When I consulted my outline for what happens in this chapter, I was a bit taken aback. Like, "Oh. . . that's all?"
But then I wrote it and nope. Still about as long as the others. Enjoy.
Sheik gasped at the light kick in her side.
Had she really been sleeping so soundly? Though, perhaps it was not so unreasonable, considering she had never been so exhausted in her life. Even as queen, afflicted by her nightmares, she had never been pushed to such limits physically and emotionally.
"It's time to go," Link said gruffly, standing over her. He didn't look down at her as he spoke.
Sheik said nothing as she staggered to her feet. She had no teasing replies, no outraged questions. She never thought she'd give up, especially on Link, but the situation was beginning to look rather hopeless. From the embittered look on Link's face as he gazed out into the distance, it seemed clear that she'd finally ruined everything. There was no recovery after her desperation last night.
"What's for breakfast?" Jade asked, oblivious to the new tension in the company.
"We go without," Impa said, "There'll be nothing worth hunting in these parts. We ought to reach the Valley of Seers by noonday. We can eat once we've finished our business there."
"B-but you said we'd eat this morning," Jade protested.
Sheik, too, thought of Impa's empty promise as her stomach whined within her. Was the Sheikah general nervous?
Something that might have been sympathy flashed across Impa's face, but it lingered only for a moment. "We're too close," Impa said simply, "If you can't last a few more hours without, you're free to leave us."
Jade looked down, not commenting further. Link seemed annoyed at the decision, but he made no move to question it. Sheik noticed that Lana seemed strangely uneasy. The sorceress kept twisting her hands, avoiding eye contact with everyone. She even seemed to be mouthing words to herself, her brow furrowed in concentration. If Sheik hadn't lost Link's trust, she would have confided in him and drawn his attention to the sorceress.
A few soldiers eyed each other at Impa's command, but no one dared defy her. Stirred by the desert winds, sand blew past the camp, causing Sheik to raise her mask even higher on her nose. Though it was only morning, there was already a thick heat settling in the air. Rolling her aching shoulders, Sheik sighed. It was looking to be a very, very disagreeable day.
With Proxi's consistent company, Link had never fully grown accustomed to quiet. However, as Impa led the troop through the desert canyons, a reverent silence had fallen over the company. Even Jade had no bubbly commentary to offer on what they were seeing. Sheik had dropped back, bringing up the rear. And that suited Link just fine. The less he had to interact with the infernal woman, the better.
Thinking back on his dream last night, Link's fists clenched. The shame was nearly overwhelming. . . and then when he had awoken to Sheik's gentle touch on his face. . . had he not come to his senses, he might've done something truly stupid. Like kiss her.
He supposed dreams couldn't be helped. But nonetheless, he felt dirty reminiscing on the vision from the night prior. In his dreams, he had been sleeping in a glade, fireflies floating lazily around the clearing. A circle of trees had secluded him from the rest of the world, and a full moon had watched over him as he lay there. Then there had been a sound, something shifting in the grass. Link had sat upright, only to find that he was unarmed.
Desperately, he'd readied his fists as his only weapon, only to lower them when Sheik emerged. Though her face was still covered with the typical Sheikah wrappings, she no longer wore her armor. Now, she was donned in a white gown with a train that trailed behind her. Her golden hair, forever darker than his beloved queen's, was no longer braided tightly but now flowed freely behind her. Her red eyes were boring into Link, causing him to swallow uneasily. In short, Sheik looked enchanting. Like some sort of ethereal creature.
"Link. . . you must help me," she had asked in her deep voice. So much deeper than Zelda's. . .
"Whuh-what would you have me do?" Link had stammered, his hands coming to rest on her hips.
"Zelda's changed," Sheik had said, "She's altered, no longer herself. If you want to see her again, you only must do this one thing. . ."
"What?" Link had whispered. He'd been embarrassed at how weak his voice sounded.
"Kiss me," Sheik had whispered, her face now dangerously near his own.
"No! I—I can't!" Link had tried to step backward, only to find his feet didn't move.
"Just one kiss," Sheik had murmured, leaning up toward Link, "One kiss is all it will take. . ."
