"This coming from the girl whose lips turn blue when she looks in a refrigerator." –My friend Angela, accurately describing me.
What. A. Week. Ugh. I can't believe I survived this. First weeks back are always bad, but this was especially brutal. Thank God I had a long weekend. I needed it. And I finally saw Avatar. Freaking AMAZING! Go see it in theatres! There's nothing like it!
This chapter is dedicated to Midnight-Apple Blossom, HatchetChu, YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE, Selestyna Arpa 364, Spiritual Stone, and ZeldaObsessed! for being the only reviewers on Chapter Twenty Four. Your faith will be rewarded now in the form of brownies. You get further presents at the end of the chapter. Prepare for:
Chapter Twenty Five
A sandstorm blew up the next day, and though we tried to stay on course, we could not. Link and I pulled out our cloaks, and huddled underneath of them, our arms linked, occasionally opening an eye to check our shadows for Midna. It was hot, the sand burned as it whipped around us like little needles, sometimes burying us, sometimes exposing us to the full elements.
We stayed huddled there for hours, unable to talk, and unwilling to move. I dozed, only to be woken up half-buried in debris. Whenever it seemed that the storm was ebbing, it would start up again, worse than before. We lost track of time. The day turned into night, which again turned into day. Then it stopped.
We stayed sitting for what seemed like an eternity, then we dared to look up. Everything seemed quiet, and the desert looked a little worse for wear. Link and I stood, relieved.
"I thought it'd never end," he admitted. I nodded, sand coating my throat uncomfortably. Midna ventured out of my shadow, looking shaken, but pleased. She opened her mouth to speak, but her jaw seemed to unhinge, and her eyes widened in panic staring behind us. Link and I looked at her, puzzled, then turned around to see what had happened to make her speechless. I thought my heart stopped beating.
Where we had been facing before, we saw the desert and the sun. Behind us, was a wall of sand, rising up, the worst of the storm. Already it was almost as high as Death Mountain and getting higher. We saw several twisters beginning to form in the storm as the wave of sand grew higher and higher. Then it began to fall on us. We screamed.
Because she was nearest me, and because she could get lost in the other shadows, I threw my arm and cloak around Midna, shielding her from the oncoming sand. She clutched tightly to my tunic, her face buried in my chest. I felt my heart pounding painfully as I whirled around, looking for Link. Already I couldn't see him.
"Link!" I yelled, but my voice was lost in the sand and wind. Already the heavy weight of the sand was bearing down on us, and I felt the air compress around us with a high pressure. I stumbled forward, one arm blindly searching for Link, the other holding Midna close to me.
My hand closed on something, and I thought it was Link's wrist, but only when another skeletal hand closed threateningly over mine did I realize I had found a Stalfos. Yelling in shock that didn't reach any ears, I quickly drew my sword and disposed of him. But I must have stumbled into a group of them, for another arm circled my neck, and lifted me.
We were running out of time, the sand was quickly baring down on us, and I still hadn't found Link. Lights popped in front of my eyes as I struggled for breath. My hold on Midna slackened as my vision tunneled. I groped for my sword, nearly letting it slip through my fingers, and rammed it into the Stalfos's eye socket. It exploded and I fell, gasping to all fours, inhaling both sand and air, and dropping Midna by accident.
My limbs weren't supporting my weight, and I collapsed, falling on top of poor Midna, sprawling and feeling the weight of the pressure of the sand dropping on us. I thought I heard Midna calling me, but I couldn't respond as I gasped and coughed out sand. My hand brushed what felt like a leather boot.
I forced my eyes open, and reached again in the direction of where I had felt the boot, pushing myself onto my knees, and scooping Midna up again. She clung to me and I felt tears. My fingers scraped a gauntlet, and I grabbed it, holding on, pulling myself towards it. A hand grabbed mine, and I saw the Triforce on it. Link.
The sand wave was on us now. In a few seconds we would be crushed. I closed my eyes, tightened my grip on both Midna and Link, and prayed to the three goddesses that it would work.
I felt clean air and water. I had to blink several times to bring Link into focus. He had a vice grip on my wrist, his eyes screwed up tight to avoid the now nonexistent sand. He then realized what he was standing in, and opened an eye to look at me. He smiled in relief, and both of our legs gave out from underneath of us, and we collapsed into the water, soaking, trying to tame our wildly pounding hearts. And we slurped up as much water as we were capable of. Adrenaline pumped through our veins, and we were giddy with relief that we had managed to escape. When we were finally able to calm down, we looked around, and we realized where we were.
"Eldin's Spring!" Link said reverently. He knelt and paid homage, and I hastened to do the same. Midna finally let go of me, and slipped into my shadow.
We stumbled out of the water, still sopping wet and dirty as pigs, with mud streaking our faces, sand coating our hair, and our clothes travel-stained, smelly, and worn. Link wringed out his hat as well as he could, and I emptied my shoes of water and sand.
"You could put an aquarium in those boats, Sheik," Link joked, nodding at my shoes which were overflowing with a buildup of weeks in the desert. I shoved him as I removed my cowl and wrung it. He squelched his hat back on his head, and dumped out his boots which were significantly worse than mine.
"You said something about aquariums and boats, Link?" I asked, looking pointedly at his boots. He chucked one at me.
"It's good to see your face again. Your whole face. I can tell if you're joking or not now. It's harder when you're wearing your cowl. I can never tell what you're thinking," he said, putting his boots back on and shaking some loose water off of his clothing.
"That is sort of the point of Sheikah males wearing them, Link," I answered, grinning as I fastened it around my face again.
"Do you have to wear it for the rest of your life?" he asked conversationally. I shook my head.
"Only until I marry." There was an awkwardly pregnant pause full of thoughts unspoken.
"I remember. It was in my lessons when I was younger and had a tutor at the castle. I fear I've forgotten most of my knowledge," Link said awkwardly.
"There were worse things on your mind. Come. Let's go to Kakariko. Perhaps Renado will be able to spare us some room," I said. Link nodded, and we proceeded to Renado's. Link knocked, and I stepped aside, waiting for flying projectiles to attack Link at any time. Had they known he was the Prince, they probably would have restrained themselves, in awe. However, no one answered. We exchanged uneasy glances and went inside, on our guard.
Inside, we were surprised to find Renado, Gor Coron, and Darbus in conference with Ilia standing by, looking shy and dejected. Renado turned, and his face broke into a smile at the sight of us, dirt and everything.
"Ah! I've been waiting for you, Your Majesty. Fortune has smiled upon us! If things go well, we should be able to help Ilia recover her memory!" Link brightened. I felt Midna shudder in my shadow. I knew she never completely trusted Ilia, even after she stopped being so vindicative.
