ATTENTION: I did not follow the video game plot with Ganon's Castle. For those who haven't played Ocarina of Time, you basically just collect silver rupees in every room and I find it tedious and pointless. I'm taking this as an opportunity to use my creativity.

So as much as I wanted this to be the last chapter of 'A Dark Truth', it isn't going to be. Lol I guess that's a good thing for you guys, but I've really been wanting to finish this thing. I felt I've made you guys wait too long for another chapter and once I had reached 10 pages I was like… "Okay, I'll post it." So yeah… there is one more chapter (seriously) and then maybe an epilogue… or prologue… no epilogue. You know what I mean! So I hope you enjoy this new chapter of 'A Dark Truth'! And look forward the last and final one. I know, it seems like it's taking forever. D: I'm truly sorry. School is so annoying. I have free time to write but I'm so brain dead towards the end… especially after school, all I ever want to do is sleep. I really hope I can finish this tomorrow! Thank you guys so much for reading and sticking with meh! I love you all. :D Gosh, I'm so angry that I'm going to have an odd number of chapters. -_- That's so irritating.

I don't own Legend of Zelda or any of its characters.

Chapter 30: Ganon's Castle

Dark and Link stood ten yards from the entrance to Ganondorf's castle, frozen in their steps forward to smite the King of Evil. Dark let out a heavy sigh of grief, glancing over towards the hero whose face was pale with dread. Link stood trembling, staring like a deer in headlights at a body hanging in front of the large wooden door of the castle. The figure was swaying gently in the wind, bound with a rope tied around their neck. The sky, darkened by treacherous clouds of doom prevented the two men from recognizing the beholder of the body from such a distance; however, Dark had a feeling in his gut that he knew the identity of the deceased figure. Looking to the blonde with utter dismay, he sucked in a shaky breath before taking slow strides to the limp body while Link stayed behind. Within the shadows of the alcove that accommodated the door, Dark could barely make out the character's face. He walked slowly around the figure before his boot came in contact with something lying on the ground. When he knelt down to retrieve it, he noticed it was a piece of fabric. It was white in color and illuminated brilliantly, even in the night sky… then he froze. Dark's blood went ice cold and his movements were frigid as he gradually turned to face the panicked hero. Choking on gasps of breath from the shock, he struggled to find words through his jumbled thoughts. Dark glanced up once more to the lifeless body before gaining control of his emotions, and mustering the strength to break the news to Link.

"I'm going to cut him down." Dark shouted firmly while drawing his sword. He instantly cursed under his breath, scolding himself for referring to the body as a 'he'. Announcing the gender alone, confirmed any doubts in Link's mind. As Dark swiped his sword above the figure's head, sending the body to topple to the ground he could hear the frantic shouts and whimpers of the distressed hero from behind him. He knelt down to take the limp body in his arms, and slowly walked back towards Link. Dark kept his face downwards, with his long bangs covering his eyes. He didn't want to see the pained look in the hero's expression once he found out the body was—

"Sheik!"

Dark cringed at the sharpness of Link's scream and glanced up ever so slightly to see the blonde rushing towards him to take the deceased man from his hold. Link then dropped to his knees, propping Sheik's lifeless body up in his arms. He began violently ripping away at the remnants of the rope still bound to his neck while shouting aloud various obscenities. The longer that Link stared towards his departed friend, the more gruesome details he noticed tainting the man's body. This was the first time he'd ever seen Sheik without his cowl, yanked away in his desperate fight to set himself free. Link let out a series of high pitched cries as he ran his hand against Sheik's cheek. He had a dainty yet beautiful face, much like a woman but with the prominent bone structure of a man. Link swept aside his tuft of bangs, revealing both of his half-lidded ruby eyes. He ran his hand downwards, to seal them shut.

"Oh Sheik… what have they done to you…" Link squeaked through a broken voice between choking sobs. He noticed a folded piece of golden paper tucked in a fold of his body suit, and hastily yanked it out. Dark narrowed his eyes with hatred as he peered over Link's shoulder to see what the Evil King had to say, "This is… what shall become of you. If you do not fear your fates… step into my castle…" Link led out an infuriated shout, chunking the death sentence over the bridge and to the boiling lava below. He grabbed at one of the Sheik's hands, curling his lips inward in a grimace as he noticed his blood stained finger tips from his ripped and broken nails. Dark noticed the repulsed and disturbed look on Link's face and gently laid a hand on his back.

