(Fan/Act/Rom) The Legend of Zelda: Empire of Darkness [T]
Author’s Note: This is my first chapter that I wrote 11 months ago, so please excuse the crappy writing.
EDIT (6-23-07): I started writing this story July 29 of 2004. It's be nearly three years since I started writing this fanfiction. Since then, I have been developing my writing, my characters, and my plot. Thus, I have discovered dozen of plot holes, unrealistic events, out-of-character behavior, and just my sheer crappy writing. I plan to go back after completing this story and rewriting it into a final and complete version, edited, and hopefully in its perfect form (as perfect as I can get it to be). So I can understand how others can find the beginning of this story ... unsatisfactory. I find it that way as well. I hope to improve this story tremendously and, therefore, making it enjoyable for all. ~ Shrub
Chapter Updates (8-18-07)
In Progress:
Chapter One: Dark Omens
Complete:
Awards
*Best Writer, Winter 2005*
*Best Zelda Fiction, Summer 2007*
Chapter One:
Dark Events
He looked up and found what he had been waiting for: Home. This young man clad in a green tunic and a hat to match rode quietly upon the plains of a land he knew very well. On his back he bore a very large sword and a Hylian shield, riding on a friend of his that had always proven loyal to him, a beautiful horse with a marvelous coat of fur that appeared to be almost a blood-red and had a pure-white mane.
Link wondered which of his friends he should surprise first. He first left home when he was eleven; seven years having past since then and now he was eighteen years of age, finally a man. He had made many of friends on his travels, but the people who lived here were the people he was born and raised with and so he would never forget what they had done for him. Link came to a conclusion; he would visit Malon first, because she was closest.
His horse galloped down a dirt road in the direction of a ranch, which he had known since his childhood, but when he saw the place he had been looking for, he stopped. Link felt his heart drop into his stomach: the place had changed a lot since he had last been there. The ranch had doubled in size and there was what appeared to be Hylians, except their skin was black and their hair was white. Link watched as a wagon pulled out of the entrance of the place, which was surrounded by a giant wall. The wagon held a huge metal cage with true Hylians inside. Most of them looked as if they were about to die; their clothes were worn and dirty as were their faces. Their shabby faces held within them many hard years of agony and suffering.
Link approached the entrance stealthily, unsure if he would be permitted entrance. He leapt from his horse, landing with one hand in front, balancing his weight. His sapphire blue eyes studied the dark-faced guards through the strands of shaggy blonde hair that on his travels he has had to pull back in a ponytail. Link found he recognized what the guards were: They were Dark Elves from a different world he had encountered before. This was not a good thing however; Link, understanding the nature of these people, mounted Epona and rode in. As he rode in he stared around at what he had remembered to be a peaceful place; realizing it was now a hell-hole. Many Hylians young and old were being dragged around in chains. There was only one thought that had filled his head. He had to find Malon.
Link stopped at a pub were he would try to find answers for what had happened here. He dismounted and walked into the dark pub that was, of course, infested with more Dark Elves. He seated himself at a table and kept to himself, hoping no one would notice him. At least until he heard a familiar voice that spoke to him said,
“What will your order be?”
Link looked up and found the red-headed friend of which he had been searching for. Her red hair had lost the shine that had once been there, and her blue eyes appeared to be extremely tired. Her plain, light blue dress and apron were smudged and dirty. For a moment she stared at Link trying to remember his face.
"Excuse me, but do I know you? You look very familiar,” she asked the familiar stranger.
“Malon, it's me. Link, the fairy boy,” replied Link, hoping she would remember him. Malon gave a gasp, and then whispered quietly to him.
“Oh my Gods! Link, where are have you been all these years?” She asked as she stared at him in question, but her eyes glittered in happiness for seeing someone friendly.
“There's no time to explain that, but tell me what happened here,” said Link, as he made sure no one could hear him.
“Well, it’s sort of a long story,” said Malon. “Just a few months after you left Hyrule a huge army of Dark Elves came and took over Hyrule Castle and Kakariko. Most of the townspeople were imprisoned and sold as slaves, but they haven't taken Kokiri Forest,” began Malon, but then Link asked,
“Why is that?”
