LoZ 4S: Hearts of Darkness and Light

by Sakura (aka L-sama no Miko)

A/N: 'K, this is my very 1st Zelda fic EVER, so please go easy on me. I've been wanting to do a fic for Zelda and Link's 25th anniversary ever since I learned about a certain b d $$ origin villain (nudge nudge wink wink ^_^). Anyhoo, this will most probably be confusing for most of you out there at first, but I do hope you stick around 'cause this is just the beginning of a much larger tale that wishes to be told. For starters, I should say that this will be taking place largely after my all time fave Zelda game, Ocarina of Time after this initial part, and for story purposes will be somewhere around 400 years after 4 Swords Adventures. Also it'll be containing my fave characters from some of the other games. Right, without further ado, let's get this party started! Happy 25th Link 'n' Zelda!

He woke to find himself in a misty, murky area. The dark clad figure rose to his feet and looked around. He'd been lying against a dead and twisted tree. The black barked plant stood on what apparently was the only piece of land in the wide water filled area. Further off in the distance he could see a door slightly obscured by the mists.

'How odd,' he thought, since hew was unable to make out any signs of the building it had to be attached to. Directly opposite of that door and just as far from him was an identical door. And just like the first one, there weren't any signs of any buildings. The doors seemed to be just standing there in the middle of nowhere.

Overcome with curiosity, the boy strode to one of the doors. Just as he approached it, a great force, as if some gigantic hand had shoved him away, knocked him back and down into the shallow water. He glared at the offending door as he shook the water from his blond streaked with black hair and black hat. Once he was done, he turned and walked over to the second door. The same invisible force repelled him and just as strongly.

There was a low chuckle and the teen darted his head around in all directions in search of that insulting laugh. "It looks like I went a bit over board with that binding spell," a deep voice called from around. "I hadn't counted on you forgetting the job I gave you."

"Who are you?!" the bi-haired boy shouted angrily, "Show yourself!" he added, drawing the dark bladed sword strapped to his back.

"Tsk, tsk," scolded the mysterious voice, "It's bad manners for slaves to talk back to their masters."

Just as the dark clad boy was about to launch another retort, he saw his body suddenly become enveloped in a dark purplish energy and he immediately dropped to his knees in extreme agony, the sword he'd been clutching falling into the water mere inches away.

"Maybe that will jog your memory, boy," sneered the voice, "Now be a good little minion and stay put. I need you to guard that place in case some idiot of fool attempts to steal my treasure."

The boy panted heavily as the pain dissipated slowly and he struggled to get back to his feet only to slip on the wet surface below. He wound up cutting his hand on the sword's blade as he yet again tried to stand.

"Mmm…" came a new voice, startling him. "Now who could have provided me with such delectable tasting blood?"

The teen spun around and came face to chest with a man dressed in a white bodysuit, diamond shaped holes strategically placed to reveal the pale gray skin underneath. He had a red cape with a high collar draped over his shoulders. Elbow length gloves with the same diamond shaped holes covered his bare arms and a large, red, diamond shaped jewel hung at his waist. The boy glanced up at the man's face to see half of it obscured by the long bangs of his white hair. What startled him was that this newcomer had one pointed ear and one rounded one. The man's only visible black eye widened in shock upon seeing the smaller one's face and recognizing the familiar style of the boy's clothes. "Sky-child?!" he asked, completely flabbergasted.

The dark clad boy continued to stare at this newcomer cautiously, unsure if he was this mysterious 'master' or not. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his sword lying off to the side of the stranger.

"Well, isn't this an interesting turn of events," the man said, stalking over to him. "It appears you and I are still tied by the thread of fate, sky-child. I will finally pay you back for all the trouble you gave me. That just fills my heart with rainbows!"

The shorter of the two was unable to avoid the stranger's strike and found himself pinned against the tree, his throat in an iron grip. "W-Who a-are y-you?" he choked out, grasping desperately at the hand clutching his neck.

