All right. Humor is off for this chapter. May god forgive me for this. Look, don't read this unless you're over 15. If you're not, and I scare you, then don't tell me. Sorry. This chapter had to be written. If it seems a bit spartan, that's because it is basically a summary of a fic I will have up in the Zelda section soon, under the title of 'To Fight the Darkness.' Um, yeah. Well, enjoy!
Link sat at his desk, playing his ocarina. He occasionally stopped. "No, that's too high." He tried several fingerings. "Damn. Maybe I'm blowing too hard." He became aware of a presence. His ears twitched. "Hello, Marth. Can I help you?" He stopped. A sharp object was suddenly pressing against the back of his neck. "Now Marth, there's no need for this."
"There is. This is the only way I can think of to get you to tell me what is it with you and Gerudo. No, not Gerudo. You and women with swords." Marth explained.
"I see. So that's what this is about, is it?" Link moved like a blur. Falchion was sent flying, and Link was standing over the fallen Marth. "Well, all right. On condition you tell no one."
"Do I have a choice?" Marth asked. Link silenced him with a glare.
"I hoped never to have to relive these events. But it seems I must…"
"It was about 6 years ago. I had gone on a holiday to a distant nation. I was riding Epona when I heard men scream. I pushed her into a gallop. What I saw when I crested the hill was terrible. A Gerudo raiding party had attacked a small village. There were at least 50 of them. I watched, helpless, as they lined up the citizens and killed them. Men, women, children. All of them. As I watched, I just felt… I suppose the best way to describe it is a tremendous rage. It took over me. I felt my morals and ethics burning away. The last rational thought I had was; 'I suppose this is the fate of all those who fight the darkness. To become the darkness.' Then it all became red. I charged down the hill, hacking and slashing. Several of them must have died before they even learned of my existence, killed by arrows or bombs. Even more died under Epona's hooves. I suppose there must have been some method in my madness, because I recall letting one live in order to find a way back to their fortress. Once there, I killed her and hid the body. Then I broke into the fort. I suppose they were surprised. What little self control I had said they certainly looked surprised as I parted their heads from their shoulders. With in, I felt the worse terror I had ever felt. I couldn't stop myself. I didn't want to stop myself."
"So what happened?" Marth asked.
"I went on a rampage. I slaughtered my way through the fortress. Until I reached the nursery."
"You stopped at the nursery?"
"Um… it's late. Good night." Link couldn't meet Marth's eyes.
"You did stop, right?" Link just looked down and heaved a great sigh.
"You didn't kill… you did." Marth's voice was horrified. "Why?"
"What was I meant to do?" Link's voice had a pleading quality. "Leave them after I had murdered their carers?"
"My god… what hap…" Marth was interrupted.
"You think I don't feel remorse? You think I don't spend my days cursing myself? You think I sleep? Every time I close my eyes, I see them, staring at me, accusing me!" Link buried his face in his hands. "I can hear their shrieks. They won't stop. They won't leave me!"
"Link…" Marth didn't know what to say.
"Just looking at Roi brings back my actions on that day. I can't handle it!" Link shouted. "The biggest mistake I ever made was not killing myself, sending myself to justice." Link couldn't say anymore.
"Does Zelda know?"
"No. I couldn't… wouldn't tell her. To see her join the others in accusing me would drive me insane."
"My god. So you've been hiding this all these years?"
"Yes. And I will take it to my grave. A hero's grave. Something I don't deserve." Link wouldn't say any more. Marth felt it best to leave silently.
"Link… what you did was terrible. But I don't think any worse of you." Marth sighed. "I've done many things I'm not proud of. But I've come to terms with them, and I realize that the good I've done outweighs the bad. Maybe someday you will realize it too." He left, leaving Link to his misery.
