A/N: Well, a slightly shorter chapter than my usual here, but at least it's a faster update so trade-off? Managed to get my major assignment out of the way so that left me with more relax time that I used for writing, woohoo. I've been wanting to get to this chapter from the start so happy to finally be here... Sorta.

Oh, a new name is brought up in this chapter, and, so there's no confusion, it is pronounced "sea-nay", not "sign" which you may think it is at first glance... I know I did in looking up the word hah. You'll see later.

Enjoy it, if you can.

X

Without

Link and San exited the Gate of Time, the ancient structure closing behind them. The cogs of the Gate of Time continued to turn, ready to take them back to the past should it be needed. San stumbled forward, still not at her full strength. Frowning in concern, Link helped her to right herself. He was not liking her current state. Even if that jump back to the Sealed Temple had sapped more out of her than usual, it was still taking her some time to regain her strength. There was not even her familiar snappy "I'm fine" with a brush aside of his aid.

"So you've returned," said the elder woman, walking towards them. Link could feel San shifting away, as if to hide herself from view. Still frowning, the young man focused on the red-clad woman and nodded. A sigh escaped her. "Then you know everything... On the other side of that gate, Zelda waits, suspended in a sleep without end."

Walking down from the pedestal before the gate, Link looked to the closed doors behind the pool of light at the back of the temple. It was there Zelda still waited for him to wake her. He did not want to keep her waiting much longer.

"But do not despair," continued the elder woman, "for she is still alive and well." Link sighed, trying to put himself at ease. She had already waited countless years for him, a little while longer would do her no harm. Telling himself that it was the right answer, he scampered to the elder woman who looked up at him and nodded approvingly. "True to legend, the Triforce is the one thing with the power to vanquish Demise, especially now that he no longer consumes that infinite darkness that had been inside the Seals. The Triforce is thought to have been hidden within Skyloft by the goddess. Sadly, that is all we know of where it rests. All other clues to its whereabouts have been lost to the ages. Link, you have likely come to the same conclusion, but I will spell it out just the same. The key to finding the Triforce must be in Skyloft. However, as I am sure you are now aware, there is one another matter that should be dealt with first."

Her hooded gaze then shifted to San, who still remained near the Gate of Time. "No need to be so shy, San. I know you have risen to meet your fa—"

"Don't," interrupted San. Cloak pulled around in front of her to help hide her changes, she made her way down from the pedestal, slower than usual. "Just don't. So once we deal with the last Seal and destroy the infinite darkness within, it'll be safe to claim the Triforce?"

"Yes. I do not believe that Ghirahim has broken that last Seal either, for Demise is still dormant. That darkness must be destroyed for it even poses a threat to the Trifoce. You two must go now. Destroy that final Seal, and then find the Triforce."

"Whoa! Whoa there! Hold up!" shouted Groose. Link blinked in surprise before looking off to where the redhead stood in the alcove. He waved over the blond. "Link, there's something I gotta tell you." Giving San a sparing glance, in which she returned with tossing her head towards the redhead, he then hurried towards that alcove. When Link neared, Groose then asked, "So, Zelda... How's she holding up? Was she okay when you saw her?"

Link hesitated, glancing down. Though quite a fair bit had happened since Zelda fell to slumber inside the crystal, it still felt surreal when he thought about it, and far too close. Still, after all Groose had been through himself since following Link to the ground, he certainly had a right to know what had happened to their friend. With a sombre expression, Link explained what had happened to Zelda in the past.

Groose's eyes gradually grew wider. "That's terrible. It's gotta be so hard for that poor girl." Shaking his head, he let out a long sigh. When he looked back up, Link was surprised by how hopeful the redhead was. "But you're going to do something about this mess, right? Link...I've made up my mind. I'm not going back. I'm staying right here with Grannie."

Link blinked in surprise. After the redhead's initial terror of the surface, it was quite the shift in opinion. A chuckle escaped Groose as he snuffed his nose.

"Aww, don't look so bummed out. Do I look sad? Nah, I'm doing what I want to do! I don't know how to explain it. I got this feeling in my belly that there's work to do here. Someone's gotta watch that big, ugly monster, and someone's gotta make sure Grannie's doing all right. It ain't as action packed as what you're doing, but maybe this is my destiny. Know what I mean?" With how enthusiastic Groose appeared to be, Link could not help but grin despite circumstances. In such a short time, the redhead had come quite far from the person he had been in Skyloft.