Jet black narrowed dangerously as the man continued to squeeze the boy's throat. "Oh come now, sky-child," he sulked, "Surely it hasn't been so long that you've forgotten one as fabulous as I." He placed his free arm across his heart in an overly dramatic manner. "Why, that's just insulting; so much so that it makes me furious, outraged, and sick with anger!"

"I-I d-don't e-even re… member who I… am," the teen ground out, "Ho-How can I r-re…member y-you?!"

The taller of the two loosened the vice like grip slightly, his visible eye widening in slight confusion. "You don't know who you are?" he queried. The boy nodded, too busy panting and gasping for breath. "You're not lying."

It was a statement rather than a question. Sighing, the strange man released the bi-color haired teen, causing him to slump to the ground and gasp more. "It's no fun getting my revenge if you don't remember a thing."

"Wha… What do you mean?" the boy asked finally able to breathe easier, though he was still a bit winded.

"Shall I tell you a story, sky-child?" the man asked, "although it is quite a long one."

"I can't leave here, so what difference does it make?" he replied glumly.

Now it was the stranger's turn to be confused. "Whatever do you mean you can't leave? It appears to me that there are two perfectly fine doors here so why not just go through one?"

"I tried!" the boy spat furiously, "There's something that knocks me back every time I go near them!"

The man's eye widened then softened slightly. "I see then, that would make you a prisoner wouldn't it?" He knew all too well what it meant to be a prisoner himself. He'd been trapped inside that insidious blade ever since the more permanent demise of his master.

"Well then, how about I get you out of here, sky-child, since I'm in a rather generous mood right now. It was your delicious blood that released me from my own prison after all. I could at least return the favor, hmm?"

"What are you talking about? I already said that the doors…" The boy gave an undignified yelp as the taller of them gripped his upper arm tightly. Before he could protest, the stranger raised one gloved hand and snapped his fingers. Multicolored diamonds swarmed his vision and he felt a slight tugging sensation as the man's magic began to work. Just as quickly as they came, the diamonds vanished leaving the boy alone.

He said nothing; the boy really didn't expect whatever the stranger had been planning would work anyway. He was about to retrieve his sword when a swarm of red and gold diamonds reappeared, announcing the return of his new companion.

The taller stranger had a look that could only be classified as a mixture of confusion, fear, and anger upon his face. "Tell me if you can, sky-child," he demanded, almost pleadingly, "just how long have I been locked up in that thing?!" he added pointing angrily at the sword, "There isn't a single thing out there I recognize! Just where am I?!"

The shorter boy looked at the man in pity. He knew exactly what he was currently going through. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "I wish I knew that myself."

The taller one nodded in understanding, now that he had a better view of the big picture. He glanced over to the boy. 'This is probably not even my sky-child,' he mused to himself, 'From what I saw out there I would have to guess a very, very long time has passed since my master was destroyed.'

"Well," the man began again, "It appears that I can leave, but you can't. I could leave you here to rot…"

The dark clad teen's cerulean orbs widened in fear. He now found himself dreading being left alone. This man may have tried to kill him a short while ago, but he was still someone to talk to.

"But I don't think I will," the stranger continued, enjoying the teen's visible anguish and causing him to let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "I am still indebted to you for releasing me, boy. And I, the fabulous Lord Ghirahim, always pay my debts."

"You're staying?!" the teen asked in disbelief, "even if you…"

"I said I pay my debts, boy," the man, now named Lord Ghirahim, quipped, "Besides, to tell the truth, wherever would I go? My purpose in life no longer exists. It's quite obvious you're not the one who I thought you were no matter how much you may resemble him. That much I've gathered from what I could see out there," he added grimly.

"Alright!" Ghirahim chirped brightly after a long pause of silence between the two, "It's decided. I shall allow you to be my new master for now. I loathe not being useful and I've nothing better to do."

"Um… as great as that sounds," the dark clad boy started, "There's not much for you to do here."

