The Legend of Dark Link
By Melanie Hannon
Part one: Gwendolyn
Prologue
I have lived in his shadow for years. Those who know us have always compared us. He has always been "the Good One", yet I have been told that although I am not as good as he, I am not the opposite. I am his Shadow. I am a part of him despite not having his character. This has always made me wonder how I would turn out. I see the good he does, but do not share his happiness. I have been intrigued with his lifestyle and yet I am equally impressed with the power of Princess Zelda. I have gone back and forth with my two options for years, watching Link get all the glory, and also watching Zelda conquer lands, controlling countless people, including my 'dear' other half. Every time she makes him go on another quest for her, she becomes the 'damsel in distress'. It only aids her to become more powerful. This is where my story begins, in the choosing of either Link, good; or Zelda, evil.
Clip, clop, clip, clop. The sound of my dark mare's hooves on the cobblestone path made everyone's heads turn towards me and my confidant, Link.
My horse whinnied uncomfortably as Link halted in front of us. I stopped the dark female, and her hooves clattered to a silent halt. Link dismounted and lead his buckskin coloured horse over to a merchants stall. I rolled my eyes, although dismounted also and lead my horse over to Epona and Link.
I saw Link pawing through a box of odds and ends. He looked up at me and said, "I noticed these here and saw this." Holding a small plushy that looked like a Keese, Link smiled mischievously at me.
"Urg. Why must you do this every time we come to the marketplace?" I sighed and turn away from him, crossing my arms, leaning against the support of the tent's shelter.
"What am I going to do with you? I swear, sometimes I believe you are more on Her side than mine." Link accentuated 'her', not willing to say the name. Especially not in public. Link believed that Princess Zelda, our own Princess, was in cahoots with the evil that tried to conquer Hyrule countless times, my 'soul brother's' most hated enemy. And everyone else's. My dear Link thought that Zelda was only staging her... kidnappings... I suppose you could call them that, well, Link thought that they were all just a plot to overthrow, herself, and join the evil in ruling the world.
"Shadow?" I heard Link calling my name, but for some reason it sounded far away. "Shadow." The voice that time was louder, more urgent.
I jerked awake, sensing that I was horizontal. I opened my eyes and looked around. Seeing that I was lying down, I jumped up into a standing position. I realised that this was a bad idea, immediately getting light headed. Grasping onto Link's shoulder, I looked at him.
"Are you quite alright?" He asked, concerned.
I shook my head a little to clear it and said, "Yes, I'm fine." Letting go of Link's shoulder, I murmured, "I'm leaving you, brother."
I turned away and started walking up to the castle, but Link stopped me with a hand on my arm.
"Shadow, what are you trying to say?" Link forced me to turn to him, a puzzled look crossing his angled features.
I shrugged his hand off and muttered, "I'm saying I'm joining Zelda. Goodbye." and with that, I turned and walked off, feeling fairly good about myself. I came to know later it wasn't what Zelda told me it would be.
I was only ten years old.
