A/N: Fixations done at 27.8.2015.
The picture I have in use as the cover for my CaH saga is from dA by an artist lychi and the picture's name is just simply Zelda.
Also, another note: I do NOT own the characters or places unless said otherwise. Nintendo has the rights. =P Honestly speaking, all I have is the idea for the story, few monsters, creatures and bit of changing the places. Oh, and couple of OCs here and there. ^^; I'm certain everyone can figure out which belongs to me and which doesn't. =)
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Enjoy the chapter! ^.^
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DARK LINK'S QUEST
CHAPTER 45: The Sage of Shadows
Link kept his eyes closed as he laid on the hard floor of the dimly lit room. He was gasping for air as the pain in his broken arm and leg were nearly paralyzing him. He just barely heard the sound of footsteps, clang of sword and shield crashing into the floor and the slight skidding sound. At the call of his name, the Hero slowly opened his eyes and smiled very faintly as he saw Dark. "Dark..." The call came out very quietly.
The darker Hylian gulped once and looked Link from the head to toes once. It was fully clear that the Hero's left arm and right leg were broken but he didn't know anything about possible other injuries Link would have. "J-just stay still..." Dark whispered while having no idea how he could help his closest friend.
The sound of calm walking got the dark Hylian to raise his gaze up and bring his hand to his sword's handle. Yet, he sighed in relief as he saw Impa coming towards them. "We need to get him out of here." The Sage told as she knelt down to Link's other side.
The Sheikah placed her hand over the Hero's chest. "Just stay calm and don't move. You will be alright." She half whispered before raising her gaze into the darker Hylian. "Dark Link." The Sage called and the ex-shadow snapped his gaze into her. "Take a hold of Link and keep his weapons along. I will take you both out of here." She stated firmly.
Dark was bit startled and ready to say against the idea but he knew that Link wouldn't let him get left behind for third time. So, the dark Hylian sighed heavily and nodded before already making sure he had firm hold of the Hero as well as of Link's weapons. "Ready." He told once he was certain of having everything along.
Impa nodded and closed her eyes. Soon the blue light from the Chamber of the Sages surrounded the trio. Inside of few seconds the light became too bright for the two Hylians to keep their eyes open. As the light vanished from the dim room, the trio was gone.
The three Sages that were in the Chamber turned to look at the blue light which was having slight hint towards purple. They were waiting to see Impa and Dark but the scene that came forth after the bright light vanished was something they had hoped not to witness. "Link!" The trio shouted straight off and rushed towards the Sage of Shadows and the two Hylians.
"Saria, Darunia, Ruto." The Sheikah called and looked up to the three Sages. "I need you three to take Link into the podium of the Forest Temple. That's the closest to a Fairy Fountain. Get him a fairy and stay with him." Impa nearly commanded with a stern voice. The trio nodded without a word.
Darunia carefully took Link up from the Sage of Shadow's area while Ruto took the sword and shield. After that Saria took a grip of her fellow Sages and closed her eyes. Soon the trio was surrounded by blue light with slight green tint in it. Once the light vanished, the three Sages and the Hero were gone.
At the podium, just before the door into the first section of the Forest temple, came a bring blue light which was having bit of color green in it. As the light faded, the three Sages and the Hero came into sight. Ruto carefully lowered the sword and shield down to the podium while Darunia moved to the grassy area and laid Link down to it. Saria stood on her place with her eyes closed but she wasn't able to call forth any of the pink fairies.
"Ruto." The Sage of Forest called and the queen of Zoras turned to look at the Kokiri. "I need you to fetch a fairy from the Fairy Fountain." The child of the forest told and pointed towards the road that led into the maze. "Just go straight through there. You can see the ladders against the wall. Climb up them and walk forward. There comes slight drop into a square area. From there you should find a hole. That leads into the Fountain. Bring one of the fairies into here." Saria explained as calmly as she could.
Ruto wasn't one to follow orders but one glance into the Hero of Time and she nodded firmly to the Kokiri girl. "I will come back very soon." The Zora promised and ran towards the pathway. Saria watched her leave before already rushing to Darunia and Link.
