There really isn't any excuse except that I had two alternate scenes written and had to choose. Enjoy, and don't kill me!
Chapter Twelve
Sheik wasn't thinking clearly when he began his project. His mind was overtaken with thoughts of punishment, of revenge. Even death was too good for the one who had caused his lover such anguish. He'd thought no further than that.
Save the Minish? Hardly.
He created a prison designed to torment and destroy the demon slowly, a magical prison secured in Hyrule Castle in a courtyard nobody would ever use again. Back then, watching the white space bleed black with the evil reflected within it, a sort of vindictive pleasure washed through him. He enjoyed watching the demon squirm, enjoyed watching it scream as he had screamed in the endless, inky black void of the Dark Mirror.
Only later did he see his prison's true potential. Only later did he watch it closely as it purified the demon, removing its influence from the Minish boy, who was, miraculously, left intact. As the orb grew steadily whiter, a spark of an idea occurred to the Sheikah.
What of Dark Link? Of Ganon? Could his prison's purification powers not work for them too?
Well. . .
Dark Link's little orb necklace was an improved version of Sheik's prototype. As long as Dark Link wore it, it seemed to help him. His uncontrollable rage and jealousy was muted by its presence, and the purification of the Hero no longer effected him so strongly. But for Ganon. . . it could work, Sheik thought, if only he didn't have the Triforce of Power to aid in his escape from it. Even with the Triforce, a very powerful spell might hold him long enough, but that would take more magic than Sheik, the Princess, the Hero, or even the Sages combined possessed.
His projects had another flaw, one that Sheik was all too aware of. They drew much of their power from him, a constant, if slight, drain on his magic. Without him, they could not last.
The wind blew gently through the open window, bringing the sound of soft crying with it. Link's clear blue eyes blinked slowly open, looking about the room. Dark Link had not yet returned, so Link could not at first identify who had woken him.
"Usamihsiageno, asaduk etihsuruy. Please, forgive me." Came a broken whisper. Link's eyes darted to the window, where a nearly transparent figure hovered. The small being was curled tightly into a ball, violet-covered head tucked tightly between red-clad legs. It slowly lifted its head, lavender locks parting to reveal doleful red eyes.
"Please." It whispered again, floating back and through the window.
"Wait!" Scrambling from the bed so fast he nearly tumbled from it, Link pulled on his hat and clambered from the window, following after the ghost-like form. "Wait for me!"
Past silent shops and darkened alleyways Link ran, always following the ghost. No matter how quickly he ran, the figure remained just ahead of him, sometimes curled up and crying as if it didn't know he was there, sometimes staring at him with eyes so full of pain it made Link's gut wrench. It led him deeper into a seedier part of the town, past buildings that might once have been quite grand, but were now old and dilapidated, with broken windows and boarded-up doors.
It hovered over a metal grating for only a moment before slowly sinking out of sight. "Please," it whispered, "Forgive me. I couldn't stop him. I tried, I tried. . . "
"Wait! Forgive you for what? Stop who? Wait!" Link heaved the grating out of the way, climbing down, down the ladder to what looked like an old, long-unused tunnel. They were below the sewers, if the dripping along the walls was any indication. The gray stone walls were roughly cut, with only the barest hints of what might have been attempts to carve a coat of arms every hundred feet or so.
The being hovered silently at the end of the tunnel, still mumbling to itself as though it did not see him. Link sprinted after it, his eyes unhindered by the darkness.
The figure hovered by a slab of stone that differed from the rest of the tunnel. When Link drew near, it vanished through it. Pausing a moment to catch his breath, Link examined the area. Running his hands lightly over the stone, his fingers caught on a hidden crack, revealing a door. Further along the wall he found three levers set back into an alcove, scraps of nearby decaying fabric suggesting the levers had once been hidden from sight.
"Maybe. . . " Link pulled the first lever. A groaning bellow like the sound of a wounded Moblin rang out, and large, screaming rats dropped down around him. Link yelped, grabbing a nearby stick to beat them off. Lunging for the second handle, he pulled it, and after a moment the door creaked opened. Link lunged through it, the door slamming shut behind him a moment later. The squeals of the mad rats were abruptly cut off.
