Chapter One: A Fate Worse Than Death
Link stepped into the room, sword held aloft. There were no visible walls or ceiling. The sole occupant of the room, aside from the blue-clad teen that had just entered, was a gnarled tree. Link saw no enemies and the way to the other side was clear, so he walked past the twisted tree, splashing through the shallow water.
"Hn."
The quiet scoff was enough to make the Hero of Time freeze and whirl around, ready for battle. Still not seeing any adversaries, Link lowered his guard some. The shadows around the tree darkened and solidified into a familiar face: Link's own.
The teen was pale and looked all the more so due to his tunic, which was of the purest black. His hat hung long over his shoulder, partially covering raven hair. He was leaning against the tree in a supremely unconcerned manner.
"Pathetic." The venom in the youth's voice startled Link. The Hero of Time raised his sword and shield, ready to defend against an attack. The other boy pushed off the tree and began to walk towards Link, drawing his midnight blade and readying an equally dark replica of the Hylian Shield.
"Hey! Listen!" Navi's shout drew their attention. Link's head snapped up. "His name is D-"
"Just call me Dark." The teen interrupted. He smiled maliciously at Link. "So, are you going to attack me or just stand there and wait for Lord Ganondorf to destroy the rest of Hyrule? I'm all for the latter, but…"
Link rushed forwards and attempted to slash Dark across the chest. Dark smirked and leapt lightly onto The Master Sword. Dark backflipped over Link slashing at his back with the ebony blade. Link fell to the ground with a cry of pain as crimson blood began dying the back of his blue tunic purple.
"Weak. Pathetic. Useless." Dark spat," Mido was right, You are a failure. Failed to stop Ganondorf from taking over Hyrule. Failed to save Zelda when it counted most. Dampe, Malon, Talon, the Great Deku Tree, the little kid with the masks. It's all your fault; the deaths, Ganondorf's rule. All of it."
Link forced himself to his feet.
"Do you ever stop monologuing?"
Dark laughed coldly. "You...Do you really think you have a chance to beat me? I'm your darkest thoughts, the part you hide from everyone, including yourself. I know your fear, your pain, your despair."
"You don't know anything!" Link shouted, charging at Dark. Link swung his blade diagonally rather than slashing horizontally. Dark backflipped away. Link pressed the attack, whilst Dark continued to backflip just out of reach. Suddenly, Dark leapt forwards and struck out with his sword. Link barely managed to block the blade with his shield. Dark sprung forward once more and Link, seeing an opening caught the black sword between his own sword and shield. Link wrenched the sword from Dark's hands, flinging it aside where it splashed down in the shallow water. Dark backflipped once again, but Link rushed forwards and, with a cry of mixed pain and rage, stabbed the Blade of Evil's Bane through Dark's chest. Dark's expression was one of betrayal.
"I know that this to you is a fate worse than death." He said softly.
Dark faded back into the shadows, leaving behind a shell-shocked Link and a small, empty, water-filled room.
"I'm sorry." Link whispered. He turned and left the room.