Here we are. Fun fact: This story now has more words than the first one! Anyways, this is a very important chapter. I have no clue if it'll be as impactful as I hope, but that's something I've got to just sit and find out. Please enjoy.
-Joost

A Terminian and the Twilight of Danger
Chapter 18: Threshold of Darkness

His red eyes were piercing. Every piece of clothing that was on his body was an exact copy of Link's, the only difference being they were not green, white, or anything. Just pitch black. Even his face was the color of charcoal.

Link own eyes returned to normal, but he didn't know what to do. Being faced with the mirror man nearly put him into shock. But it was the fact that now there was no mirror. This time, there was more than an illusion to fear.

Both boys seemed to copy the others' movements. Finally, they got out of sync and the boy of the dark looked at his hand.

"Wow… It… It worked." He said, his voice being just as strange as it was when he spoke to Link in the mirror.

"This… this can't be real." Link stuttered, stumbling backwards.

"Oh, but I think this is." The incarnation said.

"What are you?"

"Really?" The teen asked rhetorically, smirking. He gestured towards his clothes, the weapons strapped onto his back, and his own face. "It's not that hard to get. I'm you."

That line sent a chill down Link's spine. Then, a memory came back to him, and he knew why he was so afraid. "No… You're that dark copy of me. In the Water Temple… that tree. That room…"

"About time you figured it out!" Koume's voice rang from the distance, and Link turned to see one of the witch sisters.

"That little drink we gave you. Right from the very tree of that old room!" Koume's lips formed a smirk, and she waved her wand to project a shield over herself. She didn't want the hero to try anything.

"You don't seem so sure of yourself." The interloper remarked. "Link… Hero of Termina. Defender of the So-Called 'Faith'."

Link frowned at the mockery of the title given to him by Zelda.

"You… You think yourself as some kind of hero, don't you?" Dark Link was already proving his worth to the witch through his sarcasm alone. Link didn't even make any kind of pithy comeback.

Those words caused him to go on a little bit of an introspection of himself. 'Some kind of hero'? After all that had happened since he returned to Hyrule, was he still a hero? He had hurt a number of people and caused a lot of trouble. He was the entire reason the falcon of lightning, the dream demon, and that horrendous spider were even brought to Hyrule. His own mind was too preoccupied to notice the fist flying towards his face.

"Too easy." Dark Link snickered as he punched his lighter self. Link stumbled and hit the water, his hair getting wet once more.

Instincts took over and Link got back upright and swung. Dark Link stepped back to avoid the blow, and he smirked when his variant flailed around, completely missing every swing he made.

"Link, just stop. This is embarrassing." Link's darker half mocked him, and he ceased his fruitless assault.

"Let me show you how it's done." Dark Link took one step forward and slammed his fist into Link's gut. The hero heaved, the wind getting knocked out of his lungs. Then Dark Link brought his elbow up and rammed it into Link's back. There, he fell to the ground again.

"Tsk, tsk. You're off your game." Dark Link taunted, sarcastically shrugging before kicking Link in the chest, taking his breath away once more.

Link held his stomach. Pain surged through his torso and Koume couldn't hold back her laughter. She was finally able to see the hero at his worst, no longer needing the help of creatures hailing from across the multiverse. Her face was filled with glee as she watched him try and get his bearings again.

"Honestly, I expected better from myself." Dark Link prepared to swing at his counterpart again, but he was halted.

Link caught Dark Link's fist. He may have not seen the first flurry of attacks coming, but he could see where a next one may land. His darker half fought just the same as he did, only less merciful.

"I'm not entirely helpless." Link said, no emotion accompanying his words. He jerked Dark Link's arm down and headbutted him, making him stagger backwards while holding his forehead.

"Ah!" Dark Link grunted as he tried to reorient himself. When his sight went back to normal, he saw Link's own fist extend towards his face. It connected directly with his nose, and he was sent backwards again.

Before Dark Link could recover, Link unsheathed the Gilded Sword and held it steady. When his shadow variant saw it, he did the same. He held an exact replica of the Gilded Sword, only shrouded in darkness. Both boys gave guttural yells as they engaged in a duel.

