Link felt a large shove behind him, like a Gordon had punched him in the spine, and flew forwards, his shield breaking from his grip as he tumbled across the green grass, landing face first in the dirt. He rolled onto his back, groaning in pain as he felt his bones moan from the simple action. Link looked over at Impa's house, or what's left of it.
"Zelda!" He cried, rising to his feet, hissing from the pain streaking throughout him like lightning. He ran back to the burning, charred carnage before him, lighting up the world around him in bright, red shadows. He grabbed his shield, imbedded in the ground and replaced it on his arm. As Link approached the flames he stopped, the heat overwhelming him. Link quickly reached into his pouch, closing his hand around the red crystal of his fire tunic, slamming it against his chest. He breathed deeply as the heat left him, the tunic protecting him from the fire.
"Hahaha!" Link heard a loud cackle behind him, spinning to see his evil twin, a large demonic grin on his face, the flames lighting up his red eyes.
"You!" Link shouted over the crackling fire. He quickly notched and fired an arrow, which imbedded itself deep in the shoulder of the shadow, tripping and falling off the ledge. Link dropped his bow and ran into the flames, searching desperately for the two woman he was with.
"Zelda!" He cried, squinting through the flames.
"Impa!"
"Link!" A choked, wheezing voice came from his left. Link spun, searching for the source of the word.
"Link!" He stepped over a burnt wooden beam, blackened from the flames. As he scanned the area he saw, trapped under a larger slab of wood was Impa.
"Impa!" He ran over to where she lay, crouching and gripping the beam, flipping it off her.
"Come on." He whispered, reaching down to grab Impa's arm.
"No." She coughed, blood dripping from her lips.
"Take her." She moaned, moving her arm to reveal an unconscious Sheik, curled up beside Impa.
"Zelda." Link gasped, reaching down and taking her in his arms.
"Impa, come on!" He said, gesturing out of the flames.
"I can't." She choked, her eyes watering.
"Yes you can! Come on!" Link shouted.
"No, I can't" Impa reached up, placing a hand lightly on Link's face.
"Impa please!" Link choked.
"Link, my leg is crushed, I can't walk. And the smoke is already inside of me. Even if I did make it out, the gas would kill me. Now go!" Impa cried, pushing him away.
Link turned and ran, jumping over burning prices of wood, dodging flames, holding Sheik tightly to his chest. He skidded to a stop as he escaped the flames, placing Sheik in the arms of a woman as villagers came out of their homes to inspect the loud noise. He nodded before turning and running back into the flames, searching again for Impa. He found her, face down on the ground. He reached down, grabbing her and pulling her into his arms. Again Link ran, avoiding wood and flames, smoke and toxins. Link jumped through a wall of fire, rolling to a stop in the grass beyond. Many people ran around, holding buckets of water an other items, trying to suppress the flames. Link rose to his knees, placing his hands on Impa's cheeks, and his ear to her chest, waiting for a heartbeat. A heartbeat that never came.
"Impa!" He screamed, placing his hands over her heart, pushing in rhythm, holding on to a lost hope that she would wake up.
"She's mine." A dark, evil voice hissed behind him. Link spun, fury coursing through him, drew his blade and swung, hitting nothing.
"Haha!" The voice screamed behind him. Link turned and saw Dark Link, standing on a roof in the village, the grin still on his face. Link shot an arrow at the monster. But he disappeared and the arrow hit the wooden roof with a barely audible thud, right where the shadow had stood. Link slowly looked back at Impa's still body, as a single tear rolled down his face.
"Goodbye, old friend."
