Zelda and Groose were mucking around about an hour later when it happened. A loud scream suddenly permeated the air from the other side of the hall. It wasn't from one of the Loftwings, definitely. No, this came from a girl who was now lying on the floor, dead. Everyone turned to see what had happened.

"Oh, I'm flattered. You threw a party for me? Oh, you shouldn't have."

The owner of the new voice stepped over the body of the one he had just murdered. Smirking, he flicked his ivory hair so it swung over the left side of his face, one eye hidden. Purple marks and white lips lined the Demon Lord's face.

"You!"

"Oh yes, it's me. How mice of you to prepare a celebration for my arrival," Ghirahim laughed.

"It's not for you, it's for Link!" Someone yelled from the back of the crowd.

"Link? And where, pray tell, is he?"

"Not here!"

"Oh, what a shame. He didn't show up to a celebration in his honour."

"He was here earlier."

"And where is he now?"

"We won't tell you!" Groose yelled from beside Zelda.

Ghirahim slowly strolled over to the two, the crowd parting for him like the sea, "Yes, I remember you. I seem to be at a loss for your name. Gross, was it?"

"It's Groose."

"Groose, Gross, it doesn't matter to me. What matters is I get to the Skychild."

"You won't touch him," Groose growled, standing between Ghirahim and Zelda.

"Hmm..." the Demon Lord swung round, slashing several students across the stomach, killing them instantly, "Perhaps this will persuade you. Continue to try my patience by refusing to take me to the boy, and more of them die."

"Where is my father? I thought he'd be here," Zelda muttered, noticing Gaepora was nowhere to be seen.

"All of your... teachers are being incapacitated by my minions at the moment. There is nobody who can help you."

"We won't show you!"

"Fine," Ghirahim pulled a frightened girl with red hair towards him, "You've just forfeited her life. What's your name, girl?

"S-Scarlet..."

"Well, Scarlet, you can thank these two for your end," bloodlust sparked in the white-clad man's eyes and the next thing anyone knew, Scarlet was on the floor, blood flooding from her throat. Shock set in to the crowd. Ghirahim wasn't lying when he said more of the group would die.

"Zelda, just tell him!"

"Link can fight for himself!"

"Don't let him kill us!"

"COWARDS! What sort of knights are you?" Groose roared, "Link risked his life to save the entire world, including us, from destruction, and this is how you're repaying him?! By letting one of his enemies try to kill him again?"

"At least we won't die!"

"You'll live with the guilt that you let him die!"

"Groose is right," Zelda stepped forward, "We have to -"

"Oh, what a shame. Will any of you dare to go against me now I have your little goddess?"

A hand closed around Zelda's blonde hair, yanking her head back. Ghirahim rested his blade on her throat.

"You, Gross, show me to the Skychild if you value her life."

"For the last time, it's Groose!"

"Do it," the metal bit into Zelda's neck, drawing a few beads of blood.

"No, Groose! I don't care if my life is forfeit, just don't do it!"

"I... I'm sorry, Zelda. I can't let him hurt you," Groose nodded to Ghirahim, "Fine."

"No!"

"Good. Now you go on ahead and take me to him. I will follow with the goddess. Deceive me, and she dies."

Silence, apart from Zelda's tiny fearful whimpers, followed the three as they crept down the corridor between the doors of the dorms. Each one was labelled with a name.

"Oh, it will be easily to find the boy."

"There are hundreds of names. It would take you hours to find a specific one," Groose smirked.

"Groose, what are you doing?"

"Trust me, Zelda. I know what I'm doing."

"But Link-"

"It matters not. Keep moving," Ghirahim shoved Zelda forward, just as Groose stopped in front of Link's door and gave it a push.

"Locked."

Ghirahim laughed and grasped the redhead's arm, snapping his fingers and teleporting them inside past the wooden barrier. Link was lying, asleep, under the covers. He was completely relaxed, unaware of the danger approaching him. Ghirahim moved his blade from Zelda's neck and rested it on the sleeping boy's throat. He muttered something and shifted beneath it, drawing the tiniest amount of blood. Zelda was still in a headlock in Ghirahim's other arm. She as trying to figure out a way to get out of this, but it was the redhead male's idea that freed them.

"Are you sure you want to kill him now? That's not much fun for you," he remarked.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying don't you want to mess around with him a bit more? He told us how you liked to mess with his head just before a battle."

"Oh, that is a good thought. Thank you Gross. Now, if you would be so kind as to hold the goddess for me?"

"Alright."

Ghirahim tossed Zelda towards Groose, who caught her gently and inched his way towards the locked door, which still had the key in the lock.

"What are you doing?! He'll kill Link!"

"I'm buying time. Our best bet to get rid of him is to wake Link up. He's fought this guy before so he knows what his style is."

