Void stalked along through the darkness, he drifted soundlessly through the market of Castle Town. Ghostly beings drifted around him, unaware of his presence. They brushed up against his hands and face, green essence misting as he passed carelessly through them. It was strangely sobering, however, to see them going about their everyday lives, oblivious to the fact that they were nothing but spirits.
The Shadow sneered at the spirits with contempt, but wandered the streets endlessly, regardless. He pushed the door to the tavern open and stopped at the sight. Many people were gathered there, but it was some people on the far side of the room that caught his attention. A girl sat beside a couple of crates, her hands were balled into fists in her lap. She gazed with desperation and grief at a young Zora stretched out on the crates before her. He was ghostly pail, even for a spirit. A woman stood beside the girl, her hand on the girl's shoulder.
Void's crimson eyes narrowed. It was unusual for a Zora to be in Castle Town, let alone an injured Zora, especially a child for that matter. The shadow drifted closer and he gazed intensely at the child. He was royalty to be sure. But last Void had none, the only royalty of the Zoras that was a child was a girl called Ruto. He shook his head with disgust and stalked out of the tavern, but not before he saw a movement by the door. He tensed and raked his gaze across the tavern. There was a ledge near the ceiling and he leaped up, crouching up on the ledge, looking down at the people in the tavern.
The door creaked open a fraction of an inch before it swung open to reveal a great grey wolf. The beast resembled those of the shadows. Strange pale markings wove across its dark grey fur, but it was the imp roosted upon its back that was unmistakably from the shadows. The thing was no larger than a young child with black and white skin; a great orange hand seemed to hang from the back of its head, though a mask hid much of its face.
Without moving, Void watched the move slowly and cautiously across the room towards the girl and the Zora child. HE felt a faint tugging deep in his chest and narrowed his eyes. The wolf was certainly a shadow beast, but its fierce blue eyes were bright with intelligence and were far too human to be that of a simple, dumb beast. Tensely, Void realized that this beast was Link. But that wasn't possible, Link was human. Tensely, Void thought rapidly, his mind racing. Everyone here were spirits except for the great black beasts, the imp, and the Hero before him. The darkness had little effect on Void; in fact it fed him and strengthened him as he hadn't been in centuries.
The hero couldn't be turned into a spirit, Void realized. He turned into a beast, but why? The Spirit of Light would have claimed that it was because Link's spirit was pure, but the Spirit had told Void that he was incomplete without the Hero. That meant that Link was incomplete without him as well. Perhaps he had not turned into a spirit because his spirit, or soul, was incomplete, torn in two, light and dark.
Void remained motionless and undetected as Wolf Link and the imp stayed near the girl and the Zora child, listening to what was said in hushed voices. The imp said something to Wolf Link, but Void was unable to hear it. With a sharp huff, Wolf Link swung around and headed for the entrance of the tavern. Once he left, Void's tense muscles relaxed, but his expression remained hard with contempt.
Suddenly, Void felt something cold brush up against his leg and looked sharply down, hand flying to the hilt of his sword. A ghost cat sat beside him, its long fur glowing green. Its eyes fixed on him. Animals always seemed to know things and see things that people couldn't, perhaps that cat had seen and understood.
Void glared at the cat and rose sharply. He leaped down from the ledge and landed soundlessly. He had found his quarry and now it was time for him to start the hunting. He drew his sword and stalked after the wolf, a shadow it the darkness.
Less than a day later, Void found himself crouched in the spring of the Spirit of Light where he'd been before. Wolf Link stood before the faintly glowing spirit it spoke to Link and the imp upon his back. Suspended in the air above their heads was the container for the tears of light. It had been filled by the Hero as quickly as he could. However, the time without rest was taking its toll, Void could see this. The Hero's legs shook slightly with exhaustion and he could see the hunger in the wolf's eyes, yet this didn't seem to slow them down.
He'd stalked the wolf and imp the entire time they'd hunted for the Tears of Light. He'd even done the unthinkable. He's slain one of those damned bugs himself. It had attacked him though and he was completely justified in crushing the foul creature behead the heel of his boot. Besides, Void told himself, light had to be returned so he could fight the Hero and finally rid himself of the Hero once and for all.
Crouched here in the darkest corner of the cavern, he watched as the Spirit took its true form. The light was blinding to his sensitive crimson eyes and he shielded them. When he looked back, his eyes were narrowed against the ethereal light and stung. The serpent Spirit was massive and loomed over the Hero. Void forced himself to watch as the Spirit, with the same blinding light, transformed the Wolf into the Hero. Link stood tall and proud in his human form, his straw colored hair hung in his eyes, the green tunic contrasting to his fierce blue eyes. Void shuddered as he looked at those eyes. He bared his teeth in disgust and the feel of his heart racing.
The Sprit directed Link to the Water Temple at the very bottom of Lake Hylia and vanished as Link turned and walked lightly out of the cavern. Rising from his position where he'd been crouched, Void stretched his cramped muscles. He moved to where the Hero had stood just moments before and gazed after him, his eyes narrowed.
