"That move… how did you know it, young lad?"
"Impa; she taught it to me after I went to her for training. How did you know what it was I did?" Link asked as Sheik stood up beside him.
"You back flipped against my blind side. That is an ability only taught to those of my family. I am… quite angered that Impa taught someone outside of the bloodline, especially a boy of Hylian blood."
"His blood doesn't matter, he is the Hero of Time and thus can learn the abilities of any derivation." Sheik said. The spirit arched an eyebrow.
"Hero of Time? You did not mention that fact." He curved into a deep bow. "I am sorry I forced you into such a childish challenge."
"Oy!!" Link hissed. "I didn't tell him that for a reason, you know!"
Sheik looked questioningly at him. "You're hiding your on title? You are repugnant for me, at times."
"Enough. You two, as I promised, have a rightful prize waiting for you."
He turned, beginning to float toward the doorway. "It is dark from here on. I will escort you."
Link and Sheik nodded as they began to follow the cyan light of the man. They walked past the doorway and into a somewhat hollow room. The two boys looked around to see ancient symbols inscribed on the walls. In front sat three large coffins. The spirit floated past them and towards a stone wall.
"My grave, as well as my wife and son's."
Link nodded, but Sheik said nothing as he stare at the wooden, elaborately decorated caskets. Link and Sheik suddenly came to a halt as the spirit stopped in front of the stone wall. He lifted his fur-cloaked sleeve and a section of stone rose into the ceiling. The spirit moved out of the doorway, allowing the two living to pass. Link looked at the pale, clear face as he walked past, who merely returned it with a blank stare.
Link then begun to look around the dark, lightly dusty room. The spirit floated past the two, and held his hand forward. Instantly, petite illuminating sparks floated away from him and to the walls. They then erupted into blue flame, and Link could see they were on torches. The two living could now see, and they looked around the lightly lit room. In front of them stood a large Sheikah symbol imprinted on the wall and in front of it sat a stone tablet. Though it was barely visible, writing could be seen on the tablet. In front of the stone and all around the room were small blooming flowers, which stretched across the room until reaching Sheik and Link's feet.
"The flower you seek is there."
Link nodded, and bent down. He put his index finger and forefinger on the fragile stem of a nearby rose and picked it away with a small popping noise. He felt a weight on one shoulder, and looked up at Sheik.
"Impa said that it only blooms in the dark. We should leave here soon, as the sun will rise soon." Link nodded at the Sheikah's words and stood. He reached to his side where his hand met a leather pouch tied to his belt. He lifted the flap, reached into it, and pulled out a small glass bottle out. Popping out the cork, he put the flower though the small neck and returned the top to its original position.
Placing the bottle back into the bag, Link turned himself toward the doorway. Imshah stood still, silently watching. Link walked toward him.
"Sir, we'd like to go now."
"Of course." The spirit said and quickly turned. He began floated down the hallway with the two males trailing behind him. Through the main tomb, then the room with previously the rock in the way. Imshah floated through the door, but Sheik opened it, letting link through then closing it as he went out himself. They then walked down the columns of coffins until reaching the light that shone down from the lighted world above. A dark purple sky could be seen, though tinges of red could be seen on the very sides of the hole. Imshah stopped just before reaching the light, returning his gaze to the breathing men.
Sheik and Link stepped forward, looking straight up at the sky above. Above them was a dark looming branch of a nearby oak tree.
"How do you think we will get out?" Sheik asked.
"I know!" Link suddenly yelled. He reached to his side pouch, pulling out a small mechanical devise. He suddenly put his arm around Sheik's side and clung to the Sheikah's side. Before he could protest, the hero held the mechanism upwards and pushed the button, causing a sudden spring to release. A metal arrow shot up, grabbing hold of the branch so far above. The metal device pulled the pair up, catapulting them out of the hole. As soon as they hit the wood of the branch, the metal arrowhead let go, letting the boys drop to the ground above the grave. Instantly, the Sheikah pushed the Hylian away.
"Where did you get that?! After you returned to the past, that should've been returned to Dampe!"
"Relax, relax. A while back I was on night patrol of Kokoriko and I decided to treat the old man to a contest. I won it fair and square, thank you!" Link said as he returned his hookshot to his bag.
"You…! You're so immature!" Sheik yelled.
"Yeah, but I have fun doing it." Link muttered. He looked down the still open grave. "Imshah, sir… What do want us to do?"
"Please, heroes, Close the entrance to this grave. I will guard it until the end of time, just like I promised."
"Yes, sir." Link said. He walked around the grave, pushing it to its original position. He turned to his comrade, "Sheik, help me push this, would you?"
"Of course." Sheik said as he fallowed the boy's example. The spirit remained silent as the darkness encased him under the ground.
"Sheik…? Impa, my daughter, you have become interesting, haven't you?"