“I don't know, I don't think anyone knows. They tried to take over the Gorons too, but the Gorons left Goron City. No one knows where they went. Weird, huh?”
Link just prayed that Darunia was still alive.
“The Dark Elves can't find the Zoras—they don't know where they are.”
Link gave a chuckle, for he knew exactly where to find Zora's Domain. Malon brought her voice even lower and asked,
“You know where to find it, don't you Link?”
Link nodded, Malon beamed at him as she continued her story.
“Anyway, they're trying to make peace with the Gerudos and get them to join the Dark Elf Empire. So far no one knows where the Gerudos stand. The worst part is who leads the Dark Elves.” Malon stopped for a moment to look around and make sure no one was watching.
“No one knows what he is exactly, but they say he was born without a soul. His eyes are completely white, and his name is Nottuu,” Malon finished, and then Link said to her very quietly.
“What happened to the Princess?”
“They say she is still up at the Castle, held prisoner by Nottuu.”
“Listen closely Malon, because I'm only going to say this once,” began Link staring around the pub. “Finish taking my order and then later tonight I need you to sneak out and I'll get you out of here.”
“But Link; do you know how dangerous that is? I've tried millions of times,” whispered Malon, doubt painted on her face.
Link just gave her a look of pure determination, and she nodded.
“Where is Talon? Maybe we can get him out of here too,” said Link, but then he noticed how she looked down at the floor and fidgeted with her dirty apron.
“Malon ... what happened?” asked Link as a frown began to form on his face.
“... He's dead.”
Link felt his heart slide slowly down to his stomach again. No ... Not Talon, he thought miserably.
“The Dark Elves killed him when they raided the ranch, and now look at it: It's become the slave trading center.” Tears began to shine in her eyes. Link clasped his hands to sides of his head and stared down at the rotting table.
“Oh Malon, I should have never left. I've been gone way too long. I'm so sorry,” said Link as he reached out and held her hand.
“I promise … things will get better.”
Malon shook her head. “Link, what could you have done if you had stayed? Don't beat yourself up about it; nothing would have changed.”
Link however, doubts this very much. He had saved Hyrule before. He couldn't help but feel responsible for whatever happened to it. So he was not going to stand around and watch this happen to this beautiful land he had fought so hard for. Malon finished taking his order and went back to the counter to tell the chief the order; the Dark Elf owner asked accusingly, “What the **** took so long?”
“Picky customer,” Malon replied simply and walked away.
Link came to the entrance of the pub and saw that at night it was guarded by two Dark Elves. He crept up silently behind them and bumped their heads together. They made no protest, but simply dropped to the ground. Link then dragged their bodies away and hid them in a dark corner were they would not be seen until sunrise. That's when Malon finally came out of the pub. This time she was decked out in black. Her black shirt that's sleeves only reach to her elbows held tightly to her figure, her hands were hidden in small black gloves, her baggy, black pants were held up by a black leather belt, and her black combat boots clunked heavily on the ground.
Link stared for a moment; he had never seen her dress like this. Malon noticed Link gazing at her.
“What?”
Link shook his head. “Nothing, I've just never seen you dress like this before.”
“Well, I'm not going to escape from Dark Elves in a dress,” said Malon, raising her eyebrows at Link.
“Do you know how to fight?” asked Link. Malon pulled out a very long and slender knife from her belt and replied,
“Link, I've lived in a world ruled by Dark Elves for seven years. I had to learn how to fight to survive.... I'm not the innocent girl you knew seven years ago.” Link said nothing and just stared at her for a moment.
They went to make their escape, but they found that the entrance was heavily guarded.
“Listen Malon, when I say 'now' I'm going to attack the guards. I need you to run ahead of me. Don't worry—I’ll be right behind you.” Link kept his eyes on the guards ahead of them. Malon nodded in agreement.
“Now,” Link whispered and he darted ahead, smashing a guard in the face with his shield. While the guards became distracted by Link, Malon was able to slip by unnoticed. Link kept his word and was right behind her. They found Epona waiting for them outside.
