Chapter 6: A Daily Kill

"Please pardon my intrusion, Master, but we have a problem."

Link turned around from the window to face the Moblin that has just entered the room. Link's long golden hair was bed rustled and he was only wearing his pants, having recently risen from sleep.

For the last five minutes he had been watching the blood-red sun rise over the razor peaks of the Northern Mountains, but now that had been interrupted. His deep blue eyes locked onto the creature and burned into it, causing it to cower slightly in fear. It could see a muscle twitch in its Master's jaw, confirming his annoyance.

"Insolent creature," Link hissed through his clenched teeth. How he hated it when they stormed into his room unannounced.

The Moblin gulped softly when it saw Link's muscles tense up, trying to resist the urge to slaughter.

Link growled and then relaxed with an exasperated sigh, his fingers flexing maliciously. "I shouldn't need to kill you," he said coldly, "at least not yet."

The Moblin dropped to one knee and bowed its head, knowing it should've done that in the first place. "I do not wish to displease you, Master, but it seems a slave is missing," it said quickly, trying to hide its fear.

"Ah yes," Link said turning back to the window, "the one that escaped from the dock." He turned his head back enough to see the Moblin through the corner of his eye. "You're slow by three minutes. I've already been told," he muttered. "The boy didn't escape too long ago, but I hope you're the last to tell me of this."

"Yes, of course, Master," the Moblin said, keeping its eyes on the floor, but it risked a glance up. "What about him, Master?" it asked.

"I don't see why he'd want to care for the kid," Link muttered. "The boy is nothing more than disposable flesh to anyone. He's useless-" Link stopped in mid-sentence. "What about those two Moblins that were loading at the dock?"

"No one has heard anything from them, Master," the Moblin answered. "Some think they ran away."

That just upped Link's anger more than the Moblin would have wished if it was as close as it was to Master right then, but Link quickly suppressed it so he could save it for later. His eyes just flashed at the creature.

"What are you still doing here? Get out!"

The Moblin turned and fled quickly through the door before its Master could call it back.

Link growled and gritted his teeth angrily. Yet another day that started on a sour note. He looked back out the window, his body bathed in the sun's red light. His face was a frown that could put any monster to shame.

"Perfect," he muttered, his tone dripping in angry sarcasm; arms folded across his chest, "that's perfect."

The huge doors of Link's room crashed against the stone walls, cracking them, as the evil Lord threw them open. Link stormed down the hall, fully dressed and his cape billowing out behind. He was officially ticked off, yet a confirm reason didn't exist. He had always been a bomb with a short fuse and his was lit and just about ready to explode. He wanted to crush some sorry being's skull in his fist, watch their blood pool on the stone tiles when they were impaled on something near. Somebody had to die. He was furious that the two Moblins didn't have enough common sense to check what they were loading.

"One child, one child!" Link roared, throwing his arms up in the air. "They couldn't even stop a child!"

All the residents of the fortress moved out of Link's way as he stormed though. Those that didn't became nothing more than a giant blood splatter on the wall. They weren't sure why their Master was so angry, but they knew it was suicidal to ask.

When Link came to the Lizalfos chambers, he practically stomped the door down when he kicked it open. Blue fire seemed to rage in his eyes, hoping to escape its prison and flame its enemies. The Lizalfos would be first since it was with them, Sean was with most.

"Thade!" Link yelled, everyone who heard froze in fear.

Almost immediately, the eight-foot Lizalfos slithered out and lowered himself before the evil Lord.

"Yes, my Lord?" he asked calmly, keeping his yellow eye focused on the floor.

"Just a simple question," Link muttered, moving his hands to his hips. "Did you ever speak to the white-haired boy?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"When?"

"When he spoke in my tongue, my Lord."

"No other times?"

"No, my Lord. He kept to himself."

"So you didn't talk to him much." Link turned away from Thade. "Did he ever give any indication that he was going to run away?"

"No, my Lord, but I doubt he is alone with his thought."

Link glanced up at the rest of the lizards standing in a surrounding crowd. "He never spoke to any of you?"

Most of the lizards hissed and nodded, Thade kept still.

"Very well, but one more thing. What happened to the Moblins who were loading at the dock?"

"I have seen nothing of them since last night, my Lord," Thade answered. "As I'm sure you've heard already, they fled once figuring out their mistake."

"I will deal with them myself," Link growled turning around and going for the door, but stopped and turned back to Thade who had not yet risen from the floor; since he had not been given the order to do so.

"Stand up, Thade," Link said from the door, his eyes watching the lizard rise. "You are the most loyal of my lizards, so I want you to go find those two and bring them to me. That shouldn't be too hard, should it?"

