This was the worst possible scenario that could have unfolded. Dark found himself beaten to a pulp, unable to fight back against the relentless assault. With each agonizing breath, he replayed the last events. He had been so sure of himself, so confident in his abilities, and yet, it had all crumbled in an instant. He had underestimated his adversaries, and it had cost him dearly. But the agony of his physical injuries paled in comparison to the pain he felt at the realization that she had been taken away. The guilt of what could happen to her, the weight of his failure, crashed down on him like a tidal wave, and he could no longer contain his emotions.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he sobbed quietly, consumed by self-hatred and guilt. His tears mingled with the blood that stained his face, a testament to the brutal beating he had endured. He cursed himself for being a magnet for trouble, for dragging an innocent bystander into this chaos by his side.
He reflected on the final conversation they had shared. As the last days had passed, he could gradually recall his nightmarish dreams, which were filled with a relentless barrage of vivid visions and tormenting voices. These voices, loud and overlapping, incessantly clamored for one thing: her death. It was as if an unseen force seized control of his body, subjecting his mind to excruciating anguish, seemingly with the intention of coercing a response. He had steadfastly resisted these sinister commands, yet every night they returned to torment him.
As she uncovered more about him, he had believed that ending their bond and creating distance between them would protect her from his sinister truths. He lamented his own rudeness and emotional detachment, which had kept him from accepting her support. For once, he had something positive, and he had to push it aside. He had experienced a unique sensation around her, perhaps it was a flicker of hope.
His thoughts then turned to their captors and leader, the one who had spoken of Ganondorf's relentless pursuit of him. Why had news of his absence reached the Yiga Clan? What could be driving Ganondorf's unyielding determination to reach out to him?
And what was the goddess statue's answer all about? It had left him more confused than anything else. Hearing his prayers, it shone and spoke : "Courage led the way, on the day it would cheat, wisdom would greet. Its will, tested, thrived to grace. Their strengths combined sealed obscurity to its fate." No hint regarding his sword, it had been a complete waste of time which inevitably brought them to danger. He should have never brought her along, and allowed her to live a peaceful life. No, instead, he had been selfish.
Amidst the overwhelming despair, a spark of determination flickered within him. He couldn't allow himself to wallow in self-pity, not now. He had to find a way out of this predicament, not only for his own sake but for hers as well.
Dark knew that time was of the essence. He had to regain his strength, both physically and mentally, in order to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Dark knew that escaping would be no easy task, but he was prepared to do whatever it took to find her and ensure that she would survive this ordeal. The journey, although disorienting, felt long, filled with the sounds of footsteps, whispered commands, and the occasional shouting of the soldiers. It was evident that they were taken deep into an unknown territory, far away from the familiar lands of Hyrule.
Finally, he was brought to what seemed like a temporary halt. He experienced a force that lifted and hurled him, crashing against the frigid stone floor. The impact was so jarring that he couldn't stifle a groan of agony, and he remained sprawled on his back, surrendering to his exhaustion and the pain of his injuries. It was impossible to gauge how much time passed while he lay there, a bag obscuring his vision, in the oppressive darkness of the empty chamber.
Summoning every ounce of his determination, he finally pushed himself into a seated position, removing the confining bag from his head, wincing at the pain that shot through his battered body. The bruises and cuts served as a reminder of his failures, but they also fueled his purpose to make things right. The sight that greeted him was worrisome — he was in some kind of dungeon, characterized by towering ceilings and a vast, damp chamber. Dim illumination came from a handful of candles sporadically placed along the walls. The room exuded the pungent stench of the depths, a grim reminder of the countless lives that had met their end here.
As his eyes scanned the surroundings, he noticed that the entrance was barricaded by stout metal bars, beyond which his dagger, adorned with a luminous stone, beckoned. He knew that he needed to find a means to access his weapons and armor, a burning determination pushing him to confront his captors. Surveying the area, he spotted a passageway leading deeper into the prison. Gritting his teeth, he focused on burning through the ropes binding his hands with a nearby candle, his eyes catching sight of a bow bathed in the flickering light, accompanied by a bundle of arrows.
Taking hold of a sturdy stick laying around, he wound a torn piece of cloth around one end, ingeniously crafting a makeshift torch. He ignited it using and, with newfound illumination, embarked on his journey deeper into the dungeon. Along the way, he noticed intricate symbols etched onto the walls, as if someone had meticulously inscribed pictures and words into the stone. These markings appeared to be remnants left behind by countless prisoners who had met their grim fate within these unforgiving confines.