Link moved his hand up, and so did Dark Link. Sparks flew as the blades connected, sizzling out when they landed in the water. Then the hero tried to attack with a bottom swipe, but it was parried by the one of the dark. Then they both brought their weapons together by their chests, and they stayed locked in place.

The sound of metal scraping against metal made their ears want to bleed, and Link and Dark Link gritted their teeth and grunted, trying to overpower the other. Every time one pushed their sword to try and get an advantage, the other forced them back. They remained in this dance for a while before they both screamed, frustrated about how the battle was going nowhere.

Then, Dark Link had an idea that his counterpart didn't. He brought his boot up and kicked in Link's knee, forcing him to kneel. The shadow dropped his sword and brought his fist to the hero's face.

Link reached up and yanked on Dark Link's belt in retaliation, making him lose balance. There, he tackled him and brought him to the ground, both boys getting into a wrestling match in the water.

Koume laughed at the sight of her enemy fighting himself. She hadn't gotten a kick out of something like this in eons! It almost turned into a personal bet on who would win. She had her rupees on the one that seemed to be more ruthless.

Link reached with his right arm and grabbed onto his variant's left shoulder, and the other did the same. They remained still, unable to break through the strength of their opponent. It seemed like the battle would be at a standstill until an arrow pierced Dark Link's arm.

"Get away from him!" Romani yelled, lowering her bow. Link took the opportunity to shove his shadow aside and look up.

Romani, Jim, Skull Kid, Tatl, Tael, and Navi were at the door across the room. Link thanked the goddesses that Kotake hadn't found them before they arrived.

"WHAT?!" Koume screamed at the sight of the heroes, and she looked at Dark Link with desperation.

"Guys!" Link exclaimed, scrambling to his feet and meeting up with them.

"Link! We found you!" Skull Kid jumped into the air and struck a pose.

"So, what's going on?" Jim didn't have time to be surprised by the presence of Dark Link. His own 'hero mode' was in full effect.

"Dark copy. Fight it." Link said, going into a defensive position with his sword and shield. His friends did the same, and the group prepared to battle evil incarnate.

"What happened while I was gone?!" Kotake burst through an above wall in a spiraling frenzy and yelled. She refused to the believe the group of teenagers had beaten her back to the arena.

"There you are! Get down here!" Koume responded to her sister, pointing beside her.

"Hey! Going to need some help!" Dark Link barked to the witches.

"With pleasure!" Koume called back. She lowered the energy shield and waved her wand again. Kotake didn't waste any time, moving her own wand in the same way. There, a dark beam came forth from both and a storm cloud materialized.

"Now the fun can begin…" Dark Link grinned and lunged towards Link, getting obscured by the cloud's shadow just before he got to him.

Link found himself in a pitch-black arena. Out in the dark was a beckoning candle. Something about this setting felt hauntingly familiar. He was drawn towards the light, and he took one step, then another. When he felt something underneath his boot, he bent down to look at it. It was a shattered Gilded Sword.

"Oh no…" Link muttered. Then something caught his eye. Something barely distinguishable from the rest of the darkness.

It was that figure he saw in Castle Town. Clad in a robe and consumed by shadow. He started to walk towards it but then he was sent to the ground by something from behind. Then a heavy weight landed on his back, metal digging into his shoulder blades.

The weight lifted and Link was able to get up. A low, soft laugh echoed through the chamber, and the hero's hair stood on end again. A laugh that only resided in his mind. The Garo Master.

"I have waited for this day!" The Garo Master screamed, appearing from the shadows and stabbing Link's shoulder.

Link groaned as he was forced into a position he was only once before. The Maestro of the Garo, sword in his shoulder, stood before him. This time around, the Garo's purple robe was in tatters, and he was wearing the modified mask he had during the Battle of Ikana Canyon.

"Welcome to the darkest pits of chaos, oh Hero of Termina!" The Garo Master roared; a murderous glint visible in the slits that were the eye holes.

"How are-? You can't-!" That was all Link could muster.

"Oh, but I am! The mind is a place where many long-awaited dreams can become a reality!" The Garo Master retracted one of his sabers and punched Link with a sadistic glee.

