For several days, the sound of metal clashing, boots tearing up dirt and shouts of battle rang through the graveyard. It was the only feasible place to practice as the only residents to disturb were resting peacefully.
Dark slid in the dirt, using a nearby fence to support his weight as he bent back, dodging a swing from Link's blade. A glaring opportunity presented itself—Link had over-swung and was thrown off balance.
Dark grinned, pushing off the fence for maximum momentum. His blade sliced through the air towards Link but struck metal as the blonde raised his shield just in time. The shock zinged up Dark's arm, but he held fast, parrying Link's next strike.
They stepped around each other like two partners locked in a deadly dance. Patterns of footfalls and skids in the dirt wove together, marking each man's movements and telling the story of the fight. Link was breathing hard, enjoying the challenge that sparring with Dark presented. He was the faster one, but Dark was stronger. With a grunt, Dark slammed his weight into Link, knocking him over a fence. With a surprised shout, Link rolled to the side before his opponent could vault over the barrier and attack.
Dark's sword hit nothing but grass. He looked up at Link, smiling in approval.
"Very nice," he said, straightening. "Ready for a break?"
Link nodded, sitting on a nearby headstone. Dark chuckled, retrieving a water canteen from the ground nearby and offering it to Link.
"You're quick," he complimented him, sitting in the grass at his feet.
"Thanks," Link replied, tilting the canteen up. It was hot today after some many dreary days. Summer had arrived at last.
Dark sighed, lying back in the grass. It was silent save for the chirping of birds. Link's fairy had gone back to Impa's house to see Sienna, which probably accounted for the peace and quiet. Besides, with her help Link would have an unfair advantage in a spar.
"You're getting better," he told Link, trying to start conversation.
Link merely nodded, apparently preoccupied with the scenery. It's a graveyard, Dark thought cynically, what's there to see?
In truth, he felt that Link was attempting to put some distance between them. Dark had spent most of the past few days with Link. He continued to struggle with the decision to reveal their relation and had overcompensated by trying to create a friendship between himself and Link. Much to Dark's chagrin, friendship couldn't be forced, and he feared he was alienating his brother more than endearing himself to Link.
Dark sat up, deciding to give him a break. "I think that's enough for today," he announced.
"Oh, okay," Link said, surprise evident on his face. He stood up, retrieving his sword and sheathing it behind his back.
Frowning, he watched as Link gathered his things, preparing to head back to Impa's no doubt.
"Hey," he said, stopping the blonde in his tracks.
"Yeah?"
Dark sighed, wondering how in the world one forged the bond of brotherly affection without actually saying so to the other person. "Come with me," was all he said, striding out of the graveyard.
Puzzled, Link followed, closing the gate behind them. They walked through the village streets, passing by the busy shopping district, entering an alley that Link recognized. Dark stopped outside a dark wooden door. The sign above it read The Angry Deku in red lettering.
Dark held open the door. "Ever had a drink?" he asked Link in a teasing tone. "Come on," he added when Link gave him a sheepish look. "Time to be men."
Dark seated himself at a table in the corner, his brother sitting opposite. He noted Link's discomfort with amusement. He knew that the kid had missed the last seven years, but honestly. Didn't he know anything?
He steered the teen through the door, directing him to a table close to the bar but far from any other patrons. At this time of day, it wasn't crowded. Dark sat facing the door out of habit, and Link sat opposite.
A slim Ordonian girl approached their table, wiping her hands on her apron. She appeared to be around Link's age. Dark watched as he ordered a drink. Not even once did he glance at the girl's pretty face. As she walked away, Dark's eyes trailed appraisingly over her form. She wasn't bad looking.
A moment later, she returned to set down two mugs. Dark seized his, gulping without pause until the tankard was dry and slamming it down. Link gave him a startled look, having not even taken a sip.
Dark laughed, then sighed as he waved to the waitress to bring him a refill. "You really don't know what you're doing, do you?"
"How do you mean?" Link asked, wiping foam from his mouth as he lowered the mug.
He accepted his second mug before answering. "From what I've gathered about your little story, you missed out on the last seven years of your life. So you're essentially a child in an adult body trying to act like an adult but your mind is still that of a child and hasn't really accepted your new adult instincts," he summarized.
Link laughed. "To put it succinctly, yes," he replied. "I haven't quite mastered blending in."