The Spirit burst up from the water behind his and spoke in a voice many times stronger than it had been the last time they'd spoken. "…Will you challenge him…Void…?" The Spirit asked, using the name the Shadow had claimed for himself.
"When it's convenient for me," Void answered shortly, not looking at the serpentine Spirit.
"…Of course…" The Spirit murmured. "…He will drive back the darkness...and bring peace…"
Void spat in disgust and turned to glare at the Spirit. "Not if he doesn't live that long," Void's anger was evident. He couldn't let the Hero live, but if the Hero didn't defeat Ganondorf, he would suffer for it. Void was sworn to servitude to the false king, but he would not honor that now. He was a creature of the darkness, born of shadows, hate, and lies. Betrayal was natural for him and he would relish the chance to betray the false king and be freed on yet another who wished to control him. He'd been Ganondorf's puppet time and again, but he'd been promised the death of the Hero and whatever else his heart desired, but these promises were empty and had never been fulfilled.
Neither Void nor the Spirit said anything for a long while before the Spirit offered up. "…Go…to the Gerudo Desert and…to the Temple of Shadow…seek out the Mirror of Twilight…"
"Why?" Void hissed suspiciously, his fists clenched.
"…Questions will be answered and more will be born…" The Spirit answered quietly before vanishing into the water of the Spring.
Void shook his head with disgust and stalked from the cavern. His posture suggested distain and contempt, but his mind raced. The Spirit had offered him a chance to find answers, but why was the Spirit helping him? He didn't know and he honestly didn't care, but he needed answers.
Link's feet touched down on the sand at the bottom of the chamber, the body of the guardian of the temple exploded into fragments of Twilight and the Fused Shadow hung suspended in the air above Link's outstretched hands. He gazed at the Fused Shadow through half lidded eyes. There was something strangely enticing about the Fused Shadows. Each time he and Midna found one after defeating the corrupted guardian, Link felt a yearning for the Fused Shadows, a calling that chilled him to the bone. Link felt himself sway lightly as the Fused Shadow seemed to call to him, enticing him to touch it, to become one with it.
Midna appeared from Link's shadow and took the Fused Shadow, jolting Link from his daze. She was speaking to him, but he wasn't paying attention. A flicker of anger and resentment burned in Link's gut. The Fused Shadow called to him like nothing else and Midna had taken it from his grasp. He glared silently at her.
Link, whom had always been at peace with himself, felt another jolt, but this was different. He'd never resented anyone or felt true anger before; the feeling was foreign and invasive. When the children had been kidnapped, he'd done only what he had to and what he was naturally driven to do. Anger wasn't what he felt; it was the feeling of urgency and determination to get the children back, but anger had not been present, it never had. Link had become frustrated at times, but he'd never felt anger. It made his blood run cold with foreboding; something had started to change in him ever since he'd entered the Twilight. No, that wasn't true, Link corrected himself. It had started to affect him, truly, after he'd entered the Water Temple.
With a feeling of unease, Link was wrenched back to the present by Midna's frustrated sigh.
"Pay attention!" She snapped, floating at eye level. "You didn't hear a word I said, did you?" Her voice was accusing and Link smiled sheepishly at her and shrugged in apology.
With an annoyed sigh Midna floated over to the portal out of the temple and looked back at Link, concern flickering in her red eyes. "Link, are you okay?" Her voice was hesitant and she asked.
Link looked surprised, but nodded silently. He schooled his expression and walked over to the portal to stand beside Midna.
"Ready to go?" She asked, the concern still noticeable in her expression. Link only nodded and stepped into the portal, his thoughts troubled by what he'd felt.
When he opened his eyes again, Link was in the spring of the Spirit of Light. He looked up at the Sprit who rose above the water, its great serpentine body coiling through the water behind it. It glowed and looked down at him with shining eyes. The Spirit warned him of the Fused Shadows and spoke of the corruption, but with a lurch, he was no longer standing at the spring. He stood in a plane of blackness. There was nothing but the sound of the Spirit's voice. However, he looked to his right and his heart lurched. Ilia stood beside him, a smile tugged at her lips.
Link wanted to tell her how sorry he was, how he would get her memories back, and how she couldn't give up hope, not now. But his heart filled with fear and he stumbled back as she drew a long crooked blade. Her eyes were pure white with madness as she screamed and stabbed at him, but she faded and he found her blade in his own hand. Link wanted to cry out and drop the blade, but he couldn't make his fingers let go of it.
The Sprit continued to speak, but Link could make no sense of its words, he felt, however, its every word in the core of his very being. Looking up, he saw three men who looked exactly like him, except they were seeped in darkness. They were dawned in black, their red eyes shining as they extended their hands to him. And then, Link was running to them across the blackness. But as he ran, coldness filled him as those eyes stared into his very soul. As the vision passed into the Fused Shadows rising his above the tiny green hill and the Spirit continued to speak to his being a single word was uttered in his ear. He was unaware of it, yet it had more meaning to him than the entire chilling vision.