Placing his hands on his hips, Groose looked around the temple, studying the ancient structure some more. "Besides, it's not so bad here. Living up in the sky was okay, I guess, but don't you just love the way it smells down here?" Holding out his hands, he then breathed in deeply. Upon seeing this, Link found himself snorting out a chuckle. He had meant to hold in the noise of amusement, but had failed horribly.

"What?" retorted Groose, frowning. "That's not weird to say!" After waving aside the matter, the redhead motioned Link to follow further into the alcove. While moss, grass, and other plants grew without check inside the temple, what lay at the heart of the alcove was a little would-be garden, perfect for planting. "Check it out. Zelda and Grannie have brought life back to the land here. I bet even the weakest sapling could grow into one beast of a tree in soil like this. It'd brighten this place up a little too. I mean, sure, it'd take a few years for it to grow, but as far as I'm concerned, I got nothing but time. It's weird to say out loud, but that's just how I feel right now. So...yeah...you know." Smoothing back his hair in his familiar manner, Groose turned back to Link, his expression surprisingly serious. "When you get back to Skyloft, do me a favour and let people know I'm doing okay down here. Cawlin and Stritch might get a little emotional since they look up to me, but you tell them I'm happy, okay?

Link nodded firmly. It was strange to see the friendly side of Groose, one who cared more for the well-being of others rather than just his own. Strange, but good.

Groose grinned. "Thanks, Link." He waved the young blond off in farewell. When Link returned to the elder woman and San, he barely caught the end of what they had been talking about.

"...I know," was all he heard San mumble. She shifted her weight, pulling her cloak around her more as she looked up to Link. "Ah, ready to go?"

Opening his mouth to respond, the blond hesitated. Part of him wanted to know what it was they had been discussing, but if they had waited for to go off to Groose, and neither were volunteering the information, then it was not his place to pry. Instead, he nodded, feeling his stomach churn slightly as he did. It was not the idea of finding the Triforce that unsettled him then, but rather the unknown that still surrounded that fourth Seal. They were going to destroy the darkness, yes, but he could not picture that powerful a being, even while weakened, going down silently without putting up some sort of a fight.

The elder woman spoke, pulling him from his spiralling thoughts: "Good luck, to the both of you."

With saying their farewells for now, Link and San left the Sealed Temple and were met by dusk settling in. The closer they got to one of the statues that linked the sky and the ground, the more San lagged behind, so much so the point that Link had to wait for her to return to his side again. Her slowness was not from weariness either, though she still looked rather pale, but from a grim reluctance of of travelling to the sky. A deep scowl was etched across her face as she stared at the statue, like it was something to be detested and despised. Still scowling, she looked to Link, raising her eyebrows ever so slightly as a plead.

"Do I have to do this?" she asked, almost wincing. "I guess there's no way around it, is there... All right, fine!" Huffing, she whipped off her cloak with a flourish, gripping the corners tightly in her hands. "This should work, right? Like back with the spouts of air in Eldin?" She looked up to the and gulped, blanching even more. "Just...a whole lot more."

Link tried his best to comfort her by patting her on the shoulder, which did next to nothing. So, instead, he told her of what to expect upon them reaching the sky.

"That's it? All we're relying upon are pieces of cloth and you bird?" she snapped back. He really was not succeeding with his comforting attempts. "What if it doesn't come in time? What if we lose our one thing to slow our descent? What if—" Clamping her mouth shut, she placed a hand over her forehead. "No. Never mind. Let's get this over with before the thought of it makes me lose my stomach while still on the ground."

Feeling sorry for her, for it was never fun to have to do something that one detested, he brought out his Sailcloth. Next to him, San gripped the corners of her cloak so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She was as ready as she was going to be. Not waiting any longer, Link activated the statue which glowed to life and sent out a rush of air that started them soaring into the sky.

Up and up they climbed. The ground, and, eventually, the clouds were left far behind beneath them. Link breathed in deeply the air. While part of him agreed with what Groose had said—there was something about how the ground smelled that was just so comforting, if not for all the monsters—he still enjoyed the feel of the wind across his face. Looking over, he saw San with her eyes shut tight, trying hard to deny the change of location.