Intrigued by this peculiar discovery, he cautiously reached out and touched one of the inscriptions. To his astonishment, the symbol immediately lit up, emitting a radiant droplet of light that seemed to materialize from the very wall itself. As this luminous orb expanded and drew nearer, he observed with awe as a triangular-shaped mark manifested on the back of his hand, casting its gentle radiance upon his skin.
Before he could fully fathom the significance of this phenomenon, the room around him underwent a dramatic transformation. It was as though a portal had opened to reveal scenes of war and death, as if he were witnessing a vision or perhaps reliving a distant memory. What unfolded before him was a startling revelation, one that would reshape his understanding of his own existence and purpose. Most surprising of all, it featured Ganondorf, but at a time long before their paths had crossed.
It would show years before the war, Ganondorf's unquenchable thirst for power had driven him to madness, sowing discord and rivalry across the kingdom. In his relentless pursuit, he scoured the realm for the most potent artifacts and knowledge, all with the aim of asserting his dominion over what he perceived as a world drowning in light and hope. He viewed this world with disdain, considering it a mockery that divine abilities were left untapped. His cravings consumed him, rendering him heedless and excessively confident.
As his power grew, it remained an insatiable hunger. True satisfaction only came to him when he felt the darkness coursing through his veins, enabling him to unleash catastrophic forces capable of obliterating everything for miles around. Then, one fateful day, in his quest for longevity, he stumbled upon a prophecy foretelling his own demise. In his fervent search for answers, he had learnt about the triforce, its trinity creating a moral balance, with evil seeking Power, and Wisdom and Courage being the opposing forces for good. As Ganondorf grew stronger, he knew he carried the triforce of power, as the symbol materialized itself on his hand brighter every time. For years, he had delved into the riddle, searching for those who bore the symbol, and the answers finally unveiled themselves with the outbreak of war.
Ganondorf's fury swelled, leading to the kingdom's retaliation in a bid to maintain control. Among his countless battles, he set out to eliminate the head of the royal guard. After following him to his home, Ganondorf succeeded in his task and on that evening, a child was unexpectedly left orphaned, weeping in the ruins of this home. At that moment, Ganondorf's eyes fell upon a glowing mark on the boy's hand, a triangle, a triforce which he sensed a profound connection with. He therefore understood that the boy held the key to his destiny, compelling him to take the child and exploit any latent power, transforming him into a weapon against his impending demise.
Devastation swept across the lands, prompting the king and queen to unite and wage an endless battle against the relentless adversary. When Ganondorf finally vanquished the queen, a searing pain pierced his heart as rays of light cut through, all the while his mind flooded with her memories — the queen's last thoughts. A girl, born with divine strength capable of defeating even the most formidable foes, would need guidance, confidence, and courage. The queen's dying wish cast a protective veil over her young daughter, making it unable to trace her, offering a chance for redemption, for she is the missing piece to the triforce. As Ganondorf shriveled up and disintegrated into a mere shadow, he had created a mission to exterminate her before she could meet a helping hand.
The memory dissipated, leaving Dark with goosebumps on his arms, his chest constricted, and his heart racing. It appeared that all the pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place. The realization that he was the sole Hylian working for Ganondorf, the cause of his ongoing internal conflict between his actions and his true values, his inexplicable rapid healing, and even the symbol that had just appeared on his hand - it all now made perfect sense. He stood there, deeply contemplating his entire existence. The weight of betrayal pressed down on his heart as he recognized that he had unwittingly followed Ganondorf's orders while the man was responsible for his constant suffering and inner turmoil. He had been manipulated into acts of violence, and Ganondorf had been the one who had taken his father's life. Thinking about all of this at the moment was overwhelming, and he had to focus on making his escape.
Consumed by anger, Dark vowed to address this shocking revelation with Ganondorf, feeling an unwavering resolve coursing through him. He set out to quickly escape this dungeon, sprinting until he reached the end of a corridor where a ladder awaited. As he climbed, his eyes landed on an colosseum-like structure, its center swarming with a dozen Bokoblins, shrouded in gloom. A foreboding sense of dread washed over him, knowing he lacked the necessary gear and strength to face these foes head-on.
Summoning his bravery, he entered the arena. As the creatures rushed toward him, Dark readied his arrows, igniting them with the torch before letting them fly. The arrows found their mark, hitting some of the monsters directly in their heads and causing them to vanish instantly. Dark lunged to seize one of the swords dropped by his fallen foes, thrusting it into an approaching enemy just in the nick of time. He skillfully evaded their attacks, enabling him to build up his own strike, which ultimately proved successful in eliminating them all.
Soon afterward, Dark heard the metallic bars retracting, granting him his freedom. With unyielding resolve, he sprinted toward his equipment, his heart set on exploring the depths. He had a sense of his approximate location, and he believed that she couldn't be far away, or at least, that's what his instincts told him.