The Hero was trying over and over to get up but the Goron held him down surprisingly gently. "Calm down, Link. You will be healed very soon." The Sage of Fire told as calmly as he could even though he was worried for Link's safety. Eventually the Hylian sighed heavily and stopped fighting against the hold.
"How is he?" Saria inquired once she got to the duo and knelt down next to the Hero. Link kept his eyes closed and tried to concentrate into his breathing and keeping the pain bearable. The Sage of Forest turned her eyes into her childhood friend with worry clearly in her eyes. "Because of the situation with the Shadows, I'm not able to call the fairies forth. They're avoiding the areas for the time being." She told sorrowfully and slumped a bit.
Darunia placed his hand gently over the Kokiri's shoulder. "Don't worry. Ruto will come back with the fairy very soon." He encouraged with a slight smile. Saria sighed and nodded while raising her gaze up into the Goron.
Ruto, the Sage of Water, had dashed into the pathway as fast as she could. She was fully grateful of not crashing into a Moblin or any of other monster in the long pathway since Saria had told about the gigantic pig looking beast with a club. Once the Zora got to the end of the way, she grinned slightly and thought about just running straight to the ladders. Yet, the queen of the water tribe knew better than to just move without caution and she took a quick but careful check of her next road. Luckily there was no monster in the area.
Ruto ran to the ladders and climbed up as quickly as she could. She jumped down into the small square clearing and straight through the hole in there. The place she came into got her to gasp in awe. The Zora had never been in a Fairy Fountain before but she could fully understand what the pink fairies saw in the place.
The Sage of Water took once a deep breath and walked to the water area but stopped just before the slope. "Fairies of healing kind, I am in need of your help." She started and surprisingly got all of the pink fairies to stop and turn towards her. "The Hero of Time and Hyrule is wounded and we do not have the way to heal him. Please, I need one of you to follow me to him." Ruto nearly pleaded while watching at the dozens of pink fairies. The small magical flying creatures looked once at each other before one already flew to the Zora.
"Show the way, Sage of Water." The fairy told with a voice of singing. The words weren't of Hylian nor of Shadowy but something more towards bird's chirping. Ruto nodded and gave a slight curtsey before turning around and heading out of the Fountain. The pink fairy followed her through the light that brought the Zora back to surface.
Ruto swiftly climbed up the ladders, turned around and rounded the square area before already jumping down. Right after that she started to run as fast as she could with the pink fairy following her. "We're here!" The Sage called once she got close enough for the duo to hear her.
Darunia and Saria turned to look at Ruto before the Goron already moved off of the way. The pink fairy gave out a slight gasp before speeding right past the Zora. The three Sages were bit surprised about the speed of the small creature as she already came to the Hero's side. "Link? Hero of Time and Hyrule?" The fairy called in full worry before sighing in relief as Link opened his eyes. "Do not worry. You will be back to your best condition very soon." The healing creature told with a slight smile before going to her work of using her magic to heal the broken bones as well as the cuts and bruises given by the different monsters.
As the three Sages were healing and guarding the Hero, Dark was talking with Impa. The Sage of Shadows had sat down right after her comrades had left with Link. "You shouldn't worry for him. Link is in good hands and will be healed very soon." She told sternly. The ex-shadow sighed but nodded. "I know you blame yourself for what happened but that is not the case." The Sheikah continued calmly.
"I shouldn't have dragged Link into this." Dark mumbled and slumped even more with his ears drooping. "I should be doing this alone and not endanger Link's safety." He continued and raised his sorrowful and ashamed gaze up into Impa. "This is all my fault." The dark Hylian whispered and dropped his gaze back down before already closing his eyes.
Impa sighed and shook her head. "You are wrong." She told firmly and placed her hand over the ex-shadow's shoulder. "You know as well as I do that Link would've followed you no matter what. He wants to keep you safe along with fighting for Hyrule." The Sheikah continued and smiled slightly. "You have done excellent job of keeping him safe while handling the Temples." She told before sighing and surprisingly pulling the dark Hylian into a tight embrace.
