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Ruby eyes were staring out through the window into the extremely well fenced yard. It was late already, long after midnight but the man couldn’t sleep. Something had rattled him on that day and he wasn’t certain what it was. His mind desperately searched for answers. Answers, he wasn’t willing to uncover. Yet, those were answers he knew for certainty to surface tonight no matter how he’d fight against them.That was the reason Dark-Link closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. He wouldn’t be sleeping but it was easier to let it all come crashing down when he didn’t need to see anything. At least the orphanage was silent tonight. It was like they all knew they’d be in HUGE trouble if they did as much as sneezed now. He would really lose his temper and make them pay if his moment was broken.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The hazel eyed child followed his father into a garden of statues. His golden hair was shining in the sunny day. He looked around in amazement. He had seen glimpses of the area whenever they had walked past it but this was the first time he was brought into there. Into the vicinity of these creations.
“This is the Garden of the Deities.” The boy’s father started with awfully grave voice. “The Castle City has all of this in much grander scale but each city and town in Hyrule has one version of this area.” He continued firmly while letting his gaze go around the start of the area.
The man crouched down into his child’s level with very clear worry written in his eyes and whole demeanor. “Close your eyes, little one.” He requested as calmly as he could but it sounded more like a command than anything else. The boy frowned in rising worry but he did as his father asked him to. He could feel his father stand up and for first time he feared his father would just walk away from him.
“Follow your heart and let it lead you.” The spoken words confused the little kid but he felt grateful of having not been left alone. He had heard stories of parents abandoning their kids which was what caused his fear to surface. “You need a Guardian Deity and you can only choose such in this kind of sacred place. Let your heart follow the call of the Deity whom shall protect you.” The adult male told while trying to keep his voice encouraging instead of demanding.
The boy nodded before taking a deep breath and trying to calm down. He had heard bits and pieces about Guardian Deities but no-one had fully explained things to him. He would’ve loved to learn to know all of the Deities in the garden but clearly he needed to let only one of them choose him. It felt odd to him but he wanted to please his father so that he could be certain of never losing him.
Suddenly the child jerked as he felt a tug. He snapped his eyes open and looked around but no-one else than his father was there. “You felt it, right?” The father inquired and bit smiled as his son raised his gaze up. “Don’t be afraid. Follow it.” He coaxed and his boy nodded in understanding.
The little one closed his eyes again and calmed down again. His father wanted him to do this so it had to be right. He flinched slightly when he felt it again but this time he began to walk. The Deities had to be good, right? After all, they were GUARDIAN Deities. That had to matter and mean something to the people around Hyrule.
The boy gave into the feeling he needed to follow. He shivered a bit when he felt something round around his arm like a snake. The feeling started from his wrist and slowly moved upwards all the way to his shoulder. The tugging changed into a pull and he bit stumbled. The Deity really wanted him to speed up.
“At ease, boy.” The father called with clear worry within his voice. The child frowned as he felt like something was wrong. He flinched and stumbled as he felt something brush at his face.
“This isn’t your outlook.”
The boy snapped his eyes open at the odd claim. “Dad?” He called while looking up to his father. “I heard something say that this isn’t my outlook. What does that mean?” He queried with a confused frown.
The little one’s father stopped walking for a moment before he snapped into action and grabbed the back of his child’s tunic. “Do not listen to it.” He stated out firmly with poorly hidden fear in his almost frantic voice. He quickly looked around in worry of someone having put notion into them. After that he quickly crouched down and placed his hand against the boy’s face.
The boy gasped and recoiled backwards. “You told me to follow a Deity. Am I doing something wrong?” He asked worriedly.
The father bit down to his lower lip while clearly being contradicted of the situation. That only worried the child even more than before. Eventually the father stood up. “It was a bad idea to come to here.” He muttered fearfully.
“Dad?” The boy called with rising fear and worry.
“We need to leave. The one whom is trying to make a claim on your life is not a worthy Deity to accept as your Guardian Deity.” The father stated out
“”Live or die. Doesn’t make a difference. You’re still doomed.” Those were your mother’s words after you were born.”
