Chapter 10: Unmasked

My footsteps echo through the Temple of Time. I pace back and forth agitatedly. The low, divine melody resonates in the background. This is it. My anxiety increases as the Triforce on my hand glows. He's freed the last temple and awakened the final sage.

Link… he'll come here next.

I force myself to stop pacing. I must remain calm. But how can I be calm at a moment like this? Soon I must reveal myself. Become a person that I buried away long ago. And then comes the final battle with Ganondorf. If all goes well, we will be free of him soon. I can barely believe it. The last seven years of my life I have lived in fear, in hiding. My world was destroyed. And now it shall be restored.

Minutes seem to last hours. At last, after what has seemed ages, a light appears. It's Link, warping here.

"Sheik," he says with mild surprise. He looks weary, but ready. Power seems to radiate from him. His time has come at last. He's proven himself as the Hero of Time.

"I have been waiting for you Link," I say in greeting.

"I've done it!" he says excitedly, "I've awakened the sages! I… I'm ready to face Ganon."

I nod, "Before that, I have things I want to tell you."

Link looks a bit perplexed, "Alright."

"Another unknown legend of the Triforce, passed down by the shadow folk, the Sheikahs…" and I begin to tell him of the legend.

He listens carefully as I explain the three forces of the Triforce: Power, Courage, and Wisdom. I explain that the Triforce splits if someone without a balanced heart tries to possess it. I explain how each piece of the Triforce will be held within those chosen by destiny. Link looks confused, like he's trying to understand how this is relevant to him and nods at the information he knows already.

"Seven years ago, Ganondorf, the King of Thieves, used the door you opened in the Temple of Time and entered the Sacred Realm. But when he laid his hands on the Triforce, the legend came true. The Triforce separated into three parts. Only the Triforce of Power remained in Ganondorf's hand. The strength of the Triforce of Power enabled him to become a mighty, evil king, but his dark ambitions were not satisfied. To gain complete mastery of the world, Ganondorf started looking for those chosen by destiny to hold the two other Triforce parts," I explain.

A funny look crosses his face and he looks down at his feet. His brow his knitted together.

I continue, "The one who holds the Triforce of Courage is... you, Link!"

His head pops up and looks at me in shock. "What?" he says, like he doesn't believe me. But part of him knew, part of him expected it.

"Can't you see? You, of all people, have exemplified courage. You have willingly faced death whenever it has been asked of you."

"But, I- I'm only-" he begins, but I hold up my hand to stop him.

"You are the child chosen by destiny. That cannot be taken back."

He nods hesitantly, accepting what I've said.

"There is another. The one who holds the Triforce of Wisdom, is the seventh Sage, who is destined to be the leader of them all."

This is it…

I hold up my left hand, the Triforce glowing brightly. Light fills the room as I shed my disguise as a Sheikah boy and become a princess once again. A princess I haven't been in almost seven years.

The light fades and I'm now Zelda once more. The sensations of long hair and dresses distract me for a moment. I get lost in the feelings of being myself, for the first time in years. And then I remember Link. I brace myself for his reaction.

He stands, mouth open, completely dumbfounded.

"Zelda?" he asks in disbelief.

"It is I, Princess of Hyrule, Zelda," I answer calmly. But inside my heart is pounding, anxious and fearful.

I take several steps forward; we are only a few feet apart.

"Zelda I- This whole time, you were him," Link says, stepping forward as well, "I… I worried about you and wondered where you could be, but you were right there, the whole time." He laughs.

I can't tell whether he is angry, or happy, or still too surprised to be either.

"I apologize for meeting you in disguise, but it was necessary to hide from the King of Evil," I say hesitantly.

Link nods, "Yes." He's grinning like an idiot, unable to say anything else. He looks like he wants to rush forward and give me a hug. It feels as if a weight has lifted off my shoulders. He's not angry.

"How long have you..?" he trails off looking curious.

"I passed myself off as Sheikah shortly after the fall of Hyrule. I waited for seven years and now you are back," I answer.

For a moment everything is wonderful. It's a reunion of old friends. But then I remember why we are here. The final battle is to come.

"Now the dark age ruled by Ganondorf the Evil King will end!"

Links smile fades. He straightens up. "I'm ready. What's the plan?"

"The six Sages will open the sealed door and lure Ganondorf back into the Sacred Realm. I will then seal the door to the Sacred Realm from this world. Thus, Ganondorf the Evil King will vanish from Hyrule," I explain.

"Where do I fit in to this?" he asks.

"In order to do this, I need your courage again," I say, almost in pleading.

"You have it," he responds without hesitation.

"Please protect me while I do my part. Here is a weapon that can penetrate the Evil King's defenses. The power given to the chosen ones," I hold out my hand and an arrow appears, surrounded by brilliant light, "The sacred Arrow of Light."

Link reaches out hesitantly and takes it. He examines it closely, before storing it in his quiver.

Suddenly, there's a low rumbling noise and the temple shakes. I can feel a dark presence. The power is overwhelming and all too familiar. My stomach drops.

"That rumbling… it cannot be," I whisper. Ganon. I shouldn't have left my disguise. I've been discovered.

"What, what is it?" Link asks anxiously. He moves towards me, a concerned look in his eye.

But I don't have time to answer. Suddenly, everything goes blurry and obscured, like I'm looking through glass. I can't move. I'm frozen.

"Zelda!" Link yells in shock. The sound is oddly muffled.

"Princess Zelda," a voice I never wish to hear again echoes through the temple, "You foolish traitor! I commend you for avoiding my pursuit for seven long years. But you let your guard down. I knew you would appear if I let this kid wander around!"

I cringe inwardly. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Once again, I've managed to ruin everything.

The hope that filled me earlier is gone. Everything is falling apart again! My heart sinks into despair. What will happen now?

"My only mistake was to slightly underestimate the power of this kid."

"Ganon!" Link cries out furiously. I begin to move upward, feeling helpless as Link gets farther away.

"No. It was not the kid's power I misjudged, it was the power of the Triforce of Courage! But, with the Triforce of Wisdom that Zelda has. When I obtain these two Triforces. Then, I will become the true ruler of the world! "

"I will stop you!" Link yells defiantly.

"If you want to rescue Zelda, come to my castle!"

Then the Temple of Time disappears.

And I once again, I wait.

AN: And that's the end! Thanks so much for all those who offered their support throughout my time writing this.

-Allie