::: the-mirrored-hero :::
It seemed that someone very powerful had a sense of humor. As the room finally settled, Link took his stance, raising the shield in his right hand slightly. Water rippled at his feet, twinkling in the eerie light.
Link faced this mirrored guardian, confusion and disappointment furrowing his brow when it spoke his name. The anticipation from earlier returning to battle the courage he’d managed to gather with each step before entering this room. Looking into those red eyes as he announced himself as Link’s trial sent a shiver down his spine.
The mirror knew him. Called him Hero-Boy. He felt a sense of familiarity in the back of his mind. This wasn’t their first battle together. With this realization, a quick gasp parted his lips. His first clue into his previous life and he had to defeat it.
Subconsciously copying the mirror, Link twisted his left wrist, bringing his sword back to face his opponent. He took a slow shaky breath, a humorless smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he prepared to attack the very thing he feared he’d become if he continued on this path and failed to regain his memories and become the hero everyone claimed him to be.
Without wasting another moment, Link dashed forward, his attacked fueled by determination and courage. He will not fail again.
That shimmer of confidence flashed in both their eyes, that smirk that crossed their expressions as they jumped into battle, even their blades were mirrored as they crashed against one another, sparks flying in unison.
Dark Link took a mostly defensive tactic at first, with every blow he does land having enough force to knock the other back and give them some distance. The longer the battle goes, the more he learned how the other fought. Every Link had a different style, it seemed. Despite this Link being the same as the one from 100 years ago, it seemed time still made a few tweaks from when they last sparred.
He smiled. How refreshing.
Now, the tactic changed to the offensive. Instead of a black and parry, every swing that the Hero made matched with Dark Link’s. He mirrored each move as he had, before he had as well. Every slash and stab was met with a stab and slash, only with more aggressive power.
“C’mon, Hero-boy,” the mirror taunted as their blades crashed between them. “Keep this up, and you’ll keep Her waiting another 100 years! C’mon!”
Though the shade’s tone seemed as if he was having a jesting time, he knew exactly what was on the line: The Princess. For once in his long long life, he did not mind being a tool. He was used to strengthen and sharpen the blade that would slay the beast and save her.
He had to save her. He had to save her this time.
“Don’t fail her a second time! Conquer yourself!”