Impa knew Ghirahim would be the only one who would have the antidote for the poison. But getting it from him...that would be the tricky part. She had gone over a hundred plans in her mind and they all seemed to have a flaw. She didn't want to have to put Zelda in any danger unless it absolutely could not be avoided...but she knew Ghirahim would not be foolish enough to show up unless he thought he was getting something in return.
She stood outside of the boys door, his yells of pain becoming increasingly more desperate.
Suddenly the door flung open and Zelda came rushing out, her face contorted in inner turmoil.
"There has to be something Impa! I can't take it anymore! We have to do something!" Tears streamed down her face like little rivers flowing down her cheeks.
Impa knew she was frustrated and she was too, Zelda's pain was only making her feel more helpless. She answered her with a raised tone to try to get her to understand. "We need a plan! We cannot go out there blindly, Your Grace! I know he's your friend but he is not as vital to this mission as you are and I really can't risk your life to save his!"
Zelda looked up at her with what impa could only describe as anger. Anger and hurt and misunderstanding. Then she stormed off, trying to cover her face as she passed by a classmate.
"Don't go far!" Impa yelled after her.
But Zelda already knew where she was going and nobody and nothing would stop her. After running to her room for a spare sail cloth she had made, she made her way outside.
She avoided all of the people in town, almost running into Karane who didn't pay her much attention but looked back at her suspiciously.
She snuck in the door to the sword practice arena and quietly shut the door behind her.
"Ah Zelda! What brings you here?" She heard the teacher say.
"Oh um...well...I was wondering if you could help me actually...I need a sword. Nothing special just any sword will do."
"May I inquire as to why?" He asked suspiciously.
"I...I can't say." She wiped her face and walked closer to him.
"Well...I suppose you can have a practice sword...if you return it in good shape." He replied scratching his chin.
"Thank you so much!" She said and ran in the back room to pick out her weapon.
After leaving the building, she ran as quickly and quietly as she could towards the nearest ledge. Without looking back for even a second, she leaped off the wooden platform, free falling through the air. She waited a minuet and whistled. Her purple feathered bird appeared as if by magic and swooped under her to carry her weight.
She directed her mount over the red beam of light protruding from the clouds and leaped off determinedly.
When she reached the ground, she looked around. She had landed somewhere around the base of the massive volcano. She immediately began to sweat. It was overwhelmingly hot here. She wiped her brow, gripped her sword tightly, and began to walk.
She didn't know where to begin but she had to start somewhere. She crept along quietly, avoiding any monsters that may stray near. She didn't want to cause a ruckus.
'If I were Ghirihim, where would I be?' She asked herself. Obviously she thought the volcano would be his secret hideout, but she honestly didn't know. Reality began to set in as she realized how stupid of an idea this had been...but she thought of Link, his cries of pain, his face contorted in agony...and she grew brave once more. She angrily marched around, now deciding to try to lure him out of hiding.
"I'm here!" She yelled gripping the sword. "I know your nearby! Hello!?" She yelled angrily.
"I knew you would come."
She spun around rapidly, searching for where the voice came from but saw noone.
"Where are you?" She yelled.
"I know why you're here." He replied simply.
"Well good then lets get this over with!" She looked around nervously.
"How is your hero now?" She heard whispered in her ear. She spun around quickly, swinging the sword fiercely. Ghirahim was quick and jumped back out of the way.
"Oh not very nice, young lady." He smirked at her. She gave him a dirty look.
"Is he in pain?" The demon walked slowly around Zelda who kept a watchful eye on him. " Is he laying in a bed somewhere piercing your eardrums with the sound of agonized screams? Is that why you have come here?" He smiled and already knew the answer.
"I need the antidote, now!" Zelda said loudly.
"There's no need to shout, I'm right here. And as if I would give the antidote to someone so rude!" He folded his arms and looked at her in a mock hurt sort of way.
She thought a moment.
"Please. I'll give you anything you want but I can't take it anymore...he's dying..." Her eyes stung.
"Aww the goddess has a soft spot for weak children..." He grinned.
"Please, I know you have it Ghirahim...I told you...I'll make a trade..."
"I think you know what I would require as a trade for the antidote..." He said.
Zelda faltered a little but nodded her head. Ghirahim laughed a full hearty laugh.
"I'm almost too proud of myself! I had doubts about this plan, it took a bit longer then I expected, but here you are! Just as I presumed!"
"The antidote!" Zelda said fiercely.
"Ah yes. So your boyfriend can watch as evil takes over his world and there's nothing he can do about it. I hope he comes to see the ceremony where I use your pure soul to revive my master." He said plucking a bottle of bright purple liquid out of thin air.
"Hang on if you will a moment dear goddess, I'm going to write a message to go along with this bottle, then we shall be on our way." He wrote on a small piece of parchment and wrapped it around the glass vile.
Zelda stepped foward to grab it, but he yanked his hand back.
"You really think I'm going to let you go back up there and deliver this yourself? Why so you can get your servant to protect you when you go back up? I don't think so, dear. I'm not so thick. No. I will send it up there myself." He snapped his fingers and the bottle zoomed upward and through the sky.
"How do I know he will get it?" She said nervously.
"I have no reason to kill him. I actually think it would be quite funny to see the look on his innocent face when he realizes he lost this whole battle. Now come on. We have a ceremony to get ready for." He grabbed her arm firmly and when he did, Zelda swung the sword in her opposite hand with all her might. She caught him off guard and he stumbled back as the edge of the blade pierced his leg.
"Why you little-!" Zelda was met with a strong smack that sent her to the ground. Lights popped in front of her eyes and as the demon lord came back into focus, she realized he was standing over her with his own black rapier pointed straight at her heart.
"Get up!" He said loudly. She could hear the anger in his voice and decided it would be smart to do what he said. She slowly stood and rubbed her cheek which was growing more sore by the second.
"Do you think I'm a fool!? Did you actually think you could get away from me!?" He stared at her a minuet, and the anger on his face melted away into a smile. He shook his head.
"I should have figured. Hylia was always a fighter. Too bad you didn't have her strength." He chuckled.
Zelda tried to side step closer to her fallen blade but he knew what she was doing.
"Pick that sword up again and I'll see to it Link doesn't get a drop of that antidote."
She stood still...finally hanging her head in defeat.
"That's a good girl."