"You stand out," Dark said bluntly. "You act like a lunatic sometimes."
Link gave him a wry smile. "Thanks for putting it nicely."
"That was nicely," he said, his mouth lifting into a smirk. "If you want people to believe that you're a grown man, you have to act like one. When you come to bars, you have a drink and flirt with the waitress, maybe get in a fight."
"You want to get in a fight?" Link asked, raising a brow.
Dark shrugged. "Not really. But you should always be ready for one since the world doesn't lack for idiots." He took another swig from his mug.
He picked up his own mug, stifling a chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Enough talking," Dark said, bumping his cup against Link's. "Time to drink."
~oOo~
Lon Lon Ranch
A flock of birds flew overhead, sweeping over the high wall that surrounded the property and through the yard. A few of them stopped in their flight to roost upon the paddock's fence. Others landed on the soft earth, pecking the dirt for food. They twittered lightly as they searched, harmonizing with the sweet voice of the girl working in the yard. She sang softly as she walked through the enclosure, filling the feeding troughs from a bag she held under her arm.
With a whinny, a young horse galloped towards her, scaring the birds and causing them to fly away. She turned to the animal, stroking its velvety nose with fondness. The mare nickered, tossing her head.
"Epona," Malon murmured to the chestnut mare. "what's wrong?"
The horse tossed her head again, turning away from Malon. To her surprise, her horse cantered away to the other side of the paddock. Dropping the bag of feed, she rushed after her, untying the apron around her waist and casting it aside. Something was happening at the ranch's gates. Stepping past the horses that had gathered, as if they had sensed something was amiss, she closed the gate to the paddock behind her, giving Epona a quick pat.
"Father!" she called when she noticed him exiting the farmhouse.
A group of riders had come through the ranch's gate and were dismounting before her father. They were all women, dressed in foreign garb. An icy terror gripped her heart—she had seen people like this before.
Malon called again, "Father!" As she approached, the farmhand, Ingo, emerged from the stables and stopped her in her tracks.
"No, Malon!" he warned, pulling her back. "It is not safe."
She shook free of him impatiently, rushing to her father's side. She grabbed at his arm. "Dad!"
Talon took her hand, pushing her behind him. "Malon! Get back, girl!"
"You should listen to your father, dear," one of the riders said. She was dressed all in black, wearing minimal armor and toting a spear on one shoulder. The stranger glared down at the three of them with ice in her gaze; Malon shivered.
"What do you want?" Talon demanded of the Gerudo riders. "You have no right to be on my land."
The woman laughed, leveling her spear at Talon. "This land belongs to Lord Ganondorf. We are here to claim what he is rightfully owed as sovereign lord of Hyrule."
Talon grunted, "He is no lord of Hyrule."
She took a step forward, thrusting the spear, stopping it just short of Talon's throat. Malon let out a scream of fear.
"You owe him your fealty," the Gerudo hissed. "If you won't obey, we'll find someone who will."
She turned to one of the armed riders, ordering him forward. He stalked forward, seizing Talon by his shirt and pulling him forward. Falling face-first into the dirt, Talon scrambled to avoid the brute's spear. Little by little, he forced the ranch owner to the entrance of his property.
"Leave this ranch," the Gerudo ordered Talon. "Consider yourself banished. Your property has a new owner."
Talon protested, "You cannot do this!"
Malon ran towards her father, but two riders stopped her, holding her back. "Dad!" she cried.
"Take him," the Gerudo said, turning to face Malon and Ingo as Talon was dragged out of the ranch.
She screamed for her father until her voice was hoarse, but it was no use. He was thrown out the ranch's gate. His aggressor returned, striding up to Ingo next.
"Don't hurt him!" Malon begged of the Gerudo woman. "Please!"
"Hold him," the woman said, pulling a cloth from her saddle bag. She tied it over Malon's mouth, quieting her sounds of struggle.
"Get your hands off me!" Ingo growled, fighting the brute as he held his arms behind his back.
Satisfied that Malon's muffled screams couldn't be heard, the Gerudo woman turned to the others in her party. She barked out an order that chilled Malon down to her soul.
"Bring me the witches."
~oOo~
The Angry Deku Pub
A tower of glasses stood on the table between them of Dark's construction, but for the most part, Link's consumption. Dark could barely contain his chuckles at watching a clearly intoxicated Link try and place his latest empty glass at the top. When he missed for the fourth time and nearly knocked over the arrangement of glasses, Dark seized his wrist.
