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Link and Malon… together at Lon Lon Ranch, the place Malon works at. They were sipping glasses of—the signature—Lon Lon Milk. (Bruh is that the name)
Lon Lon Ranch is a place with a lively atmosphere. A place for horses to gallop around guarded by a fence. And of course, it has a barn.
The grass and flowers bowed in the wind.
The leaves of autumn danced across the grass.
The orange leaves and grass of fall was so beautiful.
Link and Malon has been chatting for a while now. And Link was prepared to leave the ranch.
“Oh my… It’s all so beautiful.” Link stared at everything in the autumn atmosphere.
It in fact was so beautiful.
Link’s been so caught up in talking and hadn’t yet noticed the nature yet.
“I don’t get to see the orange leaves of autumn in Kokiri Forest.” He continued, looking at the trees and back at Malon with a sheepish smile.
“Well, I’m happy you finally get to see it… Link.” Malon smiled back at him with a more happier smile than his.
She slowly, gently moved her finger closer to Link’s.
“So… Where are you going next..?” Malon asked, tilting her head.
Link flinched, not expecting the sudden question.
He totally forgot he was going to depart.
Link looked down at their hands touching and blushed.
“W-Well, I think I’ll go… get a few more supplies before I uh… save Hyrule.” He chuckled.
“Ah, I see. I almost forgot you were going to save Hyrule… I’m proud of you.” Malon she smiled and closed her eyes shut, tilting her head as a sign of pleasure.
Link blushed at the compliment and smiled back a little.
“Thanks…”
“You are so so welcome.” Malon lifted Link’s hand, her smile then slowly faded.
“Before you go, before the final fight… Please… Whatever you do… Stay safe. Don’t let anyone hurt you. Physically… …or mentally.” Malon put her other hand on top of Link’s.
“It might affect the way you fight.” Malon warned Link.
“…I won’t. Don’t worry.” Link smiled, replying to Malon.
Link hoisted himself up from the grass and brushed his tunic. “Anyways, I’ll go now. See you.”
“Bye, Link. Like I said, please stay safe. I care about you.” Malon waved smiling worriedly.
Link nodded and headed outside the fences of the ranch.
As he was walking out, he heard a mysterious voice.
“Oooooh, hero~” The voice said, chuckling.
“Who’s there?!” Link turned around and unsheathed his sword in a heartbeat.
“Don’t be so startled there, that’s JUST SOOO pathetic!” The voice got a bit louder, almost yelling out of amusement. “I still remember that time you drew your blade out to rustling grass.”
His shadow disappeared and the voice came from behind.
“Ugh, even looking the wrong way? I’m right here, ‘hero’!”
Link turned around once again and seemed to notice his shadow has disappeared. It became its own being.
A transparent, shadowy, black figure.
“Ah!” With a sound of what sounds like someone that just drank a refreshing juice, Link’s shadow shook like a dog drying from a shower and flourished in color. The dark, transparent color splashed out of the shadow into a more opaque figure.
Silver hair, obsidian skin and tunic and ruby eyes. The figure exactly mimicking Link’s.
It was Dark Link. His shadow.
Ever since the day at the water temple, he had never seen Dark Link since.
So it was obvious what he had to say.
“Why… are you here..?” Link tilted his head, holding his sword out, still keeping his guard up. “I thought I beat your consciousness out of you..!”
“Woah woah woah..! No need to be so aggressive! I’m not here for a fight.” Dark Link shaking his head raising his hands about where his chest is in a defensive gesture.
Dark Link brushed the sleeve of his tunic, acting all causal. “Anyways, I came here to have a little chat. I heard Malon wanted you to be safe? On your adventure? Am I right?” Dark Link tilted his head with a smug look on his face.
“Well, I sure hope you’ll be safe. Let’s hope you don’t get any bruises… any cuts… any… uhm what can I say…Blades through your chest? Blood everywhere on the ground…” Dark Link closed his eyes in content. Explaining the painful experiences in a soft calm voice.
Link stared at Dark Link with burrowed brows. “What?”
“Oh, sorry did I go over the line there? I don’t think so… You’re just WEAK!” Dark Link glared at Link with an almost psychotic look.
“Is…Is this the only reason you’re here? To… make fun of me?” Link didn’t think much of it at first but he’ll learn soon. Trust me.
“Hm, just wanted to check out on you. I haven’t seen you in a while. You’re lucky anyone even misses you.”
Link stood there in confusion. What did Dark Link mean by wanting check on him?
Eh, but he decided Dark Link just wanted to be annoying, so he’ll just let it slide for now.
“O-Ok? I’ll go now…”
Link slowly turned his back away from his shadow with a small perplexed look on his face.
