Chapter 10: Lasting Friendship
Link didn't want to look up. He did it anyway and what he saw, almost horrified him. Zelda's hands were clenced into fists so tight they almost dug into her skin. To Link's surprise, she spoke in the exact same tone.
"You just came here to apologize and see my face?" Zelda asked, her voice full of anger.
"Zelda, what are you talking about?" Link asked.
Now, Zelda was actually starting to scare him. Usually when she got mad, he'd be confused beyond imagination. This was different. Before Link could say another word, Zelda beat him before he even opened his mouth.
"I'm saying that you should be a man for once and face me!" Zelda shouted.
These words hit Link like a ton of bricks. For the first time, Zelda was actually challenging to fight him. Link started backing away, but a spirit bearing exact resemblence to Treg blocked his path and escape.
"Z-Zelda, I…can't!" Link told her, but it was too late.
Zelda had put up her hand and instantly changed into her Sheikah garments. Her eyes, though still blue, were no longer sparkling like sapphires. They were no more than blue stones and no more.
"Zelda, stop this now!" Link said, desperately trying to make Zelda listen to reason.
"So you're going to keep acting like the child from the forest?" Zelda asked in a crude voice as she drew a knife.
Link decided not to take this any further. He didn't have the master sword, so he got out the sword Chakashi gave him and his shield. He took a combat position and so did Zelda. With a war cry that even Chakashi could hear, steel clashed.
Zelda struck first and leaped clean into the air, bringing down her knife to try and stab Link. Link quickly moved to the right and quickly jumped to avoid a sweep kick. Link struck with his sword only to see Zelda dodge to the left, the blade missing her by inches. Link suddenly realized that he left himself vulnerable and he regretted it, because Zelda elbowed him in the stomach. Link staggered backward and awkwardly raised his shield to block the knife that almost plunged into his abdomen. He quickly rolled to his feet, but Zelda was there to meet him. Link blocked again, this time with his sword, and tried to turn it into an attack. Once again, Zelda evaded it by leaning backward so far, she almost touched the ground. Link quickly turned his attack into a spinning leap and landed right a good distance behind Zelda. Now that they were a good distance away, Link finally seized the chance to ask a question he'd been longing to ask.
"Zelda, why are you acting like this?" He finally asked, "You're treating me as though I'm Ganondorf. I want to know why."
"You remember when you used the curse that sealed me away? I was emotionally affected when you cast it. So the darkness in your heart is in mine, too!" Zelda snapped.
"Zelda..." Link said, but Zelda's ice-cold eyes pierced his soul and froze him.
"Why am I treating you like Ganondorf? Because you acted like him! And I have just the thing that'll show you what you looked like."
Link's eyes widened for two reasons. The first was Zelda's comment on him being like Ganondorf and the second was that he realized on what she was going to do.
"You don't mean…" Link began, but Zelda cut him off.
"Yes, I do have this." Zelda hissed as she pulled out an exact replica of the orb which cast the curse.
Link reached forward, as though Zelda was right in front of him. It was no use. He didn't have enough time to dash over and take the curse from her.
"ZELDA! NO!" Link shouted.
"Too late, I cast the Curse of Charanatos." Zelda said evilly.
The circle appeared and she screamed as the power of the fierce deity rushed through her. Her hair turned silver, the markings appeared under her eyes, and the red glint appeared in her eyes.
"Now the fun starts." Zelda said with a serpentine smile that sent a chill down Link's spine.
Link had seen Treg cast the curse, but THIS was completely different. If this was a nightmare, Link would have done anything to wake up. Seeing an enemy cast an evil magic curse was one thing, but seeing a friend or even someone you love was something else.
Link didn't have time to react and received a sharp punch across the face. Link fell on his back and he was just getting up when Zelda picked him up by the collar and kneed him in the stomach. When Link got up, he was struggling to breathe. He felt like he had been punched by a gorilla, but he hadn't taken a few breaths when Zelda picked him up by the collar again and threw him forward. Link landed on his side and got up to walk into a barrage of punches. Link got up and, with extreme difficulty, blocked her punches with his own hands.
"Listen, Zelda! Don't make me do this!" Link begged as he raised his sword into the air.
However, Zelda saw it coming and counterattacked. She tripped him, grabbed him by the leg, and threw him at the walls of the circle. Link bounced off and slumped to the floor. Link was so emotionally and physically hurt that he could barely stand.