Sheik had reached behind her, beginning to undo the cloth that covered her mouth and nose. Link had wet his lips, holding her waist all the more tightly as her face drew nearer and nearer to his own. Just as Sheik was about to lower her mask, a blinding light consumed the glade.
Link had stumbled backward, Sheik suddenly gone. The trees and grass and fireflies all had vanished; all that had remained was this strange, shimmering, golden light. Covering his eyes, Link had squinted into it. "What are you?" he had asked no one in particular.
"Careful, Link," an airy voice had come from the light, "Zelda is in great danger. You can save her or you can doom her. Her fate lies with you. You must trust your instincts."
"Where is Zelda?" Link had asked the light.
He had jumped to his feet, spinning around, trying to find a source for the voice. "Who are you?" he had asked again, pleading.
He'd awoken to Sheik before the light had answered, leaving him both mortified and bewildered. Then of course Sheik had actually asked him to kiss her, no longer a dream, and Link had lashed out.
Even now, he didn't feel guilty for doing so. Truly, what had Sheik expected? If Zelda was alive, he would have to have a long discussion about this with her. He wasn't sure what it was about Sheik that evoked such a response from him. . .
Proxi, he was sure, had noticed that something was different between he and the Sheikah. He was proud of her for remaining mute on the topic, though. She merely lingered near his shoulder, perhaps frightened by her desolate surroundings.
There was a collective halt, Impa's hand flying up into the air. Otherworldly screeches and howls echoed through the desert caverns. Link's hand went to his hilt, prepared to draw his sword at a moment's notice. "Ready yourselves," Impa called over her shoulder, "We're here."
"Ooh, has the hero come to see me at last? Well then, Link, don't keep me waiting. . . "
Sheik refrained from having any outwardly reactions to the news, though a weight settled in her chest as she followed Impa. The canyons had eventually disappeared, and the path had crumbled away. The road ended at a large crater, within which a heavy purple fog lingered. Impa had led their group to a rock that jutted out from the cliffs, overlooking the Valley of Seers below.
It was difficult to see anything through the haze of smoke, but there was no mistaking the sound. A thousand clicking and rattling sounds confirmed to Sheik that the valley was crawling with stalfos. The piglike grunts and shrieks confirmed that there were bokoblins roaming about as well. The fact that everything was obscured from view made the threat all the more menacing.
"What's our strategy?" Jade asked, "I can't see anything!"
Link rolled his eyes but said nothing. "When I was last here," Impa said, "there were several surrounding keeps, serving as defense for the altar that holds the Gate of Souls. If we could conquer these outposts, nothing would stand between us and Cia. So I advise we not rush the altar; we'll be cut down if we do. Instead, we should split. Some of us should take the west keeps and the rest of us the east. Then we take the Black Sorceress."
"I agree with Impa," Lana said.
"Which path do you take?" Link asked, eying the general.
"I will go to the east," Impa said.
"I'll accompany you," Sheik said.
Link had opened his mouth, but he shut it again once Sheik spoke. Grief rippled through Shiek, realizing that he'd intended to join Impa but changed his mind upon her decision. But there was no time to mourn Link's feelings toward her. The fate of Hyrule was at hand.
"I'll come too!" Jade volunteered.
"Well," Sheik thought bitterly, "Now Link's mind would really be made up."
"Very well," Impa said, "Lana and Link, see that you take the west keeps. I'll divide what's left of our troops so that we have ample support."
It was time. Sheik kept from looking at Link and Lana as she, Impa, and Jade scaled the crater, heading east. She knew it would only upset her more, and she needed to stay focused. Impa gave her and Jade a nod, and with that, the Sheikah general dipped down into the mist. Sheik drew the Goddess' Harp and followed.
The mayhem of the valley was worse than Sheik had imagined. The moment that Impa and the Hyrulean soldiers entered the fog, hordes of bokoblins were instantly aware of their presence. The general grit her teeth and charged, readying the giant's knife. There was a flurry of green as Jade followed suit, her dual crossbows poised to fire. Sheik did a quick survey of the area as she brought up the rear.
