Chapter 10 -Reflection of a Hero-

-Michelle's POV-

Link and I find ourselves on top of a triforce symbol next to a giant dead tree. I look over to Link and I see him with a terrified look. He barely whispers "Lake Hylia… It's… It's… Gone…" "Gone? What do you mean gone!?" "It's all dried up Michelle! All except for that small pool down there!" I gaze around the dried expanse before me and my mouth hangs agape in shock. After a few moments I momentarily regain my composure and scream. "GANONDORF! Why would you do this! This lake must have been beautiful, and now everything that lived in it is dead! Link, we have to fix this. One problem though… I have no idea how I'm going to get inside." Link thinks for a few moments and says "Don't you have some special potion or something in there to help you?" "Well, my dad did say that he packed stuff that could help me in every situation… Let me look." I then go rummaging in my pack, pulling out books, potions, weapons, charms, and other sorts of various adventure items. I eventually pull out two silver earrings adorned with blue sapphires. On a small string holding them together is a note reading "For my dear Michelle. Use when water blocks your path. -Dad" "You always pull through for me dad…" Link looks at me for a few seconds and says "How do you keep all of your stuff in a small backpack like that?" I give him a glare and say "I'll tell you when you explain how you can hold three tunics, two swords and like fifty items with no pouch to speak of." He makes a small chuckle and dives into the lake.

-ONE HOUR LATER-

Link and I walk into the main room once again after an hour of wandering. "This place is a maze… How many times have we gone in circles!" "I don't know Michelle, but at least we have the key for that room there." We both walk into a door in the main room, which closes behind us with iron bars. A terrible feeling of despair hangs around us. The room is an endless expanse of ankle-deep water in a light green fog, only broken by a small island topped by a dead tree. We walk across the expanse to see a small building, it's doors barred as well. I search past the building to realize that there are invisible walls along the expanse. We walk back to the tree and suddenly a cage rises up out of the ground around me!

-Link's POV-

"Michelle!" I gasp as I see the cage rise around her. I then hear a faint whisper in my ear. "Seven years… Seven years I've been trapped here…" "What?" I say, jumping back in fright. Then a dark shadowy version of me materializes from the floor. It proceeds to whisper "I have been trapped here for the last seven years awaiting you, Hero of Time… The Sorcerer King created me from your shadow and then cast me here… In hopes of defeating you when you would one day come here. I have been driven to insanity and back waiting for you… And my only chance at escape lies in your defeat. I'm sorry hero, but I can't let you win, and neither of us will escape until one of us is defeated. He then turns to look at Michelle with glowing red eyes. "I'm sorry for you as well miss, but this battle is between him and me. I can't let you interfere."

He then lunges at me with his sword, which I block with a counter-swing. I strike back a few times but he matches my every move. I try to use a side slash but he dodges with a jump and lands on top of my sword. I scream and try to swing him off, but he back flips off before I can. After a few more strokes I hit him, and he falls through the water, seemingly to oblivion. I sigh with relief and drop my guard. I immediately tense up when I feel something grab my sword hand. "Bad choice, dropping your guard hero. And now this…" He says, tossing my sword and locking it in the dead tree at the center of the room. "Is your defeat." He then brings me into a lock. I stammer "What are you going to do to me!?" He makes a sly chuckle and says "Don't you know hero? Disarmament is technically a defeat. I win. I'm finally free of this wretched place."

With this the fog around the room begins to clear, and the tree disappears. The cage surrounding Michelle dissipates, and the Master Sword hits the ground with a resounding clank. Slowly the shadows surrounding the figure dissipate, and reveal a mirror image of link with a black tunic, black hair, pale skin, and red eyes. He makes a large laugh and says "Alas, My curse is broken! The darkness is gone! And now… I can finally have revenge on the one who trapped me here!" He makes another laugh and says "I'm sorry I was hostile before, The curse did not allow me to show my true intentions. I never hate you hero, I only hated the Sorcerer King. I have seen glimpses of the Hyrule before his reign… It was a beautiful place. A place I hope to bring back with his defeat." Michelle makes a small whimper and runs over to The figure wailing and embraces him in a hug. "You poor thing! Ganondorf is such a terrible man! I'm running out of space to put all of his horrible deeds on my list!" She looks over to me and says "If it's ok with both of you… Would you travel with us? We're out to get Ganondorf too, so we can help you get your revenge!" I make a sly smile and nod. The figure says "Very well, I was hoping you would say that… But you should know the name I have created for myself. Please, call me Dark."

We both nod and say "Ok Dark!" Michelle makes a wide grin and says "This is going to be great! Another companion for you Link! I just hope the Sages approve…" With this the door at the far end of the room is unlocked, and we all step through, a trio.

Hey everyone! I hope you all like this chapter, this fight is my personal favorite moment in this game! I'm not going to say I don't hate the water temple, but I would play through it to get to this fight over and over again. I also hope you like my interpretation of Dark Link, I'm proud of it. Also, I'm sorry about how long it took to get this chappie out, I was working on my new fic, Darkened Portrait, along with some other matters like my Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Anyway, Adieu! -Sonicman64