The Dark Sage

Link sped through the forest in haste. The ground beneath his feet began to transform into a sludgy puddle of dead plants and mud. Before long, he was tearing through the Kokiri village with his heart in his throat. However, he hardly got far when he was nailed in the back of the head with a pebble.

Link spun on his heel on instinct, and before him stood Mido, along with his group of cronies.

"Yo," he called over to Link. "What's the hurry?"

"Mido!" Link had never been so happy to see Mido in his entire life, though his heart and mind were bounding in anger. "The Great Deku Tree's in trouble! Hurry, we have to do something!"

Link turned to leave, but Mido threw another small stone at him, and he turned back with a trickle of blood slowly drenching his hat.

"Why'd ya tell Saria to protect us?!" Mido shouted at him as another lightning streak dashed across the sky.

"Wha— She's capable!" Link shouted back, almost offended. "But why does it matter? We all have to bond together to protect the forest and the Great Deku Tree!"

"Tha's not the point!" Mido shouted over to him. "Saria's gone because of ya!"

"Well— Wait—what?"

In that instant, Taters came bounding towards them through the rain. He skidded to a halt in front of Link, his hands on his knees as he panted for breath.

"Link. . .Saria. . .she's gone!" he gasped, raising his hand to show Link a piece of parchment with her signature on it. "She's gone. . .to the Sacred Meadow!"

"WHAT?!"

Link spun on his heel and made to run back into the forest, but Taters quickly grabbed him by the shoulder before he could proceed. Link threw a reluctant glance over his shoulder at him, his legs burning in haste to rescue Saria.

"You're not going alone, bud," Taters said, anger etched in his face. "I'm coming too! The trees are starting to wither, as are the plants. The Great Deku Tree could use all of our help!"

"Thanks, Taters!" Link replied, enthusiastic for the help.

"Hey, wait a sec, there," Mido called over to the two boys. "We ain't lettin' you guys steal all the glory! We're comin', too, right, guys?" From behind Mido, his group of cronies cheered through the storm in enthusiasm. "See," Mido rubbed his nose with the tip of his thumb, "We're gonna help, too."

Link nodded once in approval. "Okay, then, let's get going! Taters and I will go to the Sacred Meadow. Mido, you and the others head to the Great Deku Tree Haven and defend the Great Deku Tree from the monsters in the forest— "

"Whoa, whoa," Mido cut in, crossing over to where Link and Taters stood as he shook his hands in disagreement, "Why d'ya always gotta be the one saving Saria? I'm comin' with ya, Link! Taters," he threw a nasty glare at the red-head standing beside Link, "You and the others head to the Deku Tree's aid. Me and Link'll go save Saria."

"But— " Taters cast Link a suspicious glance. Link nodded to him, and reluctantly, he agreed to Mido's pairing. "Fine then. Let's hurry and save them!"

Taters summoned Mido's group of friends to him, and they hurried off into the forest in the direction of the Great Deku Tree's Haven. Once they were well out of sight, Link turned to Mido with a hard look on his face.

"Don't give me any of that," Mido said before Link could express his thoughts. "Le's just go already. And don't worry," he added at Link's questioning expression, "I'm borrowing the Kokiri sword for a while."

"Okay, fine then," Link grumbled, turning his back and beginning for the forest.

"Hey, Link!" Mido called to him; Link paused. "After all this is done with, you're mine! I can't forgive you for letting Saria fall into danger— "

" —I didn't—"

"—she deserves better," Mido continued in a dark tone of voice. "Especially when she's always cared about you, fairy-less boy."

Anger and fear began to gather in Link's heart at his words. Gripping his hands tightly at his sides, he took another step towards the forest, and then Mido followed close at his heels as they fell into the shadows of the forest, heading directly for the Lost Woods.

With Mido close behind him, Link began to feel a bit better about the situation. He and Mido hardly ever got along, but when it came down to Saria, there was really no complaining there. It was either work together, or let Saria fall victim to the enemy—which, in the past, was a mere baba plant. But still, their bites were poisonous enough to cause a Kokiri to die within forty-eight hours if not cured with the proper herbs from the Lost Woods.

"Hey, Link," Mido called from behind him, a growl visible in his voice.

"Yeah? What is it, Mido," Link called back in an equal tone of voice.

"Y'know, you're real annoying. You're always claiming the glory, and showing off for Saria— "

"What? I— "

"You're just a freak!" Mido interjected in a loud voice as lightning struck the earth in the distance. "For some reason, just looking at your face pisses me off."

Link rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Then don't look at me. It's that simple, Mido!"

"What did you— "

Link suddenly withdrew the slingshot from his belt, and threw his hand up to silence Mido. With an angry grumble, Mido rose his sword, as well, and then they both stood in the rain, straining their ears for the sound of an enemy lurking in the darkness.

"Did you hear that?" Link called to Mido after some time.

Mido listened hard, and then shook his head. "Only the rain."

"Hrrm." Link threw his glance left and right to check every dark corner in the brush. Finally, unable to detect anything dangerous, he took another step forward. "I thought I heard someone calling my name," Link mumbled. "Strange. . ."

