It's always the Villian that the Hero expects to face.
The Evil.
The Antagonist.
The Scourge upon the Land.
Never Themselves.
He panted, sword arm numb from blood loss. Many jagged scars lined his body from various close calls and overwhelming odds. Blood stained his face, hair, and tunic.
Yet his shadows simply stood in front of him, no worse for wear. Their red eyes boring into him. Judging.
"Why do you seek the Four Sword, Hero?" They spoke as one. "It is not your destiny to wield it."
"I..." He panted. "I...was tasked, by the Picori...to retrieve it."
"Why?"
"..When I...removed the Master Sword, it unsealed monsters that attacked them. I'm going to put the Four Sword back...to reseal them."
"Have you seen these monsters?"
"No...But-"
"You act blindly. Without reason." The leader held up his sword. "That can cost you in the future. If you live through this trial."
One rushed him, bringing his sword up for a decapitating strike. Link shifted on his right foot, bringing the Master Sword up to stop the heavy swing in one go, unbalancing his opponent. He swiped the blade downwards, severing it's sword hand and left leg.
The shadow toppled backwards, looking at the stumps in shock, purple blood oozing from the wounds. Twirling his sword, Link planted the blade firmly in it's skull, it's body seizing up as the divine energy in the blue blade cut through it. It's blood stained the water covering the floor.
"'Act blindly'" Link spat in a mocking tone. "I act, because it's right. Not for glory or reward. That is my reason."
The others seemed surprised at how swiftly death came for their comrade. They began to circle him once more, planning their attacks to prevent the same from happening to them.
Link withdrew the Master Sword from the deceased Shadow's corpse, drawing the Hylian shield from his back.
He felt mocked when the Shadows drew shields of their own.
The one on the left ran at him, swinging it's sword downwards. The blade clanged against his shield as he sidestepped and swiped upwards, slicing the shadow across the chest.
It lept back, groveling at it's wound, than charged forward again. It's shield facing forward and ready to bash him in the face, Link simply undercut the shield. Slicing below it, nicking his opponent's leg.
It didn't stop, whirling around to bring it's sword down heavily on him. Steel sparked and clashed as Link parried the strike, kicking his shadow to the ground.
It shook it's head in a daze, kicking it's own foot out to knock the Master Sword from his grasp. The blade splashing into the ankle-deep water a few feet away.
Link's eyes darted to it, gauging whether or not to attempt to retrieve it.
"You're nothing without your weapon." The shadow said smugly.
He decided against it.
Instead, he unhooked the Hylian Shield from his arm, taking it in both hands, and began to repeatedly smash the edge into his opponent's face. Their body soon ceased movement as it's blood sprayed everywhere and spilled into the water.
After the savage beating that left the shadow's skull caved in, Link stood up, drenched in it's blood, shield held loosely in it's grip.
"No. I'm enough." He growled, glaring at his final two opponents.
The leader gestured to the other one, nodding towards him. It nodded, carefully walking towards him, shield at the ready.
"So, you won't part with your weapon even though I lost mine?" Link muttered. "Fine."
It stepped towards him, thrusting it's sword forward. He casually dodged it, sidestepped and knocking it away with his hand, before cracking the shadow across the face with his shield, dislocating it's jaw.
His opponent injured and dazed, he dived for the Master Sword. Grabbing the purple grip, he whirled around, swinging it backwards horizontally.
A blue beam of pure energy shot out from the blade, arcing towards his opponent, slicing clean through it's torso. It let out a deep gasp, collapsing backwards. As it splashed into the water, it's upper body seperated from it's lower half, succumbing to a bloody death.
"Idiots." The final Dark Link muttered, arms crossed. "If we had kept attacking all at once, we would've beaten him."
Link stood up, sword and shield in hand. His shadow stepped forward, drawing it's own weapons.
It rushed at him, Link simply copied his move from earlier, surprised when his Shadow reversed it, locking their blades together. They stood face to face, trying to overpower the other.
"I sense something in you, Hero." The Shadow said. "Your power is incomplete. Something is holding you back..."