The layout of the valley was as Impa had said. Several rock deposits jutted from the ground, curled and bent into unnatural shapes. Past them, at the center of the valley, was indeed a huge altar. Stone staircases led to its top, upon which was a huge, oval mirror. Though. . . it couldn't be a mirror. The object glowed violet, the same color as the fog, and black wisps of smoke wafted around it. When something that looked like a moblin crawled out of the mirror, Sheik knew the truth: this was the Gate of Souls.
Sheik barely had time to flick her fingers across the Goddess' Harp as four bokoblins ran at her, their clubs raised for the kill. A wave of energy shot out from the harp not a moment too soon, knocking the foes back. The shouts of Hyrulean soldiers and the clattering of stalfos fumbling toward them mixed to craft a requiem mass as Sheik strummed the harp. Every now and again, her fingers were not swift enough, and she'd have to whip out her dagger and slash the nearest enemies away. Cia's numbers were so much greater than theirs! Sheik was so occupied with protecting her own life, she hardly noticed that Impa and Jade had strayed from her.
What finally seized her attention was a blast of fire, illuminating the battlefield and unleashing a surge of heat. Though it was a good distance from Sheik, she still staggered back at the force of the explosion. Jade shrieked in surprise.
"Well, it seems some insects have dared to challenge me. Care to join your Hyrulean brethren in their graves?"
The figure who had said the words looked unlike anything Sheik had ever seen. It looked like a man, but the combination of his armor and helmet made him look reptilian and bestial. Particularly, the horns on his helmet curving around his head and casting shadow over his eyes made him look all the more like a demon from the deep instead of a conquerable foe.
This being was stalking toward Impa, who lay sprawled on the ground from the impact of the fire.
"Ah! This must be the fabled Sheikah general," the thing growled, "How the people will weep when they see me wear your severed head!"
"Impa! No!" Sheik charged toward Impa's attacker. In the face of such danger, Sheik forgot herself and neglected Impa's title. In that moment, Impa was no longer a general. In that moment, Impa was Impa, the woman who had raised Zelda herself and been her lone confidant and friend.
The horrid thing opened its mouth, a stream of fire gushing forth. Impa rolled to dodge the attack, but the flames still grazed her skin. Against her will, the Sheikah general's face contorted into a scream, her muscles clenching at the pain.
Sheik was no longer a warrior rushing to her mentor's aid. At the sound of Impa's suffering, she was whisked back to Hyrule Castle, and she was Queen Zelda again, shooting up in bed after hearing Impa's screams echo through her head.
Her premonitions—all those terrible dreams—had come true at last. Sheik knew the image of Impa in agony would be forever branded into her mind.
"No! Stop!" Sheik demanded, tears filling her eyes.
She plucked the harp quickly, but Impa's attacker leapt into the air, evading the waves of energy. "Music? I've seen it all now," he laughed cruelly as he landed, "How pitiful! Prepare to meet your end, you fool!"
An arrow zipped past, nicking the edge of Sheik's opponent's armor. The thing growled, whipping its head around. There stood Jade, swiftly reloading one of her crossbows. "That was a mistake," the thing opened its mouth once more, fresh fire churning inside, "The death of Volga, the mighty dragon knight, will not be at the hands of a mere girl!"
Watching Jade react was like watching seconds tick away, one at a time.
First second: Jade's fingers loaded an arrow.
Second second: Jade's head snapped up to face her opponent. . . Volga.
Third second: Jade's pupils grew larger, her cheeks drained of color.
Fourth second: her mouth fell open, both shocked and terrified as Volga's roar trembled through the air. Flames flew from his mouth, hurtling toward Jade.
Impa's request rang in Sheik's ears.
"Can I entrust Jade's safety to you, should things go awry?"
Though her heart yearned to check and ensure that Impa was alright, Sheik knew the general would never forgive her if she didn't intervene for Jade. In the seconds she had to spare, Sheik pivoted, throwing all of her weight toward Jade and tackling the archer to the ground. Volga's fire, though it missed their bodies, still warmed their skin at its proximity. Rapidly, Sheik clutched Jade to her and rolled the two of them away. She leapt back to her feet and strummed the harp again, causing Volga to quickly avoid her attacks.
