Disclaimer: I own nothing but the original character of 'Zenzi', the rest is property of Nintendo; I make no profit from this it is merely for fun.
Rating: T for violence, language, suggestive content and vaguely sexual content later on.
This chapter has edited only to remove unimportant author notes, the actual content has been untouched.
~thoughts~ equal Dark 'speaking' to Link, -thoughts- equal Link 'speaking' to Dark
Dark:
Nothing but the barest whisper of the wind, silent gliding of the shadows. Stalking his prey with predatorial grace, the man made his way through the shadows; moving over obstacles and flying through the air. Such feats as leaping over chairs and moving through walls were easy to him; shadows were everywhere where there was a light to birth them.
The female was just ahead, he was trailing just behind her; giving her the illusion that she was in the lead, not knowing that he was merely toying with her. Dark smiled, a cruel and sadistic one; even if it was merely a childish game of keep away, he much enjoyed using with people.
She seemed to be enjoying herself as well; the laughter that accompanied her theft of his hat was something he found he could get used to hearing. He actually found himself smirking as well; for so long he had been trapped within Sheik's home, not able to leave until dark. Not able to be himself; he could not spar with her much, and it was rare he had any interaction with anyone who wasn't her. Yes, being around others, nonetheless one who still had a playful childish side though they were nearing adulthood; was truly a gift he treasured dearly.
So that was that hat coincidentally. He had worn it when he was still a part of Link, and had continued to wear it as his own person. It meant a lot to him, and though Malon was just playing, he rather wanted it back. It seemed time to end this specific little game of theirs it would seem.
Speeding up he crept over furniture and moved through shadows with all the grace of a Sheikah… not surprising seeing as he grew up with Sheik; teaching each other to fight, Sheik having taught him even to nearly call him an honorary Sheikah actually.
He saw Malon duck out of the door, and moved through the shadows above the door. He waited until she turned around slightly, breathing heavily as her triumphant eyes waited to see the approaching form of Dark. Smirking, he jumped from the shadows, landing as a mist behind her then slowly forming as himself once more. He reached over and delicately plucked his hat from her loosened hand; a grin on his face at her surprise. "I believe that is mine." He snickered as he placed it back on his head; leaving only his bangs free from its grasp.
Malon gasped but then giggled, overjoyed that someone would participate in her childish antics. "How, how did you do that?" she gasped, trying to get her breathing under control. The ranch house is pretty decent sized… had he not been who (or what he was), Dark most likely would have been out of breath as well.
Dark grinned and leaned against the door frame; his alluring scarlet eyes capturing the full attention of her cerulean ones. "Shadow being love; it's kinda self explanatory don'tcha think?" he asked, a slight purr to his words. Sure, he was all cuddly and sweet with Link; that did not mean he was as kind or self controlled as he was with others. He hoped Malon at least slightly realized exactly what she was getting into, who she was trying to get into it with. Otherwise… things would not end well.
"Er… I guess?" Malon shrugged, not entirely filled to the brim with wisdom over things such as 'Shadow beings' and such. "So…" she rocked on her heels back and forth some, desperately trying to think of something else to discuss, or talk about. "What exactly is a shadow being?"
Dark blinked and rested his head against the door frame. Of course she just had to ask about that! He normally wouldn't mind talking about it… if it weren't for the fact he wasn't entirely sure himself. "I… am unsure exactly. I know that I am the darkness that would be inside Link had he not drawn the Master Sword. I know that I am the shadow to his light; I can become one with shadows, manipulate darkness and I share a mind bond with Link. I am seen as evil, an abomination… some have even spoke of whatever I am in the same lines of the Sheikah; though to the extent of my knowledge, I am not of the same kin as Sheik." He explained, his voice and tired.
Malon listened intently, her eyes held sorrow for him; though they brightened when he mentioned Sheik. "Sheik? I know him! He saved the ranch from monster attacks a few times before Link awoke!" she exclaimed with gusto. Dark chuckled at her words, raising an eyebrow at her. "What? Was it something I said?"
