The three had left the settlement only a few minutes ago, and Dark had already grown impatient. "Can't we like, teleport or ride my horse there? Do we have to walk?" He whined and Zelda who was walking ahead of him and Sheik, paused for a moment and twirled on a heel. "Why do we need to rush? The Sages are aware of our plans, they can control how long time passes in their realm compared to ours. There's no rush until they know we're in place. So, enjoy the walk. I mean, you're the one who's been trapped for so long, why not stop and enjoy the world?" She asked, and Dark grumbled to himself.

He just wanted to get this over with. He wanted to be truly free. He grasped the black triangle dangling from around his neck with his forefinger and thumb. Was there really something in this simple necklace? And if so, why didn't he feel it? It was worrying, he was entirely unsure of what they had put inside of him. He still felt like himself... the most drastic thing he had experienced was that strange surge in purity in him earlier in the fight against Traysa.

But what was in this necklace that could have possibly frightened that Elder? Dark imagined it couldn't be anything good... that heavy breathing from behind those giant gates he saw in his mind could only mean there's some other spirit growing inside of him. But what exactly was it? It enraged Dark. Would it consume him? The concept that he was just the shell of an egg to be cracked when the wyvern emerged was troubling.

How could she do that to him? He glanced sideways over to Sheik without her noticing. He felt nothing but pure disgust towards her. Her eyes were empty and devoid of emotion, didn't she have any regret for what she had possibly done to him? Dark's eyes were driven earthward. His chest was alit again, not by that fierce passion he had felt for her that night in the dark. Now, the burning was of hatred, of pain, of fear.

The green grass below his feet angered Dark. The carefree life all around him fueled the fire of pure hatred within him. Why was he always being subjected to being used and tortured? Why was it that he had to feel like a human, and then get cast back into the darkness? He placed his hand to his chest, searching for the faint heartbeat that had been growing. It was faint and fading. Dark smiled grimly. Good. He was done with human emotion. Damned sentiments were good for nothing but hurting you.

His hand rested on the pommel of his blade. Given the proper moment, he would strike out at Sheik. He would take the life he had saved. He should've let her die for being weak and protecting him while he was vulnerable. The voices in his head subsided. They didn't need to speak anymore, his mind was back to it's murderous state.

He would rid the world of those damned people who used him. First, it would be Sheik. Once Zelda entered the temple, he'd skewer the betrayer who had stolen his heartbeat. A maniacal grin spread across his face. He would fight the Goddesses. No one is my master, anymore. I'll crush anyone associated with those who plan to capture me again. Dark thought, as a new spring entered his step. He'd kill Sheik, then he'd kill Link before he fought Ganondorf, and then destroy Ganondorf. Finally, he'd lay low the very last person connected to the Goddesses, Zelda. The Goddesses were his enemy, anyone who fought besides them or caught to enslave him were his enemies as well.

He'd gather their power, take their Triforces... he'd break free from the Goddesses. He'd rule this world, transform it into a place where everyone could be free. His smile grew wider and his crimson eyes sparkled defiantly.

Sheik noticed his change in mentality, and looked to him suspiciously. "Are you alright, Dark?" She asked cautiously. He turned to her, smile still on his face, dangerous gleam in his eyes. "I'm wonderful. How are you? Any more plans to betray me?" He asked, in a mock tone of politeness. Sheik frowned at him. "I had to, the Goddesses' demands are the end all, be all." She said, and Dark's smile flattened.

"We'll see. We'll see if that's true, and you'll be the first to know." He said lowly to himself and those words caused Sheik to worry. What was he planning all of a sudden? As she thought this, Zelda's voice floated into her mind. His mind is being reclaimed by darkness. Sheik frowned. How is that possible? Is it the necklace? She asked, and Zelda's response was flat. No, it was you. She said, and Sheik's expression became sad.

Was what Gale said create that big of an impact on him? She asked. Yes, it was. He has only existed thus far to destroy that which had enslaved him. Now you've taken the light he saw in the world and cast it into darkness. He wants freedom, and the freedom he thought he had in friends and love has been turned to nothing but lies due to the betrayal he feels that you've returned him to slavery through the Goddesses' plan to use him as a backup weapon in case Link fails them. She said, and Sheik took in these words for a long time before responding.

I feel like shit. She said bluntly, and Zelda laughed. Good. Show him that you do, and that you're going to help him through this and prove that he's wrong in thinking that we're the bad guys trying to cage him again. She said, and Sheik thought for a few moments silently to herself. How do I do that? I'm not even used to caring about anyone... She said, and Zelda laughed again. It'll come naturally. When I enter the Temple to talk to Link, that'll be your time to prove to him that he's not being enslaved again. Zelda finished. Sheik thought for a while to herself.

