Chapter 6: Vaati's Ambition
After the battle with Ganondorf, the town has begun its initial analysis of its losses. Surviving men and women carry wounded soldiers from the battlefield, trying to save as many lives as possible. Dark Link watches it all from Vaati's castle. The Shadow sits in the guest room, watching the busy villagers below, while he mulls over his current situation.
The Sages have disowned him, and currently seek his death. Ganondorf wants him to join his cause. So too does Duke Vaati, who originally rescued him from the Sages' clutches. Apparently everyone wants the opportunity to use him.
If there's anything good about the situation, it's that the confrontation with Ganondorf has made the Shadow realize something. He understands his identity now. He is the Dark version of Link; the Hero of Time's shadow given form by the Lord of Darkness. As for his forgotten memories, he probably had few to begin with. He suspects the Sages have muddled with his mind, no doubt because they needed but feared his powers.
The door opens and interrupts his musings. Vaati enters, as promised. Dark Link watches expectantly, but waits for the other to speak. The Duke readjusts his purple cloak before sitting down, across from the other.
"Now then, where to start..." Vaati muses. "I suppose I should start with your rescue. I followed you and the Sages to the Temple of Time. There, I overheard your conversation with them. And you'll have to forgive me on this, but I feared my intervention during your fight would only grant me an ill end. That's why I waited until a more opportune time to reveal myself, and of course, rescue you."
"So you knew I was Dark Link the entire time," the Shadow realizes. "But then, why did you decide to still help me?"
"I do not follow the Sages blindly," Vaati shrugged. "If you were truly pure evil, we would not be sitting down and talking like this. Nor would you have helped during Ganondorf's attacks. My people and I have learned to depend on ourselves, and make our own judgments about the world. Even if they supposedly hear the voices of the gods, that does not make them gods themselves."
"That's another thing..." Dark Link begins. "Where are we? I'm not familiar with this town."
"My apologies for such a late introduction," Vaati is a little shocked that he has overlooked such a simple matter. "We have named this town Castor, after the surrounding Castor Wildlands. But it is not our true homeland. We are the people of the Wind Tribe, a sister tribe to the legendary Picori. Our home was originally the Palace of Winds, but Ganon has taken it over and kicked us out years ago."
The Palace of Winds... Dark Link knows that place well. Ganondorf used the floating palace as a prison for Link.
"Also, that brings me to another point," Vaati continues. "We of the Wind Tribe practically sit on Ganon's doorstep. He has assaulted this land before, albeit this is the first time he actually entered the battle with his troops. I originally traveled to Hyrule in order to request help from the Sages... again. You see, for my people's sake, I agreed to try and reason with the Sages one last time. But they refused to see me. And now, without your intervention, Castor would have been completely wiped off the map." He shakes his head, disgusted with all the politics. "We've been paying Hyrule taxes and yet they lifted no finger to help us when the Palace of Winds was overrun. And it's our blood that keeps Ganon from further attacking Hyrule. We've had enough."
Dark Link looks skeptically at Vaati. He is hinting at something; saying it without saying what he means.
"The Wind Tribe will secede from Hyrule Kingdom," Vaati finishes.
"You're going to start a civil war?" Dark Link is too surprised to know how he feels about this development.
"Not necessarily. We're just leaving. There won't be a war unless they try to stop us," Vaati shrugs.
The Shadow thinks. Considering that most of Hyrule's resources are currently going towards the fight against Ganondorf, the Sages and Hyrule royalty could lack the funds to retake Castor. Hyrule might decide the small town isn't worth the effort... for now. Once Ganon is defeated, that could all change. Or worse, Hyrule might see Vaati as undermining their authority in a time that it needs to be strong. If that was instead true, then Hyrule would attack with all their strength.
"It seems... risky..." Dark Link shrugs back. It could end very poorly for both the Wind Tribe and Hyrule. And there were likely to be some Hyrule loyalists in Castor's ranks.