Panting, Link sat for a moment to nurse the various bite marks on his skin.
"Asaduk etihsuruy." The figure floated near the ceiling on top of a thick, collapsed column. Link began to climb, the many crumbling columns of ancient stone serving as his sometimes less-than-stable handholds.
"Wait! I want to help you!" He called, the figure moving away as he drew nearer.
The quiet whisper came again. "I'm so sorry, so very, very sorry." The tips of red sandals vanished through a trapdoor in the ceiling as Link reached it. The gap between the trapdoor and the last column still standing was no more than four feet; a man would have to crouch to stand atop it, but the top of Link's hat didn't even brush against it.
Standing on his tiptoes, head tilted back, Link examined the face of the trapdoor. Unlike the rest of the tunnel it had once been beautifully painted, though the colors had long since faded. It was ornately carved, with images of the three Goddesses surrounding their symbol, the Triforce. Link pushed up against it. It didn't budge.
Scowling, Link removed the violet gloves Ralis had given him and threw his slight weight against the trapdoor, his left hand landing squarely in the center of the Triforce. The mark on his left hand began to glow, the lower right triangle much more brilliantly than the other two. The carvings lit up in response, the Triforce glowing intensely golden while each of the Goddesses flared their respective color; Din, surrounded by dancing ruby flames, Naryu, caressed by sapphire waters, and most brightly of all glinted the emerald Goddess of life, Farore, whom Sheik had said smiled upon him.
The door swung open, carrying him with it. Link tumbled forward onto lush grass, undisturbed for many years. Gazing upwards, Link saw again the wonderful starry sky that had greeted him at the top of the Zora's waterfall. The moon hung full and low in the sky to light his way, although he didn't need it.
The lavender being was nowhere to be seen.
Looking about, Link found himself again surrounded by stone. In front of him was a shrine of sorts, an empty pedestal with an ancient carving set behind it. The place pulsed faintly with familiar magic, painfully familiar magic.
"Sheik. . ." Link whispered, standing slowly and looking about hopefully as if his Sheikah guardian would emerge from the shadows. "I feel your magic Sheik. Please, Shadow really needs you."
Stepping closer to the source of the magic, Link drew nearer to the shrine. The inscriptions were written in a text he couldn't read, but he recognized the shrine from a picture in one of Sheik's books. It seemed to glow with an odd sort of light all its own, and though the magic was weak, Link felt his hope rise.
"Sheik? Are you there?" Link lifted his left hand, placing it over the eye of the carved monster, where the light glowed most brightly. The magic flared, and the illusion shattered. Link let out a yelp, throwing his arms up to cover his face.
When he could see again, Link stared in wonder. Where the carving behind the shrine had been there was now a large Sheikah eye, the Eye of Truth. The pupil of the eye glowed brightly, like a window to another world where darkness never reigned.
"Sheik!" Link hurried forward, gripping the edge of the pupil to pull himself up and peer inside.
Sheik wasn't there.
Instead, the figure he'd chased through the streets and down the tunnel sat in the center of an almost pure-white room, marred only by a narrow strip of black. He was dressed in a lavender tunic, cloak and hat, with red pants and sandals. His skin, Link now saw, was a pale purple-gray. His ears were slightly pointed, almost like Link's own. His eyes, however, were bright red; not blood like Sheik's, or ruby like Shadow's, simply red. Those eyes stared at him, wide and frightened like a young child's. Tear tracks trailed down his cheeks. He had obviously been crying.
"L-Link? Hero?" The whisper was so quiet Link might not have heard it had he been anything but Hylian. Hoisting himself up to perch on the edge of the pupil, Link smiled comfortingly and held out his hand.
"Hey, it's all right. Here, take my hand. I'll help you out, you don't have to cry anymore." Link urged softly.
The other boy, red eyes blinking slowly, looked from the proffered hand to Link's face uncertainly. "Hero, asaduk etihsuruy? Do you forgive me, Hero, for what I've done?"
