Updated 10/02/10 10:41PM, 15/02/2010 11:36AM
Sorry it's taking me so long to update Heroes! Uni work is building up, and with my year in industry coming up, I might not be able to keep to even one update a week.
I'll say thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! Sorry, it's nearing 1AM here so I'm a little tired to name everyone!
In other news, I've welcomed a fantastic Apple MacBook Pro into my technological family as the successor to my old PowerBook G4, on which Heroes has been written until now. Amazing computers, and now when I type, text actually appears on the screen in real-time instead of a few seconds later! XD
Enjoy!

Chapter 21
The Pieces

*

"You took your time," a voice said before my sight returned. When it did, I looked up to see the blue-clad Zelda watching me reform. Midna floated past my head, and I morphed back to two-legs, breathing a sigh of relief.

Midna folded her arms and smiled back at me. "There's hope for you yet, wolf-boy! Not a bad job!"

"I'm just glad you're safe, Zelda," I said.

"I would prefer you not to use my true name when I wear these clothes," the gravelly, masculine voice returned.

"What do I call you, then?"

"My ancestor chose the name Sheik as her alias when in disguise," she said quietly. "Though she did not require use of that name. Therefore, I believe it fitting if I were to take it."

"Goddesses," Midna sighed. "Is there anyone without a completely different side to them?"

My head cocked to the side as I thought through this, then began to laugh – Midna had her imp form, I had my wolf form, and now Zelda and Sheik? This was fast becoming absurd. Midna laughed too and Zelda's eyes twinkled within the bandages. "Does anyone actually know who they are anymore?" I said, just to etch it in.

Midna's eyes seemed to say she was unsure. Zelda seemed to take the opportunity to try laughing in her masculine voice; it definitely didn't sound right.

We fell into an awkward silence. I looked towards the structure before us, in the centre of the chamber.

There was the rebuilt Mirror, and the black rock – what had Zelda, wait, Sheik, called it, the Void Stone? Yes, that was it. Both objects still filled me with dread, but for a different reason this time.

"Nervous?" Sheik asked me, following my gaze.

"No, just… anxious…" I said without turning.

"Such a critical distinction…" She said through a small smile.

I sighed. "Okay, I'm quaking here. I thought I killed him once, but now he's more powerful than before, and we're working from a legend that's thousands of years old."

Sheik placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked at her. "It's natural to be nervous, Link. Fear sets your limits, and will tell you when to cease fighting and save yourself."

I left a pause. "Right now, it's telling me I shouldn't do this. But I know I have to." I looked to Midna. "For both realms." She gave me a sincere nod, and I echoed the same gesture.

"Well, there is much work we must do before you depart. Midna," my shadow turned to face her, "please may I have my bag?"

"Oh joy…" Midna said as she slammed her eyes closed. She gritted her teeth; a storm of Twilight particles gushed out from her pockets, swirling into form in the air. In moments, the colossal bag had formed before her, and her face was contorted in the effort of holding it aloft. Breathing deeper, she set it down on the ground.

"Thank you, Midna," Sheik said sincerely. She crossed over to it and loosened its straps.

As the material of the bag parted, I saw more fabric inside. Pieces of wood and rope were strewn around inside.

"What's that?" Midna said, eyeing the contents quizzically.

"Did you not use one on your quest?" Sheik said with a quiet laugh. "It's a tent!"

"Oh."

"No, we didn't actually," I answered. "We slept under the stars most nights…" My voice became nostalgic as I remembered.

Midna came to my side and rested her arm on my shoulder. "Good times," she said with a soft smile. "But what use is a tent up here?"

"It will help keep out the desert heat during the day, and allow me some warmth at night," she said, beginning to unpack it. "I have also learned a few spells that can heat or cool the air around me, and if I am in an enclosed space, they will be much more effective."

"Then there's the sandstorms," I reminded her. Her head snapped up. "Oh, not that they're likely, or anything…" I added.

"You're right, sandstorms do not occur often at this time of year. However, should one occur, a tent would afford me some protection."

"You know, we could be gone for a few days," Midna suggested. "What are you going to do, just sit in this tent the whole time? I hope you brought a good book."

"Incidentally, I did," Sheik replied. "I brought a few books of law with the intention of silencing the gentleman who is still attempting to cause trouble." Her voice grew irritated towards the end as she pulled white canvas sheets from the bag, setting them beside the wooden poles.

"No wonder it was heavy," Midna growled.

