A\N: NOW we're getting somewhere! XD Link and Ghirahim have their first battle, Shai makes a few minor appearances, ahhh, yes, it's alllll coming together now... *evil cackle*

ALRIGHT! Reviewer Thanking Time! I WOULD LOVE TO THANK: henslight, meijosui, HextheDaydreamer, Sideways Jill, and daMikuofAZ, CheerfulBubbles369, Shora, TheMysticalQ, Cold Calico, Leeyydybear, Some-ONe's-There, NeonDystortion, Whisperingmyear23, Kaiyt, WolfRunner326, TNTkitten, and DefineSugar! You all keep me going! Thank you all so much!

Now, before I continue, I want to those of you who follow my LOZ fanfics because of the torture to know that there are many good stories out there about GhirahimLinkTorture (none of it yaoi yet) and they should totally be checked out, faved, and reviewed:

'Merciless' by Neon Dystortion

'A Demon's Victory' and 'The Retribution of a Sword' by zelda3469

'Tainted Tale' by 97

So, I hope they don't kill me for posting that... Unauthorized advertizing... XP But these are REALLY AWESOME STORIESSSSSSS! XD XD XD

Whew! Long Author's Note is Long. I'm done now, so Y'all can go ahead and enjoy.

Link could've killed Ghirahim. No, really, he could have. Four hours he had been running like crazy through this temple trying to unlock all the doors again and find his way to the sanctuary. Four. Hours. It was ridiculous! After all that work to clean this place up and clear the pathways, Ghirahim had to come along will-nilly and…

"Master, your thoughts are becoming disturbingly violent and distressed. Perhaps a quick break?"

Link sighed, sliding down the volcano walls and wiping his brow. "Yeah… Yeah, maybe that's a good idea."

It was still frustrating to think about what Ghirahim had done. It had taken Link weeks—months!—to clean this place up and get the citizens back on their feet. In just a couple of hours Ghirahim had managed to reverse it all. Sometimes Link felt like the world's housemaid. A housemaid working in a home with a million toddlers.

"Woah! Long time no see, kiddo!"

Link jumped as a purple-haired Mogma popped out of the ground, dusting the Eldin dirt from his hair. It had been a little over a year since Link had left Eldin, but during his stay, Plats had been the most helpful.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Link smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You lookin' for that white-haired hooligan again?"

Link laughed aloud at the name the Mogmas had given Ghirahim, and nodded his head. "That's exactly what I'm here for."

The Mogma laughed, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "You head through there, hang a left, and then go through the big door with the wicked golden lock, and you'll be there."

Link smiled weakly. "I kinda need the key first."

Plats disappeared, and a few seconds later a chest was pushed up through the dirt. The Mogma slid it closer to Link and propped his elbows up on the dirt, resting his chin in his hand. "I thought I'd help you out, big guy! Snuck this outta one of them rooms while I was looking for treasure. I recognized the style, ya' know? Giddap and get'em, kiddo!"

Link threw the chest open and grabbed the key, pumping his fist. "This is great! Thanks!"

Plats saluted with a laugh and disappeared into the dirt, leaving Link to run to the sanctuary.

"Are my thoughts still violent, Fi?" he asked with a smirk.

"No, merely excited."

Link grinned and ran down the hall, psyched up and ready to go.

This time, I'm ending it for real.

Shai smiled as he made his way into the sanctuary, concealing his presence so as not to be sensed as he hid in the rafters. He watched the way Ghirahim paced the floor, and at just one glance to his face, Shai knew he was becoming impatient. If it had been like in the olden days, where the Spirit Maiden was just past those doors, he would not have had this problem. He would have run in and claimed her. But now he was actually waiting for Link to show, and seeing as that was taking a long time… he wasn't very happy.

He wasn't alone, either. Link wasn't very pleased with the situation himself. All of his hard work had been reversed in less than a day, and he was probably running on very little sleep. Then again, that wasn't something new. Shai noticed that Link rarely slept no matter where he was or what was going on, and it didn't help that the stress of being the goddess' chosen hero was piling up on his seventeen-year-old shoulders.

If Shai's calculations were correct, neither of them would win this battle.

That's alright. It'll be a learning experience for both of you.

Ghirahim crossed his arms over his chest, growling as another minute slowly ticked by in silence.

"Is it really that much to ask the skychild to be prompt? I mean, honestly, he keeps me locked in a blade for a year and a half with nothing to do but think and twiddle my thumbs, and then when I do get out, he makes me twiddle my thumbs some more as he moseys his way through this temple like he has all the time in the world."

Ghirahim scoffed, giving his hair a sharp flick. If that blasted Spirit Maiden was involved, Link would have been here hours ago.

In reality, Ghirahim was a little okay with the fact that Link was taking so long. Ghirahim was able to think about strategies and what to say when the boy entered the room. He could practice a little, flipping his swords this way and that, and it gave him a chance to adjust to the sweltering heat.

