A/N: Hey guys! Sorry if I'm losing my flow with this story… um I know it's taking longer for me to update now instead of a chapter every night. Also, I know there is a bunch of conflicting emotions between the characters… sometimes I grow impatient and need some drama and action to keep me interested if you know what I mean. ;) So here is chapter 9! Thank you for your reviews! They make me feel fuzzy! Yay! :D
I don't own zelda!
Chapter 9: Unresolved Issues
Link knelt before the pedestal in the temple of time. This is where he would place the master sword in order to return to his past. This is the first time that he would actually be returning to being a child since he awoke from his seven year slumber. He never had a reason since then to go back. Dark's words kept coming back to him as he contemplated the effects they would have on his spirit once he was back to the normality of being an young boy. They stole an innocent child's life to do their dirty work…
"No…" Link muttered now on his hands and knees. He couldn't shake these torturing thoughts. That man treats you like a dog, go fetch the princess and be a good boy…
"No! It isn't true! They need me…" Link whispered. He gazed down at his hands, wounded from his confrontation with Dark earlier. His finger nails were still crusted with blood and there were four gashes in the middle of both of his palms. However, this wasn't what was bothering him. His hands looked much different… different than they were when he was a just a child. They were calloused and hard from holding a sword. They had scars where his enemies had gotten lucky. And they were forever stained with Dark's blood when he had killed his first human. He gasped and started to stare into space. His pupils started to shake and dilate as he remembered that day… He could hear Navi shouting at him if he was alright but it sounded so distant as he lost himself in memory.
"You know… Dark… May I call you dark?"
"I… I suppose… what is it you want?" Dark questioned raising his sword and maintaining distance.
"It doesn't… have to be this way."
"What… do you mean? This is our duty. One of us must be destroyed. That is my job and that is yours."
"No. I don't want to hurt you. Maybe… Maybe we could be friends. You could come along with me on my journey. We could save the world together."
Navi watched in utter horror at the weakened hero. His eyes had turned completely white as if they'd rolled back into his head. She called his name and thought she had heard a response. He wasn't talking to her… but he was speaking. She flew closer to him, trying to make out his words and then she recognized them. They were words he'd spoken to Dark in the water temple right before he killed him…
"Link! Wake up! Please!" Navi shouted frightened at the sight before her. She was afraid that this was to happen one day. All of the stress placed upon the hero day after day was sure to break him down eventually and it was Dark that put the crack in the wall that was keeping him sane.
"I wish things could have turned out different Link. I really do."
And with those words he vanished and Link was startled when he heard a loud and prideful wail above him. Dark was coming down with his blade fast, Link had no time to think. He stood his ground, his sword pointed in Dark's direction and awaited the impact. At the last second, Dark threw his blade across the room and spread his arms wide sailing downwards like he was performing a belly flop.
Before Link could react Dark landed harshly on his sword impaling him through the stomach. Link gasped letting go of the sword as the shadowy figure fell to his knees the sword still inside him. Dark cried out a blood curdling scream stinging Link's ears and making him cringe. It was the absolute worst sound he had ever heard. Dark began to breathe heavily scrunching his face in agony. He gently lay himself on his back as Link ran to his side…
"….why?"
The deeply wounded swordsman beneath him almost chuckled a slight laugh before choking on his blood and gasping for breath. Quickly Link pulled him up so he wouldn't continue to gag. His victim simply answered hoarsely through bloodied teeth, "It….wa.. was the plan all along."
Navi saw Link tense up and start to shake ferociously. He brought his hands to his head grasping his blonde hair in a tight firm grip and screamed. He was screaming so loud the temple was shaking. His howl was very unsettling to Navi, filling her with doubt that Link would be able to continue. He's officially lost it… He stood to his feet his legs wobbling profusely. His eyes were still blinded by distant thought as he stumbled across the room still screeching that horrific cry. He fell to his knees still clutching his golden locks and then slammed his face hard into the tile floor. His scream stopped in an instant. His hands weakly dropped beside him and Navi let out a cry of worry. A small stream of blood started to seep across the tile where the hero's face was settled. After a few moments of complete silence he lifted his head his bangs still covering any expression.
Finally he looked up at Navi who had maintained her distance for her own safety and to her surprise he looked… normal. His beautiful innocent blue eyes had returned to their place. Thankfully, all of his teeth remained intact and his nose was fine. Only a few thin lines of blood flowed from his hair line down his cheeks and to his chin. It almost looked as though he were crying tears of blood. He continued to stare at Navi who remained silent and suddenly the corners of his mouth started to curl and it formed a weak smile. Navi gasped and flew a few feet closer but still far enough away, should he have another episode. He stood to his feet and dusted himself off and approached the platform as if nothing had occurred.