Only when Link called out to her did she part one eye enough to see him. With a nod, he let go of a side of his Sailcloth, as did San with her cloak. Letting forth a sharp whistle, Link let himself fall a bit faster than San, leaving her to handle the long drop back to the ground on her own for now. In the light from the setting sun, he scanned the horizon for his crimson companion and saw it soaring towards him above the clouds. The familiar cry from his Loftwing split the air, catching him before he fell even farther. Chuckling, he patted the crimson bird in thanks for the swift arrival.

After swerving around, Link moved to catch San so she was not left in a state of what had to be terror for much longer. Her black cloak that billowed out on the wind, and hair that had since come loose, made her very easy to see. Swooping in low with his Loftwing, he caught San, who let out a rather loud yelp upon the landing. Her now-loose hair whipping around them, she gripped onto his arms, tightly enough that it made Link wince in pain, and she tucked her head towards his shoulder, clenching her eyes shut even tighter than before. Link tried to soothe her frayed nerves by patting her on her back.

"Hey," she muttered, even her voice trembling slightly from nervousness. "I know we don't have quite all the time in the world any more, but c-could we stop and rest for the night? I'm still not feeling so good from that jump back to the Sealed Temple, and our little journey to the damn sky has not helped."

It did not take Link more than a second to agree to her request. Flying at night without some sort of light was not on his list of things to do either, so a rest until morning would be more than useful. However, Link was not about to stop off on any island, no. After all the nights spent sleeping on the bumpy ground while searching for the Seals, a proper place of rest was needed.

Skyloft drew closer, several other Loftwings circling around it as the few final rays from the sun slipped beyond the horizon. No one was currently wandering around near the upper door to the academy, so Link took his chances there. Seeing him return on his bright Loftwing was no odd sight, and so he hoped to avoid suspicion because of that. While he did not believe his people would show hatred or malice towards San (though he could not say the same about her towards his people), he still wanted to avoid any questions, especially given her current state. Rather than his usual leap from the bird, Link brought the creature in for a smooth landing.

Calling out to her softly, Link shook San gently. She slowly opened her eyes, and, for the first time since they both reached the sky above the clouds, looked down. A deep sigh of relief escaped her. When she looked back to Link, she chuckled in embarrassment before hopping off of the Loftwong. Link waved farewell to his crimson companion as it flew off into the darkening sky. For them, rest was now in order.

After pushing open the door slowly, Link peeked inside the academy. Just because there was no one outside did not mean that there was not someone right inside waiting. He waved San in after him, hurrying along the corridors while it was empty, but not for long. Hearing footsteps nearing, Link dashed the final stretch, San on his tail, to his room, closing the door behind them just in time.

"Any place would have been fine, really, but if you wanted to sleep on your bed, then all right." Sniffing lightly, San began to move to sleep on the floor, but Link would not allow that. Blocking her path, he scowled lightly at her and pointed to the bed. For all of his life, he had the opportunity to sleep on a bed every night (until the very recent events dealing with the surface), while she, thanks to her way of life, had not seen let alone been able to use one for the past ten years. It was a small gesture, but the only one he could think of sharing.

"What? Don't be ridiculous," she scoffed back quietly. "The floor is more than enough for me." If she was going to be stubborn about it, then he would be stubborn right back. Every time she tried to move to get around him, he would move to bar her path. She scowled at him. He scowled at her. "Fine!" huffed San silently, throwing up her arms in defeat. Acquiescing to his request, she moved to take the bed while Link let himself take the floor.

A yelp of surprise then escaped San, causing him to silently shush her while she in turn clamped a hand over her mouth. As they stared each other in the growing darkness of night, San began to laugh, which eventually made Link chuckle.

"Sorry," she muttered, kicking off her boots. Looking down to the bed, she pressed down on the mattress again and again, as if testing the material. "It's just been so long since I've slept on a bed like this. I didn't think I'd forgotten just how soft they were until now."

Link could not help but frown sombrely at her remark as he settled onto the floor. The beds of the academy were not even what he considered to be the softest, and yet she seemed enthralled by its texture before finally lying back onto the bed. It made him wonder how he would handle his life if everything he knew and was accustomed to was taken away from him without any chance of getting his life back. Maybe he could survive, but he knew he would not be able to forget what had been left behind.

