Oh my Miyamoto… ONE HUNDRED REVIEWS! Seriously, I've never had lovelier readers! You guys are AMAZING! Thank you so much, especially to Neez who was my one hundredth! :) Also thank you to CreCra, TheBlueAlienRobotZombie, Franne, Hanyoualchemist1, PrincesscharmingKnight, ShadowNinja1011, prettyguardianofhyrule, LinneaPike, Ecological, LauParisi, Rose, and Neez! Wow! Longest chapter I've ever written… again! Haha :)
Anyway, so here we are with the final chapter! I will be doing to long list of thank-you's at the end, but now, on with the chapter! This one's done in a non-subjective point of view again.
Dark Link smirks again, turning his attention to his double, whose fists are now clenched with anger.
"I told you when we first met that I didn't like living in obscurity, Link." He spits. "I warned you not to meddle, told you I wanted to live for myself… but you just had to interfere didn't you?"
"IT'S MY LIFE!" Link rages, ready to take a dive for him. But he stops dead in his tracks as he spots the small switchblade in Dark Link's hand, ready and poised by the supple skin on Zelda's neck.
"Come at me, Link." He spits, smirking, "I dare you."
In all the time they've been friends with Link they've never known him to look this angry. A vein throbs on his forehead, right above his fiercely arched brows. He bares his teeth a little as a low growl escapes him, yet he stands still as a statue, not moving a single muscle. Of course he wouldn't… it's Link, he wouldn't do anything that risked Zelda getting hurt…
"The way I see it," Dark Link mutters, twisting the knife so the sharp blade faces Zelda's neck. "You want to save your precious little princess." He allows the words to roll venomously from his tongue, taunting his double. "You'd do anything to make sure someone like me won't lay a hand on her…"
Zelda trembles beneath his grip. His left arm is wrapped around her waist, imprisoning her close to his body, and in his right hand he holds the knife that sinfully dances over her skin.
Midna glances over to Link, the real Link, her friend. His chest is heaving heavily as his body turns to face his dark twin, poised and ready to attack the second he steps out of line. Dark Link just smirks, allowing the razor thin edge of the switchblade to gently touch Zelda's skin, making her tense every muscle in her body.
"Don't get yourself all worked up light brother…" He smirks. "I don't want to hurt your little beauty here; all I need is your cooperation."
His eyes darken as he says the last words, shadowing his seemingly innocent face. Midna, Pipit, and Sheik watch the very breath catch in Link's throat as he takes a step closer.
"What does that mean?"
He smirks again "It means that all I need you to do, is return to that mirror. No questions asked, no great escapes, none of your friends will get involved, as long as you just stay there… and let me live here."
Link clenches his fist harder, the veins on his arm pulsating against his dry skin. "Not a chance."
His Dark Twin won't dignify that with a response, just turns to look at the blue eyed blonde in his grip, bringing the knife to her throat. It slits along the soft flesh, drawing blood into the cut, yet not deep enough to do serious damage. Zelda winces a little as Link subdues, his muscles relaxing as he watches with sorrow in his large cerulean eyes. Midna pulls hard against Dark Sheik, who holds her with a grip like Krupp Steel. She wants to do something, to help, but can barely even move.
"Fine…" Link whispers, the regret lingering in his deep voice, "You win."
They all watch in silence as he proceeds towards the mirror, his gate slow and reluctant as he nears the reflective glass hanging on his bedroom wall. A sinister smile spreads across Dark Link's face as he watches, his grip loosening a little on Zelda. Midna struggles again, wanting to tell him to stop, to scream at him that he can't go, beg him to stay… but she can't seem to verbalise the words in her mind.
"Please Link, you can't go." Comes a soft voice. They all turn to stare at the shivering Zelda, tears now glistening on her smooth cheeks. Link turns to look at her, longing in his eyes.
"I can't stay…" He replies, "I won't let him hurt you."
"He will if you go!" Zelda cries, a crack threatening to break through her voice as Dark Link cuts again underneath the corner of her jaw, making her wince in pain. A bead of blood begins to well on her skin but she maintains her eye contact with her protector.
"Please…" She begs, "I can't bear to even look at him after everything he did to me…"
Link frowns, pausing as he turns away from the mirror. His face is contorted with confusion and worry as his shaking hands fall back to his sides.
"What did he do to you?" He mutters, meeting the gaze of her indigo eyes.
She inhales sharply, ready for everything to tumble from her lips, to finally tell him the truth he's been craving. But just as she opens her mouth, the knife moves from her neck, tracing a line over her shoulder blade and moving slowly down her back. It finally comes to a stop, point pressed against the skin, between the shoulder blades, slightly to the left.