"That's wonderful!" Link exclaimed I nodded beside him. However, I was half covered in shadow, and I don't think anyone saw me. After all, I am the last of the shadow people.
"Do you know Telma's friend, Shad?" Renado asked. Link grinned amusedly. I chuckled.
"Yes, we do. We were at University with him until the usurper came. He was a very good friend, wasn't he, Sheik?" Link asked over his shoulder. I nodded.
"He was indeed, Link," I answered guardedly. We may be close friends, but I trusted no one else with my words.
"Well, it seems he is researching the heavens, and he has come here to see the statue in the basement of the sanctuary. And, as I have learned, when Ilia was saved, she overheard someone talking about the Rod of the Heavens, or something like that…" He trailed off, thinking hard, but resumed again. "The Goron elder believes that to help her regain her lost memories, we must piece together the fragments of her past. Which means if we work our way backward from the very place where she lost her memory, we may find something that will restore it." Link looked excited, but my heart sank. All those weeks in the hot desert sun, and our progress lost. I wasn't looking forward to starting over again, and I was disheartened that the time we had spent there had been wasted. "Now we must retrace Ilia's path…I am certain it was Telma who cared for her before she arrived at this village, was it not?" Renado asked. Link nodded. "It would be best to speak with her first. Please take this to Telma." He handed Link a letter that he held gingerly, trying not to sully it.
Renado shook his head ashamedly. "It shames me to say it, but to be honest, I cannot abide Telma's company." Link looked like he was fighting a smile, and I bit back a chuckle. "We have a fighting chance, now!" Renado said excitedly. Link nodded. We went out again, and Link leaned against the door.
"Is it terrible of me to have hoped to rest at Renado's like when he let us when we were waking Sages?" he asked me wearily. I shook my head.
"We have been in a desert for weeks, and just lost all that time and work because the desert sent a sandstorm at us," I said, reassuring him. He grasped my arm.
"Thank you for rescuing us and warping us here. I didn't know you could do that," he said.
"I didn't either, really," I answered. He smiled, and stood up straight again.
"Alright! To Castle Town. Let's deliver this to Telma!" he said. Midna jumped out of my shadow, turned him into a wolf, and warped him away. I followed suit.
We looked around, and glanced at Hyrule Castle. It was still frozen inside the Twili magic. Link stood straighter, resolution in his eyes, and we headed towards Telma's bar.
We walked in, and Telma gasped. I know she recognized me, and everyone knew the Prince. She curtsied.
"Your Majesty," she murmured. Link strode up to her.
"I have a letter for you, Telma," he said kindly. She took it and her eyes lit up.
"Ooooh! If it isn't from Renado, the shaman!" She opened it and read it hungrily. When she finished, she huffed disappointedly. "All this writing, and he doesn't bother to mention a thing about little ol' me? Honey, that is what I call RUDE!" Then she seemed to remember who she was talking to. "Well, there's no accounting for the foolishness of a man. And at least I understand Ilia's situation now. Of course I can lend a hand for that sweet girl!" Midna snorted. "Hmm, what else do I know…The first one to bring Ilia to this bar was that doctor…Maybe he knows something, but he's a crusty old bat, that's for sure…" she thought for a moment, then a look crossed her face. "Aha! I've got it! Honey—I mean, Your Majesty—you go ahead and take this to him. This magic little paper will get that old codger talking!" she laughed, handing Link a small slip of paper. Link held it just as gingerly as he had the letter. "It sure would be nice if she started remembering things soon, eh, sire?" she asked, winking saucily at us. Link smiled, I nodded at her, and we left. Link looked at the slip of paper. He recoiled from it.
"It's his bar tab!" he gasped, handing it to me. I blanched. I had never seen that many zeros next to an amount of rupees.
We wandered around for a while looking for the doctor's practice, because as men it is a rule to never ask for directions. We'd rather get our toenails ripped out.
It was a handsome practice, well furnished and clean. The doctor was a very small man with glasses that magnified his eyes to such an extent that they looked comically too large for his face. The doctor rushed over to us, waving us to be gone.
"Ruffians, bringing their street dirt in here! This is a private practice! For paying customers only! Be gone, scoundrels!" he yelled croakily. I hid my smile with my cowl. Link drew himself up to his full height.
"I believe you have been mistaken, my good doctor. You mistake our travel worn clothes for rags of beggars. Hear me when I say that I am Link, Prince of Hyrule, Lord of the House of Kings, and I will be King upon my marriage." The words were so official and intimidating that I nearly backed away. But the doctor merely shooed us some more. Link pulled off his glove and displayed his Triforce to the doctor. The doctor flinched and bowed absurdly low.
"Forgive me Your Majesty! Forgive me! We thought you were dead! Hyrule thought we had lost our Prince!" he gasped.
"Rise," Link said regally. The doctor did so, and peered near-sightedly at Link.
"Eh? What's this? I see now! It's the admirable young lad who was willing to help the Zora boy for nary a single rupee!" He then looked suspiciously at me. "And another lad with strange clothing and a symbol upon his chest."
"My companion and friend, doctor, Sheik," Link said, putting a rest to the coming question. He spoke with such authority that seemed to come naturally to him.
"Just what is it you want, Your Majesty? A physical? That costs money, it does," the doctor said. I prayed Link didn't look as disgusted by this little man as I felt. "By the way, that girl Ilia didn't mention anything about me, did she?" he asked sheepishly. I could tell from the way Link was standing that he knew he caught the information.
"Perhaps she did, doctor," Link said mildly. The doctor winced. Link brought out the bill. "Something of yours I've been bidden to give you in exchange for information."
The doctor took one look at the paper and jumped about a foot in the air, screeching. "AIIIGH! L-look! I can't pay this off right now! I bet Telma is using Your Majesty to bully me into this! But she'll have to wait!"
"What do you know?" Link asked imperiously. I was starting to be very proud of him and his authority that he never had when he spoke with Midna or I.
"Look, sire, if I'd been able to sell the wooden statue that young lady had, I would have been able to get the money!" the doctor pleaded. Link gave me a mock commanding look, and I lifted the man into the air.
"What have you done with it?" Link demanded.
"See, I accidentally spilled medicine all over that little carving, which made it stink awfully—"
"I'm sure it stank, doctor, especially since it was you who spilled it. I smell not only medicine but also dishonesty," I growled at the doctor. He squeaked.
"Sheik," Link said, pretending again. I quieted.
"I put it outside to dry, but then…"
"What?" Link barked.
"Well…it was stolen," the doctor said in a very small voice. Midna snorted in my shadow. "Who goes around stealing people's stuff like that? What a world! You always have to be on guard, eh?"