"Well, whaddaya suppose we do now?" Mido called to Link as they proceeded through the downpour. "Where is the Sacred Meadow, anyway? Saria— "

Link made a sharp turn into another tunnel, and emerged into a clearing stripped of all trees.

"Just beyond here is where the Sacred Meadow resides, Mido," Link said, turning towards him. "Saria should be there."

"Well, whaddaya waitin' for?!" Mido shouted, rushing forward, "Le's go save her— "

"But, Mido—the Wolfos!"

"The what-os?"

Just then, two beasts popped up from the ground. Mido jumped away just before one of them could capture him in its large jaws. Link stepped up in front of Mido and shot a deku seed at one of them. It nailed it in the eye, and with a whimper of pain, the beast backed down back into the earth. From behind Link, Mido shot out from hiding and struck the other straight through the torso with the Kokiri sword. In seconds, the beast doubled over and died.

"How's that!" Mido shouted smugly, stroking his nose with the tip of his thumb again.

"Don't get too comfortable in your victory, Mido," Link warned. "There are more than just these two here. Saria keeps them around for protection."

At these words, Mido's face fell, and he moodily fixed the sword in his belt again.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" he demanded of Link, angrily. "We have to go to Saria's aid!"

Link shrugged, and then made to follow Mido as he sprinted off into the maze beyond, but then a strange sound met his ears, and he paused to listen.

"Link. . ."

"Great Deku Tree?" he wondered, spinning on his heel, and glancing down the tunnel he had just emerged from. "Is that you?"

"Link. . ."

It was an airy, disembodied voice. Curious, Link stepped back into the tunnel, and then followed the voice as it led him out of the Sacred Meadow, and further into the Lost Woods.

"Link. . . The Hero. . ."

"'The Hero'?" Link repeated, almost dazed. "Wait—where are you? Who's there?"

Link paused just feet away from the tunnel leading to the Sacred Meadow. He strained his ears to hear the sound again, his heart bounding in his chest. "Hello?"

"Link. . ."

"There!"

Link made a sharp turn and sprinted through another tunnel further away from the Sacred Meadow. He paused to listen to the voice, and when it spoke again, he followed it. He followed the disembodied voice through the Lost Woods without realizing that he was being led further in, becoming lost among its many tricky turns and unfamiliar landmarks. Finally, he paused with his hands on his knees, huffing.

"Who. . .is there?" he called out through the dark forest as the rain began to pick up. "Who is. . .calling me?"

"Hmm. . . This will do." Out of the darkness, a tall, slender and dark figure emerged. Straining to see this new creature, Link gradually began to realize that this person looked like. . .him?

It was true! This figure looked exactly like him, except that it was much taller and mature. . .and dark. His entire body was a shadow, and his hair was a white puff sticking out from his shadowed hat, and his eyes were alighted with an eerie red glow.

Link stepped back in shock, just as the dark-him stepped forward.

"So, you're the new hero," it said, kneeling down to Link's height, cradling its chin in thought.

"Y-Yeah. . .?," Link stammered, rubbing his eyes in wonder as if it were a figment created by the darkness. "Who are you—and why do you look like me?"

"Who am I. . ." It cradled its chin in thought. "I suppose. . .I'm all there is left. . . No, maybe I'm all there ever was."

"What?" Link asked it. "What are you talking about? Wait— hy do you look like me?!"

The figure stood up with a confused expression on its dark face.

"Hmm. . . Why do I. . .look like you?" it repeated, thoughtfully. "Heh, heh, the squirt doesn't know who I am. Hmm, and he's nothing but a squirt. Jeez, why does the Hero get smaller each time?"

"Hey! What are you talking about over there," Link demanded.

The shadow creature glanced down at him. With a shrug, it lifted Link by his tunic and then gently pressed him against a tree.

"Oh well," it said to itself, drawing a dark force into the palm of its free hand, "this just makes things easier on me. With this kid's height, he won't be able to do anything. So, my mission will be accomplished smoothly." It fixed its red eyes on Link as a smile struck across its face. "So, I grant you the power of the Dark Sage, Link! Have fun, kiddo! He's a bundle-a joy!"

With those words, the dark creature shoved his free hand into Link's chest, and in seconds, Link's cries of agony tore through the loud downpour of rain. The dark creature shoved its dark hand right through his bare flesh, and as it did so, an icy, agonizing pain began to take hold of Link's chest bone. Slowly, something heavy and cold began to take a hold of his chest, and in seconds, it slipped itself comfortably into it as if Link's chest bones were its familiar bed. In a matter of seconds, the dark creature removed its hand from Link's chest, and then watched as he slid down to the ground, lifeless.

"Well, my task is done," it said, slapping its hands together as if to brush off dust. "Hey, kid, bear that sage with honor. You have been granted the life and power of something bigger than yourself. Well, see ya around! For now, we part, but I'll see you around some time. . .Mister Hero!"