Impa, now alone in the room, silently prepared the bowl of herbs. She only lacked the ingredients that Link was to bring her. She sighed, looked down from her chair next to the bedside. Zelda lay there, as unchanged as ever. Impa sighed, but swung around as she heard a loud crash. She sighed in disbelief as she saw the legendary hero of time laying face flat on the ground in front of a forced open window.
"Link, what are you doing? You know you could have used the front door." Impa sighed as she stood up. Link lifted himself off the ground with a groan of pain.
"No, we couldn't." Link said.
"We?" Impa asked, but her eyes met the blond haired Sheikah who stood in the window, his face once again covered and his balance tenfold that of the hero's. In a flash, both had drawn their daggers and both held the blades to the other's neck. Though Impa stood, Sheik bent to one knee.
"Wait! There is an explanation!" Link yelled. Quickly, he explained why Sheik stood in front of Impa.
"I see." Impa said as Link concluded himself. She paused, removing the blade. "Link, do you have the Rose?" Impa asked, not taking her eyes off of Sheik. He stayed on the ground, looking at her with one eye.
"Oh…Yes!" Link said as he reached to the pouch and pulled out a bottle with the flower tucked safely inside. He held it out and the white-haired Sheikah took it, swinging around to face Zelda. She walked to her abandon bowl of herbs, picking it up. She put the bowl in her lap as she sat down, and began to pick the red petals off, placing them in the bowl. After only 2 layers, the flower was pure white. Sheik got to his feet, walked next to her and watched silently. Impa then opened the remaining petal the reveal a bright pink interior.
"Put the pollen on her lips, Link."
"I'll do it." Sheik said as he took the flower and bent down next to the princess. He began to work as the female Sheikah eyed him. She then stood, and then bent down next to him.
"That's enough. You have already put too much on. Now, pick off the leaves and rub them on her cheeks." Impa said. She watched her fellow Sheikah.
"Impa, what are you going to do with the bowl of herbs?" Link asked as he walked over, picked the bowl up from its position on the chair. Instantly, his nose inhaled a strong, scent. He coughed to the side.
"I'm going to make a medicine for Zelda when she wakes." Impa said. "If your allergic to something in there, put it down. I don't want you breaking another one of my bowls."
"Sorry." Link said as he set it down. He then walked to the other side of the room, looking at his reflection in the mirror without thinking. He knew to want Impa had referred. A mere year ago he and the Sheikah had been training in her room, when he had a sneezing fit and broken an entire stack of bowls and two plates. That was the day he learned he was allergic to rosemary.
Still staring at the mirror, he looked curiously at his face. The reflecting was smiling with it's eyes half-shut. Link held his hand to his lips, he wasn't smiling. Curios still, he walked towards it. Sheik watched him from the corner of his eye. Still looking at his own face, Link reached forward to touch it, but flinched away as the face began to change. Link's heart began aching, but his eyes focused on the blue eyes until they morphed to a red color. Now, a man who looked identical to Link but with dark brown hair and black clothes smirked at the hero.
"You… I know you… you're the one that haunts my dreams…"
"Tell me Fairy boy, does it upset you that the princess is dying yet you can't help her?"
"Dark." Link snarled. He didn't take his eyes off the grinning doppelganger.
"Does it pain you? Knowing while you were off frolicking with some boy she was dying at your hand."
"Be Quiet…"
"Link who are you…" Impa said as she turned to look at the hero. Her voice cut off as her eyes returned to Zelda, who was breathing with labor, but her blue eyes stayed open. "Zelda…. You're all right…"
Link's head swung to look at the princess as she slowly rose to a sitting position, Impa clinging to her shaking arm. She flinched.
"Impa… could you close the curtain? The sun is very bright…"
Impa blinked. "My lady, it's night time."
"Oh. I apologize. Then could you get my cloak?"
Impa stood, walking to the wardrobe in the corner of the room. Zelda looked at Link, then at Sheik. "Thank you." She said softly as Impa returned, handing her the silky brown robe. The princess slowly stood, putting it on her body then putting the hood up. Impa stood next to her for balance. Link sighed sadly as he heard a small sound.
"All your fault."
Link looked around. "All your fault."
"Quiet already." Link hissed. He then turned to the mirror, again, Dark stood there.
"All your Fault."
"QUIET!" Link yelled as he suddenly swung his fist, hitting the mirror. At the sound, Impa and Sheik swung around. Zelda weakly looked up.
Breathing hard, Link stared at the glass. Dark was gone, and the glass was clear. A small cracking sound came to Link's sensitive ears. Suddenly, large cracks made their way up from his fist to the surrounding glass. In a large explosion, the mirror shattered. Link was knocked back by the force, and flew into the wall behind him. A cloud of dark smoke surrounded the room. Slowly, it cleared to reveal an empty smoking frame with broken glass surrounding it. For some strange reason, the glass was in front of the mirror, the opposite direction Link had hit it in.
Link slowly stood and could now see the glass was seeping out a black sludge. He gasped in disgust as it slowly made it's way to the front of the mirror. Everyone it the room stared as the mound became taller and thinner. Link's eyes suddenly caught a dark haired man who sat in the corner not far from him. He stared with a blank look.