"I find solitude is where I do my best thinking," Sheik continued. "It is my intention to construct an effective counter to his claims. Hopefully while I am here, I may identify some laws that require revision, too." She pulled out the ropes, in the process revealing the books and displacing a brown envelope. Midna levitated it out of the way of the rope, to avoid it being crumpled.

"What's this?" She asked.

Sheik held out her hand and took it gratefully. "It is the first letter I received from Orlon…" she said quietly.

"Who's Orlon anyway?" Midna inquired. "You've mentioned him many times, but I'm still not sure who he is."

I quickly explained his background, but left out most of his relationship with Zelda. When I had finished, Sheik took a breath and continued.

"Orlon is a very kind man, very much in touch with his people. I believe that, if given a calm age, there could be a future for he and I…" She sighed at the thought.

"Wait, have you fallen for him?" I asked quietly.

She sighed again. "I don't know… All I do know is that, ever since he arrived in Hyrule, I cannot cease thinking of him. He is a scholar and pure of heart. And he possesses enough courage to stand up to those he believes would do wrong."

"Not with much success, from what I heard," Midna said nonchalantly.

"I know. He has borne little responsibility in his time, and though he is not a great fighter, I can see his potential." She gave a quiet laugh. "From what Link told me, it was because of me that he stood against his own brother. I believe he feels very strongly for me, and that has changed him. Not much, but he has changed, nonetheless. And if a relationship between us would give him enough drive to change himself, I am willing to see how it plays out. He is a good and honest man, and he knows he could be great. If he is with the right person…" She lapsed into silence, save the rattle of the poles as the rope ran across them.

I glanced into the bag to see she had packed a few more things. I saw her thin sword nestled in its scabbard; it was not much of a weapon, but in the right hands, anything could be deadly. And beside it, I saw something that brought a rush of memories back.

Her bow.

The bow from which sprung arrows of pure light.

She was a skilled archer, and I gave a small smile as I thought no weapon was more fitting to fight darkness than light itself. If it had any effect on the Nothingness trapped behind the Mirror, that was…

"I do not intend to be unable to defend myself," Sheik said, noticing my gaze. "The Bow of Destiny may be my best chance if the worst should happen." She placed the rope down and drew the weapons from the bag. She placed the sword before her and examined the bow, before offering it to me to look at.

I took the weapon and felt it. It was very light, much lighter than my bow. Its string was thinner and seemed unable to launch the deadly arrows mine could. Nonetheless, I hefted it in my right hand, aimed up and drew back the string.

In that moment, my eyes were blinded by gold. I blinked it away as Sheik and Midna gasped.

A pure gold arrow had appeared from nowhere, nocked perfectly and aligned to fire. In my surprise, I nearly loosed it, but I managed to control my actions and slackened the string. At once, the golden arrow disappeared.

"I'm impressed," I said to Sheik, handing her the bow.

"It is not an easy weapon to use," she warned me. "The arrows are magic in their creation. I cannot fire many before exhausting myself." I noticed the heat in my left hand, and felt the Triforce glowing beneath my glove. The bow must have called upon it to create the arrow.

"Least you don't have to worry about carrying arrows, like someone here," Midna said, nudging me playfully. "How many times did you run out when you needed them?"

"Far too many," I admitted.

"That may be a significant advantage, but arrows are much easier to replace than magic," Sheik stated.

"Well, you seem to be able to handle them well enough," I said in reassurance.

"So long as I do not require the use of many of them," she agreed. She placed the bow beside her, lifted her sword and drew it. Its thin blade glinted in the afternoon Sun. "Ironic. With this sword, I surrendered the kingdom. I failed it. It had never failed me. I only hope it can forgive me."

"You sound like a natural, talking about your sword like that," I smiled.

"I was taught to respect the blade like a living entity. It is believed that swords are more than the metal they are made from. A weapon so purely designed to take lives is said to hold a power, one that it grants its true master."

"Sounds like this one," I said, gesturing to the Master Sword on my back.

"Not just the sacred blade, but any blade," Sheik said. "It is said that any sword may have this power."

"Just don't start talking to it, wolf-boy," Midna said to me.

Sheik placed the weapons aside, just within reach, and began arranging the tent pieces around her. "Could you two assist me?" She asked. We both nodded and knelt down to help.

*

It took us an hour to erect the tent. More than once, I had to fish Midna out of the canvas or untie her when she got tangled up in the ropes, but she saw the funny side and we quickly laughed it off. She did once feign strangling me with the rope, but quick use of the puppy eyes on my part caused her to almost melt away, and Sheik and I collapsed into peels of laughter.