"True," Ghirahim replied slyly, "But I could always bring news of what's happening outside as well as food and fresh water. It certainly seems to me that there's no visible source in this place."

The boy blushed at the taller man sheepishly. "I-I hadn't thought about that," he stammered cutely.

"Well, aren't you glad I'm here then," grinned Ghirahim, "So, little master, shall I fetch us something to eat?"

The boy continued to blush, not used to having a servant of his own. He shook his head. "Um… if you don't mind," he began, "I'd like to hear that story of yours. Please?"

Ghirahim chuckled. "My, such a polite little sky-child. Very well then, I shall regale you with the history of the fabulous Demon Lord Ghirahim. It all began a long, long, long time ago when my former master, Demise the Demon King and that oh-so-righteous b*^#h of a goddess Hylia decided to wage war against each other…"

"So let me get this straight," the dark clad teen said once Ghirahim had finished his tale. "You're some kind of demon sword spirit and were sealed into my sword when some guy who looked like me killed your old master. Then you got freed when I cut myself on the sword's blade. Oh yeah, the guy who looked like me lived on a floating island in the sky and he was supposed to be some kind of chosen hero by this Hylia goddess so she could get saved from you."

"That pretty much sums it up, sky-child," the taller demon lord replied solemnly. The boy gave him a look that said it all; he hadn't believed a single word of it. Who in their right mind would believe an enormous chunk of rock just hanging in the sky with no visible means of support? "Doubt me all you like, my dear little master," Ghirahim chuckled, "but if I recall correctly, you said yourself have no memory of who you are."

The shorter male growled, but held his tongue. The sword spirit did have a point. Maybe his tale was true, maybe not. Until he'd gotten his memories back, he'd just have to take Ghirahim's word for it. "So what now?" he asked.

"You must be hungry, sky-child. Shall I fetch us some food now? Perhaps some nice fresh fish from the lake I saw out there?"

The purple streaked blond pondered it for a moment before replying. "Sure. Whatever. But why do you keep calling me that?"

"Call you what, sky-child?" the taller of the two asked with mock innocence.

"That. Sky-child."

"Oh. Well it looks like I've picked up a new habit," the demon explained. "I've gotten so used to calling him that, that I never realized is was still doing it. Of course, my new master being a dead ringer for a certain goddess serving brat isn't helping much either.

"Well, sor-ry," the boy spat sarcastically, "Blame that goddess b*^%# of yours if you don't like my looks."

"Oh I didn't say that, little master," Ghirahim retorted, once again getting into the boy's face. "I rather liked that child's looks. It was who he served I hate." The boy blushed furiously as the unstable sword spirit continued to stare at him, their faces mere centimeters away from each other. "Now that I've gotten a better look at you, sky-child," Ghirahim said smirking, "there is a sight difference. You look a bit softer than him, younger perhaps. And of course there's the hair." He reached up and brushed the boy's bangs aside, taking the chance to play with a few of he bi-colored strands. "Your eyes are a rich amethyst where his were such a lovely shade of sky blue. And lastly, though a different color, your clothing is quite similar to the style worn by him."

"S-So have you r-realized I'm not him and you'll stop calling me that?" the teen stammered, embarrassed by the taller man's scrutiny.

"Oh, I'm not going tot stop, my dear little master," laughed the sword spirit, "It's pretty obvious to me that you're descended from him, so the nickname stays. I always thought it suited that boy and it appears it does you as well."

The dark clad boy huffed, but remained silent. He could that there'd be no reasoning with this being – whatever he really was; sword spirit or not. "What was his name?" the boy asked.

"His name?" Ghirahim parroted, placing one gloved finger upon his chin. "Hmm… it's been so long and I always was terrible with names, unless you were someone worthy of my attention that is."

"Oh. Never mind then."

"Just a moment, sky-child. I never said I couldn't remember it. Now, let's see… oh yes, I do believe it was something with an L. Lee, Len, Lin, no, Link. Yes, that was it, Link."

"Link…" the teen mused. 'Why does that seem so familiar? Was I named that too?'

