Chapter 7 Soul Hunter

Heya! Howsit goin? Ri2. My only reviewer (how sad). To answer questions of yours, first of all, in this story magic only comes from two places. The Lord of Light, and Ganon. I believe it to be that way in the real world to (except with God and Satan). And the magic which the Potion shop dealer served belonged to Ganon, even though she did not know it. So there you go. And about thinking someone to be sexy, it wasn't really that that caused the Hergon blade to shock him. It was because when he was thinking of her as sexy, he thought of her as an object, not as a person. Think about it. He was thinking crap like "Oh, I so very muchly want to sleep with her," that isn't exactly like: "I love her so much, and she is a human being." There you go. Any more questions, review.

Darkness. A flash of gray light. Darkness. A flash of gray light. Darkness. The rising of the moon barely managed to penetrate the darkness of the night. But the wavering grayish ghost did as it walked across the fields of Hyrule. A hunter it was, searching for its pray. Before it lay footsteps, extending off from Kakariko village, and onward into the field. Every once and a while, a Poe would appear, to examine the new spirit. The ghostly being always regarded them with a cold stare, until they were content to know what it was. The footsteps continued, and the ghostly figure began to walk faster. They were fresh. The spirit stepped to the top of a small hill, and saw Lon Lon Ranch up ahead. The footprints lead in that direction.

The Hunter smiled, and began walking towards the silent ranch. Lighting flashed in the distance, and the spirit's attention was briefly pulled towards the storm clouds off in the distance. But then, its eyes fixated the Ranch again. This was where the thrill came. Walking towards the pray, knowing that the pray did not know about you. The Hunter smirked, and stepped through the holographic rain that was a part of him.

The clock in Malon's house chimed twice, signaling that it was now two o'clock in the morning. Her body lay on the couch, still as death. The door to the house slowly opened, and Link stepped in to the darkened room. When he saw Malon lying asleep on the couch, Link's heart fell into his stomach. He knew why she was on the couch.

This is all my fault, he thought. I am the one who hurt her.

Link walked to her side, and looked down at the sleeping girl. Her face had been washed clean with tears, and now she looked almost peaceful. Link pushed a pillow under her head, and then laid a blanket over Malon's sleeping body. Malon smiled in her sleep, and snuggled up on the couch. Link brushed her hair back from her face, and then turned for the stairs. Slowly, Link ascended up the stairs towards the higher levels. As he walked, tears of sorrow for what he said to Malon fell from his eyes. Link knew who he was, and he didn't want any part of it. At that moment, Link decided to end who he had been, and stop thinking of people as possessions. Link turned, and looked back at Malon sleeping on the couch. She looked so innocent, and pure as she slept. And Link decided that he wanted her to remain that way. Link turned, and continued up the stairs, but he left his impure thoughts behind him, and walked on with hope.

The spirit regarded the gates which stood before him. They would hold back any Poe, for they had been filled with the energy of light. Only a few of these gates still existed, for few were left who truly believed in the Lord of Light. Ganon had struck at the right time, when all had been blinded from the truth. And he basked in his rule. But there was a chink in the plan.

The ghostly figure touched the gates lightly, and a shock entered his hand. The spirit could not touch the gates. If he did, it was possible that he would be cast away from the world. Suddenly the spirit heard a noise. It turned invisible, and turned around, looking for the source of the noise. A wild horse trotted up towards the gate. The spirit smiled, and reached out towards the mare. The horse listened, and heard its voice in its head, commanding it. The horse was completely controlled by the spirit's commands, and could do nothing to stop the demon. The horse turned, and jumped over the gate. It then turned, and began nibbling at the rope which held the gate shut. Soon it came loose, and the horse cantered off. The spirit, however, stepped forward, into the ranch. It smiled wickedly, and looked around for its prey.