"All right, give me that," he chided, taking the glass from Link's grip. "You've had enough."
Link dropped his arms to the table, resting his chin on them. He stared through the glasses at the bottom of the pyramid, his eyes unfocused.
"It's getting late," Dark mumbled, fighting the effects of alcohol himself. "We should go."
The pub was lively now, and noisy. He stood up from the table, a little unsteady on his feet, and took hold of Link's arm. After some struggle, he managed to manoeuvre them into the street.
They didn't get far before a large bald man with a mustache stopped them. He deliberately bumped into Dark, who lost his grip on Link. He stumbled and fell to his knees.
"Damn," Dark muttered, kneeling to pick up his friend. He was about to spit curses at the man when he was grabbed by the collar.
"Ah, you must be the newcomer," the man said in an Ordonian accent. He sniffed lightly, chuckling when he smelled the alcohol on Dark's breath. "Been indulging have we?" he asked, nodding at Link.
"Can't handle his drink yet," Dark snickered, wondering what it was this man wanted.
"Seems you could use some help. Where is it you're headed?"
"Impa's," Link slurred, rising unsteadily to his feet.
"Perfect!" the man said, grabbing each of them by their collars, supporting them as he steered them eastward, towards Impa's. "That's exactly where you're needed."
"Needed?" Dark asked, fighting the man's grip on him weakly.
"Indeed. She asked me to find you two troublemakers."
"Who the hell are you?" Dark asked rudely, stumbling as he walked.
Rather than be offended, the man laughed. "My name is Taver. I'm a blacksmith."
Dark scoffed. "One of that Sheikah woman's lackeys?"
Taver grunted, but didn't comment. It didn't take him long to haul the two of them up the stone steps and through Impa's doorway. Link was close to blacking out, so Taver dropped him in a chair and crossed to the kitchen. Dark sat at the table with Link, rubbing his eyes in an effort to clear his head.
"Take this, my boy," Taver said to Link, tipping his head up. He held a bottle of red potion to his mouth. Link took it and swallowed a sip. "There's a good lad," Taver said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He turned to address Dark. "Wait here. Impa wanted to speak with you. I'll make sure he recovers."
Dark watched silently as Taver guided Link upstairs to his room. He waited only a few minutes before the door opened and the owner of the house entered. She eyed him, clearly expecting him.
"You wanted to speak with me?" he asked, rubbing his aching temples.
"Yes," she replied, taking a seat across the table from him. "There are some things we must discuss."
Dark gave her a mock bow. "Do continue then, Mistress Impa."
She knocked a brow, leaning forward. She somehow managed to give the gesture menace. "I know what you are."
Her words fell like tiny bombs, deafening him so every other background noise seemed muted. Her eerie eyes held his captive, her lips set in a grim line.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"What I am? Do you hear yourself?!" Dark asked, keeping his voice low lest Taver or Link overheard.
Impa crossed her arms over chest before she answered him. "When I first laid eyes on you, I had my suspicions. Then Link told me of your strange abilities."
Dark cursed, wishing he had an explanation for his lightning-filled smoke ball magic trick that didn't sound insane.
She continued, ignoring his muttered obscenities. "From what he described, I was able to identify what it was you are able to manifest. From there, it isn't a stretch to deduce what you are."
"And what am I?" he retorted, getting impatient with her vagueness.
She straightened in her chair, holding a palm out towards him. He watched, puzzled, as magical energy began to flow within her. There were no physical signs, but he felt the charge in the air as she summoned whatever power she had. To his shock, the magic centered in her palm, and there appeared the exact same smoky ball. Inside was the captive lightning, sparking and zigzagging incessantly in the tiny space, crackling softly.
"How did you do that?" he asked in a whisper, his shock stealing his voice.
"I am one of the Sheikah," she answered. "And many of us have an affinity with Shadow. This is an ancient magic, one that is rare even among my people. It is one of the reasons Ganondorf had them slaughtered."
"And you think…I have this affinity? I'm not Sheikah, I'm Hylian."
"Not full-blooded," she corrected him. "One of your parents carried Sheikah blood. Likely not much, but it was powerful enough to give you the abilities of one of my ancestors. As I said, it is ancient magic. It is probable that we are the only two in this world who can wield it."
