Ten
Link cradled the bird’s body gently, Zelda kneeling at his side.
“Are you sure it’s really her?”
He nodded, gently lifting the wing, wincing as the bird let out a little noise of pain. “The patterns on these feathers match the ones on Malon’s wrists. I don’t... there are broken bones here, it isn’t just the knife wound we have to worry about - and I don’t have any potions.” He looked up, and Zelda looked back helplessly.
“We have been unable to find a suitable store,” Impa said softly, “or at least one where all the potions hadn’t been turned into impenetrable stones.” Her expression gentled a little, looking down as Zelda removed her face scarf, helping Link to gently wrap it around the bird. “I do not know how to attend to such wounds, neither do the Sheikah.”
“We’ve got to get her to a fairy fountain, then. I know of one nearby. Well hidden, and there was a fairy there a few months ago.” Link rose quickly, keeping Malon as steady as he could, whistling for Epona. The horse had been standing at the edge of their clearing, looking out where Dark Link and his minions had vanished, quickly turning back at Link’s call.
“The darkness has faded.” Link reached out to pat her nose, a muted fear in the horse’s voice. “I believe they’ve gone.”
“We still need to be careful.” Impa warned.
“We don’t have time to be careful. Malon could be – she needs help, and Epona’s faster once we reach open ground.” Link stared back at Impa defiantly.
“I’m going with you.” Zelda said, effectively eliminating any chance at argument. Impa made no attempt to protest, and Link didn’t bother to see if she would try, quickly handing the bird to Zelda, leaping in the saddle before gathering her up again.
Epona moved as quickly as she could through the dark, trying not to jar Malon any further though the forest path was wildly uneven. Link kept his eyes on Malon, wincing at every jolt that made her twist in his arms, murmuring soothingly when a particularly bad jolt brought one beady eye open, and she struggled against the bindings.
“No, no! Malon, don’t move. It’s me, Link. You’re safe now. We’re going to help you. Please, please you have to trust me.”
He wished she could talk, as Epona could, but it was blessing enough that the bird seemed to understand him, chirping a bit mournfully but no longer tugging at the restraint of the scarf, now ominously spotted with blood in more than one place. They needed to go faster, and he was grateful when the edge of the forest finally gave way to the familiar bank of the stream.
It still took far too long to cross, passing Malon to Zelda at any point he thought he might slip, the river wilder than he remembered – possibly Dark Link’s doing. The Sheikah had managed to leap from one side to the other, Impa simply floating across. Link barely bothered to see if they could keep up, as Zelda transferred the bird to his arms one more time before leaping onto the horse behind him, Epona breaking into a thundering gallop across the open plains, well-illuminated by the moonlight.
The Sheikah kept up better than Link would have expected, not enough to flank them as they would have liked, but only a few paces behind. Impa flitted ahead, seeming to flicker in and out of focus as she exercised whatever power she had to keep lookout. Link only looked over his shoulder once. He thought he could see a few shapes moving at the edge of the hills, though any of these minor monsters would think twice before attacking their large, well-armed party.
At least he could pray it would.
“You should take my bow.”
His voice didn’t shake, but Zelda reached from behind anyway, giving his hand a supportive squeeze where it rested on the pommel. Malon was so still in his arms.
“I have knives – and it’s nearly dawn anyway.”
Epona continued to gallop, as the darkness melted away to blue-black, and then the first true washes of morning began to sweep across the sky. It was still cold, and Link wanted to keep a finger on Malon’s pulse, but didn’t know how to find it. His fingers were painfully numb, he could do little but feel her warmth, and panic every time it seemed to wane.
“Is that it?” Zelda broke him from his determined focus, and Link looked up, a crop of rocks and a few flowering bushes not so different from the surrounding area. Enough that any creature as stupid as a Moblin would pass by, ignoring the slight tingle of magic in the air. He nodded, relief lightening the hold fear had in his chest.
“Yes, this is it. We’re here. Help me with her.”
Zelda took hold of Malon once she was on the ground, Link quickly dismounting and pulling the Master Sword. Many of the fairy fountains had dried up, those that weren’t had often been smashed to rubble by Ganon or his minions whenever they were found. He and Zelda had protected the ones that remained as well as they could, the fairies providing their own magic to create a set of sealed doors, locks that could only be opened with Zelda’s Ocarina or his Master Sword. Not the best of solutions, but the only way to ensure their protection.
It had not been long since he had visited this place, less than half a year, and yet the fairies had made certain to twine the vines high and thick around the hidden door, until it appeared as if no one had ever been there before. Link hissed, as the first two attempts to clear away the brush resulted in nothing more than badly scratched hands, and it was all he could do not to hack the brush clear. For all he knew, the fountain had dried up anyway, or the Glass had swept through and taken away its power. The nearest village was still hours away, and even then Link wasn’t sure he could find help there – or that Malon could last that long.