Link didn't wait for another punch to be thrown. He kicked between the Garo's legs and the Master was forced to cover his family jewels. Without a moment to lose, Link stood and tackled the Garo Master. He knew that the mask was where he was weak. The fragile ligaments that connected it to his face always stuck with the boy.

Link grabbed hold of the mask and pulled with all his might. Just like it had years before, it slowly separated from the Garo Master's head. When it was far enough, instead of using his hand, the boy used his bare teeth and tore through the muscles and tendons.

The image of the Garo Master became warped, and the robes slowly disappeared. There, he morphed back into Dark Link before escaping into the abyss. Link, however, didn't care if the vision of his old adversary was just an illusion. Spitting out the bits of flesh from his mouth, he somewhat enjoyed that brief rematch.

"Stay where you belong, Garo…" Link huffed, determination in his eyes. "…In my memories."

Meanwhile, the illusion crafted for Romani was vastly different. Straps appeared from the floor and took her hostage. She grunted, trying to break free. Being held captive was really starting to get on her nerves.

"Hello, Romani." A voice came from the distance.

Romani looked up and saw the visage of Dark Link just across from her. But it seemed to shift. The black tunic morphed to green, then back to black over and over again. His eyes went from red to the normal blue she was used to.

"Grasshopper?" Romani asked. Her mind couldn't process the game her opponent was playing.

"You really are weak minded, aren't you? You shot me with an arrow, yet you still confuse me for the other fellow?" Dark Link raised his arm and an arrow appeared. He took hold of it and ripped out from his skin in a gory fashion.

Pleased with the revolted look on the ranch girls' face, Dark Link knelt close to Romani and did a smolder. He admired the complexion of the ranch girl and spoke in a breathy manner.

"So lovely. Of course, a part of me was always there when Link had you." Romani wanted to throw up.

Romani didn't hesitate to spit in Dark Link's face. The dark teenager reeled back in disgust and then drew his sword.

"Would you do that to your precious little insect?" Dark Link mocked Romani's nickname for his counterpart and wiped the saliva from his face.

"Don't you dare call him an 'insect'!" Romani was always a bit protective of her hero, as he was with her. Such emotion planted an idea on how to get to Romani in the worst way imaginable.

"You know… it wasn't just me who made Link kiss Malon." Dark Link hissed. The color in Romani's faced drained as he moved his hand and slashed at her arm, making several small cuts along her shoulder to her elbow.

"I hope I've made a good impression." Dark Link smirked and then disappeared, leaving Romani disgusted and wounded. The walking terror was ready to go after the pathetic leader of the Bombers.

Jim stood brandishing his sword, ready to attack anything he saw. The bandana across his head fell in front of his face due to the sweat rolling down his forehead. The boy sighed with annoyance and adjusted it.

"Well?! Come on! I'm ready!" Jim hollered out into the darkness.

"Are you?" A voice responded. The red bandana fell into Jim's line of sight once again, and he adjusted it. When he could see again, Dark Link was right in front of him.

Jim was shoved to the ground and he felt a great pressure on his chest. Dark Link slammed his foot down on the teen and he gasped for air. There was no mercy behind the shadow's eyes. Seeing such a normally righteous person in a helpless state just tickled the above teenager pink.

"Look into my eyes." Dark Link demanded. He removed his boot from his enemy and grabbed his collar to pull him upwards.

"W-What do you want?!" Jim asked, trying to hide his fear.

"I just want a look at the world's biggest fool." Dark Link smirked and used all his strength to throw Jim upwards. When he started to fall, the living shadow kicked him, and he was sent flying.

"I-I'm…" Jim held his torso and was almost unable to breathe. "I'm no fool."

"Of course you think that. People don't realize they're being fooled… simply because they are too busy laughing at the fool." Dark Link started to approach Jim, glaring at him.

"No!" Jim cried, and he raised his arms to take a swipe at the darkness. It was easy to dodge for the dark swordsman.

"You… aren't worth my time." Dark Link decided, hurting Jim's pride even more. The teen vanished, leaving the leader of the society of justice alone. Sad and alone.

