Author's Note: Whee! X3 Another chapter done. Sorry for the wait. Things are hectic around hear. So……um……yeah. A new chara in this one… throws hands up It's NOT a marry sue! I swear! I've actually got another female chara to add before this story is over……You'll actually meet her in chapter five so be patient. And I swear……no marry sues. ,


Everybody Has a Dark Side

Chapter 3

Hardships and Soul Shadows

Darden's eyes cracked open. Wraith had come to a stop before a plank bridge. The horse's head went down to nibble on a lone patch of grass in the rocky, dusty land. The sudden change in balance would have sent Darden to the ground had he not tied himself to the saddle. Even so, he slid precariously to the side. His left arm throbbed in protest when he grabbed at the saddle horn.

Wraith turned his head to stare at Darden. The man could almost feel the question from the animal. "I'll be alright," he said softly.

With a grunt Darden righted himself and took the horse's reins. "Come Wraith. Let us not keep the Spirit Sage waiting." The well-trained steed started slowly across the wooden bridge. The thunk-clunk of the hooves echoing down the narrow canyon made his ears ring.

He knew he had a fever. A shiver ran down his spine from the cold sweat that clung to him even in this dry heat. He had tried to keep the wounds as clean as possible, though that was easier said than done. The last time he had inspected the hole in his leg, he had found maggots crawling in it. The larvae, he knew, would clean away dead flesh, but it was still not a pleasant thought. At least he had managed to avoid serious infection.

Darden sat slumped as Wraith plod steadily through the pass leading to the Gerudo Fortress. He was too groggy to see the scouts and guards that he knew followed his slow pace. His presence may be somewhat expected, but he was meant to be in a group — namely with the Hero of Time — not alone.

Men were not exactly a common sight among the Gerudo. The female thieves claimed the desert as their territory. Every one hundred years, a single male child was born to the desert people, and that single baby boy would reign as king. Darden could not fathom the probability, or possibility, of only one male child a century. The last king of the Gerudo had been Ganondorf Dragmire.

A shiver ran cold fingers down Darden's spine, causing goose bumps to break out over his body. He was not sure if the chill had been caused by his fever or by the thought of meeting with a people that once followed the Evil King. Nabooru, the Sage of Spirit, had become the leader of the Gerudo even before Link had defeated Ganondorf. The feisty young woman had never trusted Ganon, and had raised a rebellion when the man had left for the heart of Hyrule.

Wraith whickered and backstepped. The motion sent pain shooting to Darden's brain and blackened his vision. Blinking furiously to clear his sight, the soldier looked around. Four Gerudo blocked his path.

Each of them wore baggy purple pants drawn tight around the ankles. Their sleeveless tops showed more of their sun-darkened skin than they covered, and their faces were hidden behind strips of cloth neatly concealing any identities. Darden would not have known them anyway. In the hands of each woman was a sword-bladed spear, steady on him.

Darden scanned the eyes of each woman. Two of them had pale gray eyes and red-blonde hair, while the third had narrow, bright green eyes and fire red hair. The fourth had pale green eyes and her fiery hair was cut to her shoulder rather than long like the other three.

Two of them approached cautiously, their spears all the warning they needed. Darden sat submissively in his pain-filled stupor as they cut the ropes that held him to his saddle and pulled him roughly from his horse. Darden merely grunted as he was shoved to the ground. Instantly, his hands were bound behind him and he was pulled back to his feet. He was forced to limp awkwardly along for a few paces before the Gerudo picked him bodily from the ground and carried him down the pass.

Darden offered no resistance. He may be bound, but being carried was far more comfortable than attempting to walk or even riding, and he was not so proud a man to pass up this short moment of slight comfort. Letting his head fall limply back, he saw Wraith following him faithfully. He had to suppress a groggy chuckle at the sight.