"No, my Lord," Thade answered, keeping his eyes from his Master's face. "I will find them."

"That's good. At least someone still has a sense of authority around here," Link muttered, causing the other Lizalfos to shift uneasily and some growl softly. His eyes drifted back to Thade from smirking at the others. "Best be quick about it."

"Yes, my Lord," the lizard answered before disappearing through a tunnel that led to the outside.

Link walked swiftly from the door and down the hall, not really going anywhere in particular for the current time. Having taken over most of Termina, nothing really happened anymore. No one standing against him, no brave heroes coming to stop him; no nothing.

"Ganondorf was the lucky one I guess," he muttered with an amused smile. "I bet if he was still around, he'd be trying to stop me, but alas," he grabbed a random person, who was passing by, by the throat, "he wouldn't stand a chance."

With a simple flick of his wrist, he sent his captive playing across the hall to splatter its innards allover the wall and floor. Link took no notice to the mess and kept on walking. Everyone he passed by kept out of his arm's reach to keep from being grabbed and flung into a wall.

Link eventually stopped out on a balcony that looked over the same scenery as the others; a barren wasteland randomly littered with the skeletons of the once living. He leaned against the railing with his hip and looked at the land that spread out before him, from over his shoulder.

A high altitude breeze washed away the heat of the sun and made being outside comfortable for only a few seconds before the red sun's inferno set back in. Link drummed his fingers on the railing. 'I wonder if he found the boy.' he thought to himself and then smiled. 'Why don't I just ask him?'

He straightened himself and walked back into the pleasing shade of his fortress and began to make his way up to his quarters. He was feeling surprisingly pleasant at the moment, something he had rarely felt since his once innocent childhood about twenty years ago (he was seven), but it would not last. Some monster was bound to tick him off at any given moment. Fortunately for his good mood, everyone steered clear of him when he passed by.

Link ascended the stairs that led up to his level and he brushed into Lilith at the top.

"Master," she whispered in surprise, taking a few steps back from him. "I did not see you."

"I'm going to be doing something," Link said, dusting off his shoulder where she had bumped him with his hand, "so make sure no one bothers me."

"Yes, Master," she replied, tensing up when he walked to stand right next to her.

"That's a good girl," he said softly, letting his hand run over the smooth skin of the Gerudo's shoulder before continuing down the hall.

Lilith remained where she had stopped, her still tingling where Link had touched her. For the past few days, he had been doing that and moving closer to her too, if he saw her. To be honest, Link scared her, more in the past say or so. This was something small, but then again, small things soon lead to bigger ones. Lilith promised herself she'd be out of there before that could happen. She rubbed her shoulder, to rid herself of the uneasy feeling there, and disappeared down the hall to seek out her friend.

Link closed the large door to his room. He folded his arms across his chest and looked out the large window to see the silhouette of a bird fly by off in the distance. Though the bird was far away, its double feather tails gave it species away quickly. Link raised his eyebrows, clearly interested with this new sight.

"A Kargorok," he said with amusement. "So he really did stick around. The rumors are true. Quite intriguing."

Link turned from the window, sauntering over to the large black throne near the table; running his hand over the smooth stone of the arm.

"I guess it's time to pay him a little visit."

Link walked over to the front of the chair and settled himself down in it; enjoying its soft padding like a feeling long lost from him.
The room, if that was what it could be called, was simply an empty white space. It seemed to go on forever yet have walls, giving a sense of confinement and illuminated by a nonexistent source of light. It was a place hidden deep within the mind, an almost unknown space. One could call it the place they go to when they dream; a place where anything could happen.

Link stood in his usual arms crossed pose, the person standing opposite of him was like his mirror image in everyway. Black hair, red eyes, and black clothing were the only things that set this man apart from Link.

"It's been awhile," Link said with a smirk.

"It has," Dark Link replied, his face a stone, but his eyes glared at his milder side, "but not long enough."

"You still want me dead, don't you?" Link chuckled. "You still know that my death with result in yours?"

"At least I would go, knowing I took you with me," Dark Link snapped.

"Alas, this is not the point why I'm speaking to you now," Link said calmly, one of his arrogant smiles on his face. "I want to know of the boy."

"You're not getting him back, if that's what you're aiming for," Dark Link muttered, his arms crossed and him turning his body slightly away from Link.

Link simply laughed under his breath.

"I knew you were going to say that," he said, still smiling. "Not quite what I was aiming for, but perhaps later I shall."