Skull Kid readied himself, waiting for something to happen. He had an iron grip on his staff, and the metal that reinforced it nearly bent. Then he heard footsteps and turned around in a flash.

"Now for you…" Dark Link started. He prepared to show the imp what happened to the rest of the Skull Kids Link met on his first adventure in Hyrule, but strangely, nothing happened.

"What the-" Dark Link looked puzzled. He moved his arm up and waited for an image to appear, but it never came. Why wasn't the magic working? Skull Kid had an epiphany, and all the fear he had washed away.

"I've been through the whole 'mind control' thing." Skull Kid walked to the edge of the dome of darkness that the witches had cast and used his fingers to part it with ease. "Not a fan."

Then Skull Kid threw his staff. It hit Dark Link square in the face and made all four illusions cease.

"What?! No!" Koume and Kotake screamed at the same time. Without Dark Link focused, the spell wouldn't work. Link, Romani, and Jim were released from the nightmares.

"There they are!" Tatl was too relieved to finally get through the abyss.

"Hey! We lost you in there!" Navi shouted. With Tatl and Tael behind her, all three gathered around Link and helped him get his bearings.

"Romani! Jim! Skull Kid!" Link's first concern was his friends. He raced to tend to Romani.

"W-What did he do to you?!" Link quickly opened his item bag and found a stray cloth. He used it to apply pressure to Romani's arm and stop the bleeding.

"He just cut Romani. I'm fine!" Romani didn't want Link to worry. She looked over to the Bomber. "What about Jim?"

Jim's reply wasn't right away. He had to think about it. "I'm alright!"

"Skull Kid?" Link's eyes went to the last of his friends, and they immediately filled with fear as he watched him prepare to face the darkness.

Skull Kid, without a word, swung his staff directly into Dark Link's stomach. Before the living shadow could react, the imp then made it connect with his face.

"Woah! Yeah, get him!" Jim watched with pride, and Link helped Romani stand. He never removed his hand from his girlfriend's.

"What?! How are you-?!" Dark Link never considered how well Link's cohorts could fight. The sword swing from Jim was filled with emotion, and therefor was easily predictable. This attack wasn't.

"You aren't trained with a staff, remember?" Skull Kid taunted. He went to smack the dark again, but then the teen grabbed the staff.

"Sure I'm not." Dark Link replied, trying his best to smirk.

"Y-Yeah! You aren't!" Skull Kid got an idea. He took off his mask with his free hand and hit Dark Link with it. When the grip on his staff loosened, he twirled it around and built up some speed to whack the shadow with a powerful force.

Dark Link grunted loudly as he was sent up a few inches and then back down, splashing into the water without any grace. The imp panted, never feeling quite as exhausted. He didn't expect that entire routine to work, but he was thankful it did.

The group cheered. Skull Kid, turning back to his friends, had his arms in the air. He never felt so happy to have helped out.

"Yee-hee-hee! Yeah!" Skull Kid hollered with joy. Link's smirk grew more and more, and his grip on Romani's hand tightened. All Jim could do was laugh hysterically, almost doubling over.

Dark Link wiped the blood from his cheek spat out a molar. He glared at the group. Link himself noticed his doppelgangers scowl but thought nothing of it. If anything, he assumed he'd say something about 'this not being over' and make his escape. He didn't much care, he was just happy to have the nightmare be over and get out of the temple.

However, he was incorrect. Dark Link dusted himself off and reached for his corrupted blade. His eyes were cold and calculating. He wanted to do something bold, really mess with his lighter half. Half. That word stuck itself into the interloper's mind, and a devilish smirk grew along his face.

Running towards Skull Kid, Dark Link brandished his sword.

Link was too busy holding Romani close to notice Dark Link.

But everything stopped when he saw a blade slash through Skull Kid's torso, and the teen of darkness appearing behind when the blade halted.

Everyone's eyes went wide, including Koume and Kotake's. Even they were impressed with how far Dark Link was willing to go. No words were spoken.

