The same familiar feelings as before.

The nostalgia that Link felt as he walked in the tower was incredible. He remembered what happened when he walked into the accursed tower before. He couldn't believe he was doing it again. Everything seemed to be the same. The same carpets, the same eerie torches, the same stone color.

It was like a trip into the past.

Only, he did not want it.

He walked down the carpet towards the first door. A single Stalfo stood there and looked at him. Link took no notice of the beast, or any sign of caring. He walked in front of it as it guarded the door.

"I come here seeking an audience with your master." Link said.

"No one sees Ganondorf!" It shouted.

"Listen; I am no mood to piss off, and I have no time to deal with this nonsense. Get your master down here or die." Link shouted.

"You'll regret that, Hero!" It shouted back.

The Stalfo reached for its sword, but it was too late. Link was already behind it, Keyblade drawn in hand. The Stalfo fell apart and burned away in unholy fire. It didn't even have a chance. Link moved faster than its dark eyes could even see.

"Idiot." Link said as the Keyblade vanished in his hand.

Link walked close to the massive stone door it was guarding. The door opened up on its own, prior as usual Hyrulian doors did. Link walked through it.

He was back where he was years ago. The massive stone tower in the center of the room. The energy pillars emitted the shield in the same manner as before. The six rooms that held the power to the barrier encased the entire place. Link remembered this. He swore under his breath as he did not want to do this, but wanted to rescue Ariasx as quickly as possible.

The only shield that wasn't active was the forest barrier.

Link walked towards the entrance of the Tower itself.

"Come on out Ganon!" Link shouted, drawing the Master Sword. "Show yourself! Face me here!"

Silence shrouded everything for a few seconds. Ganondorf's dark laughter then echoed throughout all the area.

"Not yet…" He said. "We are having so much fun now…why don't you entertain yourself with some past memories?…I'll be waiting at the top…just like before."

The voice died as quickly as it had begun. Link grunted in anger. He knew Ariasx was there with him. But with the barrier in front of him, there was no way to progress.

Link decided to deal with the hardest of the rooms first: The Shadow room.

He remembered this room as the door opened up and he saw the endless chasm before him. The Beamos and the Bubbles floating all around the area. And the place where Impa would reside.

Only…he didn't remember all the Heartless flying around.

Many Heartless we're flying about in the Shadow Room. Most of them we're the flying breeds Link had encountered while walking throughout the memories of Sora. There was little to none of the ground breeds, though that was sure to change as Link moved to the stone platforms.

With nothing more to lose than his life, Link activated the Keyblade and began to summon the power of fire from it. A bellowing fireball came forth from the keyblade's tip and covered the same torch as before. The same clicking sound as Link heard when he did this in the past was heard.

But with Link's new power, moving against time was…irrelevant now.

Link made a powerful leap from where was. The leap was so big, Link leapt over two of the platforms in a single bound. Instead of moving from platform to platform, he soon found it easier to jump multiple platforms at one time. The Heartless…and creatures of Ganondorf of course attempted to attack him, but his swift battle movements and new found skills proved too much for the dark creatures. In fact, he was now strong enough to the point where bombs where no longer necessary to slay Beamos. The Master sword sliced through the stone of the Beamos on one of the stone platform as if it was butter.

Several Shadows and NeoShadows formed on the ground when Link landed on the first stone platform. Link stretched out both weapons and held them together. The NeoShadows surrounded him and then charged. Link charged forward for the first few attackers, destroying them as they approached. The platforms around Link soon vanished after he had.

"I don't have time for this!" Link shouted.

Link slayed another NeoShadow as it came nearby him. He then activated the Fire raid ability and threw the Keyblade at the torch again. As he came down, he swung to the left and right, destroying two more Neoshadows. The Keyblade came into contact with the torch, igniting it again. Link then wasted no time. He leapt from where he was onto the next platforms.

A couple Pirate soldiers tried to smack at Link. Instead of destroying them, Link used them as stepping stones to continue his advance. By the time the Heartless got near him, Link had already made it to the other side, sealing the door behind him.

The energy room that held the Shadow barrier was the same as what it was in the past. Link remembered it well. Actually, it felt as if he had done this yesterday.

Not like he really wanted to.

Link withdrew the Keyblade and Master Sword and pulled out his bow. Focusing powerful light energy into his hand, the arrow became a Light Arrow. Link fired into the barrier. The first sphere began to expand for a bit, glowing bright red. Then the sphere exploded into shards. Link covered his eyes as the spheres flew everywhere.

Impa appeared in front of Link.

"The Shadow barrier has been destroyed. Hurry." She whispered.

