Chapter 8

Down the southern slope of death mountain a twisted path leads two people into darkness. Before they reached the shadows they stopped.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? Or at least wait here for you?" Darunia asked as he stopped. Link looked up, "Yes, I'm sure. If he truly is my Shadow then I must face him alone.

"Well if you must go alone take this" Link was given a small silver disk, small enough to be grasp in one hand. It had tiny amethysts arranged around the outer edge and one large triangle cut amethyst, the darkest shade of purple ever seen, in the center. Link looked at it in amazement.

"What is this?"

"This is the medallion of a dying race. Impa wanted me to give it to you." He placed it in Links hand. "She said it would protect you from evil magic."

Link held the medallion up. The light shone through the center, casting a purple glow on his face. "Tell Impa that her gift is greatly appreciated" He put the medallion in his pocket. He reached out to shake Darunia's hand when the Goron scooped him up in a great hug.

"Be careful Brother." he shook him a few times and then dropped link with a resounding thud. "Don't worry I will, and this time I'll bring Zelda back too" he turned from his friend and began the trek down the gnarled path again.

"Be very careful." Darunia said, not much louder then a whisper knowing that link wouldn't hear him. He turned and started back up the path that led them down the mountain.

"The time is at hand Princess," Shadow link said with a sneer "to see if your precious Hero is really willing to die for you." He walked through the door and backed her into the wall. "and you shall be there to watch him fail." He motioned with his hand at the door without ever loosing her gaze. The two ferocious moblins entered, and without a word they secure her arms as he unlocks her restraints. As soon as her chains where gone Zelda started squirming trying to get away from their grasp.

Shadow Link looked at both his Minions "If either one of you hit her this time you'll Both be food for the Skulltula's!" He looked down at Zelda as the moblins held her "I need my princess Flawless for the Sacrifice" a sinister grin spread across his face as he stared at her. Quickly he turned around and walked out of the room. His sadistic laugh echoing through the cave.

"NO!, You Cant Do This To Me!" Zelda started kicking and struggling franticly. Trying her hardest to get away. The two moblins tighten their grip forcing her to cry out in pain.

From the other side of the doorway Shadow Link snapped his orders to them. "Chain her in the Main Hall. Let her dangle there by her wrists until Link arrives,"

After what seemed like a half-day's walk Link finally made it to the base of Death Mountain. There in front of him is the mouth of a great cave. Amazing, he thought to himself. It was taller by far then the very gates of Hyrule castle. The stone formations around the edge grew into sharp points and reminded Link of the gaping maw of a dragon.

Warily he entered the cave. Even with the entrance so large the darkness in the cave consumed him as he stepped over the threshold. It was as if a wall was stopping the light. Fumbling in the darkness Link found his bottle. Inside were some of the cool blue flames from the ice cave by the Zora's waterfall, Ruto's gift to help him. Though it is the brightest thing in Hyrule it's light was dimmed to a mere candle glow by the darkness.

"Well, if I were a shadow this is definitely where I would hide." he said with a worried chuckle.

He continued on, stumbling through the darkness moving spider webs out of his way. As he continued on the webs began to grow thicker and cling to him more often. Before he could continue any further he heard a noise, a very distinct noise. The scratching and hissing got louder by the moment. "Damn," Link drew his sword, the bottle of light dropped to the cave floor and shattered, extinguishing the flame. "I hate skutulas." He stopped moving and listened, the darkness closing in. The noise split in two directions. He shook his head. "Of course there's two…there's always two" he squatted down and brought his sword behind his back preparing to spin. At incredible speeds two very large skulltula's scuttled their way towards Link. They where close enough that Link could see the hunger in their glowing eyes. Right before they struck Link unleashed a powerful attack, spinning in a complete circle and striking both beasts before they could reach him. With a loud howling they both fell to the ground. Link left the bodies of the skulltula's and continued on his way.