Dark Link rested his arms softly onto Link’s shoulder like he belonged there. “Oh, going so soon..? I still want to talk…” Dark Link played innocent.
Link flinched at the sudden touch but tried to ignore it. “Look, I’m kind of busy. I need to prepare and finish this off as fast as possible.” Link growled, not looking at Dark Link.
“Finish what?” Dark Link continued to act all innocent.
“…stuff. I need to defeat Ganondorf. To put an end to all this… madness..!” Link explained to Dark Link. Explained his goal. “Including you.”
He stop everything he did for a second and stared blankly at the ground.
Why is he explaining all this to someone he barely knows?
Why is he doing what his shadow is saying?
Why is does he even feel comfortable talking to him?
“Why’d you stop, hero? Do you not want to? Do you not want to get rid of me~? That’s so kind of you…” Dark Link looked pleased at what he said.
Link glared at Dark Link. “No. It’s for my friends. Not you. I’ll get rid of you!” Link said in a low voice.
“Aw, don’t try to hide you feelings. Why do you care about your friends anyway?” Dark Link leaned on Link. Dark Link was light.
Lighter than Link could ever imagine for someone who looked like that.
But at the same time, what was he expecting? He was a transparent entity before he got color suddenly.
“Besides, they only like you because you’re the one saving the whole world, dummy! They’re just selfish! Oh and how could you even trust Malon?! Look at the people she lives with. Do you REALLY think she can grow up to be a good person?!”
Dark Link leaned his head backwards almost like mimicking someone laughing as he spoke.
“Uh— No! They’re—“ Before Link could talk, Dark Link had already disappeared into the shadows.
Link looked down to look to see if it has his shadow.
…He does.
…Why did Dark Link have to say all of that out of no where…
Appear in his face and vanish so quickly.
“Eh. I’ll just go get my business done. No biggie.”
After all the supply gathering, Link had already returned home.
It was about the dead of night.
He had a cabinet to put all of his stuff. Hovering above it was an open window. The wind snuck its way into his house, the curtains practically floating like it had a mind of its own.
Next to the cabinet was his bed. It was a bit messy. As if someone had to make their bed in a hurry. On it was Link’s master sword, sheathed. His shield next to it, glistening from the sunlight that snuck into the house.
“Ah! I think that’s everything.” Link said as he dropped everything he needed onto the messy bed.
Glass bottles filled with a red tonic, a few bombs and more arrows than Link could ever count in a quiver.
Link felt like he was forgetting something. He glanced through the collection of equipment he had prepared.
“Gosh, I forgot my megaton hammer—“
“Looking for something?”
Link flinched and turned around, not thinking much of it.
“Oh goddesses… not you” Link’s eyes met with his shadow.
He watched as Dark Link carry the silver hammer on his shoulder like it was nothing, one hand holding the handle, the other hand on his hip, acting all quirky.
“How many times do you have to bug me and why?” Link growled.
“As many times as I want~! ☆” Dark Link winked. “Ok sorry, that was really cringe. But really, I can do it as many times as I please. No stopping for sure.” The shadow returned his expression to normal and pose.
“Not if I kill you. Just please give it back and I will let you bug me. Just don’t steal that.” Link threatened as he opened his palm out for the weapon. Not giving it a second thought.
“Oh? You will? Well…” Dark Link put his hands on his hips, pondering. Trying to act innocent again, but in mind he has a devious idea.
Somehow, Link knew what Dark Link was plotting. “Wait— No I meant like, bug me just this—“
“Thanks for the opportunity!” Dark Link said quickly, throwing the weapon at Link like it’s made of air.
The hammer hit Link’s lower chest hard. The two both heard Link’s ribs crack a little, somehow, the hammer didn’t break his ribcage. Link grunted in pain as he tumbles backwards falling onto the bed. Luckily, it was only the handle.
Dark Link appeared into his vision as he was gasping for air.
“Oops, did I play a lil too aggressive on you? I forgot you were even more fragile than glass!” Link’s shadow laughed like there was no tomorrow.
“Well, I don’t see a physical injury so you’re gonna be probably fine.” Dark Link placed his hand on Link’s chest and leaned his head closer. “Did I mention you just broke the promise you made with Malon? That just shows how untrustworthy you are!” He smiled.
“I… I thought you said… I had no… injuries… you bastard…” Link tried to speak with all air he had left. Right now, he didn’t care if he was about to die from air deprivation. If Dark Link’s touching him. He just wants Dark Link to know he absolutely hates him, even though Dark Link hadn’t even appeared much, but still.