"Malon… you are aware that Sheik is female right?" he asked, the shocked expression on Malon's face was proof he was right. He erupted in laughter, clutching his sides as he bent forwards; frame wracked with fits of not being able to breathe properly. "It-it's not your fault! She has the knack for confusing people, and she masqueraded as a male for years simply because when she was ten someone mistook her for a boy! And… and you just happened to fall for it." He wheezed, causing Malon to hit the back of his head indignantly.
"I appreciate the honesty… but you kind of ruined any sort of gentlemanliness by laughing at me." She huffed, though she warmed upon the sight of his warm blood red eyes so full of laughter gazing up at hers.
"I-I apologize M-Malon… but it's still rather amusing, every time someone has fallen for Sheik's tricks. Especially since she has such a womanly figure." His eyes narrowed slightly as he fought to remember all what she did to hide her curves, and more prominent womanly features (cough cough chest cough cough).
Malon couldn't help but falter in her confidence at his words. He had noticed her womanly figure… either he was a regular male and was simply checking out an attractive woman, or they had been close and he had a first hand experience with her. Either way, she was saddened. "So… you're close to Sheik then?" she asked miserably.
Dark stopped his laughter long enough to glance up to Malon, long enough to notice the sorrow in her eyes. He sighed and straightened up, striding over he wrapped his strong arms around Malon and rested his chin atop her head; hoping his actions were comforting. "Sheik is my sister, I grew up with her; he have lived with each other all our lives. It is only natural that I know what she looks like." He murmured to her ear. He smiled when he felt her body relax a little, much better compared to the slightly rigid posture she had had a few moments previously.
"She's… just your sister?" Malon asked, her voice fearfully hopeful.
Dark chuckled and planted a soft kiss against Malon's forehead, giving her an adoring smoldering look from his mesmerizing eyes. "If she was anything more, I would not be holding you in my arms." He answered. He wasn't sure what exactly he was doing, or why; only that it felt nice to be holding someone in his arms… even if it wasn't the one he was chasing after.
"I… guess not." Malon mumbled, tearing her gaze away from his, before she became totally lost within his eyes. "So…" she began, trying to find a way out of the situation. She was being held in the arms of a man who was essentially a stranger, even though he was technically Link. She felt uncomfortable; sure he was very much attractive, there was something alluring and toxic about him. She was drawn to it, but she couldn't help but be a little dizzy over the speed of his affections. So, she found herself stumbling out of his arms, a blush on her face.
Dark raised an eyebrow to her, but realized the reason she moved away due to the blush on her face. He secretly smirked at her expression, but 'respected' her enough to keep away. He stroked his chin and glanced around the ranch in search of something to do. His eyes fell upon the horses, and a delighted grin lit up his face. "Say… Malon." He began slowly, his eyes locked onto the forms.
She turned her head and smiled when she noticed what he was glancing at. "Do you ride at all?" she asked, a smirk on her face.
Dark chuckled, there was a vast amount of ways he could answer that, but to spare the young woman a blush, he would answer decently. "Yes, I am Link's shadow, of course I know how to ride a horse!" he scoffed at her.
Malon's eyes gleamed with delight. "Excellent, shall I go introduce you then?"
A short time after, Dark was swinging his legs over the saddle of a beautiful gray (near silver) colored mare with a raven black mane. She… reminded him of himself actually, what with the silver and black… not to mention devious temperament. He glanced over to Malon, perched atop her own cream colored horse; a determined smile on her face.
"Ready to lose?" she asked, a taunting tone to her voice.
Dark donned his sweetish expression as he answered her. "Are you ready to give up before I completely and utterly embarrass you?" he taunted back.
Malon smiled and simply pulled on her reigns to get her horse to trot to the start line. "Are you sure you should be taunting me, Mr. 'horses don't like me?'"
