I would like to start my one-shot collection with this story.
It's the first part of a three-parted mini-series which I have written in the past months and it's pretty dark.

I hope you will enjoy it :)

Conquer the Darkness in you

As the heavy iron door closed behind him, he slid down to the ground. He leaned his head against the door and closed his eyes, trying to soothe his breathing and his heartbeat.

His little fairy Navi flew excitedly around his head and he could practically feel her worried look on his body.

"Link! Is everything alright with you?"

The young hero opened one of his eyes and his lips twisted into a pain-distorted grin.

"I have never felt better."

Navi just knew that these words were a clear lie, but she didn't say anything because she knew how stubborn Link could be about his physical condition and she also knew that he didn't want her to worry about him. But she could see through his hard facade, could see how bad he felt and how weak he was...

Link closed his eyes again and took a deep breath.

Never in his life would he would have thought that the water temple would rob him of his strength like that.

There were not only a lot of nerve-racking puzzles to solve, but also opponents who were hard to fight. Above all the Like-Like on the other side of the door, through which he had just come, had given him a hard time and Link had taken a long time to kill it. The battles before had already weakened him and the many small wounds on his body now seemed to take their toll on him.

He was all the more astonished when he opened his eyes again and looked at the room in which he was now.

In front of him, as well as to his sides, there was a great emptiness, which was wrapped in mist. There was only a small island in the middle, on which stood a knotty, old tree and a wall that was directly behind it and showed him the way to another room of the temple.

"We should go Link."

"I know, just...let me rest a little. Just a little break until I feel a bit better. Then we can continue our journey."

"I know you need a break, but I don't like this room. I feel something, a dark aura that surrounds us and don't you feel like someone is watching us?"

Link didn't answer her.

He pulled a bottle of fresh Lon-Lon milk out of his pocket and allowed himself a sip and shortly afterwards he could feel the power coming back into his body again.

"There is nothing Navi. We're all alone here."

He didn't say more, but even if he didn't admit it out loud, he also felt this strange dark aura, which surrounded him and his fairy, but he didn't mind it that much. This temple was cursed and he could feel that in every corner of it and the feeling that came over him here was surely nothing else.

But the unpleasant tingling in his stomach didn't disappear.

Not even then, when he had rested enough and got up to his feet again.

His eyes searched the area, but he saw nothing but water, mist and the island that was in the middle of this strange room.

Calm down Link, here is nothing, he tried to calm himself down, but at this point he doubted his own thoughts.

"Come on, Navi. Let's go. The faster we leave this place, the better it is."

"That's what I am trying to tell you the whole time, but you wanted to take a break!"

"Okay, okay, calm down. I got it. We're leaving now."

"Best as soon as possible!"

Link rolled his eyes and decided to keep his mouth shut.

He stowed away the bottle and stood up and together with his fairy he made himself on the way for the other side of the room, but as soon as his feet touched the water that filled the room and that went to his ankles, the strange feeling to be observed, was back and it made him shudder. Once again he let his gaze wander through the room, looking to the left, to the right, upwards and finally down, but only his own reflection returned his gaze.

"Come on Link, hurry! I want to leave!"

The hero raised his head and raised an eyebrow as he saw that Navi had already reached the island that was in the middle of the room and the fear of the little fairy also made him nervous.

He accelerated his steps, ran through the water, crossed the island and ran over to the door through which he had to go, but when he reached it, disillusionment hit him, for the door was closed with heavy iron bars that couldn't be opened by hand.

"What? What is that? Here is nothing and no one! Why is this door locked?"

The little fairy also looked at the door from all sides, but she also found no switch to open it.

She was about to say something, but a dark laugh held her back.

"What's the matter, hero? Is your way blocked?"

Link spun around and he drew his sword during the turn, but it seemed to him that the one, who owned that dark voice was not intimidated by that, for the dark laughter repeated itself.

"Just look at you: Holding the Master Sword in your hands like the great hero who was prophesied to this country. Let me ask you this, hero: How do you want to fight something that you can't even see?"

Link ignored the mocking words and he instead looked at his fairy.

"Navi. What is this? Can you see something?"

"No, I don't see anything, but I can feel his power. Be careful Link, he is very powerful. He uses the powers of the shadow world..."

"I like your fairy. I think I'll make her to my best friend once I've made sure your blood colors the water in this temple red."

Navi whimpered because of the dark words and quickly snuggled against Link's neck, who stroked her tender wings with his fingers to calm her down.

"Don't listen to him. He will not kill me."

"Don't be so sure about that, Hero of Time! You don't know with what kind of opponent you have to deal with here. I'm more terrible than anything you've ever seen! "

"For someone who is more terrible than anything I've ever seen, you're talking too much. Why don't you come out of your hiding-place and show yourself to me?"

"Oh, I don't need to do that, because I'm not hiding from you. Your eyes just can't see through the fog that conceals the truth from you."

An icy breeze ran over Link's neck, causing him to get goosebumps.

"I'm very close to you," said the voice right next to his ear and Link whirled around and swung his sword, but the sacred blade only cut through another mist cloud.

