A/N -
This takes place in the Breath of the Wild Era.
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Dark's PoV -

     From my hiding place amongst the rock walls of a small cave. I notice the sun setting. Double checking that I brought my black royal guard sword I exit my hiding place. I scope the area to make sure no one is near. I avoid people as much as I can. Once as a child I wondered into a small town. The citizens seemed to be terrified of me. Women gathered their children, some no older than myself, hiding them behind them as they ran to seek shelter. A few men approached me with swords and pitchforks. They called me a 'monster' and tried to slice me with their weapons. I quickly ran off. Some men pursued me but luckily I was very good at hiding and I managed to loose them. Since then I have never ventured into a town but I have unfortunately meet some more scary people. Travelers, adventure seekers, and treasure hunters tend to roam the abandoned places I call home. Multiple times I have been attacked. They call me 'monster' just as the villagers called me years before. These evil men chase me with swords and spears. They want me dead. Apparently 'monster' organs are worth money and I'm considered a rare monster. Essentially I'm being hunted for sport. Ever since one of these encounters I carry a sword with me so I am able to fight back if needed.

     The sun has fully set now and the moon is nearly full. I enjoy the dull white light of the moon. It always seems to bring me peace. I find a stream with a few fish trying to swim against the current. I take the opportunity to catch a few. Enough to make enough meals to last me a few days. I settle down by the stream and I lay on my back to gaze at the night sky. I must have fallen asleep. I wake to strange voices piercing the tranquil natural sounds of night. I slowly creep forward, my curiosity getting the best of me. "The king must have finally lost his mind, the shadow hero is a myth," states the voice of what sounds to be a young man.

     "I'm not so sure, throughout history legends tell of the dark hero, a supposed evil counterpart of the chosen hero," a young lady's voice states, "history can't be wrong, can it?"

     The young man chuckles in reply, "Regardless, I'm willing to hunt down this demon if it means a 1000 rupy reward," the voices keep getting closer to me. Not far away I see an orange glow of a lantern with two figures huddled together as they walk through the woods. A brown horse follows behind them. I need to get some distance between us. I try to crawl backwards out of the brush I'm hiding in but a stick breaks making a loud crunch. "What was that?!" the lady asks.

     "It was probably just some animal," the man responds.

     My heart is racing. They heard me. I try to slowly inch my way out of the tangles but I only manage to get myself further into the thorns. "No, it's eyes are glowing red!" the woman points out.

     No, no, no... I pry at the brush. Thorns scratching me mercilessly but I don't care. I manage to escape from the thicket. An arrow flys past my head. That was close. I cover my head and run. Trying to keep under the cover of the trees. Pain shoots up my left leg. I look down to find an arrow sticking out of my thigh. I colapse in pain and try to remove the weapon. Two sets of heavy footsteps approach me. Suddenly my head is forced onto the ground by a strong hand. "Don't even think about trying to escape, monster," the man growls at me and I can't help but to feel hurt by that word.

     As if on instinct I growl back. My growl muffled by the dirt my face is being held against.

     "It is the evil hero, we are going to be rich!" the woman cheers.

     The man ties my arms and legs with a strong rope. I'm then forced to lay on my back, my arms painfully held behind me. The man lifts a gleaming traveler's sword high and thrusts it into my chest. Suffocating pain overwhelms me. I cry out for help but no one wants to help a 'monster'. "Look at all the blood it's loosing, that's such a waste, some people say its blood has the power to make one popular," the women groans as she try's to bottle the blood oozing from my chest.

     My vision starts to fade. The last thing I see is the sun starting to peak over the horizon.

I wake to the blinding light of the sun. My hands and legs are still tied and my chest still aches but I'm alive. I'm laying in the back of a cart. I can hear the voices of the lady and the man from at the front of the cart. I scan my surroundings. Busy streets filled with people. Plenty of houses both modest and luxurious. Shops. Dinners. Markets. Mostly I notice all the eyes that gaze upon me. Some look scared. Some look angry. Some fascinated. They all look at me as if I am something different from them. This must be castle town. I struggle at my bindings. To my relief one of the knots around my wrists gives way. I struggle a bit more till I am sure I have room to get my hand free. The cart slows. It comes to a stop. I hear the footsteps of the man and the woman approaching. The man roughly grabs the neck of my tunic and I'm half lifted and half dragged till I'm thrown on the stone street.