"Um… Ghirahim," the boy started shyly, "How about if you call me 'Link' instead of that ridiculous nickname. I'm not sure, but it kind of feels familiar somehow."

The taller male pondered his master's request for sometime. 'Could it be?' he wondered, 'Is this child that boy reborn or was he just named after him? No, there's too much of a resemblance for that last part, so it has to be his reincarnation.'

"Is that what you want, little master?" the sword spirit asked warily. If Demise's curse had come to be then, what of that detestable spirit maiden? Had she too, been reborn? Oh he certainly hoped not.

"It's better than 'sky-child' or 'little master'," he replied, "but it'll only be until I can remember my own name. I just feel odd not having a name to give you, like you did me."

"Such impeccable manners, you have," beamed Ghirahim, "I commend whoever raised you. If that's what you really want," he acquiesced, "but don't expect me to use it too often, I am rather very fond of 'sky-child' after all," he added with a giggle.

"Whatever," shot the now dubbed 'Link', "At least I have a name now."

"Indeed," smirked the demon. "So how about that food?" Link nodded and the sword spirit once again snapped his fingers, causing him to vanish in a swarm of multicolored diamonds.

Time passed by slowly for Link and Ghirahim. Since neither had any real way of telling time in the teen's watery prison, being Link's eyes and ears in the outside world fell to the flamboyant demon lord. Ghirahim would bring him news of the goings on along with food and other necessary items they may need to survive. Occasionally, the sword spirit would bring a few luxury items such as a book or two as a surprise for his master since the teen had mentioned in passing that he faintly remembered liked to read.

Those times filled the demon lord's heart with rainbows upon seeing Link's entire face light up whenever receiving a book. In spite of Ghirahim's initial reticence toward his new master, the sword spirit had grown rather fond of the quiet boy, just like he had with the original Link all those centuries ago. Along with bringing him food and books, the taller male would regularly spar with his little master, his reason being even if there were no enemies to worry about in that bleak place there was no reason for either of them to go all soft and flabby from not exercising.

"It certainly has gotten worse out there," Ghirahim started, when they'd rested enough after their most recent spar.

"It has?" Link queried.

Over these past six or seven years – neither of them really knew just how long due to the lack of any real outside contact – the situation in the land of Hyrule had steadily deteriorated. The land was still lush and green for the moment, but hordes of monsters roamed about more frequently than ever, their numbers increasing once the sun went down. The former and revered Hyrule Castle had become a dark and twisted mockery of its former self – all due to the sudden and unexpected coup d'etat pulled by a man known only as Ganondorf.

"Yes, this Ganondorf person has been gaining more and more power almost daily, from what I've been able to get from the few people remaining out there. The castle town is now a haven for the undead. Ugh! Such hideous looking creatures! Just the sight of them running around that quaint little town was enough to make my gorge rise. It's positively frowns all around I tell you."

Link winced at the mention of that particular name. From what his melodramatic companion had told him of the power hungry man, the purple streaked blond put two and two together and had come to the conclusion that it must have been Ganondorf who claimed to be his master and imprisoned him in that particular room.

Ghirahim gave his 'little master' a sympathetic glance. He too knew what it was like to suffer as a prisoner. He could return to and leave the sword whenever he so chose, but he was still bound to it, meaning the longer he remained outside of it, the weaker he'd become. It was now his sole purpose in life to destroy that vile bond along with helping the boy regain his lost memories. After a tense silence, the sword spirit decided it had been long enough and it was due time he'd deliver a certain juicy bit of news to lift his boy's spirits. He gave Link his best evil villain smirk.

"What?" demanded Link, recognizing that look, "What are you hiding Ghirahim? You know I don't like it when you keep secrets from me."

The demon lord's grin grew so wide, even a Cheshire cat would be green with envy. "Oh, it's nothing, my dear sky-child," he began nonchalantly, "I just happened to see the most interesting sight today."