Poor Dark was being thrown back into turmoil thanks to her. The world that had slowly been built up from nothing around him was thrown to the ground in a pile of ashes. Now was not the place to begin apologizing and making good on what she had done wrong... Zelda was wise, she'd know when was right. Now, she just had to think about what to say until the time was right.

Dark on the other hand, was merely going with the evil flow. As they walked towards the castle, the sun began to fall, and the drawbridge pulled up. Zelda groaned. "Of course, just as we were nearing the castle, night had to fall. Curse my father's automatic drawbridge system." She said, and then was saddened shortly after speaking. "What's the matter, Princess?" Dark asked, half not caring.

"I miss my father." She said, and Dark smiled. "Oh yes, he's got to be dead, right? Probably the first thing Ganon did when he stormed the castle. Zelda's eyes began to water. "He didn't really storm the castle... he waltzed right in." She said, and Sheik was silent.

"Of course Sheik doesn't give a damn about anyone else, so I'll listen to your sob story. I'm sure you've not been able to cry on anyone's shoulder about it yet, huh?" He asked, and Zelda shook her head. "Well, we've got to sunrise. Lay it on me." He said, only being nice to cause Sheik to look like more of a piece of shit than he already saw her as.

"Well..." Zelda began, as the memories flowed back to her. Memories she had suppressed for such a long time. They resurfaced, and with them came silent tears.

Zelda had been sitting on her mother's throne with her father. Her mother had died in childbirth, so she often sat with her father in her mothers chair to try and feel her presence. Today was a bright day, but on the horizon were dark storm clouds. "Zelda, there appears to be a storm coming, so why don't you stay with me on your mother's throne?" He asked her an hour ago.

Although it was boring sitting there with her father as he took care of the Kingdom's affairs, she still enjoyed spending time with him. Nobles, men from far off districts, and dignitaries from the other races all visited him with news of problems and whether they'd receive aid.

After a few hours and the storm was upon them, the King of Thieves, Ganondorf, came through the front doors. Impa had been standing behind the former Queen's throne, and was immediately alerted to his malicious intent. But she couldn't make a move at all, as per the King's rules. She had had the conversation with the King before, and he demanded that if ever attacked, she'd take Zelda and flee. He would buy them time so that Ganondorf wouldn't gain her Triforce.

The treaty was entirely a lie, and both the King and Ganondorf knew that they were still at odds. It was but merely the calm before the storm. And now, the storm had arrived.

"Alastair Harkinian! I come requesting an audience." He said, kneeling before the King and placing a fist to his breast. The King nodded. "You have one, Ganondorf. What is it that you require of this court?" He asked, scratching his long white beard. Ganondorf smiled sickly. "I require your death." He said bluntly, and the guards in the King's throne room immediately surrounded him.

"Don't bother, guards. He can easily kill us all." Alastair said, bringing a smile to Ganondorf's face. "How wise of you to forewarn them." He said with a vicious smile. "Please, if you want a fight, leave my soldiers alone. If it's my kingdom you want, fight me and kill me. Spare the rest." He said, eliciting a slow laugh from Ganondorf. "You'd like that from me, wouldn't you, Alastair?' He asked, and the King nodded, standing, unsheathing a thin longsword from the scabbard on his belt. The handle was plated gold and the blade was unadorned and a bright silver, as if it were giving off light.

Zelda was terrified. Why did her father have to fight? She knew that Ganondorf was an evil man and that he had to be stopped, but this was too much! She didn't want to see this. "The sad part of all of this is that I spare none." He said, as he swung his arm in a circle, conjuring his blade. Alastair's soldiers quickly rushed Ganondorf and with a loud shout, Ganondorf's blade appeared in hand. Twirling in a simple arc, he brought a slash across the chest of all the spearmen around him, cutting through their thick plate armor as if it were made of cloth.

They all fell to their knees, their blood pouring forth. "This wound... isn't enough to fell the proud Royal Family Soldiers!" One of the men said, standing up and readying his spear to charge again. Ganondorf smirked. "I'm fully aware, fool." He said, and the man fell down as soon as Ganondorf had finished speaking. A black fungus had begun growing, clotting around the wound he had inflicted. It spread dangerously, and the soldiers began screaming in pain as the fungus grew on their wound, draining them of their blood until they were entirely encased in a sac of blood-filled mold.