"Sheik! You saved my life!" Jade exclaimed from the ground, "I owe you my allegiance for—"
"Never mind! Now's really not the time, Jade!" Sheik snapped, "Just be more careful!"
"Of course!" Jade stood and aimed both crossbows at Volga.
"You Hyrulean scum!" Volga spat when he landed from one of his jumps, "You're nothing more than a minor annoyance! Once I've cast you aside, you'll regret ever wasting your stupidity in thinking you could conquer me, the dragon's kin!"
With that, Volga released another roar, and his body blasted out a blinding light. Sheik was forced to guard her eyes at the brightness. Once the light had faded, Volga no longer stood before them. Instead, a red dragon, its face coated in a silver armor, unfurled its black wings. Its body lit up like a wildfire, and it spread its jaws, its belly swelling as impending flames mounted within.
"Sheik! Jade! Get out of here!" Impa shouted.
Sheik caught a glimpse of Impa. The general was hunched over slightly, and her expression, though fierce, could not mask the great pain she underwent. In that moment, Sheik knew that Impa would not live if she was left to face Volga alone.
"No!" Sheik barely rolled away as Volga blasted fire where she'd stood.
"Sheik, think of Hyrule!" Impa barked, preparing the giant's knife as Volga took to the skies, "You have to save yourself! This foe is beyond you!"
"He's beyond you too!" Sheik longed to scream.
Instead, she cried, "I can't leave you!"
"I'm nothing!" Impa scowled at Sheik, irritated at being defied for so long, "Don't be a fool! Get to Cia!"
"Sheik, c'mon!" Jade begged.
Both furious and heartbroken, Sheik chased after Jade and left the battle. All of Sheik's nightmares were coming true before her own eyes. And she was being forbidden from preventing their realization. Trying to think of how Impa might act in her situation, she stifled her tears and ran toward the center of the valley.
Cia would pay dearly for what she had cost Sheik.
Link could sense that there was danger across the valley. He wasn't sure how, but he knew he was needed. Almost as if his name was being called—as if some power within him was tugging him elsewhere. "Lana!" he shouted, "Can you hold our ground?"
Lana, otherwise occupied with a bokoblin, risked a quick glance his direction, "I-I think so?"
"Good," Link began running to the east, "I'll be back, I promise!"
"Wait—Link!" Lana ducked as the bokoblin took a swing at her, shooting it backward with a spout of magic from her hand, "Where are you going?"
Link didn't answer because he didn't exactly know. But as he neared the keeps that Sheik, Impa, and Jade were meant to be claiming, he saw the cause of his impulse.
A dragon, one that looked oddly familiar to Link, flew overhead, raining fire down upon all in its path. Impa, now alone, only just avoided each of his assaults. From the awkward posture of the general, Link knew she was injured. As she darted to one side, slower than her typical Sheikah speed, she grimaced.
A sinking feeling in his gut, Link knew Impa would die if she tried to outlast this dragon much longer.
In spite of all that Impa had done to agitate him and belittle him, he knew he had to help her. He rushed toward Impa, readying his shield. "Impa! Duck!" he shouted.
Impa looked at him, eyebrows raising in surprise, as Link leapt in front of her, shielding their bodies from an onslaught of fire from Volga, circling overhead. Through his shield, Link could feel the extreme temperature straining against metal. He grit his teeth, holding his ground over Impa.
An outraged screech sounded from overhead as the dragon finally relented, swooping downward into a dive instead. "Let's move!" Link yanked Impa to her feet, dragging her along as he dodged the dragon's attack.
Link couldn't shake the eerie familiarity of the dragon. Something about its metallic skull and glowing green eyes, its red scales. . . it looked like someone or something Link had seen before. . .
"Stay down! Just leave this to me!" Link said over his shoulder, allowing the injured general to stagger to the ground behind him.
He planted his feet and raised his sword as the dragon rushed him, its ironclad jaws open and ready. With one swing, Link's sword clanged as it hit the metal plates of the dragon's skull. The force of Link's blow caused the beast to veer to the side, temporarily stunned. "Link!" Impa called, shakily standing to her feet, "Be careful! He's not what he seems!"