"Stop these games and show yourself to me so we can finish this!"

"Finish this? But we haven't even started yet. You're not even able to see me, then how will you be able to defeat me? I see each of your steps, hear each of your breaths and I can feel the fear in your heart. It would be easy for me to kill you right now, but you should get a fair chance to die with the sword in your hand. Look down hero..."

The last three words he spoke so darkly that Link felt a shiver running down his spine and only hesitantly he looked down. The sight that greeted him there almost let the blood in his veins freeze. He saw his reflection, but it didn't belong to him anymore. It was black as the night, looking at him from eyes, red as jewels from the deepest depths of hell itself. His lips graced a broad and mocking grin and before Link could get a single tone over his lips, the dark creature attacked him with its sword. The young Hylian could escape the sword just in time, as he jumped backwards and landed on the ground a few meters away. Immediately he came back to his feet again, holding his shield in front of him and the sword in the other hand, ready to attack.

The dark form dissolved from the water before his eyes and manifested itself into a man.

To a man who looked just like him, but any color was missing from his body.

Link could only see darkness that mocked him from red sparkling eyes.

"What in the name of the gods...?! Navi, what is that?"

"I-I don't know. It looks like you, but...I only feel darkness..."

The shadow creature grinned and slowly walked over to Link, who then stepped back several steps from him.

"Deep in your innermost heart you know the answer to your question already," spoke the Shadow with his dark voice and the scornful grin gave way to a serious expression.

"I am what you will never show to this world. I am the darkness that is dormant in your heart and I am what every human fears the most: I am the dark side of your soul..."

As these words left his lips, the Shadow slowly walked around Link and the young hero followed each of his steps with his eyes. Sweat had already gathered on his forehead and his muscles were tense as if they were about to tear any second. He clasped the handle of his sword so firmly that his knuckles had already turned white.

The dark side of his soul?

How could he fight this?

How should he fight against himself?

He had to give Ganondorf that: He really had a cruel sense of humor, if he was responsible for this Shadow-like creature that stood here in front of him and mocked him...

Still...this opponent wouldn't be any different from the ones he had already defeated!

"If you think you are superior to me then you thought wrong! You are nothing more than any other opponent that I have to conquer to get a step closer to my goal! The only difference between the monsters I've slain before and you is the size of your ego!"

Dark Link's eyes narrowed and Link had the feeling that they were shining stronger than before.

"If you really think that, then you're foolish. And your foolishness shall be your death."

And then the shadow attacked!

The attack came so quickly and surprisingly that Link had hardly time to react to it and before he knew what had happened, the blade of the Shadow's sword cut through his flesh and made him scream in pain. He lifted his shield, hit it against his chest and forced him back as he jumped back to get some distance between them.

The blade had cut through his right arm and the wound burned like pure fire and it was bleeding heavily, but he couldn't be distracted by that now.

Better his arm than his head...

The next attack struck him back and he barely got a chance for a counter-attack and when he attacked with his own sword, his Shadow simply copied the movement. He copied each of his attacks and Link wasn't able to hit him once.

His dark self, on the other hand, landed a few hits here and there, whenever Link let his guard down. He concentrated too much on landing a hit and thus forgot about his caution. The Shadow took advantage of it immediately and as soon as Link turned his back to him, he attacked with his sword and the blade left several bloody wounds on his back that burned like hellfire.

Navi could only watch the fight helplessly, because she had saved herself on top of the tree and watched the fight from there. Inwardly, she cursed herself for being so small and helpless, for in her small form she was no help at all. Whenever the Shadow inflicted another wound on her friend, she twitched as she could feel the pain on her own body. She wanted to help, wanted to save Link, but there was nothing she could do. She could only watch and hope that the Hero of Time wouldn't be killed by his dark clone...

"Is that all you can do?" The Shadow mocked him and his grin lightened the fire of anger in Link's stomach.

"Shut up," he shouted and he swung his sword again, but still he didn't land a single hit and slowly he started to despair. His attacks had become less and he concentrated much more on protecting his body from further injuries by blocking every single one of Dark Link's attacks with his shield, but he could feel how the strength vanished more and more from his body. Soon he would be at the end of his strength and that would be his death...

No!

He wouldn't let it come this far!

He had to fight!

Not only for his own life, but also for Navi, Princess Zelda and for all the people he had met during his travels and which had a special place in his heart.

If he were to die here, the fate of Hyrule would be sealed and that shouldn't be happen!

But how could he defeat an opponent who imitated all of his movements?

He had to come up with something quickly, otherwise he would be dead soon!

As if his Shadow could read his thoughts, he laughed as he parried the next attack.

"And someone like you wants to be the great hero who saves Hyrule? You can't even harm me! How do you want to save a whole kingdom then?"

The words cut deeper wounds into his body than a blade could ever have done it and the rage in Link's stomach took over.

With a battle cry, he thrust his sword forward... and only seconds later Dark Link was standing on the sword blade and looked down at him, mockingly.

"If you keep fighting like that you will never be able to defeat me..."