Malon's house was completely dark and silent inside. Not a sound was heard this late at night, all except for the soft ticking of the clock which sat just above the mantel. The large hand then moved onto six, and the clock chimed to signal that a half an hour had passed. Malon abruptly awoke from her sleep. At first, she wondered where she was, but then remembered everything. Malon stood up, and began sleepily walking for the stairs. Suddenly the ticking of the clock stopped. Malon turned around, and looked over at the mantelpiece, trying to figure out why the clock had stopped ticking. She turned, and stepped back into the dark room, looking intently at the clock. She didn't even notice the ghostly being which materialized through the door behind her.

Link abruptly awoke to the sound of a scream from the first floor. The master sword was immediately in his hand, and he jumped up from the bed. Then, he dashed down the stairs to see what was going on. When he reached the bottom, he was surprised to find that all was quiet.

"What is going on Link?" Navi said, popping out of his hat.

"I don't know," Link said.

"Link."

"What is it?"

"I feel a dark presence."

"Oh crap."

Then, a ghostly figure stepped through the darkness, and faced the Hero of Time. It held Malon in its arms, with a ghostly blade pressed against the farm girl's neck. Her neck was stretched out, for she was leaning away from the blade which the spirit had placed right at the top of her neck. The spirit had a hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her voice. She tried to speak, but all that she managed was a soft moan. Malon looked over at Link, her eyes pleading for help.

"Oh my gosh," Link said softly. "Navi, do you know what that is?"

"That is... the ancient evil we awoke seven years ago," Navi said.

"Who are you?" Link asked the spirit.

He wanted to avoid a fight, considering the fact that the spirit held a blade at Malon's neck.

'I am the Hunter, Link, Hero of Time. I have hunted you for so many years, until going into slumber, thinking that you had died long ago. Then, just a day ago, I felt your presence in this world again, and I set off to hunt you. I just didn't know it would be so easy!'

"'Nargasa lies within the darkness,'" Navi said. "Don't you remember Link? That was carved in the door that we opened before we entered the chamber where we accidentally awoke this... spirit."

"Yes," Link said. "I remember."

Seven years ago Link entered the well in Kakariko village in search of an 'eye which could see the truth.' What he found beneath Kakariko's surface was a freakish land of evil spirits. Dark beings crawled out of crevices to fight against Link. Eerie cries echoed from the blackness, announcing the hope of all the demons in the pit. The hope for Link's demise. He had found the eye of truth, locked in an old treasure chest. But beyond it lay an ancient door on which were written the words: "Fallen into darkness, he now sleeps. Awaken he will, when someone disturbs his quarters. He will then hunt them until they are dead. Visitor, beware, for Nargasa lies within the darkness."

The warning was inscribed on the door, but Navi and Link payed it no head. The opened the door, and awoke the demon called Nargasa. The room had been dark, save a purple candle which glowed brightly on an ancient stone altar. Immediately when Link and Navi stepped upon the cold stone ground, breathed the still, musty air, they knew something was wrong. It wasn't until the altar began to glow that they began to panic. The hero and his fairy turned, and ran for their lives. They had faced down many dark creatures, from Redeads to strange hand like creatures which tried to strangle Link. But they dared not face this creature. As they ran, the dark world beneath Kakariko began to crumble, and every Redead and Poe which stood in their way exploded as if struck by a merciless plague. The pillars fell down, and the ceiling began to crumble away. And all the while, that strange ghostly figure ran through the darkness, just behind the two of them. Its cold eyes pierced them every time either of them looked it in the face. And it was gaining on them. Link and Navi ran to the end of the well, and began climbing up the stone face. The ghostly figure stopped behind them, for it dared not venture up from the underworld into Kakariko village. It just glared at the fairy and the boy as they escaped. As the Underworld died around it, the ghostly figure looked up at Link, and spoke to him through his mind.

'You awoke me,' he said. 'You destroyed my peaceful rest. You ruined my dark dreams. You brought the fairies here. They now tear my Underworld apart. Now I will not rest until your soul is torn from your body and cast into the darkness. I will not rest until you are damned.'

"Let her go Nargasa," Link said.

'Why should I let this mortal go? Do you not realize that I desire her soul as well?'

"You will not touch her!"

'Oh I won't touch her,' the spirit said with a grin. 'I'll leave that to my little friend.'

