Shout Outs: Thank you to kagenero97 for following and favoring the story. Thank you to Triforce Dragons for reviewing the story.
Chapter 19: Nightmares
The group stared dumbfounded at the unwelcome guest while Time gave darkened his look and shook uncontrollably from rage.
"Dark Link! Get out of him!" Time roared. This made the group look even more confused.
How does Time know him?
"Time…" Dark Link flashed his toothy grin. "It's been a while…" he then looked at the other group who merely stared at him. "Huh…based on their faces, I reckoned you never told them about me…pity…"
"I said…GET OUT OF HIM!"
Dark Link rolled his eyes. "Always so dramatic…but it's a shame that you didn't introduce them to me…"
"Time…who is he?" Sky asked as he stared at the figure.
"Not now, Sky. I need you and the others to get out of here," Time narrowed his eyes.
"But Twilight…" Sky hesitated.
"Twilight isn't here," Time bared his teeth. "Now, get out."
Just as Sky was about to get up, Dark Link snarled and started to attack.
"No one leaves me, you fool!"
Dark Link performed a spin attack where Time managed to block it with his shield but he fell down on the floor due to the powerful spin attack Dark Link had created. The shadowy figure then dragged his sword across the floor, hearing it scraping against it. Sky's eyes widened and he started to make way for his sword but Dark Link was quicker.
Dark Link stabbed the sword beside Sky so that it nearly struck him but the enemy then stomped on Sky's sword arm, making him scream.
"Sky!" Green shouted. As he pulled out his sword, the others followed suit.
"Aww, leaving the party so soon?" Dark Link sneered as Sky writhed in pain.
"Get…away from…me!" Sky gasped, eyes watering from the agony.
Dark Link cocked his head to the side. "But where's the fun in that?"
"Get away from him!" Green shouted, charging towards him and he performed a spin attack and that forced Dark Link to jump back to avoid the swing. He narrowed his eyes and saw his attacker.
"Green…get back…" Sky panted. "We don't know who he is."
"Which is why I precisely told you to leave in the first place," Time grunted as he picked himself up. He also picked up his sword during the time where Dark Link put his foot on Sky's arm. "Give us Twilight back and leave."
Dark Link smirked. "Sorry. He's gone."
"I don't believe that," Time snarled. "Last warning."
"Or what? You'll fight me for him? Well in that case," Dark Link twirled his sword at the side. "I would love a battle…for good old sake…" Dark Link snarled and he began to attack Time who swiftly avoided it by jumping backwards and quickly put his shield up, hearing a clang as Dark Link's sword struck against it.
"We got to get Twilight back…" Sky muttered as he got up.
"But how?" Green asked though concern flashed over his face. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Sky shook him off. "Any ideas?"
The group was met with the sounds of metal against metal from Time's battle but then Purple spoke up.
"You know…he sort of reminds me of Shadow Link…"
Red gave him a questioning look until he widened his eyes. "Hey, he does!"
"Who's Shadow Link?" Sky asked, confused.
"Shadow Link is basically like that guy," Green pointed to the shadowy figure who was fighting Time. "He's our reflection…Well, my reflection since I'm the original Link out of them."
"Wait, original?"
"Another time," Blue waved his hand. "Right now, we got bigger problems."
Sky stared at the shadow person. He sighed. He had no idea how to defeat him and he doesn't even know him. Sky wondered if he himself ever had this guy but he doesn't recall being…cold towards his friends. Sky assumed that this…person only has evil thoughts: the opposite of them.
"Okay, so if this guy is…Shadow Link or whatever, what's his weakness? Does he have any?" Sky asked.
Purple glanced at the three before he spoke. "The Four Sword…I'm sure we could combine the power together and be able to defeat that person."
"Wait…didn't Time shouted out 'Dark Link' when he first made his appearance?" Green pointed it out. "So our attack might not be able to work on him…he might now be Shadow Link."
Blue shrugged. "Unless we've got some other ideas, this all that we could do. We have to try."
Sky nodded. "Yeah and besides…if we don't save Twilight…who will? Besides, I still need to kick Twilight's ass for keeping something of me."
Red stared at him. "What did he keep?"
Sky shook his head. "I'm still not over it but it's nothing."
Blue nodded. "Well then…let's go. Someone should tell Time to clear out of the way or give the right time to attack."
"I will," Sky said.
"But your arm—"Red said.
"I'll be fine," Sky flashed him a toothy grin and then he went towards the battle.
Dark Link grinned, blocking attack after attack after attack. "For an old man…you sure can still keep up."
"I wouldn't get too comfortable. You know, I defeated you in the first place. I can do it again!" Time ducked down to dodge the oncoming attack and performed a side sweep move where it knocked Dark Link down to the floor. Before Dark Link had a chance to get up, Time pinned him down to the ground; the sword being dangerously close to his neck.
"Last warning…" Time hissed. "Get out of Twilight…or I'll use Din's Fire on you…"
Dark Link narrowed his eyes. "You don't have Din's Fire. That's an empty threat."
"You sure?" Time sneered at him.
"You use Din's Fire and not only will you kill me but you will also kill your friend…and you wouldn't want to do that, now would you?" he drawled.
"Burn in Hell," Time hissed.