Dark gasped and shot his eyes open. He had not waited for a Sage to hug him. Maybe he could've waited that from Saria and Darunia but not from Impa and definitely not from Ruto. Yet, he didn't dare to move even one inch or do a thing to pull away or move into the hold while desperately trying to keep his mind straight and without thoughts.
After a short moment the Sheikah let go of the dark Hylian and gently forced him to look at her by placing her hand to his chin. "Dark Link." The Sage of Shadows called with a gentle smile. "This is mainly your fight but you will be needing the Hero's help too. The two of you are meant to go this through together." She started as calmly as she could.
"But—" Dark started before already finding the Sage's finger over his lips. The dark Hylian sighed and slumped a bit but didn't break the eye contact with the Sheikah.
"No buts, Dark Link. I know lot has happened but you two are still alive. You have saved him over and over again. And he has given you the company and help you need. Do you really think you could have managed this far on your own?" Impa questioned after stating out the simple facts. Darks sighed and dropped his gaze down. "I am not trying to bring you down but the Water Temple would've been hell for you. The Shadow Temple brought you very close of running away. The Forest Temple was easy but even that had water which nearly ended into your death. The Fire Temple has so far been the easiest one for you. Just think it through and see how much it means not to go alone through this kind of places." She told firmly.
Dark frowned as he thought the Temples through and how much Link's presence in those had helped him. At the back of the Chamber the memories were flashing as the dark Hylian went them through. Eventually the ex-shadow sighed heavily and nodded. "You are right. Link has kept my mind straight and helped me forward." He started and raised his gaze up. "Navi helped him the same way Link's helping me. Right?" The ex-shadow inquired while feeling like he already knew the answer.
Impa nodded with a smile. "Exactly. She was someone Link could talk to and who could help him to notice about enemies that still were either hidden or unknown to him." She confirmed before taking once a deep breath. "But, we have more important topic to talk about." The Sage told with a serious look on her face.
"As the Sage of Shadows I already knew that something was going on. Yet, the Shadows told me nothing and I couldn't really leave the Chamber other than to watch over the Temple and Kakariko." Impa started bit sorrowfully. "All I know is that this started back in December, a while before Christmas. Shadows had been bit in the edge long before that but suddenly they became even more agitated and fearful." She continued and took once a deep breath.
Dark frowned at the given information. He hadn't paid any of attention into the Shadows back then since he rarely left Lake Hylia but... The dark Hylian shook his head and threw the idea out of his mind. He highly doubted it to have any of connection into what was going on at the moment. Yet, before he could think about the situation even more, the Sage already continued.
"A month later something attacked the Shadows. None of the Shadows know what it was or what it looked like. It was swift and gave two options: Death or joining the dark Shadows." Impa explained and shook her head. "I tried to track this enemy down but it stayed out of my notion and the Shadows couldn't give much of information either. Slowly it was clear that the said dark Shadows were monsters that were connected with normal Shadows to make them more stronger and unexpected. The Shadows fought back against the hold of the monster but some gave up." She told and looked at the ex-shadow. "But you already know about this since you and Link have already fought with them. As you know, releasing them from the hold leaves them within the Realm of Light. The only way for them to return where they belong is by death. So far you have rescued Shadows from four different Temples and areas. There is still one more before we can track the main enemy down."
Dark nodded but stayed silent. He knew that the Sheikah would know more about the situation. Impa sighed and dropped her gaze down. "These attacks didn't happen often. There were weeks between them. Once even a month." She told and raised her gaze up.
"The main attack happened a week before you and Link started this quest. The monsters attacked and overtook the Temples. The Shadows were forced to merge into the monsters. They also woke up the hidden monsters that had been created by Ganondorf but never brought out." The Sage explained before sighing heavily. "For such creatures were the third Dead Hand and the Magtail. The Magtail didn't have a Shadow within it but it had been in deep sleep for a long while but the ruckus around it woke it up and forced to try and fulfill its purpose. " She continued calmly.
Dark nodded slowly as he listened to the Sheikah. He had suspected something like this already but he hadn't been fully certain of the situation. "Is there anything you can tell about the main bad guy?" The dark Hylian inquired bit uncertainly.
