A/N: The picture I have in use as the cover for my CaH saga (as well as for all of my Zelda stories) is from dA by an artist lychi and the picture's name is just simply Zelda.
Notion: This story has two different dark Hylians. The first chapter concentrates into Dark who's actions, abilities and characteristics comes from Swamp Dragon Princess (aka SDP). The second dark Hylian, who will come into the story in fourth part, is my own version of Dark Link. He's usually referred to as Darky. Link in this story, along all of my stories (unless told otherwise) is my own version of him. So, Dark comes from SDP while Link and Darky are my versions. This is simply to clarify the differences and the reasons for their actions. Thank You. =)
Enjoy! ^.^
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Fight
Fight to win, win to live
Part 4: Darky
The young dark Hylian had slept in and thought to have calm and easy day. Things were looking bright for his future and, with the acceptance from both the Hero and the princess of Hyrule, he had taken up in teaching guards. At first that had needed some supervising either from Link or Zelda. After that the duo stayed in hidden and came to clear things off if something looked to go wrong. And now… Now he wasn't needing the backup and he actually had bit of respect from the guards and even from a few Knights. Still, he wasn't a Knight himself but he started to be more ready to take the tests sooner than later.
In all reality he was enjoying the fights with the guards. He had his own methods with things and usually he used the lack of liking the group sometimes had at him to work for his favor. At then his way could've been considered as mocking and teasing but at the same time, after the first round, his so called students actually paid attention to his words and actions. On this given second try they were learning and, surprisingly, found two things. Respect towards their teacher they had long ago decided to despise. And that the dark Hylian wasn't up for harming them in any of way, not even by words. In fact, he was very kind and finding compliments and advises rather than pointing their mistakes to point of being cruel.
The younger brother of the Hero of Hyrule had started to feel slight pain every now and then after his second group of guards. He knew he wasn't hurt so it had to be the Hero's feelings coming through to him. It confused him but didn't worry as he knew Link to be very good fighter. Sure, he didn't have the safety the Shadows had but he had other ways of keeping himself safe and well.
After the third group the pain started to be more constant and he could easily feel the hits the golden haired Hylian gained. "Link, the hell's going on?" Dark wondered while leaning against a wall at one of the castle's yards. He kept his eyes closed and concentrated into keeping the pain in order. He knew it wasn't his own but the whole situation was getting out of control.
The Half-Shadow knew he could've just ignored it, to push it out of his mind and block the Hero's feelings off. Yet, he had long ago learned to accept the situation and use it for his aid. And right now it started to feel like Link was in need of help. Still, he wasn't too worried since he knew that his older brother had few aces in his sleeve even in this kind of situations where he was in the receiving end of the attacks.
It was during the teaching of fourth group of the day when he understood that things were going downhill for the Hero and harshly. For Darky's luck, the group he was teaching were Knights whom actually respected and followed him even with the difference in their ranks. "Stop!" The dark Hylian suddenly shouted and raised his hand up. The Knights stopped on that second and simply watched and waited for him to continue or explain the unexpected pause in their training.
Darky closed his eyes and concentrated into his breathing. "Link…. Where are you?" He thought while slightly frowning and following the feeling of getting beaten. He separated the feeling off of himself and slowly located the source. While knowing that he was surrounded by Knights, he couldn't go as far as he hoped with the connection he shared with the Hero. If he had been alone, he could've formed access into his brother's mind and see what the cerulean eyed Hylian saw.
The Knights waited patiently and silently for Darky to return to the present. Eventually the dark Hylian took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He took a look around before speaking. "Forgive me but I need to speak with the Queen." Darky told but he was swift to continue. "I have no bad word about any of you." He reassured and nodded towards the doors that led into the castle. "Yet, I would like for you to come with me. I might need your aid soon enough and it would be good to have at least one group gathered already." The Half-Shadow explained before turning around and heading towards the castle.
The Knights didn't say a word but they followed the dark Hylian. They had heard several rumors considering their teacher but they rather let him tell his secrets out instead of accusing him of things. The first, and more or less confirmed, rumor was of Darky's ability to talk with animals. Yet, this particular group had never seen it in usage so to them it still was a rumor rather than a fact. Another popular word was that the Hero and the Half-Shadow were somehow connected. Again, it was more of speculations than a real fact. Third considered the Half-Shadow's power with magic. This was partly confirmed in some magics but not for all.