"I thought you would, but you're going to have to work for him," Dark Link warned. "Don't think I'm going to give up something as precious as him easily to you."

"I never doubted it for a second," Link replied with a shake of his head. "It'll be nothing I haven't done before in my life."

"I would expect as much from you," Dark Link mumbled, "and possibly less."

"That hurt," Link said, his face full of mocking pain. "I haven't sunken that low yet, as you already have. If I were you, I'd prepare myself, but not right now. I have more important things to take care of. As of the moment, you are released from the hook. I will catch you again, but I suggest staying out of the deep water where something larger could get a hold of you."

"I can fend for myself, mortal," Dark Link snapped. "I don't need to be warned of anything from you."

"On the contrary, my dear dark side," Link said, his face looking arrogant and sly, "I'm not warning you of anything out there in the world, I'm warning you of myself." By now, Link had dropped his hands to his sides. "Care to see why?"

Dark Link had turned back around to face Link, arms at his own sides, and he looked slightly confused. Link simply smiled back at him and held one of his hands before him, palm pointed at the wraith. The air in front of his palm rippled and an unseen force threw Dark Link backwards. Upon hitting the white floor, Dark Link jumped to his feet, his own hands surging with black fire.

"Now, now," Link said smiling, hand going back to his side. "There's no need to get all worked up about it."

The fire on Dark Link's hands subsided.

"How could you hit me?" he demanded. "You're just a mortal!"

"Surprising how we share the same mind, yet you know so little," Link replied, trying not to laugh too much. "I possess one of the pieces of the Triforce, the sacred relic of the Goddesses. It gives me amazing power. Power I never before dreamed of. Power I never knew existed within my body. Power you could never began to comprehend.

"In order for me to become as powerful as the Goddesses themselves, I must obtain the whole Triforce and for me to do that, sacrifices must be made and people must die. The sacrifice I am willing to make for this power is allowing you to have Sean. I once needed him, but no longer do and so you may have him. I doubt he will be anything for you as is he is useless to me, but I will return for him; just not now."

"I'll enjoy watching you try," the wraith said darkly. "The Triforce is no easy thing to get, and its carriers not easily killed, as you demonstrated breaking Hyrule from under Ganon's rule-" He was cut off when Link rushed forward and throttled him, his blue eyes burning maliciously.

"Don't you ever speak of that again," the Hylian hissed venomously. "Ganon is weak as is Hyrule. I'll have no problem taking them over. Stand in my way if you wish, but you may not like the way your body feels after I finish with you." He roughly jerked his hand off of Dark Link's throat, leaving a red mark behind. "I warned you once, but never again. You can die on your own accord."

Dark Link eyed Link with his red eyes and Link did the same with his blue ones; both sizing the other up, both trying to intimidate the other. Eventually Link broke away from the stare and turned his back on Dark Link.

"You left the boy in the forest, are you sure that is wise?"

"What are you getting at?" Dark Link demanded.

"You've got that Dead Hand that enjoys following you everywhere," Link replied. "Surely he may try to take the boy again." He looked over his shoulder at Dark Link who was looking slightly appalled. "Don't look so surprised. We share the same mind I hope you remember. We can read what the other is thinking, know what the other knows. Personally, I don't care if you read my mind. You couldn't stop me even if you knew what I was doing."

Dark Link only glared. "Burn in hell."


The sound of a door opening broke Link's connection with Dark Link and his vision flashed back to reality. In the doorway stood a Moblin, which had apparently opened the door, and Lilith peeked around the frame.

"Lilith!" Link roared, standing and practically smashing his chair into the floor with his fist. "I thought I told you not to let anyone bother me!"

"I apologize, Master," Lilith said softly, but immediately stopped when Link growled.

"I simply came to tell you, Master," the Moblin said, drawing Link's full, crazed attention on it, "that Thade has returned with the two you sent him to go find and awaits your orders, sir."

"Ah yes. I remember them now," Link muttered, calming down. "I'll go see them myself. Where is he keeping them?"

"In the lizard chambers, my Lord."

"I'm going then."

The Moblin gave a shallow bow and moved to the side and let Link pass it, Lilith sinking as close to the wall as she possibly could. To her luck, and surprise, he passed by her like she never existed. It was possible he was occupied with something else so his thoughts couldn't settle on her.

Link strode down the hall to the Lizalfos chamber; the pleasure of seeing more blood fly kept his good mood intact. Dark Link had found Sean and didn't seem willing to share the boy, just as he had predicted. That wraith had always been a greedy one.

He eventually turned into the chamber to find it practically empty except for three beings; Thade and the two Moblins. Apparently the other Lizalfos had been driven out somewhere else so what was about to happen would remain quiet.