Eventually, the tent stood before us. Nothing too fancy, but more than enough to allow Sheik somewhere to shelter.

"Very well," Sheik said, bringing me back to reality. "You need to prepare."

I swallowed awkwardly.

(~^~)

Link had demonstrated some impressive abilities, and I couldn't help but think it was the Goddesses' plan all along that all this would come to pass. He had learned to use magic, and had once united light and shadow in this very chamber. I was awestruck when I had appeared here to see the Mirror intact. To hear him tell me of his actions was one thing; to actually see it as the truth was another entirely.

It all pointed to him learning to use the power of the Triforce. It was the only explanation; the Triforce must have bled into his body, granting him magic which he was now able to control. If all went well, he would be able to exploit those abilities.

Midna floated down to the pile of books on the ground and sat to watch us. Link regarded her, unsure, but she gave him a look that seemed to spur him on.

"I'm ready, Sheik," he said.

"You must first relax. It is very difficult, but try to allow your mind to go blank. Thoughts may creep into your mind, but do not force them away, nor encourage them. Allow this to happen."

He took a deep breath and allowed his eyes to close. His breaths were deep and slow. He gained an air of absolute calm in a few moments.

"Now very gently, feel for the golden light within you."

He drew a few more slow breaths, but a few moments later, I felt my Triforce spark with warmth…

(~^~)

I knew it would be difficult to follow Zelda's directions. Magic, I knew, was about feeling, and it was impossible to tell someone what to feel. But I did as she instructed, and when my mind slowed, images began to flicker before my eyes. I saw old memories come and go, but I did not interact with the thoughts.

With my eyes closed, my other senses became more aware of where I stood. The heat around me was the first to become known, along with the silence and stillness of the air. I ignored the thoughts.

When Zelda told me to look for the magic within me, I found I surprisingly quickly. In moments, gold sparkled before my eyes and warmth spread from my hand. I could feel the Triforce glowing.

"Think of me, Link, and think of something to say to me," Sheik's voice told me.

I thought of Sheik, but realised it was Zelda who bore the Triforce, and knew to use magic, so I instead thought of her. I felt the Triforce sparkle, almost quiver on my hand as I did.

And then I was stuck for something to say, so I tried to pause and think, but the magic seemed impatient and threatened to vanish before I had used it. I ran back over what Sheik had said, and the golden glow within me seemed to reinforce. Still without something useful to say, I said the first sentence I could think of, loudly and clearly within my mind.

(~^~)

I finally heard a little voice in the back of my mind. It was very faint, like a single voice trying to be heard above the crowd that were the other thoughts in my mind. I pushed everything aside and focussed on that tiny voice.

I still don't think blue is your colour, Zelda…

My eyes flickered open. His were still scrunched up, fixed in concentration. Under his glove, I could see the faint glow of gold. I heard the message again, and then once more. He was probably repeating the words in his mind. I broke the silence around us. "I actually like blue, thank you Link, and it's Sheik!"

His eyes snapped open to meet mine, and he looked at me in shock. "Y-you mean, you heard me?"

I smiled, not that he could see. "Yes. Very good, I must say. You learn very fast."

"I try," he said casually, trying to pass it off.

"Ha, you mean Doggie here actually managed it?" Midna laughed. "Who'd have thought, the mutt's actually good for something!"

Link sighed in her direction. I laughed quietly. The tiny voice spoke again.

When she finds out what I can really do, I'm going to relish everything I prove her wrong at.

I laughed again. Perhaps you will need to save her life once more before she truly appreciates you, I suggested.

Don't, I never want to go through that again.

Hearing his thoughts were nothing like hearing him speak. There was almost no emotion in the words he thought, no emphasis… What I heard in my head was very flat and unnatural.

"Hey, are you two still thinking at each other?" Midna cut in. "It's not polite, you know!"

"Since when did you care about manners?" Link retorted with a smile.

The imp threw herself off the ground to float before him. "Since I fell in love with you," she whispered, just loud enough that I could hear it. She placed her hands around his neck and he held her, and as I watched, they kissed, if only briefly.

As they ended the kiss, I cleared my throat. Both of them snapped around to look at me. "I think I see what kept you now," I said, trying to sound happy for them. I gave Midna a small nod. "However, whilst I am pleased that you two have finally become a couple, perhaps the circumstances are not appropriate for such displays."

"As always, you're right, Sheik," Link said with a smile which quickly faded. "So, is there anything else we need to know?"