Considering all that and more, the Knights weren't following Darky simply out of respect and his half-put request. A big part of the reason was simple curiosity. They wanted to know if some of the heard rumors would finally gain actual truth into them. Yet, they would never admit it if it was inquired from them.
Soon enough Darky reached Zelda's office and knocked on the door. The Knights stayed in the hallway when the dark Hylian gained the rights to enter. The Half-Shadow first nodded to the ruler of Hyrule before walking to middle of room. At there he knelt down like a Knight to wait for a right to speak to her.
Zelda sighed and slightly shook her head. "You may rise and speak, Darky." She stated formally. Darky stood up but before he had a chance to explain his visit, the Queen already spoke. "I can understand you being honorable but I thought we were past this kind of formality by now. At least while it is simply you and I in the same room."
Darky slightly flinched and blushed at the given reprimand of sorts. "I am sorry, Your Highness." He started bit nervously. "As they say, old habits die hard." The dark Hylian continued with a slight shrug yet right after that he got fully serious. "May I speak freely?" He inquired even though he knew the answer already.
Zelda held in her sigh and nodded. "I simply wonder why you request for things you already have gained." She half whispered while feeling bit worried of what the dark Hylian had to say. After all, Darky extremely rarely came to her in minor things.
"Link's in danger." The Half-Shadow stated out straight off. The leader of Hyrule gasped slightly in shock. She knew perfectly well that any topic considering the Hero of Hyrule was something Darky would never joke about. "As you know, I and Link share a connection which allows us to know if the other one's in danger." He started as calmly as he could. "Most of today I've felt him being anxious but during the past several hours things have gone worse. I thought him to pull through the fights but it seems that there's too many for him to defeat. And, even though he's amazing fighter, things are getting to be too much for him to handle on his own."
Zelda gulped and nodded as she listened to the explanation. "What do you suggest to be done? I know you will head for his help but…" She started without really knowing how to put her words.
Darky nodded and glanced towards the door. "I certainly will go to him." He agreed without second's thought. "But, considering what Link's gone through so far…." The dark Hylian continued before trailing off for a moment. "I suggest to gather the Knights around. I need help on this mission. The more there is to search for him, the quicker we'll find him." He told out while feeling the time ticking away.
"I will call everyone forth and explain the situation. Yet…" Zelda started before bit frowning. "I thought you'd know where he is…."
Darky nodded before slightly hesitating. "I know where he is. I can find the place, no problem there. Yet… He's fighting, Your Highness. And considering all, there's too many of enemies. With things being like that, I need strong fighters along." He explained before slightly frowning. "And certainly some potions too. He's starting to be quite well out of strength in there."
Zelda nodded firmly and stood up. "Then we must hurry. You head to get the needed potions. Make sure you have the needed weapons along. I will call all Knights around at that time." She half commanded and Darky nodded in understanding.
After that they left the room. Zelda commanded the group of Knights, whom had followed Darky to there, to go search and call all of Knights into the main hall of the castle. The dark Hylian followed her for a moment before picking up a different road which led to the Infirmary.
Darky almost ran through the corridors since he could feel Link's situation worsening. "Just hang in there a while longer, bro! I'm coming!" He thought while hoping for the Hero to hear him. "DARK! IF YOU'RE THERE, ANSWER ME!" The dark Hylian continued while calling out to his oldest brother. The Part-Shadow would be a strong fighter to have along for this rescue mission.
Unfortunately, Darky didn't get any of contact from the other dark Hylian by the time he reached the Infirmary. He dashed through the few rooms in search of the doctor before finally skidding to a stop. "Doc!" The ruby eyed Half-Shadow called out and bit flinched when the castle's doctor jumped in surprise.
"Why do you have to scare old people like that, huh?!" The doctor half growled as he turned his notion into Darky.
"Sorry, I really didn't mean to freak you out like that." The Half-Shadow answered with a sheepish smile. "But, I am in serious need of your help." He continued straight off while getting serious again. "Link's out on a mission but things aren't going well with him. I need to go for his aid and, well, I'd need some seriously strong potions along." Darky explained as swiftly as he could.
The doctor nodded and got up from his desk. He walked straight to the cupboard and started to rummage it through. "What kind of potions?" He inquired while giving a swift glance to his customer.
"Anything goes but I think blue and green ones would be needed as strong as possible. Red is more for backup rather than have to." Darky explained while taking in what he was feeling from his brother. The doctor nodded and returned to his work. Eventually he started to take out the needed bottles.
