A/N: I'm probably going to camp soon, so this was a quickie. And just because I updated it fast, does not mean effort wasn't put into this chapter. I worked very hard on it, checked it, and thought over nearly every sentence. Please R & R, and tell me if you spot any mistakes, or you can put your feed back.

-Sam

Robber

When Link awoke, he was sore, tired, but better. He managed to sit up, and then after a while, stand. Dorango was still lying on the ground. He might have changed positions a little, but Link figured the Goron was dead.

The bracelet was where Link had dropped it, the mysterious black gem glistening in the candles' light. Link knew better than to pick it up. It was as if it was possessed by something.

Link knew what he was going to do. He drew his sword, and raised it aboved his head. And with a powerful slice, he smashed the gem. A whisp of purple smoke puffed out, and floated in the air for a moment. Link stared at it curiously, unsure of what he had just done.

The smoke started to swirl a bit, slowly picking up speed. It started to twirl like a miniature tornado, touching the ground lightly. It got more compact, and molded into a humanoid figure. The figure slowly began to shape up like Link, until it was a purple shadow. It got darker, and then it was a shadow, standing before him in the same pose, sword drawn.

Dark Link.

"There. I helped the Gorons," Link said simply, breaking a long silence.

"Not good enough. You still have one more errand to run, weakling," it said, sheathing it's sword.

Link didn't like how he called the long, dangerous quests 'errands'. The fact that Dark Link was manipulating him to do crap for him made him mad. But why were these missions ending with good results? Although Dark Link appeared evil, it was as if he was actually good at heart.

"Fine," Link said reluctantly, spitting at the dark one's feet, "I'll go. Where is the next mission? Let's just get this over with."

Although Link could see Dark Link's face, he could tell he was disgusted by the spit, as he looked down briefly, "Watch it! I've been nice to you so far, so watch how you act around me! Now, if I can continue...

"You're going west of this place, to Lake Hylia. It'll be a longer journey than your last ones. You must find the Zora's, and offer to help them with something. How you do this, how you solve said problem, is up to you. Either way, I'll explain everything once you're through there. You're stronger and braver than ever before, but you still are quite pathetic, and unworthy of hearing my plans in your current state. You may begin your mission, now." he explained sternly. For some reason, he seemed a bit nervous.

"Alright, fine." Link said, picking up the bracelet and walking towards the exit.

Dark Link watched him walk away and exit the temple. He saw him reach the elevator, and go out of sight. The shadow smirked, and turned away himself, going towards a dark corner, cast in shadows. He glanced back at the unconscious Dorango.

"Weak, weak, weak..."

And with that, Dark Link slowly evaporated into the shadows of the corner.

"Dorango was possessed?" the elder exclaimed.

Link was back in the elder's chamber, showing him the silver bracelet. The elder had snatched it up, and was examining it closely.

"I might be a Goron, but I've encountered magic before in my years... yes, this did have a nasty curse on it at one point... Well, Hylian, you did save Dorango. I'll send some men to check on him." the elder said thoughtfully.

"Yeah..." Link searched for something to say, "When I put the bracelet on, a voice was speaking to me. It told me to kill the Gorons, and be loyal to Hylians... It was all very strange. I think he put it on, and went crazy... in fact, I have a theory."

"Well, go ahead," the elder said, beckoning him to continue.

Link told him some about Dark Link, and about how he had come out of the gem. He also told about how he had terrorized Kakiriko Village using Link.

"I see... so perhaps... it wasn't the Hylians. It was this dark figure of which you speak..." the elder said, nodding a few times, "Okay, Hylian. From now on, your kind are welcome here. It was foolish of us to not at least consider a curse of some sort. We also treated you horribly, when you merely wanted to help. For that, I thank you. If there is anything you need from now on, we will try to help you with it. You are now one of our brothers from this day and on. In fact, take this bracelet as a momento to this day, and a sign of our friendship."

