Author's Note: So not too early, but not too late either. Like I said in my other stories: I am hoping to start getting these up slightly quicker so I can a) not let you guys down and b) start my new story by the end of the year. Hopefully once one of these three stories are done (which is most likely going to be Shards of Time), then I will start up Gilded Age alongside 24 and Girl of the Dream. Either way, here is the end of the Games; spoilers and whatnot; so enjoy! :)

"Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be."

~Sonia Ricotti~

24

Twelve: Presentiment

"You don't have to do this," Sheik warns as I step in front of her. "The Gorons and Zora are preparing to attack each other, so there is no time for—"

"Silence, Sheikah," the main Gerudo snaps, raising her weapon to us both. "You spit out calls for peace as you quiver behind a man after you betrayed our trust in such a way. There is nothing for us to do but fight our way out." I swallow thickly and draw the Master Sword, generating a few surprised, perplexed, and mainly neutral reactions. The five Gerudo, their leader at the front, make it an unfair fight immediately, and with the battle between the Gorons and the Zora preparing to commence, we are in much more trouble than this fight right now.

The five Gerudo are already in battle positions, daring us to act and go for them and be foolish. But we know better than to do that. I cast my eyes around the treeline, hoping to find something in there that could help us in any way. Other than running, then I can't think of much else that we can do. The river will lead us to the Zora, we will be shot down if we climb trees, and slaughtered if we stand here and either wait or fight them.

"It's always hard to gather the courage necessary in some situations," his gentle voice calls out. "But you will find that in those moments of weakness that you have, it's always waiting there for you."

Despite its slight comfort, it doesn't make me forget that we are running out of options.

Ash and embers begin to fall down, causing the edges of the trees and the forest floor to glow golden as the fire spreads. The river loses its brilliant shine, however its surface is further distorted by the churning waters in the far distance thanks to the Zora. "Surely coming after us wasn't the best move when you are so determined to place your vengeance on the Sheikah," I remark, generating a slight response. "There are more Zora and Gorons than us, so wouldn't it be easier to go for the majority over the minority."

"Not if one of the minority betrayed us," one Gerudo calls out.

I say nothing for a moment, then, "And once we're gone? What then? I take it you'd be willing to kill your other Sisters despite how many vows it would break?"

The Gerudo react to this, exchanging neutral glances. I catch Sheik's attention, eyeing her hand which glows with Shadow. Thankfully she seems to understand what I am getting at, and we take defensive stances to try and fake them out. Taking on a pack of Gerudo altogether is foolish, even for me, and we may not be able to outrun them but we may be able to lose some of them in the fire.

Just keep talking... maybe they'll be distracted enough to be attacked.

I shake my head with a small smile, knowing how ridiculous it is but also knowing that we have no choice.

"Is that what you want?" Nabooru demands, catching my attention again, studying her blades with a gleaming. "Well I'm sure that we are are the foolish—" With a battle cry, Sheik unleashes a wave of Shadow in their direction. They are prepared to defend themselves with ease, however the strike of not intended for them specifically. The bout of Shadow collides with the ground and billows up from it, creating a curtain of darkness that blinds the Gerudo pack long enough for Sheik and I to exchange glances before bolting. I grab onto her hand as tightly as I can, guiding her through the trees.

"Where to now?" she asks quickly.

"Anywhere but the river," I reply with simply, speeding up. Trees fly past us in a blur, embers clinging to our sweaty skin, the collective sounds of footsteps coming ever so closer behind us. They recovered fast from the smoke screen, but only Sheik has ranged weapons and then they are only a few knives that will be useful later. In the far distance, the deep churning of the waters where the Zora dwell. The ground shudders beneath our toes with every step that we take, the Gorons and Zora prepared to do whatever it takes to carry on their feud or have at least one of their own win; their battle or the Insidiae as a whole.

Sheik takes the initiative and turns over her shoulder, flinging back a few of her own knives to try and keep the Gerudo away. The edge of the forest is nowhere in sight, and I know that we won't be able to outlast their range in weapons and endurance. I make sure that I stay near her side, although, just in case I have to protect her from projectiles whilst still being able to see the route ahead easily. Refusing to let go of her hand, we surge on and into the distance.