Link swung onto her back and pulled Malon on after him. Link handed her his shield and said,
“Use this to block the arrows.”
“What arrows?” asked Malon, but didn't get an answer because they found themselves in a rain shower of arrows. Arrows banged against the shield Malon now had, covering their backs.
“Where are we going?” asked Malon as she held on to him with one arm and blocked arrows with the other.
“Hyrule Castle,” replied Link, keeping his eyes on Hyrule Castle as they approached it.
“What for?” Malon questioned as the arrow shower began to fade.
“To save Zelda.”
Malon gasped, “Have you gone completely nuts!”
Link didn't answer.
They reached the Town gate, which seemed to be open all the time now that the Dark Elves were in control. They both jumped off Epona. Link pointed in the opposite direction and said to Epona,
“Go!”
Epona sped off in that direction. Link grabbed Malon by the arm and pulled her across the gate.
“Why did you send Epona away?” asked Malon gasping for breath as they ran into the Market, which just like everywhere else was infested with Dark Elves.
“She would gather too much attention,” Link answered simply, who didn't seem to be out of breath.
They ran through the Market and made it to the castle entrance, which hadn't changed much except it was now being guarded by Dark Elves. Link guessed Nottuu wasn't much for remodeling like Ganon had been. The Castle looked just like it did before Link had left Hyrule.
Link and Malon slid along the dirt wall until they came to some vines that were clinging to the wall.
“Oh,” whispered Malon, apparently remembering the time when she had asked Link to find her father at the Castle for her and how Link had climbed the vines. First, Link pulled out his ocarina and said to Malon,
“Try to follow along with this tune.”
Malon didn't question Link; she has learned to just do as she was told. She began to whistle along with Link and as she whistled the tune made her think of rainy days on the ranch. Soon after, clouds were bellowing in the sky and it began to pour. Malon realized that it was the song that had made it rain.
“How did you do that?” asked Malon as they became soaked from the rain.
“It's the magic from the song. Usually the storms aren't as powerful as this when it's only one person playing the song. I did it so it would be hard to see us in the rain. Now, come on, let’s climb these vines,” Link finished as he started to climb the wall.
Malon came up right after him. They ran along the edge of the wall, and then Link found a hole inside of the gate and climbed down a ladder that was in it. Malon had no idea how Link saw the hole in the rain, but it made her think that he had memorized exactly how to get in the Castle. Once they were down in the small room inside of the gate Link began to speak.
“I do hope that you know the nature of Dark Elves—” Malon cuts him off.
“Dark Elves are violent creatures to which the concept of honor is meaningless,” Malon finished with a great tone of bitterness in her voice. Link was a little shocked to hear her voice like that and stared for a moment at her. Malon realizing this said,
“Sorry, it's just ... my life will never be the same thanks to them.”
Link knew more than ever now that what she had said before, ‘not being the same girl from seven years ago,’ was indeed very true. She had to endure seven years of being enslaved to a dark race that knew no mercy.
“Do you want revenge, Malon?” Link asked her as he stared into her determined face.
“Yes.”
“Well, then if revenge is what you want then follow me wherever I have to go, because I on the same boat as you. I will not allow them to destroy what I have fought so hard to save!” shouted Link, the same look of determination on his face.
Malon nodded, even though she did not understand the last part Link said: ‘what I have fought so hard to save.’ It didn't make sense.
“Okay, we're going to have to be careful,” said Link, surprisingly sounding a lot calmer. “If we get caught they might try to kill us.”
“Might,” said Malon doubtfully. More like they will kill us, thought Malon, as they crept out the door.
It was still pouring when they got outside. Malon could barely see through it. Link had been right about the guards may not be able to see them, but they were not able to see the guards and Malon had no idea where they were going. Even though Malon didn't know where she was, Link did. He knew this place like the back of his hand. He soon found a familiar edge and climbed over it. Once he had helped Malon over they found themselves right in front of the Castle moat.