Dark stared at the orb in her palm, watching the lightning as it tried to escape its prison. It had to have been his father; his mother had been a pure-blood Hylian, and a noblewoman. Some nobles had a mania for blood purity. His father had passed on to him physical traits that were reminiscent of the Gerudo, or the Sheikah. His appearance had caused others to call him a half-blood and other things far worse. It would seem they had been correct. Why had Fierce never told him he had mixed blood?
Imara's words echoed in his mind. He shut his eyes. Perhaps you have some Gerudo blood in you, hmm?
Impa was still watching him, perhaps with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "From your expression, you weren't aware."
Dark shook his head. "That I was half-blood? No."
Impa dispelled the orb, crossing her arms again. "Perhaps not half. Your mother was Hylian, but your father was most likely mixed blood himself."
He rubbed his temples, feeling lightheaded. He let out a sarcastic chuckle. "More reasons for people to be prejudiced."
Impa smiled in spite of herself. "There is an advantage to this knowledge. As I said, Ganondorf fears this power. You pose a great threat to him."
He laughed. "Well that, at least, is good news." He paused, his mind going back to what she had said a moment before. "My mother…you said she was Hylian."
She shrugged. "Was she not?"
"You knew her," Dark concluded, working through the fog of new information, trying to decipher the riddles in what she'd said.
Impa shook her head. "I did not know her personally. But that is the second thing we must talk about."
"My mother?" Dark asked, confused.
Impa inched her chair forward, lowering her voice. "Yes. The mother whom you happen to share with Link."
Still as stone, he let her words sink in. Her expression didn't waver; she knew the truth.
"So you know," he said finally. "You know he's my brother."
Impa replied, "Yes. There is a resemblance." She paused, her eyes darting over his face. "Link, however, appears to possess very little of your father's mixed heritage, and so does not have the ability."
Impa stood up, glancing upstairs to ensure they weren't being overheard. She crossed to the hearth, preparing a fire.
"Are you going to tell him?" Dark asked.
"It is not my place," she responded, striking a match. When the fire caught, she turned to him, her face serious as stone. "I would, however, make a request."
"And what is that?" he asked, trying to keep any sarcasm from his tone. It unnerved him that she so much about him, and he didn't trust her completely.
"Keep him safe," she said, to his surprise. "He will need as many allies as possible if he hopes to succeed. It just so happens that you'll be very useful."
Dark chuckled. "You don't trust me to have his back?"
"No," she replied bluntly. "Thus far, Dark, you do not make the list of people I trust."
He grunted. "Likewise. But I understand where you're coming from."
Impa smiled, extending a hand. "Then we can agree."
He grasped her forearm tightly, locking their arms together. "Rest assured, mistress," he said, meeting her crimson eyes, "Link has an ally in me."
Before he could pull his arm back, her grip tightened and she yanked him closer. Her lips against his ear, she said, "I trust you don't need me to tell you what should happen if you betray him."
Dark smirked. "'Course not." When Impa released him, he asked, "Was that all you wanted me for?"
From the way her brow rose, his tone didn't go unnoticed. "Not quite. Now that I've shared with you what I know, and have your word concerning Link, I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?" he asked skeptically.
"Ah, I see you've begun recruitment, Impa."
Dark turned to see the blacksmith, Taver, coming downstairs. Before he could ask what he meant by 'recruitment', he said, "You see—Dark, was it?—Mistress Impa and I are part of a group fighting against Ganondorf. I believe you have similar goals?"
He smirked. "You could say that. If I had to guess, I'd say your little group is the reason why Kakariko is free of his influence?"
Taver grinned. "Not yet, it isn't. We have one more task ahead of us. And it requires a great deal of stealth."
Dark shrugged. "What do you need me for, if you have her?" He jerked his head in Impa's direction.
"This requires a particular skill," Impa replied. She flashed him a grin. "Think of it as a chance to prove your trustworthiness to me"
Darklaughed. "You're giving me a chance to defy Ganondorf and win your trust? How can I say no, Impa?"
The Sheikah woman rested her hand on the table, leaning down so her face was level with his. "Good. We start training tomorrow."
"What exactly will you be teaching me?" Dark asked, cocking a brow.
Impa's mouth curved into a smile. "How to wield the element of Shadow."