"G'night, sky kid."

He did not know how long he had been asleep, only that a noise had woken him. Link's face scrunched up, annoyed that his rest was disturbed. Though he could be quite the heavy sleeper, even he had his moments where odd noises could wake him. At first Link merely thought the noise had come from one of the other rooms, but as his mind was allowed mull over the thought as he tried to get back to sleep, he realized that the noise had in fact come from his own room. Snorting, he bolted upright and first looked to the bed only to see that it was empty.

Link cursed under his breath and scrambled to his feet, the adrenaline that rushed through him waking him up enough to move swiftly while alert. Not only did thoughts of her crossing paths with one of the other people of Skyloft make him worry, but so too did the thought of her taking a wrong step and falling off of the edge.

Hurrying out of the Academy, he called out in a loud whisper for San. Not hearing any sort of response within a reasonable amount of time, he switched to using the dowsing ability from the Master Sword. To his relief, the sword did not lead him towards the land beneath the clouds, but instead to the open edges of Skyloft near one of the platforms. Her dark figure sat there, near the edge. When he neared and took a seat beside her, Link chided her for having gone off on her own like that.

Normally, he would have expected some sarcastic remark about he was not her babysitter, or something of the like, and that she could what she wanted. Instead, she said, "Sorry for waking and worrying you, but I just couldn't sleep. It really stinks, when you are tired but just can't sleep." Link mumbled an agreement. He had had his handful of such nights. Scooting forward, San tentatively hung her feet over the edge of Skyloft. She stared out across the clouds that were aglow from the moon's light. "So I came out here. It's...actually not so bad, the sky, getting to see it from up here. It makes it hard to keep on hating the sky."

Link blinked in confusion. He knew that she disliked the means of travelling to the sky, and she disliked the people from above the clouds, but the sky itself?

"I've always hated it," she answered as though it were the simplest and most natural thing to expect from her. "Most of my people despise it to some degree or another. It's a constant reminder of what our ancestors did, and what we're still being punished for. When the low-hanging clouds cover the sky, I don't mind it so much, but whenever there was clear sky above..." She sighed and leaned forward just enough to look over the edge and past her feet. Link followed her gaze, glancing down to the clouds directly beneath them before looking up towards the horizon. "But, from up here, it is quite lovely... Maybe I've wasted too much time hating it after all."

Frowning, Link looked over to San who still stared out at the sea of clouds. Ever since finding the first Seal, she had been acting differently, no longer as brash and short-tempered with everything, but calmer and more reserved. While it was less frustrating to deal with, Link was still unsettled by her change, and what had brought it about. His gaze shifted to the markings on her skin—the proof of the ancient darkness that she now carried within her. Was her shift in attitude just from that, or was there even more that she still hid from him?

Dusting off his hands, Link rose up and held out his hand to her. Worrying over such matters would not do him any good at the moment. Their rest was needed before reaching the final Seal.

Using his sword to help keep him standing, Link panted hard from the battle. Flying east in the morning, both San and Fi had sensed where the final Seal was located. It had led them to a temple in the sky, hidden from sight save for a small chunk of land that had markings on it. Due to the markings that she had recognized, San had suggested to play the song from her people. Doing so opened a previously invisible door, granting them access to the temple that they could not see. Once inside, though, they could see everything.

The beast of shadows and air had actually been a ram-like creature, charging throughout a room and trying to force them down a giant hole in the center of the room. Fall through that, and they would have had a long journey back to the surface. With using the two against one to their favour, and keeping the beast confused between which of them to focus on and charge at, they had secured a victory.

Looking up from the shadowy form, Link saw San reappear by the beast's side. The fight had made her appear even paler, the shadows that consumed her reaching further across her skin than before. The more she strained herself, the more it could consume in her weakened state. Link would have told her to take a moment's rest had they not then been transported back to that realm filled with light.

He did not want to call the creature of light. He did not want to bring the Seal forth. He did not want San to deal with any more of the darkness. One look from San, though, and he felt torn over what to do. If he did not play the song and call forth the creature, he knew that she would find her own way. Sighing in defeat, Link pulled forth the harp and slowly played the song one final time.

The creature of light came forth, an orb of light resting between its horns. Like before, Fi appeared to lend her translation assistance.

