A/N: Guys, I just realized... The Best Lies has been going on for a little over a year now. Is the end in sight?

...hahahaha.

Also, don't know if I mentioned this before, but if there's ever a long delay between updates, check out my profile. Chances are I've posted up a reason for the lack of new chapters. As always, thank you for your patience! Moving is a pain.

Okyaku-san: yay, you figured out the tag teaming! I pointedly avoided saying the name of which Link that was, and I wondered if anyone would figure it out.

Pineapple: Ghirahim is evil, and good at being evil XP As for Link... well, please read on.

Chapter 37

"Guess my turn's about up," Link grinned. Except Vaati wasn't so sure anymore that it was Link. His suspicions only increased when the blond winked at him. That carefree, flirtatious attitude... "See ya later, Vaati!" The green magic of Farore's Wind surrounded him, whirling around him until he vanished, just like Vaati's teleportation.

He felt something dark next to him, and he turned his gaze just enough to look at Ghirahim. Anger was rolling off of the demon lord in visible clouds of dark magic, his eyes narrowed to slits. Vaati smirked. About time someone showed up that arrogant jerk.

He'd wondered why Link had made absolutely no attempt to retrieve the Master Sword, or rescue them from Hyrule Castle. Nothing for an entire week. Ghirahim had been more bothered than even Vaati; when he heard that Link was finally moving towards Karusa Valley, he had immediately grabbed the Wind Mage, eyes glittering with gleeful anticipation. Vaati hadn't doubted that the demon lord had some sort of trick up his sleeve. It looked like Link had been expecting it as well - that week must have been all in preparation for this.

"Very clever," Ghirahim muttered as Farore's Wind continued to spin in its mini-tornado of magic. It wasn't long before someone materialized there once again: another Link.

He turned his blue eyes up to Vaati and Ghirahim. A calm, confident smile was on his lips. "You're not the only one who knows how to strategize." His hair was blond, just like the Link before, but if Vaati had to guess... This one was Red, and the first one had been Vio.

More Yiga agents appeared, and Red immediately cast Nayru's Love, launching into an aggressive offensive against them, attacking before they could really attempt to strike. As the arena gradually became cluttered with unconscious Yiga, they started to retreat, disappearing when Red injured them even the slightest.

"What do these fools think they are doing?" Ghirahim hissed. He snapped his fingers, and a diamond barrier appeared around Red, blocking him off from the Yiga. "I see that I've underestimated you yet again. The Hero deserves a worthy opponent, not these worthless grunts."

Red lowered his sword, narrowing his eyes up at the man. "And when do you plan on giving me the Master Sword? After I defeat every single last Yiga?"

"Impatient, are we? I cannot simply hand it to you without proof of your worth as a Hero. But we will leave this tedious kind of test behind..." He snapped his fingers once more, and the arena cleared. "I will have you fight one last opponent. Defeat him, and I will give you the sword."

Red did not say a word, just widened his stance, ready for this final challenge. The door he had come through earlier opened, and he quickly turned. Vaati saw the blond's eyes widen slightly, then narrow. It was another Yiga agent, but this one wore a unique mask. It was the smooth, white oval mask emblazoned with the red Yiga symbol like everyone else's, but he sported three curved, flamelike horns on each side of the mask. He was tall, too, with black hair tied up in a warrior's knot and sets of knives dangling from his hips.

"I didn't expect to see you out of jail again already, Kohga," Red called. He was shifting the handle of his sword in his grip repeatedly. "It's becoming a chore, catching you time after time."

The man called Kohga stood still, cocking his head after a moment. "Ah, it's you. Yes, I did not expect to run into you again so soon. We really must stop meeting like this."

Vaati watched closely. If he didn't know better, Red was nervous. It seemed as though Kohga had clashed with Link several times before, and that Link was responsible for locking him away.

"I didn't recognize you at first in that disguise," Kohga continued with a shake of his head. Then he pointed at Red. "But a Yiga cannot mistake those blue eyes. So you've taken to dressing as a man, you Sheikah she-wolf?"

Red grew completely still. Vaati frowned, glancing first at Kohga, then Red, then Ghirahim. The demon was staring intently at the blonde with narrowed eyes and one hand resting on his chin. He... hadn't misheard, had he?

"So is that what you guys have been calling me?" Red finally returned. "There are worse titles."

"There are. For instance, a stolen one." Taking a few steps forward, Kohga raised his hands, palms up. "Such as the Hero. You think you can fool the world?"

The twin was moving his sword again, blue eyes flickering. They briefly met Vaati's searching gaze, and the Mage saw panic slowly cracking through Red's usual calm armor. His own heart was beating too loudly. Vaati was missing something; what Kohga was implying... it couldn't be what he thought.

