A/N: Sorry for the insanely long wait on this chapter. I had a lot of stuff going on over here on my side of the computer, and I kind of lost my drive for this story. But, thanks to the wonderful Twilit Guardian, I am back on track! Hopefully…
Darking sighed, kicking at the scrawny dead tree in front of him. The tree and the little island he was standing on were the only things decorating his prison. That, and the giant stone doors that sealed him in there, of course.
It was a strange series of events that led to his imprisonment here in the Water Temple. His pseudo-father, the Gerudo king Ganondorf, had found him one dismal morning. Darking had been happily hacking up a trainging dummy when his "father" had called for him.
"The Chosen Hero of Farore is nearing the Water Temple. It is time for you to take up residence there," Ganon had said. Darking was skeptical when Ganon mentioned that his son would not need anything. No food, no water. Just the clothes on his back, his sword, and his shield. Darking had complied, thinking that he hadn't been eating much these days, anyway. The ancient Gerudo had saddled up his black stallion, and Darking took the speckled gray mare he was fond of. The two had ridden hard for an entire day before Ganon allowed the horses to slow and eventually stop.
Darking stayed awake, perched on a rock while his father seemed to sleep. As he scanned the desert around him, the scene suddenly changed. The sand was splashed with red, as was the rock he sat on. The ravaged bodies of the two horses were laid out, thick blood soaking into the sand. The once-proud head of the Gerudo King himself sat on the ground by Darking's foot. Dried blood crusted around the place where the neck had been severed from the body, which was lying spread-eagle in front of Darking. The anti-hero blinked and the scene disappeared, the cool desert night returning. Darking released a long breath, knock his hat off and running clammy hands through his hair. He rested his head between his knees and closed his eyes.
"Why?" Darking asked, voice raspy. As usual, only the wind answered.
The next morning, the Gerudo King awoke to find Darking taking himself through his paces, a scowl on his face. Ganon allowed himself a small grin, thinking, I have created and raised him well. He is a true killer now.
Darking, sensing his father's hard gaze, stopped and turned.
"Time to go?" he inquired. Ganon nodded, mounting the stallion and spurring it into a gallop, not waiting for Darking. The red-eyed man sighed and followed suit. He soon pulled alongside Ganon. Another bloody scene veiled his vision, and he was sorely tempted to draw his sword and relieve Ganon of his head, just to save himself some trouble. The huge Gerudo glanced over with a maniacal grin.
"Do you hate me?" he asked. "Want to kill me?" Darking answered with silence. Ganondorf nodded in satisfaction.
"Good, that will serve you well in the time to come," he rumbled.
The horses pulled to a sudden halt as the ground fell away to form a cliff. The sheer face dropped into crystal clear water, sparkling blue in the sun. Graceful Zoras dove through the pool and lounged on the cut marble banks. It was the most beautiful thing Darking had ever seen. And he had the inexplicable urge to destroy it all. Darking shook his head as Ganondorf dismounted and marched to the edge of the cliff. He threw his arms wide to encompass the entire area.
"Welcome to the Zora's Domain," he boomed. "Now, ravage it."
Darking's eyes widened and he shook his head violently. Ganon's own eyes narrowed in anger.
"I command you, in the name of Din's Power and the Hero's Darkness, destroy Zora's Domain!"
Darking shuddered, then, like the flip of a switch, he dismounted and padded over. His eyes glowed red and a small predatory smile graced his lips.
"And the Royals?" he asked, voice soft.
Ganon chuckled darkly. "No, I will deal with them. You just have to lead the monsters in, destroy the Domain, and go to the central chamber of the Temple."
Darking nodded, then leaped from the cliff, executing a perfect swan dive into the deep water. The Zora's all froze, staring as Darking swam to the banks and heaved himself out of the water. A single Zora warrior hurried over to Darking, placing a webbed hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright, young one? That was a long fall," he said, concern in his voice.
Darking shook his head, water droplets flying from his soaking hair. His hand drifted to the hilt of his sword as he straightened up.
"No, no I am not. You are still alive," he murmured calmly. The Zora's head fell to the ground with a wet thud. The body stayed standing for a moments spewing crimson blood into the water. Then it fell, and all hell broke loose. Zoras screamed, leaping into the water to escape. Mothers grabbed their children and made for the Water Temple. Warriors grabbed their weapons and went after Darking. The anti-hero sliced through all of them like butter. A trail of dead bodies and bloodstains followed him as he entered the Water Temple.
Bloodlust overpowered him. Nothing phased him. Not even the frightened faces of Zora children. He wasn't even thinking as a dark haze veiled his vision. Everything became automatic. Stab, thrust, side-step, slash, pivot, dash, pause, parry, kill. Kill, kill, kill, KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL! Freeze.
Darking blinked back into consciousness, gazing around, foggy-eyed.
Red… Blood… Bodies… Dead… Wait. WHAT?
Darking's mind cleared as he spun around. Red eyes widened in horror. Death hung heavy in the room. Darking stumbled back, shaking his head.
"No. I didn't do this… I couldn't have," he stuttered.
"But you did, my son," Darking whipped around in fear at the low rumble of Ganon's voice. His expression rapidly morphed from fear and horror to rage and pure hatred.
"YOU! You made me do this, you bastard! They were INNOCENT! You murderer!" Darking screamed, grasping his sword and charging at Ganon. A resounding clang echoed around the chamber as his blade met Ganon's.
A horrible smile spread across the Gerudo's face. "Well done, Darking. You are finally able to kill the Chosen Hero," he shoved Darking off him and sheathed his own sword. "Now," he boomed, pointing to a hulking stone doorway. "Go. That is where you will meet the Hero."
Darking looked up dejectedly at Ganondorf. Seeing no empathy (not that he expected any), he plodded to the door. Turning back to Ganon, Darking's eyes filled with contempt. "May the Hero dance on your grave."
And with that, he padded into the prison, a single tear falling from his eye as the door crashed shut behind him.
Darking flinched, scrubbing away the tears pooling in his eyes. The doors that had remained closed for so long swung open. A silhouette accompanied by a small orb, glowing pale blue. Darking stood with a sigh. His time to fight had come.
He will leave here alive. I'll leave here free.