"It's not what you think, hero…" He took Sheik's hand away from Link and set it gently to the fallen warrior's side, "These injuries are from him struggling with the rope… he was clawing at it… trying to get down…" Dark noticed Link's muscles relax ever so slightly. He knew that Link assumed they were torn off in a matter of torture so he showed him the bloodstained rope for verification. Of course, being hung is a horrific torture in itself. Dangling in midair, with no means of escape… choking… gasping… dying, "Link… we have a fairy." As the hero remembered the tiny glowing creature sealed away within a bottle in his pocket, his face lit up with joy. Smiling through his tear-stained face he whipped the fairy out and was about to set it free when he froze.

"It's our only one… there's no time to get another…" Link whispered softly, bringing a hand to his mouth in shame. He felt so selfish to second guess saving his friend's life but what about him? If he should die, the entire country of Hyrule would be doomed and all of his hard efforts would be in vain. Dark seemed to read his thoughts through his face as he searched Link's contemplating expression.

"Just use it, Link." Dark ordered while pointing to the bottle in his shaking hands, "I will see to it that you make it out of here alive."

"But Dark—

"Don't doubt me." Dark stated a bit too harshly. He glanced towards Sheik once more, crumpled and broken just like the hero's spirit. Dark reached out his hand, lifting Link's chin with his fingers to face his ruby eyes filled with promise and determination, "Please. I swear I will take care of you. I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I wouldn't."

Link didn't like the ominous tone in Dark's voice. Maybe it was his wrecked nerves, but perhaps... it was premonition. He looked down towards the thick glass bottle in his grasp and placed his hand on top of the cork that sealed it shut. Link glanced once more to Dark for approval and the shadowy man nodded firmly. He opened the bottle and directed the fairy towards the lifeless man that lay limp before them. Sparkles of pink descended from her wings, coating Sheik's body with her powerful healing magic. The color in his skin started to return, replacing his cold and pale complexion and the red ring around his neck faintly faded. Link was on edge as he patiently waited for the warrior to wake, and let out a cry of joy when he saw the blonde's eyelids flutter open revealing his crimson irises. He sucked in a quivering breath as his lungs were reintroduced to oxygen and brought a trembling hand to his chest to feel the beat of his revived heart. Sheik glanced around wildly at his surroundings and began to scoot backwards in a state of utter panic.

"Sheik, it's alright!" Link grabbed at the man's wrist, making his presence known. The Sheikah shifted his gaze towards him and then suddenly brought a hand to his face. Upon noticing his cowl had been removed, he turned away hastily.

"Please…" Sheik croaked through a hoarse voice, caused by his previous encounter with death, "Do not… look at me…"

Dark, being considerate of the man's traditions and values, stood up to retrieve the scarf-like object he so dearly desired. He awkwardly placed a hand on his once enemy's back and returned his cowl. Sheik gingerly grabbed at the fabric, mumbling a husky 'thank you' and began to recover his face. Once the man had composed himself, he turned to face his saviors while struggling to stand to his feet. Link helped brace him, placing his hands underneath his arms to prop him upright. He grasped at the railing for leverage and nodded towards the two men in appreciation, "I… am… grateful for your kindness…" Dark simply tilted his head in confirmation while Link wrapped his arms around his waist, squeezing the man in chokingly tight grip. Sheik began to gasp and wheeze for breath and the hero apologetically let him go. Saddened that he ruined the moment of their embrace, Sheik sighed before pointing towards the door of the castle.

"Do not… waste… anymore time…" Unexpectedly, the weary blonde took a few staggering paces towards Dark and placed his hands on his shoulders, "I will never again… question your character…" The dark-headed man grabbed at the Sheikah's wrists and nodded in acceptance. Never again would they be enemies, and this was the closure they needed to lock away their unfortunate past. He then turned to Link with a wry smirk and jutted his thumb towards the Dark Lord's lair.

"Duty calls."


Upon entering the castle, the two men soon found out that getting to Ganondorf was going to be as difficult a task as slaying the man himself. He'd transformed his lair into a dungeon, with many doors leading to different rooms, each designed after a past temple. Above each of the entry ways lay a symbol of each of the medallions: forest, fire, water, shadow, spirit, and light. The entrance to the top of the tower where Ganon hid in waiting was barricaded off by a swirling mist of black magic that fed off the power of the six rooms. Once all of the areas were defeated and the spells were broken, the barrier would disappear. It sickened Link how Ganondorf was still able to use remnants of the six sages' power.

"We should split up to save time." Dark suggested as he glanced towards the various doors, pondering about the ominous challenges that awaited them. The air was thick with trepidation as Link contemplated if they should follow through with the plan. He didn't feel as though splitting up was a potentially good idea for safety measures. If one of them should fall vulnerable to danger, the other wouldn't have any idea. Link didn't want to, but as the seconds ticked by, he could only think about what Ganondorf planned on doing to princess Zelda. Right now time was crucial.