Link tuned him out, pushing harder against his block.
The shadow's eyes widened. "Ah...Love..."
Link snarled, headbutting him and kicking him in the chest, sending him flying across the room. He simply stood up, untouched by the attacks.
"Maybe...if we got rid of her..?" It suggested.
Link narrowed his eyes, tossing his blood-stained shield away.
His shadow looked warily to the discarded shield, before tossing away his own. Link breathed out, gripping the Master Sword with both hands. It was an ancient, forgotten sword style, focused solely on ending the fight with a single stroke.
He was the only Knight in Hyrule to even bother learning it, let alone master it.
His opponent copied his movements, taking his sword in two hands as well, red eyes narrowed.
Link breathed, shifting his weight to his right foot. He kicked off, rushing at his opponent, who did the same. The two warriors closed in on each other, swords to their sides.
They closed in to one another, their boots splashing loudly in the bloody water.
Then they passed one another.
Swords to their front, they skidded to a halt. Both breathed heavily, neither making a single movement.
That's when Link's Shadow coughed loudly, blood oozing down from his chest, which had been cut nearly in half from the side.
"One thing about this style." Link said, half-turning to the shadow. "Don't try that with a fucking short sword."
His opponent only gurgled in reply, collapsing forward and onto his knees and hands, sword and shield falling to the ground.
The room faded back to the original sandy-floor chamber, yet his opponent remained, slouched in the center of the room with his blood seeping onto the sand.
"You will fail." It said, it's wounded demeanor ceasing as it sat up on it's knees, staring at him. "You defeated us. What does that tell you about yourself? You are Weak. Incomplete."
Link didn't say anything, only staring at his fallen opponent.
"When you face him. You will not be ready. None of you will..." It sneered. "You will die. Zelda will die. Everyone you love...Dead."
It's eyes lit up, and for a split moment, Link swore he could see a smug smirk on it's face.
"She'll die, not knowing..."
Link sliced sideways, cutting it's head off from it's shoulders before it could finish.
It's corpse faded, and in it's place was the Four Sword in it's pedestal, seeming no worse for wear. Link clenched his left hand...his bloody hand.
He stared down, a clean cut along his wrist, blood seeping from it. He sighed and hefted the Master Sword, that's when he noticed the blade was surprisingly light now.
It was low on energy...
Link frowned, sheathing the weak blade and retrieving his shield. He looked back up at the Four Sword, walking towards the blade.
And he stepped outside with it in his bloody hand.
Twilight looked up, eyes widening in surprise, shocked at how bloody his Descendant was. He hooked the fused shadow to his belt and ran towards him.
"Wild?" He gasped. "Farore, what happened to you!?"
Link only gave him a cross look, shaking his head. "I'm fine, we need to go. Now."
Twilight frowned, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Wild, what the hell did you fight in there?"
Link shrugged off his hand. "Myself."
Twilight frowned, nodding slightly. The word was cryptic, but he understood perfectly.
Placing his hand back onto his shoulder, they both warped away.
Just a few meters away, Ganondorf stood up from his hiding place, amber eyes looking skyward. He frowned heavily, walking forward to the massive structure that had risen up.
A loud rumble echoed out, the structure soon began to sink back into the sand. He only watched as his former prison was washed away into the sands once again.
His gaze flicked to the side, across the dunes of the desert, and to Gerudo Town.
"It's Time."
Zelda was slack jawed, her warm greeting lodged in her throat when she saw the state her appointed knight was in. He was wounded and bloodied, his champion tunic drenched in crimson and purple gore.
His right eye was shut, blood splashed on that side of his face, blinding him there. More crimson dripped from the corner of his mouth, completing the look.
His left wrist equally drenched as with his tunic. His sword arm, according to him, was completely numb from blood loss.
Yet he still stood tall in front of her and Teba, Four Sword in hand, his breathing weak and coming out in gasps.
"Amazing." Teba breathed. "You heroes are very...resilient."
Link only nodded, holding out the Four Sword to him. He shook his head, pushing the sword away.
