Zelda paced back and forth in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by her classmates. What was going on in there? Was Link injured? Had he beaten Ghirahim yet again, or was it the other way around this time? Deep inside, she had 'detected' that Ghirahim was much stronger than when Demise was still alive. It was as if the Demon King's power had seeped into him somehow. She feared for Link's life. If he fell, who knew what could happen? Groose gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
"He'll be OK. He's strong."
"But what if Ghirahim is stronger?"
"Come on, Zel. You've known Link longer than any of us. He can handle it."
"I'm not sure he can, Groose. Being the goddess incarnate I can... 'sense' certain things, like Fi can. I guess you could say I 'detected' that Ghirahim is stronger than when Link last fought him."
"Oh no."
Nervous, Groose wrapped an arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder blade.
"We'll be OK."
"That's just it. I don't know if we will."
A loud slam made everyone turn. The dormitory door had been flung open so hard it had sent dust flying, obscuring the students' vision. A silhouette crept through the cloud.
"Link? Is that you?" Groose took a couple of steps forward, protecting Zelda, just in case he was wrong. Dusty, dirty blonde hair swayed over the face of the man walking from the building. A green tunic over chainmail -
/
Ghirahim: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Me: What now?
Ghirahim: [staring at Link] You mean to tell me you don't get changed before sleeping?
Link: Well, would you bother with it after you've defeated your arch-nemesis and saved the whole world? I was exhausted!
Me: I know how you feel. Though I've never saved the whole world, I spend 9 hours in a car once, travelling to my grandparents' house, and by the time I got there I was too tired to get changed, so I slept in my clothes.
Ghirahim: Still, could you at least have taken your tunic off?
Me: Whoa there, Ghirahim, isn't that going a little too far?
Ghirahim: What?
Me: Anyway, before we properly get into this conversation, to whoever it was who told me to learn how to format properly, well excuse me, princess, or prince. I'm sorry my formatting isn't to your liking, it's just the way I was taught to type from a young age. Now that's done, guess what I did a couple of weeks ago.
Link: No idea
Ghirahim: I'm not even going to answer.
Volga: Go on, spill.
Dark Link: I know.
Link: When did you get here?
Dark Link: I'm always here.
Link: That's just creepy.
Me: I finally beat Ocarina of Time!
Link: FINALLY.
Me: Oh shut up it didn't take me that long.
Dark Link: Oh please. You only made it because your boyfriend was feeding you biscuits while you did it.
Me: Hey, that's how I ignore fear. I eat like crazy. And how do you know that's what happened?
Dark Link: Like I said, I am always here.
Me: You are creepier than a Dead Hand crossed with a Redead crossed with a Stalfo.
Link: I can't even picture that.
Me: Me neither, it's too creepy. It's worse than Ghirahim.
Ghirahim: Hey!
Me: Guess what else I've done.
Dark Link: I-
Me: Shut up, I know you know.
Dark Link: Aww.
Me: I've been to see Guardians of the galaxy 2!
Dark Link: I KNEW IT!
Me: WE KNOW YOU KNOW!
Dark Link: Dang it.
Me: Anyways, me and my boyfriend went to see it and we decided which of the characters were similar to which Zelda character.
Link: And? Who was who?
Me: OK, Volga you're safe. We didn't put you in the list.
Volga: Phew.
Me: Link was obviously Peter Quill, a.k.a Starlord.
Link: YES!
Me: We put Navi as Groot.
Dark Link: But Groot's way cuter than Navi!
Me: I know but they're both tiny and they both only say one thing.
Navi: Hey! Listen!
Me: Link, do you have a bottle?
Link: [has already caught Navi] Way ahead of you.
Me: Thanks. Rocket was Ghirahim.
Ghirahim: I AM NOT A RACCOON!
Me: No, but you both like killing.
Ghirahim: True.
Me: Gamora was Sheik.
Link: Wait don't Starlord and Gamora have a thing? You know, from the first one?
Me: Yeah, so?
Link: You're basically saying that me and Sheik are-
Me: You do realise that, unless you interpret it differently, Sheik is basically Zelda.