Dark Link rolled his eyes. "Can't. Already did that." Dark Link then managed to bring his foot upwards and struck at Time's stomach. His back hit against the floor but he quickly rolled out of the way as Dark Link brought down his sword, only to stab it against the floor. Growling, Dark Link easily pulled it back up but Time was quicker.
Time spun around from the side and knocked Dark Link's sword out from his arm. Time then hit him at the stomach where the enemy doubled over, grunting from the attack. To finish him off, Time spun around again and this time, he used his leg and struck Dark Link across his jaw.
Dark Link fell down to the ground, wiping his mouth as he felt it bleeding. He craned his neck to the side, smirking.
"Not bad, old timer…"
Just as Dark Link rolled himself to the side, he noticed a shiny gleaming blade was pointed right at him. He looked up and saw Sky who threateningly brought the sword even closer.
"Sky…" Time hissed.
"Listen…the group and I…we got a plan," Sky muttered. "If you and I could distract him for just a bit more, we could defeat him and bring back Twilight."
Time stared at him before he flickered his eyes towards the four Links. "What plan?"
"Later."
"Well?" Dark Link spoke again, annoyed. "Aren't you going stab me?"
Sky tightened his grip on his sword. "Shut up."
Dark Link chuckled. "A bit touchy, aren't we? Well, I don't blame you…I still see how you and Twilight aren't…best friends with each other…now," Dark Link slowly dragged himself up, away from the blade. He grabbed the tip and pulled the weapon backwards which made Sky widened his eyes.
"Would…that…be? Hmm?" Dark Link asked where he eventually got up. He then forcefully yank the sword, having Sky stumble towards him and the enemy grabbed Sky at the scruff of his shirt, pulling him closer. Time stood on his guard but all Sky could see were the menacing cold eyes that bore on his blue ones.
"Now…now, don't be afraid. I merely want to…fix the bond between you and Twilight."
"You wish," Sky spat.
Dark Link sighed. "That's too bad…"
Sky narrowed his eyes. If Twilight really did got possessed or something, he could still be in there…he has to try…
"Twilight…if you're in there, you better not be gone yet because I want to kick your ass for keeping that secret from me, you hear? You better fight, you lazy pinhead."
Dark Link laughed, a hollow one and it sent shivers down Sky's spine. "You heroes are pathetic."
He then threw Sky backwards but Time caught him, grabbing him around the waist.
"You okay?" Time grimaced. That encounter with Dark Link couldn't have been pretty. He shuddered.
"Yeah," Sky mumbled, picking himself up. "Now how about we get Twilight back?"
Time nodded.
The three battled left and right. Two of them would block as Dark Link would continuously attack but sometimes Dark Link would also attack them back. Eventually, both Time and Sky knocked Dark Link down to the ground and with acting quickly, both of them had their swords pin against Dark Link's shirt, preventing him to move.
Dark Link widened his eyes from rage. "You cheat—"
"Enough," Time gritted. He took his sword away from him and stabbed him at his ankle where it made Dark Link scream.
Sky widened his eyes in horror. "Time—"
"Four Links! NOW!" Time roared, ignoring Sky.
"Four Swords!" the Four Links exclaimed, bringing their swords together. A bright light filled the room as it emitted from the swords. It grew brighter and brighter, forcing Sky and Time to look away, shielding their eyes away from the bright light.
"Argh! It's too strong!" Blue shouted, struggling against the power.
"Keep holding!" Purple shouted back, refusing to back down.
The light then washed over the entire room and all the group could hear where the terrible screams that came from Dark Link until his screams were no more and the light died down.
The four Links all collapsed down to the ground, exhausted.
"Did it work?" Blue panted.
Time and Sky lowered their hands and they all looked up where they saw a shadowy figure who was on his knees. He raised his head, staring coldly at Time who equally glared at him and then Dark Link was no more, vanishing until he was only in ashes.
Red's eyes trailed down to the floor where he gasped. "Twilight! It worked!"
Upon the shout, Time quickly rushed towards his fallen ancestor. He fell to his knees and shook him, calling out his name.
"Twilight? Twilight? Wake up, you lazy piece of—"
"Language," Blue chided him.
After a few seconds, a groan was heard from Twilight much to everyone's relief and then, Twilight opened his eyes only to flinch. His eyes still needed to be adjusted after being in the darkness for so long…but even then, he didn't quite understood what happened.
"Time…?" Twilight muttered.
Time sighed. "Thank the Goddesses…"
"He's alive!" Red said cheerfully.
As Twilight got up, Blue panicked. "Easy! You shouldn't get up. You're still hurt."
"I'm fine—ow!" Twilight exclaimed. He hissed as he glared at his ankle, suddenly seeing blood. "What happened to my ankle?"
Everyone's eyes landed on Time and for a brief second, he looked guilty but that quickly vanished.
"Eh, I just stabbed you when you were busy being Dark Link," Time answered carelessly.
"What?!" Twilight exclaimed, appalled. "Time!"
But that only made Time chuckled. "Good to have you back, kid."
Author's Note: Whoo-hoo! Another update that didn't took more than a year to upload! Woot! So, the group managed to defeat Dark Link (which made me struggle for a while so I apologize if the battle wasn't that great) but what happens next? Find out! Toodles!