"Link?"

"Just keep running," I pant, ignoring her when she calls my name again. She'll be warning me that the Gerudo are coming closer to me, but I don't want to take the chance of looking behind me. "Just keep—"

"Listen!" she snaps, cutting me off instantly, and I do as she says. The earth seems to be groaning even more now, but I know for near certainty that we are not getting any closer to the waters that the Zora occupy; we're going in the opposite direction of it, if anything. And yet it seems to be growing louder and louder, screams ringing throughout the forest that must be Gerudo. I force myself to finally cast my gaze to the forest behind me, and what I see is enough for my heart to leap into my throat.

The attack from the Zora: a gigantic tidal wave heading straight towards us.

"We can't outrun it," she breathes from beside me, her voice hitching. "The Gerudo haven't got a chance, and neither do—"

I squeeze her hand. "We'll face it together. Don't let go."

I barely have time to see her smile before the wall of water hits me first.

Deep down I pray to Farore that Sheik and I will be spared despite the pain that screams in my back as the water tosses me around. I force my eyes open, but I can't do it for more than a second before the current forces them shut again. I use my Element in hopes of it being able to push me up to the surface, however I struggle to use it under such pressure. The strength of the water starts to crush my chest, depriving me of air as my body makes itself desperate to breathe.

Please...

Suddenly an up current throws me up to the surface, and I choke back into life.

Even though my eyes try to keep themselves shut, I force them open, water sputtering out from my nose. I cry out Sheik's name as many times as I can, but it doesn't account to much before the water drags me back down again. I curl in on myself, praying that too many trees haven't been torn from their roots as the flood destroys half of the arena. Plants and debris knocks me around, pulling me further and further down into the darkening waters.

And yet, in a single flash when I open my eyes, I see Sheik's blurry form.

Some form of hope dares to rise from within me, and I make a decision that doesn't give reason to why I have Courage. I untangle myself and attempt to keep my eyes open for a little longer and more constantly, beginning to swim over to her as the water keeps her in the same sort of area. As precious air tumbles away, I try my hardest to catch her attention.

Branches throw me around, and the current doesn't help either, but with my Element to push me back up to the Surface one final time, I dive back in with as much will and determination that I had after I fled the Army. She's no less than thirty feet below me, desperate for air and barely clinging on. I battle the waves and stretch my arm out to her, wasting bubbles of air to make a call that probably won't reach her. Trying to concentrate, I awaken my Element and use its guiding Light to catch her attention.

My heart soars when her crimson slits find mine.

I reach out to her, straining my arm until my fingers brush against hers. I pull her towards me, hoping that we can reach the top before either of us lose consciousness. The current batters us, debris crashing into our sides as we face this fight together. I squeeze her hand as tightly as I can, holding her close to try and protect her from the branches and clouds of ashes. The water becomes lighter and lighter, allowing even more hope to rise with me despite my lack of air.

Then, when my own vision begins to darken, we are both jolted downward without hesitation, colliding harshly with the red earth beneath us before everything all falls back into place. Bright lights and air slam back into my body with such might that I slide into the fetal position with ease due to the pain. Even with my eyes shut I know that the water has gone for some reason, the once dusty earth moist and sloshing around me. I stretch my arm out in search of Sheik, whose hand I lost in the end, finding her with relative ease.

Testing how much light I can take, I choke oxygen back into my body and blink open my eyes.

And into a pair of familiar golden eyes.

"Get up," Nabooru hisses, her accent thick as she presses her scimitar against my side. Her crimson hair is matted to her skin, water droplets dribbling down her tanned face. When I don't move, her eyes glint with anger. "Get up."

Swallowing thickly, I make my body move and struggle to stand, the weight of the water still heavy on my clothes. In the corner of my eye, I realise that I still have my weapon by divine luck or Fi's inner protection, but don't draw it; this is only finishing one way, though I won't do it until I know that I have the strength to take on a Gerudo herself.

