I do not own The Legend of Zelda series or any of its copyrighted characters.

THE LEGEND BEGINS: RESURRECTION

By: Janus Kamaren

Chapter X: The Great Palace

Link slashed at his foe. The Master Sword effortlessly cut through its red armor, a flash of light emanating where it had been cut. There was no scream as it fell to the ground.

"What do you call these things?" Link asked, chopping through another.

"Tinsuits," Nathan replied, beheading one, "or your favorite playmates. Take your pick."

The Tinsuits were not very intelligent, as they did nothing but charge the intruders. Regardless, their seemingly endless numbers unnerved Link.

"How many of these things are there?"

"I don't know," Nathan answered, stabbing through two at once. "Just follow me. I'll get us to the dungeons."

"Sire?" Seline said.

"Yes, my dear?" Harkinian responded. He was walking again, though he still felt weaker than normal, and often required support from nearby objects to stand. In spite of this, he had refused a cane.

"Ammon has arrested the other two traitors," Seline reported. "And as requested, I have brought you the man who informed us of the Sons' presence here in the first place." She looked to the guard behind her and smiled. He kept his eyes to the ground, quivering.

"The same gentleman," the Calatian Princess continued, "that I was rather impatient with and rude to, for which I apologize."

"Ah, it w-was nothing, m-milady."

Harkinian stepped forward, holding onto a desk for support. Seline nudged the man forward, causing him to stumble a bit. Harkinian reached out and shook the man's hand.

"Thank you, sir," the King said, "for your devoted service. What is your name?"

Somehow, the man quit stammering, as if the King were giving him some sort of strength.

"I am Error, milord."

Harkinian smiled warmly.

"Well, Error," he said, "good work."

"Going somewhere?" Donner asked cynically. Dark Link looked up from his sack of provisions.

"Shut up, old man. Leave me," he snarled, going back to packing. Donner's dark eyes narrowed.

"There are intruders in the Palace, " he said.

"I know that, Donner! I, however, have other matters to attend to! Matters that-"

"Matters that I am not worthy of knowing, yes, I've heard that one before," Donner interrupted, rolling his eyes. Dark Link glared.

"Yes, now go and settle this mess!"

"That I will, Chosen of the Dark Lord. I will not intrude on your business." Donner turned to leave, but stopped, facing Dark Link.

"But do not forget what Lord Ganondorf does to deserters," he spat, finally exiting the room.

Link dove to the side as a massive spiked ball slammed into the wall, leaving a large dent in the stones.

"Hey, Gooma, over here!" Nathan called. Gooma roared and swung his ball-and-chain at Nathan. Nathan dodged the attack as Link quickly slashed Gooma's bare back. Gooma elbowed him in the face, knocking him off his feet. Link spat blood out of his mouth, amazed that nothing had been broken. Nathan threw a dagger at Gooma, who roared and ripped it out of his arm. He threw it on the ground and charged Nathan.

"Doesn't this guy feel anything?" Nathan shouted, readying his katana. He thrust it into Gooma's stomach as the berserker grabbed his throat and held him off the ground, roaring loudly. Nathan grabbed Gooma's large hands, but was not nearly strong enough to pry himself loose.

Shouting, Link jumped on Gooma's back, ramming Nathan's dagger into the guard's thick neck. Gooma made a grotesque gurgle and dropped Nathan, who hit the ground gasping for breath. Gooma slumped to his knees, his eyes closing. Link removed the dagger and kicked Gooma's corpse to the floor.

"Thanks," Nathan choked.

"Don't mention it," Link responded, helping his friend up and returning the dagger, making sure to wipe it clean first. Nathan removed his katana from Gooma's stomach, pulling a cloth from his pouch and wiping the blood off.

"The dungeons are right through this door," Nathan said. "I'll lead you to Zelda." He took a ring of keys from Gooma's belt.

Zelda cried as Link ran to her cell, Nathan following behind. Zelda gasped as she saw Nathan.

"Nathan?"

"Back again, Princess," he grinned. "Well, for a while, at least. I'll explain how in a moment, but we need to get you out of there."

As Nathan started trying to find the right key for the cell door, Link managed to slip his gauntleted hand between the bars and touch Zelda's face. She smiled and clutched his hand.

"I knew you could do it," she whispered, kissing his fingers.

"Thank you for helping me."

"Got it!" Nathan exclaimed as the lock clicked open. As he opened the door, Zelda immediately ran into Link's arms, kissing him fully. Nathan looked around, uncertain of what to do.

"I'll, uh, step out and stand guard for a moment," he said, stepping back outside.

Zelda kissed Link again.

"Are you hurt?" Link asked. Zelda shook her head.

"No. Things haven't changed much since we talked in the forest," she responded, resting her head on his chest. She noticed the Triforce on his hand as he stroked her cheek, glowing brighter than it had when they last spoke.

"You found it?" she smiled. Link nodded as Zelda hugged him tighter.

"The Triforce," Zelda said suddenly, looking at him, "Link, we have to get the Triforce of Power away from Ganon."

"I know, Zelda. The Goddesses told me everything about Ganondorf.
"It's just," he said, "I don't know what to do afterwards."

Nathan suddenly cleared his throat, standing in the doorway. Zelda smiled, hugging him.

"Thank you for everything, Nathan," she said, giving him a light kiss on the cheek.