Keeping his sword out he stumbled through the darkness relying on his sense of touch to guide him. It wasn't long before he reached a wall. It seamed at first that the tunnel went no further, but Link felt a large crack running from floor to past his reach. He reached out with his sword and tapped the wall. A hollow sound echoed like there was a great chamber on the other side. He pulled out a small bomb and wedged it into the crack. Well, here goes nothing, he thought as he lit the fuse and ran away from the wall seeking some sort of cover.

With a flash of light and a loud crash the wall was no more. A very faint glow emanated from the former wall. Link walked through the now crumbling barrier. In the faint light he could see a large cavern. Ancient paintings covered the walls and glowed with an eerie green light. At the far end of the cave he saw two forms.

"Wake up princess…" Shadow link whispered into Zelda's ear. "He should be here any moment" he circled the princes as she dangled from the ceiling by her now bloody wrists. Her feet were mere inches from the ground.

She moaned in pain as he spun her around. "Oh poor princess, does that hurt? Pity, but I need you to be facing the room, not the wall, if you are to watch Link perish by my blade." he smacked her face "I'll also need you awake".

A sharp noise suddenly echoed through the room. "Ahh, he's here," he said, as the wall separating him and his twin suddenly exploded. Link stepped through the opening and stopped.

Shadow Link stepped away from Zelda speaking to link as he paced the floor in front of her. "Did you miss me?" Shadow Link asked, bowing to him in mockery.

Link gritted his teeth as his dark twin began to laugh. "What's the matter hero? Did you think me dead? Ohh… I know what it is. I have your princess, that is it right isn't it?" he grinned as he unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Zelda.

"You coward," Link hissed, "This is between you and me. Leave her out of it." Zelda moaned as she tried not to slip back into unconsciousness.

"It is not her I'm here for, I'm here to destroy You." he pointed his the tip of his blade at Link. Without hesitation Link drew the Master sword and was ready to fight this monster to save Zelda, even if it meant his own death.

"Yes…" Shadow Link hissed. "and after I've killed you I shall claim your princess as my own."

"Enough…" Link Shouted "I'm not here to talk."

This fight would be far worse then Link could ever have imagined. Fueled by Links hatred, Shadow Link's strength had grown considerably.

Link walked toward the center of the chamber, swinging his arm, listening to the blade whistling through the air. His dark twin did much the same as he stepped away from Zelda. Then with a fearsome cry he ran to Link, closing the gap between them quickly. He lunged and Link reacted with ease. Left, up, down, right, he blocked each of his dark twin's blows never loosing sight of the dark blade.

Shadow Link backed off and began circling Link like a shark. Staying focused, Link kept his gaze on his him, trying to anticipate his next move. Without a warning Shadow Link lunged again.

He deflected each attack effortlessly, waiting for the opportunity for the perfect retaliation. When the time came Link raised his sword and attacked offensively. Putting as much force into each blow as he could, Link slowly started backing his twin into a corner. Shadow Link smiled, as he continued his defense. He knew soon he would have the opportunity to strike again. And here it was.

Link miscalculated while blocking and felt a sting on his arm. He quickly backed off. Grabbing his arm he grimaced in pain. He had been cut. Blood oozed from the wound and down his arm, dripping onto the floor.

Shadow Link paused just long enough to wipe links blood from his blade, and then he got into position again.

This time Link struck first. Focusing His anger he sliced through the air with ease forcing his dark twin to stumble back. Shadow Link began to feel Links power and strength and it suffocated him. Drawing off of Links hatred he became stronger, and more vicious. The next time he hit Link he had spun around with too much force for Link to block.

With a cry of pain, Link stumbled back. He had been cut deeply beneath his ribs. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He couldn't catch his breath, and for the first time he actually believed he might loose his life to this foul imitation of himself.

Shadow Link smiled at seeing link stumble. Link was bleeding badly from his wounds; he was becoming weaker and his sword heavier. Just one more blow and it would be over, and Link knew this.

