Dark by S. Park

Part three Darkness Falls

Darkness and cold had been my world for I know not how long when something changed.

It began with a strange feeling. My pulse quickened, and an alien excitement tingled through me. I wanted to pick up my sword and face... something. But of course I had no sword, the dark blade had been taken from me. Still the feeling persisted and I got to my feet. Then I heard a distant sound from the tower overhead. It was faint, ever so faint, but it sounded like the clash of combat.

Suddenly I knew. He was here. The blue-eyed hero, my other self, Link. He was here, fighting Ganondorf.

I sat in the cell, straining to hear, trying to somehow reach through whatever tenuous connection existed between us to see and feel. What was going on above me? Was Link losing? Surely he was no match for Ganondorf's power. I shuffled through my memories, his memories, but there was no memory of any great magics there, only a few basic spells, and the unknown power of the Master Sword. He must surely lose, and I would be robbed of my vengeance. But at least I could take comfort in knowing that he was dead.

The roar that suddenly came from overhead was tremendous. It sounded as though the whole castle was falling down above me. But I could still sense my other half, he was not dead yet. Indeed he didn't even seem to be severely wounded! What was going on up there? The roar quieted, but after a moment I could faintly hear a booming, like enormous footsteps. A flash of pain told me that Link had been injured but I knew he yet lived. And then... then the impossible happened. With one last crash silence fell and triumph radiated through that strange connection to me. Triumph! Mixed with relief and weariness, but unmistakable all the same.

Link had won.

But darkness was stronger. I knew darkness was stronger. How had light triumphed? How had the ultimate master of darkness fallen? That a shadow like myself could be defeated was perhaps not surprising, but Ganondorf was far beyond me. How had Link done it?

I was left to ponder those thoughts in the dark for a long time. Indeed I feared I might be left forever. The castle was fallen. Ganondorf's servants and guards had no doubt fled. There were other cells here, but as far as I could tell I was alone in the darkness. Even the torch that usually burned in the entrance to the dungeon soon went out and then there was nothing but pitch black, so dark I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face.

My connection with Link had snuffed out like the torch as well. I didn't know what that meant. I had felt no pain from him, so whatever had happened to him he was probably still alive, somewhere. But it left me with nothing to concentrate on, no connection to reality at all, save the cold stones I sat upon. I drew my knees up to my chest and shivered. So cold. So dark. So alone. I would die here, I knew.

And then, faintly, I began to see. The stones of my cell appeared before me, and soon the door was outlined in brilliant white. Someone or something bearing a bright light was standing just outside the door. I heard the key turn, and the door swung open.

I squinted against sudden brilliance, though when my eyes adjusted I saw it was only an ordinary lantern. A woman bore it.

She was tall, and dressed as a warrior. Her shoulders were broad, and her hair was silver-gray. "So," she said, "there is someone here after all. Come, you're free now. Ganondorf is dead."

I looked at her in silence while confused emotions warred within me. Ganondorf was dead, light had somehow triumphed over darkness. But I was alive, and free. I could seek out Link and kill him, as I had hoped. But that thought, welcome as it was, brought fear with it. Link had killed Ganondorf, who had created me and who was my better. How could I then best him?

The woman frowned at me. "You look familiar," she said, her eyes narrowed.

I felt a jolt of fear. If she figured out that I was Link's dark twin, she would know I was evil. "I think we met once, a long time ago," I said. "And thank you for freeing me, uh, I know your name, it's right on the tip of my tongue..."

"Impa," she said with a smile. "And who are you? But no, let us be gone from this dark place. We can speak more above."

"Yes," I said, relieved of the need to come up with a name on the spot. I had none, but of course I would need to call myself something if I were to move among the people of Hyrule. But what? I pondered it as I climbed the stairs behind Impa. I couldn't just call myself "Shadow" could I? Perhaps I could take a variation on Link's name, since I was his shadow. But no, I didn't want to remind Impa of him, she might put two and two together.

When we reached the top I still hadn't thought of anything good, so when Impa turned to me and said, "So, who are you, stranger?" all I could say was "I'm Dark."

"Dark? It suits your looks well enough, I suppose, but it's a bit of an odd name."

I had never thought about how I looked. Like Link, I knew that much, but obviously I was not his perfect twin. "Well I'm not from around here."

"How did you end up in Ganondorf's dungeon then?"

I scrambled to think of a story. "I, uh, I passed him on the road and I said something about how he looked, I guess he took it as an insult. He threw some kind of magic at me and when I woke up I was in the dungeon where you found me."

"You're a very lucky man. If the Hero of Time hadn't killed him he no doubt would have tortured and killed you."

"Yes, I know. I would love to find this Hero of Time and thank him personally." Thank him with his own sword through his heart.

"There are many who would," said Impa solemnly. "But none will be able to. The seventh sage, the princess Zelda, has sent him home through time to live in peace."

No! He could not have escaped my vengeance so easily! I tried to hide my dismay, and I must have succeeded in some small measure, for Impa didn't seem to notice. "Through time, you say?"

"Yes. Back to the past, though not to our past. His time will run differently from ours, now."

"Actually," said another voice, "I'm afraid it didn't work."

I looked over and saw two people approaching. One was obviously the one who had spoken, a young woman clad in pink and gold. Beside her... I had to school my face to avoid a snarl of hatred. Beside her walked Link himself.

"Zelda? What happened?" asked Impa.

Zelda, for this must be she, answered. "Nothing at all. I played the song, the spell was cast, but Link remained in the present. Something is tying him here. Some connection that I can't trace."

As she spoke Link's eyes had met mine. I saw recognition in them. He knew who I was. And more. I saw the realization spark in his eyes in the same instant it sparked in mine. Some connection tied him here. Something like his shadow, perhaps.

"Strange," said Impa.

"Yes. But who is this?" she asked.

"This is Dark," said Impa. "He was a prisoner in Ganondorf's tower."

Zelda nodded regally at me. I managed a civil enough nod in return.

"Well Dark, it seems you have the chance to thank Link for rescuing you after all," said Impa.

I blinked in surprise. Then I grinned savagely. Yes, I could thank Link for giving me the chance to find a way to kill him. "Oh yes," I said. "Thank you very much for saving my life. I owe you." I could tell that my hatred was seeping into my tone, but I didn't care. I glared darkly at Link, the fair-haired, perfect hero who had just killed Ganondorf and yet hardly bore a scratch.

He said nothing for a long moment, then he nodded at me. "You're welcome." He said no more than that, but those two words carried a great weight of knowledge. He knew I hated him. Somehow he knew. But I felt no hate from him at all. Only calm. He looked at me with those brilliant blue eyes, as still and cool as pools, without a ripple of fear or unease. Was that how a hero looked at the world?

I wanted to stab out those eyes. I wanted to jump on him and tear his throat out with my own teeth. I wanted to take my vengeance then and there, but he bore his sword and shield, and I was unarmed. It would have to wait. But it wouldn't wait long. Once I could get him somewhere, alone and unarmed... yes. Once that happened his life would be mine.