The spirit's hand opened, and a Poe spirit floated slowly out. It then took on its physical form, and turned towards the farm girl. The Poe drew a bright yellow blade.

"No!" Link shouted, before charging towards Nargasa with his blade held outward.

But the spirit just held out its hand, freezing Link right there in the air. Nargasa then levitated Link with its powers, and tossed Link into the wall like a rag doll. But as it lifted its hand, it released Malon's mouth, and she began shouting.

"No!" she cried out. "Link! Help me!"

The spirit's hand clamped back over her mouth again.

'Proceed,' the spirit said to the Poe, who stabbed its blade into Malon's chest. Malon screamed, but the Hergon blade popped right back out. The Poe growled, and tried again, this time receiving even less success. The Poe then stabbed the sword right through Malon, into her spirit, holding the blade tightly in position. Then, the Hergon blade shattered, and bright white light shot out from where the sword had stabbed the farm girl, and consumed the Poe. It screamed before it was consumed by the bright white fires of light. Then it disappeared under the wrath of light. Nargasa's eyes widened, as it realized what was inside the farm girl.

'The spirit of the Lord of Light!'

Nargasa released the farm girl, and then backed away. Malon tried to run over to Link, but Nargasa held its hand out, and the farm girl was lifted up into the air by his magic powers.

'You are not going anywhere! You will go nowhere except to Hell!'

Malon's eyes widened.

"Help me Link," she said softly.

Link groaned, and stood back up. He drew his sword, and began walking towards Nargasa. The spirit opened its hand, and several Poe spirits flew out of it. They then formed a perimeter around him, and took on their physical forms.

'I wouldn't recommend coming any closer Mr. Hero of Time. You already have a Hergon blade in your gut!'

"Release Malon!" Link shouted.

'And miss all the fun I could have tormenting her? No. Its always pathetic mortals like you who think that you can stand against evil. But I tell you, you are powerless. This farm girl poses more of a threat than you do, and she is currently in harm's way.'

Malon's head was suddenly jerked back violently, and she floated slowly over to the ghostly figure.

'And what's even more amazing is how I can take her life away with just a backward twist of her neck.'

Malon's head was wrenched violently to the side.

"No!" Link shouted, before charging towards the spirit.

Link leapt, and swung his sword. But a Poe flew up in front of him, and caught his attack against its torch. Before Link finished his jump, a second Poe flew up, and pulled violently on the Hergon blade. Link screamed, and tumbled to the ground in a heap.

'Foolish boy. Risking your life for the love of another. If you were wise you would know that only darkness matters.'

Link's stomach burned as if it were on fire, due to the recent tugs at the Hergon blade. He tried to stand, but his legs failed him.

'Oh. So you won't stand and help your precious source of pleasure?'

Link slowly lifted his face up from the ground. His eyes were full of fire.

"Do not speak that way of Malon."

'Why should I speak well of a corpse?'

Malon's head was wrenched back the other way, the ghostly sword floated up to her neck.

'For even the people who belong to the Lord of Light will die!'

"That is not true!" Link was startled when Malon suddenly spoke. Nargasa even looked up in surprise.

Malon glared at her tormentor.

"You, spirit have fallen to the darkness of Ganon. You are blinded to what is good and true. You think your power means everything. But it only means your downfall. The Lord of Light has already won the battle with Ganon. Someday Ganon will be banished to the deepest depths of the universe, never to rise again. And you will go with him. And the Lord of Light will take his followers with him."

Nargasa's eyes flashed.

'Foolish farm girl! You will die for this!'

Malon's eyes widened, and she looked at Link, pleadingly.

'Don't get any ideas, your hero can't help you now.'

The ghostly blade floated over to Malon's neck.

'Do you know what this blade is?'

Malon and Link just stared at the spirit.

'It was born of paranormal energies, sculpted from evil. Into it was poured the powers of death, and destruction. It is the poison. Now, which one of you should I kill?'

Its eyes fell on Malon.

'The question really should be, which one of you do I wish to hurt? Malon, you have done nothing against me ever. But I still desire your soul, as I desire the souls of every man.'