I was so disgusted by him I dropped him, and stepped over him to stand next to Link once more, looking intimidating.
"You could stand to learn humility doctor, much less honesty. Hypocrisy seems to be a dominant trait with you," Link said.
"Look, Your Majesty, at any rate, neither the money nor the carving is here, so I can't repay her!" the doctor sniveled. Then he stood and readjusted his glasses. "Well, to work, to work!" he sang, and ran into his office that he locked with a bang.
"Piece of filth. Let's look around, Sheik," Link whispered, dropping his royal demeanor. We spread out. Link pushed a crate and swore. "Ugh, Sheik! Come here! It reeks!"
I coughed and pressed my cowl to my nose. Midna turned Link into a wolf, and he memorized the smell. I slipped into his shadow.
He followed the scent up a bookcase and out of a small window. Outside, he jumped down into the street, scaring the people around him, who ran away in terror. Link ignored them, and followed the scent that got stronger the farther we went.
We ended back up in the courtyard near Telma's. A white cat waited for us. She and Link seemed to have a conversation that included much purring, meowing, barking and whining. Link then nodded, and left, scaring more people. I think he rather enjoyed it.
Once outside Castle Town, he turned back into a Hylian, and I came out of his shadow. "Telma's cat, Louise, stole the statue, but it was stolen from her by some dogs that come out at night. Sound like wolfos."
I nodded. "Here, I'll teach you a song that will change night into day and day into night at your will."
I pulled out Zelda's harp, and he brought out the ocarina. I played the melody, and Link played it back. The ocarina sparkled with recognition.
"You've learned the Sun Song, Link. Play it, and let's get that carving," I said. Link played it, and suddenly time seemed to speed up, going by so fast that I blinked three times and it was night.
"Whoa," Link said, blinking. I nodded, looking around.
We ventured out, and it wasn't long before what seemed like an army of wolfos attacked. We made quick work of them, and collected the carving. Link gasped. When I saw it, I did too. Carved onto it was the Eye of the Sheikah.
Quickly, Midna warped Link to Kakariko, and I followed. We ran into Renado's house without knocking, proudly displaying the statue. Link handed it to Ilia, and her eyes lit up as we saw her struggle to remember. Renado came closer, watching carefully.
"What…is this?!" she asked in wonderment. She gripped her head, straining to remember. "I…I remember something…I was confined somewhere…Yes, and I was saved by whoever was confined with me…And when that person set me free, they gave me this statue…"
It felt like I was slapped in the face. Impa! It must have been her!
She looked up suddenly. "Yes, yes, I remember that much! But that means…that person is still in trouble! Oh, what is WRONG with me?! I can't remember where that place was!" She thought some more. Then Gor Coron spoke.
"I REMEMBER! I thought I had seen that before somewhere…That belonged to the tribe that protected the Hylian royal family long ago." I nervously edged behind Link to prevent him from seeing the Sheikah eye on my tunic. "They worked in secret, so they lived in a lonely, forgotten place. But I heard that tribe dwindled in the prolonged wars…If you want to find that hidden village, look for a path leading to the Lanayru province on the far side of the Bridge of Eldin!" Link looked excited, but not as excited as I.
It was the first Kakariko Village, built for the Sheikah specifically by the royal family by the people that lived long ago, who built the Temple of Time that now lay in ruins. Impa's ancestor at the time of the Hero of Time had opened the village to all, and was called the Great. That meant that this Hyrule lay upon the ruins of a Hyrule even more ancient than the Legend of the Hero of Time, who was supposedly the first Hero of Hyrule. There were other, lesser Heroes, but the ones that were forever remembered were the three greatest: The Hero of Time, the Hero of Winds, and the Hero of Light.
"But…" Ilia interjected timidly, "A rockslide blocked the way to the village long ago, so you can't get there anymore."
Gor Coron swept aside her concerns. "What? Oh, I do not mean to worry you, little human. Problems like these are not problems to Gorons."
"Or bombs," I added under my breath. Link smiled and nodded.
Cor Goron and Darbus had a short conversation, and Darbus left. "Our patriarch, Darbus, will be waiting for you up ahead." He added in a whisper "I would try to find the path beyond the Bridge of Eldin that leads to Lanayru province."
Ilia still looked worried as we hurried away.
We warped to the Bridge of Eldin, and looked around for Darbus. We ran across the bridge, avoiding the arrows fired by the annoying goblins, and found a cave where pounding noises could be heard. We found Darbus there, clearing out the last bit of rubble with his fists. When he finished, he turned to us.
"There is a hidden village up ahead, little humans. The elders call it a forgotten place. This scent that has been burning in my nostrils…" he gave a huge sneeze, "It is the scent of evil. There is one powerful creature I have seen about. But under that beast are many minions who attack and plunder like a pack of hyenas. There are thirty." Link and I blanched. "No, at most twenty of them ahead." We relaxed. Twenty wasn't so bad. "They are probably just a small band of survivors, ragged remnants who have settled, leaderless, into this village." Anger boiled up inside me. How dare they defile the home of my ancestors!?! "If that is all there are, little humans, then you are alone are more than enough for them. But you will have to defeat them ALL to save that girl's benefactor. Before you go, I will tell you the secret to besting them: destroy them all before they spot you! Got it, little humans?" We nodded. We had no intention of not letting them see us. But Darbus rolled into a ball, and rumbled away.
We charged in, Link with his bomb arrows, and I with my shurikan. Between the two of us, we managed to beat all of them in a reasonably short amount of time.
When they were all gone, the door to one of the houses opened, and out strode—
"IMPA!" I yelled, running to embrace my mother. Link followed, recognizing the Sage of Shadow.
"The howls of the beasts…they've faded into silence," Impa sighed, holding me tight, stroking my hair, not minding that I was completely filthy. "The savior. You are the savior, Prince Link."
Link bowed low. "Sage Impa."
"Please forgive me for not opening the door. I am the last resident of this poor village. It is my sanctuary." She let go of me, and I watched her fondly. She waved her hand around the village. "This village was once the secret home of a proud tribe who served the royal family. But it fell into decline, and became infested with dangerous beasts. It's become an awful place."
We looked around. She was right. It may once have been a splendid home of my ancestors, but no more.