"Not a word, Zelda…" He whispers into her ear, his moist breathe on her skin causing her stomach to churn. Scenes begin unravelling in her mind, a possible future. That twisted copy of Link locking her away… keeping her as his own to do with as he pleases. Leaving her with no say in the matter, no opinion, no voice. She pictures Sheik tossed aside, eliminated to allow his dark twin to thrive in his place, treating Midna the same way Dark Link would treat her. She imagined the real Link and Sheik, left to rot in that mirror, no place to go, no hope, no love… what's to say they'd even be left alive? She couldn't do that, she couldn't force her friends to endure that for her own sake. The blade presses harder against her, piercing through the fabric of her simple white t-shirt as her stomach continues to churn… she couldn't let them get hurt the way she was hurt.
"He raped me…" She whispers those three words, knowing that they'll be her last.
The confusion and worry fades from Link's face, leaving him open to read like a book. A flame alights in his eyes, spreading through his body like a wild bush fire raging through Faron woods, his veins throb with the anger and fury that boils his very blood.
And that's the last thing Zelda sees before the cold metal of that blade is driven through her flesh, piercing through everything in its way, sending jets of stinging pain through her torso. But the pain doesn't last long. Before she has time to make a single sound, the raw sting of the blade turns to a numb sensation that washes over her whole body. The last thought crossing her mind is the peace, the tranquillity, knowing that she'd done at least something right…
Link watches in horror as her limp body falls to the floor, indigo eyes fluttered shut, golden hair spread around her like the halo of an angel. She lies perfectly still amongst the devastating scene surrounding her, a tiny smile etched on that innocent face.
The rock sold arms holding Midna back suddenly loosen as the dark copy of Sheik backs away, fearful of Link's wrath. And before anyone has the chance to protest, he turns heel and sprints across the room, headed straight for mirror. Without even a seconds warning he dives through, leaving the silence behind him. He's too fearful, doesn't want to face the consequences of his actions, so he fled.
Sheik and Midna turn, falling to their knee's around Zelda's body, still slightly warm. Begs and pleas to Hylia pass through Midna's lips faster than the tears falling from her crimson eyes, But her prayers remain unheard, for as she searches Zelda's wrist desperately for a pulse, no such sensation can be felt. It's too late, she's passed from this world.
The only once of positivity left in this sorrowful room radiates from Dark Link's smile as he stares upon the bloodied dagger in his hands. A twisted pleasure rises inside of him as he watches the two young adults mourning the loss of their dear friend.
But Link's emotions are far more evident, indescribable by any word in the Hylian language as the untamed anger boils within him. After what seemed like endless days of fighting, enduring all that pain and suffering, for her. He kept it quiet, he fought his own battles, he did all this to protect her, only for his cowardly copy to cold heartedly murder her. The pure rage is too much for him to supress. That's when he makes a dive for Dark Link, catching him off guard as his body slams against his double's, forcing him back off his feet and onto the hardwood flooring. The switch blade is thrown from Dark Link's grip, knocked across the hardwood flooring as Link pushes himself up away from the ground until he sits over his dark twin.
He clenches his fist, splitting the already cracked skin on his knuckles in the process. He slings his arm back forcefully, then drives it forward, putting all his anger into it, before allowing it to contact his doubles face, catching him by surprise. He repeatedly punches and punches, taking out every last ounce of his anger on that heartless, spineless, gutless coward.
Before he has time to reconsider, before he can tell himself that it's a bad idea, he reaches out, gripping the handle of that switchblade, raising it high above his head. But just as he's about to put all his might into forcing that blade into the heart of the sickening coward, a memory flashes in his mind…
"Look, if I wanted to kill you, I'd have done it by now, besides, I'm your dark twin, if you die, I die… so what good would it do me to kill you?"
His hands tremble for a moment, hesitant for just a second, before the determination sets over him. He had killed Zelda in cold blood, the only person that Link ever allowed himself to truly love. The first autumn that he met her had been the best time of his life, they got to know the university together, made new friends… then the winter fell and he spent his days with that beautiful girl wrapped up in his arms, not caring about the snow falling just outside their window. Come spring time they drove through all of Hyrule together so he could drop her off back home, they spent the whole journey telling awful jokes and singing along to cheesy old songs from their childhood… as summer fell they went home for the holidays, but Link rode on a train for four hours each week just to see her for coffee, she meant that much to him. When they returned for university again this year, he thought that it would finally be the year him and Zelda would be together, he could call her his girlfriend… he didn't know back then that this would be the year everything went wrong. Yet she lies on the floor of his bedroom, still and lifeless as a stone. His mind is already made up.