"Okay Dark… you take the forest, fire, and shadow rooms." Link began fumbling through his belongings and weaponry until he revealed his goron tunic and the lens of truth, in case Dark should need them. The dark-headed boy appreciatively took the items until his heart dropped as Link handed him a glass bottle filled with a dark crimson liquid, "Just in case." Link whispered through a forced smile after handing him the potion, "I have one and you have one. Since you're taking care of the rooms on the west side i guess that means I'll take the light, spirit and…" Link suddenly broke off his sentence as he stared wide eyed at the blue medallion above the door across the room. Dark raised an eyebrow curiously and turned his gaze to see what had his partner suddenly speechless. His stomach dropped and contorted as he began to fidget uncomfortably under the sudden feeling of a foreboding threat. He coughed to clear his throat then looked confidently towards his lighter counterpart.

"You can do it, Link." The blonde glanced wearily with tired sapphire eyes towards Dark. He gave him a wry smile and a slight nod as he trudged with slumped shoulders towards the first door, "Come on buddy! That's not the hero spirit!" Dark called after the depressed warrior. He was puzzled by Link's sudden change in character but brushed it off as he entered a nearby door with a glistening green emblem hanging above it.

Link cursed under his breath at how careless he'd been within the first few moments he'd entered the room. Stumbling backwards after blocking blows from a vicious pair of Stalfos, Link grabbed at his wounded arm that had been sliced by the deathly blade of one of the skeleton warriors. It was seeping a profuse amount of blood and he scolded himself, knowing that he would need to use a few precious drops of his only potion. Angered by his mistakes, his thrusts and swings quickened, becoming more violent as he thrashed about at Ganondorf's loyal minions, belittling them to a rubble of bones. Link sighed in exasperation and took a seat on the cold stone floor. He glanced behind him and noticed that the bars locking the entry door shut had yet to rise. That meant that there was one more enemy in wait. Link raised his sword, preparing to dual battle when he witnessed a pesky keese fly nonchalantly by. He frowned and looked towards Navi in disbelief.

"Really…? A keese?" Navi only giggled in return as Link swatted the bat-like creature from the air and to the ground.

"…Is it dead?" Navi questioned while flying closer to examine the poor excuse for a monster. Upon getting to close, the keese convulsed and twitched causing Navi to shriek in surprise and fly back to the safety of Link's tunic. He simply stomped on the miniscule creature and smiled with satisfaction as he heard the bars slide open.

There was a large symbol of the light medallion hanging on the wall, just as the one above the door outside. Link stepped forward as the circular object began to glow and radiate with power. The medallion then disintegrated into a plethora of shards and dust in an explosion of light, revealing a confident looking Rauru.

"The seal has been broken! Hurry and save the princess!" Link nodded with affirmation, bowing to the Sage of Light in respect before running out the door. He noticed that the dark ghostly aura blocking his entry to the top of Ganon's tower looked thinner and more transparent. He looked to the other side of the room, wondering if Dark had conquered his first room yet. And if on cue, he saw the dark-headed boy stumble out of the door covered in a translucent slime.

"This is fucking sick!" Link laughed as he watched Dark thrash about, trying to rid himself of the sticky goo. He looked up to find the blonde staring at him from across the room and smiled a hearty grin before giving him an explanation, "…Like-Like."

"Figures." Link smiled and looked curiously at the boy he'd come to grow so fond of. Even covered in a thick film of Like-Like mucus, he still managed to look radiantly handsome. Dark cocked his head to the side in wonder, as he stared uneasily back towards his counterpart. He began to shift nervously, suddenly overwhelmed with self-consciousness.

"W-what is it?" Dark sputtered a bit defensively at Link's vacant stare. His voice seemed to bring the blonde back to reality, as he shook his head and focused his vision.

"Oh nothing." Link lied through a grin, "Are you hurt?"

"Not yet. You seemed to have acquired a few scratches." Dark replied with a frown as he pointed to Link's wounded arm. That's when Link remembered how the Stalfos had grazed him with his mighty blade. He looked down and shrugged.

"I'll take care of it."

"I talked to a young girl...a kokiri. Her name was Saria. She said you two are friends." Dark replied sternly, suddenly aware that they'd gotten side-tracked from their duty.

"Saria…" Link muttered sadly. He'd wished that he'd chosen the forest room so he would have had a chance to catch up with his dear friend, "So I suppose the plan is working. The clouds are fading."