“W-what…?” The child whispered while frowning. He raised his shocked and teary gaze up into his father. “D-dad…” He called and got the adult male to turn his notion into him. The father frowned in confusion at the expression his child was giving him. “W-what did mom mean… W-with her words… W-when I was born?”
“What do you mean? What words?” The father asked in full confusion while trying to hide his dread the whole situation was bringing up.
“The Deity that wants to be my Guardian Deity told that she… S-she…” The boy started before gulping few times. “L-live or die. D-doesn’t make a difference. Y-you’re still doomed.” He quoted with wavering voice.
The father stared at his boy in utter shock. He barely breathed before he shook his head roughly. He tried to ease out his fast and heavy breathing as his rough gaze returned into the child. “That Deity is a liar. You cannot listen to them.” He commanded as firmly as he could.
Suddenly, from the cloudless and sunny sky, a sharp and bright lightning struck with such rumble that one could’ve believed a bomb to have blown up nearby. Everyone screamed and began to run out of the place. The father reached towards his son but unseen wall stopped his attempts. The boy tried to move towards his father but something held him to his place.
“You are mine now. Your mother left you few days after your birth. Your father has been trying to hide your true outlook. You are a Dark Link.”
As the place emptied of people swiftly while the sunny sky was overrun by dangerously black clouds, the father slowly raised his gaze up. “Release him, Majora.” He commanded as firmly as he could as he glared hostilely at the being that had appeared out of nowhere.
The being laughed and it sounded like the rumble of the thunder. Several more lightnings flashed as the thing smirked. It had four tentacles of which one was wrapped around the child’s arm. The colors of red, blue and gold were shining brightly and giving the Demon ethereal outlook. “Back off, Twili.” The Demon snarled with wicked delight. The father of the boy the Demon had chosen jerked a step backwards.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-Dark-Link sighed as he opened his eyes to stare at the shadowed ceiling. He ran his hand through his silvery hair. He frowned slightly as he pulled his hand out of his locks and stared at the dark skin. He wasn’t certain anymore if he had always been dark skinned, red-eyed and silver haired or if that was Demon Majora’s, his Guardian Deity’s, work. After all, after that one day he had never been the same again. Yet, he had fallen unconscious soon after the tentacle armed Demon had denied his father from getting anywhere near him again.The Hylian male closed his eyes again while taking bit better position on the soft chair. He crossed his arms behind his head and left his childhood into its own value. There was nothing worth of keeping in the life he had had with his father.After all, his whole existence had been a lie from the very beginning. His mother wanted him dead. His father had used disguise magic to hide his true identity. He wasn’t certain anymore how much of his life had been just lies.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The life at the streets was never easy. That Dark-Link had learned swiftly. Yet, the Guardian Deity of his, Demon Majora, guided him and kept him safe enough and, most of all, alive. Survival was what his life was all about.
Dark-Link often thought back to that moment he had woken up in pure darkness with just Demon Majora sitting in front of him. He had wanted back home. He had tried to escape and leave but there was nowhere to go. The darkness scared him more than the being.
Yet, the Demon just sat there and watched. He simply waited for the right moment to start to talk. And the boy wasn’t certain if the spoken words were actual truth or lies as his father had claimed. And yet… Why would a Divine Being lie to those they considered as “lesser forms”? Especially to those they chose to be a Guardian Deity for?
“You are abandoned. Your life is in my hands now.”
The boy gulped and simply nodded. There was no way out of this situation. And he believed that once one Deity had claimed Guardianship over another being, there was no chance of changing the Guardian Deity at later time. So, all he had anymore was this Demon Majora. All he could do was to let the being guide and, as the word implied, guard him.
“Follow my words to the letter and you will live. I will make you strong. I will make you feared. I will lead you to your kind and into your sole purpose. Deny me or fight against me and I will make your life the worst kind of hell. The torture I know is unimaginable. But, follow me and these skills of mine will be yours.”
The given promises were intriguing and took the child along. At that day he took a new name of his own choice: Dark-Link. After all, that had been what Demon Majora had called him. Besides, it sounded cool. Plus it was something that could be shortened down into D-L which gave a perfect anonymity while coming up with any possible name which started with those two letters.