Finally, the brush and vines parted, and he found the rough circle carved into the rock, the slot just wide enough to accept his blade. Pushing the Master Sword in, he twisted as hard as he could, rewarded with a soft click and the sound of stone grating against stone, a large, circular door rolling away, revealing a hidden tunnel.
“Let’s go.”
The Sheikah arrived just as Zelda followed him down, trailing behind the princess as he led the way. It was dark and cool, but the walls glowed a familiar purple-blue, and Link sighed in relief. A good sign that the pool was still inhabited, and that the fairies could help Malon.
He was startled then, to reach the bottom of the stair and suddenly be surrounded by the smaller healing fairies, panicked and babbling in alarm, tiny high pitched squeaks as they swirled around him. Hiding themselves beneath his hat, one crashing into his hand before hiding itself in a fold of his clothing, the magic it scattered healing his small scratches instantly.
“What’s wrong?” Zelda murmured. “Why are they so afraid?”
“I don’t know.” Link could hear the Sheikah growling slightly, sniffing at the air. “Stop that. At least until we find out what’s wrong.”
The chamber was not very large. As soon as he took a few steps away from the door Link could see past the pillars on either side of the path to the pool, and the cloaked figure kneeling in front of it. The Great Fairy hovered above her pool, one hand resting against the figure’s shoulder as if to offer support. It was a kind gesture, immediately forgotten as the edge of the Master Sword tapped against a pillar and the figure turned, rising, the cloak falling away from Ganon’s face.
Link only saw his enemy, not the look of shock and fear or the lack of any weapon or the way Ganon shrank back as he roared, charging forward and bringing the Master Sword down, determined to cut the dark magician in half. Ganon scrambled back, the tip of the sword only slashing through the cloth of his cloak. He was still knocked badly off balance, and fell hard to the floor, scrambling back from Link as best he could. Eyes fixed on the point of his sword as it rose, and swung down to finish him.
“Link! No!”
It was only Zelda’s cry that halted his sword, and still the blade wavered, Link staring down his enemy, helpless and wounded, only a sword stroke away from defeat.
Cowering. One arm over his head to protect himself, and scratches and bruises along that arm, disappearing between tattered robes. Link rocked back on his heels, but kept his sword up. The Sheikah were circling Ganon, growling softly until Impa gave some silent signal, and they backed away, curled on their haunches but still ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
“What are you playing at, Ganon? You won’t fool us with this game.”
“I... I’m sorry. I don’t know – do you know me? Did I hurt you? I’m sorry.”
Wide eyes watching him in obvious fear, Link let the Master Sword drop. Zelda took a step forward despite herself, needing to help, until Link shifted to block her path. He glanced up at the Great Fairy, but she seemed all right, if very worried for the monster at his feet. It didn’t make sense.
“No tricks, Ganon. Whatever you’re trying to do here, it’s not going to work.”
The voice that came from behind startled them all.
“Unfortunately, Link, that’s not Ganon. At least, not the one you want to put a sword through.”
The Sheikah closest to the shadowed figure leapt immediately, plunging right through and slamming into the pillar behind it.
Nabooru took another step forward, the edges of her body glittering golden for a moment, before coalescing back to normal. No one else blinked twice – except Impa, whose second blink might have been a bit of jealousy, that the Gerudo was still somewhat solid.
“I followed him from Hyrule, where the other Ganon was busy leading one of his usual victory parades.” Her eyes dropped to where the other Ganon sat trembling. “Why did you run away? Why were you there in the first place?”
“I was afraid. I-it was a big city. I’d heard it was the capitol, that Ganon was its king.” He flinched, as Link frowned. “They called me Ganon, and so I thought...”
“You thought to gain yourself a kingdom.” Link snarled. Zelda put a hand on his arm.
“Link, please...” She crouched down, eye-to-eye with the creature who looked like their foe but acted the exact opposite. “It’s all right. We’re not going to hurt you, you just startled us.”
“It’s that other me, right? Or really, I must be the other...” Ganon frowned, his eyes wide and lost. “I don’t like that man, the one who looks like me. I was afraid. So I ran away. I tried not to let anyone see me – I realize I scare them, and anger them, but they saw.”
He leaned forward a little more, into the light, and they could see the marks on his face, bruises and bloodied cuts the Great Fairy hadn’t been able to heal before they arrived.
“So we have two Ganons, and this one isn’t evil?” Link cocked a skeptical eyebrow in Nabooru’s direction. In this situation, her cynical vote weighed a lot more than any other.
“He doesn’t know what’s going on. He can’t even defend himself, Link. The villagers threatened him and he ran for his life.” Her gaze turned steely. “He’s also got the Triforce of Power.”
Zelda gasped, everyone else was struck silent.
“It can’t be... I mean... /how/?” She blurted, dumbfounded, gaping at Nabooru, who only gestured down to Ganon, still on the floor.
“Show them.”
Hesitantly, the Gerudo complied, bringing his hand out from underneath his cloak, rubbing at the patch of mud he’d slapped there in a desperate attempt to hide what was beneath. The Triforce glowed a gentle gold contrast to the blue light of the cave.
