Chapter 10: Cemetery

ZELDA VAN HYLIA
88 P.C.E. - 103 P.C.E.
'Radiant princess... forever loved, forever to be missed.'

Link stared at the gravestone, totally silent. He had not spoken a word since leaving the lake, leaving Navi to fuss over him. The boy remembered back to when he had met the new Sheik.

He said he was all that remained of Princess Zelda's power...

Link had made it to the cemetery without much hassle, but as he made his way past several graves, a single gravestone caught his eye. It was now that he realized the meaning behind Sheik's words... realized that Princess Zelda was dead. A sudden chill came over him, not unlike those he experienced when inside the Royal Family Crypt, and he shivered violently.

Why so much death? Why all this despair?

A tingling sensation came to his fingers. Lowering his gaze, the boy opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. His mouth felt dry, and his eyes began to burn from all the withheld tears.

"Don't speak..." Navi suddenly advised, noticing his distress. "Conserve your strength."

His struggle with tears in vain, the blond silently wept.

What is it all for? Why should I even continue?

His legs suddenly feeling like jelly, Link sat down on the ground, putting his head between his knees. Vision beginning to blur, he could barely make out Navi's voice calling to him.

"Link!" she called out. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Despite how he was feeling, he glanced up, forced a weak smile and nodded slowly.

It's just a little bit of dizziness. It will pass.

Lowering his gaze again, Link closed his eyes and lifted a hand to his head.

Why am I in so much pain?

Eyes opening once again, he stared at the ground, vision still no better than before.

Will this pain be eternal?

Suddenly feeling rather heavy, Link let his eyes close once more, barely able to hear Navi's soft words of comfort.

"Link..." she murmured. "You will be okay. I believe in you... I know how strong you really are."

Another weak smile came to his lips, and he choked out a dark chuckle.

Strong? I'm anything but... I feel so weak...

His drowziness increased, the chill that came over him intensifying.

Is this... how death feels?

Those were his last thoughts as he suddenly slumped to the side, drifting into unconsciousness, even as Navi screamed out for him in shock.


Eyes opening, Link found himself afloat in a void of some kind, and while he could see himself perfectly fine, everything else was pitch black.

"Where...?" he choked out. "Where am I? What is this place?"

His voice seeming to echo, the boy received no answer. Floating in place, he wrapped his arms around himself and curled up, closing his eyes once more.

"This must be..." he continued, voice echoing despite how soft he was speaking. "...what lies after death. Eternal nothingness... perpetual loneliness..."

Are you really that lonely?

Link's eyes snapped open, and he immediately glanced around.

"Who's there?!" he demanded. "Show yourself!"

I don't think that's really necessary. We know each other so well, kicsi farkas...

The boy's eyes scanned around to find the source of the voice, but it seemed to emanate from all around him.

"Please..." he begged. "I don't want... I don't want to be alone."

The disembodied voice seemed to chuckle at that, although it wasn't a pleasant sound.

You don't want to be alone, eh? I suppose I can humour you...

A boy suddenly appeared before Link, causing him to gasp.

"But that's..." Link choked out. "...impossible!"

Link was staring back at himself, as if looking into a mirror. The second Link chuckled again and shook his head.

Nothing is impossible, my kicsi farkas... although, you should seem less surprised to see me. I've been there all the time, voicing your doubts, challenging you every step of the way.

Link lowered his gaze. It was somewhat disconcerting to see himself, to hear the words being spoken, but to not see the other actually speak.

"I guess that means... I lost?" he murmured. "Why else would I be here?"

The other boy moved forward and reached a hand out, cupping it under Link's chin and lifting it, so the two were face-to-face. An unpleasant smile was on the doppelgänger's face.

Why else, indeed? In fact, you haven't totally lost the fight, as much as I would have liked you to. No... instead, you are questioning your own capabilities, and your own strength. The power of courage that lies within you has weakened, and has drawn you within yourself, in a feeble attempt to restore empowerment.

Link narrowed his eyes at his double, glaring daggers at him.

"What?!" he hissed out, hands balling into fists. "But, if you are me, shouldn't you be trying to comfort me?"

Another snicker came from his doppelgänger, bringing even more anger to Link.

Poor farkas... you'll never get anywhere, expecting everything to be handed to you on a silver platter. Nothing is ever so easy in life. You have to work for it. If you can't handle what has already gone on, then maybe, you should succumb to your despair, and stay here for eternity.

Watching as his double licked his lips at what he obviously saw a very appetising idea, Link snarled and thrust himself forward, grabbing the other's tunic in his fists, bringing him closer. A look of pure rage was etched onto his face, but all it did was amuse the other.

That's it... let it all out. Hurt me. Bring me pain. I welcome it. The question is, can you live with the consequences? Heheh...

Anger increasing, Link suddenly lashed out at the other, sending a fist flying into the other boy's face. The doppelgänger actually smiled as the fist connected, staring back into the hero's eyes, who in return, scowled.

"Shut up..." he growled. "Just... shut up!"

Another dark chuckle was given by the other boy, who smirked back at him, seemingly no mark evident on him at all.

Was that good for you, kicsi farkas? Did it delight you to inflict injury on me? You can do so for as long as you like.

Breathing heavily, Link frowned and released his double, staring downward. The other Link simply chuckled.

Don't feel so ashamed. This is, after all, a way to bring empowerment back to you. I would say it has worked. I can already feel the power of courage. I can even hear that fairy's irritating voice now.

Gaze snapping back up, Link suddenly heard Navi's voice calling out to him in desperation.

"Link!" the voice echoed. "Link, wake up! Can you hear me? Please, wake up!"

Staring at the doppelgänger, Link suddenly gasped as it began to fade, a grin on its face.

Stay strong, my kicsi farkas. When we meet again, I want our fight to be truly breathtaking.

The other boy's eyes twinkled in amusement, flashing red briefly, before he vanished completely. His surroundings darkening, Link found himself swallowed up by it.

"Please!" Navi's voice echoed. "Wake up, Link!"

Link's eyes snapped open once again, finding himself back in the graveyard. Rain was pouring from the sky. Blinking, he glanced to the side, noticing Princess Zelda's gravestone, before glancing back up at Navi, who breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, Link!" she whimpered, her entire tiny form shaking. "I was afraid you wouldn't wake up."

Ignoring the rain, Link gave a slightly sheepish smile to his fairy companion.

"How long?" he murmured, mouth no longer dry. "How long was I out?"

The fairy sniffled, before softly answering.

"About 10 minutes..." she said. "But it felt like longer."

Glancing up at the sky, raindrops splashing onto his face, his smile faded, becoming somewhat pensive.

Yeah... it felt like an eternity...

Glancing back to Navi, Link nodded to her, indicating it was time for them to leave. Playing the Nocturne of the Darkness, he felt himself being wrapped in the magical energy. Casting one final look back at the princess' grave, he made a silent promise.

I won't let you down... I will avenge everyone... and stop Ganondorf forever. You have my word as a Knight of Hylia.



End of Chapter 10.