Part 12: Starman Super
Upon reaching Kakariko Village, Link was unrecognized by many of the villagers. Nevertheless, the people seemed to not have changed much. The Windmill Man still complained about that day, seven years ago. Anju was still allergic to her Cuccos. The only place that remembered Link was the House of Skulltula, whose appreciation to Link could seemingly never be repaid. As Link walked into that door, he was greeted by the man in the center. “We have been waiting for you,” he said. The man proceeded to hand over all of Link’s equipment. “You have a duty to fulfill. Go toward it and do not falter.”
Link and Rauru began planning their strategy. “This will be your most difficult challenge yet. Unfortunately, there is no option. To fight is what you must do,” said Rauru.
“I am aware of that. The Dark Heart will not live to see the sunset,” said Link.
Their planning continued without cease. Link knew what he had to do. But looking his evil doppelganger in the eyes on the field of battle would be no small task. Before the true battle had begun to even take place, Link felt a clash of fear and bravery going on within him. There was no choice but to fight.
As the morning drew near, Link mentally readied himself for what would be next. “Are you sure you are ready? We can stay here another night and strategize more,” begged Rauru.
“No. We have no option. We must,” said Link, his internal war still raging. The duo, refusing to back down, traveled over to Hyrule Castle. Strangely, there were no guards surrounding the entrance. Slightly puzzled, the two nevertheless continued on into the castle itself.
As they walked the halls of Hyrule Castle, they soon realized that there were no guards at all. “How strange…” said Rauru, very puzzled at this oddity.
“No matter,” said Link. “We must continue forth.”
“My, Link, you have matured much over the course of one night,” said Rauru.
“Well… deciding to fight one’s true enemy tends to do that to a person. Truth be told… I’m still actually quite scared.”
“Scared? The Legendary Hero of Time, scared?” joked Rauru.
“I think it’s best you be quiet, Rauru. You’ve been locked up in the Sacred Realm for as long as you can remember, there wasn’t much for you to be afraid of, other than Ganondorf. Who are you to ridicule me?”
“Relax, Link, I merely jest. A little riled up, aren’t we?”
“…This is no time for joking, Rauru.”
“Okay, you’ve made your point, let’s keep going.”
“Glad you see it my way.”
The two continued on, and on, and seemingly forever. Would Hyrule Castle’s once majestic and pure halls ever end? They continued on, solving many puzzles that required Link’s power, wisdom and courage. “Even with some of it lost, and me possessing only a third of it,” said Link, “the Triforce still dwells within me.” Knowing that, Link’s morale was boosted, and gave him even more courage to move on.
As they turned yet another hallway, Link spotted what he thought was a guard possessed by the aura of the Dark Heart. “Is that… an Iron Knuckle?” questioned Rauru. The creature raised both its shield and axe, and entered a stance of battle.
“Yes, I believe it is.” Link, with his courage, faced a difficult challenge directly in front of him. But this challenge paled in comparison to what he would inevitably have to do in a short time. Link jumped forward to start the battle, as Rauru watched from a safe distance. The Iron Knuckle brought his axe down hard. Luckily, Link was faster than it, and rolled around to his backside to slash at his weak spot. After several slashes, the Iron Knuckle still seemed to be unfazed. Link used every single one of his advanced sword techniques he had mastered over the years, and finally, the Iron Knuckle was knocked onto his back. Link jumped up, and sheathed the Blade of Light into the enemy’s abdomen. It was destroyed, and the body vanished in a puff of black smoke. All that was left behind was a key that Link picked up and used to open the door that the Iron Knuckle was guarding. Link, feeling accomplished after defeating such a tough enemy, looked over at Rauru and said, “Well? Are you coming?” Rauru, speechless as Link’s impressive victory, came over to Link without a word as he opened the door. All that lay between Link and his final battle was a hallway and a door; the very door that led to Zelda’s throne room, where Dark Link was and where Zelda was being held captive. Link, without regret, walked through to his final battle.
As soon as he walked through that door, Link was locked inside. “No surprise,” Link thought to himself. He looked around, and while he wasn’t looking, a bolt of dark energy was fired at Rauru, causing him to enter an unconscious state and unable to help in the slightest. Link looked over at Rauru, and then noticed where the energy came from: Dark Link. He was seated in Zelda’s throne, as the self-proclaimed new leader of Hyrule. “What have you done to Zelda?!” demanded Link, furious.
Dark Link laughed. “Oh, calm down, she’s over there,” he said as he gestured over toward a corner, at which point Zelda floated down, encased in a solid, crystallized form of the dark energy shot at Rauru. “Happy?”
“…happy? Happy? HAPPY?!” yelled Link, overcome with rage. He lunged at Dark Link, at which point he knocked Link back with a force field. Link fell to the ground, in pain.
“I don’t understand why they call you the Hero of Time. You’re as weak as any average person. Pitiful. Has Hyrule really lost so much status to a point at which they recruit a 17 year old in a green blanket as the Hero of Time?”
“I… I’ll prove it to you, in a fair fight.”
“Oh, really? You think so? Well, I was getting bored anyways, so I guess I’ll humor you a little.” Dark Link chuckled as he transported himself, Link, and Zelda all to Hyrule Field. The darkened Master Sword floated down into Dark Link’s hands. “Now, prove it to me!”
Link stared his evil side in the face, just as he had imagined. They lunged at each other, swinging swords lethal to an average human being, but neither of them landing a blow on each other. The only sound was of clashing metal. It was like battling yourself, exactly. “How can I do this? He mirrors my every move,” thought Link. Then he remembered.
Rauru. Darunia. Princess Ruto. Impa. Saria. Nabooru. Malon. Zelda. Everyone who had helped him on his adventure.
Link felt an extreme surge of power coursing through him. He clashed swords with Dark Link at the hilt of the blade. Dark Link, not understanding this sudden power boost, was dumbfounded. He was knocked off balance, and left him open to attack. Link didn’t hesitate for a single second. He slashed away at Dark Link, with every blow at full force. Dark Link was knocked down, but was somehow able to stand up. Knowing he was not nearly as wary as before, Link relentlessly attacked away at Dark Link. He lost his balance yet again, and Link attacked him incessantly. Finally, Dark Link was backed into a corner, and was knocked onto the ground. Link didn’t stop for a second. He jumped up and sheathed the sword into Dark Link’s torso. The battle was finally over.
