And now, the moment most of you have been waiting for!

Chapter 24: Facing Fears

"Link! Oh Link! I thought you were going to leave me behind!" Faith said as she leaped out of the arms of the man who caught her. When she looked into his eyes however she had her doubts that it was really Link. "Hey, Link what's wrong? You're eyes look different." Faith started to back away as a shiver went up her spine. Now that she looked again she realized Link's eyes were the only thing different. His tunic was not black because of the darkness of the room, it really was black. And the color of his hair was not due to the mist either, it really was white. But she still couldn't shake that his eyes were red, blood red but only where there was supposed to be that calming blue that could melt her fears in a second. Faith quickly noticed that his hand was reaching for his sword. "Link, what are…? Why?" She couldn't find the words she wanted. Her heart was pounding because she knew that this wasn't Link despite him having the same height, same muscle structure as far as she could tell, and the same hairstyle that fell softly on his face making her feel like a little school girl. Faith started to step backward as his hand reached the sword. Tears started to fill her eyes as she backed away trying to get out of his reach. "Who are you and why do you look like Link?"

"So you finally realized that I'm not that bumbling idiot," he said raising his sword to eye level. His eyes measured the sharpness of the blade. "This should slice right through your flesh."

Faith's eyes widened with fear. Her mind also realized the truth of the situation, she would have to fight him whether she wanted to or not. However she also knew that she could never defeat him with the Kokiri Sword. "You didn't answer my question, who are you and why do you look like Link?" Faith was trying to distract him while she tried to think of something that would help her fight him.

"Well I guess it's only fair to let you know who's going to kill you. The reason I look like the idiot you are traveling with is because I am his reflection. This room creates reflections of whoever enters here. However, we are opposites of their personalities, and also have some differences of their looks. Instead of having blonde hair and blue eyes, I have white hair and red eyes,"

"I can clearly see that," Faith said taking a small step backward. In her step she felt the weight of the bag she held across her back. She remembered her two scimitars that she still carried with her in it. She knew that those would be the key to beating him.

"I've answered both your questions though. I am the buffoon's reflection, Dark Link, if you wish to call me. Now, I have to kill you."

"If this room creates reflection of everyone, then where is my reflection?" Faith asked still trying to distract Dark Link.

"I thought you were supposed to be smart, surely who can guess where she is."

"Well there are two places. She's hiding somewhere waiting to kill me if you can't or she's fighting Link." Faith said. What she said led to more thoughts and worries. If Link was fighting her reflection then maybe he was hurt. If her reflection was trying to fight Link with a version of the Kokiri sword she wouldn't win but this was if she was fighting fair. She had a feeling that neither one of these two was going to fight fair.

"She's fighting your friend of course. And she'll kill him. Hyrule will never be saved and you will pay for the crimes you committed in Kakariko." Dark Link stepped toward Faith as he spoke. His lips curled in a smirk.

Faith's guard dropped. 'Does he really know about what happened in Kakariko?' Faith thought seeing the look on his face. "I don't know what you're talking about." Faith said after a pause.

"Your hesitation says otherwise. You know exactly what I'm talking about. You were the only one who went to Kakariko that day and left, weren't you? You cause all those Gerudo's to suffer because of your curiosity."

"You're wrong," Faith said as her voiced cracked. Tears began to swell in her eyes again. She didn't want to hear anyone tell her what had been plaguing her the day she found Link. Kakariko had been why she was in that field when Link appeared. "You're wrong!" She reached behind her and pulled out her scimitars. However her draw was slow and while she was reaching back she was completely unguarded.

Dark Link chose this moment to strike. Putting quite a bit of force behind the swing, he sliced at Faith's stomach.

Faith only had enough time to begin to step back. She avoided most of the attack but was still hit deep enough for her to begin bleeding. With scimitars in her hands, Faith brought her arms back down. Making sure she didn't cut herself on the blades of the scimitars Faith covered the cut on her stomach with one arm. It wasn't incredibly deep but she could still feel the sting. "You'll regret that." Faith's tears began to fall ad she posed her body for fighting.