With a chuckle of self-amusement, the creature stepped back into the shadows, and then disappeared from view. Link, panting from the excruciating pain that just occurred in his chest, slowly climbed back to his feet. Then, curiously, he allowed his hand to wander down his shirt to his chest. A strange marking met his hands and the touch hurt him, so he retired his hand to his side in fear.

"What. . .just happened?" he wondered aloud. "It was so quick. . ." He rubbed the side of his head in thought. "What was that? Could I have actually seen that?" He glanced around his surroundings, and soon enough, he began to understand that he stood in the Lost Woods.

"Right," he continued, marching through the woods once more to where the Sacred Meadow lied beyond, "this is the Lost Woods. The darkness always tricks those who are unlucky."

Link managed to convince himself that he hadn't seen a darker, older version of himself, and that the pain in his chest wasn't anything but hunger from lack of food that day. As he marched through the unfamiliar forest, glancing around for any familiar landmark, he suddenly paused at the base of another wooden tunnel, and then listened through the downpour of rain. From somewhere nearby, he could hear something scurrying through the forest, pushing aside the trees beyond. And it was no small thing, either, but something at least the size of the Great Deku Tree, itself.

"What the. . .?"

Link drew his slingshot from his belt again, and then spun on his heel to embrace the attack. He loaded a deku seed cautiously as he scanned the dark forest. The creature—whatever it was—was approaching at a rapid pace. He could hear the groaning of upturned, and abandoned trees. His breath started to turn to gasps as he listened, and fear took hold of him, but he knew he had to defeat the creature before it could reach the Kokiri village—or worse, the Great Deku Tree.

Link steadied his hold on his slingshot, and then took aim to strike the creature down. He swallowed his heart down back into his chest, and opened his mouth to allow his lungs more oxygen. Then, through three, sturdy trees that stood ten feet ahead of him, a black-armored creature almost the size of the Great Deku Tree, itself, tore its way through to where Link stood with his slingshot raised for striking. As Link pulled back to strike, one red eye stared in his direction, and instantly, pain erupted in his chest.

His aim failed, and he fell to his knees as the pain began to wander through his body, injecting poison throughout. Panting and gasping from the agonizing pain, he slowly climbed back to his feet, and then took aim again. That one, large red eye continued to stare at him, and immediately he discovered its one weakness.

"You think. . ." Link began, grunting and fighting the pain, "that. . .because you can. . .make me. . .suffer"—he pulled back hard on the string, aiming directly for the eye as the pain began to grip his breath—"I. . .will give up? You will not harm the Great Deku tree, nor the forest any longer! You stop here—I'm not giving up on Saria and Taters!"

Suddenly, a strange power began to build up inside him. It crawled through his veins, blood, bones, masking and dominating the pain in his chest. He suddenly felt as if he had to scream to release this great power, or as if he could run a marathon and never stop running. It was a burst of powerful energy. Understanding where it came from, he pulled the string back dangerously to where it might pop, and then he loosened it just as a burst of yellow light split through the earth, illuminating the dark forest in a curious cheer.

Link collapsed to his knees as the overpowering energy fled his body with the attack. Panting, he stuck the slingshot back in his belt, and then fell on his hands and knees, gasping. Before him, the light soon disappeared into the dark storm, and the large creature dropped onto the ground in a large heap. Panting, relief swept through Link's body at this defeat. However, he hadn't much time to simmer in his feat before something emerged from the shadows

"Hmph. You are the 'Chosen One', after all."

Link looked up, and caught a glimpse of his face again. Grunting from the pain and exhaustion, he crawled back onto his knees, and then drew his slingshot.

"Hey, whoa, whoa, kid," it protested quickly, throwing its palms out in mercy. "You can't beat me. You can try, but you'll never be able to touch me."

"Who. . .are you?!" Link demanded of this creature. "Why are you here. . .? What did you put inside of me?!"

"I thought I explained all of this before," it grumbled to itself. "Okay, listen well, kid. You've been granted the Dark Sage—"

"Take it out of me!" Link interrupted loudly.

"What? Are you kidding?! That's impossible! Look, kid, it chose you as its new master, so you better be grateful!"

Sweat trickled down Link's face at these words. "Why is it impossible to take it out?" he demanded. "And why did it choose me?"

The dark creature stroked its chin in thought before shrugging. "Haven't a clue, kid. Sorry, but looks as if it wanted a squirt as its new master. So, there isn't anything you can do about it."

"Tell it to choose another master!" Link growled.

"Look, kid, you can't just do that. If you have a problem with it being in you, then go talk to this 'Great Deku Tree' of yours. He has all the answers, right? Anyway," the creature stood up at its fullest, glancing at the crumpled heap lying feet away from where they both stood, "you foiled one of my plans. Ah well"—he stepped away from Link, and then snapped his fingers—"Play with a baba plant, kid. I heard they're popular in this region."

Before Link could react, a plant sprouted right beneath him, and then shot up and grabbed him by his torso. The dark creature disappeared into the shadows once more with a final wave, and then Link was left there in the jaws of the poisonous plant, too exhausted to fend it off.