"Out with it, Ghirahim! Talk of that man has put me out of the mood for your games, demon."

"No need to get so testy, little master," pouted Ghirahim. He sighed at the dark clad boy's continued glare. "You're no fun when you're like this," he whined. Just what he needed, another reason to hate that so-called King of Evil. How dare he take his 'sky-child's' smile away! "Since you insisted so adamantly, sky-child, I'll have you know that I, the fabulous Lord Ghirahim just may have found our ticket to being rid of this dismal abode of yours."

"R-Really?!" Link chirped, not daring to get his hopes up. But still if he had truly found a way to escape…

"Do you remember my telling you about the child I saw a few years back, the one I saw with that b*^%#'s reincarnation?"

"The one you said could possibly be related to me because of his looks?" asked Link.

"Yes, well it seems your adorable little doppelganger not only survived that man's take over, but has become rather quite fetching if you ask me."

"What has that got to do with me getting out of here?" he asked impatiently.

"I'm getting to that, little master," Ghirahim chided and ruffling Link's ebony hat and hair, his smirk returning in full force, "It just happens that this new 'Link' – as people have been calling him – has been working against your jailor. Doesn't that just fill your heart with rainbows? It certainly does mine, why I'm all giggles right now!"

"Another me is… fighting against him?" Link said incredulously. He could still recall the agonizing torture he felt when he first confronted his jailor.

"It certainly looks that way," grinned the sword spirit. "That boy has already gotten through several tricky dungeons and has freed that ridiculous fish king."

"So you're saying there's hope."

"If this 'Link' is anything like the one I knew oh so long ago, then I dare say it may not be too much longer before you're a free man, my dear little sky-child."

The biggest smile the demon had ever seen appeared on the boy's face. "That's the best news you've ever brought me, Ghira!" he cried jubilantly. The teen leapt to his feet and rushed to his taller companion, promptly latching onto him like a leech. Slender, yet muscular arms wrapping around the sword spirit in a bear hug.

Ghirahim stiffened, totally shocked at his master's sudden glomp attack. No one had ever shown him so much affection or gratitude even. Demise barely paid him any attention unless he was required to aid him in battle. Once the shock dissipated, the paler male shyly wrapped his arms around the boy. "You're welcome, sky-child," he whispered softly, grateful that Link's face was currently nuzzled into his chest and was unable to see the faint crimson stain on his light gray cheeks.

It was almost a week or so, according to Ghirahim's reckoning, when a blue clad figure entered Link's prison. The sword spirit immediately enveloped the purple streaked blond in a swarm of diamonds that reflected light back from him and thus rendering him invisible to their 'visitor' before disappearing back into the boy's dark bladed sword.

Link stifled a gasp as the blue clad teen passed by him. 'Ghira wasn't kidding when he said this other 'Link' looks exactly like me,' he contemplated in awe. He watched with rapt attention as the newcomer looked around their misty surroundings and strode over to the far door upon spotting it. The dark clad boy continued to watch, curiosity filling him as his doppelganger approached the exit. Will it force him back just it had with Link, or will it let him pass through?

As in answer to the dark one's question, thick iron bars slammed down blocking both doors, effectively locking the blue clad stranger in.

"Not another damned puzzle room," he heard the blond 'Link' mutter to himself.

The dark clad teen felt a sudden urge to lunge at his doppelganger and run him through. He felt the hilt of his demonic companion's blade throb in anticipation at the prospect of more blood, but buried deep inside that demoniacal bloodlust was the barest hint of concern; concern for the demon's normally quiet and gentle master.

Link fought against the urge to attack for as long as he could, a humungous migraine causing his brain to feel like it was on fire. As the blue clad 'Link' passed by the tree one more time, he stepped from the concealing net of diamonds, revealing himself to the other. As his doppelganger knelt between the entrance door and island, the black clad teen raised his sword and silently stalked over to the unsuspecting newcomer.

"Watch out!" cried a tiny voice as a blinding yellow light flashed in front of the dark one's eyes just as he was about to strike.

