Chapter one
"Open your eyes…Link" a voice pulls me from my sleep, tired… I feel so tired. I blink my eyes open seeing blurs of blue, grey, and gold clouding my vision. My chest feels heavy and I don't think I'd be able to move if I tried. After a few more blinks my eyes finally adjust to the world around me. The first thing I see is a head of white grey hair tucked into my neck. I'm more confused than alarmed as I realize the person is sleeping on me. I try to raise my hand the movement feeling so odd to me. I feel so disoriented that its hard for me to really do anything other than try to wake this person here with me. I place a gentle hand on his head softly petting their hair in hopes of waking them as gently as I can.
I hear a quiet whimper as the person stretches only slightly trying to bury their face harder in my neck. Their warm breath tickles my neck causing me to shiver and finally the person looks up at me his head lying on my chest. I look down at him and my first thought is pretty, so very pretty. Gorgeous ruby eyes flecked with silver are staring up at me confused. I run my hand over his cheek watching as he curls closer into my palm.
"Where are we?" his voice is rough and deep filled with sleep. I clear my throat.
"I don't know. I don't… remember anything." My voice breaks as I try to explain everything, he sits up crawling out of what looks like a small pool of water that was holding the two of us. Once he is steady on his feet he offers me his hand, I take it grateful for the help. I crawl out of the pool noticing more now that we are in a cave.
"I can't… I can't remember anything, who I am… how I got here." He shakes his head and it's the same for me. I walk over to where he's standing and place a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure we will remember, we just have to find a way out of this place." He swallows hard ruby eyes searching my face.
"Okay…" The stone is cold under our bare feet as we walk to what we hope is the exit. There's a strange pillar next to a barred door. I walk closer examining it only to step back when the pillar begins to move offering me a strange device with an eye on it.
"It's a sheikah slate, it will guide you after your long slumber… take it." It's that voice again, I look over to my companion to see him still staring at the pool of water that held us… could he not hear that voice? When I take the slate from the pillar the doors begin to open for us. He looks over at me confused, wondering how I got the door open. I only raise the tablet so he can see. He comes closer finally and we enter a room with two old chests inside. They are sitting right at the entrance of the room, I look over as my companion lets his curiosity get the best of him. He goes over to a chest and starts fidgeting with the lock until it pops open... I look over surprised as he pops the lid open and stares inside to some clothes.
Only then do I realize our state of undress, I look at the chest opposite to his chest and decided that its worth a shot to see what's inside. Inside my chest is a worn black shirt that still looks wearable followed by some pants and a belt. My companion brings his clothes and then looks inside my chest while I look up at him.
"Can we switch, I really like this color." He says softly looking at the black tunic longingly.
"Of course." I murmur allowing him to take the clothes in my chest while he hands me a green shirt and tan pants. We both dress ourselves quickly before heading into another room with yet another locked door.
"Use the sheikah slate it will show you the way." I look over again to see if he can hear her voice as well. It seems it's not the case. I do as I'm told using the sheikah slate to open the last door. A large lock lights up with the same insignia on my sheikah slate and we both watch in awe as the door opens allowing the light from the sun to shower inside the cave.
"Link… you are the light, our light. You must shine down on Hyrule once again… now go." I feel compelled to follow the orders I'm being given I only look back to my new companion offering him my hand as we leave this place.
"Dark… let's get out of here." His eyes light up at the name and I feel a bit surprised too.
"Dark...? Is that my name?" He questions softly coming closer to take my hands in his. "Do you know me? I feel as though I know you." His voice is soft as he looks at me hoping to find answers.
"The name… it just feels right to call you that, I don't know anything more than you do. I'm sorry." I truly am for him because we don't know anything about who we are or what we are doing trapped in a cave.
"Then do you know your own name?" He asks again eyes scanning my face and I think back to that voice I heard when I awoke…
"I think my name is Link…" His eyes seem to grow wider at that but he doesn't say a word.
"let's go then Link." We keep our hands clasped together as we walk into the field before us. Dark only let's go so he can run up to the edge of the cliff and look around us.
"It's so… beautiful." He murmurs softly glancing towards a large volcano in the distance.
"Very beautiful." I agree looking over towards a small path that we can use to get down the mountain.
"Dark!" My voice comes out more alarmed than I intended it to be as I see a man standing at the foot of the path. Dark looks over following my gaze his hands go instantly to my shirt moving me until I'm behind him.
