Preview time! Cause I'm evil like that! I lost my drive to write for a while, but it's back again! I'm not gonna promise anything, because I'm terrible at keeping them, but I will try my best to pump the rest of this story out and get back onto other things!

ShadowNinja, I didn't send this to you first cause I wanted everyone to know I wasn't dead. If you do see this, please send me your thoughts in a pm and I will get back to it as soon as I can!

I know I'm asking a lot from you guys, but please bear with me a bit longer!

Update 7/11/2014 2:41 PM

About halfway done! Some things came up, still working like crazy! This chapter will be fairly long!

Update 9/14/2014 4:17 PM

Alright, so, I'm a complete loser. I completely put this off and just did not want to write it. I actually considered putting it up for adoption, but I won't do that. I started this story and by the Goddesses I will finish it! I'm not going to reply to reviews on this one because I feel like I waited too long. I only ask that you complain and nitpick this chapter to death! I deserve it. Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings :)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Present

-Insert disclaimer here-

Chapter 21: Aqcuire Power

"Link! What do we do!?" Zelda cried out, narrowly dodging the swipe of a razor sharp claw.

"Seriously!? Nothing is working on it!" Groose, who kept firing arrow after arrow, cursed watching all his attacks miss completely.

Link watched the fiery behemoth roar and blast the area around them with searing flames. His eyes were hard, sword and shield clenched tightly in his grip, and his loud voice carried over the painful roars of the flaming dragon, "Volvagia! It's me! Your friend!"

~Approximately 10 Minutes earlier~

Link stepped into the arena entrance. It looked no different than when he first encountered the dragon, save for the fact that the platform that had previously sunken into the ground was now back in its original position. Spotting something in the center of the main platform, Link decided to investigate.

The others looked out across the wide area for any signs of danger, finding none, they let out a collective breath.

"It looks like this area is clear. However, just in case, keep your guard up. Link, where do you think we should… Link?" Zelda watched as he was crouched over something in the middle of the larger platform at the room's center.

Link observed the object he had seen. It was metallic and very sharp. He reached down to touch it, but froze when the Triforce piece in his hand flared up. Although he thought it odd, he continued reaching down, determined to figure out what this was.

"Tsss…!" Link frowned and knitted his eyebrows together. 'Lava? There isn't any lava on the ceiling is there…?' He glanced up and his eyes widened, he leapt back immediately.

'I wonder if he's remembering something else…' She decided to call out to him again, when he suddenly leapt back. Where he had been standing was now engulfed in a torrent of flames, scorching the area around it. A loud roar pierced the air causing all those present to glance upwards.

Almost lazily, a long, snake-like dragon glided down towards Link, it's glowing, beady eyes focused on him. Zelda readied her blade, waiting for Link to dodge, call out a plan, or something of that nature, but she noticed he wasn't moving. His mouth was open, and he was frozen in place, staring at the dragon with a mixture of recognition and dread. "Link! Wake up! That thing is heading right for you!"

"Hey! You spoke!" "From now on, we'll always be friends!"

"It's me! Link! REMEMBER!"

"Guah!?" The wind was knocked out of him as the dragon slammed into his chest. It flew off again when Groose started firing bolts at it.

Zelda grabbed his arm and tried to haul him to his feet, "Link! What's wrong with you!?" Instead of answering, Navi hovered next to her, "That dragon is named Volvagia. Link bought, and befriended it when he was a child. After he was sealed away in the temple of time, Ganondorf corrupted Volvagia and sent him to wreak havoc in Death Mountain. Link was forced to kill him, but…"

Groose fired another bolt, but the dragon's movement's were too fluid for him to get a decent shot, "But if Link killed it, why is it here now!?"

Link was feeling dizzy. There was no way Volvagia could be alive. He watched the head vanish after he severed it with his own sword. He heard the dragon's final words. So how… the shard! That piece of metal he saw earlier. He knew it looked familiar, there was no mistaking it! It was the same type of metal that had been shoved through his stomach in the water temple.

"What's the matter, boy? I thought you'd be a bit happier at this reunion between two friends." A deep voice echoed through the room. The dragon halted his attack and watched the group carefully, ready to strike. On top of its head, Dark Link phased into existence. "But then again, what kind of monster would kill his own friend? I can imagine why dear Volvagia isn't very happy to see you."