Dark glanced towards the barrier blocking their way to Ganondorf and nodded in confirmation, "So it is. Shall we continue?" Link's shoulders seemed to slump as he sadly nodded 'yes' and turned his attention to the next door. He was saving the water room for last, fearing it would be the worst of them all.

"Quit looking so sad hero. A frown doesn't suit your pretty face." Dark called after the blonde as he turned to walk through the next door. Once he'd gotten close, he could feel the heat radiating off of the iron door and instantly put on his Goron tunic to prepare for what lay ahead.


Link grinned with joy as the iron knuckle he was battling disintegrated into a burst of green flames, sent back to the fires of hell where it belonged. He escaped with only an intense load of exhaustion from running around the wretched creature. After, talking with the flirtatious Nabooru, Link hurried out of the room to see if Dark had yet to finish his second room. Link sat outside in the main hall, waiting for Dark to come barreling out that door. After a few minutes, he began to grow worried.

"Link we must keep moving." Navi suggested after a long silent wait. Link shifted worriedly on the ground, staring contently at the unopened door.

"What if he's hurt? Should we follow in after him?" Link asked nervously, never once taking his gaze away from the red medallion that lay above the entry way.

"What if he's already gone to the next room?" Navi countered positively, "You know, those iron knuckles take a bit longer to defeat than most enemies. He could have been waiting for you, then decided to go ahead and finish."

"That doesn't sound like Dark."

"Why don't we go on to the next room… and if he still isn't here when we get back… then we can check up on him."

After a few minutes of convincing words from Navi, Link hesitantly agreed and stood to his feet. Once he'd looked back about 10 times towards the direction of where he'd hoped Dark would come walking out, he finally approached the final door that led to the Water Temple room. Link shuddered slightly from an internal feeling he could not suppress nor explain. Something about this next room was going to drive him over the edge, he could just feel it, "I've got a bad feeling about this one, Navi." He muttered to his loyal fairy. He immediately brought a hand to his mouth in shock. The familiarity of those words tasted bitter on his tongue. Navi simply nodded with confirmation then returned to her place within the collar of Link's tunic as he opened the door, awaiting the evil that was to come.

"It… can't be…" Petrified, Link stood frozen in his steps. He glanced apprehensively at his surroundings, taking in the details. It was exactly the same as when he left it. Link stepped out further into the vast room, cringing at the splashing sound his boots created against the shallow water. The humidity was causing his skin to crawl and he shifted nervously on his feet as he squinted through the thick fog. His stomach started to churn, flipping somersaults in his gut as he witnessed a scraggly dead tree in the center of the room, jutting from a small bed of sand. Much like a deserted island...

"Navi… we have to get out of here." Link's body started to quiver viciously in a state of panic. He drew his sword and began walking slowly to the right side of the room, stopping short when he ran face first into an invisible wall. Link glanced wildly around the room, looking towards the ceiling for a way of escape, "It's happening all over again…"

Link then broke into a sprint towards the other side of the room, banging violently on the barred door. He attempted to use his powerful silver gauntlets to try and pry the iron bars apart, desperately trying to leave the wretched room, yet he failed. The bars would not budge. The door would not open. And just when he thought he was about to lose it completely, a voice from behind him sent a chill of terror running through his spine, like a thousand tiny pricks of the tip of a needle.

"Oh don't give up just yet."

Link froze. He didn't want to face his enemy, fearing what he might see. He drew in a shaky breath before whirling around to look behind him. Nothing.

"Who… who are you?" Link sputtered through his trembling voice. Had he been dreaming this entire time? Perhaps, he'd fallen asleep just outside the room in the Water Temple where he'd decided to rest, and these past few weeks with Dark had been just a dream… an illusion.

"You know who I am. And I know who you are as well. We're very much alike actually."

"Sh-show yourself…" This conversation, it was so… surreal. Beads of sweat began to drip down Link's face. The feelings of intense anxiety and pure terror were reverberating through his body. He tried desperately to get a sturdy grip on his sword with his trembling hands as he looked around the vast room.

"Oh, what a wonderful idea! I'm sure you'll be as pleased to see me, as I am to see you…." A swift shadow leapt from the dead tree and then darted to the left so quick it was hard for Link to make out what… or who the creature was. It was as if it dissipated before his very eyes. He saw a flash of black once again, this time to the right. Link began backing himself into the wall, suddenly remembering what happened next…

"Behind you…." The whisper, with a voice as cold as the breath it blew against his skin.