Dark merely rolled his eyes. He was a shadow being; most animals (save for predatorial beasts and other shadow beings, or monsters) instinctively shied away from him. So… he had jarred the horses a wee bit upon his first arrival; it had taken a lullaby from Malon and very slow movements on his part to get them to trust him. Eventually they did though, seemingly sensing no harm in him as they allowed themselves to be pet and eventually one had warmed to him enough to allow him to slide onto the saddle on her back. He couldn't help but feel a connection to her; she had strayed away from the rest of them, save for Epona, those two seemed to be outsiders for some reason. That, along with her appearance made her fast friends with the shadow.
Dark squirmed in the saddle, anxious to get the race started. Eager to feel the wind whipping through his hair once more; to experience the exhilarating speed and feel of freedom. Yes, he was very impatient for this race to start. "She seems to like me just fine now, can we get on with the race?" he whined impatiently.
Malon giggled and tugged on her reigns. "Alright. Ready?" Dark nodded, gripping the reigns tightly in his hands and leaning into the horse's neck. "Set?" another nod, a grin of anticipation. Malon drew in a deep breath, to calm her racing nerves; before she bellowed out "GO!" and the horses took off faster than a Gerudo after a male.
They raced for their lives it seemed; each horse and rider pushing themselves to the limit to try and prove to themselves and the other that they were better. It was merely a single lap around the oval corral; but it seemed to stretch on forever.
Nerves tingling with excitement, heart racing with adrenaline; blood pounding through veins. In short, it was fun. Dark worked well with the mare he was using; he didn't even have to speak for her to go where he wanted to go, it was a partnership he could see going places. But, alas, their joy was not to be celebrated; Malon's steed put forth a burst of energy and flew across the finish line mere milliseconds before Dark and his nameless horse.
Breathing hard, excitement dwindling; Dark turned to Malon with mirthful eyes. "Well… you won!" he gasped, unused to such 'training' as what he just went through. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his back before returning his attention back to Malon. "That means I lost…"
"Damnit! I lost too!" she cried out, an unhappy, yet happy smile on her face.
Dark looked at her as if she had gone quite crazy. "But… you won Malon." He stated bluntly, not liking the light of understanding gleaming in Malon's eyes.
"Oooooooooh! You don't know of the game. ~" she all but purred.
"Game?"
"Yes, a game that some children thought of to distract themselves from the evil around them."
"How do you play it?"
"Hush-up and I'll tell you! There are few rules; you can never stop playing the game, and anyone who hears the rules is immediately playing wither they like it or not. Whenever you think about the fact you are playing the game, you lose. And when you lose you must announce really loudly to everybody that you lost. If people don't know what the game is, you have to tell them and then they start playing the game." Malon giggled. "It's really strange idea, but people get so mad! Teehee~ and now you're playing it as well!"
Dar thought about this for a few moments, trying to take in the strange child's game. "Can you win?"
"Erm… no, I don't think so. If you go a year without losing I've heard you can win, but that's really hard to do."
"Huh, well… I guess I just lost as well!"
Malon giggled and glanced over to Dark, who was stroking the soft area behind the ear of his horse. She smiled slightly. "You two seem to be good friends already; I' glad. She was always treated differently by the other horses because she wasn't born on the ranch. Epona was friends with her, and came to her rescue more than once before… you know what… er, Dark? Name her… and you can keep her. Life at the ranch doesn't seem to fit her. Just like Epona~." As her name was spoken, Link's companion trotted over and nuzzled the shadow appearing horse affectionately. "If I didn't know any better, I'd call them sisters!"
Dark looked down at the horse; silver and black, silent and graceful. Like himself… he smiled and whispered a word, naming her as his own. He looked back over to Malon, a childish grin on his face. "Shadow." He said simply, retelling the name of his newest friend.
Malon giggled and looked at Shadow with loving eyes. "It suits her; she's so much like you." Malon drew her horse closer so she could gently scratch at her muzzle. Shadow closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, making Malon smile even wider. "And… speaking of games…" her eyes darted over to Dark, before her hand shot out and lightly tapped his arm. She moved her horse away from him, with a look that clearly said "You're it!