Dark Link rested his arms on Link, staring at him longingly. “Yea, yea, whatever. Scrap what I just said. Anyways… Why do you even do this heroic stuff anyway? I guess that darn tree just wanted to see you suffer. Because you’re pathetic! There’s no use. No one will remember your face in a few years anyway, what’s the point?—Oh actually, I think most people forgot about you already,
Link tried to catch some breath before he realized he doesn’t actually know why he does this stuff.
But it came to his attention…
He doesn’t know why he’s trying to save Hyrule.
He doesn’t know why he did what the Great Deku Tree said. He was only a kid anyway.
Why was he so determined?
His breathing got slower. His panicking expression turned into a worried one.
Seconds gone by and nothing came out of his mouth.
“Hmph, see? No reason. It’s better if you just… let me distract you.” Dark Link hopped off the bed and turned around. Dark Link said under his breath : “Just like how I’m distracting myself from—“
“What was that..?” Link interrupted with a dry, wheezy voice like an old person, raising his head slowly to see his shadow clearly.
Dark Link flinched and turned his head to Link in a flash.
Link could see the worry in his counterpart’s eyes.
“No…Nothing…”
Link grunted and let his head fall onto the pillow as he recovered.
“Now get… get out of my house.” Link demanded wearily.
“Hmph ok, I’ll only listen this one time because you were nice to me.” Dark Link chirped. “But remember, you broke Malon’s promise~ you’re worthless now.” Dark Link wink and sunk into the ground with a splash of transparent grey liquid, the same color as Dark Link’s other form.
“Huh…” Link mumbled, staring at the spot his shadow disappeared.
Whatever just happened. He was—once again—gonna let it slide again.
He decided he was just gonna rest. The next day, he’ll go apologize to Malon and recover.
…
The next day, Link was on his way to Lon Lon ranch, to apologize to his friend Malon.
Again, Dark Link was here to ruin Link’s day. Waiting for him. Right in front of the ranch entrance.
Dark Link tormented Link. Again and again and again. Telling Link he was useless, a disappointment, an idiot. Asking him crisis inducing questions(?).
Why didn’t he ignore his shadow? He was just unbearable.
So so many things were forgotten to make more space for Dark Link’s words… Automatically.
His teasing, heckling, bullying. How was he not running out of torments?!
For days, weeks even, and what felt like years, he was unable to go apologize to Malon because of Dark Link. Malon was even getting worried.
Until one day, Dark Link was waiting for Link around Lon Lon Ranch, ready to bully him again.
He waited for hours and hours… but he never came.
“That’s strange… stranger than why Link couldn’t finish the water temple…” Dark Link looked around the fields in front of Hyrule castle, he even got to sneak into the ranch. Still, he was nowhere to be found.
He decided he was going to go to Link’s house and see what’s going on.
After Dark Link traveled to Link’s house, he heard someone say something in the lines of :
“Th-This won’t hurt r-right..? This’ll m-make me happy, right..?
Their voice was shaky. It sounded like someone who had just cried.
Dark Link was curious what Link—or whoever the heck that was—was up to.
He peaked into the now closed window, it was Link, he was holding a cutter and he wasn’t cutting open a package but he was preparing to cut open his own arm.
The hand holding the cutter was shaky. His other arm supporting himself on the bed,
Dark Link was astonished. Had he finally broke him? Had he finally pushed him to his limit?
Dark Link squinted to see. Not excited nor worried. Just curious
Link squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself. As he drew the cutter near his skin.
The hand shaky, he slit his skin slowly. He was desperate for relief.
The cutter’s blade ran against his skin, drawing fresh, crimson blood out of it.
The blood runs down the soft skin of Link’s arm, dripping onto his leg drop by drop, slowly.
Link let out a whine, enduring the pain that gone through his nerves. The pain that gone through his whole body.
At the same time it felt pleasant.
Link’s heart pounding in his chest. Still unsure of this decision.
He already did it though.
The feeling of the cut, so familiar yet so new.
He did it to himself. Of course it was new.
Link’s breath getting faster, almost panicking, worrying if this was the wrong decision.
Dark Link stared at Link’s cut intently. Watching the lifeblood travel down his victim’s arm.
It sure was something new for Dark Link too.
Dark Link knocked on sleek glass window to get some attention. “Knock knock, Link~ I caught you committing self harm! You’re doing great!” He raised his voice to make it audible.
Link, startled, dropped the cutter, quickly resulting in another cut, just on his leg this time. It was long, the pain almost unbearable. The cut drawing tons of blood, smelled like iron, the ruby color glistening in the sunlight.
“AH- FFF—— ARRGH… DARK LINK! WHAT THE…” Link yelled and whined at Dark Link, Tears in his eyes. Link finally said something after all the teasing.
