A/N: Alright, we have reached ten chapters. I would like to thank all those who review because each review fills my heart with... joy. :p I would like to give a special thanks to DestinyInterwined for joining further ado, here's the next chapter.
Link sheathed his sword. After running in this unforgivable desert for hours, he finally had opened the mining facility. Link grabbed the hilt of the Goddess's sword to call Fi.
The sword spirit flipped out of the sword, "Master, you have need of me?"
Link tried not to cringe at the term 'master'. He didn't want to be anyone's master. "Yes, Fi. I, uh, was wondering if you could tell me about this mining facility," Link lied. In truth, this adventure was very lonesome and he really needed someone to talk to.
"Thousands of years ago before the Great War, this facility mined time-shift stones. These stones were then used to create many magical items. Master, I fail to compute the significance in this topic."
Link shrugged, "I thought it will be useful to know." Fi lowered her head as a salute before flipping back into her sword. I guess there won't be an exciting conversation. Link sighed as he climbed down the stairs into the mining facility.
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Rahzel tightened her grip on the brown Loftwing's mane. Luckily she managed to grab the bird before it flew off in fear. The bird bucked and dived trying to rid itself of the Hylian on its back. "Whoa, Copper. You remember me, don't you?" Rahzel whispered hoping to calm the bird. The bird squawked angrily before doing a barrel roll. Rahzel shut her eyes while the bird was corkscrewing through the air. Calm Rahzel, you just have to hold on for a little longer. The woman knew what she was doing was dangerous, but she had no where else to go.
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Ghirahim trudged on through the night. The sun was rising, but its light didn't brighten his mood. Ghirahim mentally criticized himself. He should be overjoyed; he was closer to revive his master than he ever was before. "You have been very silent, Rahzel," Ghirahim called turning to face the empty air. Ghirahim sighed he should have brought Vladimir; this trip would be very lonely. Ghirahim looked up to the clouds and briefly wondering what Rahzel was doing. She's probably being crowded by all these people. They are probably glad that she came back alive. Ghirahim flipped his hair before picking up the pace.
Ghirahim shuffled slightly in the sand when a loud squawk filled the air. Ghirahim looked up to see a large brown dive from the clouds above. The bird was jerking back and forth until a body fell off its back. Ghirahim watched the figure bored. Another Hylian. You think they'll be able to control their birds.
Ghirahim continued to travel through the sand. Brushing some of the offending material from his arms. He looked again to the sky. He heard a slight shuffling sound and turned to face it. There standing in the sand was Rahzel. "I thought you went to the sky," Ghirahim said angrily as he continued forward.
"I did," the woman responded now walking beside the noble. "I completed my business in the sky and have come back to aide you." Ghirahim grumbled to himself. "I told you I'll see you again," the Hylian reminded.
"You're very stubborn, aren't you," Ghirahim asked not turning to the woman.
"That's what my father always told me," Rahzel said. Ghirahim felt something tug on his cape. He turned to face the albino. Rahzel released her hold on the material. "Would you please allow me to help? I promise that together we can revive your master." Rahzel looked up into his brown eyes and slightly stuck out her bottom lip. The noble could see the honesty in her eyes, but what stood out more was the bruise that was starting to form around one of the Hylian's eye.
Ghirahim broke eye contact, "Yes, you may help me." Rahzel sighed in relief. "What happen while you were in the sky?" Ghirahim asked.
"I did something that should have been done a long time ago," Rahzel answered.
"So you got into another fight?" Ghirahim asked pointing at the bruise on her face. Ghirahim leaned in, "Who hit you?" At this close distance, Ghirahim could faintly smell smoke and blood.
"The former first knight of wisdom," Rahzel answered uncaringly.
"I imagine you killed the man," Ghirahim responded, "I'm sure he deserved it."
"Oh, he deserved it," Rahzel scoffed. Ghirahim remained silent and waited for the woman to explain. "I suppose I could tell you," Rahzel sighed. "You see, my father raised both my brother and I after my mother passed away. He worked at the Academy, so we lived at the dorms." Rahzel smiled at the memory. "My brother joined the Academy and eventually graduated. He joined the Order of Wisdom when I entered the Academy. He used to bring me all sorts of souvenirs from the outlying islands that he explored." Rahzel tightened her ponytail, "I wanted to be like him. I wanted to go on adventures. I wanted to discover the far reaches of the sky and the surface." Ghirahim watched the woman now interested on what she would reveal about the Hylians' home. "It was difficult. The Academy teaches both apprentice knights and the civilian population. Once the other students found out that I wanted to become a knight, I had to deal with their downward glances. But I was top in my class grade-wise and I won the Wing Ceremony."
