The Heroine: War of Shadow

Losing Hope

There was a muffled boom, echoing from the sealed chamber before them, the sound causing Zelda's worry to increase even more. How long time had passed since Chase had thrown Link into the Seal of the Six Sages? Five - ten minutes?

She shivered. The sacred realm was a place said to mirror the enterer's heart, but this chamber… Zelda let her eyes roam the empty void around her. This chamber was only cold.

Another boom against the doors brought Zelda back to reality. She stole a look at the guards in the chamber. There were four of them; two holding Zelda, and the other two that had been holding Link. Zelda knew it wasn't long until Chase would return and this time he would make her open that door, no matter what.

She realized now was the time. Shifting ever so slightly, not setting off the guards, she grasped her fingers around the clothing of both her guards, concentrating her magic. The guards noticed the sudden strain on their garbs but as they were about to turn in confusion they both felt a sharp wave of electricity through their bodies. They cried out in agony, then slumping to the ground, the faint blue glow of Zelda's magic still trailing along their skin as they jolted – an effect of the electricity.

The other guards in the room quickly wheeled around, clearly surprised by the accident. 'You!' they snarled at the Queen, unsheathing their swords in a menacing way .

Zelda, gathering her skirts and courteous as she was, carefully stepping over the lifeless guards, did not seem to have heard the guards.

As they both advanced however, she shot up her gaze, eyes completely livid with an azure fire. Then she extended her hands at the two men, palms outstretched, and let the same cool blue electricity flow from her body, closing her eyes as the agonizing screams from the guards reached her ears.

Finally she let her arms fall to her sides, and the guards fell silent, falling to the ground. She calmly opened her eyes again, panting slightly. Not from her recent use of strengths, but from anxiety. Her eyes traveled down to one of the unconscious guards. She hated using her powers like this. She was not strong, like Link. She could not handle hurting other people. It just wasn't in her nature.

But now… Her eyes once again started to burn with that azure fire. Now it was different. How long was it since she had felt the presence of the darkness' army? Hours? It didn't matter. They had invaded her country, threatening the people she cared for more than herself, the peace she loved so much…

She could not help it, but the events had stirred an emotion in her she had not felt for a long time. An emotion that sent the power and magic flowing through her body swifter than her blood, making her even more powerful than the Sages together. An emotion few had seen in her.

Anger.

---

The roar of the battle was a deafening sound. Everywhere there were agonizing screams from soldiers on both sides, blood pouring from wounds, arrows piercing through steel armor and blades cleaving through flesh like butter. There was the smell of something burning, maybe a fire, and a dark smoke rose to the dark sky, which was clouded with thundering clouds. Soon the stench of death would spread over the grounds, more horrible than the battle itself.

Hyrule field, once a realm of beauty and prosperity, was now a horrible place.

At least, those were the morbid thoughts of Sheik as he struggled for mere survival down in the field. He was growing weary, as he slit the throat of yet another dark creature that had charged him. No matter what they did, the enemy's army crept closer and closer to the walls of the city, and the castle.

It was no use, Sheik thought as he scanned the field for a brief moment. They where hopelessly outnumbered. He had long known that the soldiers now had alarmed started to realize. They were not going to win. They were going to die.

For every enemy the Hylians defeated another two charged them. If lucky, one would meet his death right now on this field, rather than be tortured by the hands of his enemy until the light of his life left him.

With these depressing thoughts Sheik continued the fight without hope.

---

Chiyo's bare feet scurried over the grass as she was running quickly through the grounds just outside the castle. She had just woken up and was swearing to herself as she ran. That Gimel had drugged her eariler so that she could sleep though she was in pain from her wounds. But she had thought she was going to sleep for a few hours, not an entire day!

She had only woken up as she had heard the infernal sound of the battle down on the field. Then she had leapt from her bed, dashing madly through the empty castle, at the same time wriggling into her clothes.

Now, outside the castle, her eyes adjusting to the dark night sky, she stopped only to remove the bandage around her wings. It was then her eyes caught the sight of Hyrule Field and the air deserted her lungs. A hellish roar sounded from the field, but the sight of the battle was worse than the noise. The soldiers looked small from Chiyo's view, like children, fighting for their lives. But even from where Chiyo stood, she could see the blood, see the agonizing screams cross over the soldiers' faces before they fell to the ground, never to move again.

'It is a sight you wish you'd never live to see…isn't it?' a soft voice said.