Minutes later, the group reached the fortress. Darden was taken directly to a dry wooden cell in one of the fortress towers. The cell's door was a covered hole in the ceiling, and the drop left the old soldier enveloped in a cloud of dark pain. He gasped for air, his lungs burning in protest to the hard landing. As he lay struggling, he heard, rather than saw the two figures that dropped into the cell beside him.

Darden's hands were cut loose and he was turned onto his back. Two Gerudos — their attire identical to their scout sisters, only white, and without the veils—hovered over him. One tore his shirt and examined the cut on his shoulder, while the other did the same to the arrow hole in his leg. Darden cringed and hissed as the two women cleaned the wounds with a sandy substance, then rinsed them with lukewarm water. Dressings were added. Darden could feel some of the pain ooze out of him. There must have been some sort of painkiller in that sandy cleaner.

Once the two had finished their quick treatment of him, they left the old soldier to the silence of the cell. Darden surveyed the small, dark chamber. It was all wood. Thick, strong planks held together with some substance that Darden had never seem before. The only light poured into the room through the overhead square of a door and a slightly lower window that was still too high to escape through.

Time passed slowly for Darden. It felt like he had been lying there for days, but the light was only now beginning to change colors. Half a day. It's been about half a day. The old soldier could feel a kink in his back and he forced himself to roll onto his side with a moan. With a grunt, he pushed himself into a sitting position and slowly made his way back against the wall. That was when he noticed voices coming through the doorway. He could not make out any words, but he was sure that whoever was there would be coming for him soon.

He was right. Within a minute, a rope ladder dropped into the cell and two of the purple clad guards were hurrying him to his feet and out of the room. A strong hand took hold of his arm as he pulled himself through the opening, and helped him to his feet.

"Yes. You do appear to be dressed like a Hylian. Who are you, and what is your business here?"

The dark-skinned woman before him was clad in pink. A large ruby on a thick band of gold held her long red hair in a fountain atop her head. This had to be Nabooru, The Sage of Spirit. "I'm here on behalf of Her Highness, Princess Zelda of Hyrule." Darden managed a stiff bow at the waist.

"So where is the Princess of Destiny?"

Darden's eyes fell. "Sh—she's dead."

Darden glanced at Nabooru's face to read her reaction to the news. Her features were pursed in a frown, and she seemed to be studying her soft, cloth shoes. "Let's go somewhere to talk. I want to know what happened."

Darden nodded as he slowly followed Nabooru down the halls and into her resting chamber. Large pillows covered a raised corner of the room, and sheer curtain hung from the ceiling surrounding the cushions. Towards the center of the room stood a throne-like chair and a low table with large pillows around it. Nabooru dropped lightly onto one of the nearest pillows and offered Darden the one across from her with a wave of her hand.

Darden sat gratefully if not a little stiffly, and waited for the Spirit Sage to speak.

"So what's your name?"

"Darden Fer'kand of the Royal Knights of Hyrule, Lady Nabooru." The woman's smile seemed amused that Darden would call her by name before she introduced herself.

"So tell me Darden, how is it the Princess of Destiny has met her end?"

Darden felt a little offended at her words, but made his voice level as he relayed the story of Sheik and the ambush. He made it a point not to mention Link at all. If she wants to know of him, she can ask. "I continued on here alone because I know that is what Princess Zelda would have wanted."

Nabooru studied him for a long moment. "So Sheik was really the Princess, huh? In any case, where is Time's Hero? He was the one I was expecting to show up here, and yet you've not mentioned him at all."

"He...He was headed towards the forest the last time I saw him. He wasn't himself."

"So he still lives?"

"Yes," Darden frowned at her.

"Well," she said after a long pause. "Am I right in assuming that you want me to lead you to the Triforce of Power then?"

"Yes, if you would," Darden was starting to feel a bit of relief. This was perfect; he would be able to return to the King with the Triforce in hand. Hopefully they would not run into another ambush or the King of Evil himself on the way.

"Did you take the Triforce of Wisdom when the Princess of Destiny died?"