He puts all his force into his arms and swings strongly downwards, plunging the blade deep into the chest of his dark twin. The sensation erupts from within his own chest, causing tears to prick in the corner of his eyes, as he heaves the dagger back from the chest of his double, causing him to fall back.
Sheik dives forward, catching his best friend in his strong arms. Glass tears rolls down his cheeks like raindrops on a window pain as he struggles to find the words.
"Why Link…? Why did you do it?" He breathes, struggling to stammer through a sentence.
Link lets out a stuttered groan as blood begins to pool on his plain green t-shirt. "I c-couldn't go on… n-not without... her."
Sheik's grip on him only tightens as he begins to rock back and forth where he kneels. "Please Link, you can't go. You're my best friend…"
Link lets out a shaky breathe, his chest shuddering with every word. "Shh… I-I'm ok, you will be too. Just…" He sucks their air in through his teeth, trying to continue through his pain.
"Don't say anything Link…" Sheik pleads, looking up. "Midna's gone to phone for an ambulance, please… just hang in there."
"There's no time." Link groans, "C-can you promise… promise me something?" He asks, his narrowed blue eyes meeting the fiery red ones of his best friend.
"Anything…" He replies.
"B-break the mirror…"
"Of course!"
Link reaches up one shaking hand, gripping Sheik's collar as he tries to talk, even though he feels the numbness spreading with every word. "Tell Z-Zelda's family I'm… I'm sorry. T-tell them how brave she was…"
Sheik carefully watches his friend through his blurred vision, holding back the sobs. "I promise…"
"And l-look after Midna…"
"Of course… Link, I'm so sorry…" he whispers.
"D-don't be… I'm ok, nothing c-can hurt me now… Zelda's safe…" With every word he stammers Sheik can feel what little life he has left fading from his body.
"You really love her… don't you?" He asks, meeting his best friends eyes one last time, only to find them already closed. The body still in his arms… his heart plummets within his chest as he desperately tries to help. "Link… Link? LINK!?"
His loud wails break through the walls of the apartment building as he buries his face in Link's blood stained t-shirt, rocking back and forth on the spot as he cradles the limp body.
This wasn't how it was supposed to end… They were supposed to force the dark twins back through the mirror. Link was meant to patch everything up with Zelda, they were meant to make it all ok… but fate took a hand and wouldn't let that happen… maybe it was for the best, he didn't know. All he could think of right now was two of his best friends in the world were gone, just like that, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Link's POV:
"Link… Link! Wake up!"
I carefully open my eyes, taken aback by the blinding brightness that I'm met with. But Zelda's giggling voice encourages me to pull myself up from my sleep. I rub my forehead, trying to suss out what happened and where exactly I am. Then suddenly all the memories come flooding back, the apartment, the mirror, the switchblade… Zelda… Did I survive my own stabbing? Did something go wrong? Am I in the hospital?
"Zelda!" I shout out, sitting bolt upright from where I lie, feeling my chest for a stab wound, searching for bloodstains, but the only thing my fingers touch are the soft green fabrics of my favourite hoodie… what?
"Wake up sleepyhead!" Comes Zelda's voice, I look up immediately, finding that beautiful girl stood over me, her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders as she giggles.
"Zelda?" I ask, feeling my own mouth hanging open. "Are you ok? What happened? Where are we? Was I dreaming?"
She smiles, looking down a little. "No Link, you weren't dreaming… but you're ok, everything's over…"
I sit up a little straighter, examining myself. My injuries seem to have all healed, my skin no longer dry, split or bruised. My chest feels good as new… I'm wearing my favourite green hoodie and jeans, though my feet are bare next to the green grass. I frown, wiggling my toes.
Zelda giggles again. "It's a bit weird isn't it?"
"Wh… where are we?" I ask, staring around at my surroundings. I appear to be sat in a lush green paradise. A waterfall flows behind me, feeding into a long meandering river. Tall leaved trees rise up proudly into the sky, and long green grass covers the ground as little birds flit from tree branch to tree branch. I turn to look at Zelda, she's dressed in a long white dress with flowing sleeves, and is also bare foot.
"This is the sacred realm Link, we're safe here, Hylia watches over us."
"Is it just us?" I ask, pushing myself forward and getting to my feet so I can have a better look at my surroundings. Beautifully coloured flowers are dotted around the plain, and if I look along the edges of the forest I can see sleepy little houses all lined up, looking homely and comfortable.