Chiyo yelped in surprise, spinning around. She thought the castle had been deserted, but apparently not everyone had fled. It took the angel some time to locate the voice, until her eyes settled upon a thin dark clad figure standing not far from her, just upon the summit of the hill, eyes fixed on the battle. Chiyo wouldn't have recognized her, if it wasn't for the long blond hair.

'Zelda?' Chiyo burst out incredulously, not referring the Queen by her title, but by her first name. She was surprised, since she had not fallen asleep before she had heard all the news from Gimel. The disappearance of Zelda, Link and the others, the trap of the cavalry, and… the betrayal of the General.

'Zelda, where have you been?' the angel asked, stalking forth to the Queen, a cold wind from the field taking hold of her dark red hair, tugging on it violently. Her auburn eyes sparked as she didn't wait for a reply, continuing her rant. 'Everything's gone wrong here, the cavalry is gone, so is Link. And there is no one in charge of the defenses of the city…' The angel buried her head in her thin hands as she finally let the despair wash over her. 'And the General…'

'I am perfectly aware of the General's betrayal,' Zelda cut in, and there was something in her voice that made Chiyo look up again.

The Queen grasped the streaks of the blond hair closest to her face, tying it into a plate, leaving the rest of her hair lose under it. Chiyo took note of the sudden serious spark in Zelda, as well as realized that she was no longer wearing a dress. Upon the Queen's slender form was a pair of tight black trousers tucked into high black thin boots. Her torso was covered in a dark blue shirt, lose, yet sown to fit her figure. Over her shoulders she wore a golden armor, giving protection yet light enough to move swiftly in. Dark blue gloves covered her fragile fingers, and in her right palm rested a long, very thin but extremely sharp sword, the hilt made of smooth gold.

The crown the Queen usually wore was gone as she turned to Chiyo.

'…what are you doing?' the angel asked her, who for the matter, was still in her black jumpsuit, hanging lose over her athletic body.

'What does it look like I'm doing?' Zelda shot back, a biting grimness in her voice. She twisted the sword in her palm, as if it was something she did everyday, though no one had hardly seen her ever with a sword. Or any weapon, for that matter. Then she shot her blue eyes to Chiyo, her sapphire gaze burning with intensity.

'I am going to defend my country.'

Her statement had an impact upon Chiyo, who nodded slowly. She turned her dark gaze to the small number of Hylian soldiers fighting down on the field. 'They are losing. We have to help them.'

Zelda nodded, her usual soft features now sharp-looking as an effect of her hair being pulled back. 'I am going to the city wall. They need someone leading them.'

And with that the Queen suddenly closed her eyes, extended her arms slightly, palms outstretched, turned sky-wards. Chiyo furrowed her brow. What the…?

She overhear a slight murmur coming from Zelda, who seemed to be calling some kind of spell.

'I call upon the wind of Faroe, to take me there my heart desires…'

And suddenly, a bright green light appeared around the Queen, so bright Chiyo was forced to raise her hand and cover her eyes, backing several steps. As she lowered her hand, Zelda was gone.

'That's… impressive,' Chiyo muttered awed to herself. '…Wish I had some Goddess to call upon whenever I was in trouble…' she continued to mutter. But then, she did not need a Goddess to take her where she wanted. She had her own ways.

Removing the rest of the bandage around her right wing she found to her delight that the wound had almost healed fully, only on a few hours. That Gimel sure was a good healer, she had to remember to thank him later. Suddenly she caught herself wondering where he was, hoping he was alright.

How she did not know, but she had connected with him, since that first time she saw him, sitting upon that sand-colored steed. Something about him made her feel-

'So not the time for these thoughts,' she quickly interrupted herself, blushing slightly in her solitude. Flapping her wings tentatively, she found that they worked without pain and she brought out two long knives, like Kratos, but their shape more similar to Zelda's sword. 'Time to do some real damage,' she muttered.

Then she started running, and as she reached the sharp drop of the hill, she blindly leaped out, flapping her wings with force and soaring off towards the boiling cauldron that was war.

---

The pale green light around Zelda grew fainter, until her vision cleared completely and the green light shot up into the sky again, where it had first come from. She was standing in the middle of the city. It was deserted.

The grand white city, always full with people of different races, merchants and likewise was now dead empty. The city which always gleamed in the sun's warm light was now shadowy and eerily cold. A raw wind found its way in between the buildings, flying over the bricks where Zelda stood, and she shivered. It was silent here, the hellish noises from the battle sounded muffled, as if they were not of this world.