Red spoke softly. "...No. And that was never our intention. We're just doing what we have to in order to protect everyone. But sometimes it does the opposite... doesn't it?" He turned his head up, looking directly at Vaati.

Ghirahim hummed loudly, ending with a chuckle. "I see! So that is how it is! Oh, you are quite skilled with your lies. How delicious! It seems our Hero is not a Hero at all, but rather a Heroine. I was so confused for the longest time over why you were so weak... Now I see!" Red's eyes cut to Ghirahim, flashing, but he ignored the blonde, turning to Vaati with a smug smirk. "I wonder if you feel relieved right now, knowing your dear friend was not a man? Or is that the feeling of betrayal making your fists curl so tightly?"

"I don't want to hear it from you," Vaati snapped at Ghirahim. But the demon was right - his hands were clenched, heart thumping. This... this was one lie gone too far. He turned his eyes back down to Red. Just deny it. Say something to defend yourself.

But Red shook his... her head. "I won't lie more and say that they are wrong. But now isn't the time for this." She snapped her eyes to Kohga, raising her sword defensively. "We need to settle this, once and for all."

Kohga chuckled behind his mask. "Let this be our final encounter, fierce one."

He wasted no more time. The Yiga crouched, then leaped into the air, disappearing and then reappearing high above Red. Vaati's eyes widened when Kohga made a sign with his hands and two large boulders materialized in the air with him in response. They went hurtling towards Red. The twin scrambled away just in time to avoid being ground to dust.

Vaati followed the fight with his eyes as Kohga alternately sent boulders and knives after Red, and as she ran, ducked, and rolled to escape the attacks. But he felt strangely detached from the battle itself. More and more, he just looked at Red, at her hair pulled up in a tiny ponytail, at her slender figure, at her blue eyes and the soft curve of her cheeks. He'd never questioned Link's gender, had never had any reason to. He himself had been called feminine more times than he could count, and Link was one of those people who could easily pass for either gender. He'd just trusted that she was who she said she was.

Maybe he was a bit baffled and also impressed at how she had hidden it so perfectly from her own roommate. Maybe he was a bit relieved that he didn't have to question his sexuality anymore. Mostly, though, Vaati could only ask - had she planned to ever tell him the truth?

"You're missing the action, Wind Mage." Ghirahim's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. The demon smirked. "Having difficulties accepting the truth? Do you perhaps need... physical proof? Oooh, no need to glare so. I am only offering to help you."

"You can keep your so-called help to yourself," Vaati growled.

The pale-haired man hummed, casting his dark eyes down on the arena. "If you insist. It looks as though our Heroine could benefit from some assistance, however..."

He refocused his attention, breath catching when he saw how the fight had progressed. Spatters of blood were smeared on the sandy ground, droplets falling from Red's right shoulder, her blood-streaked arm hanging limply at her side. Kohga was still airborne (how was he doing that?).

"It feels like you're holding back, she-wolf," the Yiga called, propping one elbow on his hand and tapping his mask as though thinking. Two boulders revolved around him like the needles of a clock. "Where is the fire in your eyes? Where is that wild energy my agents fear? I would be disappointed to win without you landing a single blow."

Red said nothing. Why wasn't she protecting herself with Nayru's Love? Then Vaati realized - she must only have a limited amount of magical energy. She'd already cast Farore's Wind to get here, and then used Nayru's Love while fighting the onslaught of Yiga members. If she planned to switch, then she'd have to save her energy. Why didn't she switch now, though?

Kohga shook his head and flicked his fingers towards her. The boulders flew forward one at a time. Red rolled out of the way of the first one, but the second one crashed down right in front of her, throwing her onto her back. Heart hammering, Vaati could only watch as Kohga summoned a huge rock right above the collapsed girl.

She wasn't moving. They all waited for her to move. But she just stared up at the rock, chest visibly heaving with each breath she took. Her blue eyes were hard and without fear.

Red was the fighter - why wasn't she fighting?! Fear seeped in as Kohga lifted the boulder higher. Vaati wanted to shout at her to move, to get up, to fight! If Red died, what would that do to Link? He didn't want to find out. And that was why, when Kohga finally dropped the boulder, Vaati's restraint snapped.

He summoned a blast of wind to push the rock out of the way. He felt the air respond to his call and fly towards the boulder. Suddenly, however, the power in the wind was cut off, and at the same time, the bracelet around Vaati's wrist turned burning hot. He hissed in pain, grabbing at it only to pull his hand back, stung sharply by the painful heat of the metal. The diamond gem, which had been white before, was now glowing red.