Impa sighed and shook her head. "I'm afraid I have no knowledge of the enemy behind all this. All I do know is that the person has either a connection to the Shadows or then a way to control them. There is also a strong Shadow that is working for the main enemy and handling the execution of the plans. Yet, I will know more once I get in touch with the Shadows again." She answered and looked the ex-shadow straight into his eyes. "Is there anything else you want to ask about?" The Sage questioned while having a feeling there was more Dark wanted to know but didn't have the courage to ask.
The dark Hylian thought things through while desperately trying to keep them to himself instead of letting all out. Nonetheless, his thoughts were echoing through the Chamber with few flashes of memories playing out at the back of the area. Impa didn't say a word nor did she think anything so she wouldn't bother the ex-shadow as he tried to find out if there was anything he could inquire about. Eventually Dark shook his head and raised his gaze up. "No. The only question I have is this..." He started and took once a deep breath in hopes of staying calm. "Is Link alright?" The dark Hylian asked with full worry clearly in his eyes.
Impa sighed but nodded. "I told you not to worry for him. The Sages of Forest, Fire and Water will look after him and make sure he'll be back to his full health." She told but closed her eyes and concentrated. "Saria, I hope you can hear me. Dark Link is more worried for the Hero than for anything else. Any of possibilities to come and explain the situation to him?" The Sheikah called without trying to keep it just between her and the Kokiri.
Saria flinched slightly as she heard the Sage of Shadow's call. The fairy was still fixing the damage done into the Hero's body. The Kokiri stood up and took a step backwards. "I will come back very soon. Impa called me." She told before closing her eyes and calling out the bright light, the gateway between the Chamber of Sages and Hyrule.
The Kokiri girl came into the podium that was diagonally to left from the Sheikah's place. She opened her eyes once the light vanished from around her. Impa nodded to Saria as their gazes met and the Sage of Forest started to walk towards them. "Dark Link." She called gently as she reached the purple podium with the Shadow Medallion's mark on it.
Dark stayed silent but he nodded to the young Kokiri. "Link is resting right now. The pink fairy has nearly fully healed him as she is still working with his wounds." She started calmly and carefully took a hold of the dark Hylian's hand. "Link will be fully healed once he wakes up. The Shadow Temple has been hard for both him and you and it has taken a toll on him." The Sage continued and smiled slightly.
The ex-shadow sighed in relief and relaxed. "Thank you. I..." He started before sighing and dropping his gaze down. "I know I should concentrate into the task at hand but..." Dark continued before trailing off and closing his eyes. "Link's all I have. I can't lose him." He thought while trying not to break down. The dark Hylian couldn't care less for the fact that his thoughts echoed around the Chamber and were very clear for the Sages to hear them.
Saria smiled gently and carefully forced the ex-shadow to look at her. "Link is safe. Fully and thoroughly." She told firmly before already embracing Dark. "And I know he is very proud of you, Dark Link." The dark Hylian sighed heavily and bit shakily while gently returning the hold by one arm and closing his eyes.
Impa watched the two and stayed silent. The hold and gentle words seemed to calm the ex-shadow down. After a while the Kokiri pulled off but smiled happily. "You need to concentrate to the situation at hand and talk about what you know along with trying to get as much of information as possible. The Gerudo Fortress and the Spirit Temple are still ahead of you." She told before giving a very quick kiss to Dark's cheek. "Once you two are ready in here, call me. I will come to take you two to Link." The Kokiri called while already heading back to her podium with a wide smile and slight wave of her hand.
Dark was startled about the kiss before already blushing. That only got the Sage of Forest to giggle before she called out the light and left the place. Impa smiled slightly but didn't say a word about what had just happened. "I told you there was nothing to worry about." She stated while crossing her arms over her chest. The dark Hylian sighed but nodded with a slight smile.
"Yeah... I just tend to worry too much." The ex-shadow replied and raised his gaze up. He took once a deep breath and started to calm down. "There are some things that I would like to talk with you since you are the Sage of Shadows." Dark started before doing a half bow since he was sitting on the floor of the Chamber, at the podium of the Sage of Shadows. "Thank You for having been my voice in the Shadow Temple. I was not certain that my own thoughts would have been enough for the prayer to work. Thank You." His voice was fully showing the honor and gratitude he was feeling.