A sudden boom much louder than the other noises caused Zelda to snap back, and the ground shook violently for a moment, causing her to stagger back. A pillar of smoke rose from the city wall, and she realized it had been hit. The enemy had reached the gates!

Breaking into a run, her light steps echoing of the empty city, she reached the stairs leading to the wall, and ran up, taking two steps in one. She reached the upped landing, but as she set eyes landed on the field below she recoiled in shock.

It looked worse from there. Here she had a clear view of the battle, could see every trickle of blood, hear every scream of pain and feel the fear of death. She could see her people hopelessly outnumbered, the black mass which was the enemy moving steadily towards the city wall, killing everything in its way. They had loaded up catapults, filled with great flaming boulders. Apparently, that's what the wall had been hit with.

Zelda's back met the cold surface of the stonewall behind her, and she slumped against it. She closed her eyes, breathing in deep, inhaling the air which was tainted with blood and pain, and exhaling again. This was wrong. She had never been in a war. It shouldn't be like this.

'Milady?'

She shot open her eyes. But boy, was she going to fight anyway. For she was ready for this.

She stood up straight, her oceanic eyes settling upon a tall man with dark brown hair and stormy grey eyes. 'Captain,' she nodded in greeting. His eyes widened as he recognized her.

'You highness!' He quickly lowered his back into a ungraceful bow. 'What are you doing here?' he asked worriedly. 'This is no place for a Queen!'

'Yes, it is,' Zelda said under her breath, doubting the Captain heard her as she walked past him, towards the center of the wall, right above the gate to the city.

'Your highness,' the captain pressed on, his long strides quickly overtaking hers as he appeared beside her. 'Barricade yourself in the castle,' he advised her, but she ignored him, striding on.

'That's an order!' the captain said boldly behind her. Finally she stopped and wheeled around to face him.

'Correct me if I am wrong, Captain, but I am the Queen, therefore you will follow my orders,' she scolded, for the first time ever losing her temper.

The captain fell silent, as did the rest of the soldiers on the wall, who couldn't help to overhear their quarrel.

The captain looked at his Queen, intimidating despite her fragile frame, her azure eyes burning. It was as if the war stopped for a moment, even the deafening sounds from the field, and a beat of silence passed.

'…then what are your orders… your highness?' a cautious voice belonging to a soldier said behind her, afraid to set her off again.

But she didn't explode again, instead she turned to the wall, looking out over the raging war, something in her eyes that the soldiers couldn't read.

'Load the trebuchets,' her clear voice suddenly rang, and the soldiers immediately sprang to action to fulfill her wish. Zelda turned back to the captain, her eyes on fire.

'Show these foul creatures that we are a force to be reckoned with.'

---

Link rushed through the air, her ears filling with a whooshing sound as she shot through the chamber like a projectile. Slamming hard into the doors – the very same doors she had entered through what now seemed like hours ago – she felt her ribs crack. Ganondorf's magic pressed her harder to the wall, long enough for Link to crack another rib, until he let her go and she fell to the stones of the floor, hitting her forehead hard. Letting a painful groan escape her lips, she mustered all her strength to pick herself up from the ground. She couldn't see, some kind of warm liquid was running down her eyes. With great effort she reached up with her arm, wiping her face of with her sleeve. As her vision cleared she saw it was soaked in blood.

In a daze she looked up, trying to locate her opponent. She found him hovering in the air just above her, and she moved to attack him with her sword, only to found it was not in her palm. My sword… where is my sword? She could not remember losing it. In fact, she could not remember much at all, only…

Pain.

At least, that's what she felt as Ganondorf suddenly grabbed hold of her shirt, hitting her square in her left temple with his fist. Without a word, he loosened his fingers around her shirt, and she slumped to the ground, and this time, she didn't get up.

Ganondorf floated down to the platform, towering above her broken frame, looking at her indifferently. He had succeeded in angering her to the point where she lost control of herself and he had easily grabbed the upper hand of the battle.

Now that she was weak enough… he could make his move.

He extended his large foot, pushing her so that she lay on her back, and he could see that she was still alive and also, conscious. Good. He couldn't afford to kill her. Then his efforts would be wasted.

Her fading dark blue eyes rested upon him, not even bothering to muster the rage in them she always saved for him. They were emotionless, and one would think Link was dead, if she was not breathing in ragged breaths.

'…What a pitiful excuse for a Heroine you are,' Ganondorf suddenly said. It wasn't a sarcastic comment or tease, it was just a plain statement.