Link blinked, and when his eyes opened they were flecked with not just violet this time, but green and red, with subtle hints of a darker blue as well. "You've already been forgiven."
A slow, relieved smile spread across the boy's face, his breathing so ragged that Link thought he might cry again. The boy threw himself forward, chains of magic snapping like brittle twine, to grab Link's hand, his lifeline. Link gave one firm tug, and together they tumbled back, out of the prison of white.
The Eye of Truth glowed so brightly Link and the other boy were forced to cover their eyes. Cracks appeared along the surface of the eye, spreading deeper and deeper until the image shattered and dissolved into bits of magic, flying up and away over the castle walls. Only old stone remained, a forgotten shrine now rendered illegible by the wind and rains.
Link turned towards the boy, surprised to find him sobbing still. "Hey, are you alright? What was that? Hey? Why are you crying?" He placed a hand on one lavender-covered shoulder, and abruptly found himself with an armful of this other boy, who clung to him as though his very life depended on it.
"Thank you! Thank you Link!" He wailed piteously.
Link's face flushed as he patted his back awkwardly. "Hey, it's all right. I couldn't just leave you there. What's your name, anyway?"
The boy sniffled, rubbing at his too-red eyes. "Vaati. My name is Vaati."
Vaati. The name seemed familiar, somehow.
"Over here! It came from in here!"
Link whipped about to face a door he hadn't noticed earlier (was it there before?). Outside, rough voices and clanking metal announced the presence of what Link assumed were palace guards. Acting quickly, Link wrapped him arms around Vaati and pulled the shadows around them both, placing a hand over the boy's mouth to silence him.
It was only natural that the explosion of magic had been felt elsewhere, Link thought. They must have come to investigate.
Two heavy bangs and the doors slammed open, filling the courtyard with armored guards, spears held at the ready. One of them held up a strange lantern covered by an ornate cloth. Holding it high, he whipped off the cloth, revealing the blinding light held within its metal frame.
A shadow-disperser.
With a start, Link noticed the shadows withdrawing from them, burned away by the strength of the light. The pair of them exchanged startled glances and ran, losing the last shreds of their shadowy protection.
"Get them!"
Tearing across the long grass they bolted for a second door (Link was positive that one hadn't been there five minutes ago) almost hidden beneath an archway. Throwing their weight against it they just managed to open it enough to squeeze out, darting down the blue-carpeted hall beyond.
On and on they ran down identical halls, past portraits of regal monarchs, the kings looking down with haughty eyes while the beautiful queens smiled with eyes too wise. Hylian Royal Guards yelled after them, threats of pain and punishment that only spurred the two to run faster. The boys whipped about a corner, and Vaati let out a gasp.
A dead end.
Whirling about, the clanking of the soldiers drawing ever nearer, Link spotted a window set high in the castle wall. He took a running leap and jumped for it, his fingers only just catching the edge before he slipped, though he didn't fall.
Vaati floated in the air by the windowsill, grasping Link's left wrist in his hand. He dropped a foot, the strain of the magic visible on his face as he scrambled to settle on a firm perch, bracing himself on the stone sill as he hauled Link up, teeth gritted and eyes screwed shut in a grimace.
Link climbed up onto the sill, staring at Vaati in wonder. The boy was a magician? A shout from the soldiers below drew him out of his reverie, and Link shoved against the window, forcing it to open out onto the roof beyond.
Link leapt out and Vaati climbed down more slowly, exhausted by his minor use of magic after so long without his power. Link took his arm, tugging him across the wooden tiles. Rain poured down around them. The tiles were wet and slippery, slowing their progress. The guards had climbed out after them; Link could hear them cursing as their heavy armor unbalanced them.
"Look!" Vaati tugged at Link's tunic, pointing towards the other end of the roof. More guards. They were surrounded.
"Only one thing to do!" Link shouted to be heard over the downpour. "Go up!" Leaping as high as he could, Link grabbed hold of the edge to pull himself up to the roof above. Leaning back over the drop precariously, he extended a hand to help the weary Vaati up.
Together, they scrambled upwards, their eyes on a window high above while the guards cursed and swore down below. Rain spattered in their eyes and made their progress slow and difficult. They were nearly to the flattened rooftop when it happened.
