literature

A Man of Illusions

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A Man of Illusions

We found ourselves outside, although somehow it was still drafty like it was inside the temple. The sky was overcast, with gray clouds drifting overhead. A lone tree sat in the center of the area, between the door we just came out of and the one on the opposite side, but other than that it was a vast nothingness stretching on forever in all directions.

We sloshed through the ankle-deep water that covered the ground to the opposite door. It was eerily quiet, and every little movement we made was magnified to twenty times louder then it really was, so that made it even more creepy.

We reached the door, and Link tried the knob. "It's locked," he said, jiggling it. After a moment he became very still. "…Something's not right," he said quietly. "It's way too quiet."

He turned to me. "I'll try to pry open the door, and you keep a lookout. I feel…" he glanced over to the tree, and then back to my face. "…uneasy about this place."

"Rodger that," I nodded. He turned to the door and started messing with the knob, and I faced forward towards the tree. I glanced down at my reflection, distorted in the rippling water. Something did seem odd about this area, but I couldn't quite place it. It was a strange feeling, almost like we were being watched. But there was no one else to be seen on the endless horizon.

I was about to ask Link how we could be outside when we were twenty feet below Lake Hylia when something caught my eye. That dark spot on the tree… had that always been there? I squinted for a better look. It didn't seem to be part of the tree at all, actually. It looked like the figure of a person standing beneath it. But how could someone have shown up when I had been watching the whole time? My eyes must have been playing tricks on me, what with all the reflections.

That's when it took a step forward.

I stifled a gasp and reached out to tap Link on the arm. "What's up?" he asked, sounding mildly alarmed from looking at my expression.

"W-What's that?" I asked in a shaky voice, pointing to the black figure, never taking my eyes from it.

I heard Link's breath catch in his throat. "I'm… I'm not sure," he said finally. "Maybe it's Sheik?"

But he didn't sound very sure of himself. "…I'll go check it out," he said, drawing his sword. "You stay back here in case it wants to fight."

I pressed myself against the wall as he approached the tree. As he got closer, the figure became darker, with more prominent features. It was pure black, with glowing red eyes. It held a sword in its left hand and a shield in its right. The strange thing was… it seemed oddly familiar.

My mouth fell open when it struck me.

The shadow looked just like Link.

Link must've figured it out at the same time I did, as he skidded to a halt just a few feet from it. The figure began to laugh, and it echoed across the area, sending chills up my spine.

"You've faced many challenges up to this point, Link." The shadow spoke just a few decibels below Link's voice as it addressed him with a smirk. "I'm impressed you've lasted this long. But now…" he pointed his sword at Link, wide grin stretched across his face. "Now we'll see how strong the Hero really is. We'll see if he's strong enough to conquer himself!"

Link fell back as the shadow's words echoed across the water. He held his shield up, and the shadow did the same. He swung his sword towards it, but it clanged against the shadow's sword. It was mirroring him.

"Who are you?" Link shouted, keeping his shield up. "And why are you copying me?"

The shadow laughed. "Who am I, you ask? I'm you, Link. A part of you, at least. I'm your shadow, a sort of 'Dark Link', if you will. And the only thing shadows are good for is mimicking what their masters do."

Link thrust his sword towards Dark Link, but the shadow leapt up and landed on top of the blade, sneering, before slashing at Link's face.

"Link!" I shouted his name as he fell to the water, the large cut on his cheek staining it red. Dark Link whipped his head up to me at the sound of my voice, and I realized much too late I should've stayed quiet. He seemed to smirk before melting back into the shadows.

I was about to run to Link, who still lay motionless on the ground, when I felt eyes on the back of my neck. I turned my head to see Dark Link leaning against the wall next to me, his mouth curling into a smile, revealing sharp pointed fangs. "Who's this?" he said softly, coming up to stand in front of me, trapping me against the wall. I swallowed hard, too frightened to speak.

"You're a pretty one," he said, brushing his hand against my cheek. My blood ran cold at the touch of his icy fingers.

He leaned towards me, just inches from my face. "What're you doing with Link?" I felt his cold breath against my neck as he softly spoke, barely above a whisper. "You can do so much better than him. With your looks, you have so much potential. Why waste it all on some weak forest boy who can barely swing his sword? I'm the better half of him. Come with me, and I'll make you rich beyond your wildest dreams. I'll give you anything you want. Even…" He made a move towards my mouth, his hands on my waist.

"You keep your filthy hands off her!"

Dark Link was ripped from my body by Link. His face was bright red, and he had the look of murder in his eyes.

"Oh, being protective, are we?" Dark Link sneered. "No matter. Let's fight to the death for her, shall we?"

Link lunged and Dark Link followed, which led them into the most aggressive sword fight I've ever seen. Metal clanged against metal as they twisted and turned in a ballet dance battle of death.

This went on for several minutes, with me wincing every time Link was hit. Blood stained both his and Dark Link's clothes, and the water around them was a deep crimson.

"This can't go on much longer," Dark Link said, breathing heavily. "Your girlfriend will be mine!"

"Over my dead body!" Link roared, and he rose his sword. He jumped at Dark Link, who did the same, and at the last second Link moved his sword to one side, allowing him to land a long jagged cut down Dark Link's front.

Dark Link let out a strangled cry as he splashed down onto the ground, blood pouring from his wounds like a waterfall. "This isn't the end of me, Hero," he sputtered. "One day I'll come back and reclaim what's rightfully mine!"

With a final gurgle, he fell silent and still. He melted into the ground, along with everything else. The area morphed until it became a large dim room made of stone. The water remained, still red with blood.

"Wha – " I started to say.

"It was an illusion," Link said, sheathing his sword. "We were never outside. It's just another room in the temple."

I shuddered. The image of Dark Link's glowing red eyes was forever etched into my mind. The feeling of his cold lips pressed against mine, even for a split second, had been the most horrifying sensation I'd ever experienced.   


Link mumbled something as he turned to the door.

"What was that?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said quickly.

But I had heard him. And as we walked through the door, I wondered what he'd meant when he said it, and why he didn't want me to know he had.

…I'm sorry you had to see that part of me.  
Here's another little snippet from my fanfiction of OoT, It's About Time. This is, clearly, the fight between Link and Dark Link in the Water Temple, from Amy's (my OC) perspective. I'm really pleased with this part, although I'll have to come back later and work Navi in there somehow, but for now I'm happy with it.
This story in and of itself is still in the works, with only bits and pieces of it finished. One day I hope to have the whole story completed, but for now I'll have to settle for short scenes and chapters.

Link and Dark Link are copyrights of Nintendo
Amy is my original character :D
© 2012 - 2024 SlyCooperRocks101
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