"So you joined this order of wisdom after your graduation?" Ghirahim asked.
Rahzel smirked, "I tried. I took the Oder Placement Test and was told that I did so poorly that none of the orders would accept me." The woman lowered her head. "I was so frustrated. I was going to prove that I was the best choice for the order of wisdom. I was going to go to the surface. But when I started to dive, a large twister appeared out of nowhere. I tried to escaped it, but I got caught up in it." Ghirahim shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know what happened next. I was being pummeled by the debris in the twister and I blacked out. When I came to, I found out that my brother was the one who saved me." Rahzel sighed turning away from the noble, "That's when I met Ischard, the first knight of wisdom. He told me that my brother was fine. However later that day, he told me that my brother took a turn for the worse and died."
"He murdered your brother?" Ghirahim asked now furious at the disgraceful actions of this man.
Rahzel shrugged, "There is no evidence. And at the time I was so naïve, I didn't think someone in Skyloft could be like that. Bullies, yes, but murderers." Rahzel shook her head, "Anyways, That's when he offered me my brother's position as his second. He convinced me that it was the only way to fulfill my dream, but it came with a catch. No one could know that my brother had died. I had to become my brother."
"You were his puppet," Ghirahim deduced.
Rahzel nodded, "With both knights of wisdom saying the same thing, how could the others not listen to their council." Rahzel brushed a tear from her eye.
Ghirahim could feel a tug at his heart. He never saw the woman so vulnerable. Even after her fight the day before, the woman stood , albeit wobbly, with confidence. Ghirahim grabbed her hand and held it tightly. The albino looked down at the hand in hers before looking into Ghirahim's brown eyes. "It is in the past, Rahzel. The man can't harm you anymore," he said soothingly. "If he was still alive, I would… I would.."
"It's like you said. It's in the past," Rahzel interrupted, "All we can ever do is keep moving forward."
"To Lanaryu Mining Facility?" Ghirahim asked.
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Link stood in front of a large gold door. He smiled to himself this door was the only thing standing in between him and Zelda. He pulled out the giant golden key that he had found earlier in the dungeon. Link spent a moment deciding on the position that the key needed to go in before he placed it in the complicated lock. The lock turned and the large door swung in. Link walked autonomously in looking over his shoulder in case that demon was here. Seeing nothing, he relaxed and started to trudge through the sand.
I'm surprised that isn't a monster in here. Link looked around the room. Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. The sand was starting to shuffle. Link readied his sword and the sand shifter to reveal a giant scorpion many times bigger than the hero.
The large arachnid gave a loud scream and opened its claws to reveal a pair of eyeballs. Those must be its weak points. Link dodged the monster's claws. Link slashed at the soft tissue and the monster squealed as his blade met its flesh. The hero tried to jump away from the monster's count, but was caught in its pinchers. He shouted in surprise and pain.
Link brought down his shield; ramming it into the pincher's joint until the scorpion released him. Link used the monster's shock to slash at its eyeballs again. This time both of the arachnid arms came off.
Screaming in pain, the monster opened the single eye on its face and burrowed itself into the deep sand. Link backed up and pulled out his billows. The endless wind from the item blew away some of the sand. It filled the air and Link had to clear his throat to prevent choking. Even with this side effect, the billows had done its job. The cleared sand revealed the monster. It looked shock at its discovery. Link thrust his sword into its eye.
With one final scream the bug curled up and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. Link sighed in relief. The sound of turning gears filled the air. The sand that Link was standing on began to sink. The hero braced himself to prevent himself from falling.
The sand was disappearing quickly and soon it was completely gone. With the sand gone, Link could see a door with the symbol of the goddess on it. He opened the door and walked into the darkness.