"No," he felt his concerns returning.

"Well then...can you sense the Triforce?"

"No."

"Then we, Darden, are at a loss. Because I cannot sense it either."

Darden felt his heart sink into his stomach. So this was a dead end then? What was he to do now?

"Go home Darden. Find Time's Hero, and then return. He's the only one left that can sense the exact location of the Triforce of Power, so we can go nowhere until he comes. And if he's still not himself when you find him, then we don't have a hope of finding that Power before someone else does. You can stay here tonight, but tomorrow you leave."

Before Darden could speak, to agree or disagree, Nabooru was on her feet and instructing the two guards to find him a room. He felt a little indignant at being brushed off, but then he was used to it in a way. Painfully pushing himself to his feet, he limped between the two women. The best he could do was sleep and start on his way back to the castle in the morning. Hopefully, Link would have returned there and not gone on to the forest. Darden let out a sigh, and prayed that the Goddesses would shine of him, Link, this mission, and the world.


He stumbled blindly forward, not knowing where he was headed and not caring. His heart ached, his stomach turned, and his head throbbed, but he kept pushing forward. Night had come and he kept moving. The sun had made its way over the horizon to shine once again over the land, and the hours moved on. The entire time one thing had been going through his mind.

Zelda. I failed you.

Tears stung Link's eyes as they had countless times over the hours. The sob shook his chest painfully and he slipped to his knees. Clutching his head he doubled over and choked, "Oh Farore, why? Why'd she have to die?"

You're pathetic, weeping over a woman.

The voice was audible and yet Link's head hummed with the mental projection. He knew there was no point in looking around. He had been hearing the other voice since the battle ended, and before. "No," this was the first time he had answered it, though. "I love her."

The other chuckled cruelly. And yet you let her die. It was a statement.

Link could stand no more. This voice — this obnoxious fiend — had been taunting him nonstop since he had found himself hovering over Darden, ready to strike. At first, it had only been in his head, a distant thought deep inside of him, like one's conscience only malicious in nature. In the later hours of night, it had started to become audible. He had pressed on, trying to escape the voice and its heckling comments, but he had been unsuccessful. "Who are you?" Link hissed.

Me? The unseen speaker feigned hurt. I think you know who I am.

Link knew, or at least he was sure that he did. The last time he had felt this presence he had entered the Water Temple — that had been in the alternate future than the one he lived now. He had met a shadowy figure within a room in the Temple, shrouded in illusion. The person — if it could have been called that — had been a mirror image of himself, and Navi the fairy had referred to him — or whatever it was — as Dark Link. She had said that it was a shadow of himself, the dark side of the Hero of Time. Could that same presence be the one that now jeered at him from within his head? "No…you can't be…"

And why not? You really didn't think you killed me so long ago did you? You're a fool if you did.

Link had been right. This was Dark Link. "No! Get out!" It honestly scared him that this evil shadow still lived and was inside of him.

Fool… That was all Dark Link said.

"What do you want from me?" it was a pained whisper.

What do you think I want? Dark Link sneered. Freedom from you and your 'do-gooder' ways, is what I want. I want out. He paused for a moment and, when he spoke again, his voice was gentle, soothing even, as he cooed. Let me out hero. Release me from your sickening mind. Let me free and I'll never bother you again.

"I…" Link was surprised to find himself considering such a dangerous thing. If he released his double into the world there was no telling what evil he would wrought on the people of this land. "I…won't."

Dark Link exploded in a rush of fury that made Link's head spin. "Damn you, hero! I will only torment you more if I stay!"

"You're…evil," Link choked out. He felt as though he was being torn in two, and a gasp strangled him at the sight of shadowy hands reaching around his face. "I can't let you out." He tried desperately to push his evil twin back inside, but his will was in conflict. He did not want this torture anymore. He could not release an evil into Hyrule. The half-formed Dark Link hung over the Hero of Time like an ominous cloud.