"You were named Link for a reason, Your Majesty," Impa said. "After the Heroes of Olde, even though their names have long been forgotten. But never by us Sheikah. All the Heroes were called Link. All the Princesses called Zelda. I do hope that Ilia found you." Link nodded. Impa smiled. "How lovely. When she was here she would often say that you would come to help. I imagine she fancied you, Prince." Link looked taken aback by this, and I chuckled. "That good girl. She hadn't always been, but she worried about me even as I helped her to escape from here." Link and I smiled. "I've been waiting my whole life for a certain person to come. No matter what terrible fate is visited upon him." She reached into her Sheikah suit and pulled out what looked like a little whistle in the shape—ironically—of an ocarina. "Would you return this to Ilia? I think she always kept it close to her heart, but even so, she didn't hesitate to part with it in order to protect me." Impa smiled as she handed it to Link.
It seemed to be a charm, and when Link put it to his lips, it played a bit of Epona's song. He smiled. I chuckled. If Ilia made that for him, even though she had known him for only a little while, she really must have fancied him.
"I like to believe that it kept me sane all this while until I was awoken as a Sage. My body may be here, but not for long. We Sages will be called to the Sacred Realm," Impa said. I was startled, and immediately saddened, but I knew that as much as I wanted my mother near me, I didn't need her anymore. I was becoming a man.
Impa smiled at us sadly, kissed the both of us, embraced Midna (who was shocked speechless), and then we were bidden to leave.
We warped back to Kakariko, Link still clutching the charm. We barged in Renado's house again, and showed the charm to Ilia. She gasped, closed her eyes, and looked at us in a new light.
"I…I knew you once…Yes…this feels so familiar…the scent of hay…a little while ago, you came to us, seeking refuge…and we hid you…the children loved you…and you always had time for me…" she looked up and gave a curtsy. "Prince Link."
Renado started, hearing Link's title, and then respectfully withdrew. I saw the children in a window, peeking in. Most of them tiptoed away except for nosy Talo, who Beth dragged away. Obviously they all were thinking it would be a romantic reunion, but Link only had eyes for Zelda. Ilia may have harbored some feelings for Link, but they would never be reciprocated. Link loved Zelda as surely as I loved Midna.
"This gift was meant for you. I would play this melody to your horse, and I thought you'd like it too, once you went back to Hyrule Castle. But I never got the chance." She held it out to him. "Please take it."
Link smiled, thinking of Epona, his beloved horse. I backed into the shadows, sensing a private moment. I heard it all anyway.
"You don't have to worry about me any longer. I'll be alright. I'll always treasure the time you were with us, and our friendship. I hope, when you are back on your throne, you will remember us." She smiled bravely, and I saw a glimmer of tears. Link looked rather sad that he was breaking her heart, but relieved that she was not under any false illusions.
Renado returned, and I came out of the shadows. "You must be exhausted, and by the look and smell of you, Your Majesty, you could both use baths, food, and rest, not to mention your clothing could be laundered. Come. We've had your room prepared while you were gone."
Link looked so relieved I thought he would run up the stairs and throw himself on the bed. But we went to wash first, extremely thoroughly, ate a very hearty meal, and we were given spare pants and tunics which were much too big, and led to the room we shared in between temples and Sages.
Link and I tentatively sat on the edges of our beds. Midna came out of my shadow, and I was surprised to see tears in her eyes.
"I thought I would lose you two, today, in the desert. I'm so glad you're both alright," she gasped. She kissed us both on our cheeks, grabbed a blanket and pillow, and was asleep within moments.
We watched her for a little while, then Link spoke. "She's right. I thought we were dead. I thought I lost you both in the desert. And you are irreplaceable. Thank you, Sheik," he said. "Sleep well." He cast off his tunic, lay down, and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Much as I wanted to lay down and sleep for a fortnight, I forced myself off the bed, and downstairs to seek out Renado.
"Renado?" I asked tentatively. He was bent over a strange smelling potion.
"Yes, Sheik? Do you need something?" he asked.
"Will you tell me what you were going to tell Link about the Rod of the Heavens?" I asked. He frowned slightly, trying to remember. He motioned for me to sit.
"Well, actually, it was about the messenger to the heavens who held the rod. Ilia told me that the woman that saved her told her about it. Apparently, in the woman's village, they've guarded something for the heavenly messenger for generations, so they await him. But they can't give this item away until the messenger arrives with the rod. That's why she couldn't leave her village. Do you have any idea who this messenger to the heavens might be? Or even what the rod is?" Renado asked me seriously. I nodded, but said nothing.
Impa gave that item to Zelda and me a long time ago, knowing that one of us would acquire the rod. And since Zelda was gone, it fell to me and Link to be the messenger. And this item Renado was talking of, I knew what it was: the Sheikah book.
"Shad would know more about that than I, Sheik. You'd probably have more luck talking to him," Renado said. I nodded and went back to Link and my room, took the Dominion Rod, and went to the sanctuary to seek Shad out.
When I got down there, he embraced me. "I'm glad that you and the Prince are here. That means you are both safe."
"Yes, it does. I have something to show you, Shad," I said, and I reluctantly took out the Sheikah book and handed it to him. He opened it, and was astounded.
"What is this? Ah! It's Sky Writing! Where the blazes did you get this? You don't suppose this could be the word that breaks the seal…Right, let's try it out!" Shad said all this in one breath, and before I knew it, he was standing in front of a statue with a Sheikah eye on it, and said something in Sheikah. "Nothing happened," he said, not even sounding remotely disappointed. "So it is not this statue. Sheik, thanks ever so. You have brought me one step closer to solving this puzzle. I shall give this book back to you. Now! I shall try out this word on other statues! I have made the rounds of these statues so many times I have memorized their locations. Here, let me see your map, and I'll show you where, in case you want to track me down." He marked a few spots on the map, and returned it to me. "Remember, every one of those marks is near an owl statue. Now if you'll excuse me." He ran back up the stairs faster than I could warp. Suddenly, my pocket began to glow, and I pulled out the Dominion Rod. Its power had returned!
I warped to each and every spot Shad had marked, and obtained the missing parts of the spell. It would have taken all night to find the six characters if I didn't know how to warp.
I returned to the sanctuary where Shad was again, staring at the statue. I showed him the Sheikah book. "Is this that book from last time? Hm? Are there more letters in the word than the last time I looked at this? How did you investigate the…Sheik, this is amazing, absolutely amazing!" He turned to the statue again. "Now THIS must be the word we need! Let's try it immediately!" He said it to the statue, and it glowed, making something disappear from the front of it.
"Ah! It has taken on the same shape as the other statues! What can this mean? And I thought we had solved the last of the riddles. Blast! How confounding!" I snickered a little, but Shad didn't notice, he was too absorbed in his thoughts.
"I must apologize, Sheik. I need to cool off a tad before I mull the problem further." And he walked dejectedly away.
As soon as he was gone, I moved the statue with the Dominion Rod, and ran down the passageway I found down there. There I found a huge, broken down canon.
