Chapter 3

He took refuge atop the hill once again. He sat with his knees to his chest, his head buried in his arms. His body shook violently as he cried heavily. He thought he heard someone walk up to him, but he ignored it. Then he felt a hard kick to his side. He looked up and saw Link, who was staring at him bitterly.

"I finally found you..." he said.

Dark stared at him, then lowered his head. Link looked at him, confused.

"If you're going to kill me, then do it...I have no reason to live anymore..." he whispered, his voice husky & cracking from crying.

Link sighed and sat down next to him. Dark looked at him, his eyes distant & glossy.

"What happened to you to make you this miserable, shadow?"

Dark laughed.

"A lot has happened to me, and i'm only starting to remember...Do you know what it's like to be called a monster? Cause I do..."

Link stood up and drew his sword. Dark looked up at him again and smirked.

"That's the man I saw in the temple...He has finally decided to show up..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that you are a different person when you fight. You block out your emotions so they won't keep you form killing your opponent, such as me. I still don't understand why you let me live..."

"Even I don't know that one..." he said as he got into his battle stance.

"I will not fight. I have no reason to fight. Not even to protect myself. I no longer care what happens. You see, this is what happens when you become broken inside. You find out that you just want to die. It's a horrible feeling, being this empty inside. I hope you never have to experience this kind of hopelessness I feel..."

Link stood frozen, staring at him. Dark chuckled softly, then looked up at the sky.

"I really thought tonight would be different. I thought I had a life to live...But I was wrong. I'm nothing more than a shadow in this world. I'm sorry for everything that I have done. I can't change the past, but I can at least ask for forgiveness, even if I don't deserve it..."

"You poor creature...What has this world done to you? Instead of fighting, I should have helped you...Maybe then-"

"It wouldn't have changed anything. I will always be hated and feared for what I am...A monster..."

"Stop calling yourself that...I heard of the tales of the monster that ravaged this realm for five years, but you aren't that anymore...You can feel things and think, nothing any monster could do...I can tell."

"I tried explaining that to someone once, but she just ran away..."

"She?"

"...Malon..."

"Heh, I thought she helped you...How long did you stay at the ranch?"

"Not even the night...She said I could talk to her about anything, and when I explained to her what I knew about myself, she filled in the gaps and fleed from me...She even gave me a present..." he said, pulling out the tiny music box.

"Such a beautiful melody, yet when I look at it, all I see is my reflection and my past self's deeds...Here, I want you to take it...I can't keep it after what happened..." he whispered as he shoved the box into Link's hands.

"I don't think I should..."

"I said to take it...It only brings me pain...Please, I beg of you...Take it..."

"I will...What will you do now?" Link asked.

"I don't know...I can't go back to the ranch...I won't go back to the Water Temple...I have no home..." Dark said as he stood up.

Link placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You are welcome to stay at my place...If you want..."

"...How did we go from hating each other to respecting each other?"

"Through talking...I should have done it the first time...Then I would have learned about your misery...I got so used to fighting mindless beasts that when I got to you, I didn't realize you were a person deep down..."

Dark smiled weakly and nodded slowly.

"I wish I could tell Malon how sorry I am for everything..."

"You don't have to..."

Dark heard the velvet voice again. He turned around and saw Malon, smiling through tears.

"Malon! I-"

"You don't have to say anything...It was wrong of me to say such things to you...You are as much a person as I am. You just look different." she said through a giggle.

"Malon..." Dark whispered as he embraced her.

"I'm so glad everything worked out like it should..." Link said as he turned to leave them.

"Where are you going?" asked Malon.

"I'm off to defeat Ganondorf once and for all. I have everything I need to fight the final battle. If I come out alive, I hope to see you two again..." he said with a wink.

Then he ran off towards the castle and was soon out of sight.

"I'm sure he will be fine. He is the Hero of Time after all..."

"Dark, you do not know how sorry I am for acting that way. After I calmed down, I realized that I could have hurt you terribly. You're better now, aren't you?"

"I am...If it wasn't for him, I probably would have-"

Malon hugged him tighter.

"Please do not say it...Let's just go home..." she said as she pulled away.

Dark looked into her sapphire eyes and smiled. For once he didn't hate his reflection. He pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers. She smiled as she kissed back. He knew at that moment that he could finally experiance true happieness with the woman he loved.