"'Thank you'," she repeated, like the others. "'I have waited many years for the goddess' hero to come and free me like my brethren. The wait...has been worth while. But you, the one carrying the darkness within... Why are you giving up your life?'"

Link involuntarily gasped at the question. His lingering fears had been confirmed with that question, and he looked to San, hoping for an answer that denounced the implication in the question.

"I-I'm not giving up my life," answered San, trying to take a firm step forward. She staggered a moment, as though that step used up most of her remaining strength. "I'm giving it purpose! Before, I-I never thought my life to have much meaning, and even less so once my people banished me... But this... Doing this gives it a purpose! Something good can come from me having existed! Despite my mistakes, despite my blunders... I will see that this infinite darkness is destroyed!"

"'Very well'."

After the creature of light vanished, and the Seal of darkness rose from the platform, San stood still. Glancing down, she gripped her corrupted arm.

"Hey, I need you to do something for me, all right?" she asked softly. Hesitantly, Link nodded for her to continue. That tone of voice...he did not like hearing it from her. "When I unleash the darkness from the final Seal and it joins the rest, I need you to strike fast with the Master Sword. You understand? You mustn't hesitate. And you may not want to, for the darkness will be inside of me regaining strength, but you put an end to the darkness and myself."

Link took a step back and shook his head vehemently. He would not. He could not! He had never wanted to lay a blow to her, let alone kill her, darkness or no darkness.

"You must!" she repeated. "I won't be me any more, anyway! Whether the darkness stays in me or leaves after it regains its strength, I will no longer be me. Besides, if we let it reach that point, it'll all have been for nothing!" She stared sternly at him, that red eye of hers tormenting him far more now than before. Link cursed at himself before looking away. Could he even stop her if he wanted to?

"Man, and to think all this occurred because you happened to fall from that tree at that moment," scoffed San. Recalling that memory, Link winced. He was the reason she was now there, not some fate. It was his fault. When he slowly looked back up at her, he was shocked by her expression. A smile. She was actually smiling. Despite everything that had happened to her, and what was yet to come, she was smiling. "I wouldn't change a thing."

She may not change anything...but he would.

Drawing forth the Master Sword, he charged for the Seal. Whether he actually destroyed it or the darkness fled into him, he did not care. As long as it could not do any further harm to San, he would be glad.

"No, you can't!" shouted San.

Link cried out in surprise, lurching forward and nearly falling to the ground. His feet were rooted in place. Looking back at San, he saw her staring at her own hand in surprise.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, slowly walking towards the Seal. "Even just a part of it would eventually consume you like it is with me, and then where would we be? The darkness would still want to be complete, and destroy both of us in the process. This may seem more cruel to you, but it is the better option... I guess... I suppose this is farewell, isn't it?" Standing before the Seal, she breathed in deeply.

"Goodbye, Link."

Cries of protest escaped him as the magics began to swirl around her and the Seal. He struggled against the magic that bound him, but his attempts were futile. All he could do was watch helplessly as the darkness within the Seal was drained from it and went into San. It was over far too fast. Even if he had been free, he would not have been able to stop it.

With the Seal emptied, both of them were transported outside of the realm and back to the entrance of the invisible temple. The tip of the Master Sword fell to the ground as San collapsed to her knees. Calling out to her, Link looked to San expectantly. Maybe she was mistaken. She was strong on her own, and maybe she could fight off the darkness in its weakened state. But... Link swallowed nervously... The darkness may be weak, but so, too, was she.

It was not her.

She was no longer San.

He had to keep telling himself that as he gripped and readied the Master Sword. He felt like an executioner as he neared her slumped form.

It would be cruel not to fulfil her request.

It would be cruel to leave her in such a state.

He would destroy the darkness that had destroyed the San he knew.

Gritting his teeth, Link raised his sword. Part of him still hoped for some sign of San to return, to look up at him and say everything was fine along with some sarcastic remark. As much as he hoped, nothing came. There was nothing left to stop his strike. He slashed down...

And froze.