The blue clad 'Link' leapt to his feet, drawing his own sword. Crystal blue orbs widened in shock as they beheld his dark clad copy.

"Careful Link," warned a floating ball of yellow light in a highly annoying high pitched voice. "It looks like you're supposed to conquer yourself."

The blue clad hero gave a nod of thanks, drawing his Hylian shield across his chest. "Look," he said to the glaring doppelganger, "If you're supposed to be me, then I know you really don't want to fight. Just tell me how to get out of here and you can go back to whatever it was you were doing."

The darker of the two Links hesitated for a moment, a raging battle flashing within his violet eyes. Taking this as an agreement to his request, the blue clad Link lowered his guard. Unfortunately, his black clad copy had lost the war with himself at that moment and took the opportunity to swing his sword.

The blond hero brought his shield up just in time however the blow had knocked him back several inches. "You don't have to do this," he pleaded. Gone was the hesitation and the other launched another attack. What was to be one of the hardest battles of his life had begun.

The two clashed violently, each neither landing a blow nor gaining any ground. "Hey!" called the annoying ball of light. "That sword he's using, it's… the Master Sword of Darkness!" she cried in utter disbelief.

The blond Link paused, while his opponent stood panting a few feet away, choosing to recover from the blue one's latest counterattack, and stared at the Master Sword. His blue eyes wondered over to the doppelganger's own blade. Sure enough, the two were almost identical in every way except where the blond's hilt was blue; the dark one's was a rich ebony black as well as the blade. An evil almost blood red aura surrounded the dark metal.

"I've heard tales of it," continued the pest of a fairy, her yellow light turning to blue for the moment, "but I've never thought it'd still exist! That creep Ganondorf must have had it all this time!"

The purple streaked blond Link felt his sword pulse with fury at the annoying light's words. The rage fueled his own and he roared, charging the blue clad hero.

The battle continued to rage on for what seemed like eternity for both combatants. Neither of the two still couldn't land a single fatal blow, though both had been able to knick the other here and there. It wasn't until the blue clad Link pulled out a huge hammer and began swinging it down to the ground that the tides had turned.

His blue clad enemy's latest earthquake causing blow had him staggering back into the tree, causing the darker of the two Links to hit his head against the twisted trunk. He shook his aching head and blinked back the stars forming before his eyes. Suddenly a flash of a much younger version of the blond hero flew across his vision; he too had the hammer and was threatening him with it.

"B-Blue…?" he murmured confusedly. It was almost as he knew this 'Link'. 'Do I really know him?' he questioned, 'is that why he's suddenly so familiar? Maybe he knows how to get my memory back.' He glanced at the blue clad teen then at himself only to see black colored clothes. 'Why was I expecting to see purple clothes instead of black?' he wondered. Another hammer blow drew him out of his day dreaming and this time he was unable to stop himself from falling completely.

He lay under the tree on his back, his blue clad opponent hovering above him, sword at the ready. The two stared at each other for several moments until…

"Do it," the dark clad Link said brokenly. It'd become obvious to the dark one that the only way for either of them to escape was the death of one of them. That b $^ %d Ganondorf had planned this! He had never intended for him to leave the place alive!

"Y-You can speak!" the blond exclaimed in amazement.

"Just get it over with already," ordered Link, "Finish me so at least you can get out of here alive."

Piteous and confused blue met defeated and world-weary violet. "Please," the dark one begged now. "He was right. You were the key to my release. You have to stop Ganondorf."

The blue clad teen hesitated then lowered his sword. "I can't kill you," he said mournfully, "I just can't. You're not one of Ganondorf's mindless monsters!" There was no way he was going to kill a sentient being, even if he was on the opposite side.

The dark one sighed, grasping the hilt of the dark Master Sword. "Then it's either fight until either of us kills the other or remain here with me until we rot."