Suddenly, a loud clank like rusty gears starting to wind came from the door, and Ghirahim's ears perked up. Snapping his fingers, a chair appeared beneath him, and he sat down on it, resting his head in his hand and waiting for the massive door to open.

It did, and just as he expected, Link walked through, sword gleaming and eyes narrowed into slits.

"It took you forever, skychild!" Ghirahim chastened, wagging his finger at the boy. "I was so bored here waiting for you. You really shouldn't do that to your oldest enemy. I mean, have I ever kept you waiting for a fight?"

Link ignored him and walked right up to the chair, staring down at Ghirahim with a firm expression. An expression Ghirahim didn't like. He had expected some anger or even a little fear from the boy, but… there was nothing of that sort. Just a calm, determined, in control expression.

"Ghirahim, I told you not to escape. You know better."

Ghirahim bristled, jumping to his feet and slicing at the boy's throat with a frustrated shout. Link easily sidestepped and shook his head, obviously displeased.

What? WHAT?! I 'yes, master' him a few times and now he thinks he… he thinks he… owns me?!

Gripping the Master's sword, Link approached Ghirahim, an almost… condescending look in his eyes. As if he wondered why Ghirahim would even try. As if he thought Ghirahim was weak.

In a mere snap, a barrage of daggers shot towards Link, and the demon brought two swords to his hands shortly after, running at the boy before he could recover from deflecting the black shards. He thrust his right sword forward, and the boy turned away from it to avoid the blow. Foreseeing this, Ghirahim drove his left blade up and under the young Hero's shoulder joint, shoving him to the ground as blood splashed from the wound, staining his tunic.

The smell of the delightful copper brought many thoughts back to the overlord's mind. Memories of those long days in nights in Eldin when Link was nothing but a torn-up ragdoll at his feet. How far away that all seemed now…

Gasping in pain, Link struggled to his feet and dislodged the weapon, turning to Ghirahim with a fierce anger alight in his eyes.

"Just because you enslaved me once do not discount me, skychild. I have had many years to think over and correct my mistakes, and I am now a completely different demon. Oh!" Ghirahim smirked, tracing his finger down his jaw to his chin to tap it in mock contemplation. "And there's one other thing…"

An explosion of diamonds, and Ghirahim was behind Link, wrapping his arms around his torso to hold him as he lowered his lips to his captive's ear. "This time, you don't have information I need. So there is absolutely no reason for me to let you live."

Link stiffened, but flipped his blade as best as he could in his restricted position, and seconds later, Ghirahim felt a burning pain sear through his hip. He teleported away, holding the wound with one hand while the other still held his rapier. "I see that you, too, have changed. You're more irritating."

A slight smirk graced the blonde's lips, and he lunged forwards, swinging his sword high and striking low, barely missing Ghirahim's kneecap as the elder flipped away, crouching to the ground and sending his sword upward at Link's chest, only to have it blocked by the shield. Going higher, he aimed to drive his blade down, but Link's own arm swung out and caught his chest, sending him stumbling back. Teleporting again, he positioned himself to the right of the hero, and as the boy whirled to search for him, he ran at top speed, head ducked and blade at his side. In a solid, upward slice, he managed to get a nice piece of Link's shoulder, and since they were now approaching the chair Ghirahim had so carelessly left, he decided to strike again, forcing the hero to move toward the object.

Link saw it coming and attempted to get around the demon, but Ghirahim thrust him back, and he toppled over the marble throne, crashing into the ground with a sickening thud. Snapping the chair into oblivion, Ghirahim approached his victim and raised his blade to end the maggot in a pool of blood as it should have been years ago.

Link rolled out of the way at the last second, and in the momentary tug-of-war Ghirahim had with the earth, he landed several blows to the elder's arm.

"Alright, now that's enough, Link!" Ghirahim jumped back, his blade now retrieved, and held it up in a defensive position. "I don't want to play games this time, so just die like a good little boy!"

Link grinned, twirling his sword before grasping it again and swinging it loosely. "I thought I was an irksome gadfly."

Ghirahim chuckled as the two began to circle each other, flipping his hair. "Well, you're that, too."

There was a slight moment of silence as the two realized they had somehow slid into a form of playful banter, and Ghirahim added to his previous comment. "Among other things I won't say because I don't want to ruin your innocence at this young age."

"You're old enough to know'em all."

Ghirahim glared and Link smirked, holding his sword tighter. Ghirahim took that as his signal to go. Holding his blade with both hands at his side, he ran forwards and swung upwards, colliding with the Hylian Shield. He continued to whack away at the sturdy metal, occasionally managing to slide around the barrier and get a few bites of flesh.

Link ran towards the exit of the chamber, rolling underneath Ghirahim's blade as the demon sent it flying through the air at top speed. Blood showered the stone floors as a second blade sent Link toppling to the ground, pinned between the first sword and a pillar of solid marble.

Ghirahim snapped his fingers, a wide grin lighting his features. "Well, well, well, what have we here?" He sent a few of his little black daggers into Link's body, pinning his body to the scorching floor.

