Shadows of Time

Ok, I'll try not to say too much in the first chapter, but as a warning, this chapter is darker than I usually write. The rest probably won't be quite this dark.

Chapter 1: The Shadow of the Hero

Link grit his teeth and held his left arm close against his body. He winced and tried not to cry out as pain shot through his arm.

Something shoved him hard from behind and Link tumbled forwards. He landed heavily on the stone floor, barely putting his good arm out in time to stop him from falling onto his injured left arm. For several moments, he remained on hand and knees, gasping for breath, eyes shut tight in pain. He was trembling. His hair caked with sweat. His green hero's tunic was tattered and shredded in places. There were several patches that were stained red with blood. His left arm was broken, fractured mid-way up the forearm.

Then Link slowly sat up and turned to face the man behind him.

Ganondorf stood over Link, smirking and triumphant. He was clearly amused at Link's state.

He's different this time, Link thought weakly. When I fought him least-when the seven sages and I sealed him away-he wasn't this strong. I… I lost. How could he be back? How can he be here after we sealed him away? How is he so different from last time?

It took Link's blurred mind a minute to realize that he was sitting in a cell. Ganondorf had dragged him to a dungeon. The whole way, Link had been on the verge of fainting from the pain. He didn't remember exactly where he was. In a sort of castle. Ganondorf's current base, no doubt.

Ganondorf was standing at the cell door, but he hadn't shut it yet. His hand was resting on the edge of the metal door, ready to close it when needed.

The room beyond the cell was walled with blocks of stone. Torches were set along the walls, casting flickering shadows through the iron bars of Link's cell. Behind Ganon, there was a large heavy wooden table. On it, all of Link's possessions had been dumped unceremoniously in a pile. His sword was there, along with his other weapons and treasures. There was the Ocarina of Time also. It had been just over seven years since Princess Zelda had sent him back in time to re-live the years he'd spent sealed in the sacred realm. She had given him the Ocarina of Time again. He'd been to Termina on his search for Navi, followed by six more years worth of adventures. It was only a few months ago where Link had caught up with time again. Just a few months since Ganondorf had been defeated in this time. But Ganon was back. And he was stronger. They'd fought. He'd crushed Link in battle, and then captured him.

Yes, his sword was there on the table, but it was hopeeless. Link would never be able to get past Ganondorf to reach it. And either way, even if he got his sword, it wouldn't do him any good. His left arm-his main arm-was broken. He wouldn't be able to fight.

"I gotta…" Link muttered, not even aware that he was speaking aloud. Even so, it was no more than a husky whisper. "I gotta… get… help…"

"Hm," Ganon snorted in amusement. "There's no one left to help you." He spirked and turned away. "Over the centuries, you and your descendants have defeated me over and over. But that wasn't all wasted time for me. In that time, I have watched and learned. Besides, no matter how often the heroes defeat me, as long as the Triforce of power is mine, I'll never truly vanish. And now that time is mine, I'll have nothing to fear from any of the Links or Zeldas! No one is left who can help you. Even those pesky sages have been dealt with."

Link could barely understand what Ganon was talking about. It didn't make any sense. Time? Other Links and Zeldas? Were there really others? Were they in danger too?

Ganon continued talking, unaware that Link's battered body was having trouble comprehending everything he was saying. "No one's to stop me from getting the Triforce at last! The one I need from you, where it's strongest, when you retrieved it seven years ago. And the princess too!"

Link dropped his gaze to the Triforce mark on the back of his left hand. He had to do something. He couldn't let Ganon take the Triforce from him. And he had to protect Zelda too! But what could he do?

One of the torches sputtered, making the shadows dance on the stone walls of the cell.

Then Link knew what must be done.

Ganondorf turned away to examine the things on the table. He lifted Link's sword and examined it.

"Hm," he muttered. "This blade is nowhere near as powerful as the Master Sword. I suppose that accursed blade is still sealed in the Temple of Time. That's fine. Let it rot there."

"Take it," Link whispered. "Take the Triforce."

Ganondorf thought that Link was talking to him. He smirked. "Have you finally given up? That was almost too easy. I'm disappointed in you." He set the plain sword back on the table.

Ganon didn't see the hazy dark hand reach from the flickering shadows. He didn't see Link reach towards in and clasp his left hand with the dark shape. Link ignored the pain in his broken arm. And the Triforce mark on the back of his hand blinked once, and then faded away.

The strange hazy hand sank out of sight just as Ganondorf turned back towards Link.

"Take the Triforce and the Ocarina of Time and find help," Link whispered.

Ganondorf sneered. "Who are you talking to? I've already told you, there's no one to help you."

Link slowly raised his head to stare defiantly into Ganondorf's face. Behind Ganon, Link caught a glimpse of that same dark hand as it reached out and took the Ocarina of Time from the table.

"You're wrong," Link said through clenched teeth. The corner of his mouth twitched up in a wry smile. "You've missed one Link."

Ganondorf sneered, he reached down and grabbed the front of Link's shirt. Link winced in pain and held his bad arm against his side as Ganondorf lifted him off of the ground and glared into his face.

"What are you talking about?" Ganon demanded.

Link only smirked back.

Then Ganondorf saw his own shadow flickering on the cell wall. And though he was holding Link, Link's shadow was not there.

Ganondorf dropped Link, who staggered against the wall. He turned around and saw that the ocarina was gone.

Ganondorf let out a roar of fury and turned on Link.

"Call it back!" he snarled. "If you value your life, call it back!"

Link glared up at Ganondorf. "There are some things more important than a person's life. You'll never win, Ganon. Never. There will always be someone to…"

He never finished. Ganondorf swung his fist around and slammed it into the side of Link's head. A faint sound escaped Link's mouth, and he sprawled to the ground where he lay motionless.

Ganondorf turned and slammed the cell door shut behind him. With one motion, he overturned the wooden table and sent it shattering to the floor. Ganon stormed out of the room, leaving the shadow-less Link alone in the cell.