Alastair's brow was knotted with fury. "You fiend! Prepare to die where you stand!" He shouted, as he swung his blade, holding it out towards his foe. Ganondorf laughed cruelly. "Old man, you can't hope to stand against me." He said, and Alastair Harkinian disappeared and reappeared behind Ganondorf, as a large glowing gash appeared on the King of Thief's chest. "Impressive, old man." He said with a smile, as the mark exploded. Zelda was fearful, and wanted to run. As she stood to flee, Impa whispered from around the chair.

"Stay, child. Your father is doing this for a reason. We will escape when the situation is right." She said, and Zelda's eyes watered. "How can you let this happen?" She whispered back to Impa while Ganondorf burst from the white smoke and charged her father. He vanished again, this time two marks appearing on Ganondorf's chest, causing an even larger explosion.

Still, Ganondorf rushed at Alastair, uninjured by the magical blasts of energy. "You can't keep this up!" He roared, charging at him and swinging his broad-bladed sword. Alastair was panting. It was true, he couldn't keep this up. The intensity of his blasts were growing weaker, as well as his speed lowering. Soon, he wouldn't be able to instantaneously move, and Ganondorf's blade would feast on his flesh and spirit. He had heard terrible things about this blade, that it could consume the person's soul that it killed, causing the person to never pass on to the afterlife, only to experience the same death over and over, while the wielder of the blade drained the power from the trapped's eternal soul.

He only used the blade on people he deemed worthwhile, so the souls hidden within were choice, and a large source of his power. It was one of the first weapons he created when he came into power amongst the Gerudo. Alastair's spies had informed him of his steps to stealing the components and forging the hellish blade. He had even managed to steal an item from his Royal Treasury to forge that accursed blade. No matter what, he couldn't allow Zelda to fall by that blade, or the accursed magic it harbored.

Alastair panted, having spent most of his energy trying to evade and put enough power into his blasts to take down Ganondorf. He was just far too powerful. "Fine, you've won." Alastair said, as he cast his blade at Ganondorf's feet. Ganondorf smiled wickedly. "Gooooood. Now enjoy watching me kill your daughter." He said, as he managed to mimic Alastair's trademark flashstep technique. Alastair's eyes widened in fear as he witnessed Ganondorf rush by him slowly, as if the world had slowed down.

With his last bit of power, he flashstepped as well, to get in front of Ganondorf before he reached Zelda. "Ganondorf... you may be powerful... but don't you dare try to imitate my technique and use it against me." He said, inches from Ganondorf's face. With a smile, Alastair spit a mist of blood into Ganondorf's face, Ganondorf's blade sunk deep into his chest, only inches from Zelda's face.

Zelda's face was covered in blood. Her father looked over his shoulder at her with a smile. "Don't worry sweetheart, I'll always be with you." He said, and she lost restraint over the tears she had been holding in. "Impa, take her!" He shouted, as he bearhugged Ganondorf. "What? What are you doing! Let go of me, you idiot!" Ganondorf shouted as Alastair pulled himself closer, disabling him from moving. Alastair was a giant by human standards, and his physical power was enough to keep Ganondorf from moving.

Impa leaped over the throne, grabbing Zelda. She ran quickly, Zelda cradled in her arms. "No, stop it! Go back, save him! Save my father!" She screeched, as Impa leaped upon a soldier's horse. "Hey, what are you-" The soldier began, and Impa threw a poisoned needle at his neck, knocking him out with a sleeping poison. "I can't kill him. Only one man can, and he's still a boy." She said with a shrewd smile, as they rushed out of the castle.

She charged off, escaping the castle with Impa. She struggled against her, but eventually gave in. She knew there was nothing more she could do, it was all done now. Her face was streaked by tears, but she cradled something close to her chest that she had been protecting. The Ocarina of Time, the key to gaining the Master Sword that Link needed. She had stole it from the treasury as the Goddesses had spoken to her in another dream. It was all a matter of steps before Link would avenge her father, and save the world.

As they rushed out, they passed by Link. Looking at him as they passed, she threw the Ocarina into the moat so that he'd find it. That was the last glimpse of him she ever saw, his eyes full of concern for her. Those eyes she'd never forget, and will soon see once again.

Dark yawned. "Well, that sucks. Your father impaled right in front of you." He said, and she looked away from him, trying to ignore the fact he was being completely inconsiderate. "How much longer until the sun rises?" He asked to no one in particular. Zelda looked to the skies. "Probably a few hours..." She said, sounding sad. Dark sighed. "Do you want a hug or something? I'm not dealing with heavy sighs and mopey crap all night." He said with a scowl. Zelda looked to the ground. "...It would be nice..." She said quietly.