In front of me stands a tall plump man. He wears bright robes and a shiny crown. This must be the king. He looks down upon me with anger in his eyes. Beside him stands a young lady with blond hair and a blue and white dress. She looks startled at my appearance. Maybe that's the princess. Next to the young princess lady stands a young man that looks much like myself. Well he looks more normal but we have the same features. On his back hangs the iconic master sword. I can feel the power radiating from the blade. It makes my stomach churn. I was created from shadow and darkness and that blade is made to kill creatures like myself. The face of the hero wielding the blade wears a angry expression. He is my mirror image yet he despises me? The king clears his throat preparing a speech, everyone goes quiet, "Today is the long awaited day of the dark hero's capture. With his death evil shale no longer loom over the land of Hyrule and perhaps Calamity Ganon might think twice before messing with Hyrule," the king points a sword at me and nods to the hero.

The hero steps forward with the master sword in hand. Now is my time to act. I break my arms free of the ropes. I quickly undo the bindings on my legs. With some effort I stand. The arrow wound still causing me pain. I charge into the crowd and people run away screaming. "After him!" The king shouts.

Knights chase after me. I run like I have never ran before. Horse neighs echo from behind. I glance behind me to see the hero on a magnificent brown horse. I can't outrun a horse!

Once outside of castle town the other knights stop chasing me knowing that the hero will capture me. I make my way to a small creek hoping to hide under the bridge. It is the only chance I have. Rounding the outside corner of the castle town wall I jump into the creek and hide under the bridge. I hear hoof steps from overhead. I try to quiet my breathing. The hero dismounts his horse. His boot steps echo on the wooden planks of the bridge. I don't want to look. I have my eyes closed and I'm curled up under the bridge. I dare to open my eyes and I'm met with the face of the hero. The sharp blade of the master sword rests on my neck. The purity of the blade burning my grey skin. "I'll make it quick," the hero states.

Even as he threatens my life I can't help but to think that his voice is lovely. His voice is softer than mine and a bit higher but it suits my light counterpart. "Please, don't do this, hero!" I plead not knowing anything else I could do to save my life.

     I wish I had my sword. Then I might have a chance. "Why shouldn't I?" Link asks.

     "Why should you? How would you like to be called a monster or a demon? How would you like to be hunted like an animal? Do you want people to coward in fear at the sight of you or to look upon you in anger for no reason? Would you like stories told saying that you blood has the power to make someone popular or your eye worn as a necklace gives one clairvoyance?" I spit out.

     An odd look of compassion crosses the face of the once serious and angry hero. "Are you not evil?" Link asks.

     "I was created by evil himself but I don't think I act evil? Hero, do you think that I'm evil?" I ask not truly knowing the answer myself.

     Link removes his sword from my neck. Smoke raises from the burn it caused on my neck. Link places the sword back in its holder and gently brushes the painful burn on my neck. His touch feels cool and I lean into it. A triforce glows on his hand and I can feel the wound healing itself. "No, Dark, you're not evil."

I'm surprised to hear these words. "Are you still going to kill me?"

"No, I would be the one murdering and innocent soul if I did," Link smiles taking his hand from my now healed wound.

"The king expects you to take my head back," I state.

"I am going to take you back but I won't let anyone harm you," Link takes my hand and helps me out from under the bridge.

"They'll kill me if I go back there," I yank my hand away from the hero prepared to run if needed.

"Dark, I won't let them, you'll see," Link states and mounts his horse.

He reaches his hand out trying to get me to get on his horse too. He seems sincere and something about Link makes me trust him. I take his hand and I'm sitting in front of him. His strong arms wrap around me to reach the reigns. His body pressed against my back feels nice but I'm still scared. The gates of castle town come into view and my heart is racing.