His entire body ceased to move. The Master Sword hung in the air, about halfway through its swing to strike San. Link may not have been able to move, but he could look down, and there he saw her with her hand raised towards him. Just seeing her right hand being that shade of pale blue made him sweat nervously, but not as much as the voice that he then heard:

"Uh uh uh," she sang out, shaking her head. It was San's voice, and yet not at the same time. It now sent chills down his spine. "I know what you were planing to do. I'm afraid you're too late!" Red eyes flashed upward and Link was shot back across the small island in the sky.

Grunting, Link managed to push himself up and readied his blade again, but there he was stopped. Dark magic held him rooted to the ground, leaving him able only to breathe and to watch in horror. San... No. Not San. It may have been San's body, but it most definitely was not San any more. The woman before him leaned her head back as she rose, breathing in deep. A mad chuckle escaped her as she flexed her hands and studied her body.

"Oh my, this is far more interesting than I expected. Ah, yes. This should do just fine for now." Stretching, the woman began to move. For a moment, she looked to be dancing in a way, shifting her weight from side to side as she tested her new form. "At last...I am free from all those years of imprisonment!" Laughing, she walked over to the edge of the island and peered down and sniggered. "So this...this is the world that your gods created." Sniggering again, she looked over to Link and he wanted to yell out in anger. It was San's face, as he had feared. All of her skin was that pale blue, with the designs visible on her body fully completed, her hair that darker shade, and both of her eyes that sickly red and yellow combination. "And then your gods went and filled it with beings like you. How quaint. I never knew your gods to have such a sense of humour."

As she sniggered again, those eery eyes focused intently on Link. If he had not already been frozen in place, that gaze would have managed to root him in fear. Unblinking, the woman neared him. Closer and closer she got until her face was no more than a few inches from his own, leaving him no where to look but those eery eyes.

"But surely your gods could not have decided everything about you. Leave beings away from the light long enough, and shadows are bound to form." Frowning thoughtfully, the woman tilted her head. "Tell me, what lies behind that mask that you wear? Is it your true face?" She slowly grinned, showing far more teeth at once than humanly possible. "Show me. I want to see. That true face of yours, it's time to show it!" Lurching back, the face of the woman was replaced with her hand.

Link mentally cried out in torment as her hand began to pass through his head. It was not the action that caused him any sort of pain, but rather the sensation that something else was being pushed out of him. The few seconds it took for her to complete her task felt like an eternity of torment. She slipped past him and Link gasped in a deep breath of air, finally able to move again. Body shaking, he fell to his hands and knees.

"As our parting gift, I give you the gift of seeing your other you. Enjoy it, if you can!"

Yelling out in anger, Link gripped his sword and spun about to attack her...but she was no where to be seen. The sword fell uselessly to the ground. He had failed. The darkness was free.

"Master Link, San has left," rang out Fi's voice. Hearing her call the woman by that name made Link wince with regret. "It would appear that like when the darkness was first inside of San, I cannot sense it. However, Master, please be cautious. My readings detect that there is a remnant of the darkness still here, yet it appears that a part of your essence has merged with it."

At her remark, Link's brow furrowed in confusion. He looked around the small island and noted a pool of darkness that had not been there before. Waves of shadows flowed off of it, much like the shadows that rolled off of Demise. Even with it being fairly small, Link did not want it to cause any trouble, and so he moved to deal with it swiftly and decisively.

Tendrils of darkness shot up into the air when the Master Sword neared it, causing Link to cry out in surprise and stumble back. When he looked up once more, the shadows were beginning to take on a form. It took a moment, but Link would have recognized that form anywhere:

It was him.

The shadows had taken on his exact form. It was like staring into a dark mirror that sent chills down his spine as it began to move, rolling its shoulders and gripping a dark blade that formed in its hand. When his copy slowed and looked up, a pair of blood-red eyes met his own.

Link barely had time to raise his shield in defence. The dark sword clanged off of the shield, sending the shadowy figure stumbling back a few steps. When Link tried to take the fight to the shadowy form, all of his moves were getting parried. With every attempted strike, the figure was getting better and better at reading Link's moves and blocking or parrying.

"Master Link, it would appear that this foe is capable of learning your attacks the more you use them," informed Fi, her voice ringing clear in his mind. "Even your essence within it is growing stronger. I would recommend finding a different way to defeat it other than your usual attacks."

