shook my head, realising Link attacked simply out of fear, he was truly the one controlling all the dark energy here, now it was time for the dark crystals to be nothing more than a bad memory for him.

I turned to dad; he had purified quite a few crystals but not fast enough to make a real impact to the fierce storms above our head. The lightning still striking all around us, Arata was doing as I asked redirecting any which got to close to him.

Dad turned to look at me. “His light, you saw him.” He knew who he was, the one who kept feeding me this light.

“I don’t know who he is, but his light is nothing I’ve felt before,” I said. I walked forward, heading to the centre of the crater. “Why I hear and feel his power I don’t know, but somehow I know how to use it.”

Reaching the centre, I touched my hand to the ground. The white energy within me spread out in a wave, like a gentle mist through an open meadow. Each dark crystal the wave touched crumbled into dust, one after the other.

The storm was growing weaker, taking away the bountiful power supply he had for his power, but Link did not need them as he himself had become like the dark crystals a conduit of dark power with no master, different from those who claimed to follow under the eternal dragon.

Quickly the area was cleared of these crystals, the light I had been giving fading away just as fast as it had appeared. I stood up, stumbling, feeling drained.

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Dad caught hold of me, smiling. “It would seem your awakening is closer at hand than I thought, perhaps connecting to my light, has undone some of the damaged caused.”

“That was to do with my awakening?” I asked, shaking off my sudden tiredness.

“It was, usually it happens quite quickly with one awakening, but it would seem he is making sure you are ready to receive it,” added dad.

“Who is he?” I questioned.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Dad turned us both to the still restrained Link.

“His friends are behind the rock I sealed him on, he was protecting them,” I said sadly.

“I see.” We walked over as Link continued to struggle to break free.

“Don’t think this is over,” he snarled. Link still had the dark energy swirling around him, but this was his own energy nobody else’s.

“It is over Link, look.” I pointed all around us. “The crystals are gone.” He slowly looked around. “You are free and so are your friends, your family.” I held my hand out releasing the seal.

“Link, it is time to move on for them,” said dad.

“I…” He had been fighting for so long he had no idea how not to, who he could trust. The fear I could still see it there within his eyes, he held distrust towards us, even though we had wiped out all the dark crystals, the cause of the death of his family and friends.

Dad stepped closer, removing a pendent from his pocket, it had the symbol of Fang. “This is a special pendent that will hide the dark aura you carry. I offer it to you as a symbol of my trust and protection.” Link stared at it, remaining silent. “You wouldn’t want to scare those left in the village, would you?”

“The others?”

“Since arriving here I have kept them safe from the dangers that the knights have brought.” Dad smiled. “The elders told me all about you, they have missed you and were overjoyed to hear you still lived.”

“But I tried to kill you.” Link gazed at us puzzled, he seemed to have lost the will to fight after the destruction of the dark crystals.

“You were simply protecting them,” I responded, walking round the rock I had pinned him to. I held a sad expression as I laid eyes upon the bones of those killed in the name of the darkness. “They would be thankful.”

Link bowed down on one knee. “You have saved me from myself. I will forever serve you and only you. What you wish is my command.” Dad placed the pendent around his neck and the dark aura disappeared. “What should I call you?”

“Call me Fang,” I answered.

“Fang,” he nodded.

“Well done.” Dad glanced at me.

“I’m having a nap when I get back,” I yawned.

“Well deserved, thank you.” Dad was grateful. I could see the relief in his expression, all of his time here had been difficult, in a way I had saved him, and I would be the one to bring him home.

“I am sorry Yamato,” said Link.

“Don’t worry about it. How about we give your friends and family the burial they deserve.” Dad came to stand beside me.

“I would like that,” nodded Link rising to his feet.

Link used his dark power to craft a tool, a spade as he was adamant that he would be the one who dug the graves of those lost, here in the grater where they lost their lives. Now at least this place was a peaceful one, but there was one last challenge to face and that was getting out of here, breaking down the walls which were built as a prison and freeing those who lived here.