Link stared, for a very long time, before sighing and turning to take up the bird in Zelda’s arms.
“We need to help Malon now. We’ll... deal with the rest later.”
-----------------------------
Ganon kept the throne room near identical to how it had been before he had seized power. It was important not to grow too sure of his position, at least not until Zelda and her Hero were dead and his hold on the land was secure. It was a little ironic, that this was the only room in which the tapestries and carvings from old Hyrule still existed – although he still did destroy them, now and again, in moments of anger or frustration.
Enough of that emotion to go around these days, corners of Hyrule he still hadn’t been able to contact. His return to the castle would –thankfully - silence most voices of dissent, at least back to their proper whispers. He hadn’t expected much luck in finding Zelda or the Hylian brat. Unless he was there himself, as he’d been at Death Mountain, it seemed impossible to corner them for more than a few seconds at best.
A candle went out, and looked up, nails digging slightly deeper grooves into marks he’d already made in the arm of the throne, at a slight rush of cold wind. The chamber had no windows and he already knew what it was – Dark Link never bothered to show up unless he could do so in some sort of shadow.
"Of all possibilities, I didn’t think the Glass would allow for your return.” He said, his tone mostly bored as he watched the creature emerge, pale gray, twisting into shape with a sinuous, snakelike shifting of power.
“I’ve been out. Hunting for a trophy that might please you.”
The Hero’s dark twin had not lived up to Ganon’s earliest hopes, eventually vanquished even if it had cost Link a great deal of strength to do so. That battle had been early on – perhaps such a creature might be of more use against Link now, with the war dragging on for so much longer than any of them had anticipated.
“I hope you’ve found something useful.”
The Moblins were stupid, but entirely subservient. It was difficult to get any creature of darkness with a higher intelligence to even consider showing fealty. Dark Link barely bothered, with a slight nod of his head that was meant to be a bow – and his eyes glittered with ruby-tinted malice. Ganon could destroy him a hundred times over, but he still knew better than to turn his back.
“I believe so, my lord.” The Hero’s twisted mirror crossed his arms slowly, with the lack of anything in the room to menace or stab. “I followed them to a hidden fairy fountain, after our little battle. I can show you where it was, if you wish to destroy it. Link was eager to heal a hawk that gave me a bit of a scratch – I believe it was one of his comrades, transformed.”
Ganon sighed, gesturing for speed. Of all the things the creature was, he never would have suspected he could be long-winded. He often wondered if Link were at all the same. Dark Link seemed not to notice, brushing a strand of steel-colored hair behind his pointed ears.
“It took them a long while to come out. One of the sages was with them – that Gerudo thief. Oh yes, and he’s a girl.”
Ganon blinked, confused. “Nabooru was always a woman, and quite a handsome one, even if you Hylians have little taste for our kind.”
Dark Link laughed all in minor keys, no humor to the disturbingly flat sound. “No, no. I meant Link, your grace. He makes quite a pretty girl – and the princess, never one to be outdone, has become a boy in his stead.”
Ganon could not help but chuckle at that. It was not the loss that the Triforce of Power was, but he wouldn’t have minded being witness to the princess’ dismay.
“Oh, and I do believe I forgot to mention – they have your doppelganger with them, and he holds the Triforce of Power.”
Even Dark Link was unprepared for how quickly Ganon moved, one large hand around his throat and the other ready to tear him into any number of impressive pieces, just in case the thought of choking wasn’t threatening enough.
“What did you say!?”
“I... I said...” He gagged, and Ganon regretfully had to ease his hold. Dark Link took a step back, still more amused by the situation than worried for his own life.
“A second person came out with them – hooded, I only saw him remove it once, but it was you – and he’s definitely carrying the Triforce. I thought about trying to contact him, but he seemed entirely disinterested in attacking them.” The creature smirked, wrinkles deepening at the corners of an already unattractive smile. “As Link is to me, I believe this creature may be your... better half?”
“I see.” Ganon frowned, oddly comforted by the fact that at least some version of himself still carried the Triforce. “Where are they headed?”
“It seems as if they are acting without much of a plan at all. When last I left, they were moving toward the nearest village. I would guess they will spend a few days there, resting and attempting to develop a strategy. We could attack them there, easily.”
“No.”
It was clear what Dark Link wanted to do, eager for a chance to finish Link off from the moment he’d been created. Ganon did not believe so highly in the double’s abilities, certainly not to destroy the Princess even if succeeded in eliminating her champion.
“I have a better idea.” He nearly laughed, as the shadowy assassin scowled. “Don’t worry, you’ll have your fill of Hero’s blood, and your rightful place as the only Link in this world.”
It would have to be done with some delicacy, but he could manage that. He might even enjoy it, a few quiet lies, subtle positioning he had not had the need for in many years. Yes, he could easily outwit this happy band of fools, and with the Triforce of Power back in his rightful possession, crush them permanently.