As if on cue, there was a flash of light as the dragon became a man. Link's eyes widened with recognition. "You!" he muttered.
"The boy from Eldin!" Volga chuckled, "Now this is a surprise. I could have sworn I'd finished you."
Volga reached behind him, drawing a long spear, "I suppose some of you Hyruleans are slow-learners and must be taught a second time. It will be my pleasure to end your miserable life. And this time, there will be no coming back!"
Link growled and prepared his sword. Volga leapt into the air, spear ready to impale. Link swung his shield upward, grunting with exertion as Volga crashed against it. The force of Volga's body weight was enough to knock Link to the ground, his shield spinning away.
"Link! No!" Impa yelled.
Link shouted in pain as Volga stomped onto his wrist, effectively pinning him to the ground. "Prepare to burn, boy!" Volga said, his mouth already filling with fire as he spoke.
Impa had stumbled to her feet and charged at Volga, only to be thrown backward once more. Just as Volga had opened his mouth, raining fire down upon Link, a shield of golden light had burst from Link's form. The force of the light flung both Impa and Volga away from Link. For a few moments, a perfect dome of shimmering light surrounded Link's form on the ground. Having no time to question what was happening, Link stood and drew his sword again, using his opposite wrist. The light dimmed and the magical barrier vanished as Link ran at Volga.
Volga lay stunned on the ground, his body shocked from the force of Link's magical attack. With a roar of frustration, he only barely evaded Link's blow, rolling sharply to one side as Link's sword pierced the ground where he had lain. "I was careless. . ." Volga muttered, jumping into the air and transforming into a dragon once again, "Next time, it won't end like this!"
Link cried out in anger as Volga flew away, successfully escaping any further attacks.
"L-Link!"
On shaky legs, Impa gradually stood to her feet again. Link hurried to her side, allowing her to lean into his side for support. "Come on! We've got to reach that altar! And I won't leave you behind!"
"Can you manage with your wrist?" Impa asked seriously.
"It's fine!" Link said. He led Impa along, moving as quickly as possible, without further conversation. Gratefully, Volga's presence had swept the area of the remaining bokoblins.
Impa had her doubts about Link's wrist. She assumed it was likely broken. Additionally, she didn't mention what she had witnessed. The golden light that had burst forth from Link. Impa had recognized it instantly. But now was not the time to discuss such things.
That had undoubtedly been the power of the Triforce.
And she had been wrong.
Link was the hero of legend. There could be no question about it.
"We should go to the altar!" Jade called to Sheik.
"We can't!" Sheik protested, "We haven't claimed all of the keeps yet! If we don't manage them now, they'll swarm us when we go after Cia!"
"Sheik! Jade!"
Lana's voice echoed as the sorceress landed in the midst of the two. "The front gate is blocked!" Lana explained, "We can't rush the altar yet. But I've seen a bridge here on the eastern side—we have to try it as a way to get to Cia!"
"I'll come and help you!" Jade said, firing an arrow before turning to join Lana.
"It's too risky! I'll stay here and guard your back! We still have keeps to claim here," Sheik said. She only narrowly avoided a bokoblin club that came somersaulting through the air.
"I think we need more people," Lana said, "Where is General Impa?"
At the recollection of what had passed, Sheik's throat tightened. "Oh, um, she. . ." Jade stammered.
"Sheik! Jade!"
This time, it was Impa's voice that strained over the chaos.
"Impa!" Sheik nearly sobbed from relief at seeing her guardian. But battle had taken its toll. Impa seemed unable to walk on her own, her weight supported by Link.
Link said nothing as he helped Impa hobble over to the others. "I only need a moment," Impa said gruffly, nodding her head toward Sheik, Jade, and Lana, "Link, help them. Nearly all of the keeps have been claimed by our men. They need leadership to take the rest. You all must act in my place."
"I think we can get to Cia," Lana said, "We just need to lower a bridge here on the east side."
"But I can stay and help our men," Sheik said.
"Yes, lead them, Sheik," Impa said, "I have no doubt in your ability."
"I'll go with Lana," Link said.
Though it stung, Sheik strove to act unaffected by Link's avoidance of her. "You should go too," she said to Jade.