Grunting in confirmation, Link managed to smash the shadowy figure back with his shield, giving him enough time to switch weapons. The figure could counter his sword moves easily enough, but that was hardly the only weapon that Link had at his disposal. Notching an arrow, he let it loose towards the shadowy figure as it reclaimed its balance. The target was hit right between the eyes.

That was not enough.

The shadowy figure continued towards Link, barely hindered. Grunting in frustration, he shot forth another arrow, hitting the figure instead in the leg which managed to slow it down. Then in the arm, and then the other leg and even the torso. The figure neared...and Link struck with his sword one final time. The figure, so wounded from the arrows, could not move fast enough and was sliced cleanly in half.

Shadows exploded, leaving behind only the arrows that fell lifelessly to the ground. A deep sigh of relief escaped Link. At least he had not managed to mess up twice in a row.

"A report, Master," said Fi, appearing before him. "I have had some time to further analyze the information given to me by the goddess. It would appear that there is some basic information on the darkness that had been split and sealed away by the old gods. That darkness was referred to as Sine. Without light. Without hope. Without end. It was simply...without. There is a ninety-seven percent chance that it is Sine's consciousness that is now using San's body for its purposes."

Link scoffed lightly before looking out across the clouds. It was all well and good that he now had a name to use for that woman, a name to curse, but knowing it did not help him to find her nor did it give him any ideas for how to get San back. She may have made a mistake in telling Ghirahim of the Seals, but it was his turn to have made an even bigger mistake. Not only that, but he had let her down as well.

"Master Link," said Fi softly, drifting closer as he was pulled from his thoughts. "While I may be unable to ascertain Sine's whereabouts, I believe that you should be able to discover where it has gone." That caught Link's attention above all else. How could he possibly locate the darkness', Sine's, location without the dowsing ability from Fi? "The stone that San gave you. She has been able to detect your location from the beginning because of it. Having some more time to analyze it over the course of your journey, I calculate a forty-three percent chance that simply holding it in your hand and thinking of San will work, given that the partner stone is still on her person."

Link stood there dumbfounded for a moment. He had completely forgotten about that enchanted stone that had allowed San to come to his aid in a moment's notice. Fumbling through his pouch, he managed to locate the stone, nearly dropping it in his excitement. There was a way to find San after all, and, he hoped, to save her. He held the stone in his hand and closed his eyes, picturing San as best he could in his mind's vision.

A frown began to tug at his lips. How was he supposed to know when it was working? How was he supposed to know that it was working? San had always appeared by his side without much prompting back when she had been using it. With his hindsight working fine, he now knew that it would have been a good idea to ask her how the stone worked and how to use it. He had taken it for granted, and never figured that he would have to be the one figuring out her location.

Just when he started to feel like what he was doing was not working, shapes began to form around San in his mind, but not of his own creation. Colour and light filled in those shapes, giving San a location in his mind, that he knew all too well.

Stashing away the stone, he took a running jump off of the island, whistling for his Loftwing before he fell too far. The crimson bird caught him, and he veered off towards Skyloft. If that was where Sine had gone, then he feared for his people. A being capable of destroying the known world if it wanted to was in his home, the thought did not bode well for him.

In the late afternoon sun, Link neared his home island. At least from what he could see, nothing seemed amiss, but for all he knew, everyone could already be dead. When he got close enough, a sigh of relief escaped him. People were still walking around, as though it were any other day. There was no sign of Sine yet...until he saw a dark figure at the top of the waterfall on the island.

Jumping from his Loftwing, Link landed at the other end of the waterfall, as softly as he could with his Sailcloth. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he drew his sword and charged for Sine. He would not hesitate again.

A cry of frustration escaped him when his body ceased to move again. All she had to do was raise that hand and he was helpless.

"Oh my, persistent, aren't you? I take it then you actually managed to have some fun with my little gift. Well done you," she cooed, turning towards him. "Though, how did you find me?" Link stayed silent, not wanting to give up the means of finding her—he may very well need to do so again. "No matter." Shrugging it off, she looked back down towards the people of Skyloft. "I've simply been watching your people—they are intriguing little insects, going about their lives without worry of the end. Just think..." Holding out her arm, she danced her hand above the edge of the waterfall, like a puppeteer stringing along the people below to her little game. "How easily could they be destroyed? Would the world even mourn their passing? Would your gods even notice? Would anyone even...care? Let's find out."