Link gestured toward the moat; Malon followed him over to it, understanding that they were going to have to swim through it. They both slipped quietly into the water and swam just as quietly right against the right side of the stream so that the guards would not hear or see them. They finally reached the end of the moat and got out of the water. Malon noticed that her clothes were not much wetter from the rain than they were from the water.
Link pointed across the stream from them to a small hole in the wall and said,
“See that hole?”
Malon nodded.
“That's how I got in the Castle when I was a child, but since we're too big we're going to have go through this door.” Link gestured to the door in font of them.
“But they must have locked it, didn’t they?” pointed out Malon, but Link just walked over to the door, kneeled down and pulled out a needle that he kept on his belt. On his travels Link had learned the very useful skill of picking locks. In just a few minutes he had the door open.
A depressed, young woman sat on a beautiful, red silk couch facing the back of it with her arms resting on it. She wore a beautiful, blue dress with long, white draping sleeves. She had gorgeous, shiny, blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes that were dazing off into thought. Her imprisonment in the castle brought her to be depressed all the time.
Zelda had tried to escape before but it had never worked: he always caught her. She often wondered where Link was and if he would ever come back to Hyrule. For seven years she had hoped he would return and save her from this dark place. Zelda had always been independent from men, but Link was the only man she would depend on when she was in time of need. Link, will you ever come back? thought Zelda, or will you keep me waiting for seven years again?
Zelda had laid her head on her arms as she felt her eyes burn with tears, but she closed them, not allowing them to fall. She had already cried enough these seven years; she won't cry anymore. She had to be strong now. Please Link, share some of your courage with me now, ‘cause really, I need it, thought Zelda. Her thoughts, however, became interrupted, when her lounge door opened, and there stood someone she did not want to see.
“What is it that you want, Nottuu?” Zelda asked coldly as a man with white hair and white eyes to match walked up to her. His skin was not black like a Dark Elf would have. As a matter of fact, his skin was unusually pale, but she never really believed he was a Dark Elf. His outfits were always simple: black shirt, black pants, and black boots. The fact that he wore black made his white hair and eyes stand out even more than they would have. For the seven years Zelda had known this pale man, she had never seen an expression on his face. She had always believed that he had no soul, for she had seen him kill many people without even blinking, not one emotion had ever shown on his pale face.
“I hear that you are depressed,” said Nottuu, looking down at the beautiful Princess.
“I am always depressed, Nottuu,” replied Zelda, who shivered because she hated when he would look at her with those chilling eyes.
“Not nearly enough, my princess,” he said as he walked up to her balcony that was across the room.
“Don't call me that! I am not yours!” she said as she glared at her door, because she preferred not to look at him.
“I do hope you are not thinking of escape,” continued Nottuu, ignoring her comment as he stared at the rain pouring outside. Or at least she thought he was. She could never tell where he was looking, except when his head was turned in that direction, because Nottuu had no color or pupils in his eyes.
“....”
“Or are you thinking of Link, who you believe will rescue you someday?” said Nottuu, his voice matching his blank face. It was empty of feeling just like his eyes.
“How did you—” began Zelda, but Nottuu answered before she could finish.
“You're not the only one who can read minds.”
“....” She did not know what to say.
“Do you really believe he will come back? He has been gone for so long that it is possible that he is dead.”
There was silence.
“You have a will like a flame, princess. I know this so—I’ve worked hard to control it. If you’re not careful, you can get burned, but if you learn to control it; it can be yours forever,” said Nottuu, slightly turning to look at her. She flinched. Even though she could not see him, she could always feel his eyes on her.
“Like I said before, I'll never be yours Nottuu,” she continued to stare at the door.
“If you keep this up princess, I'll have to punish you. I had hoped you had done well to remember the last time you acted out.”
Link and Malon slid quietly along a wall of a dark corridor to make sure they would see a guard before he would see them. Thunder rumbled outside the castle as the rain continued to fall.
“Link, where are we?” asked Malon as Link peeked over the corner to make sure no one was coming.