"Just like I bet Link regrets that you're the one he has to travel with. You know you just get in his way," Dark Link said beginning to circle Faith.

This time Faith couldn't shake what Dark Link said. Link himself had said something that confirmed what Dark Link said. Her arms lowered as her mind ran into thought. 'Link's even been acting as though I'm in his way. I can't fight underwater so why did I even come into this temple?'

Dark Link took this opportunity to again launch an attack. This time he tried to remove Faith's arm.

"FAITH, don't listen to him! He's going to attack you!" Rosa shouted in Faith's ear.

More because of the volume of her voice rather than because of what Rosa said, Faith raised her arms and turned. Yet again she avoided most of the attack but was still scratched by Dark Link's blade. Faith pulled her mind away from her thoughts and into the fight. The pain in her stomach flared as she moved away from Dark Link. Faith didn't bother saying a word. Her fear took over and she ran.

"That won't help you," Dark Link called after her. He disappeared into the mist.

Faith kept her scimitars in hand and kept running. She didn't know where she was going or why she was running. She just knew she couldn't stay still.

"I make you cry. I make you hurt.
You must give in, I won't desert.
You can not run, you can not hide,
I know your secrets deep inside,
I am the voice you always hear.
I am fear,"

Faith heard it but she didn't know who or what it was. The voice that was chanting made her skin crawl. Her feet gave out and she lost all balance. With a splash of the water that lined the floor, Faith hit the ground hard. Her whole body hurt now. If she couldn't stop him soon Faith would not be able to go on.

"Are you ready to fight little one?" Dark Link asked appearing behind her. "Or are you too afraid to move?"

Faith stumbled to her feet and held her scimitars at the ready. Her fears were causing her heart to race. Without even thinking Faith screamed and swung her scimitars. She felt them hit metal and began to swing faster and harder. She lost all sense of thought as tears flooded her eyes. She was terrified and all she could do to keep herself from collapsing onto the floor and giving up was to keep swinging. It wasn't until Dark Link screamed in agony that Faith realized her scimitars had hit their mark and left an almost fatal wound. She stepped back in a morbid realization.

"You may have one this battle, but your time will come," Dark link said before he and the mist disappeared.

Faith didn't realize the mist had lifted till she heard footsteps approaching behind her.

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When the mist lifted Link saw Faith standing covered in scrapes and blood. He ran toward her hoping to make sure she could continue on.

Faith quickly turned with her scimitars still at the ready.

Link stopped quickly when he saw Faith turn. He saw in her eyes how scared she was. He waited to make sure she calmed before he spoke.

When Faith saw link she dropped in scimitars, ran to Link, threw her arms around his waist, put her face in his shirt, and began to cry like a very small child.

For a second Link went stiff with surprise. He had never actually had someone hug him like this before. He loosened a bit and put his arms around her. "It's alright. They're gone now." He said not really knowing what to do.

Faith let go and looked up at Link. She was glad that it was really him. Her arm and her stomach suddenly screamed with pain. Using her injured arm to cover her stomach, she covered her injured arm with her good arm.

"Here," Link said pulling out a glass bottle. Inside the glass was a pink light. "Open this bottle," he added handing the bottle to Faith.

Cradling it between her injured arm and her chest, Faith removed the lid. A fairy flew out of the jar and flew around Faith. Her injuries healed instantly. "You should have saved it for yourself," Faith said handing Link back the bottle.

"You needed it, plus there should be a few other fairies in here so I can catch more," He shrugged now come on, there should be a chest in the next room that'll make things a lot easier," Link said running toward the next room.

Faith was a little surprised. "Hey wait up!" She said running after him.

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I'll skip my usual chit-chatting and go straight to REVIEWER RESPONSES!

Chips Dip: Hope you enjoyed D Link!

Sakume: Glad you were surprised! And I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the last!

Lisilgirl: I read your story! Really like it!

P.S. Check out each other's stories! I think you'll all like reading them! I know I enjoy them!