Chapter 5- Tales of Misery

Engulfed by evil, I could feel nothing but darkness as my will slowly suffocated within it.

-Deep Blue: By Luna-Nayru

Somehow, I knew I wasn't sleeping. I was still there. Was it a dream? Or reality? I was still confused as rays peeked through my eyelids. My eyes hurt when they were opened, greeted by sunlight. Sunlight? I sat up quickly. Yes, it was light sure enough. As nice as it was to see, it hurt, alot. It reflected off of something from the ground. I stood to my feet and looked around. Towards one direction was the bright light, and the other, the eternal swamp of darkness I stood on the edge of. What had actually happened in there, I wondered. Reality or some other, I didn't know.

Instinctively, I walked to the light. I walked right into it and was immediately greeted by warmth. My bare feet dug into sand grains. My eyes hurt to the point now where I could not keep them open. I closed them and reopened them several times blinking with pain until they finally adjusted.

The desert. The vast, empty, desert of Hyrule. A place of such despair no one has ever crossed to the other side, and none from there to here. I walked a few more steps and heard the sound of cracking branches behind me. I looked to find the hole of vines I had just walked out from no longer existed. It was tightly woven closed with leaves and vegetations. Even though it no longer threatened me, I could not help but shudder at the sight of those decaying branches that seemed to laugh at me. I turned away from them, supposedly putting it in my past forever. I did not want to ever remember the events within that place. That place that felt darker and more evil than Ganondorf's heart. I took a few more steps and had the urge to turn back to the swamp. I looked again and my heart skipped a beat, my veins feeling odd. I turned away and ran from it until it's presence vanished over the horizon.

I was now surrounded by nothing but air and many dunes of sand. I knew nothing else to do, but walk. I trudged over the hills of golden stones so small, they seemed to form a sea of yellow. They blew around in the wind creating veils across the empty sky. The sun's heat beat down upon my dirty face causing droplets of sweat begin to form like dew along my brow. I would wipe them away with my tattered sleeve. My mind focused back on my empty stomach. It pained from going so long with no food. Even now the rotted bread crumbs in the slave encampment looked just as good as the tastiest morsel in the King's Castle. I quickly grew tired, and the sand burned on the soles of my feet, so I sat. Squinting from the light my legs outstretched, I looked in circles for signs of anything. I had no sense of direction, and hoped I was not walking in the opposite direction of Hyrule. As I looked I saw a small black speck across the horizon. Not large, but big enough to stick out from the rest. I stood and focused my eyes upon it. I started to walk towards it, but was distracted.

Sand stuck to my face and hands from the dirty sweat that now poured from me. The heat and light I had once welcomed, I now dreaded. I scraped the irritating sand from my fingernails. Underneath was a strange black color. I tried to scratch that off, but to no success. I rubbed the sand off of each of my nails to find the same black color. My nails were colored black. Once clear, they now seemed to pulse like a heart in each of my fingertips. I stared at them for awhile and a horrible shiver was sent up and down my spine. I clenched my hands into fists and began to walk toward the black dot yet again. This dot by now had began to take shape. Two lines grew forth from an area. Yes, they were trees. Closer I drew and realized the shining crystal to be a pond. Water! "O precious water!" I yelled aloud for nothing to hear. My dry tounge and mouth yelled at me to run. My legs did not want to, but my thirst won in the end. I ran and finally came to the crystal clear pond. I dove in immediately dousing myself in the wonderful feeling. The sand quickly washed off my body and I sucked in the blue beautiful water. Clouds of moist sand were kicked up by my feet.

I dragged myself back onto the sand, my clothes drenched. I crouched down looking into the water. Everything was blurry; sand floated around in the shallow puddle and ripples moved about like miniature waves. Soon, everything became clear. The sand came to rest on the bottom and the ripples' movement ceased. My reflection became apparent in the water and its shape more refined. Color became easier to recognize and I looked over my face. It was cleaner now, no more dirt smudged it. My hair was a mess, flat on my head from the water. My eyes. They blinked several times before accepting the sight of themselves. The irises, once a dark green, were now ebon. Atramentous like the air in the swamp. Black like the dark aura surrounded the creature that had enveloped me. Onyx like the evil that had flowed within my veins. Sooty like the pulsating fingernails that plagued my fingertips. That evil, the horrible things I had encountered in the swamp were real. They were very real. So real, they lived within me. I was not the same person I had once knew, it was apparent just by my expression. Tired, worn out, it looked as though it was the face of a sick man ready to die. The eyes were most distinct though, an evil thing they were.

I pulled up my wet sleeve to look at the cut I had made in the swamp. It was showing signs of healing but was not the pinkish color of a usual wound. Black bruises surrounded it and within it, black fluids.