"You! Did Ganondorf do this!? Answer me!" Link roared at the shade, who simply cackled at him.

"Oh no, the 'Great' Ganondorf did not have anything to do with this one. I'm afraid, it was all me this time." He patted Volvagia's head for effect.

"Impossible! Only Ganondorf had the power to resurrect spirits* there's no way you could ever-!" Link's words died in his throat when Dark Link simply raised his left hand. On the back, was the Triforce of Power, "You were saying, boy?"

"You…? How…! There's no way…!" Navi tried to make sense of the evil spirit's claim, but it was too much. Dark Link, a being created by Ganondorf, defeated his master and acquired the Triforce of Power!?

Link wasn't fairing any better. Never had he imagined that this would happen.

Deciding they had enough time to gawk at him, Dark Link sighed and waved his hand irritably, "Ugh, you humans are beginning to bore me. Volvagia, take care of them for me, Oh! And I like my brats 'Well Done' Hahaha!" With a final, haunting, laugh Dark Link vanished and Volvagia began his assault anew.

~Present Time~

*Clang!* Link had just enough time to absorb the blow with his shield, forcing him back, almost to the edge and into the lava bubbling angrily below. Navi flew around the dragon's head, distracting it for a bit, allowing Link to regain his lost ground.

Zelda leapt over to him, blade at the ready, "Any ideas?" Groose was standing off to the side, his crossbow bolts spent, in front of Malon waiting for Link's signal.

Link wracked his brain for an idea, something, anything! But nothing came up. All of their physical attacks just phased through it.

Suddenly, Fi chimed at him from the sword, "Master, analysis complete. Volvagia: Subterranean Lava Dragon. All behavioral details and attack pattern analysis I assume are already known to you, so I will not relay them. However, biological scans indicate a piece of metal lodged in its skull. It appears to be the only solid object that can be directly attacked. My readings also indicate that this piece of metal is cursed, giving off the same aura as the shard that corrupted you, master. There is a 95% possibility that if we remove the metal fragment, the dragon would no longer be possessed."

Link silently thanked Nayru for creating Fi, for the goddess of wisdom was surely the one who could create something as intelligent as she was.

"Achoo!" Hylia sneezed, her hero's head whipping around at the noise. It wasn't so much the sneeze itself that surprised him, as much as it was Hylia who had done it, "Are you alright?" The goddess, after using a tissue that he had handed her, nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. But that was a bit odd…" Both shrugged and went about their previous activities.

Fi continued, "I can deduce two possible ways of dislodging the cursed fragment. One: a well timed shot from the hookshot could remove it. Two: A blast of Holy Light from the Goddess Sword could cleanse the tainted metal. The choice is yours, master."

Link weighed his options, even as Volvagia was roaring in rage, trying to shake off Navi, snapping at her with its sharp teeth. It would be safer to try and dislodge the curse from a longer range, but cleansing the curse might give him the chance to….

Groose used his larger build to shield Malon from the dragon's sight, keeping a close eye on the edge of the arena. Groose bit back a curse when it finally slapped Navi away with its tail and began circling around again at the same slow, but calculated pace. It was deciding which of them was the weakest, and would begin to try and pick those off first. Seeing as how neither of them had any weapons anymore, Groose figured it wouldn't be long until the dragon decided to have 'Groose a la lava.' Groose glanced back at Link, hoping he had something figured out before then. And if the determined look on his face wasn't enough of a clue, his next orders were.

"Groose! Can you and Zelda distract it for about 30 seconds!?" Link called out, not really asking but still giving him the option.

"I don't have any more arrows! And Malon doesn't have a weapon!" Groose was answered with the Boom Shot being tossed at him along with his remaining Deku Nuts. "Alright, now we're talkin!" He handed the Deku Nuts to Malon, briefly explaining their purpose, and they both began firing away at the now distraught dragon.

Zelda used her superior athletics to dodge and weave around the dragon's claws, slashing at its underbelly with her small blade. If it flew up too high, Link wouldn't be able to attack, they would have to anger it enough to make it come after them on their level. To fight on their terms.

Link took a deep breath, waiting for the right timing. Navi flashed yellow, indicating the area he would have to strike.