Skull Kid slowly slid off his own torso. His hips and legs fell to the right, and the rest of him fell to the left. All that was left was silence. Link immediately drew his bow and shot a fire arrow at Dark Link in a rage-induced retaliation, sending the other flying. Once the mirror image of himself was down, he dropped his bow, sword, shield, and everything and raced to the body of his friend.

Romani put her hands over her mouth, fighting to keep herself from crying out in anguish. Jim fell to his knees and only kept himself from collapsing onto the floor with his arms. Navi stopped flying altogether and landed in the water roughly.

Tatl and Tael were already on the ground. They had dropped the moment they saw the sword cut their friend. Tatl had one hand to her mouth, the other propping herself away from the wet floor. Her breathing was heavy, heartbeat going a mile a minute. Tael was curled up into a ball right next to her, trying not to throw up.

Link picked up Skull Kid's torso and looked around frantically. He didn't quite know what he was looking for, so he gave up and cradled the imp. His beak was still left agape, no words able to form. His hat had fallen off his head and landed on the ground. The mask fell from his grip. Everything below felt fuzzy.

"Is…" Skull Kid stuttered, looking down at what was left of himself. "Is this… 'it'?"

"No, no it isn't." Link said, lip starting to quiver. "Don't- Don't you dare say that. You're going to be…"

Link stopped, watching in horror as the wooden surface of Skull Kid's body started to slowly turn a dull grey color. The low droning of creaking wood filled the air. It reminded him of when the Great Deku Tree passed away. The memory filled him with unimaginable dread.

"I-"

"I can't feel my legs…" Skull Kid said, a weak smirk forming on his beak. He chuckled, but it was forced, too clear that he was in pain as he did so.

Moisture started to well up in Link's eyes. He wasn't ready for this. He never imagined he'd be ready for this. Not to his friend. Not to anyone he loved. He was a boy who thought of many things, but the loss of the people closest to him was one idea he always put aside.

Link didn't want to just watch and not try to save his friend. Grabbing Skull Kid's leg, the boy pulled the disembodied waist back to the imp and carefully put it next to where it was meant to connect to the rest of his body. He laid Skull Kid's head down on his knee and pulled out the Ocarina of Time.

Slowly, and poorly, he played the Song of Healing. Each note was warbled and uneasy, but the magic activated, and the feelings of hearts surrounded the pair. He prayed it would work. When the light dissipated, nothing changed.

"No… no, no, no, no." Link pleaded softly. He played the song again. Nothing. And again. Still nothing. He played it over and over again, still being met with the same result.

Link didn't even realize the song had an effect on Dark Link. The evil incarnation clutched his heart and groaned. The soothing nature of the song pained his cursed soul, but he was far enough away from Link to not be effected fully by its magic.

Finally, Link gave up on the song and just held Skull Kid close. His forehead meet the imps', and he softly cried.

"Link…" Skull Kid said, his voice a harsh croak.

Link peered into the eyes of his friend, not bothering to wipe away his own tears.

"Just…" Skull Kid's words grew more labored. He thought about what Link told him when his arms were wrapped in gauze. What the boy taught him about fear. "Just don't let fear… make your… decisions."

The imp shakily rose his hand and pointed to Link's chest, tapping where his heart was. He smiled and then his arm went limp. Then, the flickering orange light that illuminated his eyes faded. The spark that was within his soul was snuffed out, and the grey coloration of the wood fully enveloped his body. He exhaled one final time. At that moment, he was gone.

Link was without words. Tears fell down his cheeks and his entire body trembled. He didn't care about the pain he felt from the sisters' torture, or when Dark Link attacked. All he cared about was right in front of him. But it was gone.

Lowering his head, Link remained silent. His hair drooped in front of his face, the silver part not even catching his eye anymore. The witches and Dark Link were already getting away. Everything in the Illusion Room was still. Finally, something came from Link's mouth.

A long scream of agony. His ears rang, and he didn't even hear it. It drowned out everything else. The sobs of his friends, the sound of his enemies taunting him as they escaped, and his own thoughts. With no clue how to let out his pain, he just continued to cry out as he cradled Skull Kid's lifeless body.

Everyone in the room took a while to recover, but by the time they forced themselves to leave and head back home, Link still hadn't recovered. He wouldn't be able to for a while.