"Not just us…" Zelda replies, "Anyone who died with a well-intentioned heart is welcome here."
I turn to look at Zelda, honestly I've never seen her looking so at peace. "What about Sheik and Midna? Are they here?"
She simply shakes her head slowly, sighing. "No Link, they're not… but they're safe. We can watch over them from here, we can protect them."
I frown, "How?"
She smiles a little, a faint hint of a blush seeping over her cheeks. "I was hoping you'd ask that… come with me…"
She reaches out, taking my hand and breaking into an excited run. I run along beside her, watching the leaves of the beautiful green trees, studying the pure blue sky and listening to the songs that the birds sing. Eventually, we come to a stop just in front of the waterfall lake. It bubbles happily, water gushing into the lake as Zelda kneels down in front of it, gesturing for me to do the same.
"Look into the water." She says as I kneel down beside her. I oblige to her request, leaning over the edge of the lake, looking into the surface of the water. I'm expecting to see a reflection, but instead I'm met with an image of Sheik and Midna, both seem to be stood somewhere outside. Midna appears to be dressed in a long intricately decorated white dress, Sheik dressed in a smart black suit.
I frown. "Are they… getting married?"
Zelda smiles, nodding happily. "After everything that happened, they decided they didn't want to wait any longer, time is short after all… so they're getting married!" I feel an uncontrollable smile spreading across my face as I watch two of my best friends in the world happily kissing.
"See?" Zelda says, "It all worked out ok in the end, didn't it?"
"It did…" I laugh, feeling the relief was over me as I climb to my feet, helping Zelda up too. I carefully take her hands, pulling her closer to me. "Hey Zelda, there's something I always wanted to say… when I was alive, I mean. But I never did…"
"Oh?" She asks, trying to act like she doesn't know, but I can see the sparkle in her indigo eyes.
"I love you…"
"I Love you too." And with that she plants a soft gentle kiss on my cheek, taking me by the hand and leading me along the cobblestone pathway towards the homely houses surrounding the woods. I guess things didn't work out so badly after all…
There we go guys! That's the end of Dark Reflections… I wanted to leave off with a happy ending, because I don't like leaving stories ending badly! I know, I know I'm a horrible person for killing Link and Zellie, but it finally got them exactly what they wanted and needed, and it eliminated Dark Link and Dark Sheik! Anyway, I have to say that I have LOVED writing this story, as previously mentioned, I've never really written anything like this before. It started off as a request for Hanyoualchemist1 but I've loved writing it so much! And you have all been so amazing to me! So I need to thank each and every one of you! So here goes! (Sorry if there's any spelling mistakes for user names, it's all done by hand!)
First, the people who favourited the story! Thank you to CreCra, Franne, Hanyoualchemist1, LinneaPike, PrincessZelda1468, PrincesscharmingKnight, SwordspiritFi9, TheBlueAlienRobotZombie, and prettyguardianofhyrule!
Next up I need to say thank you the followers! That's Bleachshowlover1, CreCra, Ecological, Franne, Hanyoualchemist1, Hiddenigma, LEva114, LadyLink98, LauParisi, LeilaEditer, PrincesscharmingKnight, SwordspiritFi, TheBlueAlienRobotZombie, TheLegendOfLink, TwiliCuckoo, Ventus286, anaaaa.k, bubblegum12899, prettyguardianofhyrule, shadowgirl215, shhimaninja16, and standing-like-statues!
Also, thank you the reviewers! That's TheBlueAlienRobotZombie, prettyguardianofhyrle, PrincesscharmingKnight, Franne, SwordspiritFi9, AtticusFinch42, Princess Zelda-figure skater, ShadowNinja1011, LeilaEditer, Hanyoualchemist1, LEva114, 'Guest', Joyma, Neez, Bleachshowlover1, CreCra, 'Random Reviewer', LadyLink98, LauParisi, trideity, Ecological, LinneaPike, and shadowgirl215!
Big thank you to Kazuoh for drawing the cover art!
Also to Princess Zelda-figure skater for being a flawless beta reader once again!
And especially thank you to Hanyoualchemist1 who encouraged me to write this story in the first place!
So there we go guys! It's all done and dusted and I really hoped you enjoyed this story! I'm afraid to say that I won't be writing a sequel for this, but I am very excited for my next story, which will be my tenth fanfiction and will be 20 chapters long! A first for me! It will be called 'City Boy' and should be published in early February, so keep your eyes peeled if you want to see that!
Thank you for everything!
Until next time…
Nayru
xxx