Sheik pushes herself up also, her previous wounds still holding her back a little, tugging out her knives as the three of us study one another. The tidal wave has long since passed over now, dumping us out, potentially by the Zora themselves, and has continued onward to the mountain where the two clans will battle it out. Ash still falls despite the water, clinging to us desperately.

"The other Gerudo are dead, Nabooru," I say firmly. "The Zora are fighting the Gorons, and we are the last few remaining. No matter what happens, no matter which allies you run off to find, you aren't going to be the last person alive by the end of this day."

She snorts. "And you will be the one alive, deserter?"

"I wish," I spit back without a flinch. "But I guess that information is for me to know and for you to never find out?" She snarls and lowers herself into a battle stance, and I allow myself to do the same, the familiar feeling of a pommel in my hand throwing me off for a second. Nabooru wastes no time in leaping at me, her blade aimed straight at my throat. I catch it just in time and force her away, but she doesn't stop.

Sheik and I silently circle her, standing on opposite sides so that she gains no advantages. In the back of my mind, I know that there are extreme consequences for killing another Traitor before your own "partner" has died, but at this point the Gorons and Zora aren't looking to be winners; their feud stops them from doing that; so hopefully Sheik will have a better shot at winning once I do what has to be done.

Nabooru spins out, blades gleaming with a strange sharpness that can only come from her Spirit, something that we barely manage to dodge. "If you choose to fight, then why do you act so defensively?" Nabooru demands of us as she ducks beneath one of Sheik's swings.

Neither of us speak in reply, merely staying low and fighting on. She unleashes her Spirit out onto us, forcing us to stumble away at its bright light. By the time I blink my vision back, the Gerudo is swinging wildly at Sheik until the latter can't fully defend herself. I stumble towards them, eyes widening when Sheik cries out from a wound that I can't see. I cough from the ash and leap forwards, knocking Nabooru away and catching her side with my blade.

We fall onto the ground with me having the advantage. I go to snap some sort of remark, however my mind blanks when our eyes meet. Memories stack upon one another, my Mother, Father, Grandmother all smiling as I race Aryll down the beach and into the tide pools, play fighting over who won. My brain becomes a whirl of thoughts

When I snap back into reality, my side is bleeding and our positions have been swapped. She leans in close, Sheik still recovering in the near distance. "Spirit may not account to physical suffering, yet it can reveal so much about a person that it can hurt them more than a blade." I go to raise my weapon, although she slices the back of my wrist and kicks it away from me. "Who knew that such a quiet boy held so much regret?"

"I wonder what Spirit would say about you, then?" I ask of her. "About a President who left his people to fend or themselves? A woman left behind with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of other Sisters to defend without the guidance of their King?" Her split second shock is enough for me to shove her away and send a bout of healing magic in Sheik's direction. As I pick up the Master Sword, I shout, "Are you okay?" She calls back some form of agreement, Nabooru's strike apparently reopening one of her old injuries, however she rushes back to my side without any more hesitation.

The Gerudo rises to her feet, teeth gritted. "Cheap tricks won't get you anywhere."

I smirk. "You seem to be adamant in using them."

"Enough talk!" Nabooru snaps, darting forwards. I fumble around with the Master Sword as she strikes, and I parry her away. The Gerudo grins at me, bloody teeth sparkling in the sunlight. "Wish you were better with that hunk of metal now, huh?" she demands, smirking when I have no response for her. Shaking my head, I attempt to push her away, though she seems to have held back some of her power until now by shoving me back harder than ever before and slamming her Spirit into my chest; rendering the world white.

"We may be apart for a little time, my little sand crab, but I'll get to see you soon."

"Would you rather die and leave me, or live and finally be my Big Brother?"

"What will you do, Link? Follow your duty or your desire?"

"No!" There's a cry in the distance, and the Gerudo has no chance to react before Sheik has knocked her away, and the world slams back into me. My ally manages to pin Nabooru down long enough to slash her knife across the Gerudo's chest before she retreats, letting Nabooru stand so I can rise to my feet and engage her in combat myself. I force myself to act better, pushing my limits further and further through my Element and the other skills that Shade had taught me before he disappeared too.