"Aww, is the little boy afwaid that the mean ol' pwincess has all the power?" Zelda taunted in a baby voice that would make an infant sick.
Link opened his eyes and Zelda had a black, flaming orb in her hands. It looked easily as big as he was and there was no heat emanating from it.
"What's this?" Link said.
"Remember when you drained the Sages of their power? That was your ability. THIS is mine. It makes you look at yourself during an event in the past. Now, I want you to look at THIS." Zelda said cruelly.
As Link looked into the ball of flame, he saw himself in the Curse of Charantanatah when he faced Zygor. He was attacking ruthlessly and he had a look on his face he had never worn before: one of evil. Link sunk to his knees as he looked at this.
"I looked like that?" Link thought, "What was I thinking? I looked like a deranged maniac. I gave everything just for power, I…I became just like Ganondorf."
Link was then crouching on the floor with his hands over his eyes. He doubted whether he could fight anymore. Then, he remembered what Darunia said.
"Don't hesitate. When the time comes, just act."
Link got to his feet with a look of determination on his face. When he got up, he looked Zelda right in the eye. He didn't flinch, he didn't even blink. Zelda seemed somewhat impressed by this, but she just had to prove it.
"You're going to fight me now, huh, Lover boy?" Zelda taunted.
"Yes, and this time, I'm NOT holding back!" Link said in a serious tone.
Link shouted a war cry and ran right at Zelda with his sword out. He was attacking as he'd never attacked before. His sword was moving with such speed, it seemed to be a silver blur. Zelda wanted to strike back, but she was so busy blocking that she couldn't find a weak point. She thought she could catch Link from a distance and got an idea instantly. Zelda executed three back flips, but when she landed on her feet, Link was there to meet her. She had to raise her knife almost immediately to stop a sword from slicing her open.
"Now he's more of a challenge. I'll give him that..." Zelda thought to herself.
Link was now fighting with righteous fury rather than hatred. He was becoming more dangerous than he was before. However, he promised one thing: he would win, but he would NOT make any fatal attacks. That was a promise he intended to keep.
Zelda, suddenly noticing the change in Link, decided to take things up a notch to help him back up. She lunged with her knife, Link simply rolled out of harm's way and came to meet her again. Zelda took her knife and attempted to slash Link, who blocked with his shield. Zelda tried a kick, but Link seized her by the foot and she flipped backward to avoid getting her ankle twisted. When she landed, Link was there to meet her. His speed amazed her and she had to leap again to avoid getting cleaved in two. By the time she landed, Link was there to meet her again. Zelda was now pushing herself to her limits to battle Link. THIS was the hero she knew and wanted out for a much more worthy challenge.
Then, the turning point: Link struck with his sword, sent Zelda's knife out of her hand, and slashed both her legs. Her knees buckled and she couldn't move or attack. In another movement, Link's was pointed right at her throat. She dropped to the ground, beat. She lost. The curse disappeared, the silver hair turned back to golden yellow, the markings disappeared, and Zelda was back in her pink gown. Link realized what happened and rushed over to her. He reached out and actually touched her this time. Maybe Zelda didn't want Link to touch her before and that was probably why he passed right through her. Link picked her up and saw the area of her dress was dyed red with blood.
"Zelda! Are you alright? Say something!" Link said desperately, not wanting Zelda to die, if she could.
Zelda's blue eyes opened, they were now sparkly and warm. They were like sapphires rather than simple blue stones. She was shedding a few tears through what she experienced, but a warm smile crossed her face as she looked at Link.
"You passed the test, Link. You defeated the darkness in your heart and had the courage to face your friend." She said weakly.
Link sighed in relief. He was now assured that he had not killed Zelda by mistake. However, he had a few questions to ask.
"Why'd you activate the curse?" Link asked.
"It was part of the test, Link. That wasn't the real curse...you were never really in danger. I did that to teach you something. It's those things you have that make me glad that I love you. They are bravery, friendship, determination, and a good heart."
She closed her eyes in happiness and she kissed him lightly on the cheek before vanishing into rainbow colored mist.
Link stood there, transfixed. He was shedding more water than the song of storms. He didn't hold his tears back this time. He looked up and his hands clenched into fists.
"I'll find you, Zelda! Whoever has her, you won't get away with this!" The young hero shouted to the sky.
Well, THAT went well. Now, let's see if Link can save the day now...