"But what about you?" Jade's eyes widened, "Will you really be alright by yourself?"
"I'll have Impa once she's recovered," Sheik nodded reassuringly to Jade, "And I have our men. I'll be fine. Link and Lana need you."
To Sheik's surprise, she caught Link's eyes upon her. He quickly averted his gaze but. . . it was almost as if he looked worried. Nonetheless, Sheik had no doubts that this time, for once, he would not come rushing to her rescue.
"Jade, go!" Impa said. The typical gruffness to her voice had returned.
Lana, Link, and Jade rushed to the east. In the mean time, Sheik wasted no time hurrying to Impa's aid.
"Sheik! Leave me be!" Impa said stiffly, jerking her arm away as Sheik seized it.
"General, you have to let me help you!" Sheik said, "You can't push yourself like this!"
"Allow me a moment and I will recover!" Impa said.
Seeing she would get nowhere with the stubborn general, Sheik snapped, "Fine! Only don't move from this spot. I'll see if I can rally our troops in taking the remaining keeps here in the west."
Leaning against the remains of what had once been a wall, Impa nodded her consent, "Very well. I'll join you briefly."
Sheik turned to leave the general, only to stop as Impa called after her.
"Sheik," Impa said, "I was wrong."
"What are you saying? General Impa, you're going to be alright! I promise you!" Sheik said.
"No, it's not that," Impa shook her head, "Link. He is the hero of legend. You were right."
In the midst of the pandemonium, a flicker of happiness lifted in Sheik's heart. So it was true!
But there was no time to revel in the truth. "Now go!" Impa commanded.
Sheik obeyed.
"Link! Wait!"
Lana's voice sounded faraway and dreamlike. Link had no intention of listening to it.
Now that he, Lana, and Jade had defended one of the remaining engineers in the army as he lowered the drawbridge in the east, "waiting" couldn't be farther from what he wanted to do. With Cia at last at his fingertips, he was determined to find out what happened to Zelda, once and for all. No matter the cost.
As he barreled up to the altar, the purple smoke grew thicker. Eerily, the bokoblins decreased in number, as if they kept a reverent distance from whatever he was about to see. As the stairs ended, Link found himself standing on a platform. There was the huge ovular mirror at one end, the source of the otherworldly violet light. The Gate of Souls. A woman stood in front of it, a birdlike mask hiding her face.
Her shapely body was accentuated by her outfit, all comprised of darker colors. But Link felt nothing but loathing for her. This was the woman responsible for everything that had happened. For him being torn from the castle. For Zelda's possible death.
"Ah, Link, the great hero. . . let me get a good look at you. . . "
The woman turned around, and Link could have sworn she was smirking at him from beneath her mask. She approached him, her hips swaying as she did.
"Stay back!" Link growled, raising his sword.
The woman laughed and snapped her fingers. A violet barrier shot up around the altar, boxing in her and Link from the rest of the world. "Now, you don't really mean that," she said lowly, "We're together at last. Don't you want to get to know one another? I know I've been fantasizing about this very moment for ages."
"My heart belongs to one woman," Link said, his body shaking with rage, "And if you've done so much as raise a finger against her, I swear I'll kill you!"
"Oh, tut tut," the woman clicked her tongue, "That's really no way to address the Black Sorceress, you know."
Link swallowed, keeping his sword raised.
"And you say as much now, but I think I can persuade you otherwise," Cia said, circling around Link.
Though Link longed to reach out and gut the vile woman, he knew he had to restrain himself. One hasty move could cost him his advantage, and he couldn't afford to miss the chance to seal Cia's fate.
She tapped her scepter against her hand. Link readied himself, should she choose to strike. "See, I've been watching you, handsome hero," she said, "And you know what I see? I see lips that claim to love a queen, but eyes that long for a Sheikah warrior."
Link gasped, his thread of restraint snapping. Against his better judgment, he leapt forward, slashing at Cia with his sword. She narrowly dodged his attack, leaping to one side. "Seems I've struck a nerve," she laughed.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Link shouted.
His rage unleashed, he struck at Cia again, moving his sword in wild, broad strokes. To his growing annoyance, Cia easily avoided his attacks. Having a sound mind, she clearly had an upper hand. "Where is Zelda?" Link roared, "What have you done with her?"