The blond Link stood silent for several more moments, sapphires furrowed in deep thought as they glanced over to the only exits. "I-I'm sorry," he stammered, crystalline tears welling up at the corners of his eyes. The hero raised the Master Sword once again and brought it down upon the prone dark one's chest.

Link shut his eyes as the blade came down and bit back a scream as he felt it pierce the skin protecting his heart. Shortly afterward there was the sound of metal scraping against stone. "Thank you," he murmured.

"You're welcome," the other said sorrowfully, "I guess we're both free now," he added returning his sword to the sheath on his back and walked to the now unblocked exit. "I'll give Ganondorf a good boot to the head for you," he called as the door opened for him and let him through.

"You do that," Link called back.

"Well, it seems no matter what age, you'll never change sky-child," Ghirahim remarked as he emerged from the dark blade.

"G-Ghirahim?" Link said, mystified. Why was he still alive?

"Such a clever boy, our little hero," the sword spirit said as he examined his master's wound. "He only cut you deep enough to draw enough blood for that spell to break."

"He… didn't kill me," the dark clad boy said stoically, "So I guess I'm stuck here 'til I die.

"I wonder," pondered the taller male.

Before Link could inquire what the demon was up to, Ghirahim pulled his master up to his chest, causing the teen to blush heavily. The sword spirit snapped his fingers.

"W-Wait Ghira…!" Link protested, remembering the first and only time the demonic sword spirit tried teleporting the both of them from his prison.

Multicolored diamonds surrounded the two and the shorter male shut his eyes, not wanting to see the expected failure.

A few seconds later, he heard Ghirahim chuckle. "You can open your eyes now, little master." He could hear the smirk in that smug voice. He also heard faint cries from above and feel a cool breeze blowing upon his pale skin. Could it be?! His prison never had any sounds nor was there ever any wind.

Link slowly and cautiously opened his eyes and gasped. They were standing on a small island at the far edge of a dried up lake. The tree behind them was dead like the one in his prison, but it was a normal one; not a twisted mockery created by Ganondorf's evil magic.

"W-We're… outside?!" the dark clad boy asked, unsure if he was dreaming or really dead and this was the afterlife.

"I thought as much," the demonic spirit replied smugly. "When that detestable b*^#%'s sword drew your blood, it broke whatever hold that repugnant Ganondorf had on you, sky-child."

"I'm free," Link said, still getting used to breathing fresh air and being out in the sunlight.

"So you are, my dear little master."

"I should thank him, I guess," the black clad teen said of his doppelganger.

Ghirahim's dark eyes traveled to their former prison's entrance under what was left of the lake water. "If he makes it out there," he said.

"What do you mean, Ghira?"

"Have you forgotten so soon, little master? Did I not tell you of the puzzles littering your humble abode?"

Violet orbs glanced over to where his taller companion was looking. 'So that's why there was water in that room,' he mused, 'We were in a lake… or what used to be one.'

"He'll make it," Link said, suddenly strangely confident.

"Oh? You're awfully sure of that, sky-child."

"He's me," the dark clad one replied, "or at least related to me somehow."

"Hmm… Ghirahim said nothing else, choosing to stare at the watery entrance. 'I must keep an eye out for that boy,' he thought, 'Two of my little master who could pass for twins is certainly worth investigating. Just what is that b*^#% up to now? Perhaps this new 'Link' is the key to my sky-child's memory loss.'

~TBC~

Endnotes: Okay, before you die hard obsessive Zelda fans out there start flaming me for calling Dark Link just plain old Link, let me explain a few things. First of all, in case you've haven't picked up on the clues, I suggest you go back and reread this thing. There are clues that tip you off as to who this version of Dark Link really is. Second, as I said up top, is that this only the beginning. I wasn't about to show you my whole hand in one go ya know. - _ ^ You'll just have to stick around for the next part to see what I reveal next. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Link: How in Nayru's name did she get the Triforce of Wisdom?!

Vaati: Who cares, I just want to get out of here.

Sakura: Waah! Vaati you meanie! T_T

Vaati: Demon Sorcerer. Remember? D