After the darkness had faded, D-L found himself from entirely different place than where he remembered having fallen unconscious. “New place, new name.” The words echoed in his head as he stood up and walked out of the alleyway. He had never left the small town he had lived his childhood in but now he certainly was in a city. “Easy to hide into.” He could admit that advise to hold truth as no-one seemed to put any notion into him.
D-L looked around in awe before the Demon Majora’s voice came back. Following each direction he navigated through the city. The area he ended into made him tremble in fear. He flinched at the rough words and comments about cowardice. He took a deep breath and forced himself to move forward and shake off the tremble.
The boy could feel the gazes in him even though he couldn’t find anyone as he looked around. Yet, as he walked deeper into the area where only bad guys lurked in, he could feel a presence with him. A presence that felt malicious but also warm and protective. With the feeling surrounding him, he took a better posture and left his fear behind.
Slowly, by his Guardian Deity’s guidance, he found his new life thrilling and fun. He spoke the words Demon Majora told him to say. He learned to fight by Demon Majora’s advices in a battles that could’ve claimed his life. He started off from pickpocketing while slowly moving into bigger league. He didn’t pay for food as he simply stole it. The money was for information and power.
The older he got, the more ruthless he became. The other criminals began to fear him. They barely even dared to say his name. The higher throne he got, the less he needed Demon Majora’s guidance. He could feel his Guardian Deity being proud of him.
Yet, the path of blood he was on wasn’t enough. Not for him nor for his Guardian Deity. This had been just a step on the road forward. To mold him into the person he needed to be. The next phase of his life started when he met with Cia.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-Dark-Link smirked as he thought about his wife. Her snow white hair, blood red eyes and dark colored clothes had caught his notion the moment he had first seen her. The woman commanded power and authority just by her appearance and walking. He was a leader and so was she. The Guardian Deity of his had been silent for so long as his aid hadn’t been needed but now back then he had spoken two simple lines:“Servant of Demon God Demise.” He could remember feeling Demon Majora’s smirk. “Perfect match.”-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
With the courage D-L had gained from his Guardian Deity, he approached Cia with full confidence and certainty of his actions and words. The white haired woman took one check on him and smirked. Right after that the game of wits was on.
Both of the red eyed Hylians tried to out-talk and out-think the other one. They put their best men and women to show off the heists, home invasions, kidnappings and murders. They did all they could to give the impression of their reign of evil being better and bigger than what the other one had.
The city was soon under terror as the two overlords of two different sections of the area were, in a way, in war. The fact of the police and Knights getting involved into the situation only made the game deadlier and far more fun for the two of them.
“Time to skip. Follow my directions to the letter.”
D-L smirked when he heard his Guardian Deity’s voice. He didn’t think twice as he ditched his followers and left the city. He laughed at the chaos he left behind him while knowing he would get out of it all unscathed. He already planned how he would restart it all in the next city but Demon Majora had fully different plans for him.
“Follow her.”
It was simple command and D-L took it as a game when he saw Cia. At first he thought to just do as told, to follow, but instead he walked boldly right to her and called out her name. The woman turned around bit startled but her smirk was soon on her lips as she let him come close.
Without the obligations and people to rule over, the two of them began to talk far more calmer and normal. The company they had from each other for the travel slowly grew to be something more. Neither had ever really cared for another being for any other reason than to benefit from them. And yet, now, there was something different.
Eventually they came to another huge city where they could just vanish into. At first they started to entertain the idea of doing as before. Taking over an area, gather loyal followers and start the chaos. Yet, before either of them could even begin to search for a place, the Guardian Deities already forced them to different paths.
D-L wasn’t fully understanding the situation or the commands but he had long ago learned not to question Demon Majora’s word. Lying and being convincing wasn’t hard for him as he searched for a job. Yet, the place he got it from was both a huge surprise as well as such entertainment he hadn’t even though to gain.
Dark-Link became a lawyer. His Guardian Deity once again took the lead and gave him the words to speak and the knowledge he needed. Before he even realized it, he had already set one murderer free of the charges.