"The stronger the potion is, the less of it is needed." The doctor reminded as he brought one blue, one green and two red potions to the black clad Hylian. "Too many of potions and the effect won't be worthy for the work needed to be done." He told and Darky nodded while pocketing the bottles.
"Thank you, doc. You are certainly saving the Hero's life by this." The swordsman told with a small smile and a nod. Right after that he dashed out of the room and towards the Main Hall. By the time he reached his destination, it was full of Knights, guards and other soldiers.
"You have remarkable timing, Darky." Zelda told with a small smile as the dark Hylian moved to the stage to take a place from beside her. "I have just informed of the mission the Hero has been sent to." She explained and nodded to Darky while moving off the way. "The stage is yours."
Darky nodded back to the leader of Hyrule before taking a deep breath and facing the room full of fighters. "Knights, guards and soldiers, I hate to say this but the time is not on our side. The Hero is in grave need of assistance and we must move as quickly as possible. And to everyone who wonders off how I know this… I can confirm the rumor of I and the Hero sharing a connection. We can feel each other's emotions and physical condition. And right now the Hero is not doing well. The longer he is out there without the aid we can provide, the more certainly he will fall. So, who will follow me into this rescue mission?" The dark Hylian fell silent and looked around the sea of people in front of him.
Not even one person hesitated to raise their hand once the Hero's brother stopped talking. Darky sighed in relief and nodded. "Then get ready! We leave in five minutes!" He commanded and in matter of seconds the room was almost empty besides the few Knights that had been practicing with the dark Hylian.
The small group followed Darky out of the room and into the country yard. "Could one of you stay at the Main Hall? We would need someone to inform where to gather." He requested as calmly as he could. The group glanced at each other before one of them already dashed back to the room. "Thank You!" The dark Hylian shouted after the guy with a small smile.
"First come, first serve." Darky half whispered before taking a deep breath and fully facing the group with him. "You guys will get a group each to command. As does your comrade once he gets back into here. After that the leadership of a group goes to the ones first in here. So, in swift counting, we'll get twenty groups and I'll be leading one of those." He explained while forming his plan on the go.
In no time the people started to come to the yard. Darky picked the eighteen Knights to stand by him while waiting for the remaining Knight to return. Once everyone had reached the area, the dark Hylian commanded a counting from one to twenty. The groups formed quite swiftly and the fighters went straight off to their group. "Is everyone informed of the place we are heading off to?" The Half-Shadow inquired and everyone nodded. "Good! Then we move out!" He commanded and took the lead.
They moved quickly through the forest into the destination of Link's mission. "Half of you will round the place in search of another way in. When you enter the place, be at your guard. Do not take anything for granted, search every inch of the place, break locked doors down if you have to and beware of traps. You will quite certainly crash up with monsters so be ready for a battle. That fight may as well be your last if you lose so be prepared to defend each other. I pray you all good luck, stay safe and do not back down. The Hero's life depends on us." Darky spoke as strictly and comfortingly as he could.
The dark Hylian bit feared to lose most of his group when he mentioned the monsters but no-one in the small army of his looked to hesitate or have second thoughts of the situation. "Everyone ready?" Darky called and smiled slightly as the people in front of him nodded almost in unison. "Good. Then let's go!" He commanded, turned around and entered the place from the same place as the Hero had gone through.
They moved quickly with Darky in lead. He easily destroyed the locked doors that came into their sight. Slowly his followers dispersed into different roads as they checked rooms or started to check a different pathway. The dark Hylian wasn't certain but all the way until the trap on the floor, he followed in his brother's footsteps.
When he stepped on the trap, Darky blinked and stopped. He glanced down to the floor with a frown before using his strong magic and broke the trap open. "You fell in here, Link, didn't you?" He thought while getting bit uncertain. From here on out, he didn't know the right road. "Dark, can you hear me?" He called out but still got no reply from the other dark Hylian. The Half-Shadow had been calling out to the Part-Shadow every now and then and he started to worry for something having happened. After all, his brother had always replied to him one way or another. What he started to fear more and more was that he wasn't there to save one brother but both of them.
Darky took a deep breath and took hold of his strong magic once again and broke the doors pretty much simultaneously from both sides of the corridors. "Check them!" He commanded while moving forward towards the end of the pathway in hopes of continuing forward on his checking.
"Lizalfoses!" The call started Darky and he turned around immediately while drawing out his sword and shield. The battle against the beasts quickly retreated into the corridor as the monsters tried to push their attackers into the pit in middle of the pathway. Darky swiftly attacked the closest lizard like fighter while trying to come up with a plan.