"Dark?" His ruby eyes scan the man for any dangers before deciding he isn't a threat.
"Let's go talk to him maybe we can find out more about who we are." I say nudging Dark with my shoulder. Dark frowns but we walk down the hill anyways to reach the man who is now seated by a fire. I sit down in front of him and he doesn't seem to mind while Dark goes for the torch behind him.
"Well then, just help yourself to that torch there… And how may I ask, are you planning to use it?" Dark grins looking over his shoulder at us.
"To light things on fire of course!" I try to stifle the smile on my lips while the old man stares at Dark uncomfortably.
"That is rather… unnerving, please be cautious with that around any dry grass that might catch fire. You know there are plenty of monsters in this area. That torch would make a good weapon if need be. However, do not just swing it around without purpose you must face your opponents and lock your sights on them!" He sounds more like a teacher as he scolds Dark and I don't feel like we are in any danger dealing with him. Dark rolls his eyes coming to sit next to me with his new torch.
"It's a bit strange seeing another soul in these parts… little own two." Dark and I exchange a glace before looking at the man.
"Who are you?" I questioned watching as he looks between the both of us for a moment.
"Me? Ill spare you my life story. I'm just an old fool who has lived here alone, for quite some time now. What brings two bright-eyed young men like you to a place like this?" Dark is fidgeting with the torch his eyes straying to me in hopes that I will talk to him.
"Where are we exactly, we kind of just stumbled upon this place?" He looks as though he's contemplating something.
"As I cannot imagine our meeting to be a simple coincidence… I shall tell you." Dark leans closer to the fire to listen to the old man's words and I have to grab his arm to pull him from getting to close to the flames.
"This is the Great Plateau. According to legend, this is the birthplace of the entire kingdom of Hyrule. That temple there… Long ago, it was the site of many sacred ceremonies. Ever since the decline of the kingdom 100 years ago, it has sat abandoned in a state of decay." We both look out at the temple behind him and something in my heart is telling me I've seen that place before, I've been there I know I have.
"Yet another forgotten entity. A mere ghost of its former self." I stand knowing full well I have to go there, I need to know whats inside.
"Link is everything alright?" Dark questions softly as he uses the stone wall to get to his feet.
"I want to go to the temple." I say looking back at him and he nods.
"Lets go then." I cant help but smile as he follows me towards the temple in the distance. Hes silent for what feels like a few minutes and I cant help but feel nervous. I look to my right where he had been and see that he is nowhere to be found.
"Dark?" I call out realizing that I stopped hearing his footsteps following me a while ago. I turn around to see him trying to pry a wood cutters axe from a piece of wood.
"What in the world… Dark what are you doing?!" He looks over at me and waves me off as he tries to get a better grip on the axe in front of him. I walk back to his side and wrap my arms around his middle and tug with him until the blade finally loosens enough for Dark to take it.
"You heard that old man, he said there are monsters in the area. This could protect us." I sigh seeing just how excited he is about having an axe in his collection.
"Just be careful with it, please?" He smiles back at me as he finds a way to attach the axe to one of the belts on his clothing.
"I won't hurt myself so don't worry, kay?" He says as he heads closer to where I am waiting for him. He offers me his hand and I take it feeling comfort in the fact that he's nearby.
"I'll try not to." I mutter as he leans close bumping my shoulder with his. We walk hand in hand to the entrance of the temple. I feel Darks body go ridged at the sight of a strange creature made of metal broken down in front of the temple wall.
"I don't like that thing." Dark murmurs from my side as he clings to my arm. I nod in agreeance as we both walk past the beast towards a giant statue of the goddess Hylia. We both stare at it and I feel my skin crawl as a wave of nostalgia cuts through me.
"May the goddess smile upon you…" Dark whispers looking at the inscription at the foot of the statue. It takes me a few moments of wandering to realize that I don't like how this place makes me feel.
"I don't want to be here anymore." I say, I'm grateful that Dark doesn't question me. He pulls me out of the temple leading me through the grass.
"Hey Link! Look at that!" He says pointing at what would appear to be a giant rock, but looking closer you can see a strange pillar looking like its peeking out from the rocks. Dark grinned flashing a pair of pearly white fangs as he faces me.
"Want to race over there?" I open my mouth to refuse as kindly as I can but the look on Darks face is telling me that no isn't an option.