"Do not be afraid of it, Chosen, for it should not be a hindrance to you."

The memories that have been reaching me within the past day alongside the dream between Zelda and Aryll are almost enough to stop me from fighting completely, but I press onward no matter what.

I purposely block Sheik from attacking, knowing that I have to do this before she recognises what is going on. She parries my swipe with ease, so I force myself to pick up speed, determined to catch her out. As Sheik attempts to help me, and it hurts me to keep her back from this when she has proved her worth in battle, yet I know that there is nothing else that I can do. When I catch an opening, I slash at her chest and knock her down, ready to end this.

I don't want to kill you, I try and show to her. But she has to live.

"No matter what happens, you will sit in that seat and make the best Imperial Highness this Kingdom has seen."

And, if anything, she looks accepting.

My eyes find Sheik's, and I attempt to show her my sorrow and regret behind my decision, though also my determination too. Her eyes glint with realisation as she sees what I am about to do, and what that will entail. She knows that, since the battle on the mountain has receded, we will be the last ones.

She knows exactly what I am willing to do for her.

And despite the future that she knows must happen, she can't help but scream, "Don't do it!"

It's too late.

Swallowing thickly, I let the Master Sword slide into the Gerudo's heart, ending her with as little suffering as I can allow. It isn't her fault that she is here, that she has to fight us. She was doing what we are all trying to do; survive; but Sheik has to secure this land before more people have to be put into her situation. Her eyes widen, then roll up as she falls still, orbs fluttering shut. I clean the blade and sheathe it, turning to Sheik with a sad smile as tears well up in her eyes.

I step closer to her and awaken my Element, noting the injuries scattered across her body.

And yet, as I reach out to heal her, it all falls into place.

My Element alights to heal Sheik's minor wounds with relative ease, still recovering from Saria's death even now, when it falters suddenly. We both cast our eyes to my hand as it seizes up suddenly. Sheik carefully unwraps the bindings around it despite what it could reveal, her grasp tightening dramatically when the Light fades and black arterial marks bubble up from my palm; working their down my wrist beneath her bandaged fingers. My arm begins to numb, sending my heart of fire with so much ferociousness that I barely have the energy to stand for a few moments before my body gives up.

Sheik catches me as I slump to the floor, but I can barely register it. Golden flames rise up from my hand and wrap their scolding fingers around my arm, leaving behind jet black marks through my veins. Whether it is Sheik crying out or me, I don't actually know, but what I do know is that this is both a blessing and a curse. The latter for obvious reasons, but a blessing because now I don't have to harm myself so Sheik can win and fight onward without me. I thrash about in Sheik's arms, desperate to be free of the pain, yet it isn't enough.

I black out for some time.

Then a familiar voice is drawing me back to the light again.

My name echoes around my mind, easing me back into the world, and at first I wonder if it isn't Sheik at all, but then I remember that she can still harness her Element and is most likely using it to contact me. The world is a giant blur of bright colours, each merging into the next in a successful attempt at keeping my vision to a minimum. My eyes find Sheik's blurry face, and even with my terrible sight I can see the tears forming in her eyes. I reach up to brush them away, however she holds onto it before I can do anything.

Once my vision clears a bit more, I finally speak up.

"So... I guess it's time."

She chokes on her sob, forcing a smile out to comfort us both. "It's time."

I rub my fingers over her knuckles. "You have to... forget about me." She parts her lips, ready to protest, but she freezes when my body seizes up as another wave of fire overtakes my body. "My fight is done... it's yours now."

She tightens her hold around me, sending some of her Element through me in a weak attempt to save me from the pain. She drops her hand only to brush some hair from out of my face. "I'm going to fight for you," she resolves with a shaking voice, her grip around me tightening unintentionally. "I don't care what happens here, but I am not letting this... this butchery happen to anyone else! After all that you and your poor sister have gone through... it's all my fault." Sheik holds me even tighter as she talks herself into misery, and only one thought enters my mind.

