Chasing Shadows

Chapter 9: A Clash in the Canyon

The bandit brought both axes down, aiming for Link's throat. But Link wasn't an amateur in the art of swordplay. A quick swing of his blade deflected one axe and his shield did its job and stopped the other. But the bandit apparently was also quite skilled with his axes. He quickly recovered an attempted a V-shaped slash with both axes at once. But Link quickly jumped to the side and rolled when he hit the ground. Now behind the axe-wielder, Link swung his sword, knocking the bandit into the dirt.

"Nimble little swordsman aren't we?" The bandit said, "You won't catch me off guard again."

"We'll see about that." Link said. The bandit came at him, axes now in a low position. For a time again, Link and the bandit where trading blows. When the bandit attempted to bring both axes down in a vertical slash, a hyrulian blade caught them.

"I am rather impressed." The bandit said, "To think you could avoid my axes for this long. But it doesn't matter. Sooner or later I'll catch you. Then I'll hack you to pieces."

"You know what I think?" Link asked, "You don't know how to focus." Before the bandit could retort to Link's insult, the Hero of Twilight thrust his shield forward into the bandit's face, causing him to stumble back. Link pushed forward and leapt over his foe. With a slash mid-air, Link hit the ground turned, and jumped to put more power behind his downward swing. And once again, the bandit leader was face-down in the dirt.

"I get you now." The bandit said getting up, "You are a good fighter boy. You're quite skilled at keeping your opponent at arm's length. But you clearly don't have any real skill, otherwise you wouldn't try running behind my back to attack. But now I know how you fight, your tricks. You won't get another chance."

"Okay, you talk way too much." Link said charging forward as the bandit did. The two began to clash again. Marin looked on in awe. The way he handled his sword, the bandit never even came close to touching him. He would leap to one side to avoid the dual axes and would press forward almost as soon as his feet touched the ground. Then he used an attack that almost left both Terminain parties in shock. Link gripped his sword hard and spun. The resulting whirlwind impression caught the bandit off guard and Link's blade cut into his flesh. He collapsed from the pain and impact of the attack.

"How…How did you do that?" The bandit shouted, "How did you even know that move?"

"What are you talking about?" Link asked. That was just the spin attack, granted it was the Hero's Shade version, but he always knew a weakened version of it.

"That's the defender's key attack!" Marin yelled from her cover, "His signature move has always been described as a whirling slash that leaves no blind spot."

"But you can't be him." The bandit said getting back to his feet, "You're far too old."

"It's just a move I picked up." Link said, "Funny thing is, I don't even remember where."

"Well maybe you'll remember in the afterlife!" The bandit said lunging at him like a wild animal, "No one makes me look like a fool! You dare strike me? YOU WILL DIE!" The sheer randomness of the strikes made them hard to avoid or deflect. Eventually, the bandit began to get the upper hand, and decided to make use of it. With a swift motion, his leg shot up and into Link's side.

"Ah!" Link yelled, the kick hurt, not much, but enough to distract him. The bandit swung both axes down in an X-shaped pattern. Semi-distracted by the pain, Link only jumped to the side, not even bothering to try to get behind him with it. Unfortunately, when Link hit the ground, he had to grab his sword arm. When he removed his hand from his arm, a red liquid rested upon it.

"So, you people are flesh and blood after all?" The bandit said twirling his axes in his hands, "And if you can bleed, you can be killed."

"I have something to do." Link said standing back up, "And dying is not part of it." Link focused his strength into his wounded limb. Once the bandit came into range, Link once again spun. This time his sword rose up during it, leaving a good sized gash across the bandit's chest. But the attack wasn't done. While still slightly airborne, Link gripped his sword and slammed it down knocked the bandit onto his back. Before his foe could even attempt to recover, Link jumped into the air, and landed sword first.

"I want you to see now." Link said, "I could have ended your life, but I chose to spare you." Sure enough, Link's blow hadn't pierced the bandit's flesh, but rather the ground right next to him, "I don't believe you're truly evil, and I have a moral objection to killing what I don't need too. So do you understand? You couldn't beat me."

"Yes, I understand." The bandit said, "Thank you. I promise, I'll leave the family alone from now on. Besides, I'm the only one left. I couldn't terrorize them all alone."

"Good." Link said sheathing his sword and starting to walk back to Marin. Unable to see the bandit pull a knife from his boot.

"Link look out!" Marin said as the bandit charged the Hylian from behind.

"I told you, NO ONE MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A FOOL!" He cried out. Then, something amazing happened, Link quickly drew his sword and spun. His blade lodged itself in the bandit's side for a second before ripping through him. The last bandit know collapsed, dead.

"A move for which there is no defense." Link said to no one, "A move that deal death. That is the Mortal Draw."

"You killed him." Marin said in utter shock, "But with one strike. You could have ended it before you where hurt."

"I didn't want to kill him." Link said walking back to the cart, his hand on his arm, "But it was clear that only one of us was going to walk away from the fight."

"Are you okay?" Marin asked first noticing the blood on his arm.

"It'll heal." Link said.

"Well let me help." Marin said, "I know how to treat wounds. Kinda had to learn." Marin pulled a piece of cloth from the cart and bandaged Link's arm, "There we go, but you probably should have it actually looked at when we get back to Clock Town."

"I will." Link said, "Well, at least from here on out it should be easier."

"Yeah, shouldn't have any obstacles now." Marin said as the cart once again began down the path for Clock Town.