"So eager to see her, are you?" Cia laughed, "Though she is not the Sheikah that you've longed for?"
"Shut up!" Link cried, continuing to slash at the evasive witch, "Shut up!"
Cia raised her scepter, flicking it in the direction of Link and zapping him with an orb of purple light. He instantly collapsed, unconscious. "What a pity," she commented, standing over his body, "I had so hoped to take you while you were awake. Clearly, you need to relax a bit first."
There was a sizzling sound, then a crackle. Cia whipped around, staring at the violet walls around her. Another crackle, then a pop like a firework. Cia gasped with outrage as the violet barriers shrunk, falling to the ground.
"Lana!" she shrieked, balling her hands into fists.
"General! What are you doing here?"
Sheik whirled around, barely having time to speak as she gutted a bokoblin with her knife.
"You need to go!" Impa said, joining the fray with her giant's knife ready, "I sense trouble at the altar. I believe Link, Lana, and Jade are in danger. You can help them."
"But what about you?" Sheik kicked away a stalfos, sending its skull flying from its body, "You can't be here by yourself!"
"The men will not allow anything to happen to me," Impa insisted, gesturing to the few remaining Hyurlean soldiers, all engaged in battle, "Now go!"
Seeing no alternative, Sheik sliced one last bokoblin up the chest and ran for the altar.
"Lana, it's working!" Jade called in encouragement.
Lana, her eyes shut, continued to wave her hand over her book of sorcery in concentration. She knew she was the only person present who could rival Cia's power. Breaking down her magical barriers would be draining, but Link was in there alone with Cia. If Lana didn't intervene, there was no telling what the insane sorceress might do to him.
Lana gave a cry, raising her hand and waving it across the magic walls. Surely enough, there was a clamor of popping sounds, and the walls disintegrated.
"Great! Let's go save Hyrule!" Jade pumped her fist, giving a whooping cry as she barreled up the stairs. She nearly tripped as she prepared her crossbows.
"Jade! Wait!" Lana cried, slamming her book shut and chasing after her.
"Lana!"
Lana briefly glanced over her shoulder, seeing Sheik pursuing her. "I'm right behind you!" Sheik called, "Go!"
Lana reached the top of the stairs, gasping to see Jade and Link both sprawled across the ground. "Lana! You're just in time," Cia grinned at her, spinning her scepter through the air.
"Cia," Lana frowned, "Enough! You've gone too far!"
"Oh, Lana," Cia pouted, putting one hand on her hip, "You see, that's the difference between the two of us. When I want something, I actually go after it. And do you see?"
Cia gestured to Link with her scepter, who still lay unconscious on the ground. "I've gotten exactly what I want," Cia's teeth gleamed in a predatory smile.
"At what cost, Cia?" Lana frowned, "You're not yourself anymore! You have to listen to me before you lose yourself entirely!"
There was the sound of footsteps as Sheik reached the top of the altar. As soon as Sheik saw Cia, she whipped out the Goddess' Harp. "Lana! We do it together!" Sheik growled, her fingers on the harp's strings.
Cia cackled, throwing her head back in amusement. Lana did not miss the way her scepter began to glow an eerie violet. "Oh, you're too late, Lana!" Cia laughed, "I'm never listening to you ever again!"
The blast that followed slammed against Sheik's body. Some kind of dark energy shot out from Cia's scepter in a surge of power, causing Lana to scream and fall to the ground.
Sheik thought she must be fainting. If such a blast of energy could incapacitate a sorceress like Lana, then there was no logical reason that Sheik should remain standing. A natural impulse, Sheik's hand flew to cover her face as the wave of purple slammed through her.
And yet. . . to Sheik's shock, she was not thrown back by it. A golden glow surrounded her like a bubble, like she was inside a star. Sheik gasped.
The Triforce of Wisdom had never before shown its true power. Sheik had always known that an aspect of being its wielder was its protection, but in the past, the only benefit Sheik had ever received from the Triforce had been its faltering telepathic abilities.
Now, in the face of true danger, its full potential was unlocked.