The room he walked into was a large hallway with large statues of those ancient robots that lived here. The floor in the hall had already succumbed to time and had fallen. The only way across was a mining cart. Link looked for a time shift stone. Once he had activated it, Link hopped into the mining cart. Link braced himself as it started to carry him through the hall. At the other end of the hall, Link dismounted the cart and walked through the light-filled doorway.
A soft voice sang a familiar melody. When Link's eyes readjusted to the light, he saw Zelda across a great chasm with her guardian. Zelda was wearing the simple white dress that Link saw her in last time. She was gently strumming a golden harp. She was so focused that she didn't notice him until she had finished her song. Turning to face the hero, she smiled as she recognized him. Link's heart soared and he began to run to her. Before he could take a single step the air vibrated with a loud boom. Large boulders rolled across the stone pathways. Link covered his eyes to protect them from the dust.
A familiar laugh filled the air making him shiver. How did he find us? Link thought as lowered his arm. Right on cue, the melodramatic demon leaped into view. Just glancing his way, the white-haired demon swung his sword upward. A wall of diamonds sprung from the ground trapping Link. The demon lord smugly caressed his blade before turning his attention to Zelda.
Link's heart skipped a beat; he was absolutely useless while he was trapped like this. With a shout, the demon was hurtling toward Zelda. The tall blonde woman ran to meet the demon.
"Impa," Zelda called frantically. Both demon and Sheikah collided in a brilliant blue flash. A large curved field blocked the demon's sword. The demon continued to slash away at this barrier obviously very amused.
"Your Grace! Quickly, to the gate!" the black-clad woman ordered. Zelda ran she was parallel with Link.
"Link," she called, "You'll need this where you're going." The harp in her hands was immersed in light. This light shot at Link. When it reached him, Link found himself holding the harp. Link looked up from the instrument to thank his friend when he saw someone.
This person was female with her silver hair tied back. The woman was going to attack Zelda. Link opened his mouth to warn Zelda when the mysterious woman tackled her. Zelda didn't even make a sound before the newcomer had knocked her out.
Impa turned, probably to tell Zelda to hurry, and was surprised to find the silver-haired woman with the blonde over her shoulder. So many things happened at once. Impa's barrier broke in glass-like slivers, the wall that blocked Link burned itself out, and the demon's helper had begun her escape. Link leapt at the demon lord while Impa quickly jumped to her feet to stop the kidnapper. Link knew that he had to focus on the demon and rely on Impa to save Zelda.
But the demon lord didn't look interested in the hero. He was watching the fight behind them. Link attacked the demon and the demon avoided the blow by slipping past Link and getting closer to the gate.
A short shout of surprise drew Link's attention. Even the demon's eyes widen in shock. Impa had snatched Zelda's kidnapper. The Sheikah held the woman off the ground before throwing the enemy into the endless chasm. "Rahzel," Ghirahim shouted as he snapped his fingers. A small platform appeared and stopped the woman's fall.
Rahzel? It couldn't be.
"Link. Return to the old woman at the Sealed Grounds. Tell her what happened her," Impa shouted before disappearing into the Gate of Time. Once the thin woman had disappeared, the gear-shaped stone imploded leaving nothing but rubble.
A growl reminded Link that his job was not yet finished. "Now you've done, Link," the demon shouted with a clenched fist. "I blame myself. I should have reprimanded you last time we met, but instead I was… soft," he snarled thrusting his sword at the chosen hero. He pointed, "But next time, I'll do more than just beat you senseless." The demon swayed with anger, "I'll make the affair so excruciating, you'll deafen yourself with the shill sound of your own screams."
"No, you won't," a voice called out. Link turned to the source of the interruption The demon's accomplice had pulled herself onto the bridge. When she looked up, Link recognized her. She had went with the Academy with him. She graduated the year that he entered. "He is coming with us," the woman said. Link's jaw dropped; his old tutor couldn't possibly be aiding his enemy.
"I suppose you're right, Rahzel," Ghirahim's voice broke through Link's nostalgia. The hero readied his sword shifting his gaze between his two enemies that were on either side of him. Ghirahim took a step toward the hero. Link took a step back and attacked Rahzel who hadn't moved from her earlier position. With his back turned momentarily from Ghirahim, the demon struck him with the hilt of his rapier. Stars danced behind Link's eyes before he fell to his knees and darkness took him.