Ghirahim leapt into the air, sword raised high above his head. Link didn't have time to move, and even if he had, there was nowhere to go. Ghirahim drove the sword down—

—and let it go with a shout as pain coursed through his body like burning acid.

Clutching his wounded arms close to himself, he stumbled back and hit the ground, a baffled expression on his face.

What just happened?

Link also stared, and there was a moment where the sanctuary was completely silent.

Jerking as though he'd been splashed in the face with cold water, Link pulled himself free and jumped to his feet. He ran at the fallen demon, sword held firmly in wet, bloodsoaked hands.

Ghirahim panicked for a second, but remembered his magic and vanished. He landed on the summit by a small waterfall, panting and looking around to get his bearings. Since when did he teleport without knowing where he was going to end up? And why was he so dizzy?

"What… What happened to me?"

He watched the clear liquid fall from the rocks, still stunned at the outcome of the battle. The pain… it was so intense. Link had been right there. Stranded and helpless! He should have known it wasn't going to be that easy.

He jumped suddenly as a crumpled piece of paper hit his head. Unrolling it, he read aloud.

Dear,

Having problems ending enemies? Stop by the healing spring in Faron—but watch out! Your adversary will follow unless you block the Bird Statues' power.

Signed,

"Great, another mystery letter." Sighing heavily, Ghirahim got to his feet, only to crumple back to the earth and gasp in pain.

"P-perhaps I should wait a while before I try… to go anywhere."

The agony was deep and penetrating, starting with a burning sensation on the surface of his pale skin and seeping all the way into the bone where it ached and throbbed and intensified. He had never felt this way before, at least that he could remember. Then again… there were certain parts of his memory that were still scattered.

Majyk… Majyk… I know I've seen that before! It's… It's a good memory, I can feel that much. But… but who is the memory with?

Drawing his legs up to his chest, he leaned back against the warm stones, closing his eyes and letting the tension slip away from his body as the sun's rays streamed onto his face, easing the pain in his body, if only by a little.

Perhaps at the healing spring I can gather my thoughts and just think for a while. Think with a clear mind instead of this crowded one.

Shaking his head at his own pathetic train of thought, he lifted his gaze to the sky.

"You always were good at keeping track of things. You would help me remember, wouldn't you?"

Shai bowed to nothing but thin air as a smile graced his features.

"Of course, Master. That's exactly what I'm doing for you; you just have to be patient."

Spades and smoke erupted from the place where he stood, and when it was gone, so was he.

"Faron, huh?"

Link reread the letter, trying to find any sort of clue as to who was sending him these hints.

Dear,

Your opponent is travelling to Faron to the healing springs. Follow him there, and finish what you started—but don't think it so easy! I would suggest returning to Skyloft for potions and fairies just in case.

Signed,

Link sighed, stuffing the note into his pocket as he made his way to the nearest bird statue he could find. This person hadn't been wrong the first time, so why not go ahead and listen again? It wasn't doing any harm. There were only so many places Ghirahim could run, and with this newfound problem the demon had, Link could never lose! At least… that's what it looked like.

"Fi, do you have any idea what happened to Ghirahim at the end of the battle?"

Her voice chimed from his blade, though she didn't show herself as she normally did. "I have no statistics on that subject in this current moment. However, I can assuredly assume he is unable to kill his own master. His very being rejects it—therefore, he cannot kill you."

Link sighed in relief, arriving at a statue and preparing to launch himself into the air.

"But be wary, Master. Albeit he is unable to kill you, he can do everything but. You'd be fascinated at what you can live through."

Link felt a tingle travel up his spine. "I see… thank you."

"Yes, Master."

Link tried not to dwell on that last statement as he soared through the sky, but he couldn't deny his fear of Ghirahim's twisted mind. His power was no match for the Master's Sword, and Link's determination hadn't failed him yet, but all it took was one mistake, and Link was at the sadistic being's mercy.

There were still some nights he woke up in a sweat, brand throbbing, heart racing, mind wild with fear. Then he would realize he was just sitting in his bedroom on a warm, fluffy mattress, and he would start to relax. He would check his sword, and upon sensing the demon brooding inside, would ease himself under the sheets and doze off once again.

His hand instinctively made its way to the mark still burned into his thigh, and he shook his head, trying not to remember that dark, suffocating night beneath the surface of Eldin.

"Master, you just passed Skyloft."

Link jerked himself from his thoughts and groaned. "Whoops… Thanks Fi."

"Yes, Master."

He circled back and dove off, readying his Sailcloth.

I never, ever want to go through that again.

A\N: TOO BAD, LINKY! It's comin' like a train. *evil cackle*

Link: *stares at readers and mouths* Please Help Me... PLEASE.

Me: What was that?

Link: N-Nothing!

Ghirahim: *grabs him from behind* Come along, skychild. The sadistic author is busy. Writing about you and I and all the fun we're going to have!

Link: *facepalm; whimpers*

Me: PLEASE REVIEW! :D It will fill my heart with rainbows!