She took off, her long wild hair and tinkling laughter blended together behind her. Dark smiled and spurred Shadow on, chasing after her with a laugh of his own.
The two older teens, clearly more like children right now; chased each other for what seemed like hours. Epona joined in as well, nudging her nose against Shadow or Wildfire (Malon's horse, as she told Dark during the mass game of tag) before taking off with a whiny. Eventually they had to stop though; the horses were tiring and so were their riders.
Dark and Malon slid off of the horses and simply fell to the ground; each enjoying the feel of the grass beneath their bodies. They were both breathing hard once more; the horses also laid down to enjoy their rest. They stay like that for eventually goddesses knows how long, until Malon rolled over on her stomach to glance at Dark seriously.
"Link is Fairy boy, and if you're half of him, you should be fairy boy as well. But, you have no fairy, and come to think of it Link's fairy isn't here right now. But, if you have no fairy, what can I call you? Shadow is your horses name, Mirror would be mean… Dark is part of your full name, isn't it? But… I guess that'll have to do! So, why don't you have a fairy? And where's Navi?" She spoke a mile a minute, her mind going in dozens of different directions.
Dark rolled over to look at Malon, a solemn expression on his face. "I have no fairy because I was part of Link when he received his. I am not a Kokiri, so I do not need one. Besides, what fairy would want to be paired with me? Navi is back at the forest I assume; fairies can leave, but need to go back to a Great Fairy or the great Deku tree for a magic renewal or something or else they'll die. She must have needed to restore her magic or whatever it is that keeps them alive away from their guardians." He explained in a flat voice.
Malon looked at him, her eyes full of anger. "Don't be so hard on yourself! A fairy should be honored to be paired with you! Even if you're a 'shadow' being, you are still part of Link, AND you're a pretty cool person to be around. Don't think badly of yourself! On a side note, how the hell do you know so much?"
Dark shrugged. "Sheik likes to read. She tells me stuff."
"Oh."
They were silent then, each lost in their own thoughts and not sure what to say to the other being. The sun was high, the day was warm; the mares lightly dozed nearby. Dark closed his eyes as well, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his body. It had been too long since he simply relaxed and enjoyed life; he could get used to this.
Wildfire cried out in alarm for some reason, jumping to her feet she nervously danced around the grass she used to be laying in; her eyes wild. Malon sprung to her feet and ran over to her; being careful of the flailing limbs she eventually managed to calm her down. Shadow had been spooked as well, but was being calmed by Epona; she seemed to be used to whatever had scared the other two.
Dark slowly moved to a standing position, arching his back like a cat as he groaned tiredly. He made to go check on Shadow, but a hand at his wrist stopped him. The only thing that kept him from attacking was the voice that spoke to him.
"Dee, we have to go now! It's not safe here, we have to go, and you have to hide!"
Dark turned and saw Sheik standing behind him; her eyes were darting nervously about and she was partially hidden in shadows. "Sheik… what's wrong?" he asked, concerned over how his friend was acting.
"Dee I don't have the time! They'll be here any minute!"
"Who?"
"Dee, please just trust me!"
There was a sudden burst of light from nearby, causing Sheik's eyes to as wide as a cat's would. "Shit!" she hissed, tugging on Dark's wrist, causing him to stumble into her. She grabbed him and the two disappeared into the shadows as a soft feminine voice asked where they had gone to.
Sheik made to hurriedly push Dark through the shadows, but something grabbed her and pulled her from her shadow; they must have grabbed her braid judging by the yelp of pain Sheik emitted. The only ones who could see them, nonetheless reach into a shadow and grab them, would be another shadow being. Shit.
Sheik tried to let go of Dark's wrist and leave him to get away, but he was determined to stay with her and fight if need be. They were both pulled out of the shadow, stumbling to their knees before an imposing woman who held Sheik's waist length golden blonde braid in her hand. Furious scarlet eyes burned down at them in disappointment. Sheik gulped and peered at the woman through her bangs; her cowl hid her scared frown. "H-hi… Aunt Impa."
"Sheik, Shadow, you have some explaining to do."