"Sheik?" I whirled around. Shad had followed me, looking around in wonder. "How in blazes did you move that statue?! And…what's this?"
"The first ancient example of a canon, I believe," I joked, but Shad took me seriously.
"Amazing! Spectacular! This must be the Sky Canon I read about in my father's notes! I knew my intuition was on to something when it led me here! But how can one use it to get to the City in the Sky?"
"I don't know. I don't know how to repair it, but right now, I am exhausted, and I will be going to bed. Good night, Shad. Let me know if you fix it and shoot yourself to the sky!" I joked. Shad smiled, laughed, and bade me good night.
When I got back to the room, Link was snoring and Midna was drooling. I looked at them fondly before casting away my tunic and getting into bed. I believe I was asleep before I even laid down.
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Sheik yelled as he was catapulted through the sky. He splashed down in a lovely fountain, exceedingly glad he was alive. He crawled out of the water, his ears popping from the elevation. He looked down and was surprised to see that he was wearing his Sheikah clothing, and not the pants he wore to bed.
"Welcome to the City in the Sky!" he heard a voice say. He looked up, and there was Zelda, just as beautiful and sweet as ever. She seemed a lot more solid too, like her ties to the earth were being doubled.
"Zelda," Sheik said, and embraced her. She ignored the fact that he was soaked. She opened her mouth to speak, but a terrible roar sounded above their heads. They looked up, and saw a giant, winged dragon wending his way to the very heart of the city. Around them, high-pitched, terrified squawking started, and several little things that looked like chickens with human heads ran helter-skelter into some strange dwellings. Sheik and Zelda waited until they were sure the dragon was gone before they spoke again.
"This place is the home to a race far older than ours. They are called the Oocca. They are sacred to the goddesses," Zelda explained.
"Those strange chicken-things?" Sheik asked. Zelda rolled her eyes, smiled, and nodded.
They went inside the nearest dwelling and looked around. The Oocca flapped over to them.
"Can I help you?" he asked. Sheik jumped a mile in the air, shocked that it could speak, much less his own language.
"How do we get to the temple here, sir?" Zelda asked kindly. He squawked and jumped back behind the counter.
"J-just follow the main road to the center of the city!" it squeaked, terrified.
"Thank you sir," Zelda said, and pulled Sheik out of the store.
"They talk!" Sheik said, surprised.
"Of course they do! They had to communicate with the Sheikah!" Zelda answered.
They walked out into the city, and stared at everything they saw. The city was unlike anything they had ever seen before! It floated, and the architecture was so strange and novel, yet fitting for a city in the sky.
They ran to a large ornate door, and walked in. It didn't seem like a temple, but what else could it be? They ran across the room, occasionally stopping to get rid of the armored, miniature rhinoceroses, and through a broken window pane.
"Where are we? This isn't like anywhere in Hyrule," Sheik said. Zelda frowned.
"I wouldn't suppose it to be, but you're right. This place seems wrong, somehow," she agreed.
They found themselves outside, the wind nearly blowing them back in. Sheik put on Link's iron boots, and Zelda climbed onto his back so she wouldn't be carried away by the wind. They ran across a bridge to one of the floating outposts, and went inside.
"This place is so strange. Oh, look! A chest!" Zelda exclaimed. Sheik used the longshot, and got a small key. They left and almost went through another door when they heard a loud, terrifiying roar, making Sheik draw his sword and Zelda start her magic. It was the dragon again, and it plowed through the bridge that connected the outpost with the rest of the temple. They stared in horror.
"I hope we don't have to go back in there again," Sheik mumbled, and they went through the door. In the room, most of the floor had fallen away, making Sheik have to warp him and Zelda across to safer ground. Suddenly some of the tiles began falling away, and they ran for sturdier ground. Where they had been standing seconds before was now just open air. Zelda shuddered, and Sheik's hands got clammy at the thought of falling so far.
They went out to another outpost that they were determined to explore thoroughly before going back to the main temple. Inside was a fan that blew the air so hard that it was almost impossible to see. Sheik drew back hard on the bow to hit the crystal across the room. The fan stopped, and they were able to hookshot their way across the room, occasionally killing another armored, miniature rhinoceros.
Through the next door was a chest with a map of the temple inside that Sheik pocketed thankfully. They poked around a bit more, and when they were sure that was everything, they left the room, and went through the other door in the main room.
The next room was a maze of very difficult navigation, planning, timing, and annoying tile monsters and Keese. Zelda needed to steady herself against the wall before they proceeded to the next room.
Inside were two armored, large Lizalfos. When they walked in, the door locked behind them. Zelda began Din's fire in her hands, and Sheik brought out his short sword. When they jumped to the next platform, the Lizalfos attacked, and at the same time, Sheik unleashed a rather unstable spin attack, and Zelda let loose a powerful Din's fire. The combined attacks killed them quickly.
"Good hit, Zelda," Sheik said, impressed. She smiled. The door unlocked, and somewhere else, a gate was opened, revealing several Oocca.
They hookshot to the ledge above them where the Oocca were, and examined the room.
"I bet this pulls down," Sheik said, indicating the lamp-like thing on the ceiling. He hookshot it, and a vent opened, blowing air through the chasm that they had jumped earlier to kill the Lizalfos. Zelda and Sheik grabbed and Oocca, and were flown to an even higher ledge with a door.
There they had to fly across the room, occasionally lifted again by another vent, and finally to another door.
"I don't fancy this mode of transportation," Zelda said.
"Neither do I. I don't think the Oocca enjoy it either," Sheik agreed, nursing a bleeding wrist where an Oocca had swipped him with its claws.
They ran into the next room, and their blood ran cold.
"Dear Din, Nayru, and Farore. How do we get down there?" Sheik asked, his hands getting sweaty and cold. Zelda turned pale.
"Jump?" she said in a very high-pitched voice.
"I was hoping you wouldn't say that," he responded, and proceeded to jump down and warp onto a ledge.
"I'll catch you!" He yelled up. Zelda shook her head.
"I'd rather not take any chances here," she squeaked, and created a Farore's Wind to gently take her down to Sheik.
"If you knew how to do that all along, why didn't you do it!?! You could have saved some valuable time all these nights when we were collecting shards!" Sheik said exasperatedly.
"For the same reason you don't warp everywhere," she retorted. He warped to the door instead of answering, and she followed, albeit slowly.
They were locked in a room with just a vent. Sheik hookshot himself and the iron boots onto the lever which stopped the vent.
"Sheik! There's a room down there!" Zelda called. Sheik nodded, and dropped through the vent, Zelda following.
