The five traveling companions stood around the blue crystal shield. All eyes focused on the writhing creature inside. It snarled at them like a feral animal.
"Soooo…" Ruto said, rocking back and forth on her heels, "What do we do now?"
Link sighed and ran his fingers through his bangs, "I don't know… The spirits didn't tell me how to bring his soul back…."
"Great, just great," Adlez growled; sweat was beginning to form on her forehead.
"Maybe there isn't a way," Ranik stated bluntly.
Rhynn looked at him with wide, horror-struck eyes, "Don't say that! Of course there is a way to bring back Sir Dark!"
Ruto shot the vampire a cold look before bending down and patting the boy on the head, "Don't fret, we'll think of something."
"Preferably quickly!" Snapped Adlez.
Link looked at her, "Jeez Adlez, why are you so bitchy all of a sudden?"
She glared at him, "You try using all your strength to contain a creature that never tires in its struggles."
He held up his hands in defense, "Okay, okay… sheesh."
The group quieted down to a dull roar of sighs and grumbles, each one trying to solve what seemed impossible. Fed up with just staring at the creature, Rhynn turned and began to pace around the ledge.
It was weird, his mother told him many a tale about Dark Link. Very few of them were good and fewer still were redeeming. Some would have said the Queen had been drilling hatred into her son's mind for years. But when the boy had laid eyes on the shadow all that fell away, leaving only slight awe and respect. It was obvious the stories she told him were false in many regards, he did not seem like the soulless monster she made him out to be. Rhynn cringed at the thought of his mother finding out that he liked the shadow.
Something caught the leather of his boot and he stumbled forward a bit. Looking down he saw the dagger his mom had given him, it must have fallen off in the confusion. When he bent down to pick it up the dagger began to glow, filtering out through gaps in the dark fabric covering the hilt. Rhynn gasped and snatched it up, turning back to the others.
"Everyone! Look!"
Their eyes turned to him, curious at what he could have found. The blade grew brighter as the boy stepped closer, and with it the shadow's cries grew louder. Ruto cocked an eyebrow at Dark Link.
"Rhynn… come here…."
The boy did, coming to a halt right beside the shield. Inside, the shadow shrieked and began to claw at the walls of his prison with a newfound strength. Adlez gasped and grew tense.
"There is no way I can hold this much longer," She said, gritting her teeth.
"I don't think you'll have to," Ruto glanced from the prince to the shadow and back again. The blade was shining to such an extent she had to squint. Then, an idea passed through her head. She looked at the two other guys in their group, "How long do you think we can hold him down?"
Link stared at her as if she were crazy, "Hold him down? The guy's ten times stronger than any of us, and I have these stupid gloves on!"
Ranik looked at his hands and clenched them, "Seven seconds at the most."
The hero turned his stare on him, "What!"
Ruto narrowed her eyes, "That may just be enough," She knelt down and looked Rhynn straight in the eye, "Think you can use that dagger?"
The boy blinked, "Huh?"
"When Adlez lets down that shield we're going to try and restrain Dark Link. When we do I want you to stab him."
He paled, "W-wha?"
She smiled, "Stab him anywhere, he'll be fine. I promise."
Adlez eyed her, "You think that'll work?"
Ruto shrugged, "It's a magical dagger, it grows brighter when it gets near him, and he doesn't seem to like it. I'm no expert at this magic crap, but I think it's worth a shot."
The princess pressed her lips into a thin line, but nodded.
"You have got to be kidd–" Link started to protest as the shield vanished and Adlez slumped to the ground, completely spent.
Ranik surged forward, Link following clumsily, tackling the shadow as it hit solid ground. With one last look at Rhynn, Ruto dived in as well, struggling to keep the thrashing creature down.
"Now!" She cried.
But the boy just stood there stunned holding the unsheathed dagger. Stab him? Dark Link may not be present but that was still his body. The dagger seemed to burn in his hand.
"Rhynn!" Ruto screamed as Dark Link carved into her face with his claws.
The other two grunted from the effort, Link could feel his grip slipping.
Her voice reached Rhynn's ears and he stumbled forward just as the shadow flung his captors way. With a yell the boy plunged the dagger into dark flesh. A bright light blinded them and Dark Link, who had been in mid-shriek, let out a choked gasp. Shadow and wind swirled around them, closing in on the shadow. It took a few moments after the wind had died down before anyone dared to look.
Dark Link was sitting there on the rocky ground, eyes glued to it as if he were in a trance. He was once again the Link of the time period. Slowly he blinked and looked down at his chest where the dagger was buried hilt-deep. Pulling it out he stared at the blade in a dazed fashion.
Adlez took a hesitant step forward, "Dark?"
The shadow looked up with a start, dropping the small weapon. His gaze wandered across the group, all eyeing him warily. He sighed and returned his gaze to the ground.
"You think you guys could have taken a few more minutes?"
A relieved sigh escaped Adlez's lips and she surged towards him, nearly tackling him to the ground in a big bear hug, "Thank the Goddesses!"
Dark's eyes grew wide in surprise as he was hugged and tentatively rubbed her back. The others began to move towards the shadow as well, also glad he had come back.
"You okay?" Ruto asked.
He looked up at her, "Yeah, fine." Getting up, being careful of Adlez, he gave a slight smile, "You surprised me Ruto, you figured out the key much sooner than I expected… Thank you."
The Zora grinned, "It was just a guess…."
"Shadow," Ranik interrupted, "What happened to you?"
The smile vanished from his lips, "What?"
"When you didn't reside in your body I highly doubt your spirit was just floating around here."
"Oh…" Dark pulled away from Adlez, "I… It's not important…."
Adlez's eyebrows furrowed, "Not important? That doesn't seem to be the way things work around here."
"Yeah," Link chimed in, "Something must have happened to you."
The shadow pressed his lips into a thin line, "I… had a conversation with the Goddesses."
"Really? What about?" Ruto asked.
"… Personal matters."
A small tug on his tunic made Dark link look down. Rhynn gazed up at him, his large eyes full of worry. The shadow kneeled down to his level.
"What's wrong?"
"I… I-y-your chest."
"What about it?"
"Y-you… the dagger."
Realization dawned in Dark's eyes and he smiled at the boy, "I'm fine, most weapons don't hurt me. The dagger was no exception."
"How–"
"I don't have a permanent physical form. Can you hurt your own shadow?" Rhynn shook his head, "It's like that, okay?"
Link's stomach growled loudly. Everyone looked at him, making him scratch his head in embarrassment.
"What?" He said, "It's getting late… and I've done more than my fair share of physical labor today!"
Dark turned his head to the sun, which was nearly set, "Let's go back to Kakariko, we can spend the night at the inn there. This went a lot faster than I expected."
Link made an aggravated noise, "I told you we could have stayed at the inn!"
Opia: This one's short but, hey! I updated quickly darnit! D:
Cari: Reviews are loved...