"I believe what I have taught you will allow you to speak to me from the Twilight Realm. It may take time, but know that I will be listening."

"All right," he said heavily, turning to face the Mirror. "I guess this is it, then."

The imp hanging around his neck turned to regard the portal with him. "I guess," she echoed.

"Link?" I said as he stared at the stone.

He sighed. "You ever get the feeling that you've worked so hard to get somewhere, then when everything's in place, you don't want to go there?" He twisted his head to watch my response.

"It is natural to feel apprehensive about these situations. I believe it was you who told me that the future is uncertain for a reason."

In that moment, his face changed. Gone was the uncertainty, the traces of fear, to be replaced by pure determination. His sapphire eyes began to glimmer. "To live is to risk," he said to me.

I nodded once in agreement, walking up to his side as he turned back to the Mirror. He watched it for a moment, before saying with complete conviction, "Ready?

"Before you go," I said to stop him. He turned to me. I paused, unsure of how to tell him. "I had a dream last night," I said quietly. "I saw the darkness driven back by light. Nothing special, just sunlight. It revealed Hyrule to be untouched."

"What about the Twilight Realm?" Midna asked, floating up out of Link's arms.

My head fell. "I do not know. But there was something in my dream I have not noticed before." I looked back up. "There was music playing." Link and Midna exchanged glances. "The music was that of an ocarina. I believe it is a message." I reached inside my suit and pulled out a small bundle, holding it out for Link. He took it, unwrapping the protective paper to reveal the fairy ocarina he'd pointed out in the vault. "I believe the solution may have something to do with this."

He looked over the instrument for a moment, before pocketing it. "Thank you Zelda. Anything that means we have something else to go on…"

"I only wish I could tell you more," I said. "But that is all I can remember of it. And I have tried my hardest to see anything else."

"It must mean something. I'll try to find out," Link said. He turned back to the Mirror. "Let's go."

Midna nodded firmly in agreement. She hovered before the Mirror, taking in the perfect reassembly Link had done. Perhaps she realised this was his doing in that moment, as her eyes began to show a burning fire in their red and orange depths. She seemed as determined as he.

Link stepped up to the Mirror and placed a hand on its surface. He met Midna's eyes and nodded once. She returned the gesture, and with a firm push, he swung the Mirror downwards.

As the Mirror's reflection fell upon the Void Stone, I saw the black rock come to life. White shapes flared across its surface, and the Mirror itself cast a pure beam of light onto the black. The white symbols decorating the Mirror's surface rose into the air and merged into the Stone, forming the tunnel into the Twilight Realm.

Link stepped onto the activation stone, and the ghostly staircase appeared before him. Both of them ascended, but Link paused at the top step, turning to look at me. I had moved next to the Mirror, ready to seal it. I met his eyes and said, "May the Goddesses guide you."

"And you," Link said. With that, faces both set, the Hero of Twilight and the Twilight Princess faced the portal before them, and took the final step. For a moment, nothing happened, but I had seen its effects. That moment passed, and Link and Midna's forms dissolved into white, flying into the swirling portal to vanish.

"Good luck," I whispered, and prepared to lower the Mirror.

"They will need it," said a familiar voice.

I froze.

Pure fear flooded through my body, my eyes going wide and my mouth falling open behind my coverings.

No.

Please, no.

And then I was flying through the air. My back hit one of the columns surrounding the Mirror, my head smashing into it an instant later. As the stars cleared from my vision, I saw my enemy as I was held against the stone.

It stood between me and the Mirror, ghostly pale and thin, a ripped red robe adorning its frail body. But its face… It couldn't be…

Its arm was outstretched, fingers spread towards me, and on the back of its hand, I saw the mark.

It could only be.

It was him.

(~^~)

My vision didn't come back, and for a time, I suspected I was still in the portal. However, I knew I'd never been able to think while travelling by magic.

I had to be here.

But 'here' was pure darkness.

I could see, hear and feel nothing.

Everything around me was black.

"Midna?" I called. Or at least, tried to call. I couldn't hear my own voice. It was lost to the silence around me.

I tried waving my arms; I couldn't feel them move.

Where was I?

But then, I saw something.

No, wait, two things

They were so small, tiny dots of faint light before me. I couldn't see them clearly, and they did no change.

What were they?

I struggled to think. The darkness seemed to press against me, trying to conquer me. I couldn't block it out. I needed light…

That did it.

Something slid back into place in my mind.

They were the Sols!

I was seeing the light of the Sols in the blackness!