They looked around, not seeing anything, or hearing anything either. Suddenly something flew in, screeching. It flew out again, then came to stare at them, letting loose a scream that nearly burst their eardrums. It looked like a flying Lizalfos.
"Oh, that thing is disgusting!" Zelda said, wrinkling her nose at it.
"Would you rather ghomas?" Sheik asked, latching to its tail and reeling it down to the ground where he began slashing it and smashing it with his short sword. Zelda wordlessly joined in, nonverbally answering his question.
Some tricky sword techniques were needed to get hits on the monster, as it was cunning, fast, and well protected.
Finally it could go no more, at took one more swipe at Sheik before it collapsed and exploded.
"That thing was determined!" Sheik said, whipping his forehead. Zelda nodded, panting heavily.
They hookshot to the ledge that had just opened, and Sheik opened the chest. Inside was another clawshot.
"Great! One for me, two for Link!" Sheik yelled, excitedly trying it out. "This will definitely come in handy."
They painstakingly clawshot their way out of the room, and back up the vent, and returned to the room they had fallen down. It took a long time to get back up and open another gate through which was another room. They hookshot all the way across, and found another chest.
"What's this?" Sheik asked as he opened it. It turned out to be a compass. "Great! I do like these things!"
Zelda laughed and beckoned him through the door. They recognized that this was the bridge they had crossed earlier to get to the outpost, and they clawshot across the bridge, went back to the main temple, and proceeded directly across to another door, and another outpost.
The bridge was broken, and as they were getting anxious about staying out in the air a long time, Sheik warped them across, and into the next part.
It was small. They hookshot down, and across, over, across, up, over, across, down. It was a long, grueling process that was hard on Sheik, since he had Zelda holding onto his back. Then they went up, and up, and up, and up.
In the next room was a Deku Baba that was quickly disposed of, and headed up, pausing only to retrieve some rupees in a chest, and proceeding up and up and up.
They arrived in the open air, and had to attach themselves to giant hovering things that were like the helicopters the Ordon children played with. If you made a wish before the helicopter touched the ground, the wish would come true. Only, these were a mode of transportation, and eventually Zelda and Sheik arrived at yet another door.
There was an outpost to the outpost they were on. Glancing down, Sheik decided to forgo the clawshots, and warped to the other door. Zelda followed suit.
Through that door, were several platforms that were connected by just ropes. Zelda winced. "I'll wait for you here. I'm still not very graceful."
Sheik shook his head, but went on without her. She was right. It would not be good if she fell. Whereas Sheik could run across the ropes just as if they were solid ground. He went through another door, and made his way to another chest inside was the boss key. He could have wept with relief.
He warped back to Zelda and showed her the key. She embraced him excitedly. "The last shard! We're almost done!"
"But will I see you again after this?" he asked. Zelda shrugged.
"I don't know, but I feel a body. I might be returned to all of you soon!" she exclaimed.
They warped across outposts again. Sheik looked down.
"You know, he wouldn't have complained if he had to have recovered the shards himself," he said. "He would have done it for you. And I would have done it for Midna."
"But that's why we are getting the shards, Sheik. So that he doesn't have to suffer and work more than he already is. We're not stealing his glory. You know that, right?" Zelda said reassuringly.
But Sheik wasn't convinced. Was he wrong to get the shards instead of Link? Would he be angry that more adventures and more places had been denied him? Would he be resentful that he, Sheik, his best friend, had gone for the glory that rightfully belonged to the Prince of Heroes?
Zelda brought him out of his reverie. "It's no use wondering if we did the right thing. We are nearly done. So don't go second guessing yourself when I brought you into this in the first place." Sheik nodded silently. They went inside the new outpost they were in, and proceeded to climb up, grabbing as many arrows and hearts as they needed, and went in to face their last boss together.
Inside, or rather, outside in the boss's chamber, they climbed up the vines, occasionally clawshooting, and reached an arena of some sort. The air was cold, and the wind was blowing, and the clouds were obscuring their vision. They walked farther onto the arena, cautiously making sure that the dragon they had seen earlier wouldn't sneak up on them.
Then they saw it circle the arena, coming to rest and roar at them in the center. Sheik and Zelda stood their ground, determined to make this a fight worth remembering.
"This is the Twilit Dragon, Argorok," Zelda murmured.
"Strange name. Oh well. Let's get this overgrown vulture," Sheik growled, and the battle began.
Sheik clawshot his way up the pillars around the arena, Zelda spotting the dragon. When she signaled, Sheik clawshot himself on the tip of Argorok's tail, and pulled with all his might, adding as much weight in the form of Zelda and the iron boots as he could. He dragged Argorok down, and slammed him against the ground, making what they had thought were scales fall off, revealing that it was armor. The armor exploded, leaving Argorok more vulnerable.
Again, Sheik climbed the pillar, and latched on the tail, smashing him against the ground, making almost all the armor fall off this time. Zelda gasped and pointed at something on the dragon's back: a pulsing, vulnerable light, or eye, whatever it was. That was what they would hit if they were to kill Argorok.
Argorok twitched, and then rose into the air, angrier than ever, and it began to rain, making the arena slippery, and dangerous, especially with the lightning.
"Sheik, hurry! It's getting really dangerous!" Zelda yelled. Sheik nodded.
Argorok rose higher and higher, finally shaking off the rest of its armor, and disappeared into the clouds. Suddenly, all around Sheik and Zelda, little plants began wiggling themselves out of the dirt, and floating into the sky. The helicopters.
Sheik didn't hesitate as he climbed the pillars again, and went even higher, grabbing onto the helicopters. He could hear Zelda screaming below him, but he was not about to look down. It was better if he fought the dragon and made sure she was alright.
Argorok followed him, took a deep breath, and let loose a jet of scorching fire that Sheik barely missed by clawshooting to another helicopter. The dragon followed his path until he could breath no more, and he paused. Sheik took advantage of the break, and latched onto his back, hacking at the vulnerable point as hard as he could. Argorok screamed and began to buck, and fell.
"ZELDA LOOK OUT!" Sheik yelled. He heard her shriek and saw her run. Argorok landed where she had been standing moments before. He jumped off Argorok's back and made his way up the pillars again, and onto the helicopters where he began clawshooting in a continuous circle. Argorok rose again, and began incinerating the helicopters again. When he paused, Sheik jumped onto his back, and slashed the vulnerable as much as he could, inflicting as much damage as he could muster. Argorok screamed again, and fell, and this time, Zelda made sure she was out of its way.
Sheik quickly scaled the pillars, and attached to a helicopter again, this time going in the opposite direction from what he did before. Argorok rose again, and blasted fire at the helicopters again, making Sheik quickly clawshoot from one helicopter to another. When Argorok was out of breath, Sheik attached to his back, and with both hands, thrust his sword deep into the bleeding wound, and twisted, delivering the final blow.