Link: Never mind.
Me: We put Zant as Yondu.
Volga: Why Yondu?
Me: Because they're both considered traitors by a specific group of people.
Link: What about Drax?
Me: Oh, that was Ganondorf.
Ganondorf: [from other room] WHAT?!
Me: Oh boy.
Ganondorf: [comes storming in] Never compare me to that imbecile!
Me: Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realise you were competing for dumbest asshole of the year.
Ganondorf: Excuse me?
Me: You're excused.
Ganondorf: Are you saying I am stupid?
Me: Yes.
Ganondorf: How dare you!
Me: Well, you'd think after being defeated every time you try to take over Hyrule, you might learn to give up. Oh, if only your brain was as big as your ego.
Link: I think you might want to stop there.
Me: No way. I mean, they're both hot heads, they're the muscle of their team and they're both fairly dim and headstrong.
Ganondorf: Why you!
Me: OK, better get back on with the story before Ganondorf kills me. I gotta handle this, so next time you see me, hopefully I won't be too wounded. But I'm pretty sure I can sort it. Onwards through the chapter!
/
A green tunic over chainmail protected his upper body. Sighs of relief and cheers rang out from all but Groose and Zelda.
"Something's wrong."
Knight and goddess had noticed the strange way Link was walking. His arms were limp at his sides, but both his sword and shield were still in his hands, the tip off his blade dragging on the ground. He only ever kept those out if he was about to fight. As he came closer, they noticed his eyes were closed and his jaw was slack, as if he were asleep or unconscious. Plus he was covered in red light. His movements were jerky too, as though he was a puppet.
"Something's controlling him," Zelda muttered.
"Ghirahim?"
"Has to be."
Link continued his jagged walking until he was directly in front of Zelda and Groose. Only then did the scarlet light fade from him and he collapsed, dropping his sword.
"Here is your hero!"
Zelda quickly caught Link's body as Ghirahim stepped through the still settling dust. She stumbled a little and gently rested him on the ground. He didn't react to her touch.
"Link? Link, wake up."
"He won't. Not before I allow him to."
Furious, clenching his fits, Groose stood up, "What do you want with him?"
Ghirahim stared at the knight as if to say 'are you really that stupid?', "Revenge, of course. What did you think I wanted?"
The same red energy glowed around Ghirahim's left hands, and it lifted Link away from Zelda. She made a lunga for the Master Sword, but that was pulled towards the demon lord as well.
"It's such a shame, really. How you won't be able to say goodbye."
Multiple choruses of "Let him go!" rang out through the crowd. Ghirahim only cackled and gazed at Zelda, who had been one of the first to say it.
"Oh, my dear goddess, I thought you knew me better than to think I would release my prize in answer to a simple request. "
Immediately, Zelda responded, "Then take me instead."
"Zelda, no!" Groose pulled her into his chest.
"At least Link will be safe."
"Hmm. A kind offer, but I'll pass. I have no use for you, now my Master is gone for now. But this Skychild..." Ghirahim checked maliciously, throwing Link's limp body over his shoulder, "He can bring me more than enough fun. Perhaps I'll return him to you... Once he's completely broken, of course."
"Broken..."
Groose rushed at Ghirahim, palms slick from angry sweat, yelling, "You keep your filthy hands off of him!"
All Ghirahim did was laugh more and summon a diamond barrier to block Groose's path, "I'd prefer elegant and refined in opposition to filthy. Oh, and it is rather adorable how you would give up your life to save this boy, just as he would for the goddess. Well, too bad. You won't even be blew to find him."
"No! We won't let you hurt him!"
"Goodbye," snapping his fingers, Ghirahim and Link vanished.
Karane took a step forward, Pipit just behind her, "Is that it? Link's... gone?"
"We have to find a way to bring him back," Zelda some firmly.
"How?"
"We'll send out search parties; he could be anywhere, but we can't just give up on him. I'll speak to the Gorons and creatures of the surface to look for him as well," the goddess carefully got up, "Groose, we should send groups to all three provinces. We have to find Link before Ghirahim tortures him to death."