"Not quite so risky if you were to join us," Vaati presses. Dark Link shifts uncomfortably against the wind sorcerer's hungry eyes. "Don't you see how perfect it is for both our interests? Hyrule wouldn't hesitate to target just Castor or chase after you. But combined, our strength would be enough to make them rethink direct confrontation."
The Shadow looks unconvinced, so Vaati continues. "Your presence wouldn't need to be a secret here. In fact, you'd make the perfect proof of how much the Sages lie and manipulate the people. My people would rally around you and your story. And in exchange, we could do more than just shelter or hide you. You'd be a hero, a real one; a champion for my people. No need to hide who you are... your presence would be celebrated."
The Shadow's eyes flicker up. He can't deny it... ever since discovering he is a 'fake', a copy of a real hero, he's always desired to retake his position. He still wants to be their hope; someone they recognize, instead of hate. So... why does he hesitate...?
"I mean, you can't return to Hyrule..." Vaati keeps speaking when the Shadow remains silent. "You could join Ganon, but you don't seem keen on that. You could be by yourself... but that would make you enemies of both sides. So why not join another side in the middle? You can be against the Sages without all the destruction that follows Ganon. You'll be a hero instead of a villain."
"I'll think about it," Dark Link promises. In truth, the offer already sounds more appealing than siding with Ganon. There would be too many unknown factors if he joined the Dark Lord; Duke Vaati seems a bit more... mild. But at the same time, aligning himself with any side would give him certain obligations to fulfill. ...More than anything, the Shadow wants to find out who he is; who he really is, instead of having someone just tell him.
The two talk at length further. In the end, the Shadow agrees to reach a decision within three days. But he wants some time to think away from Vaati. The wind sorcerer clearly wants Dark Link to join his cause, and the Shadow needs some time to think alone.
Early the next day, the Shadow sneaks quietly out of Castor. The sky is a light grey, the sun still having yet to rise. Few people are up at such an early hour. Dark Link leaves without interruption.
When the sun finally rises, Dark Link reaches Hyrule Field. He sees a ranch in the distance. The ranch lays at the center of Hyrule, and the Shadow thinks it would be a nice place to rest for a day. The location is the perfect medium between his options. He can easily reach the Water Temple if he accepts Ganon's offer, Castor if he joins Vaati, or travel elsewhere if he decides to remain alone.
He enters the ranch's territory, passing a few wooden buildings. As soon as he steps foot into the field, he hears a beautiful voice singing. He has never heard words arranged in such a melodic fashion. The female voice sounds familiar, but he cannot place it. But the song makes him forget his worries, if only for a moment.
The horses in the ranch graze idly on the grass. Dark Link's eyes scan for the songstress. There, he sees a girl brushing one of the horses. He recognizes her fire red hair, her frame, and her clothes. Back in Hyrule, she had recognized him and called out to him. No, that was wrong. She had recognized him incorrectly as Link, and spoken as if they knew each other.
Before his mind realizes what he is doing, his feet already lead him to her. This is someone who knows Link. Someone who spoke to the Shadow with kindness, if even for only a brief moment, with no intention of receiving any favors. Have the Sages warned her and the rest of Hyrule about Link's dark side? Would she speak to him now, in the same way she had done before?
Last time he had practically run away from her. Now he's practically running to her.
Malon.
He recalls hearing her name once. Or is it that he always knew her name, the memories from someone else's lifetime?
Her form grows closer. He has no reason to talk to her, yet he desires her presence more than anything. He's scared that her kind face might contort into disgust or hatred. But more than that, he is compelled to learn more about this girl.
She notices him walking towards her. Her hand falls away from the horse, as she stands a little straighter. An innocent smile graces her lips.
"Hello, Link," Malon greets him happily.
He freezes.
That's not who I am.
And he smiles back.
But I can be him for you.
A/N: In retrospect this should have been part of the last chapter, but oh well. I work on chapter 7 and hope not to fall too behind, haha.