Argorok screamed in pain, climbing higher and higher into the air, making Sheik hold onto his sword tighter, shoving it deeper into the dragon. Sporatic streams of fire burst from Argorok's mouth as it flew higher and higher, and began to fall. Argorok bucked and writhed as he fell, dead before he hit the ground, where he exploded, and Sheik collapsed of exhaustion. The rain stopped, and the sun shone through the clouds again, restoring the City in the Sky to its former glory.
Zelda ran to Sheik who was laying on the ground, the bloodstained sword beside him. Sheik looked up at her and smiled.
"We did it. The last shard," he gasped. A heart container fell beside him, that he put in his pocket for Link. Sheik stood, and looked up.
The last bit of Twili magic was twisting together, and the last mirror shard appeared, wrapped in Zelda's magic, and taken into Sheik's hands. They both let out breaths they weren't even aware they were holding.
"Zant could only break the mirror into shards because he is not the true king. Midna is the only one who can shatter it," Zelda said as Sheik carefully put it away.
"Soon, Link will know Midna for who she really is: a princess," Sheik said, and as he said it, his heart sank.
A princess. Midna was a princess, and therefore, she could not be with him, no matter how much they both desired it. This thought brought tears to Sheik's eyes that he hurriedly hid by pretending to wipe his face of the sweat and dirt. Zelda looked at him sympathetically, but said nothing.
"I don't know when I'll see you again, Sheik. Give Midna my best, and give Link my love. I miss you all, and I hope we will all be together soon," Zelda whispered, tears choking her voice. Sheik embraced her tightly, letting just a few tears spill over that he hid again.
"We'll bring you back, Zelda. That is a promise," Sheik vowed. Zelda smiled, and they held each other's hands…rising higher into the clouds and towards the stars…
I woke with a start, and looked around, confused. Then I remembered: we were at Renado's house, washed, fed, laundered, and rested. Link's bed was empty, and Midna was nowhere to be seen. I put my shirt on and went downstairs.
Link was entertaining the children at the breakfast table, Midna presumably in his shadow where he kept slipping her pieces of fruit, egg, bacon, sausage, toast, and everything else he could spare.
I sat down and helped myself to a very large breakfast. Link saluted me.
"Good morning, Sheik. We have one day of rest, and then tomorrow we continue on to Arbiter's Grounds! We stay an extra day at Renado's insistence," he added as an undertone. I nodded, since a comprehensible answer was quite impossible at that point with all the food in my mouth.
We ate heartily and then some. Link went off to speak with Renado, and I went to find Shad who was staring at the Sky Cannon.
"Oh, hello, Sheik. I'm still marveling at what you found last night. It's really just astounding!" He exclaimed.
"I went there, Shad. To the City in the Sky. The cannon is broken, but I went there," I whispered conspiratively. He leaned in, his eyes wide.
"Really?" he whispered. I nodded, and proceeded to tell him of my adventure the night before. He was enthralled.
"Amazing! Just fantastic, Sheik! When did you go last night?" he asked excitedly.
"While I slept," I answered. Shad looked disappointed.
"Then it was all in your head," he said, clearly crestfallen.
"Of course it was in my head! But why on earth does that mean it wasn't real?" I laughed, and I left him to ponder my words.
I met Link on the stairs while I carried our laundry Ilia gave me up to our room. "I just got a letter from Telma. She knows someone that might be able to help us get to Arbiter's Grounds! We'll go to Castle Town tomorrow!" he said, brandishing the letter. I nodded.
"Fantastic news, Link. We're closer to getting Zelda back, and saving your kingdom," said, throwing him his tunic. We changed into our own clothing.
"Really? How do you know? Were you with her again, last night?" he asked excitedly. I nodded.
"We are very close, Link. So very close!" I exclaimed. Midna came out of Link's shadow.
"And we can destroy that usurper, and return peace to both realms! Yes!" she yelled, but I saw hope in her eyes for something more. For her old body back. For her kingdom. And for us.
We spent that day lazing around Kakariko, eating, and resting. It was almost like we were back at University again, the jokes, the banter, the debates. But this time, we weren't worried about our marks; we were worried about our beloved Zelda, our beloved Hyrule, and our beloved Midna.
We collapsed into bed that night, in just our pants, ready to continue on with our quest. Link was asleep within moments, and I would have been, had Midna not woken me.
"Sheik, our adventure is nearly over," she whispered. I nodded sleepily, not really paying attention, but trying to.
"When it's over, what will happen to us? Between us?" she asked. I was immediately awake, a painful feeling in my chest. I cupped her face and looked into her eyes.
"Midna, you are a princess. I am no one, no title, no money, no family, no connections to recommend myself to you. You deserve someone who will be good for you, and good for your Realm."
Her face fell. How many times had I broken her heart, even when I wanted desperately to tell her I was lying, take her in my arms, and love her? How could I hurt her like this? Why did I do it?
"I don't want someone good for me. I want someone perfect for me and my kingdom. I want someone that I am passionately in love with that will love me back, just as well. I want—" she pushed me onto my back, and sat on my chest "—you, Sheik."
My heart was beating faster and faster, my breath following the tempo of my heart. I was completely awake now, aware of everything that was going on. Link fast asleep and snoring, the sheets that half covered me, the fact that I was almost naked, Midna sitting on me, touching me, looking at me.
"Why?" I managed to ask.
She stared at me, the passion and earnestness burning in her eyes, burning for me. "Why? Why! Goddesses, you are thick! I love you, Sheik!" she burst out. Then her eyes widened as the weight of what she had said registered. I stared at her in dumb shock.
Part of me wanted to sing, to take her in my arms, and tell her I love her, promise that I'd be hers. The other part of me wanted to scream at her, tell her she made a mistake, to pick someone else, someone who deserved her.
"You—you what?" I stammered out. She was breathing heavily with the realization of what had been said.
"I—I said I love you," she whispered, her hand over her mouth, horrified at what she revealed. I closed my eyes and let my head drop back onto my pillow.
"Oh, Midna," I said quietly, and to my disgust, a tear slipped out and fell onto the bed. "I wish you hadn't said that."
She gasped. I knew she was questioning herself, if she had been mistaken and I didn't love her. "Why?"
"Because it complicates everything," I answered, still avoiding looking at her.
"How?"
"We have so much more to lose, Midna. I can't. I just can't," I whispered. I felt her cheek on my face, turning me to look at her. I shifted so that I was half sitting up, and she slid to my stomach.
