Hidden Abilities: When Darkness Descends
Chapter One - A Fight To The Finish
"Do not falter!" Link shouted over the roar of the battle. "We carry the hope of all Hyrule!" He charged forward, the remaining force of Hyrule behind him. He quickly left the army behind him, riding into the thick of Ganon's troops. He swung the Master Sword around like a whirlwind. No attack reached him, no defense stopped him. He was a veritable tank on the battlefield, mowing down the enemy before him.
"Ganon! You have darkened the lands with blood and stolen the lives of Hyrule's finest! Today justice shall be meted out in full!" He rode forward and jumped off of Epona. Pulling his hands to the side, he concentrated and slammed his hands to the ground, igniting the very air around him. He watched, satisfied, as a large amount of the monsters vanished in the flames.
"Impressive, I have to say," Dark Link said, watching Link from his shadowy horse. He jumped down from his mount and drew his sword.
Link did the same, watching Dark Link, ready for the fight. "You stand between me and Ganon. I'd suggest you move. Now."
"And what's in it for me? If you get to Ganon and I leave, and he wins, he won't pay me. If you get to Ganon and win, then he won't be in any condition to pay me. If I stay and fight, and I beat you, he'll pay me, and he'll pay me a lot. If I stay and fight, and you beat me, and he wins, he'll still pay me for trying. If I stand and fight, and you win against me and Ganon, then I'm not going to get paid. Any guesses what I'm gonna do?"
"Stay, fight, and get beaten?"
"Cocky. Well, we'll see how that goes." And with that, Dark Link lunged. Link blocked his lunge with his sword and slid forward, cutting into Dark Link. Dark Link spun around and his sword tore through Link's back. Ignoring the pain, he brought his sword back in front of him and attacked Dark Link with a wrath comparable only to the time Dark Link kidnapped Zelda. Once again, Dark Link was pushed to the defensive.
"Ah. Come...to...fight...I...see," Dark Link commented between blocked blows.
"I always come prepared. You're just lucky I'm holding back."
"Holding...back..?" Dark Link replied, shocked. He slowed, but for only a second. However, Link took full advantage of that second, locking their swords at their hilts. Link spun his sword, ripping Dark Link's sword from his grasp and sending it flying. Link smiled, a smile that managed to chill Dark Link to the bone. Link held his sword in front of it and the area around them darkened. The blade of the Master Sword pulsed blue after about half a second and with both hands, Link slashed Dark Link, the blade slicing him from his right shoulder to right below his left ribs.
Dark Link felt the blade sear through him as if on fire. He felt his partially ethereal skin harden. "What have you done?" he gasped, actual steady pain coursing through him.
"You stand between me and Ganon," Link repeated. "Now, are you going to move or am I going to have to kill you once and for all?"
Dark Link nodded. "Very well."
Link watched as Dark Link sunk into the shadows. He noticed that the monsters were standing back, as if held back by some unnatural force. Instantly, Link brought his sword up and it smashed into an energy ball, sending it back toward Ganon.
Ganon dodged it and walked over toward Link. "Well, sent my little shadow warrior running, have we? Worry not, I plan on finishing you here and now."
"Only in your dreams, Ganon. You've threatened Hyrule for the last time under my watch. I have no idea how you broke out of the Sacred Realm, but I plan on making this next imprisonment permanent."
"Big words coming from one so small. You sure you can follow through with your threats?"
"Oh, I'm sure." Link walked forward slowly, assessing Ganon, trying to find a way to topple the Gerudo. Ganon suddenly jumped on the offensive, attempting to skewer Link with his giant sword. Link jumped to the side and instead attacked Ganon with the Master Sword. Ganon spun around and blocked the attack. He brought his knee up and slammed it into Link. Ganon slammed the hilt of his sword into Link's back and then smashed him with his fist. Link flew back and stood, grabbing his sword. He rushed forward and dived to the ground, sliding under Ganon's sword. He swung his sword around and watched it cut into Ganon's leg. Ganon jumped back and brought his own sword down, barely missing Link's head. Link stood and charged again.
The battle raged on for at least a half an hour. Ganon was clearly winning, barely scratched. Link, on the other hand, was battered and bloody. It was a miracle that he was still standing. Ganon roared with laughter.
"Look at you! You're barely alive! You don't stand a chance against me!"
"Think... again... Ganon..." Link said, every word sapping the energy that he had ran out of ten minutes ago. Desperate, he reached into his bag that he carried all of his items in, hoping to find something that would help him. He smiled as his hand passed over the warm wood that he had all but forgotten about.
"What, going to pull victory out of your little bag?"
"Actually, Ganon, yes I am. You see, I'm well known for having thousands of odd and end things that have strange and mystical uses. Like this, for instance." He jerked out the item.
"What, a piece of wood? Oh, I'm sorry, a piece of painted wood."
"That's exactly what it is, a piece of wood. A mask, to be precise." He lifted the mask to his face and shouted as the pain swept over him. Along with the pain, he felt immense power flood through him, ancient power long neglected. He felt the dark energy flow, wrapping itself around his injured form. He felt the armor form around him. He watched as his blade split in two, each half wrapping around the other, joining at the point. He laughed, the deep laugh that had passed into memory. He looked at Ganon through new eyes. He could see the Gerudo's weak points in mere seconds, every flaw laid out in front of him.
"Impressive look, I will admit, but still no match for me." Ganon brought his sword down, intending to slice Link in half. There was a clang of metal as Link lifted his own blade above him, stopping the Gerudo. In an instant, Link shot forward, bringing his sword to his side as it sliced into Ganon's side. The Gerudo drew back and attacked again, but again Link turned the attack into a counterattack, causing Ganon to once again pull back. Link swung his blade and watched as a blue wave cut through the air and collided with Ganon, causing the Gerudo to fall. Link swiped his sword through the air several more times, pelting Ganon with the blue bursts of energy, only stopping when he felt the last bit of magical energy leave him. Ganon struggled to his feet.
"That... was unexpected. You'll really regret that."
"No, Ganon," Link shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield, "it is you who will regret this! You who dared challenge the boy who would become the Hero of Time those many years ago! You who attempted to kidnap Zelda time and time again! You who even now stands here defying even the Goddesses! It is you, Ganondorf, who will regret this!" Channeling every last drop of energy that remained in his body into his sword, Link slammed it into the ground. A giant burst of blue energy slid across the ground, throwing up rocks until it collided with Ganon, sending him flying back, unconscious. His job done, Link pulled the mask off, the wear and strain that he had put on his body finally catching up to him. He fell to his knees as he faded from reality.