Link nodded. Though he had full knowledge that Impa did not exist here, he couldn't help but do this anyway. Impa raised her hands and encased herself in a sphere. Link was then suddenly forced out of this room at speeds he could not understand. When Link was able to see again, he was returned to the front entrance. The purple beam from the side of the tower deactivated.

"1 down." Link said. "Four to go."

As Link walked towards the Fire room, he heard Ganondorf's dark laughter. He drew his blade and looked around.

"Where are you Ganondorf!?" He shouted. "Don't mock me!"

"Yes…" Ganondorf's voice echoed from all over. "I remember…the nostalgia, the combat, and the memories. I remember it all! Continue Link. Continue your fight!"

Link grunted in anger.

"Have your laugh!" He shouted. "It will make it all the more better when I rip your throat out!"

Link ran into the Fire room next. As soon as Link touched the platform it began to sink.

"Uh oh…I forgot!" Link shouted.

Link jumped into the air. But as he did, he began to fall toward the magma that was below. Link swore as he tried to veer his course away from the bubbling magma.

As he did, he suddenly stopped in midair. Link looked surprised as he watched himself levitating in the air. In truth, he had wielded the Keyblade now long enough to gain the ability of Gliding in the air.

"Whoa…" Link said. "This…is new."

Link was falling, but he was falling so slowly, it was very minimal to his predicament. Now he had to try and get himself to move. He started by slowly inching himself to the left. His whole body began to move forward a bit. It didn't Link long from there to know how to move in the air.

"Well…" He said. "This makes things a little easier."

With that being said, Link began to float around the area, collecting each of the silver rupees that we're scattered around the area. The fact he could glide, in par with his new jumping talents made it so easy to gather all the rupees that floated around the area. The door to the room opened up.

"Hmph." Link muttered. "This is easy."

Actually…this is too easy…its almost if Ganondorf wants me to relive this…this…part of my past which I detest...

But…can there be more than just this…

Once again, Link entered the Sealed room that carried the core to the fire barrier. Link withdrew his weapons and armed another Light arrow again. The arrow was launched into the core, causing it to be destroyed. Damuria reappeared in the core a second later.

"The Fire barrier has been destroyed. Hurry brother."

Damuria…I wish you we're back in this world…

The Large Goron raised his hands and warped Link out of that section of the Castle. Link reappeared, watching the red laser disappear. As soon as it did, Ganondorf's dark laughter reemerged around Link.

"Hehehehe…." He said. "Very good. All the traps I have placed here again are irrelevant compared to you now."

"Why are you doing this!?" Link shouted. "Do you want me to walk up to your doorstep!?"

"Tell me; do you miss them?" Ganondorf asked.

Link stopped. He wondered what Ganondorf meant by that.

"The Sages that are sealed in the Chamber. Do miss them? Do you long to see them again? The Goron, The Sheikah, Zora, and the Gerudo? Do you long for their embrace; to converse, interact, meet your friends as if they we're right there? As you watch the memories of your friends pass you by, you become agaitated, angry, and full of sorrow. The truth of never seeing them again will always haunt you…Only Saria left…so she could see you again. Because she longed for what you longed for enough to sacrifice immortality for it…and that's why…that's why I will ensure her life ends."

Link's eye widened with rage. The look within his face would have brought terror into the eyes of any monster. But Ganondorf remained composed.

"I warned you I would get revenge on you for what you did to me!" Ganondorf shouted cruelly. "I will torment you with sorrow; till you are exactly like the Nobodies themselves!"

"GANONDORF!" Link shouted.

Link sprinted into the next barrier room. He ran straight into the Ice room, not even taking a bothering to look.

The cool air brushed up against him, but Link didn't notice. He grabbed both swords and ignited their fire power. He then brought the flames to max level and pointed the Keyblade forward.

"I have no time to deal with these infernal traps; MEGA FLARE!" Link shouted.

Fire energy slowly began to build into the Keyblade's tip. It continued to build up energy, until it reached a critical state. A massive explosion of fire encased the entire room, reducing the ice to mere water. The water came bellowing towards him. Link though levitated in the air, avoiding the water pressure.

"No one will keep me from her!" Link shouted. "I don't care what happens to me; I don't care what happens to this Castle or the World! I'm bringing Saria back! No matter what!"

With the water lowered, Link ran into the next room. Normally he would have had to solve a trap to get a platform up against a certain wall and then get up from there. Now that he had the Keyblade's power within him, he wasted no time with such dilemmas. He leapt towards the wall. Of course the door was locked.

"Damn…a locked door." Link said.

Link stopped for a second. Suddenly it hit him. He looked at the Keyblade with interest.

"Keyblade…" he said.