Without hesitation, my hand flew over my shoulder to where I knew it was, grabbed something I could not feel and drew the Master Sword from its scabbard.

Instantly, light flowed around me. The blade glowed with an eerie white light. It lit a circle around me, ten feet wide, my body casting a shadow behind me. And at my feet, I could see stone.

I had made it. I was here, in the Twilight Realm.

And then something moved.

I looked to my side. As I watched, Midna slipped into the light of the sword. "I'm impressed," she said, her voice somehow sounding very quiet.

"Are you a sight for sore eyes," I said, sighing with relief. My voice had returned, but it sounded like hers, like I was speaking so quietly in a place where sound struggled to exist. "What happened?"

"Meet the Nothingness, Link," she said heavily, rising to rest on my shoulder.

"Did you hear me call?" I asked.

"Yes, and I called back. You didn't hear me, did you?" She replied.

"No."

"It's as I was told, the Nothingness gets into your mind," she sighed. "It forms a barrier around you that cannot be broken except with magical light. Other light, sound, even touch can't break through."

I looked at the glowing sword. "So the light forces it back?"

"Yes. Think of it as a shield around you. So long as you have the sword, you're protected from its effects."

I tilted the blade experimentally, but unless I moved it, the circle of light stayed. "Right. Let's get rid of it," I said.

"Let's bring back the Twilight," Midna agreed. She slipped off my shoulder and hovered before me. Her eye scrunched closed and her hands came together. I could feel Shadow magic crackle around her as she formed a ball of energy between them. She looked up at me. "Well, what are you waiting for?" She quizzed. "Some light magic would be pretty useful right about now."

I bit my lip. "I… don't know how…"

Midna looked at me for a few seconds, collapsed the Shadow magic and slapped the stone helmet where her forehead was.

"Hey, I've never actually cast magic before!" I said defensively. "Look, I'm sorry."

"Don't be; look, just try and force the magic out of you," she said. "Feel for it and try to fling it away from you."

"Okay," I said, trusting her. I focused, banishing the thoughts of what might happen should we stay too long. I felt for the Triforce; its golden warmth spread through me, but it seemed to cling to me like a scared child to its parent. Try as I might, I couldn't gather it together and throw it away. I grunted as I tried harder, but it simply would not happen.

"No good?" Midna asked, sounding concerned.

"Argh!" I cried as the gold swirled around inside me once before settling. "No. I just can't do it!" Then something caught my attention.

In the blink of an eye, she'd conjured another ball of energy and sent it hurtling towards me! Instinctively, I dived out of the way, the sword crashing to the ground as my hands brushed rough stone. I grabbed the sword before turning back to face her. "Nayru! What did you do that for?" I said, my fear subsiding.

She sighed, hanging her head and looking away. "I'm sorry Link, I was just trying to provoke a defensive reaction from you. When an ability comes to you naturally, it is difficult to invoke it when you truly need it. It's okay if you don't want to talk to me."

I picked myself up off the ground and went to her side. "It's okay, I forgive you, whatever there is to forgive. You were right to try it; I was able to use Shadow magic in Hyrule Field when a Stalhound went for me. I just need to learn more." I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close to show I meant it.

"I'm really sorry," she said without looking up. "I'm putting my people too far ahead; I'm asking a lot of you. You don't know how to use the powers you've been given, and teaching you could take hours." She was deep in thought for several seconds before she turned back to me. "Link... how did you do it before?"

I paused for a second to try and see where she was going with this. "Uniting light and shadow? I used the sword and the Fused Shadow..." I trailed off, hopefully now on the same train of thought as her.

Her face brightened slightly. "I've had an idea. We're trying to unite light and shadow like they did before, but Falrue was a sorceress and had a sorcerer to help her."

"And I'm no sorcerer..." I added. "So, try what I did before?"

"It seems to be the key to the whole thing. It worked once," she said.

It made perfect sense. I could have kicked myself for not thinking of it before! "You're right. Let's try it."

She floated up to my shoulder and sat on it, holding my neck and passing me the Shadow. "This won't damage it, right?"

I took it gratefully. "It didn't before. It's a pretty powerful artefact."

She sighed. "Now I know where it came from. Ironic, isn't it? We're using part of the reason this darkness existed in the first place to destroy it."

"I can't think of anything more fitting," I suggested. "He created it. Why not use his powers to banish it forever?"

"Let's hope it works," she said solemnly.

I knelt carefully, checking she was holding on tightly as I placed the Shadow on the ground at my feet. "Here goes," I said to her as I spun the sword.