"Sheik, we've played games long enough, we've danced around each other for so long that I've grown weary of it. Sheik, look in my eyes, and then tell me you don't love me," she commanded. I gave a small laugh.
"I am not Zelda. I do not obey on command anymore, Midna. And I can't do what you ask of me," I said, averting my gaze. She held my face in both her hands, making me look at her.
"Sheik," she pled, gasping, tears welling in her eyes. My heart felt like it burst, and I couldn't hurt her anymore, no matter how much I wanted to save her.
"I love you, Midna," I said earnestly, looking deep in her eyes. Happiness spread across her face, and tears of happiness fell. Her arms encircled my neck, and she embraced me, crying softly. I held her close to me, happiness coursing through me, and also dread. One thought circled through my head, hurting me more than anything else.
What have I done!?!
.*.*.*
The next morning, Link called Epona, and Midna slipped into the gigantic horse's shadow. We waved to the children and Renado, and rode towards Castle Town. The events of last night were mocking me, and I was silent most of the time. Link was inclined to talk, but stayed silent. He knew me well enough to know when I was preoccupied. But I think he began to worry because after a while, he asked, "What's wrong, Sheik? There's something else on your mind."
"Just the usual, Link. It's been difficult," I answered pensively. He nodded, but I knew that he knew it was something more than that, but he wouldn't push the subject, he was that good of a friend.
We arrived in Castle Town and went straight to Telma's bar, eager for help. She smiled at us as if we were old friends. And we were.
"Hello, Honey number one and Honey number two!" she said, gesturing us over and getting out two tankards of ale. "How are my favorite heroes?"
"Link is the hero, Telma. I am merely a companion," I corrected her. Link glared at me. Telma leaned in and spoke softly for only us three to hear.
"But you have fought with him, shed blood with him, and aided him in times of need, haven't you, Hon? You are just as much a hero as he is," she said. She spoke so convincingly that I was inclined to believe her.
"Telma, you said you had a friend out near Gerudo Desert that might be able to help us, right?" Link asked excitedly as I chugged my tankard. After the night I had had, I would not have minded getting myself spectacularly drunk.
"I did, hon. He's out on the eastern part. He's an older gentleman, name of Auru." Link choked a little, thinking he heard Rauru, the Sage of Light, but he didn't. He sputtered as I thumped him on his back. "If you go all the way out there, be sure to make his acquaintance," she added.
Link and I exchanged glances. "Thank you, Telma. We should go now, if we want to get there at a descent time." He took out a wallet. Telma rolled her eyes.
"As long as you keep coming to this bar, you do not need to pay for anything. It's all on me, hon. All the time. For both of you," she added. Link and I thanked her, and left quickly, eager to resume travelling.
Outside of Castle Town, Midna warped Link to Lake Hylia and I followed suit. When we got there, we headed as far east as we could.
"Let's climb up that tower. We can see everything from there. We'd be able to find him better from up high," Link suggested, and I agreed. When we got to the top, there was a man up there already. His words surprised us.
"I thought it was about time for you to arrive…" We reeled in shock. How did he know? Then he turned around and we both nearly fell off the tower.
The man looked exactly like the Sage of Light.
"Prince Link and Master Sheik, is it?" he asked. But he already knew us.
"Yes. Auru, we presume?" Link said. Auru nodded.
"You do know Telma, don't you? Yes, I am Auru. I am part of the group that Telma kindly allows to meet at her bar. I have heard all about your deeds from her. Now…You being a courageous youth…You have likely heard of the strange events in the desert and come to investigate, no? Or am I mistaken?"
"You are quite right sir. We are trying to get to Arbiter's Grounds. Do you know of them?" Link asked hastily. Anything than more weeks and months in the desert again!
"Yes. The Gerudo Desert once held a prison built to hold the worst criminals this land has ever known…The criminals who were sentenced to death were sent directly to the underworld by a cursed mirror that was kept in the prison…Now even that prison is condemned, and even the road leading to the desert is impassable." Link's shoulders slumped and my head hung dejectedly. "This desert at world's end…It still holds the cursed mirror and the malice of the doomed inmates. These old bones know that the evil currently plaguing Hyrule is related to this wicked place. So I have come to learn the truth." He looked back at us. "Prince Link, Master Sheik, I must ask: What will you do now? Don't tell me you plan to enter the desert and confirm my suspicions with your own eyes?!"
"We do so intend to, sir," Link said respectfully.
"Ah, is that so? Then let good old Auru help you out. You see Lake Hylia below us? A man named Fyer runs an amusement park of sorts there. Give him this." He wrote on a scrap piece of paper and handed it to me. "See, long ago, I saved this man Fyer's life, and now he cannot refuse me if I ask a favor. If you leave the rest up to Fyer, all should go well."
"What can he do for us, sir?" Link asked. I nodded.
"Didn't you know? He has the most powerful cannon in Hyrule! He can blast you straight to Arbiter's Grounds doors!" Auru exclaimed.
I think we both could have cried.
There's a good spot to end the chapter. Pretty sad, huh? Especially after all that time in the desert. Ugh. I'd hate to be in their shoes.
I've got to be honest here. After a long break, being sick and forcing myself to finish Chapter Twenty Four in a decent amount of time, and only getting six reviews from the dozens of people that have this story on alert, it was extremely disheartening. I won't post this until the end of this week even though I finished it on a Saturday. Do I really need to beg for reviews here? I'm not angry, just disappointed that no one thought it was worth their time to write a split second review. Or was the chapter really that awful? Somehow, I really doubt that. I edit my chapters several times over the course of several days.
To the people that did review last chapter, I can't thank you enough. It really means a lot to me, especially those of you who hate spiders (Selestyna, cough cough, sorry. If you didn't like it, never play Twilight Princess). I'm going through a rough time right now in my real life, the likes of which I will not bore or burden you with. But thank you for the reviews. You really have no idea how much they meant to me. All of you get strawberry pie. Warm, delicious strawberry pie.
Okay people. This chapter is twenty-five pages long. Twenty five. Not including the ANs. Never including ANs. Word count: 11,086. It's kind of a long chapter. Actually really long. I really hope you'll make this chapter worth making so long by REVIEWING! How do I stress that enough?
I love you all dearly, and I will try my absolute hardest to get Chapter Twenty Six up as soon as possible!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!! MAKE MY DAY! THERE IS CAKE OF YOUR CHOOSING WAITING FOR YOU IF YOU REVIEW!!!!!!!!!
Love you all, and hope you guys have a great day!
~La Principessa Dell'Opera
P.S.
"If I don't see that CD on my desk by three o'clock Tuesday, you're fired!"
"Do you really think you can fire an Italian?" –Ange and I having some laughs. She's the Italian.