Dark Link chuckled at the accident like a little girl. “Oh Link, you’re so reckless.” He stared at the longer cut in joy.
Rage boiled in Link and threw the blood stained blade at the window, not giving it a second thought.
The cutter, not strong enough to break the glass, only caused some cracks on the window and some of Link’s blood between the cracks.
“Woah, there! More self harm?! I know you want to hurt yourself but this is the wrong you.” Dark Link laughed.
Link clenched his fists. “WHY?! WHY ARE YOU STILL CHECKING ON ME…” Link started yelling. “I THOUGHT YOU SAID I WAS WORTHLESS!”
“Hey, hey…” Dark Link frowned, looking at Link in pity.
He stared at Link dramatically for a few seconds before saying :
“Could you open the window for me?! This is really undramatic!” Dark Link raised his voice once more.
Link narrowed his eyes and jumped out of the bed.
He tried his best to walk up to the window and looked down, almost like looking at the new looking window lock.
Dark Link smiled in anticipation, hoping Link would unlock the window for him.
But Link bent down to get the cutter he threw.
“Aw, cmon Link!” Dark Link yelled through the window, his voice now more audible to Link.
Link got up and glared at Dark Link again.
“Go away.” Link growled.
“Wha? What was that? I couldn’t hear you~ Just open the window for me Link~” Dark Link leaned closer with a smirk, trying to look seductive. Idk
Link closed his eyes half shut, shaking his head and walked to his bathroom to the right of Dark Link’s view slowly.
Dark Link made the same look Link had and stared as he walked into the bathroom, shifting his glance slowly, wondering what he could be doing.
Maybe he was taking a shower to make the cuts hurt more…
Dark Link looked around, not wanting to risk his arms to break the window to get in.
“Wait why can’t I just…”
Dark Link sunk into the ground—like he did last time… like he did for the past few weeks—and reappeared in Link’s house.
It felt good to stay in Link’s house and invade his personal space again.
But he noticed the Master Sword was missing, only the Hylian Shield was left… where could the sacred blade be..?
Eh no biggie.
“Link! Don’t be a naughty boy~” Dark Link exclaimed as he walked towards the bathroom, turning his head to the right slightly, looking for his counterpart.
A few steps forward, Dark Link heard a slam from the bathroom door
“Aw… too shy to talk to me..? I know you like me..!”
A bang was heard from the bathroom door, like someone hit their head on it.
“GET THE HECK OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Link yelled his lungs out through the door. “What do you want anyway?!”
Dark Link stopped in his tracks and shifted his glance towards the door and stared a little bit, like he didn’t know how to answer.
He shrugged and rolled his eyes as if Link was in front of him.
“Like I said, I wanted to chat a lil, what’s up??”
“You just want to see me suffer don’t you? JUST ADMIT IT!” Link yelled again, his voice almost wheezing,
Dark Link raised his eyebrows slightly surprised to see Link yell at him so close. “Ok, ok~ Maybe a little bi—“
“I SAID ADMIT IT!”
Dark Link flinched, but it didn’t take long until he chuckled.
“It’s just harmless teasing, Link.” He chirped as he placed his hand on the door.
“UUUUUUUUUUGH! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!”
A lock sound was heard from the bathroom door… door knob.
A few seconds gone by, nothing happened except the sound of what sounds like metal equipment.
“What’s he doing?” Dark Link said under his breath, looking through the gap between the door and wall.
He couldn’t see a thing other than the white tile walls of the bathroom and a sink.
All of a sudden, The blade of the master sword thrusted through the gaps, breaking a bit of the door. Luckily, it’s not far enough to touch through Dark Link.
“Woah! Now you don’t want me to leave?!” He said, stuttering, backing off from the door.
The doorknob twisted and the door opened.
The doorknob crashed into the wall, not hard enough to cause a crack.
Link lowered his sword to the floor lazily in a heartbeat, as if he hadn’t in years. His grip got stronger on the hilt of the sacred blade, his eyes narrowed as if everything was ok for him.
“Ah, so you want a fancy lil sword fight, huh?” Dark Link asked, tilting his head. “Well then try me!” He swiftly pulled out his master sword but darker colored, just like the wielder.
Link attacked from the top, hoping to get something.
But with every attack, Dark Link blocked.
The sword fight paced on for a little while, cuts were made. Blood was drawn. But not a single scratch on his counterpart.
Link swung his sword to the side, hoping to hit Dark Link for once.
Dark Link blocks again, the swords were only a few inches away from the shadow’s face. The sound loud and piercing.
“Whoops, I blocked it~” He chirped, winking.