Before Link could react, his opponent jumped back from his sword and launched a counter-attack. Link parried the sword attack, but didn't expect his opponent to ram his fist into his stomach when he was close enough to him, hitting the air out of his lungs and forcing him to his knees.

"LINK WATCH OUT!" Navi screamed as she saw how Dark Link raised the sword for his final attack, that should cut Link's head from his shoulders, but the blond-haired Hylian managed to lean his head back at the very last moment and away from the deadly blade. The sword tip cut through his cheek as he blocked the next attack with his Hylian shield.

"...and slowly I'm starting to lose my patience with you!"

The words were followed by a strong punch right into his face, which made Link see stars exploding in front of his vision.

His head fell into the water that covered the floor and when he tried to get up again, a foot, which was now standing on his chest, pushed him down again.

His sword and shield were knocked out of his hands and Link couldn't even take his weapons again. He was too weak and the wounds that covered his body also robbed him of the last bit of his strength. When he opened his eyes and looked up, he saw his dark self, which gloomily looked down at him.

"I expected more from you."

He raised his dark blade and held it just above the spot where the hero's heart was beating.

"Hyrule should have put its hopes better in someone else. In someone who is worth being called a hero..."

He raised the sword for a last attack, but the Shadow didn't even get the chance to end his attack and kill Link, because Navi had flown down from her place on the tree and hit her dainty body with all her strength against Dark Link's face to prevent him from killing her friend. With success, for the Shadow cried out with rage and tried to hit her away from his face with his hand, but the little fairy managed to avoid his attacks. She whirled around his head, flying against his face over and over again, trying to save Link's life and actually Dark Link was so distracted that he didn't even notice that Link saw his chance and that he took advantage of it.

With the last remnant of his remaining powers, the hero managed to stand up and kick his opponent into that spot where it hurt a man the most!

Almost immediately the Shadow went to his knees and pressed his hands against said spot.

"Can't copy that attack, huh?"

One eye was squeezed shut with pain, the other looked hateful up to Link, who had stood up again and took his sword and raised it to attack, but before he managed to strike and end the fight, Dark Link dissolved into emptiness and disappeared.

"You will pay for that! When we meet the next time, I'll first kill your fairy and let you watch, before I cut your life out of your own body! Rely on it! And we will meet again hero, be sure about that!"

And then there was silence in the room, which was interrupted only by the sound of the door that opened now. The heavy iron bars disappeared and cleared the way, but Link didn't want to leave the room now. His legs were too weak to be able to carry him any longer and so he simply dropped to the ground. The fog around him lightened and the island with the tree on it disappeared, until he lay in a large empty room. The only thing that was witness to the fight were the numerous wounds on his body that robbed him of all his strength.

When Navi sat down on his chest and looked at him, the sight gave her a stab in her heart.

Link was breathing heavily, his eyes were squeezed shut and his jaw clenched, in the desperate attempt to bear the pain. When Navi looked at his body, she shuddered. His blue zora tunic was cut and torn in many places, showing the extent of the cruel fight in the form of bleeding wounds. Some of the wounds were deep and the Hero whimpered with pain whenever he moved.

"No Link. Stay down," the fairy said, as she saw Link and how he was trying to sit up.

"W-we...we have to go Navi...no time...for any more breaks..." the hero gasped and again he tried to get up.

Navi flew gently against his forehead, gently trying to push him down, which she actually managed to do, because Link's muscles were simply too weak to keep his body upright and he just let himself fall back onto the ground.

"No Link. You need a break. Stay here and rest a bit. If you feel better, we'll go on. You won't be able to keep fighting like this."

He answered her with a small smile and closed his eyes and tried to relax his muscles somewhat so that the pain would vanish a bit.

What would he be without Navi?

He owed his life to this brave little fairy.

If she hadn't been, he would be dead now and Hyrule would be doomed.

If they were to survive this, he would thank her for what she had done for him today.

Because he owed this to his little friend, who had fought like a true knight today…

The End

Author's note:

I still remember my very first encounter with Dark Link.

Actually it was my dad's first encounter with Dark Link, since he was playing OOT while I was watching him and boy, was my dad cursing during this battle XD. I myself fared no better a few years later when I played this game myself and I always hated this mid-boss in the game. But with the years I started to love the character "Dark Link" a lot when I started to think about the reason why they put such an enemy into the game. Even if we don't know anything about him, I find him very, very interesting and there is so much room for our own theories and stories about him- It's just amazing what they did there. Since then Dark Link is one of my most favorite Characters of all the Zelda Games (and Ocarina of Time still is my most favorite Zelda Game)

I have already seen a lot of theories about him and liked them and I also have my own theory.

I think he is just the dark side of Link's soul, which showed up in the water temple as some kind of test for Link and if Link has the courage to fight the darkness that lives within his heart. I can also imagine that Link will never be able to defeat Dark Link, since you can't "kill" the darkness that is hidden in all our hearts. I think Link would have to get killed too, so that Dark Link finally dies, since Dark Link is a part of Link's soul. And I can also imagine that Dark Link shows up in the future to fight against Link once again.