Dark's POV

As I lay on the cold ground by Lake Hylia, the tension from my argument with Link still weighs heavily on me. Sleep comes fitfully, and when it does, it brings with it a haunting nightmare.

The dream starts in a desolate landscape, a world cloaked in darkness and despair. The sky is an ominous shade of red, and the air is thick with the stench of death. I am clad in black armor, my eyes glowing with a malevolent red light. I know this place; it's a memory from a past life, a life where I served Ganondorf willingly.

I move through the twisted landscape with purpose, my heart cold and unfeeling. Ahead of me stands the hero of that age, his green tunic and shining sword a stark contrast to the bleak surroundings. He is strong and courageous, but I can see the fear in his eyes as he faces me.

"Dark," he says, his voice steady despite the terror I can sense. "This isn't who you are. You can still turn back."

But I don't listen. The darkness within me has taken over completely, and I raise my blade without hesitation. The hero fights valiantly, but he is no match for the fury and strength that the darkness has given me. With a final, brutal strike, I ran him through with my sword. His eyes widen in shock and pain, and then the light fades from them as he falls to the ground, lifeless.

I stand over his body, feeling a hollow victory. The darkness surges within me, consuming every trace of light and humanity that once existed in my soul. I am nothing but a weapon of destruction, a shadow of evil.

I wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest, my body covered in a cold sweat. The nightmare lingers, the image of the hero's lifeless eyes haunting me. I sit up, trying to calm my racing thoughts, but the fear and panic are overwhelming.

What if the darkness consumes me again? What if I become that monster once more? What if I hurt Link, the one person who has shown me kindness and love in this lifetime?

I glance over at Link, who is sleeping peacefully nearby. The moonlight casts a soft glow on his face, making him look almost angelic. The thought of hurting him, of becoming the very thing he needs to defeat, fills me with dread.

"Dark?" Link's voice is soft and groggy as he stirs, noticing my distress. "Are you okay?"

I try to steady my voice, but it comes out shaky. "Just a bad dream," I say, hoping to dismiss it. But the concern in his eyes tells me he isn't convinced.

He sits up, moving closer to me. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asks gently.

I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak. The fear of my own potential for evil is too great, the memory of the nightmare too raw.

I take a deep breath and look into his eyes, the words I need to say forming in my mind. "Link, I'm sorry," I begin, my voice heavy with guilt. "For how I acted earlier at the temple. I shouldn't have shut you out."

Link's expression softens, and he reaches out to take my hand. "It's okay, Dark. I understand."

"No, it's not okay," I insist, feeling the weight of my fear and anger pressing down on me. "I... I was scared. Scared that you would think less of me..."

He squeezes my hand gently, his blue eyes filled with understanding and warmth. "I would never think less of you, Dark. We all have fears, what matters is not letting them hold you back, which you didn't." He moves his hand to cradle my face. "And no matter what happens, I'll be here for you."

His words bring a measure of comfort, but the fear still lingers. I can't shake the feeling that the darkness within me is waiting, biding its time to take control once more.

His faith in me is both a lifeline and a burden. I want to be worthy of his trust, but the fear of failing, of becoming a weapon of destruction again, is overwhelming. We continue to hold each other, and slowly, we drift back to sleep, our fears momentarily at bay.

—

Link's POV

As I finally drift back to sleep, the worry over Dark still heavy in my heart, I find myself pulled into a dream. The world around me shifts and changes, and I am no longer lying beside Lake Hylia. Instead, I am in a desolate landscape, a world cloaked in darkness and despair. The sky is an ominous shade of red, and the air is thick with the stench of death.

I look around, feeling a chill run down my spine. Ahead of me stands a figure clad in a green tunic, much like my own. His face is shadowed, but there is a familiar aura about him. As he steps closer, I recognize him as a past incarnation of the hero.

The hero's eyes meet mine, filled with a haunting sadness. "I have come to offer you guidance."

"Guidance?" I echo, feeling a sense of foreboding. "About what?"

He looks away, his gaze distant as if recalling a painful memory. "About the path you walk and the shadow that accompanies you," he says quietly. "The journey ahead is fraught with dangers, and not all threats are external."

A chill runs through me. "What do you mean?" my voice trembles, "Dark fights with me against Ganondorf. He wants to help me save Hyrule."

The hero nods slowly, but his eyes remain somber. "True, the shadow currently walks a path intertwined with your own but you must be vigilant, Link." The hero's eyes grow cold. "Trust, but also be wary. The darkness within him is strong, and its pull can be relentless."

I feel a surge of fear and doubt. "But I care about him. I can't just push him away."

The hero's eyes soften, and for a moment, I see a flicker of compassion. "I know," he says gently. "And that is why you must be cautious. Your bond is powerful, but do not let it blind you to the dangers. Sometimes, the greatest threats come from those closest to us."

The landscape around us begins to blur and fade, and I feel myself being pulled back to the waking world. "Wait," I call out, desperation in my voice. "What should I do?"

The hero and the red, barren landscape slowly fade from view.

I wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The dream lingers in my mind, the hero's subtle warning echoing in my thoughts. I glance over at Dark, but it must be morning because the sun is up and he is missing from his bedroll. He probably left to find us breakfast. I push the ominous dream from mind and start re-packing our bags while I wait for him to return.