"Watch what you're doing with that sword, buster, you'll have someone's eye out," she said with faint humour.

"Don't worry, I'm a professional," I said back. I raised the ghostly glowing steel and rammed its point home through the hole in the helmet. I heard Midna's teeth come together in fear as the sword approached it, and then her breath release as the sword stood upright within the helmet. I drew a deep breath and concentrated like never before.

My Triforce began to glow, its golden power building until it began to burn on my hand. Both of my hands gripped the hilt as though trying to squeeze it into a new shape. And then I felt it begin.

The golden light magic began to swirl with the shadow power flowing out of the helmet. The two powers, invisible to the eye, could only be felt. And it seemed Midna could feel the power too, as she gasped at the forming vortex of magic around us. I couldn't break my concentration, so I had to hope it wouldn't scare her. She gripped my neck tight, but seemed to be okay.

The magic, still two separate entities, began to whirl and thrash out of sight. I felt for what I wanted, the powers to merge and overcome the darkness. I closed my eyes and willed it to happen with all my might.

My hands both burned from the effort, but I felt it happen, just like a few days ago, beyond the portal. The two magics became one, whirling around us. I chanced opening my eyes.

I was disappointed. Even with the merged magic around us, the blackness was still there, seeming to wait with baited breath for the sword's light to fail. I looked harder. Yes, I had seen it! Right at the edge of the circle of light, the blackness was ever so slightly moving. Edging backwards, then returning. Maybe it was working.

My eyes slammed shut and I remembered what I had done before. I gathered the golden light within me, feeling the mark burn on my hand, and threw it all into the sword. Just like before, it was met with an equal burst of shadow magic from the stone. Ever so distantly, I heard Midna whisper, 'wow,' as the magic drew tight around us and exploded outwards.

The power hung still in the heavy air, and I opened my eyes. I let out a sigh of frustration.

The blackness was still there, unmoved. I panted slightly, closing my eyes in thought. Had I missed something? Was there anything else I could do?

No, I'd done exactly as before. If this method could defeat the darkness, it would have done so by now. I let out a frustrated growl and dropped my focus, allowing the magic to break.

As I opened my eyes to the blackness again, I felt something strange. The magic was still floating around us, not retreating back to the artefacts it came from. As I tried to make sense of it, I felt something else. I could sense the magic around me, like running my hand through a pool of water. What I felt could only be described as feeling a chunk of ice in a warm bath. It was very odd, and the magic seemed to be grouping around it.

All at once, the power broke. The feeling was gone.

"What happened?" Midna asked as I fell to my knees in exhaustion, still gripping the sword.

"I don't know..." I whispered. "It didn't work."

"Damn," she said. She looked around us. "I'm no expert, but that degree of power probably attracted some attention," she said with concern. "We need to get out of here." She looked up and behind her. I followed her gaze and saw the other side of the portal, its surface black. It was closed. "Any chance of opening the door?"

I nodded slightly and stood, enough of my strength back. The Triforce was still warm, though faintly. I hadn't expended it, but it was weak. With hope, it held enough power to send a message. I passed Midna the Shadow, and was about to focus on Zelda when something made me freeze. It was a sound. A voice.

A drawling, snide voice.

"Oh, don't think you're going to be able to go back, Hero. The portal is sealed, and your enemy is already there."

My eyes widened as I wheeled around to the source of the sound, the Master Sword outstretched in a perfect defensive stance, ready to face it.

"Holy Goddesses…" I breathed as Midna snapped to my side in the air, her hands outstretched and ready to cast magic. I knew that voice.

"It can't be…" she snarled. Crackles of purple magic flitted across her fingertips.

A figure strode into the light of the sword. A figure draped in an elegant red and black robe. It had a pale face and large, orange eyes. A black garment covered its head.

Midna roared in rage.

"ZANT!!"

Ah yes, the proper cliffhanger finally appears! XD
I am aware that I am treating Sheik as female; this is because Link knows Sheik as Zelda, and very little will change that.
Update: I rewrote the end bit where Link and Midna try to cast their magic together; I figured Link would at least give it a try. I ran out of ideas at the end the first time I wrote this but I recently found my notes.
Update again: I had an inspiration while writing the next chapter; it became too difficult to justify the reasons for the events that happen next, so I decided it was far easier to rewrite this chapter. I added the end section where Link tries what he did in the Mirror chamber. Hopefully, this will set things up much better than what I had planned before. Again, sorry if this made you re-read it!
Oh well, 'night all!
Gargravarr