"Don't start crying when you lose." I say knowing full well I'm acting childish but Dark doesn't seem to mind one bit.
"Yeah right in your dreams." He counters stepping up to my side and beginning the count down.
"3….2…1… GO!" Dark calls out as we both take off running towards the rock. I love the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair, the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Dark and I are evenly matched as we make it to the rock at the same time.
"Come on… it was a draw." He pouts crossing his arms over his chest.
"He we can pretend you aren't as slow as a turtle and say you won." Dark makes an indignant sound before sticking his tongue out at me.
"Jerk." I only smile at him as I climb up onto the rock. I look inside to see one of those pillars inside hidden by all the rocks.
"Dark!" He comes over quickly his eyes instantly going to the pillar.
"Wonder what that does? Why don't you use that strange tablet and see if it works on there." I bite my lip looking from the sheikah slate to the pillar.
"This thing opened that door back there I don't know if I want to imagine what it will do to this place." Dark takes the slate from my hands and places it in the alter.
"See noth…" Just as he's about to speak the ground around us begins to tremble. Dark wraps his arm around me pulling me close to him as he holds on to one of the poles holding this place up. Everything is shaking as the pillar extends high towards the sky. I fell back and Dark came with me as he used his body to shield me from any falling rocks. I held tightly onto him until everything stopped shaking. Dark looked down at me his face turning pink at our closeness.
His white hair was tickling my cheek while his big ruby eyes seemed to peer into the depths of my very soul, I let my grip on his shirt go as he scrambled to get off of me. He offered me a hand still, lifting me off the floor and back to my feet. Together we walked back to the sheikah slate only to see that a regional map had appeared on the slate. Dark shrugged as I took it back, then I heard it once again.
"remember, try… try to remember. You have been asleep for the past 100 years. The beast, when the beast regains its true power this world will face its end. Now then… you must hurry Link… Before its too late!" Without realizing it I have walked to the edge of the tower staring straight at what looks to be a giant castle covered in an evil miasma. I can see the beast she speaks of circling around the castle almost as if its guarding it.
"Link…" A gentle hand touches my shoulder and I look back to Dark who is staring at me with a worried expression.
"I… I'm fine… the castle just looked… strange." He looks passed me out at the castle before turning to stare at me once again.
"We don't have to go there. It looks like a place we need to steer clear of. I only nod as he helps me back down the tower. When we reach the bottom we hear a strange sound only to look up and see that old man from earlier paragliding to where we are standing. "My, my… it would seem we have quite the enigma here. This tower and others just like it have erupted across the land one after the other. Its almost as though… a long-dormant power has awoken quite suddenly. If you do not mind me asking… Did anything… odd occur while you were atop that tower?" I look between him and Dark and I don't want to lie about it.
"I… I heard a voice." Dark looks over at me confused because he hadn't heard a thing.
"Well now! A voice, you say?" I nod as he looks out towards the castle.
"Did you happen to recognize this mysterious voice?" I bite my lip and shake my head.
"No…" The old man seems to frown at that.
"I see… well, that is unfortunate. I assume you both caught sight of that atrocity enshrouding the castle?" Dark and I both nod hoping to find out what that beast is.
"That… is Calamity Ganon. One hundred years ago, that vile entity brought the kingdom of Hyrule to its ruin. It appeared so suddenly and destroyed everything in its path. So many innocent lives were lost in its wake. For a century, the very symbol of our kingdom, Hyrule castle has managed to contain that evil… just barely. There it festers, building its strength for the moment it will unleash its blight upon the land once again. It would appear that moment is fast approaching. I must ask you courageous one… do you intend to make your way to the castle?" Dark opens his mouth to disagree but I find that I can't.
"I do… I must." He laughs softly.
"I had a feeling you would say that. Here on this isolated plateau, we are surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs with no way down. If you were to try to jump off, well no death could be more certain… or foolish. Of course, if you had a paraglider like mine, that would be quite another story." He says causing Dark to narrow his eyes at him.
"Hand, it over." Dark glared at the old man.
"Oho! Certainly! Why not? But there is no such thing as a free item in this world you know." I could see Dark getting frustrated beside me.
"Let's see now, how about I trade it for a bit of treasure that slumbers nearby?"
Dark and I both look at each other. He doesn't seem like he wants to go but he also doesn't seem like he will willingly part with me.