Volvagia roared, annoyed by the explosions from peppering its side, the bright flashes in front of it, and the slashes from the blade beneath it, and slammed into the arena causing it to rumble violently from the force.

Link raised his sword up, the holy light charging the blade, readying it for the skyward strike. He raced forward, his blade trailing light behind him, and leapt high into the air. Volvagia, so concentrated with the others did not see the Hero of Time bearing down on it. Link put as much force as he could into the swing, the beam of energy slicing through the air with a high pitched whine and struck the metal fragment that had once again turned Volvagia evil.

The dragon roared in pain and flew up high, thrashing and flashing as the light cleansed the tainted fragment. Soon, the thrashing stopped and the dragon slowly sank to the floor in a coiled heap.

Link knelt down next to its head; his mind once again lost in another time, and slowly reached out towards Volvagia. "Do you remember me now, old friend?" In response, the dragon lifted its head slightly, regarding him silently for a while, before nudging his outstretched hand affectionately, "Link..."

The others gathered around the pair, but gave them their space. Navi watched on sadly, knowing the dragon didn't have much longer. Without the cursed magic, Volvagia had nothing to sustain its form.

Link opened his mouth, ready to apologize for not being able to save him, not being there when his friend was in need, but was interrupted by a sharp pain from his hand. "Volvagia? Wha…?" The dragon had bit him. Not violently, but to the point that it bled slightly.

Staring into each others' eyes, a silent understanding passed between them. Volvagia didn't blame Link for what happened and he shouldn't blame himself for it. Absently nursing his hand, Link smiled at his friend, "Right… I get it." The dragons face contorted into what could only be described as a grin before it began to disappear from the tail up, as it had before. However, unlike before, it was much less violent.

Just before it vanished completely, Volvagia left one last message, "Good…bye….Link…be…good." A soft light enveloped the area before dying out shortly after.

Link slowly stood up, eyes towards the ceiling. Groose watched him with a somber look, Malon doing the same though she was sporting a few stray tears. Zelda took a step forward, worried that he might take it too hard, "Link…"

*Slap!*

All were surprised when he suddenly slapped his cheeks a few times and turned around with a determined fire in his eyes, "Alright, enough messing around. We need to find that flame!"

It didn't take long for them to find the secret entrance. Volvagia's earlier thrashing about had opened a hole in the wall giving the lava in the room a means of flowing out. With the levels lowered Groose had spotted the mechanism that caused the pillar to sink down, and a doorway that had been previously hidden by the lava. Carefully making their way down they continued on, ready to end this fight once and for all.

~Deeper in the temple~

Six flickering lights, no bigger than a flame at the end of a candle, sat in a circle in a large open area. Behind them a pedestal that had, at one time, housed the Flame of Din now stood empty and barren. They chattered amongst themselves in a language unknown to all but the ancients. They were waiting, waiting for the one who would come to claim the power of Din's Flame. He would prove himself to them, or be turned to ash. A harsh crackling that sounded like a raging inferno rose up from the small lights, almost like laughter. When the sounds of battle overhead died down, they grew silent. Multiple footsteps echoed from the room's single entrance. He was coming. Each light winked out, save one who waited in the middle of the room. This would be the final test, and they were predisposed to judge him harshly. And so they waited.

~Link's group~

The doorway opened up into a large, open area with a single light flickering from inside a torch at the center. Pillars were scattered throughout the room, supporting the tall ceiling. Off to the right was a small alcove, but it was too dark to make out what it was used for.

The group entered in cautiously, eyes glancing around everywhere for the slightest sign of movement. Something wasn't right here, and each one of them could feel it, to a certain degree.

Zelda could feel the eyes watching her she just didn't know where they were. It unnerved her and set her on edge.

Malon wandered around the area, looking for anything that would resemble a 'sacred flame'. "So… do we need some firewood? Or… a match maybe?" Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the alcove and decided to check it out.

Groose decided to check out the torch, seeing as how it was the only source of light at the moment. Something about it seemed off to him. Unnatural even.

Link stared at the pedestal where the flame should have been with a mixture of confusion and anxiety. "Fi, what's going on here?" The sword spirit answered by floating near the empty pedestal for a few moments. "Master, although the flame is not in the pedestal, I can still feel it nearby. However, something about it is different. I would suggest…"

Groose cried out in alarm when the torch suddenly erupted into a raging inferno.