Impa chuckled and shook her head. "You do know your own words would've been enough even when not said aloud?" She inquired and grinned slightly as the dark Hylian blushed a bit. "Nonetheless, I am grateful of having been of help. I was not certain of what could be the way of defeating the demon." The Sage told with a slightly worried frown before that turned into a confused one. "But you seemed to know better what was going on."
Dark sighed and nodded but kept his gaze down. "I don't know how it's possible but in a situations like that..." He started and shrugged. "I just somehow know what to do. It's like a part of a lost memory or something. Before I'm in the situation I have no idea of what we're going to have ahead of us or how to fight it. But once the creature comes out... It's all just so clear." The ex-shadow explained and raised his confused gaze up which had tint of worry.
Impa sighed and smiled slightly. "I am sure it will come clear to you someday. Right now you need to concentrate into handling the last Temple before searching for the main enemy." She told calmly.
Dark nodded but frowned in confusion. "You know something that could explain my knowledge of different situations." He stated without making it into an accusation. The Sage of Shadows chuckled and grinned mischievously.
"Oh, I know lot of things. The Shadows have been very eager of explaining your current progress which is why I knew about the Temples and what you've gone through so far. They are trying to get close to the main enemy but none of them have come back to explain about things. So, I do not know about that part." Impa said but sighed soon.
Dark sighed bit exaggerated. "That didn't really answer my question." He told but shrugged. "Yet, I doubt you'd tell me no matter how many times I'd ask." The dark Hylian continued before sighing and smiling slightly. "I guess it has something to do with what Nogard once told. That the memories are better if one can remember them by themselves instead of being told about." He concluded bit sorrowfully.
"I would say that Nogard has a point. And yes, I would not tell anything that you would eventually find out." Impa told with a slight smile before sighing. "And I know you rather think things through before you give too much out." She stated and took once a deep breath. "So, I think it's about time we get united with the Hero again." The Sage said and closed her eyes. "Saria. Now would be a good time." She called with a slight smile.
It didn't take than few seconds before the Sage of Forest came into the Chamber of the Sages. "So, I take it that you two have talked what you needed to?" She inquired while walking over to the duo. Impa just simply nodded and took her hand. Dark smiled and shrugged a bit.
"I guess so." He answered and took the offered hand. The ex-shadow closed his eyes as the bright light surrounded them. He opened his eyes only when he heard the birds singing. He frowned slightly and blinked couple of times to get used to the natural light of the world again before his gaze fell into the Hero of Hyrule. "LINK!" Dark shouted and ran that short distance from the podium to the place where Link was lying at.
The Hero had dozed off just a moment earlier after the pink fairy had left. He had his head on the Sage of Fire's lap. The Sage of Water was sitting on the ground to his right. The Sage of Forest and the Sage of Shadows were still at the podium and watched how the darker Hylian ran over to Link. The Kokiri was slightly supporting the Sheikah's weight but neither yet started to get closer.
Dark hit the ground and skidded a short distance while looking fully worried. He knew that Saria had told just a short moment ago that Link was alright but he still didn't fully believe it. "Link?" He called quietly while slightly leaning over him. The ex-shadow fully ignored the angry gaze from Ruto.
Link groaned a bit but opened his eyes slowly. "Dark!" He screamed out on the second he saw the darker Hylian and shot up. Dark was quite startled about the sudden and tight embrace but he was very swift of returning it bit stronger than what the Hero did. "Are you alright?" Link inquired while slightly pulling off.
The dark Hylian nodded but didn't say a word. Instead, he embraced the Hero tightly and it was clear that he didn't want to let go. "What about you?" He asked very quietly while holding on very tightly. Link chuckled a bit but answered the hold quite gently.
"I'm fine, Dark. Honestly." The Hero answered and half forced the ex-shadow off of him. Link gently kissed Dark's forehead before leaning their foreheads together. "I was more worried for you, you know." He continued but gasped a bit when the darker Hylian moved his head off and went back into hugging the Hero. "You're really not going to let go of me now, are you?" Link inquired with slight deadpan voice but returned the hold calmly.