"Void," the Spirit whispered the single word and Link shuddered inwardly. An echoing laughter filled the air and countless copies of Ilia fell in the darkness.
Jerking back Link shook his head and stared ahead. He felt cold, colder than he ever had before. The single word still echoed in his ears. "…Void…"
Link's head was bowed as the Spirit fell silent and the air grew heavy. "Zant!" Midna's cry cut through Link's mind and he spun to face the creature Midna had spoken of only a handful of times. Link made to draw his sword and lung at the being, but froze at the sight.
Zant was dawned in long black robes with green markings like the ones on Midna's skin. He moved silently, the long sleeves swinging as he walked. Hid oversized helmet covered his head and shoulders. It looked light a huge head with bulbous eyes, a nose, and mouth with a tongue that curled out. The top of the helmet was pointed plated. It was meant for intimidation and it worked, freezing Link on the spot as he tried to figure out what it was that he was actually looking at.
Zant addressed Midna and she lunged towards him, but was thrown back, suspended in the air. She struggled against him, crying out in rage and fear. Link leaped to defend her, but Zant merely raised a hand and threw Link back, something collided with his forehead and burned his flesh, causing him to cry out in pain. Link crashed onto the ground and tried to rise, but the pain was maddening and he collapsed onto the ground, but not before he saw he was looking through a wolf's eyes once more.
The Spirit of Light shot forwards, Striking Midna's suspended body. Pure, white light consumed her and Link heard her shrieks of pain. She fell from the air and landed hard on the ground, but by then, Zant was already gone. Link staggered to his paws and looked frantically around. Rain pelted the ground and soaked Link to the bone. He raised his fierce blue eyes and saw they were in North Hyrule Field. Hyrule Castle rose like a dark shadow that raked the storming sky.
Midna lay before Link, her body ghostly pale and a faint sigh escaped her lips. "Link," she whispered, looking up at him. Her eyes were almost completely closed and were dulled with pain. "We have to find Zelda. Promise me." Her eyes fluttered closed and Link moved quickly around her to protect her from the fierce winds. "Link, take me to Zelda." She whispered.
Link nodded sharply and nosed Midna onto his back. She hung limp as a ragdoll and almost as lifeless. He took off running, the rain beating his face and soaking his fur. He swerved sharply to avoid the lizards that prowled the field and ran through the deep grass. The sky was almost pitch black, but would flash with forks of white lightning, illuminating the Castle as it soared high above Link the closer he got.
Link found his paws slipping on the soaked grass and mud plastered to his fur. He was freezing, but he felt Midna shudder with every breath. He narrowed his eyes and ran as hard as he could to the bridge leading to Castle Town. In the heavy rains, no one was on the roads and the guards' heads were bowed against the lashing rain. They didn't see his as he approached, nor as he stalked past them, taking care not to make noise. Once he slipped into the town a crush of thunder shook the vary air. Link ran for the sewers where he had exited the castle last time.
Link headed for Telma's Bar, but when he made it to the door he stopped. He was a wolf, a monster. He was sure to be attacked upon entering, but he had to take that chance. The only one who could heal Midna would be Zelda, he was sure of it. He ran for the door and pushed his way into the sheltered warmth. His eyes narrowed against the light and blinked to see the bar was packed. Someone screamed and in an instant the guards who had come here after their shifts were upon him. He felt a spear rake down his side, drawing blood as he tried to dodge it and was promptly greeted by a blade catching the side of his face. He leaped for the door. He had to escape. Someone was screaming about the monster on his back and cringed as the cold rain struck his face. He ran and cowered in the deepest shadows as the guards came outside, weapons drawn.
"I think it's gone," one of them said, brandishing his sword.
Another held a torch up and spat in a gruff voice, "We'll make it pay if it comes back here. That blasted beast." Link froze as he recognized that voice. Rusl was in the bar with others. He had recognized Link as the beast that had shown up just after the children had been stolen.
Link closed his eyes and bowed his head. Grief stabbed at him, but Midna's shaky voice drew him back reality. "…Link…" She whispered. "…Zelda…"
Link crept from the shadows and stood, looking up at the streets and soaring buildings. He had to find a way into the Castle. A quiet voice said, "I can get you it."
A long furred, white cat stood at the door. She looked at Link after a long moment and indicated an opening higher up in the wall. Link could use the crates to get in, but how would he not be seen?
"There's a ledge along the wall," the cat told him quietly. She added after a moment, "It's been used by others."
Link nodded his thanks and turned to the crates as the cat disappeared back inside the bar. Link had no time to thing on what the cat meant by "others", but he guessed he would find out soon enough. He pushed the crates with all of his strength into place, his paws slipping on the rain soaked cobblestones. Leaping up, Link crept into the gap and looked down at the people in the bar. Jars lined the ledges, but they were avoidable enough. It was the ropes that spanned the gaps that made him tense. He would get to Zelda, no matter what. His eyes hardened with determination and he prowled forwards.