The spirit's eyes turned to Link.

'But you Link. You destroyed my home. You ended my rest. You disturbed the darkness in which I rested! My one escape from the powers of light fell, and all the dark demons which I had enslaved in it as well. You awoke me! And I desire your soul as well. So who would I harm?'

Link felt paranormal energies tighten around him as the spirit seized him in its mighty grip. He was then carried over closer to Nargasa, and then tossed violently to the ground in front of the mighty spirit. Link stood up to his feet, and faced the spirit, ready to accept his fate. Nargasa looked at Link with its cold, evil eyes. Link felt a tremor run down his back.

'So begin the suffering Link, here is your pain!'

The ghostly blade floated over to Link's neck.

'Do you know the definition of suffering, Link?'

"Intense pain."

'Oh, but it is so much more than that.'

The ghostly blade then moved back from Link's neck, and suddenly shot into Malon's arm.

"No!" Link shouted.

The dagger cut into her arm, drawing blood, but nothing more. Nargasa then gestured with his hand, and Malon was tossed into Link's arms. Malon and Link embraced as tears flowed down both of their faces equally. And all the while, Nargasa was watching them.

"I was so worried," Link said. "I thought he was going to kill you."

'I want you to live,' Nargasa said, floating up into the air. 'I want you to live knowing that I have taken everything from you. Suffering is more than intense pain. Suffering strikes at the very heart, and never stops. I have suffered all my life for what I have become. And now I want you to experience such suffering too. Farewell my hated enemy.'

Nargasa then opened its hand, and the Poes all shot back into it. The spirit then turned, and flew through the wall.

"Link," Navi said softly. "That blade was poison."

Malon's grip around her hero weakened, and her strength began to diminish.

"No," Link whispered.

Link's features softened as he realized that Malon was going to die. The tears in his eyes continued to pour, but now they fell out of grief. He gently laid Malon gently down on the couch, and pulled the covers over her.

"Just relax Malon," he said as tears rolled down his face. "Just relax."

Malon moaned like a drunken man, and placed a hand against her forehead.

"Everything is going to be alright," Link said.

Malon smiled up at Link, and took his hand in hers.

"Link."

"Don't speak."

"Link. I love... I love... you..."

Her eyes closed, and her head rolled back against the pillow. Link sniffed, and let out a muffled sob.

"No," he sobbed. "No! No! Nargasa! Why did you take all that mattered to me? Why did you do this to me! I will kill you! I'll kill you! No! I don't want to live! I don't want to live!"

Link fell on a heap on the ground, and cried his heart out. A tiny, crystalline tear fell from Navi's eyes as she watched Malon's spirit slowly leave her body.

"She has gone," Navi said with a sniff.

"Gone where?"

"Gone to the Lord of Light. Soon she will be home."

"No," Link said. "Not yet. Malon has too much life ahead of her to die now. She has too much to live."

Link stood up, and lifted Malon's lifeless body from the couch. Then, without a word, he began walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Navi asked.

"I have to find the Gatekeeper," Link said.

"You think he can help?"

"He healed my cuts. He cast away a Poe."

"Anyone who wields the power of Light can cast away a Poe."

"Anyways, if anyone can bring back the dead, it is him."

Link then turned, and walked out the door. Navi followed.

The Gatekeeper and Hailey sat at a table eating breakfast together.

"So the town should be satisfied now," Hailey said. "I've given up black magic forever."

"Unfortunately that is only a concern of theirs because they fear Ganon," the Gatekeeper said. "Not many of them follow the Lord of Light anymore. Our village is in spiritual decay. There are many who disapprove of me, and wish I were dead. There are many who wish to ban any further mention of the Lord of Light."

Nargasa ran through Hyrule Field, its eyes fixed on Kakariko village.

'It is time. It is time for the Gatekeeper to fall!'

As the spirit ran, evil Spirits wandering through the plain turned to follow the ghostly figure to the village. They cackled and hissed. They were ready.

This isn't good. I wonder what they're going to do to the Gatekeeper.