“Only barely.” Link replied with nothing but pure rage.
Link saw this as an advantage.
He slowly separated his sword from Dark Link’s and swiftly thrusted it into his counterpart’s stomach.
Dark Link widened his eyes and let out a small gasp.
His sword dropped to the ground with a loud piercing noise, the blade making scratches into the wooden floor.
Nothing but Link’s breathing fills the room.
Did Link finally kill his enemy? The person who got him into this mess? It can’t be this easy… right?
His grip on the sword got more relaxed as he slowly drew his sword out of Dark Link’s stomach.
No stains of blood were found on the blade. No blood was drawn from his target either.
The hole inside of Dark Link regenerated like mist filling itself into a forest. Just like nothing happened.
“Ah, you got me!” Dark Link laughed. “But you’ll have to try harder than that.”
He snatched the Master Sword out of Link’s hands in a flash and kicked his away, scratching marks into the floor,
Link’s eyes widened in panic, he fled to the main room where all the equipment are.
“Where are you going Link~?” Dark Link teased with the sacred blade over his shoulder, following Link slowly.
Link managed to snag his shield before Dark Link could enter the room.
Link narrowed his eyes. His stance, ready.
“Who’ll go first?” Dark Link smiled. “And what I mean by that is who’ll die first!”
Dark Link charged at Link, the Master Sword ready to be swung.
The sacred blade bashed into the matching shield. The two rubbing against each other, almost slicing through.
Link struggled to push the shield to defend himself because of the cut but he managed to swat the sword away.
The sword flew out of Dark Link’s hands and planted itself into the wall.
Link kicked Dark Link in the stomach as hard as he could.
Dark Link grunted at the pain and walked backwards without any balance.
He found his body hitting the wall behind him. The Master Sword right next to his face.
“*cough* *cough* Heh…is that the hardest you could do..?”
Link walked towards his counterpart slowly and stopped when he got close enough.
“I don’t know, is it?” Link teased back with a low voice.
Dark Link smiled sheepishly, not knowing what to say.
“…So… what’s next..?”
“I’ll finish you off.” Link growled in response. Raising his hand to grab the sword’s hilt slowly.
“But you won’t have any friends left, won’t you?”
Link narrowed his eyes at Dark Link
“I don’t care!”
He snatched the Master Sword, plucked it out of the wall then forcefully shoved the blade into Dark Link’s head.
“I swear to goddesses if he regenerates, I’ll—“
Before Link could finish his sentence, Dark Link had disappeared into dust. Like nothing happened.
Link finally did it. He got rid of his enemy. He didn’t regenerate this time. There was going to be no more teasing.
But Dark Link’s words were still echoing in Link’s head nonstop. Almost like Dark Link lived inside his mind.
He still couldn’t let them go. He still couldn’t let those words out of his mind. Those intrusive thoughts.
They still stuck with him.
…
A few days has past by.
The sun beams into Link’s house, the windows closed, blood stains still on the floor. It still felt like Dark Link is present. Lurking somewhere.
Link woke up, his blonde hair messier than ever. He could barely move his limbs due to the cuts and injuries even though they recovered a bit.
He hoisted himself up from the bed but he didn’t even want to get out of bed.
Even with Link’s enemy gone, it still isn’t working. He still couldn’t get Dark Link out of his mind.
He sits on his bed, wondering what he could ever do.
He apologized to Malon, he spoke to some of his friends. It’s still not helping.
“Yoo-hoo~ did you miss me? Sure you did!” A voice spoke behind Link. He felt hands crippling on his shoulders, touching him like he belonged to Link.
Link sighed and looked behind him.
Of course, it was Dark Link.
He smirked at him like he never disappeared.
He was clearly confused on why Dark Link is still alive.
Dark Link noticed Link looked down and tired, he isn’t wearing his green tunic or pointy hat anymore, only an almost oversized white long sleeved shirt that he wore inside of his tunic before, the sleeves rolled up, his arms had significantly more cuts than before, and large amounts of blood running down from his forehead.
There were pills, containers of pills, and blood scattered and stained all over the messy bed.
That’s exactly what Dark Link wanted.
“Aw, you look quite hurt” Dark Link played innocent once again.
“Did you forget how to take care of yourself~?”
“…I thought I already killed you…”
He spoke wearily.
“Well you didn’t. I just ran away because I was getting a lil bored…”
Dark Link rested his head on Link’s shoulder. “Also, did you tell Malon about your cuts yet? I bet she was sooo mad…” he chuckled.
Link looked away and sighed.
“Yea, I did. Turns out I’m just a disappointment. Heh.”
Dark Link smiled contently.
wippp