The Heroes' Rebirth | BOTW Sequel/Zelink (The Legend of Zelda)

Chapter 11: Dark

Link shot up from the ground. He looked at the person some more. It was like looking into a mirror. The figure looked exactly like Link, except he was all black.

Dark.

"You're him?" The figure finally spoke. His voice was the same as Link's

Both Zelda and Link stood paralyzed.

The dark figure started to take a step forward. Instinctively, Link took one, too. They both walked up, legs in sync. Once Link was face to face, he could see even more details. The skin the figure had occasionally pulsed and moved ever so slowly around its body. The eyes were the same piercing black and yellow ones Link had shot at many times before. Small streaks of what appeared to be translucent black steam emanated of the body. Link's wheels turned as it finally clicked for him.

"Malice?" Link questioned the figure. His voice was coarse after his outburst.

It nodded.

The figure standing before Link was a complete copy of himself. But made of malice.

How could this be possible? It had to be the same malice as the one Kanto used on him: it was the only amount left in the kingdom. Is that why he hadn't died? Had Link given the great evil life again?

When the malice had taken over his body, he had literally felt his life leave him. It wasn't like before, when he had died in Zelda's arms. Back then, he felt his life still inside him, it had just all stopped. With the malice, he felt his life leave his body. He didn't understand then, but now, looking back, it felt as if his life was being transferred to someone else.

He continued to think about this thing in front of him. He stared into his electric yellow eyes. They looked lifeless. Like an empty void that never ended.

"Link!"

Out of instinct, Link jumped back at Zelda's cry. He backflipped and entered the state he went to when he had a flurry rush ready. He decided not to pull his sword out yet and just observe. The figure had tried to swing a sword down onto Link. It was a sword commonly used by the Yiga Blademasters.

Link landed relatively close to where Zelda stood: about 30 feet away from the dark figure.

It took a few steps forward, then slashed the air in front of him.

Dark Link
————————
Hero of Malice

He pointed the sword at the Link and Zelda.

"You two were supposed to be in there when I set it ablaze," Dark Link stated. "We thought another slow death would be fitting for the boy who cheated out of it twice."

"What is he talking about, Link?" Zelda questioned.

"That's the malice the Yiga tried to kill me with," he responded.

"What? How-"

Dark Link sprinted towards them. Without thought, Link took off to meet him. In sync, they clashed their swords together. On impact, the Master Sword shined its blue hue: the color it showed only when it was at full power. Or when it was in the presence of the Great Evil.

They both retracted and swung again. This time Link tried for his legs, but Dark's sword was already there. Dark pushed the sword upward, knocking Link back, and thrust his foot at Link. He dodged it just in time and steadied himself as Dark's back was towards him. Link saw his chance and swiped. In a flash, Dark's sword was there, blocking his back.

"I know everything," Dark Link growled.

Suddenly, the entire house buckled and collapsed. The fire consumed the wood and everything under it. Zelda placed her hands over her mouth as the flames danced around each other.