He raised his sword high above his head turning to face Navi once more, "Shall we?"
She gulped down any hesitation and nodded slightly. At this he smiled once again and thrust his sword into the sacred stone sheath. A beam of holy light shot from beneath them encircling the pair and shooting towards the ceiling. It didn't feel like it did when they warped to different places… it felt relaxing as if a large weight was lifted off of his shoulders. It felt as if he was falling forever into an infinite nothing, but it didn't frighten him. He felt at peace for the first time in 7 years.
Meanwhile, Dark was sitting on a rooftop in Kakariko village. He'd managed to find his way after asking a creature he at first thought was a boulder, for directions.
Dark was walking down the dirt path where Link had left him to fend for himself. Not that he couldn't, he was very well capable of defending his life but that wasn't the point. He was still new to this world and he thought it quite rude for him to just disappear without giving him any advice or help. Of course, he had been extremely harsh and blunt to the hero, pointing out flaws about everything he'd been working towards for so long. Dark didn't think that Link would have been affected so much by his words but he could tell he was distressed when he departed.
Something about his demeanor had changed completely, all because of Dark's harsh reality. He didn't know if there was truth in everything that he had said but he did know that was how it seemed. There was a thin line between right and wrong in this world. What one considered good and bad was all a matter of the beholder. It wasn't as though there was some sacred book of morals everyone was to abide by. All he was sure of was Hyrule was full of weak simple minded people who took Link for granted and that he wasn't receiving as much help as he should be.
While he was lost in his train of thought, what he assumed was just a boulder started to move and then stood up with legs! The creature was a rusty golden brown and had a hard rocky surface on the backside of its skin much like a turtle. It had a round head and a wide mouth. As weird as the creature looked on the outside, Dark did not feel a threatening presence so he did not draw his blade.
"Hello." The creature bellowed in a low grumbling voice, "Where are you headed to stranger?"
Dark's jaw was dropped and his eyes as wide as saucers. "Huh?" He gulped. He was confused and shocked as this bizarre individual spoke to him. He quickly shook his head to snap out of it, realizing he was being quite rude, "Uh, I'm sorry." He apologized scratching the back of his head, "I'm new here and I'm just trying to get out of the mountains."
The creature chuckled a hearty laugh, "You act like you've never seen a Goron in your life! Well sir, Kakariko village is just down that trail if you keep on the direction you're heading. Beyond that is Hyrule field, is that where you want to go?"
"I'm not really sure where I want to go… but thank you very much for your help." Dark answered with a bow of respect.
"By the way stranger, you look oddly familiar. Have we met?" The Goron asked.
"Ha, no way. Like you said I've never seen a Goron in my life. Again, thanks for the help." Dark responded then waved goodbye.
He now felt so lonely sitting by himself upon the roof thinking about where he should sleep or get something to eat. He sighed realizing he probably would not have much luxury until Link returned. If he returns…
Dark suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head and cried out in discomfort. It slightly subsided but then came back once more full force. "Ah… what… is this…" He muttered trying to fight off the ache he felt. He put a hand to his forehead and clenched his teeth in agony, "What… is going on?" He groaned then fell to his back. He passed out cold.
Dark opened his eyes to see a familiar figure standing over him with deep concern. He slowly realized he was unable to get up and he glanced down to see the hilt of a sword protruding from his stomach. He gasped then looked up again at Link who was whispering something… What is he saying? I can barely hear him…
"Why?..." Link whispered.
Dark's eyes nearly shot out of his head as he realized where he was. The dampness, the smell, the atmosphere… it was all coming back to him. The water temple…? His own lips started to move but he didn't know what he was saying. His vision started to blur and Link started to fade away. He reached out his hand to try and touch him but everything went black.
His eyes darted open once more and he stood to his feet frantically. It was as though he'd just awoken from a coma. He looked around in confusion. He was back in Kakariko village. What… the hell… just happened…?
"I've lost my damn mind." Dark muttered sitting back down. He sighed realizing that he and Link had some unresolved business to take care of. It was time for Dark to pay someone a visit.
A/N: Wow, you guys are probably like… O.o lol Sorry, if you are confused I promise this whole thing will make sense in future chapters that's why I keep bringing Dark's death scene up over and over. The suspense must be killing you! Mwahahaha! Just kidding… that was rude. Well tell me what you think. Your reviews are what motivate me. ;D