The truth was Link had no idea. He had never really been inside the Castle, only the courtyard and when Ganon had control over it. Still, Link was confident that he would be able to find the princess without being seen. On his travels, Link had been in many places just like this that were even more heavily guarded.
“Link?” said Malon, for he had not answered her. She never knew because that's when they ran into someone.
“Ouch!” shouted the voice of the person they had run into. When Link looked up he found that both he and the person had been knocked to the floor. He had been expecting it to be a Dark Elf, but ... it wasn't.
It was a Hylian that looked around the same age as Link. He had black hair that stuck out at odd angles, except for one strand that fell in his face. He did not wear a Dark Elf uniform either; he wore instead a dark blue tunic with a white undershirt whose sleeves only went down to his elbows. His loose, black pants hung over his black boots and his black leather gauntlets clung to his hands and forearms. His midnight-blue eyes were very shocked to find Link there. Link found the Hylian was not alone, either.
A younger girl that looked a year younger than he was was with the Hylian. She had long, silver hair that went down to her waist, and emerald-green eyes that were staring curiously at Link. She, too, did not appear to be a Dark Elf; a gray dress that went down to her knees with slits on the sides, the top of the dress had no sleeves—just straps. The gray dress came with a black belt around her waist, and she had black boots that went up to her knees.
Both Link and the Hylian bolted up. Link took out his sword and the Hylian brought out two katanas.
“What's the matter? Not calling your friends to come help you?” said the Hylian, waiting for Link to attack. Link, however, did nothing. He did not think this man was with the Dark Elves.
“What? We're not with the Dark Elves,” said Malon, peeking out from behind Link.
“What?” said the Hylian, just as confused as her.
They didn't get to finish their conversation, because they heard someone coming from down the corridor. Both Link and the Hylian ran down the opposite end of the corridor with the silver-haired girl and Malon trailing after them. Once they had lost who ever might have been there, the Hylian said,
“So if you're not with the Dark Elves, then what are you doing here?”
Malon answered, “We're here to save the princess. What are you doing here?”
“We're with the Rebellion—” began the Hylian, but Link interrupted,
“The Rebellion?”
“You don't know what the Rebellion is?” asked the Hylian, raising an eyebrow at him. Link shook his head.
“Well, when the Dark Elves first took over Hyrule, some of the people managed to escape them. Those people came together and formed the Rebellion against the Dark Elf Empire,” explained the Hylian as more thunder shook the Castle.
“Okay, so you're with the Rebellion, but that doesn't explain what you're doing here.” Malon pointed out.
“Oh yeah, well, we're here to assassinate Nottuu,” replied the Hylian.
“Since we're both here and against the Dark Elves, maybe we can help each other,” said Link.
“That's right,” began Malon. “You could help us find the princess and then we'll help you kill Nottuu.”
Link was very surprised to hear Malon say that. He could definitely tell she was becoming more rebellious.
“It's a deal,” said the Hylian, offering his hand to them. Link shook it and so did Malon.
“First,” began Malon. “We need to know your names.”
“Oh, well my name is Khaz, and this is my sister Leita,” said Khaz, gesturing to the silver-haired girl who smiled at them.
“I'm Malon, and this is my friend Link,” said Malon as she pointed to Link, who nodded in greeting.
“So do you know your way through the Castle?” asked Malon. Khaz smiled and replied,
“As a matter a fact I do. Some spies of the Rebellion were able to snag a map of Hyrule Castle, and I happened to have memorized it.”
“Do you know were the princess is?” asked Link, for all he could think about was Zelda.
“You bet,” Khaz replied.
Again there was silence between Nottuu and Zelda, but it did not last long, for there was a loud bang as the door flew open. Zelda sat up to see who had entered; she felt her heart skip a beat. It was Link.
“Zelda,” said Link as he stared at her. Tears began to shine in her eyes. She tried to say his name, but she couldn't speak. He had finally come back ... to save her.
Zelda stood up and was about to walk over to Link to have him hold her in his arms, but she felt Nottuu's cold hand close around her wrist. Zelda turned to look at him, but before she could say a word, Nottuu brought his hand up and hit her hard across the face. Zelda fell to the floor.