I ran to the nearest of the two spiny trees and pierced the back of my hand with one of its many thorns. A small hole appeared and for awhile nothing happened. Slowly a night colored blood oozed forth. My blood was the same black as evil. The most corrupt evil now flowed through my veins. Anger again bubbled up inside of me. I exploded letting my rage fly forth. I screamed to the heavens whatever I could, to whomever I could. My own foul breath filled the presence around me. My fanged teeth tore at my clothes, and I wept. I wept at what I had become. I was so confused and was all alone. No one was around, just myself and this darkness. Would no one help me? I took my fist and pounded the sand watching my black tears stain their golden color. I dropped to the ground and just lay still, sulking and wet. I wrapped my own arms around me and shivered. Not a shiver of cold temperature, but a shiver of fear. I stared off into the horizon and watched the sun set, and stars appear. Heat changed to a glacial feeling, my breath visible. My eyes were weary, my stomach empty, my clothes wet, and face blue. I tried to sleep, but was burdened by the chill of the air and dark thoughts in my mind. I would lose consciousness for a few moments then awake with a startling shout. I remember hearing footsteps, some voices, and then a blanket of warmth came to ease my pain. I was lifted into the air.
This time I lost consciousness and did not awake for awhile. Even though I was sleeping soundly, voices argued. They argued over something. Although I could not here the words, I knew they argued over me. I hid in a dark room listening to them yell and exchange violence. I did not undertand, but was frightened anyway. I cowered like a little child in a corner, clinging my knees to my chest, closing my eyes hoping it would stop.

I awoke thrashing at the covers with my black claws. I tore the blanket to shreds of cloth. I looked at my hands where my fingernails had once been, now in place of them, claws. I stared at them in wonder for awhile then looked at my surroundings. I was in a tent and light shone through the entrance. I stood to my weak feet and emerged from the tent.

Outside, people bustled about carrying swords, shields, and arrows. There weren't many of them, maybe about fifteen. The sound of smithery work could be heard upon the air and people were shouting orders to each other. One person walked by carring an armful of arrows. He caught sight of me and stopped. He stared curiously for a few awkward moments and finally managed to yell,

"Captain!... He's awake!

Still without looking away from me he slowly walked to his destination. No doubt, it must have been my new appearance that startled him. The one who had been called captain approached me. I put my hands into fists and turned away so he would not see this thing I became. He put my hand on my shoulder, I turned in the opposite direction.

"Are you feeling well?" he asked me.

I quietly nodded my head. He motioned with his arm towards the tent, and I followed his direction. I sat on the ground, and lowered my head, folding my hands.

"I am glad to see you alive. You were very beat up when we found you at that oasis. I am called Haika. What are you known as?"

I stared at the ground a little longer. I thought back attempting to recall my name. I lifted my head and looked at him. He had long hair, a silverish color. Shock was all over his face when he saw me. I spoke,

"I do not have a name. It has been stolen from me."

He looked me over a bit more wondering what to say. Finally he managed to stammer the words,

"W-what are you?"

I was not sure how to respond. I looked at my hands and the black claws. I was not sure if it was a good idea to tell this man what had happened. He probably wouldn't believe me anyway, so I lied,

"These features you see on me that put you into awe, are no more than traits of those in my bloodline. I will not harm you, and I am not a demon of any sort. Do not be afraid."

He seemed a little comforted by that and extended his arm to greet me, a smile beginning to show,

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," he said, "I am the master of this group here. We're an organization of rebels against Ganondorf. We don't have many recruits as of now, many were wiped out in our last attack on Ganon's Tower. And now the Gerudos, under Ganondorf's control, are planning to get rid of us for good. Which is what all this rushing you see is about. It seems as though you've arrived here at a very unfortunate time, my friend."

"Believe me when I say that I have seen worse foes than Gerudos..."

Haika tilted his head a little in wonder at that statement.

Obviously confused, he stood to his feet,

"You are welcome to stay with us as long as you like, but remember we are on Ganondorf's most wanted list. I suggest you use caution if you remain here. The sun will be setting soon, I invite you to come to our campfire we hold every night. You can have a chance to meet the few sane people left in Hyrule."

His last sentence was apparently meant to be a joke but neither of us laughed. No thought of humor was left with either of us.

Silently Haika left the room.

I sat and stared at the ray of lights peeking through holes in the top of the tent. I wasn't too sure of what I was thinking about. Perhaps just taking it all in. So much had happened in the past... How long had it been? Time felt so strange at that moment. Everything was almost wiped away, yet I knew it had happened. As if it were all a horrible nightmare, and then a real life experience. It felt very real, too real. The past weighed against my chest. Things that were once gone now felt like they were existent at that moment. Something was strange. It felt out of place. Everything around me was changing, yet no physical differences could be seen. A strong wind blew from the west across the desert and people could be heard outside chasing things that had been blown away. That wind. I breathed it in. It was a wind of change. Quickly and suddenly, that wind died down.
I stared at those rays a bit longer before I came back to senses and decided to wander this area for a bit until the sunset.
I pushed back one of the tent's flaps and looked around in the bright light. Activities were not as apparent as they were awhile ago. I figured things must have been winding to a close for the day.