All throughout the room similar geysers of flame roared violently around them. One such geyser sprouting up behind Malon, causing her to stumble forward into the smaller space and trap her there. She tried to yell over the roar of the fires, "What the…!? Guys, what's going on!?"

Back in the main area, six balls of fire shot out of the geysers and into the center of the room, combining into one large mass. Slowly, inside the mass, a humanoid shape began to appear. When the flames died down, the figure stepped forward. The creature looked female, with long, flaming, strands of hair flowing out behind her. She wore a short, red dress with fire sprouting from the ends. Her blazing red eyes focused on Link, challenging him without uttering a single word. He answered her challenge with a determined glare of his own, "Everyone stay back. This fight is mine alone this time." The corner of the creature's mouth turned upwards in a smirk. The battle had begun.

Holy Flame Entity, Adina

Link dodged, weaved, and rolled throughout the room trying to avoid the fireballs being flung at him. He ran behind pillars as the scorching heat threatened to burn him to a crisp. He couldn't get close enough to the creature to attack. Whenever he tried, it would raise a barrier of flames and force him back. He needed something to dispel the flames!

Malon was starting to get annoyed. All of her friends had weapons and got to help out while she had to sit back and wait? Not a chance! She glances around the small area quickly, looking for a way out or something to put out the flames in front of her. However, there was nothing there except for an odd looking pole sitting in what looked like a pedestal. It was a simple looking pole that looked golden in color with a black crystal set into a small chamber to hold it in place at the end. Wait…. Could it be that…

Zelda watched on as Link was driven back again. She opposed the idea of him fighting alone, but Sheik told her to stay put. This was his final test, she could not interfere. 'The fight still seems one sided! He can't even get close!'

Sheik was silent for a moment, considering her words. It was true that the fight seemed a bit unfair. An odd way of thinking, as fights aren't supposed to be fair, but in the way of a test there should always be a way to pass, right? 'We can only wait and pray that Link finds a way to prevail.'

Their prayers were answered immediately as Malon's voice rose out over the sounds of battle, "Link! Catch!"

Link snapped his head in the direction of Malon's voice and noticed a long slender object come flying through the air at him. He caught the thing with ease and ducked behind the pillar once more to observe the object in his hands. It looked like a wand of some sort. The crystal at the end of it currently glowed a faint blue color. Curious, Link touched the crystal only to yank his hand back suddenly. It was freezing cold! The tips of his gauntlets were covered in a thin layer of frost. Wait… ice? That's it!

Link glanced out from behind the pillar, waiting until the creature finished its barrage before charging towards the creature again. Again, the barrier was raised, but this time Link thrust out the wand towards the oncoming flames. The temperature in the room dropped suddenly as a blast of wintery air and magic power cut through the flames leaving the fire creature completely open to attack. Leapt high into the air and brought his sword down in a deadly arc.

The fire entity did not wail, or scream, or even look angry as the blade passed through it. In fact, it didn't seem to affect the creature at all!

Link barely had enough time to raise his shield to block the fiery onslaught that ensued. Simply passing through the barrier wasn't enough. The creature was made out of fire, so his blade wouldn't be able to cut it. Link gripped the wand tighter, waiting for his chance. Once the creature backed off a bit, Link shot a blast of ice magic at it and continued to do so. It responded in turn, firing a jet of flames resulting in a clash of the two opposing magic's. Link poured every ounce of his power into the rod, willing it to grow stronger. Slowly, the flames were forced back and the creature struggled to maintain its ground until finally the ice completely doused the flames and blasted the entity back. Slowly, the creature began to disappear before erupting into flames.

Fi appeared next to Link and spoke, "Master, it appears that the entity that you just defeated was in fact the Flames of Din. Now, you can finish tempering the Master Sword." Link nodded and stepped forward.

(Again, you've seen what happens, so I'm skipping it.)

Link looked at the newly reformed Master Sword. His brow furrowed slightly as he inspected the blade. It still seemed, off… Like it was missing something. "Hey Fi? Are you sure the blade is complete?" Zelda, Groose, and Malon all crowded around him, curious as to what he meant, when a bright light appeared behind them bathing it in a golden glow.

"That's where I come in, Hero."