Dark didn't say a word but he kept his eyes tightly shut while holding on to his closest friend. The Hero sighed a bit and relaxed. He looked up as Saria and Impa walked to them and sat down. Link gave slightly apologetc smile and a quick shrug to the duo.
"I thought I was gonna lose you." The ex-shadow finally whispered very quietly. He wasn't yet crying but his voice sounded slightly broken. Link sighed and shook his head before tightening his hold.
"You'd need LOT more than that to get rid of me, Dark." The Hero answered with a slight grin.
The dark Hylian tightened his hold a bit into a desperate one. "I don't wanna get rid of you!" He whined nearly miserably. "I want to keep you close and safe. You're the only one who understands me!" Dark thought while fully wishing he could've said them aloud instead of just thinking.
Link sighed a bit and closed his eyes. "Dark, you know that I've gone through a lot already. It's not my first time I've been nearly killed or going through deadly Temples." He told calmly before grinning and pulling off a bit. The dark Hylian resisted against the movement before fully gasping in shock as the Hero ruffled the black hair of the ex-shadow's. "Not to mention you seriously are forgetting that I do have the title of a Hero." Link told with a mischievous grin.
Dark gave a mock-glare to the said Hero before huffing and starting to fix his hair. "Yeah, well, you seem to be in life danger with nearly every main bad guy we've fought with." He grumbled and launched at Link again. "Which is the reason I don't want to let go of you anymore." The dark Hylian half whined, half whispered before sighing heavily. "But..." He mumbled and pulled off while keeping his gaze down. "We still got the Spirit Temple to handle before going after the main bad guy." Dark stated bit disappointed.
Link grinned widely and glomped the dark Hylian. The ex-shadow gasped in shock but relaxed soon and returned the hold. "And those are the reasons we're handling this together, bro." The Hero whispered with a smile. Dark nodded and sighed while finally calming down.
Link let the dark Hylian take his time before standing up and half dragging his brother along. "We probably should head forward." He told with slightly sorrowful smile. Dark just simply nodded. The Hero looked once around them at the four Sages. "Thanks guys for your help." He started with a wide smile before turning his full notion into the Sheikah. "Impa, if it's not too much asked, could you get us to the entrance of the Shadow Temple?" Link inquired carefully.
Dark looked bit confused and frowned slightly at the given inquiry. The Hero chuckled slightly and grinned as he noticed the ex-shadow's look. "We left into the Temple through different way. Everyone in the Kakariko knows that Shadow Temple lies behind the graveyard. I doubt they're waiting for us to stay out for long while or for us to come back through the main gate." He explained and shrugged. "So, the best idea is to go through the graveyard and give the full explanation of the situation." Link finished calmly.
Dark was close of facepalming but ended up just nodding. "Should've thought about that." He thought before taking once a deep breath and turning towards the Sage of Shadows. Impa waited for Link to explain the reasons before nodding.
"I can do that. It doesn't take too much of my strength." She replied and offered her hands to the duo. Link and Dark accepted before nodding to the remaining three Sages. "I shall see you three bit later in the Chamber." Impa called before the bright light came forth. The two Hylians closed their eyes and tried to relax.
Once they felt the ground again, the duo opened their eyes. The bright light was gone and Impa took few steps backwards. "Alright, you two. I will leave you to your quest now. Take care." She told before calling another bright light forth. Link smiled and nodded before waving as the Sage of Shadows left the place. Dark smiled and waved too before turning his gaze into the graveyard below them.
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So, since back in the Fire Temple, the unexpected Magtail in the crater brought out questions at then... Here's the answer. Also, it could've been Wind Waker's Magtail aka Gohma. ;) But, I hope some things have become bit more clearer by now. =)
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A/N: So, review, please! =D Even anonymous ones are accepted but if you got a account in here or at DeviantArt, inform of the penname so I can leave a review reply! Otherwise the review reply will be on my profile page or in the next chapter! Thank You!
Still in working:
1) Do a drawing from one of my stories and I'll write you a story OR I can give bit of preview from upcoming chapters or next stories. =)
2) Send questions to Dark and/or Link! Also, other characters will be answering if you want to send a question for them! =)