"Oh. I should have thought of that."

"Don't worry, goddess. Different ideas come to different people."

"So what's the plan?"

"We have to wake Link," Groose swiftly turned the key, looking over to where Ghirahim stood, tracing lines over Link's face with his sword.

"Yell on three?"

"OK."

Ghirahim chuckled, making a small cut on Link's cheek. The black dug deep, drawing a lot of blood from the wound, "Oh, Skychild, you should see yourself now."

"One."

"You are helpless. Trapped by my power. And yet, I know you are powerful too. Especially with that sword of yours."

"Two."

"Then again, the powerful always have a weakness. I wonder what yours is? Perhaps your too forgiving nature? Caring too much for the people around you? Your big heart? Is that it?"

"Three."

"LINK, WAKE UP!"

Ghirahim whirled around to face them and started to advance, blade raised, "Why you..."

"LEAVE THEM ALONE!"

He was grabbed from behind and yanked down, flung against the bed. Link used the pull from his arms to haul himself up and switch positions with the demon. Zelda spotted his sword and shield just beside Groose, grabbed them and pushed them towards the hero.

"Groose, Zelda, get everyone as far away from here as possible. Nobody can be in any danger except me, OK?"

"But what if you need us?"

"I've beaten Ghirahim once, I can do it again. Trust me, I know what I'm doing," Link quickly shifted his stance as Ghirahim ran at him, blade raised. Their swords clashed, crossed in a fearsome face-off, both males pushing with all their strength.

"But -"

"Go! I can handle this!"

"Oh... alright," Zelda reluctantly pushed Groose out of the room, "Just... don't put yourself in too much danger, OK?"

"I won't."

Satisfied, the goddess reborn left.

"So, it's just you and me now, Skychild."

"What do you want, demon?"

"Not even indulging me with my title? How rude! And that question, oh!" Ghirahim lifted a hand to his forehead, feigning misery and fainting, "It is incredibly vague and I have so many answers, but which one do you want? Why don't you make it a little more specific?"

"Fine. What do you want with me?"

"Better. As you know, I previously wanted the goddess to revive my master, but now... I know there is no way of bringing him back for the time being, so I'm taking his revenge for him. The first step is taking you prisoner."

"If you know me at all, you know I won't go down without a fight."

"I know."

Without warning -

/

Ghirahim: OK, OBJECTION!

Me: What, Ghirahim? And what's with the Phoenix Wright references?

Ghirahim: Who the hell gives a warning when they're about to attack?!

Link, me: Um, most video game characters, including you.

Ghirahim: WHEN?!

Me: Let me see... every time you attack the player in Hyrule Warriors, you always click your fingers before you send an attack. And that's just one of them.

Volga: The Redeads always have some sort of glow before they try to freeze the player in Hyrule Warriors.

Link: Every playable character in that game has that same glow before they do a strong attack.

Me: And that's all in one game.

Ghirahim: Dammit.

Me: Standing corrected, hmm?

Ghirahim: Hmpf.

Me: Anyway...

/

Without warning, Ghirahim lunged. The attack was so sudden, Link barely had time to lift the Master Sword to defend himself. He twisted quickly, trying to disarm the demon lord, but Ghirahim just leaped backwards to dodge it. He snapped his fingers, summoning daggers to fly at the hero.

Fi, please tell me you're there, Link thought, deflecting the weapons off his sword.

I am sorry, Master. I am here, but any useful information I could give on Ghirahim's attack is hidden from me at the
moment. I am afraid he has blocked my access to the data,
Fi spoke in his mind.

Oh. Alright Fi. Don't worry.

Are you certain you can handle this? There is a 78% chance of being defeated by Ghirahim.

I thought you couldn't access the data.

All data except my own calculations, using the outcomes from previous battles against the Demon Lord. He appears to be stronger, as he is blocking my access.

"So, Skychild, do you yield?" Ghirahim was suddenly behind Link. He must have teleported during Link's conversation with Fi.

"Why would I do that?" Link tightened his grip on the Master Sword, palms becoming slick with sweat.

"In the best interests for your life, perhaps?" Ghirahim's blade rested on the hero's shoulder, right next to his neck.

"I told you I won't go down without a fight," Link jabbed his right elbow directly into the demon lord's stomach, making him double over in pain and lose his grip. His weapon clattered to the ground.

"My, my, boy. You have grown stronger."

"Why are you even alive? I thought you were destroyed when I killed Demise."

"Just because I served him does not mean I died with him. But enough explanations. I will have what I came for!"

Tiny daggers appeared in a circle around Ghirahim and flew towards Link. He raised his shield to block them, but they swerved around him to attack from behind. Before he could react, he was hit several times and knew no more.