Well, this is my first Zelda fanfic, and I must say, I've been told that it was very dark. That's what my mother said. Well, stuff mother, I like it! R&R please!

Colosseum

Chapter 1-Fight for Life

The Princess watched the proceedings with sheer horror. The Colosseum, apparently, was Hyrule's favourite centre of entertainment, where mortal combat, chariot races that included arrow shooting and javelin throwing while in the midst of one and executions were just some of the acts that occurred inside the large, rounded stone arena. Most Hylians seemed to enjoy it, but the young Princess found it horrifying.

She was seated at the front seat of the Royal Platform that had the best view of the "performances" (or butcheries in the Princess' opinion) that occurred in the Colosseum every day. Her father had only decided to take her on the advice of one of his advisors. The one she hated the most.

Agahnim…what a stupid name!

The next event was approaching. More butchery of people would ensue, she decided, but nevertheless paid attention to what was happening, just out of courtesy of her father. The people began to shout, cheer, whistle. Some girls were screaming their names out to the man approaching, others holding their hankies out with their names scrawled hastily on it. They were hoping to go out with such a disgraceful man? A man who killed for a living?

Disgusting…what has Hyrule been reduced to?

The crowd seemed to have gone quiet. The Princess looked up at the other end of the stadium, to see who was coming out. That person was…short…awfully short for a Colosseum fighter, she decided. As the person fully emerged into the light, no one said anything. They just kept quiet. They looked away. People shifted uncomfortably in their seats, watching the emotionless fighter walk slowly out of the preparation rooms.

The Princess caught her breath as she watched the fighter walk toward the platform for customary blessing of the fights participants by a Royal Family member. The fighter looked young, no more than ten or eleven years old. His long blonde hair whipped freely against a fresh sea breeze that was blowing steadily through he Colosseum. His blue eyes were laden with deep sorrow, and intense hatred, a burning desire for revenge. As he sank to one knee, bowing in front of the platform, she watched him inspect the dust, the dirt, the grit of the arena. As her gaze shifted to his back, she saw countless scars, whiplash marks and burns littered across a tanned, sun-burned back.

What a poor way to spend a childhood…

Quietly gasping, inwardly crying out empathically as she realised just how much pain this boy had gone through, she stood up. She thought about the fighters in front of her. One was called Barthelow, a long name for a champion of the Colosseum countless times over. The other person…she'd been too busy seeing what his appearance was, to have heard his name. Then she realised that everyone was waiting for HER to do the blessing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, children and elders. I do not enjoy the Colosseum, nor the events it hosts. However, I feel obligated to bless these two participants in their competition of mortal combat. They will risk their lives, and most probably lose them, to provide you with suitable entertainment. And for that, I believe that they should be blessed for their service to the country. Thus…" Using hand signals, she urged Barthelow to come forward.

"May I present, Barthelow, Arena Champion of the Colosseum thrice over." She said in a firm voice, loud enough for the audience to hear. They burst into applause and cheering, and the big man waved back, posing and smiling. After placing a ring of flowers on the man's head she turned to the boy, about to give him a blessing as well, when she noticed he'd stood up, and walked off, waiting for the fight to start.

"Excuse me? Umm…Gladiator?" She asked, feeling slightly embarrassed. "You're…you're supposed to be blessed before you go to battle. Please, come forward to the platform here, and I will present you with your blessing."

"I'd rather not be blessed by a daughter of the family that ruined my life." He murmured quietly. He'd turned away, yet the young Princess could hear the anger, the hate, that burning desire for revenge that consumed the boy's whole life. Slowly his hand went to the sword that hung, sheathed, on his back.

"My dreams are haunted with the slaughter of your whole family, little girl. I suggest you don't come too near me, lest I kill you first." The boy said. The Princess looked at the blue-eyed boy in fear, realising that her family was the source of the boy's hatred, and that somehow, he had turned out like this because of them. And worst of all, he wanted to kill her whole family.

"Old man," the boy said to Barthelow, "you have your blessing. Come."

"Will you surrender?" Barthelow joked, as he stepped down from the platform. "A child like you has no chance against me, and with the Princess' blessing, I know I will win. Should you choose not to surrender, you know the deal. Death. Torture. Crippling. That kinda stuff." The man said with a smirk. The boy turned. His eyes had changed from blue to red. A malicious fire burned within him.

"Ask yourself the same question. The demon within me wishes to kill you, and I will only suppress him if you surrender." The boy said, his voice saturated with hatred and malevolence. When the man made no answer, the boy smiled wickedly. "So be it. I will kill you."

"So be it. I will kill you." Link said, allowing the power of the devil in him to flow through him. He remembered cursing the wicked thing that inhabited his body, until he'd managed to control it. Then it became his most powerful weapon. Slowly, red swirls of energy coursed throughout his youthful body, and sparks flew from the ground as it erupted in an explosion of fire and earth. What emerged from it was Link…well…generally speaking.

Link's hair was now dark black, and his skin glowed with a maroon colour possessed by only the strongest demons. Horns grew from the side of his head, and his eyes crackled a deep red, revealing his thirst for bloodlust. Barthelow stood back in awe, as he watched the demon run towards him, drawing it's blade in the process. He raised his own blade, but too late-

WHUMP! SCHNICK!

Barthelow was knocked forward by Link, who, in a blinding second, chopped the man's head off. The expression of shock remained on his face as his head sailed through the air and landed on the floor. Link was back to normal, blonde hair flying again in the sea breeze, hands clutching his sword. But blood covered his tunic and his face, and the blade, and his boots…and the blood of Barthelow dripped down from his hands. The headless body spewed blood from the neck of the fallen man, and it dripped down the boy, down the dead body. The boy looked down in disgust at the fallen champion, thought how weak he was, then began to walk off.

He smiled as he realised how much money he'd earned. It would let him and Mother and Saria live in a better home, and have more food to eat for a while. He looked at his hands, and the red skinned claws that appeared in place of them suddenly.

Oh, shut up. I'm not in the mood.

Why? His inner demon pondered. Is it because you unleashed me, that you forgot the effects…or is it the princess? My my, she's quite the looker…

Whatever. He responded as he walked through the gate.

The Princess watched the boy walk out of the Colosseum. He looked quite unperturbed by what he'd just done. He looked like he'd dropped some rupees, stopped to pick them up, slightly annoyed, then continued on his way. Well, with blood, maybe. Everyone was still silent, and watched as they took Barthelow's body out of the Arena.

She shook her head, trying to get the bloody scene out of her head. Rising, she said, "The winner of this bout is…" Turning to her father, she quickly asked for the boy's name. She straightened out her long, pink dress. Her long, golden hair flowed out behind her pink and gold tiara. As her slim, attractive figure stood up, most of the men gawked at her.

"The winner of the match, is Link Kokiri."

Well? Gory? Unpleasant? Hate me yet? I don't care. I will if you review it though...so R&R! PLEASE! DO IT FOR THE MILK (random...)!