When the wave of energy had passed, the golden light dimmed. Cia screamed, positively livid. "No!" she screeched, stamping her scepter on the altar in rage, "No, no, no, no, no! You can't be! You can't be her!"
Unsheathing her dagger, Sheik charged at Cia. But with one swoop of her scepter, Cia clouted Sheik over the head, sending her to the ground. Groaning with pain, Sheik cradled her face. Everything was spinning.
"You vile woman! Hiding in plain sight all along!" Cia spat, "So it would seem the hero spoke true after all. I must say you've really outdone yourself with this disguise. Even with my ability to watch over my hero, I didn't realize that the mysterious Sheikah devil was a woman of such significance."
Sheik's hopes rose within her: Cia knew she was the queen. If only she would say as much! Freedom from Skull Kid's curse was tantalizingly close. . . just as soon as Cia would speak her true name!
Though her eyes were watering from the hit and Cia's voice sounded muted, Sheik stood on quivering legs. "Pathetic!" Cia smirked, "You may have your beloved Triforce on your side, but even it won't make you a worthy opponent for me."
Sheik fumbled for her knife on the ground. There was the sound of rapid breathing drumming in her ears. . . was that her?
"You know," Cia taunted, beginning to walk in a circle around the disoriented warrior, "your hero seems positively determined to have you. And you do know, I'm sure, that if he cannot be mine, I certainly cannot allow you to have him."
Cia whipped out her scepter, jutting it into Sheik's throat. Sheik gasped, the pressure against her windpipe choking her breathing. "Are you listening to me?" Cia hissed, forcing Sheik's chin upward so that Sheik was staring into Cia's violet eyes, hidden beneath her ominous mask, "If he won't have me, then he won't have anybody."
Sheik jerked her head away, gagging as her hand flew to rub her throat. "I'll have to kill you, you know," Cia growled, "And for stealing the only thing I've ever wanted from me, I think I'll have to give you a very special death."
Everything was so fuzzy. Sheik blinked repeatedly, trying to clear her vision. For the life of her, she couldn't focus. Where was the Triforce of Wisdom?
"So enjoy this curse," Cia said, "I'll give you a death sweet and slow, something that you can really savor. Aren't I so kind?"
Sheik raised her head, seeing Cia twirl her scepter through the air. A small black orb of magic formed in the air. As if it were a ball, Cia batted it with her scepter. It vanished the moment it hit Sheik's face.
Sheik gasped. The effect was immediate; she felt as if slime had coated her insides. "Listen, here's what I've done for you, you selfish brat," Cia smirked, "Already, your body is beginning to shut down and die. But before you yourself lose all your strength and suffocate on your own spit, everyone you've ever loved—everyone you've ever even claimed to love—will perish before you. So that you can see it with your own eyes. So that you might begin to know what I've felt!"
"No!" Sheik wheezed.
"Oh, and I'll be taking this," Cia said.
Cia waved her scepter through the air. Sheik's body jerked forward, falling to the ground. It felt as if Cia had siphoned the air from Sheik's lungs; her body trembled as her breath left her.
A single golden triangle appeared in the air, torn from Sheik's being.
"No!" Sheik thought. She'd have screamed if she'd had the strength to do so. She couldn't lose her Triforce!
"And our hero won't be needing his either," Cia said.
Her cheek pressed against the rock floor of the altar, Sheik watched as a similar triangle materialized over Link.
Link, the hero of legend. Now robbed of his right by a sorceress who claimed to love him.
A deep voice Sheik didn't recognize boomed across the skies. Had Sheik had to guess, she would've imagined it was coming from the Gate of Souls. But that couldn't be. . . could it?
"Cia. The time to call the fragments of my spirit is now."
Because you know what this story needed? More stakes! And you know what Zelda needed? Another curse!
EDIT: Kudos to reviewer, Dan Blue, for pointing out a glaring problem with the original upload of this chapter. I have since modified Skull Kid's curse in Chapter Five so that in order to free Zelda of her Sheikah form, you have to identify who she is out loud.
I also took out the part in this chapter where Cia, incidentally, identified who Zelda was out loud.
Because that would just kind of ruin the story. Ya feel?