Link wasn't sure what to say, "Uh, thanks. I was just... wanting to lend a hand. Um, I have to go. The Zoras are having trouble as of late... I have to go try to do something for them." he lied. If he could, he would just forget the whole thing.

The elder nodded, "I see. You are a very good person for helping us all out like this. Go to the Zoras, and assist them like us. Good luck, young one. You are truely the most noble Hylian I've met to date! Although, if it wouldn't be too much trouble to ask one more favor..."

Link was back out into the fields again, hungry and tired. But he felt good, because he had earned the respect of all the Gorons.

Link looked down at the official-looking letter the elder had given him. It was a letter to the king himself, telling that the Gorons wanted peace.

Looking off to the distance, Link could just make out the tallest tower of the castle. He began to walk towards it. Perhaps he could get some food in Castle Town while he was there. The Goron had given him one hundred ruppees in a pouch as and extra thank-you gift, so Link had plenty.

It was day time when Link had reached Castle Town. He was quite impressed. After crossing the draw bridge which had opened at dawn, he passed a few guard barracks and armories.

Soldiers wielding spears had their faces covered by a shadow cast by their helmets. They had chest armor, knee plates, and boots that came to their knees. They did look strange, especially with the feathers jutting from their helmets.

Link then walked under an archway, and out into an open plaza. In the middle, there was a grand fountain of the sacred Triforce. Houses, apartments, and shops alike surrounded him The buildings in this area were well kept. Potted plants hung from balconies or were at window sills. Some places were engraved with several designs, giving the place a holy look. Real estate was obviously very expensive here.

A few people were out and about, mainly a few people running errands. Some merchants were in the square, building makeshift stalls or putting their wares out on display. Link looked around, and found a bakery open. He walked towards it, taking out his bag of ruppees.

The person manning the counter gave him a funny look, almost like he was wondering what the heck Link was doing here.

"Uh, can I just have a loaf of bread?" he asked, unsurely.

"That'll be seventy ruppees," the person said.

"What?" Link exclaimed.

The clerk didn't seemed surprised at all by his reaction. In fact, he was rather amused. He shook his head, and continued:

"This is one of the finest bakeries in Hyrule. Even a mere loaf is hand made from only the finest ingredients. Sorry, kid." he said, looking down at a small book in his hands.

"I guess I'll go somewhere else," Link mumbled, turning away and searching for a new place to eat.

He soon found that all places in this area of town had expensive, over-priced food. Walking down another street, he searched for a new place to eat. For several blocks, all he saw were more beautiful homes, and stores with the finest goods in the lands. Each building had a story to tell with their expensive stone structure, plants, gardens, engravings, and designs. It was as if every single building were trying to outdo the other ones.

But as he ventured further, Link soon found that Castle Town had another story to tell. One building was a tall apartment building, with a well-tended garden and several balconies. Potted plants were on every window sill, making the building look like it was splotched with bits of purple and red. It was all very beautiful. And then at once, Link noticed the change.

The very next building, seperated by one small street, looked plain and ordinary. It was made of bricks and wood, with a standard shingled roof. A few shattered windows were boarded up, and it looked strange standing there by the grand apartments. More people were milling around in this part of town, and there were twice as many market stalls.

The buildings around here all looked cheap. Small cottages, smelly hotels, ramshackle homes, and plazas full of all kinds of stalls. Smoke was rising from several chimneys, making the air here much more thick and warmer than the air in the richer side of town. A few rickety wagons were being driven around town as transportation for goods and different people.

Every stall had something different to sell. Dead fish, fruits, clothes, small time weapons, clocks, spices, and so much more. With every passing moment, Link encountered new smells, all mixed in with the ever present smell of sewage and feces that stayed in the background everywhere in the poorer district.

Clothes were strung on lines between buildings to dry. People were in the streets, begging passers by for food of any sort. Link found it strange how such a grand city could house such a place. Most buildings looked like grimy stone cubes, with windows of all sizes chiseled in very poorly. Balconies that made from random materials that were close to falling apart had been erected, protruding from the buildings, making them look unglier. The architects here certainly weren't high-grade.