Yet, the Half-Shadow knew it to be only matter of time before his comrades would start to fall into the pit. "Keep them occupied!" He commanded while forcing himself into middle of the fighters and towards the opened trap. "Hold your ground! Don't let them push you back!" The dark Hylian shouted while moving as quickly as he could.
By the time he got the fall into his sight, one of the Knights was already by its edge. Darky dashed forward while quietly cursing underneath his breath. He almost flinched when the green monster slammed its tail into the shield and send its opponent falling. The dark Hylian put the shield off and dived after his comrade.
Darky took a hold of the Knight's wrist while already slamming the sword into wall in front of him. The Lizalfos gasped in surprise before smirking and readying another attack. "Shit…" The dark Hylian thought and shut his eyes tightly as the beast struck the sword into the wall but luckily it wasn't able to strike deep enough as its attack missed.
Darky sighed in relief while trying to figure out a way to save them both. "Let me fall." The Knight half begged as he understood the situation.
Darky shook his head without glancing at his follower. "You wouldn't make it through the fall." He stated out.
"Let me be the sacrifice needed for You to continue forward." The Knight requested while dreading the fall but wanting to do the right thing.
"The answer's still no." Darky replied bit harshly. He would've wanted to give a glare to the Knight but chose not to do that since he needed to concentrate into the threat above them. "Crap…" The dark Hylian half whispered as the Lizalfos started to ready a fire attack. Suddenly the beast's concertation was cut short and it gasped in shock.
Darky returned his gaze back into the monster as he had closed his eyes a moment earlier to concentrate into Nayru's Love, a protection magic. He was bit surprised when he noticed a sword through the lizard's chest. Soon enough the beast was cast aside before it vanished from sight. "Let me help you two up, Sir." One of the Knights called as he already reached a hand down to them.
Darky sighed in relief and nodded. "Thanks! That's much appreciated!" He called before already pulling the hanging one upwards. "Climb up." The dark Hylian half requested and the Knight nodded before already starting to make his way towards the edge of the fall.
Once the other one was at safe, Darky carefully climbed to his sword before taking hold of the offered hand. "Give me a second. I gotta take the sword along." He told while closing his eyes and wrapping his legs around his blade. The dark Hylian took once a deep breath before kicking himself off of the wall and drawing the weapon off its place. Carefully he brought his knees upwards and took hold of the sword before already sheathing it. Only after that he, with the given help, climbed up from the pit. He thanked the Knight with words, smile and a nod.
"It's nothing, Sir. Glad I could be of assist." The helper replied with a slight shy smile. "So, how do we cross that gap? Not everyone is able to do the wall jump and the rooms aren't connected." He inquired while feeling like he and the other guards and some of the soldiers would have to backtrack and find another road forward.
"I got this, don't worry." Darky answered and took a deep breath before closing his eyes. When he opened those ruby orbs of his, he gave out a slight battle cry as he already called out ice magic. It swiftly covered the fall and created a road over. "Careful with your steps. We need to find a different road back later on when we leave this place." The dark Hylian told while letting others cross first and join with the rest of the group just so he could make sure his small icy bridge of sorts would hold.
Once the group was fully back together, Darky took the lead again. He followed his feelings while choosing the way the battling, exhaustion and gaining wounds was strongest. After about an hour and half after entering the place, he gasped and stopped dead on his tracks. "Sir?" The Knights called bit worriedly while fearing that they just failed the most important mission of their lives. The dark Hylian closed his eyes and took couple of deep breaths to get better into knowing what was going on with his brother. The Knights glanced at each other while simply shrugging at the questioning looks and looking equally worried as everyone else around them.
"He's still alive. Unconscious but alive." Darky finally told as he opened his eyes with full determination on his face. "We need to speed up. We're not far from him." He explained and started to walk again while giving a quick wave of his hand in command to follow him.
Twenty minutes later they had come up couple of floors and were walking on a wide and round corridor. Darky frowned as he heard monsters coming towards them from the darkness ahead of them. "Ready for a battle!" He commanded while drawing out his weapons. He heard the nine people take out their weapons and take a better stance. Soon enough the Lizalfoses came forth.
