The sun was setting low behind Death Mountain when Shiro reached Lake Hylia. He looked at the smoke billowing above the volcano. As far back as he could remember, there was a constant ring of smoke over Death Mountain but it looked different somehow. The smoke seemed to have taken on more of a reddish hue than its usual ashen gray.
"Must be close to erupting again," he reasoned aloud.
He walked closer to the bridge leading to the islands in the center of the vast lake. Seeing Koume and Kotake on the larger of the two islands, he made his way slowly across the rickety old rope bridge. Upon reaching the end of the bridge, Shiro found that the two women were not alone.
A tall man, with armor black as night and hair the color of fire was leaning against the old gnarled tree on the island, his arms folded across his chest. Shiro recognized him right away, being hard for anyone to forget a person like that. The three turned to Shiro, all smiling at him warmly, invitingly.
"Ah my dear boy!" the tall man exclaimed pushing himself away from the tree and making his way to Shiro.
"You're the man that was at the temple..."
"Yes, I do indeed remember you lad. You seemed to have such promise that I could not help but try to locate you."
"What do you want of me?" Shiro asked, confused. "I am no warrior nor am I filled with magic that may prove useful."
The man nodded slowly, considering the boy's words, "Even the lowest of creatures may prove useful given the right situation. I am Ganondorf," the man introduced, his fist meeting his chest in salute.
"Shiro," he replied with a simple bow.
"I have seen potential in you dear Shiro. I merely wish to tap that potential and make you stronger, more powerful than you have ever been."
"Why? What do you wish to gain?"
"My boy, I just wish to protect the Golden Power from those who are unworthy."
"Such as?"
"Such as the false hero from the forest. The so called hero of time."
"Why do you doubt his abilities to become this hero of time?"
"Why would a 'hero' remove the one element in this world that would aid in destroying the evil in this world? To take this and hide it and himself away?"
Shiro was silent. He honestly had no answer why this hero would not act as such.
"Not only did he hoard away the Master Sword, but he will soon thirst for more power..." Koume stated.
"He will soon seek the power of the sages..." Kotake concluded.
"What do you want from me then?" Shiro questioned, still somewhat confused.
"We merely asked that you help us to protect the power of the sage of water. To act as a guardian of the water temple," Ganondorf answered.
Shiro stood in thought for a long moment. The only noises to be heard was the gentle lapping of ripples from the lake, the distant magpies, and a lone skulltula coming out for the night. Shiro stared at the moon that was beginning to peek over Death Mountain. He had always wanted to be a hero, to make a difference in the world. Maybe this was his chance.
"I'll do it," he said, turning back to the three.
"Splendid," Ganondorf replied. "May the ritual begin."
Ganondorf produced a set of black adventurers garb, a black shield that stretched from Shiro's left shoulder to his right, and a sword made of a mysterious black metal that appeared strong but was quite light.
"This shall be your uniform, proving your fealty to me."
Shiro silently suited up, donning the clothing that had been presented to him. He then strapped the ebony scabbard to his back along with his shield. His right fist came across his chest with an audible thump.
"Koume! Kotake! You may begin the ritual."
Slowly they circled him, placing glowing purple powder in a pattern around him. He watched, mesmerized as they meticulously laid the powder. The twin sorceresses then floated to either side of Shiro. They began moving their arms and chanting unfamiliar words.
The purple powder glowed brightly before turning black as pitch. The powder quickly turned to something more like vines that crept their way closer to Shiro. They wrapped around his feet and inched upward slowly.
Suddenly, the vines pierced the dark leather of Shiro's boots, piercing his feet and ankles. Needle sharp tendrils of magic wrapped their way up Shiro's legs slowly making their way upward.
"What's going on?!" he demanded.
The sorceresses said nothing, merely continuing the dark magic ritual. The vines continuing to climb further up their victim became needle pricks burrowing into his skin to bind themselves.
Panicking, Shiro grabbed at the vines ripping the barbs out of his arms. He screamed in pain as the barbed vines ripped through his flesh leaving bloody gashes in their wake.
The dark magic wrapped around his wrists and hands pulling downward sharply, causing Shiro to buckle and fall to his knees. His eyes widened in fear as he struggled against his bonds. He screamed as the dark magic crept up his neck, the barbs burrowing sharply into his flesh.
Upon reaching his face, the tendrils took on the role of needles, stitching themselves into a permanent mask replacing Shiro's face. Two vines snaked their way to his ears, stretching and slicing them into sharp points. The final stage gouged Shiro's eyes, replacing the sharp green with sinister red.
Shiro's lifeless body lay on the white marble slab in the middle of Lake Hylia. The only detectable movement came from the pulsating dark magic that engulfed him. An hour passed and the pulsing magic had fully entered him.
"It is done..." Koume declared circling the body.
"Your champion is born..." stated Kotake.
"What of the boy?" Ganondorf asked, his deep voice level.
"He is technically no more..." Koume replied.
"Technically?" Ganondorf questioned.
"His body remains as a vessel only..." Kotake explained further.
"Excellent," he replied coolly.
They watched as the left hand of the mass of darkness slowly crept in front of him, pressing hard against the ground. He slowly pushed himself to a standing position. His body swayed slightly as the weight of the darkness that now filled his entire body. He raised his red glowing eyes to the three figures before him.
"My liege..." he rasped in a voice sounding of echoes of itself.
Ganondorf circled the apparition, inspecting Twinrova's work.
"Shiro, my boy," Ganondorf called with false kindness.
"Who is this Shiro? I am Link," his voice echoing sinisterly.
He gave a bow and finished his salute his arm stiffly at his side. Turning, he stiffly marched to the blue light of the magic portal that opened in the center of the island. Stepping in the center, he faced them, giving a final salute from his chest, and was whisked into the depths of the temple that lie deep within the confines of Lake Hylia.