Link weaved his way through the thick, moving crowds that grew as the day progressed. More smells assaulted Link's nose relentlessly. It was making him sick, since he hadn't eaten in a while. He finally found a fairly clean looking bakery with a pudgy chef, and approached it.

"How much is a loaf of bread and water?" Link asked him.

The man gave him a big grin full of rotten teeth, "Thats'll be ten ruppees..." he said.

Link dug in his bag for ten ruppees, and handed the man is money. The baker retrieved a loaf and a glass bottle of water, and handed them to Link.

Link thanked him, and started to walk away, trying hard to forget the nasty smile the man had given him. The boy finally found an empty bench, and sat down. He scarfed down the bread in no time because of his hunger. It tasted alright, although it was a little cold and stiff. But it was a lot better than nothing, and it was relatively cheap. Link had seen cheaper bakeries, but their bread was full of maggots and moldy.

After chugging his bottle of water, Link stuffed the bottle in his belt and continued on through the town. It was time for him to visit the king, if he was able.

Before he was anywhere near the rich district, Link felt someone shove him. He turned to see a skinny man with boney arms and speedy legs, running off with his wallet.

"Hey! He stole my wallet!" Link cried, chasing after the man.

A few people near by glanced at him or looked around for the pick pocket, but no one did anything. And the crowds certainly didn't part. Link found himself shoving and bumping shoulders against an endless, steady torrent of people. If that thief got away with his money, he would have no way of lasting out in the real world.

Link saw the thief turn into a small alley. He made chase, and saw the man climbing a ladder. Link dashed after him, but when the skinny man reached the roof of the building, he turned and lashed out with his foot, kicking the ladder down. Setting it back up, Link climbed up after him, desperate to regain his money.

He reached the roof, and saw the man running to the edge. Link pulled himself up, and took off in chase. The thief jumped when he reached the edge, and landed on the roof of an adjacent house with a shingled roof. Link reached the edge and jumped with all of his might, landing on the house.

The boy climbed up the sloped surface, tearing off flimsy shingles as he went. He then ran down jumping on to another building, where he saw the pick pocket running.

"Come back, thief! I'll catch you!" Link cried as he jumped from a few roof tops, gaining little by little.

The man jumped down from one roof. Link caught up, and looked down. The thief was getting up from a few sacks of fruit he had landed on. Link took a deep breath, and jumped down onto the sacks. He landed hard, and was dazed for a moment. He looked up, seeing the man take off into the crowds again.

Link managed to regain his compsure, and then he took off in chase again. He now was forced to deal with the thick crowds once more, as he shoved several people aside, ignoring their protests and strings of curses and insults. He had to catch the no good rat who stole his wallet, and he would settle for no less.

The man turned down another street, and Link followed after him, fueled by audrenaline pumping through his veins. The streets here were less crowded, giving Link the ability to dodge people, rather than shove them.

The man took another turn down a street. Link rounded the corner...

...And collided with a guard. The two went flying. Link hit the pavement hard, the wind knocked out of him for a few brief seconds. The guards armor clattered as it hit the ground.

Link started to stand.

"Hey, what's the big idea? You want to go to jail, kid?" the guard snapped, jumping to his feet, brandishing his polished spear.

"I'm after someone, no time to talk," Link said breathlessly, attempting to run past the guard. The guard jumped in front of him.

Without a moments hesitation, Link clenched a fist and punched the guard, sending the man flying into an empty stall. He regreted his decision, but had no other choice. He took off running once more, and emerged in another busy street. He glanced all around, but could not see the thief anywhere.

"No!" Link shouted in desperation, drawing a few curious eyes. How could he have lost the thief? Now he had no-

"Hey, don't climb on my house!" an old man was shouting.

Link looked over in his direction, and saw the thief scaling a ladder to the top of a house.

"Okay, kid. You're dead,"

Link turned to see the guard, who's spear was pointed at his throat.