Dragging his sword, he moved slowly towards Shadow Link again. He was starting to see double and his footing weren't sure. When he tried to lift his sword his dark twin attacked ferociously, knocked him down and kicked him. Link cried out in pain, this time much louder and more horrible then before. Shadow Link's evil laugh echoed through the chamber.

"She is mine now…Hero of Time." He sneered. "Mine to do what I wish, and you can never stop me."

Link could feel his anger boiling inside him. He no longer feared his death. He was more afraid of what would happen to Zelda if he didn't strike down Shadow Link now. His death would be meaningless if he didn't save her. The pain in Links chest was excruciating but there was no way he'd let him have Zelda.

Preparing to strike the final blow Shadow Link raised his weapon high above his head. Gathering his strength, Link struck. With incredible speed and force, Link's blade pierced his dark twin's chest. Shadow Link, still holding his sword above his head stumbled back. Link pulled the Master Sword out from his heart.

Dropping his weapon Shadow Link fell to his knees. "Your sword struck true…old friend…" he whispered between gasps "but you are dead too…and there is… no one… left to protect her." and with his last words he fell to the ground and did not stir again.

Taking the keys to her shackles from the body, Link staggered his way to Zelda. Bracing her as best he could, he reached up and unlocked her. They both fell to the ground. She was hardly conscious.

"Link…oh…" Zelda regained full consciousness in time to see Link's eyes close. As quickly as she could she found one of Links potion bottles and opened it. "Link…Link… listen to me Link". His eyes barely moved. "You need this more then I do. You have to try and drink this." She tipped his head back and poured some of the red potion into his mouth, forcing him to drink. With just the small amount that he had swallowed his condition greatly improved. He opened his eyes and could drink the potion on his own, not that she let him however. He stopped when it was halfway gone.

"Here Zelda" he gave her the bottle. "I brought this for you, not for me. You drink the rest."

"I do not need it as much as you do," she argued "I saw the whole battle, you drink It." she put it back in Link's hand.

"Love, at least take a drink" he said holding it up. " I will have no more until you do." Doing as he requested Zelda took a mouthful of the potion. "now here, you drink the rest." Link downed the rest of it. Slowly his wounds healed completely and he felt stronger.

Zelda stood up brushing off her dress. Link looked at Zelda. What was once the magnificent wedding gown fit for a princess was now just tattered and stained rags. Yet beneath the mud he saw the most beautiful woman in Hyrule. Slowly he stood up, putting his sword away. Sensing that Link was about to fall, Zelda put his arm over her shoulder, bracing him.

"Let's get out of here Link." they began walking towards the door when Link realized that he wanted his dark twin's sword. It may be the key to releasing Gannon and he sure as hell wasn't going to leave it behind for the next fend to acquire.

"not yet Zelda, there's something that I need first." breaking free from Zelda, he walked over to the crumpled body of his adversary. Using what strength he had, Link bent down and picked up the sword. As soon as he touched it the blade started faintly glowing red, and a sense of dread washed over him. Walking toward the exit the feelings brought on by the sword weakened Link, forcing him to stumble and fall.

Rushing to his side Zelda takes the sword from him. "You're still too weak Link. Let me carry that for you." helping him up again they begin making their way to the exit. With the sword no longer in his hand Link immediately recovers and is able to walk without Zelda supporting him. They walk on, oblivious to the red glow of the dark blade.

Zelda stopped walking. Something's not right… why does my hand hurt? Looking down she saw the sword. She hadn't realized this before but it looked just like the Master Sword only, evil. As she looked at it she noticed the red glow that began to gain intensity. She tried to throw it down bit she couldn't let go of it.

"Link…" she yelled. He turned around and saw the lights glow filling the dark cave. "Link help me! I can't let it go. It burns" she cried, trying to throw the sword down. He rushed to Zelda but couldn't reach her in time.