Link gasped as he saw Nottuu hit her. Hot anger shot up inside him. He clenched his fists as he felt power surge inside of him and the back of his hand burn as he tapped into his Triforce. Malon was very startled; she could feel Link's power and she saw the gauntlet on his hand glowed with the shape of a triangle.
“Link—” but she couldn't finish her sentence. She backed away from Link, for his eyes had turned completely bright-green. This was a Link she did not know, the Link that had saved Hyrule, the Link that held the power of the Triforce of Courage.
“You must be the Hero of Time,” said Nottuu, his face always blank.
Link's eyes returned to normal as he gazed upon this man that he was expecting to be a Dark Elf, but appeared to have pale skin, standing seven feet tall. Link's power remained a constant flow inside of his body. Link said nothing to this man. He drew his sword and shield; prepared to fight for Zelda, even if he died trying. Nottuu did nothing.
Link charged forward, hitting Nottuu in the face with his shield. Nottuu hadn't been expecting Link to be so strong. He didn't think it would have affected him as much as it did. Nottuu went flying into a wall, which crumbled slightly when he hit it. Link, believing Nottuu to be dead, put away his sword and shield and kneeled down next to Zelda. Link felt his heart ache as he stroked her beautiful face while he held her in his arms. Her face remained beautiful even though there was a bloody mark on the side of her head. Link was about to pick her up when Khaz shouted,
“Link, watch out!”
Link looked up right as Nottuu hit him in the face. Link went flying across the room just like Nottuu had and hit the wall, but it didn't stop there. Malon screamed as Link slammed into the wall, braking through it and hit the wall of the corridor outside the room, which slightly crumbled. Link gasped as pain shot through him. Link realized that this man was very powerful, even more than Ganon. Link stood up and took out his sword and shield. This time, he wouldn't take Nottuu so lightly, for he as well had much more power than when he had fought Ganon.
“Oh my Gods! Link … you're all right!” said Malon with disbelief in her blue eyes.
She surely thought he had died when he had hit the wall. Khaz could say nothing, for he was in shock. Link ran through the opening towards Nottuu, but this time rolled off to the side and brought up his sword. When Nottuu went to dodge it Link appeared behind him, instead. Link smashed Nottuu in the back of his head, which sent him flying across the room again, but this time Link hit him a lot harder and Nottuu smashed through the wall. Link didn't stop to think. He ran over to Zelda and picked her up.
“We're going to have to escape!” Link shouted to his friends across the room.
“I have an idea. Follow me,” said Leita, Link noted this was the first he had ever heard her say anything, but they followed her to the balcony.
“Jump,” she said to the group.
“Are you crazy?” shouted Malon, looking down from the balcony where the ground was very far down.
“I know a useful spell. Don't worry—you won't get hurt,” replied Leita. Link didn't let Malon complain. He grabbed her wrist as he held Zelda with his other arm and jumped. Malon screamed as they pelted toward the ground. Link held Zelda tightly in his arms, not wanting her to fall from him. Just before they hit the ground they slowed to a stop and touched down softly. Leita and Khaz came shortly after them.
“I didn't know you use magic,” said Link, looking curiously at Leita, who just smiled in reply.
The four of them ran through the field, which was still being poured on by rain. They made it back up the hole and through the Market. They only stopped when they reached the gate. Khaz whistled and a black stallion with a white mane came thumping toward him. Link brought out his ocarina and with one hand played Epona's Song. She came thumping toward him. Khaz looked at Epona and said to Link,
“Nice horse.”
“Yours is nice too,” replied Link, smiling as he mounted and held Zelda on his lap.
“Okay, it's really not the time to admire horses!” said Malon, reminding them that they needed to go as she got on after Link.
“Right! Okay, follow me,” said Khaz. He darted forward as his sister held on to him.
“Where are we going?” asked Link charging after him.
“To Gerudo Valley, that's were the Rebellion is,” replied Khaz. Link smiled, as he knew Nabooru would have never joined the Dark Elves.