"It was my pleasure," Nathan grinned, his pointed ears turning a light shade of pink. "Now let's get that shackle off your wrist."

"What was it for? There were no chains attached to it," Link asked as Nathan once again began trying to find the right key.

"It keeps me from using magic," Zelda explained.

"And it will explode if you leave the Palace with it on," Nathan added. "I imagine that Link here would prefer you be in one piece on your wedding day, so why don't we do away with it?"

After Nathan removed the shackle, the trio began to run back to the Palace doors. They finally reached the main floor of the Palace.

"The Tinsuits seems to have disappeared," Nathan said, looking cautiously around the corner.

Link stopped suddenly, looking at a staircase leading to the central tower.

Nathan turned to Link.

"Link?" he asked.

"I have to stop him," Link said quietly. Zelda nodded knowingly in response.

He fell to his knees, darkness clouding his mind. He bent over, supporting himself with his right arm. He could barely see. Everything seemed so distant.

He could hear footsteps in the distance, and someone crying his name.

"Zelda," he whispered very quietly to himself, "I'm so sorry…" Link fell flat on the cold, hard ground, the darkness finally filling his mind.

Struggling to hold back her tears as the memories returned, Zelda buried her face in Link's chest.

"Hey, it's okay," Link whispered, stroking her hair. "I'll be fine."

"Link, last time Talius and I found you in a puddle of your own blood!" Zelda pleaded. Link took her left hand, running his thumb over the ring he had given her. He looked Zelda in the eyes.

"I'm coming back for you, Zelda. I promise that."

"I love you!" Zelda choked, kissing him.

"Link," Nathan spoke quietly, "be careful. Dark Link's a coward, and he won't last five seconds against you, but don't get careless."

"I won't," Link said, embracing his friend. "Nathan, I need you to get Zelda out of the Shadow Realm."

"I will, Link."

Link turned back to Zelda and kissed her one last time.

"I love you," he said. "I'm coming back." He drew the Master Sword and headed for the winding staircase.

"Come on," Nathan said, gently placing a hand on Zelda's shoulder, "I'll get us out of here. Let me explain why I'm alive again while we're at it."

"Dark Link," Ganondorf's voice said.

"Yes, my master?" Dark Link responded. He was standing in the topmost room of the Palace's central tower.

"Are you ready to fulfill your destiny?"

"I-I'm afraid I do not understand, my lord."

"Your double is coming. I am leading him to you, so that you may kill him."

Dark Link's face paled.

"You do not think you can do this?"

Dark Link struggled to find words. His throat was dry.

"My lord," he finally choked, "if I fail…"

"You will not fail," Ganondorf said firmly. "Link will die this very hour, and you will have performed the greatest service any man can offer to the Lord Ganondorf Dragmire."

"Master," Dark Link said weakly, "I will need help to ensure that Link is killed."

"What you need, my Chosen, is power. You need the power that I alone hold if you are to slay the one they call 'Hero of Legend.'"

"Master, do you mean-?"

"I have waited two years for this day, and I will not miss this opportunity for vengeance. I am not about to make any mistakes. You will win this battle, Dark Link. I will see to that."

"Master, thank you!"

"He is almost here. Prepare yourself."

Link finally made it to the top of the stairs. Two large doors stood before him.

"Link, son of Arn," Farore spoke, "we covenant with you that if you will hold strong to your duties as Hero of Legend, and not back down in the face of evil, we will deliver Ganondorf Dragmire into your hands, and his power will finally come to an end. Will you accept and uphold this covenant?"

Link looked in the eyes of each of the three deities. Nathan held a solemn silence.

"I will," Link said.

Link adjusted his grip on the Master Sword. The time for fear and doubt was long over. He opened the door and stepped inside. It immediately closed and locked behind him.

Dark Link stood in the middle of the room, smirking. A stained glass window shined brightly behind him, despite the lack of sun outside.

"Welcome, my twin," Dark Link said. Link felt an ominous warning in his heart, one he knew well. Man or spirit, it was clear to Link that they weren't the only individuals present.

"What is this, Link?" Dark Link mocked. "No threat? No self-righteous declaration?"

Dark Link drew his sword.

"Allow me to take your life," Dark Link growled. Link readied the Master Sword. His double raised his sword and began to charge, but immediately stopped.

He dropped his sword and fell to his knees, clutching his head and groaning in pain.

"Master, what's happening to me?" he cried. Dark Link let out an anguished scream as the pain intensified. His eyes widened and the veins in his head and neck bulged.

"Lord Ganondorf, please!" he begged before screaming again. He fell to the ground, still screaming loudly and grabbing his head. Link stood, completely stunned.

"I'm dying!" Dark Link cried. "He's killing me! Master, you promised you'd help me! Please, don't do this to me! No!"

Immediately, the screaming stopped. Dark Link lay limp on the ground, his eyes staring straight ahead. The fearful expression remained etched in his face.

The ominous feeling did not leave Link's heart.

Dark Link's expression turned to one of malice. The body rose from the ground, picking up its sword. It rolled its head back and around. Link could hear its bones popping.

It glared at Link, its red irises locking with Link's blue.

It spoke.

"Link, son of Arn, so-called 'Hero of Legend.'" The voice was not that of Dark Link.

"Ganondorf Dragmire, King of Evil, " Link responded. Ganondorf nodded, saying nothing.

Sparks flew as their blades collided.