The desert's horizon danced with colors of gold as the sun began to set. I slid through the sand, away from the camp area, and stopped. I tilted my head backwards and stared up at the divided sky. To the east, the sky was dark and alive with many sparkling gems. To the west, it looked like a Gerudo's treasure trove filled with golden coins and and ruppes, all of their colors reflecting into the air. Life is a strange one... Slowly the light in the Gerudo's treasure trove died down, the fiery ball of light sunk beyond sight. A dim glow now shone beyond the eye's horizon. Darkness was closing in. Cold was closing in along with it. I crossed my arms and shivered, returning to the camp.

Voices were heard mumbling in the distance, I followed their sounds. The closer I became to them the more distinctly the sounds of crackling fire could be heard. I turned around the side of one of the many tents to find ten or so men sitting on crude wooden benches. Thos who were talking stopped and turned to look at me. I waved a friendly hello and took a seat on an empty bench. Haika was there and stood to introduce me,

"Men, this is our friend. He has not given me his name so I find it easier to not try and pull one out of him. He is to be treated with respect and dignity just as you all treat each other."

Haika nodded to me and sat. A very awkward silence followed as people pretended not to stare. They would put on a cherade that they were looking at other things and end up turning their heads again to catch another sight of my face. The warm glow from the fire lit up my face so everyone around could clearly see. 'Surely,' I thought, 'something must be different about my appearance moreso than last time to get this much attention."
Finally conversation started up again among the groups and I was relieved to see each person go back to their discussions. Each of them spoke with a slight sadness in their voice, as if dreading some future event. The fire's reflection danced on every one of their faces. In and out of the mouths, across their eyes and cheeks. I looked away from them and stared into the flames. I had to think to myself of how strange fire was. It had no one shape, and was constantly changing. It could be your best friend, or worst enemy. It could give you comfort from long colds, or burn you until your body goes to die. So strange.

I was broken from my daydream by the singing of another man. He sung a sad song. I forced myself to look away from the fire pit in order to listen to the words of his tune. His song went like this:


I am forever alone
Sorrow only follows
I am a stray
No regrets for I have nothing to lose...
This is my dark fate
I alone suffer this torment
Icy tears linger on my cheeks, burning everything in their path...
But the sun always rises...
And I can begin anew...

He sat silent for a moment along with the rest of the group. Soon after, he took a breath and spoke, a translation of his melody,

"Seven years ago I was a happy man. Seven years ago I lived in a house by the Hylian lake. Seven years ago my entire family was not dead. Seven years ago, my life was destroyed.

"It was a peaceful afternoon. The fish were swimming out in the lake, the air was calm and a bit chilly, it was one of those days on which you expect nothing to happen. Sadly, everything happened. I was playing with my boy. He was three years of age. I threw him up into the air and he would laugh with glee as he fell back into my arms again. I put on the gournd and he started spinning, pretended to be something out of his imagination. He spun by the open window when I heard a sound outside. Nothing but a bit of rustling leaves. He spun towards the window and stopped.

'Daddy! Look!'

He pointed out the window. A whoosh through the air and my boy fell over. I caught him before he fell and loocked into his face. An arrows had been shot through his mouth. Blood gushed from his gaping, innocent mouth. His eyes were frozen in fear. His young blood was pouring all over his shirt and the floor. I just sat there staring at my dead child. I heard someone break through my door and looked up to see a dark knight of Ganondorf. A darknut. He held a toothed sword and was covered in steel armor. He entered, followed by another one. I ran at the first one screaming with pure rage. I beat my fist into his armor and broke the bones in my fingers. The darknut's red eyes glared at me through his helmet. He didn't make a sound as he brought his arm up and struck me, sending me flying into the wall. I heard my wife scream from another room. The darknut that had just struck me turned his attention to my wife, standing in the doorway to her room where she had been taking a nap. She ran to me but was stopped by the darknut. She flailed her arms and legs struggling to get free, but to no avail. I tried to stand and help her but the gash in my head the darknut's metal hand had dealt was too much and I became dizzy and fell to the floor. The second darknut restrained me and held up my chin so I was forced to see my wife. The first darknut had the toothed sword to my wife's neck and was prepared to kill. Slowly he rubbed the jagged metal across her neck as she screamed my name. Over and over. She yelled for help, crying in pain. Blood began to flow from her neck. Tears flowed from her eyes as the darknut continued to cut her life from her, slowly. I couldn't yell back to h er, I could barely keep my eyes open, I could only stare. The darknut held me tight, though I couldn't do anything, even without his iron grip. My wife's eyes quietly drooped to a close and her head hung limp. The darknut let her fall to the floor and he kicked her red stained body across the room.

"The floor of my home was drenched in puddles of innocent blood. The darknuts laughed a little as they dragged me away, leaving my family strewn upon the floor. Merciless they were, I hated them, I still do hate them, it is why I am now a member of this rebellion. I have sought seven years to end Ganondorf's reign and as you can see, to no avail.

"But... my family..."

The man had been tearing a bit throughout the story, and now stood up and walked off on his own. I stared wide-eyed at the tale that man had told. And so the night went on, conversation continued on one subject, each person providing their stories. Their stories of hatred towards Ganondorf. Tales of their families being killed, lives ruined, and why they joined the rebellion.

That night I listened to each of their tales of misery.