"Fine, come here." Dark said grumpily, holding his arms out. Gladly, she leaped into his arms and snuggled against his chest. "Uhhh, I said hug, not attack." He said, trying to pry her off of him. "I swear..." He said, ready to drop an elbow on her head. Sheik growled at him. "She's distressed, and you're the closest thing to the person she cares about. Give her a night to rest on you and stop being an inconsiderate ass." She said, and Dark grumbled.

"Like you're one to talk." He said, as he stopped resisting Zelda as she cuddled against his chest. He placed his hands behind his head, staring at the stars. He could sense the Stalchildren behind him, but they dare not come close. They could sense his evil nearby. Soon, he could tell Zelda was falling asleep. Sheik sat up, legs and arms crossed. She seemed to be contemplating something seriously. Dark didn't care what. He figured he'd go to sleep soon too.

Just as he closed his eyes, Zelda spoke. "Why can't I hear your heartbeat?" Zelda asked. Dark growled. "Shut up, you'll wake up Sheik." There was a slight pause. "She's already asleep." Zelda said. Dark looked to Sheik. It was true, she had been sitting in the same way for over an hour now. "She sleeps like that?" He asked, and Zelda nodded. "So, why can't I hear your heartbeat?" She asked, and Dark sighed.

"Because I'm not human, stupid." He said, and he began to push her off of him. "And get off, I'm not Link for fuck's sake." He growled and she let go. "Why are you so mean?" She asked, looking at him with Sheik's eyes, which made it a lot easier for him to be mean to her. "Why are you so nice? Why can't you leave me alone?" He asked angrily.

Instead of continuing arguing, she placed her head back on his chest. "Because people get sad when they're alone. And you're the saddest person I've ever met." She said, and Dark's anger softened. "Plus, I look like Link." He said, and she smiled. "That's an added bonus to the whole deal." She said. Dark smirked. "You're still an idiot." He said, and she shrugged. "I'm fine with you thinking that." She said. Dark shook his head. "Now shut up so I can go to sleep or I'll dump you in the moat." He said, and she was quiet. "Perfect." He said, as he finally drifted off to sleep.

The drawbridge's chain clanking as it unfurled and lowered the bridge woke all three of them up. "C'mon, let's go. I'm really tired of all this waiting around." He said, as he shoved Zelda off of him, who slept through the drawbridge. She quickly got up when she saw her two companions walking off.

They reached the town circle, which was overflowing with Redeads. "Let me take care of this." Dark said, stepping forward. He wasn't going to let anyone or anything else kill his quarry. Taking in a deep breath, he screeched at the Redead in a tone that was even more bloodcurdling than any scream that had come from the fleshy undead known as Redeads. Zelda and Sheik froze in place, their blood freezing over in their veins. The Redeads all clenched their hands over their ears, unable to deal with the shrill sound.

After a few second of being exposed to the sound, the Redeads exploded from the waist up in a fleshy mess of red goo and skin. Zelda and Sheik were then able to move again once Dark stopped his fiendish scream. They began coughing, as if they had been pulled from the depths of a cold lake.

They both looked to him as if he was some sort of monster. He smiled to the devilishly as he motioned to the path leading to the temple. "Ladies first." He said, and they both walked ahead of him.

"Alright, here's where we part ways. Good luck, you two." She said, waving as she smiled faintly. She was afraid of what Ganondorf would do once he had captured her. But, as a part of the Goddesses' plan, she could only obey. Walking into the temple, she left her fears behind. The real Sheik stood behind, watching her close friend walk into what essentially could be her doom.

Dark, behind her, was unsheathing his blade slowly and as quietly as possible. She wouldn't have time to even feel herself dying. It would be his last gift to her, a gift of love that she betrayed. A quick and painless death. Sheik sighed to herself. Now was the moment of truth. She'd apologize and show him that she wasn't trying to steal her freedom, that she was always fighting for him.

As she turned towards him to apologize, she didn't see anything but a silver gleam.

A/N; Wewt, cliffhanger. Enjoy the suspense. ;D

Also, sorry about not updating. Had exams and then prom, which more or less caused me to sleep in to 5pm yesterday. XD Stay tuned for what happens next chapter in Rebirth of a Shadow! Show some love and keep the inspiration flowing by pressing and letting me know what you thought about the chapter. ;D