'…save me the mockery and just kill me,' Link croaked, her voice faint. It was no use fighting anymore. Her hope had left her. Her last moment had come, and yet all she could think about… was Sheik. Now she would never get the chance to tell him she was wrong. That she really loved him. …Goddesses, I beg of you… give him happiness, he, of all people deserves it the most-

'I am not going to kill you,' Ganondorf stated flatly.

This shocked Link so much that she abandoned her prayer and forgot about Sheik, propping up to her elbows. Somehow, she had regained a little of her strength.

'What?' She cocked an eyebrow, eyeing him suspiciously.

'It was never my intention to kill you,' he continued in the same flat voice.

Link furrowed her brow in confusion. 'What are you talking about?' she asked baffled.

'Haven't you ever wondered why there are tales of Heroes and evils before me…and you?'

She raised her eyebrows; this was the last question she was expecting.

'Why people kept telling you about your destiny? Telling you that the Hero had been reborn with you?' Ganondorf continued.

Link lowered her eyebrows again, glaring at him. 'No.' She honestly hadn't. And why was he talking about this? What did it matter?

'Well,' he continued, turning his back to her, floating away a few yards, 'being up here, I've had some time to think. And I've come to realize…' he turned back to her, still in the air, regarding her bruised and bloody frame. 'This is not a battle between you and me. It is a battle between our souls.'

Link's completely blank face told him he had lost her. But the girl was remembering something Zelda had told her long ago, back when she first learned that she was the Heroine.

'You see, the same thing happened a long time ago. Yet then a boy, dressed in green, rode out and saved the land by defeating Ganondorf, wielding the great Master Sword,' Zelda said.

'The Master Sword?' Link echoed.

Zelda nodded. 'It is the only weapon Ganondorf can be defeated with, and only the great Hero can wield it.'

Link looked down at the ground. 'So who's this great hero?'

Zelda looked at her. 'It is you.'

Slowly Link realized what it was Ganondorf was talking about, as he continued. 'Whenever evil returns to Hyrule,' he started, putting a lot of mocking emphasis on the world evil, since he referred to himself'the spirit of the Hero is reborn. So it doesn't matter who of us wins or loses. Because in the long run, it won't matter. Our spirits will be reborn yet again, fighting… till the end of time.'

Link suddenly narrowed her gaze at him. 'Is this what this was all about?' she asked incredulously. 'To fight me and tell me this?'

Ganondorf gave a grin. 'Yes.'

'But… what about the army? The war?' she stuttered, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't believe it. All this... because of…

'Just a reason for you to enter here,' he grinned. 'I was leading the army, therefore you would want to kill me. And here we are.'

Link let her head drop to the stone cold floor, letting the chill from the cold stone spread to her burning body. 'Oh, Goddess,' she whispered faintly. This whole war… it was just a brick in the whole game. To trap Link.

'But that is of no importance,' Ganondorf continued, returning to their previous subject, 'If you don't believe me, let me give you an example: You killed me two years ago, and yet you see, my soul survived. I am still alive. We can't kill each other.'

'What does it matter?' Link asked wearily. Somehow, all this information was such a strain on her.

'It matters because I want you dead. Permanently,' Ganondorf bit back.

Link gave a grin, despite her fatigue. 'But you will never kill me. Because like you now said, it is a battle between our souls.'

'Indeed,' Ganondorf grinned, but his next words caused Link's blood to go cold. 'But I've found a way around that.'

She was just about to ask him what the hell he meant, when he suddenly closed his eyes, grunting, a sweat breaking on his forehead.

Link managed to scramble to her feet. What the hell is he doing?

He grunted again, this time louder, and began withering in pain. Link took a step forth, eyeing the man with cautious interest.

With a yell of pain, the Gerudo man suddenly vaporized into what seemed like black smoke. Link frowned, recognizing the smoke. If she wasn't mistaken, it was the same black smoke she had seen when she had defeated him those years ago. The shadow that had risen from his broken body. His soul…

Suddenly the smoke, that had merely been hovering in the air, started to move, twirling in steady circles. Link heaved a sigh. She was so tired of being confused. Just what is going on?

The shadow moved faster and faster, until suddenly, without warning, it shot towards her with incredible speed. Link managed to back a step, inhaling sharply, raising her arms to protect her, as if the shadow would attack her. But as it made contact with her skin, she strangely felt it entering her body, flowing through her mouth, trickling into her eyes, seeping through her skin, entering her very core, her soul…

Then it all went black.

Soo… what do you think?? Gimme some reviews now people!