Little by little, one person at a time, he began to gather a different kind of dynasty. It was well hidden and most loyal. The people he set free weren’t just in debt to him by money but by the fact that they could keep doing what they wished. Fooling the police and Knights became a hobby for him. All he needed was the full knowledge of his customer’s work and get someone to copy their work precisely. If there were mistakes, the ones at fault would definitely find their throats slit before the day would turn to evening. And this, obviously, was a perfect free card to his customers to get out of the jail they were facing. The cops and Knights were chasing ghosts after that.
Once he had gained some name, money and feeling like he had his life the right way, his Guardian Deity led his road once again. Dark-Link smirked as Demon Majora guided his feet right to Cia. And before he knew it, he had moved in with her into a mansion she had somehow managed to gain. He never asked as she didn’t ask questions from him. They both had their roads and for now it was intertwined between them. And, eventually, one thing led to another before they even understood the situation.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-The keeper of Dragon’s Hoard scowled as he opened his eyes and looked around the room. From the position he had had… How had he fallen as low as this? He understood how his life had gone after he had met with Cia. Part of him had waited for them to have combined their groups and rule over even bigger part of the city but… This?This had never even crossed his mind. This place. That brat. The whiny little bastards… All of this had never been part of his plan. And yet, it somehow fit into what his Guardian Deity had in mind. Demon Majora had a bigger plan and he wasn’t certain he anymore knew what that plan was. The ethereal being hadn’t spoken to him for years but he still felt the being’s presence in his life. It was more he could ask for but he still craved for something bigger. Something he felt like he had lost the older and better with his life he had become.“What is it that you want of me, Guardian?” was the question that kept going through Dark-Link’s mind every now and then. The inquiry remained unanswered but he knew Demon Majora would steer him to right path if he faltered from it. And yet, unlike before, he just couldn’t understand how this orphanage and the unwanted children were part of the grand plan.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The next couple of years went well for Dark-Link and Cia. They both gathered their followers in different ways but still aiding one another whenever needed. The money didn’t seem to be a problem as they both certainly had more than enough but before they knew it, that started to be the topic of their conversations more often than not.
It wasn’t about where to get it or how to use it. It was how to hide it and how to keep the knowledge of its movements unnoticed. They were gathering things they wished to keep away from the people of the city’s notion. They were “renovating” the house with hidden rooms and underground areas.
This all was something both of the Guardian Deities were demanding for. Yet, neither gave answers for the reason of such actions. And still, there was something intriguing with all that was being gathered and installed. Before either of the residents even realized it, they both were more than curios and willing to find someone they could use as test subject for all these creations.
“Children.” The Demon Majora’s voice was filled with contempt as that word snapped into Dark-Link’s mind. “The streets are filled with them. Abandoned brats that no-one cares about. Stupid little things that will do anything for a place to live in and bit of food to eat.”
The man didn’t straight off understand what his Guardian Deity was suggesting so he talked the given idea through with Cia. The woman straight off figured it out and within few months their mansion had been named as Dragon’s Hoard before the first kid was brought in by one of their followers. And, with a delighted smirk, they realized the city paid for the upholding of the kids. The more and the younger, the more there’d come money. Obviously, that money never went into the looking after of the children.
Few years later something unexpected happened: Cia was pregnant. At first they both were up for abortion as such didn’t belong to their simple plan. Yet, both Guardian Deities stopped such actions.
“As good is born from evil and evil is born from good, there are more ways than one for such to happen. Our goal will be step closer with this child.” Dark-Link felt his Guardian Deity reach towards his wife before he already flinched as the being gasped and recoiled. “Yes… Indeed… He will be needed.”
Demon Majora never gave further explanations considering the child so the duo decided to get the boy to follow in their footsteps. The pained gasp and the Guardian Deity recoiling backwards was something that never left Dark-Link’s mind. It was omen of bad but he never brought the situation up or questioned the ethereal being’s decisions. Yet, the fact the Guardian Deity couldn’t touch the child was worrisome.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-Dark-Link got up from the chair and moved to the window. He leaned fully against the windowsill and stared into the dark yard. He wished he could’ve talked with his Guardian Deity like back when he had been a child. Yet, the being had told it got hard to uphold the conversations for more than few simple lines now and then. Coming into sight like back when they met for the first and only time was even more exhausting. Yet, there was something Demon Majora had once promised to him:
“There will come a day when I walk on these lands again.”