     As we enter castle town everyone gazes upon us in confusion or anger. Link brings his horse in front of the king and the princess. He dismounts and holds out a hand to help me. Anxiously I take his hand. "Link, why have you not brought back this demon's head?" the king asks.

     Link forms a protective stance around me, "He is no demon. If you would take the time to talk to him you could find that he is no different from you or me."

     "I feared that you would have second thoughts on beheading your shadow," the king states motioning for another high ranking royal knight to approach.

     Link unsheathes the master sword still standing protectively in front of me. The royal knight approaches, "Step aside, Link."

     "No, Dark is under my protection, I won't let you harm him," the hero stands his ground.

     I cower behind Link. From my position I can hear mumbling coming from the crowd of onlookers. "Father, I trust Link, if he says Dark is innocent then I believe him," the princess in blue standing next to the king vouches for me.

     The crowd seems confused on who to believe. The royal guard tried to shove Link out of the way. He stands firmly in place still protecting me. The King scolds the princess. "This is taking to long, just make sure I have the demon's head," the king states before turning to enter the castle.

     He tried to get the princess to follow but she refuses and stands next to Link in a protective stance around me. "Link you know better than to protect a monster are you really willing to tarnish your reputation for this," the royal guard states, still trying to get Link away from me.

     Now more guards come over to help the royal guard trying to take my life. "Yes, I'm willing to do anything to protect an innocent and as a knight you should too," Link growls.

     More mumbling comes from the crowd of people watching. Now a whole army of knights stand wanting my head while Link and the princess are the only ones protecting me. A guard tries to get the princess away from me calling me evil or unpure in the process. The princess yanks her hand away from the guard. A rather gruff and impaciente guard pushes Link out of the way causing him to stumble and fall. Seeing the opportunity the guard pushes me to my knees and places the sword on my neck and raises it preparing to end my life. Suddenly, a mob of bystanders huddle around me. A young boy helps me to my feet. I losses track of Link and the princess in all the commotion. The bystander only seem mildly scared of me but they trust the hylian champion and their princesses and want to help them. The same young boy leads me away from the mob undetected by the soldiers. We sneak over to a small house in the middle of castle town. "This is the hero's house, he will keep you safe," the young boy states and leaves to go back to the crowd.

     I enter the house surprised to find the door unlocked. I hide under the bed hoping that the soldiers would not find me here. Hours pass and I hear the door open. I can hear two voices. "You're quite popular with the citizens," that voice sounds like the Princess'.

     "Thank Hylia, we couldn't have held off all those guards by ourselves," I easily recognized the beautiful voice of the hero.

     Feeling safe I exit my hiding place and quietly walk over to them. "Thank you for protecting me," I smile genuinely.

     The princess seemed surprised to see me here but Link didn't. I wonder if he asked the young boy to take me to his home. "I'm glad you're safe," Link takes a step towards me, "how are your wounds?"

     "Painful but I'm okay," I reply loving how much Link was concerned about me.

     "Let me help," the princess states.

     She make a hand movement and I'm engulfed in a soft yellow light. A triforce glows on the princess' hand. My wounds begin to magically heal. Then once the pain is completely gone the light dissipates. "Thank you," I state.

     "It's late, I'll leave you two, besides I probably should go face my father," the princess states before exiting Link's house.

      "You'll be safe here, you'll see," Link smiles, "the townspeople already like you."

     Something about the hero just makes me trust him. Maybe it's the sincerity of his voice or the honesty that seems to gleam in his blue eyes. "I trust you, Link, thank you!"

     Months have passed since that day. The king still despises me and now Link but everyone else seems to really care about me. I help the people of the town. I help the guards, who Link convinced to give me a chance, chase away bokoblins or momblins that come too close to town. I help the elderly women who works at the local bakery make breads. Young children ask me for sword lessons so I teach them the basics. Link and I spend much time together. Usually we spend our time with the princess mostly researching ancient technology. It feels nice to no longer be called a monster or a demon. Now no one cowers in fear at the sight of me and I'm no longer hunted.