"You don't want me." Dark Link's coaxing bordered on desperation. He was so close, half way to freedom, but Link still clung tightly to him, keeping the evil silhouette from full escape. "Release me. Free me. You know you want to."

"I won't let you out!" Link writhed. "You…I know you killed Zelda. You called those monsters. I know you did!"

"Did I? Think about it. You are the one that called the creatures."

"No!" he did not want to hear this.

Dark Link continued on without pause. "By you thinking about the dog-faced, pig-nosed things, you drew them to you," he smirked.

"You're lying!"

"Why would I lie when the truth can wound more deeply, hero? Don't you recall how none, none, of the creatures of evil attacked you? Those that fell by your hand, you chased down yourself. And do you remember the frown on the princess's face before she died? Or the soldier that you almost killed? You were the one they saw; you drank in evil and let it guide you." The hero's shadow could not help but smile cruelly down on his lighter counterpart.

"No! That was you, not me!" Link was sure of what he said. He knew that he had lost control of himself in that battle. Half of him had been fighting to protect while the other half had been fighting on pure bloodlust. Dark Link had to have been in control then.

"You truly are a fool," Dark Link snorted. "I am you. And if you won't let me out then I'll have to take maters into my own hands."

Link could feel his evil counterpart pulling free, slowly and painfully. He tried desperately to hold onto his doppelganger, but he felt that he was losing the battle. Sobs shook him as Dark Link's hands wrapped around his neck. Slowly the grip tightened and Link could feel his consciousness slipping, his face nearing the ground as he attempted to pull Dark Link's hands away from his throat. What better way for him to escape than to render me helpless? Or dead? That last thought scared him. Link knew that this was one battle that he had to win. He was not so sure that he would.

The wrenching stopped abruptly. The physical and mental tearing slowly reversed and Link could feel Dark Link's consciousness returning to him. He heard a scream rip from his other self and was surprised that his own voice did not join. The hands around his throat loosened and slipped away, allowing Link to gulp in life giving air. As Dark Link's cry faded into his mind, then away completely, Link let himself slump forward in relief. He could still feel his shadow essence deep within, but that consciousness was silent, as if in sleep. For the first time in two days, Link felt he could relax.

That was when he noticed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. Link tried to turn his head to look at who could be there, but he could not make his exhausted body obey. Link's heart thudded in his chest as questions flooded his mind. Who was behind him? Were they friendly or hostile? How much did they see of what had just happened? And what would they think of whatever they did see?

Farore. It was a plea. He had been calling to the Goddess often in the last couple days. There were three Goddesses: Nayru, Din, and Farore. Link revered all of the Goddesses, but sought the special favor of the Goddess Farore. Farore was the Goddess that had left behind the Triforce of Courage, the triforce he held. He was not the only one to choose a favorite Goddess. Zelda had cast the majority of her prayers to Nayru, the creator of the Triforce of Wisdom. Zelda.

Link abruptly pulled his thoughts back to where he was and the mysterious person behind him.

"You fought hard against your Soul Shadow. He almost won." The voice was female and very gentle. "Can you sit up?"

The girl pulled her hand away and Link pushed himself upright, falling back to sit and face the figure. He was honestly shocked. The girl looked as though two people had been shoved into one. Her hair and skin were split down the middle in two contrasting colors. Her eyes were even different colors.

The right side of her body had dark, chocolate skin. Her long white hair hung over her shoulder and down her back wrapped with ribbons and thongs strung with black and white beads. Her silvery eye was focused on him in a mixture of concern and curiosity.

The young lady's left side bore creamy white, almost ghostly flesh, with hair of pitch, styled and wrapped the same. This eye was a dark pool of black. Link suppressed a small shudder at the eerie way her silvery right eye remained unfocused.

"You do not look so well," the girl stated softly.