"You can't fight for me," I murmur, my voice hoarse. "Fight for... the other deaths here and the people... but not me."

"Why?" Sheik demands angrily, but the cracked tone and tear filled eyes betray any anger aimed at me.

I smile weakly. "Because that will be revenge. Your soul is... too beautiful for revenge." Despite how cheesy it sounds, she understands how sincere it is; in her eyes I can see that she will remember those words for a long time. "Just... protect Aryll. They'll be after her after I'm gone, so you have to protect her... please." My voice croaks out the final word, making it a lot more pleading than I had originally wanted it to. A tear drips down her face and onto mine, causing my heart to sink even more than before. "It'll be fine, Sheik..."

"I'll make sure that she understands," she replies, trying to keep away from what is really happening. "She will know the truth, just like everyone else... He may rob your life from us, but he won't take your Courage."

I smile and close my eyes.

I imagine Aryll finally being told why I had to do this; not because I wanted to leave her but so she could live in a better world; and that if I could have had it any other way then I would have. She could go outside without the fear of them taking her away, get a proper education like she always wanted, and finally live the life that she deserves. I imagine Darunia, my oldest friend, Midna, her spark never dulled, Colin, his timidness and insight always being a pleasure, Navi, her slight crush and constant attention seeking behaviour bringing a smile to my face, and Ravio, his enthusiasm a wonder to every dark day. All of them can finally find their potential in the world; not crush down by the President's fist.

All of them will find hope through their Imperial Highness, the girl I fell in love with in less than a year. The girl who I kissed under the stars not long before she disappeared. The girl whose radiance shone down when I was lost to the darkest depths and even bought Aryll out of her thick shell for a brief time. After the box of memories were burnt, I had nothing left of her, but now I have her presence to soothe me even as I give up my life for her. She never wanted this, I never wanted this, yet we have to look forward into a path of hope; one that wards away the blackness for a long time yet.

But I will never see her again.

Especially when the nightmare becomes reality sooner than expected.

As my eyes flicker open, the land doesn't come into focus as quickly as I expected. I ignore it at first, trying to find her through the blur, though when my vision only darkens I realise that I have fallen into the fate of many others who have suffered from slow acting poisoning. I raise my hand up until Sheik locks her fingers between mine, although I still can't find her through the fog. I swallow thickly, my throat dry and irritated, and I croak out, "I... I can't see you..."

A moment later, her fingers graze my cheek. "I'm right here..."

But I can barely hear her.

I shake my head; at least I think that I do. "No I... I can't see you..."

Whatever reaction from her falls on blind eyes, yet her tears are still felt as they slide down onto my own cheeks. I can just about feel her brush them away, but all I can do is focus on her voice. "You don't have to see me; not now. You can see your family again, the ones that love you so dearly, and the living will hold you in our hearts. Just... just keep holding on until you can't anymore. I-I'm so sorry that you have to go..."

"Zelda," I whisper, her true name finally slipping without warning. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she says nothing. "Don't leave me... Please don't go..."

She chokes back a sob, but she sounds too far away.

"Never again, Link," she whispers, though she is fading too. "Never again."

I tighten my grip around her hand for as long as I can, the pain beginning to dull along with my senses, but all I can think of is our times together before she disappeared. Whether it was when she was ill and I stayed with her all of the time even if I became ill too and lost out on money when I couldn't get up without falling back down again, or when we all celebrated Aryll's birthday and felt like a family for the first time since our parents has died. Or when she first came to us, desperate for a place to stay, or when she promised me that I would see her in the morning.

Together or apart, my love could never fade.

Even when the blackness comes to claim me, I could never let it fade.

Author's Note: Whelp, let me say now that this isn't the end of the story. There is still another half left, and hopefully it gets a little better from here on out. Anyway, for the next couple of chapters it will solely be interludes, but hopefully they will clear some bits and bobs up before preparations are made for the end of the story. Hopefully you will stick around for that! So drop a rate and review if you haven't already, and I really hope that it doesn't feel rushed!

~RandomButLoved~