There were only four warrior lizards against the nine Knights and one dark Hylian. As Darky fought alone against one of the beasts, the nine others quickly surrounded the rest of the monsters. The Half-Shadow knew perfectly well that those creatures didn't have any of chances against the Knights. Nonetheless, he fought fiercely and swiftly as he wanted to get rid of the Lizalfos as quickly as possible that they could continue forward in search of a way to the Hero's side.
Eventually Darky struck bit more of strength into his slash than needed and the creation of Darkness hit harshly into the wall. The dark Hylian bit flinched at the impact but he soon gasped in shock as what he had believed to be a wall, shattered like glass. On that instant the smoky blackness of the glass vanished and it became as clear as any window.
Darky could easily see into the fighting arena below him. "Knight Ray, you're in charge of the rest of the group! Search rest of the place and stay safe! We will meet outside!" He commanded before already running forward towards the hole in the glass and jumping down into the sandy ground of the round arena.
The Knights dashed after him before bit gasping of what they saw. "The Hero's found! You heard the commands! Let's move out!" Knight Ray commanded while knowing perfectly well that he and the rest of the group wouldn't make it safely down those ten meters the dark Hylian had gone for.
Darky barely looked at his oldest brother as he kept his gaze fixed in the unconscious Hero and the Swamp Dragon Princess by him. The other dark Hylian's smirk turned slowly into a frown. His youngest brother simply walked past him, snapped his fingers and by that called out strong magic. The said magic created a hole right below the remaining monsters in the arena and dropped them in before the ground already closed around them. The Half-Shadow wasn't certain which actually killed the beasts, the weight of the ground or being buried alive. Nonetheless, he couldn't care less as his main worry was with his older brother.
"Darky?" The Part-Shadow called worriedly while watching him walk past him without a word.
"Just keep the beasts off, Dark." The youngest brother half commanded without glancing behind him. He sighed heavily and shook his head while crouching down by the two shields before already moving them aside. The dark Hylian simply nodded to SDP before already bringing out the blue potion.
Swamp Dragon Princess helped the younger brother force-feed the helping liquid down Link's throat. After about half of the potion was drank, the Hero coughed and slowly opened his eyes. "Take it easy, Link. It's okay now." Darky said as calmly as he could.
Link took couple of deep breaths to calm down. "Darky?" He called bit weakly before bit smiling as he saw his younger brother. "I knew you'd come eventually." The Hero told with a slight chuckle.
Darky sighed heavily in relief and nodded. "Yeah, well, sorry it took so long." He partly apologized with a small smile. Just then a loud rumble got his notion elsewhere. "We need to get you out of here, Link." The dark Hylian told and looked around. "Unfortunately, the way I came can't be used. It would either take too much of time or then too much of our brother's strength to be done." He half mused before bit nodding to his oldest brother.
The older dark Hylian didn't wait for long as the monsters came into the arena. He glanced once at his closest family before going to fight the beast off. The younger Shadow turned his notion back into the middle brother and brought out the green potion. "Drink this. You'll be needing it." He simply told while keeping slight notion in the fight in case his backup was needed. Yet, the Part-Shadow seemed to have everything perfectly under control.
"This is just in case." Darky told as he gave the third potion, red one, to Link. The Hero simply nodded while handing back the empty bottle that had contained the green liquid. Once the Hero had drank the third potion, the younger dark Hylian stood up. "We better get going and leave this place." He told as calmly as he could.
"Dark!" The Half-Shadow called after the latest lot of monsters had been killed. The oldest brother turned around and came over. "I need you to keep SDP and Link safe." The youngest male Hylian told while already heading off to the opposite wall from their place. "I'll make our way out of here." He half mumbled as he searched for a part of the wall that would move and reveal a pathway out of the arena.
"I'm not really needing someone to fight for me." Link half muttered as he stood up with SDP's help.
"Maybe you don't, bro, but you've been fighting for as long as I know." The Hero's older brother stated out while making sure all of Link's weapons were along. After that he half ushered the Hero and SDP towards his youngest brother.
"Okay, guys, stay back. This wall is going down." The Half-Shadow told while taking out his Megaton Hammer. As he was doing that, he remembered something with a slight start. "Oh, and before I forget this again… Here." He told while taking out Zora Tunic. "It gotta feel better than go bare chested." The younger dark Hylian said with a wink.
Link was bit surprised but he soon smiled slightly and nodded. "Thanks." While he put the tunic on, his younger brother took a deep breath and struck the heavy weapon against the wall pretty much on full force. The trio behind him jumped bit in surprise as the wall came crashing down and revealed a pathway.