Link could not think of anything to say. In his opinion she was the one that did not look so well. That was unfair. She was different and not half as strange in appearance as some peoples he had met in his many journeys. She was definitely strange if she were Hylian. Link, though, was not so sure that she was. Her ears were shorter and more rounded than a Hylian's, but not completely rounded as the Gerudos' ears were.

"Are you hurt at all, warrior?"

Link did a quick mental check of his body. Though his neck hurt, he was not truly injured. He shook his head slowly — he was never one to say too much unless he needed to. A long moment passed as the woman studied him with her focused, gray eye. "Who are you?" Link finally asked as politely as he could.

The girl looked startled for a moment, perhaps by his question or perhaps because he even had to ask, but she recovered quickly and smiled. "I'm Mairi." Her voice seemed almost a whisper.

"My name is Link," he returned.

"What is your Soul Shadow known as?"

Link blinked at her, a little taken aback. Her question had been completely serious, but he was unsure of how to answer. What had Navi, his fairy companion of so many years ago, called him? Shadow Link? Dark Link? Shadow reminded him of an animal's name, like Darden's horse, Wraith. Though Link was not sure his doppelganger deserved better he said, "Dark," instead. He was not about to add his own name to the end of that as Navi had.

"You do not know how to subdue Dark, do you?"

"N-No," Link stammered, a little embarrassed.

"You need to learn. It would be dangerous for a Soul Shadow as strong as yours to be freed from its host." Link could only stare as she continued. "I can teach you, but you need rest first." Link sat expectantly as Mairi seemed to study him, a thoughtful expression etching her face. "Here," she reached into a pouch at her side. "I can do nothing for your weariness, but this should help keep Dark subdued. Do not rely on it fully. You must keep your guard up. This will not keep Dark from trying to take control or separating, but it will give you advantage enough for a short time. It should allow you to relax enough to rest tonight. When you are ready, come here." As she spoke, she shoved the item into his hand.

Before Link could even look at what she had given him, she was on her feet and walking away. That…was strange. Without thinking, he called to her to listen for music — that would be him waiting for her. He did not know why he had said that. He really had no idea who the strange woman was, or any reason to come back to her. Then again, the thought of Dark taking control of him again frightened him. If this woman could help, then he would seek her help. It would not be the first time he trusted someone he did not know.

Looking around Link realized for the first time how close he was to the Kokiri Forest. A couple hours walk south along the forest edge would bring him to the entrance to the forbidden Forest — forbidden because none but the Kokiri, their fairy companions, the Great Deku Tree, and other forest-born creatures could survive there long. There were stories that those who wondered the forest for too long turned into Stalfos — huge skeleton monsters with a mean streak.

To the north and along the small river nearby was a path to Zoras' Domain. The fish-like people there were friendly, and their princess was a little too much so. Ruto had made Link promise to marry her. At the time, he had not had a clue what she was talking about. He had desperately needed that Spiritual Stone of Water — also known as the Zora Sapphire — so he could enter the sacred realm. To the Zora however, the gem had been passed down through the families as a sort of engagement ring. As a child of the forest, marriage, engagement, and other such concepts had been gibberish to him, and so he had unwittingly promised to marry the child princess of the Zora.

Link sighed at the memory and looked curiously at the item the odd girl had pushed at him before leaving. It was a medallion that fit into the palm of his hand. One half was smooth and perfectly round. The other half flared out like a sunburst and etched with a tiny and elaborate design. The medallion was wrapped with a twisted twine that served as a loophole for a necklace. It truly was beautiful.

Slipping the medallion over his head to join the triforce pendant and Malon's bracelet, Link heaved an exhausted sigh. He was definitely tired, and if he did not start moving he would more than likely fall asleep where he sat. Though the thought was initially inviting, he knew it would not be wise to sleep out in the open. He wished that he still had Malon's bottle of milk with him, but that was still in Epona's saddlebags. Link let out another sigh. He had a few hours yet before the sun slipped under the horizon, and the Hero of Time pushed himself to his feet to start for the castle.