"Dark!" Link yelled as he reached for his sword. Suddenly something slimy and sticky hit his hand. He gasped, looking back to see his hand and the sword handle covered in a black sludge. His arm was suddenly pulled away with the sword in it. The sword went flying out of his grasp, leaving his hand unarmed. Link saw the sword stop in midair in front of the black mound. His eyes widened as the black started to fall away from the mound, reveling a dark-haired man. He wore the clothes of a noble, but he was probably on a few years older then Link himself. His blue eyes looked at the blade in mid-air. He reached for it, grabbing the handle. The sludge seemed to seep into his hand.
"What a horrible excuse for a blade. Such bad craftsmanship." The man said. He held the blade out, and it was suddenly surrounded by the blackness. The substance meted onto itself and it and the blade disappeared.
"You… who are you?" Impa said. Link looked at her to see she stood defensively in front of the wavering princess. Sheik stood beside Impa, his hand on the place where he hid his blade.
"My name is Demetrius. I was trapped inside that wretched piece of glass. I thank you for helping me, hero of time." He said as he sunk to a deep bow before standing up straight with a generous smile across his face.
"How do you know I was the Hero of Time?" Link asked in shock.
"I've been watching you from the mirror, of course. It was interesting to watch all of you." He said with an arched eyebrow.
"What did you do to Princess Zelda?!" Sheik suddenly yelled. Demetrius turned to him, a smile across his face.
"In order to go to the form you see before you, I needed just a bit of her 'light'. Do not worry, it won't kill her."
"You stole her… light?" Link asked.
"Goddesses no. I promise that when I find my own source I will return it. I merely am accommodating it." Demetrius said, rather appalled to be accused of stealing.
"What do you mean, 'her light'?" Impa asked.
"Light is merely a term. It is simply the ability to live in the world around us now. A person, as my research tells, has their light, dark, and body. All three are needed to survive."
"Well then give Zelda back hers!" Link yelled. He was suddenly struck across the mouth. He looked down to see the black sludge was covering his mouth. Letting out an inaudible yell, he began to attempt to pull it off.
"You talk much too much, lad. Oh, and I wouldn't do that. You'll hurt yourself more."
"What is that?" Impa asked.
"This?" he asked as he held up a hand. It began to be covered it the blackness. Demetrius smiled. "It is the result of my experiments. I have learned to control my 'dark' almost like my own extra sets of hands. Very useful I must say."
"You mean… you're the one who hurt Zelda?" Sheik said.
"What?!" Impa yelled. "If you hurt her getting this Light… I'll-"
"Calm down, my lady. If you want me to give the Princess back her light I'd be happy to. But I need another's light to do this." Demetrius said. He looked at the hero. Slowly, the black made it's way up until going above the bridge of his nose. Link struggled, attempting to breathe.
"No… Link…" Zelda said weakly.
Link began to try to pry the black away with both hands. Slowly, a noticeable glow came from his Triforce, now visible behind the glove. Demetrius widened his eyes in curiosity. Link, dropping to his knees, began to pull harder. His lungs seemed to be collapsing on him. Then, his Triforce let out a violent flash of light. Demetrius looked in amazement to see Link bending on the floor, gasping for breath; beneath him, a pile of blackened dust. Demetrius arched an eyebrow.
"So… the hero of time is the wielder of a Triforce. How… interesting." He smiled, then looked to the ground. A look of disgust crossed his face. "Dear me, what a mess I've made."
He held out his hand and the shards of glass lifted into the air. 5 rather large pieces floated in front of him, as well as two small ones and a long medium sized one. "I'll have to destroy these wretched things."
"No!" Impa yelled. She held out a hand and the shards disappeared in 8 flashes of light. "That mirror wasn't cursed, it was sealing the power of an evil man inside it!"
"Such horrible words, my lady. I suppose if that's how you want to be I will just have to find them myself. But… if you wish to oppose me, so be it."
He held his hand the same time Zelda did and closed her eyes. Suddenly, four large jet-black hounds surrounded them after rising from the sludge on the ground. Their eyes glowed a dark crimson color. Link got to his feet, slowly inching towards the group and stepping in front of Zelda. A dog growled and jumped toward him at amazing speed. Sheik stepped between them and swung his blade. It went though the dog's snout, who jumped away, unharmed and growling.
"Hellhounds. We are no match." Impa muttered. Suddenly, the four of them started to be surrounded by a light. It cleared, and the group had disappeared. Demetrius arched an eyebrow as the dogs came close to him, panting and happily whimpering like normal hounds. He reached down, rubbing one's droopy ear.
"This is a very interesting predicament. I suppose I will have to keep and eye on them." He looked around the room until he met the gaze of a dark haired teen. Dark's face became pale, and he attempted to scoot closer to the wall, though he was already all the way against it. Demetrius grinned ever so slightly.
"Lad… 'Dark Link' was it? I have a task for you…"