"No No. That is not my job, I'm afraid." He said tentively. " You have our thanks, but I'm sorry to say you must put it in it's rightful place."
He gestured to the door, obviously telling him to go back to the courtyard. Link nodded, and wordlessly walked out. It took Zelda a few moments to gather her thoughts and run after him.
The pedestal in the courtyard, it had all made sense now. It's where the Master Sword was originally, but now of course, the Four Sword would take it's place.
Link decided to cut out the formalities, walking right up to the Pedestal and planting the Four Sword right into it. A faint light shone from within, and quickly dispersed as the Sword sealed itself.
He stood in silence for a moment, ignoring Zelda who had been standing behind him. He looked up to the sky, then turned around and walked past her and into the castle.
Her jaw fell open, shocked at being ignored so easily. This soon turned to anger and she ran after him again, stopping him in the hallway.
She had grabbed him by the sleeve, ignoring the horrid amount of blood seeped into it.
"Link, what happened." She demanded, brow furrowed.
He stared at her, a blank expression on his face.
No. Her heart ached when she recognized that look, it was the same expression he wore after his father died. The look of indifference she hated so much.
The blankness.
The loss of happiness.
The sorrow.
The...fear?
"Link...Please talk to me." She said, barely above a whisper, eyes watering. "...Please."
Yet he said nothing, instead removing her hand, which she noted was with surprising gentleness. He walked away, leaving her in disbelief.
She choked, tears streaming down her face. She lost him...again.
A hand gentle rested on her shoulder, she looked up pitifully, meet Twilight's blank face. It sickened her, how his expression mirrored Link's.
"Don't worry, he isn't gone." He said, looking down the hall. "Give him some time."
"Time..." She sniffled. "That's all I ever gave him..."
"Give him a little more." He helped her up. "Go get some rest, we'll talk with him in the morning."
She nodded, wiping her face with her sleeve.
The next day, she felt slightly better. A handmaiden had woken her and told her that breakfast would be served. Knowing full well that Link would show, she got dressed and walked down to the Dining hall.
The table was crowded with workers and soldiers, but no sign of her knight. Thinking he merely overslept, she sat down and had a quick meal, before heading up to his room.
"Link?" She called at his door, but received no answer. She tried the door, and was surprised when it turned out to be unlocked.
With growing horror and despair, she realized the room was empty. Biting back tears, she asked a guard if Link had been seen recently.
"Yes Princess, he left a couple hours ago. He seemed to have cleaned himself up, he was covered in bandages, but left in his blue tunic though." He pointed to the east. "He was spotted riding east, towards the ranch."
Faintly, she felt better, thinking he had just gone to the ranch. She went back into his room, looking around to see if he had left anything for her.
He had, some parchment on his desk.
"'Princess, I'm so sorry...'" She read. "'I know I can be difficult, but I had a good reason. Yesterday at Arbiter, I heard that something bad is coming to Hyrule, and that even we shall fall to it, that I wasn't powerful enough to stop it. That I wouldn't be able to save you. or anyone else. I've heard something else, a voice beckoning me. When we fought Calamity Ganon, you yourself said that I was not at the point of possessing my full power. I aim to fix that.'"
"'I will be back. I promise. You won't even know I was gone...'"
Her heart leaped at his last words.
"'...I love you, Zelda. -Link'"
Wow, that's like being told that over the phone too.
Don't worry about Link, he's just gone on a nice vacation to the Korok Forest. (You'll catch on.)
As for Zelda, you can't help but feel bad for her. She honestly thought she lost him again, then he up and disappears and leaves behind a declaration of love. It's like a twisted romance...which this kinda is tbh.
Ganondorf is up to something though...
I was planning on having a whole ceremony with the Picori, but I think Link was too...conflicted for something like that.
This will have one more chapter, don't worry.
E3 was awesome though. Can't wait for Fallout 4 and Skyrim VR. I also cannot wait for the BOTW DLC coming out, I'm very curious as to what "The Champions' Ballad" is about. Sounds like we'll be able to go back to the past! :D