Link looked back up at the door. He whirled the blade in his hand for a few seconds and then pointed it at the door. A beam of light came from the Keyblade, unlocking the door. Link ran into the barrier room.

The blue barrier was there. Link withdrew his weapons and then fired a light arrow. The barrier broke and Ruto reappeared.

"The Water Seal has been broken. Hurry up!"

Link didn't care about this hallucination. Other matters we're more important. Ruto raised her arms like before and warped Link out.

Link though this time was surprised.

Instead of seeing the barrier room when his vision returned, Link was warped somewhere else. He was warped in the middle of a dark city. Or at least it looked like one. Rain pelted down on his skull cap as he walked throughout it. A giant glowing heart was floating in the sky, among the city. Link looked around. He never saw this before. Where was he? Where did he go? Was this place in his memories? Or Soras?

No. Sora had no memory of this place either. He didn't know that off hand; but his heart told him so. Sora was never here.

As he walked onward, he came to a spot where it seemed to be a city clearing.

In the middle of it was a capsule. The glass was stained green, the machinery seemed to be made of some form of stone. Like a relic.

And in that capsule…was Saria.

Link gasped. Saria. Right in front of him.

"Saria…" Link said.

Link's feet ran faster than they ever took him in his life before. Even faster when he went to build the Biggoron's sword. As he did though, a dark portal appeared on the ground.

Ariasx appeared there.

Link stopped in his tracks. Araisx was standing there, her bow drawn, looking at Saria.

"Ary." Link said.

She didn't answer.

"Ary…are you…alright?" Link asked. "You escaped from Ganondorf."

She still remained silent.

"Well…" he said as he approached her. "Either way, I'm glad your okay."

"Link…" She said.

Link stopped in his tracks. The tone of voice Ariasx used was different. Normally she was cheerful and happy; just like Saria. Now she sounded dark…and evil too. She stood there, never turning around. What was wrong?

"Tell me." She asked. "What draws you to me? Is it me? Or this girl?"

"I…" Link said.

Link stopped talking. He couldn't answer. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't answer that. He didn't know the answer. Something held him back.

"Your feelings for me." She said. "…They're not real…are they?...I'm a part of Saria…and from that…I carry her feelings over to me. I know that somewhere in your heart…there's a part of you that loves me…but its not me you love…but the feelings that I have. Her feelings…those are what you love. It's not actually me."

"No Ary…you don't understand." Link said.

"No; I do." She said. "I understand perfectly. I know how your feeling…it's alright."

Link looked up.

"I know you want to feel something for me." She said. "But…no matter what…your feelings will only lead you back to Saria. It's…impossible for you to love me. That's why our relationship moved so quickly. We knew each other for mere hours. We hugged, comforted, kissed, and made love. Because Saria let you move that quickly…There is a problem though."

Ariasx stopped for a second. She then slowly turned around.

"I…I love you." She said.

Link heard her voice. It was soft, beautiful. The passion she had as she spoke those words struck his heart harder than steel.

But unfortunately…there was malice in too.

"And that's why…" She said.

Ariasx held out her hand and formed an arrow. She strung the arrow on the bow and pointed it at the capsule. As Link realized what she was planning, he screamed in terror. He ran passed Ariasx as she fired the arrow at Saria.

Link was merely inches away from losing Saria's life as he knocked the arrow away. He landed by the tank where Saria was.

"ARY!" He shouted. "What the hell are you doing!?"

"Doing what I should have done a long time ago!" She shouted.

"This is insane!" Link shouted. "You said you would save Saria; not kill her!"

"That is before I found out who I was!" She shouted.

Link stopped. He then remembered Ariasx was nothing more than leaked energy from Saria…nothing more.

"Don't you see." She explained, desperation all over her voice. "My feelings…my thoughts…all they are computer code and Saria. I…I have nothing to call my own…even my weapon is something borrowed from Saria's temple. Everything changed when I saw you. Even if it is Saria's memories, the fact remains still that I love you! But I don't have a heart of my own!...This…this is the only way for me get my heart!'

"Araisx!" Link shouted.

She didn't respond. She fired another arrow at Link. Link deflected the arrow as her hand formed another arrow.

"All I want is to get a heart." She said. "So…so I can live with you."

"Dammit Ariasx!" Link shouted. "I don't want to choose between you two!"

"…I…I know." She said, her voice cracking, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm…sorry…I'm…I'm so sorry."

Imagine the music Face It playing here

Link kept his swords drawn in front of Saria.

"But…I love you too much." She shouted. "So much; that I will do whatever it takes to exist! As long as that girl is alive, I'll never be anything more than living in her shadow!"

Link prepared himself to fight.

And as he did, he couldn't help but hear Ganondorf's dark laughter behind him.