"Very good, Thade," Link said walking up to the three creatures. "I could've gone out and found them myself, but then their lives would've been so much shorter."

The two Moblins gulped softly.

"Did it ever occur to you to check the heavier basket?" Link asked them. "Well?"

"No, Master," the large Moblin answered slowly, "it did not."

"I hope you boys are proud of yourselves for losing the result of ten years of searching." Link turned his back on them. "Bring them downstairs, Thade," he ordered.

Thade nodded and pushed the Moblins after Link down a hidden stair well in the wall of the chamber. There were actually many hidden stairwells that led to the same place, but one could only find them if one already knew where they were. Link knew the location of each hidden stair way and exactly where they led. He didn't mind showing the location of these steps to the people he took down there, because they never came back up.

The stairs spiraled down to under the castle, where lay many large, and otherwise unknown, caverns. The stair way was surprisingly dry and warm for the depth they were at. There should've been the smell of mold in the air and the walls damp with mildew and other rotting smells; yet there was none. The lower they descended, the warmer the air got and the more uncomfortable it was to breathe in.

Link kept his cape close around his body; he didn't want anyone behind him stepping on it and then everyone falling down the stairs. That just wasn't suited for those whose lives were in the final minutes. Then again, Link didn't want to fall down the stairs since he had done it too many times in his earlier years and then the fact that it could alter his reputation slightly to his disliking, and that just reminded him on how much he hated Moblins. Even if Sean's escape wasn't entirely these two's faults, he was still going to kill them anyway; be it now or later.

After about twenty minutes of walking, Link stepped off the final stair and into a large cavern, Thade forcing the Moblins down after their Master.

A soft blue glow illuminated the cavern enough to barely see. A mysterious mist clouded the cavern, rising up from the floor somewhere. An unnatural rock formation coiled its way around the cavern. From over a part of a coil, two rock structures that resembled curled ram horns barely peeked their way over. The entire long formation was textured with what seemed like smooth, fine scales.

Link walked over to something that strongly resembled a clawed talon. Heavy scale plating covered the top of the strange hand and ended at the claws. Link put his hand on the back of the strange formation, resting his weight on his hand and looking smugly at the Moblins.

"Well, boys," he said, grinning coldly, "this is where your pitiful lives will end."

"How is that so?" the smaller Moblin asked. "There is nothing here."

Link closed his eyes and chuckled softly.

"On the contrary, gentlemen," he said, straightening himself and approaching the Moblins, "things aren't always what they appear to be." He smiled when both Moblins looked confused and then he looked past them at Thade. "You can leave, Thade. Your assistance is no longer needed."

The Lizalfos gave a shallow bow and disappeared silently up the stairs.

Link looked back at the Moblins with a cold smile and then turned his back to them and looked at the huge coiled rock.

"Arise, Bringer of Fire," he ordered, arm reaching out at the large stone structure.

At his words, the entire cavern began to shudder as something gigantic started to move around. The fingers of the clawed rock began to flinch and the long claws drove themselves into the stone floor. Slabs of the rocky skin began to fall from the coiled body, revealing the fire colored scales underneath. The creature raised its head, its sky blue eyes blazing as it roared, the rock falling from its helmeted skull. From the back of its head, sparks flew until a huge flaming mane ignited and filled the cavern with tremendous light and heat.

Volvagia pulled its upper body from the ground, more rocky skin falling down around its new visitors. It stretched out its serpentine body the best it could in the confined space of the cavern and gave a yawn, the bright glow of its heated insides shining until it closed its maw.

Volvagia shook its body, much like a wet dog, to rid itself of the rest of its hard, cooled skin and looked around for its Master. Upon seeing him, the large subterranean-lava dragon lowered its head down to him.

Link reached out and scratched Volvagia under the chin, the dragon closing its eyes and purring happily.

"How's my little pet?" Link asked Volvagia in a soft, almost gentle voice that he never really used. "Are you hungry?"

Volvagia kept on purring.

Link took his hand from Volvagia and walked back to the Moblins, who were looking like they were in shock; clinging on the other's arms.

"Well, gentlemen," he sighed, putting one of his arms around the smaller Moblin's shoulders and causing both Moblins to jump in fear; when Link did that, it only meant something bad. "You're not much, but Volvagia needs a midnight snack every now and then." He took his arm back and looked at Volvagia. "Have all the fun you want with them," he said with a sly smile before turning and walking back to the stairs, lingering long enough near the cavern to enjoy the sound of their blood-curdling screams.