"Watch out!" Navi shouted and Link turned around swinging the master sword to attack, just to see a menacing looking Dark standing gracefully at the end of his blade. Link's eyes nearly shot out of his head, widened with fear at the figure before him. He tried desperately to choke out words, but only emitted a few hoarse bursts of air.

"What's wrong? Surprised to see me?" the shadow cooed before diving into a front flip on the other side of Link. He turned to see his enemy just inches from his face, his blood red eyes piercing into Link's soul, "…Something look familiar Link?"

"Dark… what are you doing…" Link began backing away from the man, only to have him follow step after step, his sword drawn.

"Link you must fight him!" Navi cried as the shadowy figure dashed towards him swinging his sword in a whirlwind of attacks. Link focused purely on blocking them, never once taking the offense.

"Dark, why are you doing this?" Link shrieked as he dodged a near fatal stab in his direction.

"My duty is to kill the Hero of Time!" The man replied fiercely as he charged at Link, leaping into an aerial attack. Link rolled underneath him, turning to block the next blow. Something about Dark was… different. Had Dark lied to him all those weeks ago about joining sides with Ganondorf?

"No…" Link slumped his shoulders and threw his sword to the side. It clanged against the tile floor, hidden by the shallow murky water, "I will not fight you. Kill me if you must."

"Link!" Navi squealed as Dark came barreling towards him, showing no mercy.

"You are a fool."


"Brother!" A very happy Darunia bellowed. Dark stumbled backwards in surprise, trying desperately to avoid the large Goron's attempt to give him a hug. He was too late, and the large man wrapped his strong arms around the frail boy squeezing him in a tight embrace. Dark began choking and sputtering for breath, trying to wriggle his way out of the Goron's grip.

"I'm not… your brother…" He croaked. Darunia must have mistaken him for Link. The goron only laughed in return and pushed Dark towards the door.

"Hurry and save the princess!"

Once outside, Dark glanced curiously around for Link. The Fire Temple room had sure given him a run for his money, and he came out with a few serious burns. He sat down on the floor, tending to his wounds while he waited. After a few moments, Dark began to grow irritable and started walking aimlessly around the area to amuse himself while he waited for Link. Although, the the previous room had been difficult, it didn't take much time to defeat and being as impatient as he was, he figured he would go on and finish the Shadow Temple room in a hurry and meet Link later. He strolled his way to the next door, and led himself inside.

Upon entering the next room, he realized he was going to need the lens of truth in order to see anything. He was standing on a platform and all he could see was a drop off into a large trench, as well as the purple medallion on the other side of the room. After gazing through the lavender colored glass he saw several floating platforms but still no enemies…

"Well this is strange…" Dark began hopping along from platform to platform, thankful he didn't need Link's hover boots to do so. He flopped down, sitting cross legged with his chin in his hands, "This is ridiculous." He yawned, growing bored when he looked down to see a very large shadow underneath him. That's when he suddenly remembered Navi's words in the Shadow Temple. Watch for the shadows of monsters that hang from the ceiling. He glanced upwards to see a floormaster descending upon him. And in an instant he instinctively drew his sword, impaling the hideous hand creature and tossed it to the side to fall to the endless darkness below. Dark looked up to the ceiling again to see about half a dozen more, just waiting to attack, "So, you guys want to play?"

Dark managed to leave the room covered in a disgusting green goo as well as only a few scratches from the horrendous claws of the floormasters. Impa, never being one to talk much had nothing important to say and sent him on his way. Apparently, the princess had not informed the sages of Dark's existence because they all seemed apprehensive to meet him, giving him strange looks or assuming him to be Link. Dark frowned once he'd made it outside, when he realized Link still had not returned from his room or perhaps he'd moved on to the next. After a few moments, he decided to check up on Link for the mere fact that he was becoming annoyed of waiting. He moseyed his way to the Spirit Temple room only to find it empty. The absence of the large medallion on the wall told him that Link had already finished here. He exited the area and moved down the hall to the most threatening door, with an all too familiar blue medallion handing above. Hesitantly, he opened the door and stepped inside.


"You are a fool."

Link gulped down his pride and closed his eyes, awaiting his impending death when he heard the sound of the entry door sliding open. He gasped in surprise and glanced to his left to see a confused looking Dark, staring back at him and the shadowy man about to do him in. The replica turned hastily in his direction and seemed a bit shocked to see his exact double standing at the other side of the room. The two men continued to stare at each other for what seemed like hours until the real Dark finally drew his blade.

"I hate to break it to you buddy, but the blondie belongs to me."

A/N: Ho ho ho, I had you guys fooled there didn't i? :D Darky isn't evil! How dare you doubt him!