Link cried out in protest for her to stop. He struggled against hist bindings, trying to get to her so he could knock her aside or something. It was bad enough that San had suffered for his mistake, he could not see his people suffer as well.

"Hm?" Sine blinked, her hand frozen in place, as she looked back towards Link. "So you do care." She sniggered coldly, swishing the cloak around as she faced him fully. When she looked at him, Link was surprised by how calm her expression then was. "Say, can I ask you a question...?" She tilted her head and closed in a few steps towards Link. "What makes you happy? I wonder...does it make other people happy, too? Does it make your friends happy? And your friends...what kind of people are they? Do you see their true faces behind the masks that they wear? Do these mask-wearing people think of you as a friend?"

Sine stared down at her hands, flexing them—just like San would have done. "This woman, San, she considered you a friend...eventually. Basically, her only friend. Quite sad, really. I used to have beings that I considered friends... But then your gods came and took all that away!" She cursed in anger, turning back towards the heart of Skyloft, and Link feared that he would be unable to stop her should she decide to wipe the people below out.

Something made her stop, but it was not Link. Humming to herself, Sine instead reached inside one of her pouches and pulled out the enchanted stone that had rested within. She held the stone up between her fingers and studied it. "So this is what you used to find me. Took me a moment to sort through San's memories, but at least now I know." Tossing it up into the air, she firmly caught it. "I won't let that happen again. Well, little hero, since you helped to free me from my prison, I suppose I can let you and your people live for now. You shouldn't interfere with my plans."

With a scoff, Sine tossed the enchanted stone across the land between them. Stumbling forward, Link was caught off-guard from being able to move again without warning. As he gathered his thoughts, gripped his sword, and charged...

Sine vanished.

Just like before, there was no trace of the woman save for the lingering dark magics of the teleportation spell. Link collapsed to his knees, shaking. Twice, he had failed. San was gone, and Sine had escaped. Reaching out, he grabbed the stone she had left behind. He would not be able to find her again.

"Master Link," rang Fi's voice, softer than usual, as she appeared before him. "I am still incapable of tracking where Sine has gone. Since we have also lost the use of San's stones, I suggest that we switch our effort to search for the clues pertaining to the Triforce. We are already in Skyloft, so that is one step completed."

Clenching the stone tightly in his hand, Link could not bring himself to even think about the Triforce. He had to think of some way to find Sine, deal with her, and save San...if that was still even a possibility.

"The Triforce is the only thing that can fully stop Demise, and, possibly, even stop Sine," continued Fi, as though she sensed his reluctance. Intrigued, Link looked back up to his companion. "The Triforce was the essence of the power of the gods that they left behind for humanity. If you can find it, not only will it be capable of stopping Demise, but I calculate a thirty-four percent chance that it would be able to vanquish Sine, and a fifty-seven percent chance that it would be able to split and seal away Sine's essence again. As the old gods themselves could not destroy Sine, I am uncertain as to the Triforce's capabilities in that area, and Sine would most definitely still pose a threat to it should the dark powers that Sine control be fully restored."

While that knowledge reassured Link, it was not all that he needed to know. Clearing his throat and rising, he questioned about San's chances of survival.

"Whether the San you knew is still alive or not, I cannot say. However, if San's consciousness is still alive within Sine, then I see only one of three possible outcomes: San is freed, San is sealed away along with Sine, or San dies. I do not have enough information to be able to calculate the chances of these possibilities."

If there was a chance, no matter how slight, he would take it. San was still alive, and would be saved, that he promised himself.

A/N: Well...all that happened. Sine (remember, "sea-nay" not "sign") is freed, San is gone, and so let the mayhem begin. For a time, anyway. Oh, in case you may have noticed and wondered why, Fi calls Sine "it" because, well, she is the only one who is correct. Link/narrator voice refer to Sine as "she" for simplicity and that they only know/have seen Sine as "she", but really, Sine is just an embodiment of darkness, chaos, mayhem, all that lovely stuff, and has no gender. And yes, Sine's name means "without", hence the chapter title.

So definitely a good thing I had already decided to not write out every little moment in the game any more, because the collecting of the Hero's Ballad would probably be quite the bore. Um...I'll keep writing as much as I can, but, as always, don't be surprised if a long delay happens. Until next time!