The shingle in Vaati's hand suddenly came loose and he slipped, losing his footing and sliding backwards, desperately scrambling for purchase. Link threw himself sideways in an attempt to stop the other's fall, but lost his grip on the slick rooftop. Together they fell, plummeting backwards towards the shouting guards and unforgiving ground below.
A swirl of darkness and shadow shot between the guards, knocking many of them screaming and cursing onto the flagstones. It flew across the top of the building, swooping down to catch Link and Vaati in its grasp. The guards that had thus far managed to stay on their feet screamed and threw themselves to the side as the darkness darted back between them and over the castle walls.
The swirl of shadows and magic settled in one of the gardens, hidden behind a wall of roses. There, out of sight from prying eyes, it dissipated to reveal Dark Link, standing with his arms wrapped around them both. His expression told Link he was furious, and perhaps two seconds away from scolding him severely for his rashness-
"Shadow!" The plaintive cry rose not from Link, but Vaati, who threw his arms around the shadow and clung as though he'd never let go again. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm so, so sorry! I wanted to tell you, truly I did, but the Sheikah wouldn't let me!"
Link watched, bewildered as his shadow's face changed from incredulity to realization to anger.
"Sheik." The name was spat with more venom than Link had ever heard his shadow direct at Sheik. His ruby eyes were dark with rage as he clutched Vaati to him like a desperate mother who'd only just found her missing child once again.
None of them noticed the orb around Dark Link's neck crack, or the venomous black vapor that leaked from it.
What felt like an eternity passed in silence while Dark Link attempted to control his temper. When he spoke again, the news was not welcome. "Come. In this chaos we'll never be able to find the princess, and dawn is near, regardless." The shadows gathered again and they left the castle, returning to the darkened streets of Castle Town. Taking each boy's hand Dark Link led them quickly down the streets towards the rented tavern room.
"Oh Darkling, my precious, it's time to return to me!" That hated, high crooning voice called.
Link turned, but none of them had time to react before she was upon them, her hands around Dark Link's throat then gone again. She landed some feet away, perched elegantly atop an old marble column, something held high in her grasp. It took Link a moment to recognize it, but when he did his eyes widened in horror.
Dark Zelda held Dark Link's necklace aloft, the one Dark Link had told Link he must never remove. Unlike the last time Link saw it, however, this time it was completely black.
"Don't you dare!" Dark Link's voice came out strangled, frightened. He glared at Dark Zelda heatedly, stepping forward to place himself between her and his boys.
"Don't I dare what, Darkling dear?" She asked in mock-innocence, turning the orb over in her hand. "Oh look, it's cracked already! Well, what use is that? Why don't I just. . ." Her fist tightened around the necklace, the orb crumbling into dust.
"NO!"
They weren't certain who shouted it, but the next moment the shards of the orb exploded with energy so black and terrible that it pushed Link and Vaati back, sending them flying into the wall behind. Ribbons of darkness shot up around Dark Link, crackling in the air with their power. They surged around and into him, lifting him bodily so that he hovered, head thrown back and back arched as he screamed his pain to the heavens.
As quickly as it began, it stopped, and Dark Link dropped to the ground in a sizzling heap. Link forced himself away from the wall, running to his shadow's side. "Shadow!"
Dark Link threw out his hand and Link was tossed back once more, hitting the brick wall with a sickening thud. Rising to his knees Dark Link began to cackle, and when he lifted his ruby eyes they glinted with madness and anger, but most of all they reflected pure evil.
Uh-oh. . . *gulps and hides* Hey, leave a review please, and don't forget to check out my poll.
Thank you to the Chapter Eleven reviewers Kick-Aft (probably a combination of forgetting, not trusting the Zora, and protectiveness. Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.), Darkwolflink1 (Dun dun duuunn. . . .maybe you were right the first time about OoT Link. . . honestly, I make a lot of this up as I go, or randomly decide to change stuff.), Sergeant Dreamer, and FourSwordsAddict (I'm interested to see how your opinions of the pairings change over time.)