That simple line was something he thrived for even though he didn’t know how he could make it happen. Part of him felt like this orphanage would be the answer but he still didn’t fully understand it. Cia kept reassuring him of just following her lead and things would work out. After all, her Guardian Deity was one step higher than his was. And, today, the plan had moved forward by one step. Even Demon Majora had gained some actual strength to have bit of a conversation with him…-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Dark-Link could feel the wicked pleasure within his Guardian Deity when the five new boys were brought in. Yet, he scowled when one of those brats was a baby. That small thing couldn’t have been older than few days. Yet, he shrugged it off and dumped the thing into his five year old son’s arms. After all, the younger, the better money.
“One of them…” The Guardian Deity hissed while looking at the boys with such malice Dark-Link had never before felt. “One of them… It will be a delight to hear him scream…” Demon Majora snarled while letting its golden gaze go from one newcomer to another.“Which one?” Dark-Link queried while being more than eager to please his Guardian Deity. He frowned in worry as the divine being growled in frustration.“I cannot find him. I know it is one of them.” The ethereal deity stated out before his next words came out with contempt: “Farore guards the children before they’re old enough for their own Guardian.”“Is that why you could pick me only when I was brought to the Garden of the Deities?” Dark-Link queried with slight frown.The Guardian Deity snorted. “I had chosen you the day you were born. I only had to wait until Farore let her protection down on you.”“I’m assuming that is the reason you cannot touch Born, right?” The man more of commented while still remembering the day his Guardian Deity had tried to make a claim in his child.“That is true. Farore protected him. And she is still by him.” Demon Majora growled while glancing at the five year old boy with the baby.Dark-Link nodded slightly in understanding. Soon he smirked as he knew four out of five could be fun guinea pigs for what he and his wife had in mind. “How about we start from the other ones. Just for the fun.” He flinched slightly when the deity snorted angrily.
“Wait a year on those five. Then you can have all five. Maybe Farore will give a sign and reveal the one to me.”
“May I ask—““My murderer is reborn as one of those bastards.” The words were snarled out with such rage and hatred that it got Dark-Link to flinch roughly. Yet, as the words sank in, he could feel his own hatred and anger rise too. He would make those five regret ever having touched his Guardian Deity. He would have LOT of fun making them suffer.“Death would be too much of a mercy.” Demon Majora answered into the question Dark-Link was only starting to form. “I WANT him to suffer.”“As you wish. Those five won’t be touched until next year. Before that they all will get the same treatment as the others do.” Dark-Link promised and he felt his Guardian Deity nod in acceptance. It would be long year while knowing one of those five was the reason his protector wasn’t within this Realm. He really wanted to already put them all through hell just to take revenge on what had been done to Demon Majora. But, promise was a promise and he wasn’t going to break that.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-Dark-Link raised his gaze up into the black clouds that more often than not surrounded the mansion’s area. It was bit odd that ever since he had moved into the house sun hadn’t really reached the grassy ground or the mansion. It felt like their Guardian Deities preferred the darkness and the haunted mansion feel it brought out. Nonetheless, he had come to enjoy of the eerie feeling it all brought out. At least it also kept unwanted people away from their lands.“Still awake, I see.” Cia suddenly spoke from the doorway.“So are you.” Dark-Link answered without turning to face her.“You’ve been even more brutal today than ever before.” The woman commented and smirked with clear pleasure as she came to lean her back against the window’s side. “I like that. Where does this new you come from?”“From my Guardian.” The man replied while tensing up and glaring at the scenery before him. “He told one of the five that were brought in today is his nemesis.”“Oooh! A perfect one to torture and put through the mad scientist hobby of ours.” She almost cooed delightedly.“Can’t.” Dark-Link sighed and bit slumped. “Not for a year, at least. One of them is too young for such. And my Guardian wants them to suffer as cruelly as possible.”Cia nodded slowly while scowling. “Understandable.” She muttered before already smirking. “But, at next year, by this time, we’ll have far more fun than ever before.” Dark-Link just nodded with a matching smirk.