He glanced at the demon next to him, who was staring at him pointedly, and realization made him clench his fists. This wasn't just a bracelet to keep track of him, was it? Of course Ghirahim would have made sure Vaati couldn't use his magic. He saw the glow fade from the gem as the heat also dissipated.

Ghirahim suddenly cursed something in a language he didn't recognize. Vaati snapped his head up, remembering the danger Red was in. The arena was cloudy with dust. Had the boulder smashed into the ground hard enough to shatter? Gradually, it settled. Relief made Vaati's shoulders relax. There were two Links - Red, still lying on the ground, and either Blue or Link standing above her, sword raised high.

"Thank Hylia for a nearly unbreakable sword," the new Link coughed, lowering the Four Sword. She looked up at Vaati with a sad smile. "Hi, Vaati. Sorry you had to find out this way."

Red rolled over and pushed herself up with one hand, coughing. "Fight now, talk later," she grimaced.

"Yeah... and I guess I'm not the one he needs to talk to, anyway." So this was Blue. She sheathed her sword, and Vaati noticed for the first time that a bow and a quiver full of arrows were strapped to her lower back. "Kohga! I'm here to even the playing field. It's not fair to fight with fancy toys against a girl with only a sword." Blue whipped out her bow - a strangely double-curved wooden one - and knocked two arrows into it. "Excuse me while I use your own fancy tools against you!"

She snapped back the string and shot at the man. Kohga quickly raised his hands, summoning a blue shield of magic which the arrrows shattered against. "Since when did you have magic?" she complained, already grabbing more arrows.

"Lord Ghirahim generously unlocked my magic. It simply took a little practice after that." As he spoke, the masked man summoned four large rocks, all circling around him, while still shielding himself. "I could ask you the same question, she-wolf."

Blue stood with her bow at the ready. When Kohga shot two of the rocks at her, she rolled out of the way, quickly coming to a kneeling position and firing her own attack. The Yiga had briefly lowered his shield when he attacked - Vaati wondered if it obstructed his view - and Blue had seized the opportunity. One arrow embedded itself in Kohga's shoulder, the other glanced off his mask, leaving a scrape.

She kept dodging to the left, until the were both facing the opposite way of when they'd begun. Red, still bleeding, was slowly moving to the edge of the arena, out of the way of the battle. Vaati saw her mutter something several times but it was impossible to hear what she said.

Blue was faring better than even Red had. She hadn't gotten so much as a scratch, though she was getting covered in sand and dust, turning her military green outfit a tan-gray color. Arrow after arrow found its mark. Kohga was beginning to throw his attacks quickly and wildly, clearly angry at this girl who would not sit still for a single moment. One projectile managed to knock Blue over, but she rolled immediately onto her stomach, jumping to her feet.

"Just... a little... longer!" she shouted between panting breaths. She fired, and the impact of the arrow on Kohga's mask split a crooked crack down the middle.

He snapped his hands up to hold it in place; in doing so, however, he seemed to lose his hold on the rocks floating around him. Vaati inhaled sharply as one of the boulders fell right onto Kohga's head. The Yiga howled, hunching over in pain, quickly beginning to sway. Blue simply stood, watching, as he seemed to lose consciousness. And then he plummeted. The hole in the center of the arena swallowed him; Vaati wondered how deep it was - he never heard a thud, though he strained his ears listening for it.

The Wind Mage turned his gaze to Blue. She was staring at the pit, eyes dark, no spark of joy in her face whatsoever. It was unlikely Kohga had survived. Vaati recalled how Link had shared about her choice not to kill; but now, it looked as though that vow had been broken.

There was a quick clapping of hands. Ghirahim lowered his hands, not smiling. "Well. It looks like playtime is over." He snapped his fingers, and a long metal box appeared in front of Blue. "Your prize, Heroine."

She only glanced at it briefly. Then she turned her face up to the two of them, smiling just a bit. "Thanks, but I already have one."

Vaati bit back an exclamation. What was she doing?! That was the Master Sword - the only thing that could defeat Ghirahim! The demon was perplexed as well.

"No...? Do you not understand, girl? I am granting you a chance. Without it, you can do nothing to save anyone. Do not reject a demon's generosity."

"Do not trust a demon's lies," she returned, smile growing more confident. Blue flipped open the top of the case, sheathing the Four Sword as she did so, and pulled the weapon resting inside. Vaati did not even have a chance to properly look at it - the next instant, it was hurtling in the air like a giant boomerang towards Ghirahim.

The demon automatically snatched it by the blade, not so much as flinching. He hissed. "You make light of me, do you?"

"The Blade of Evil's Bane shouldn't be able to be touched so easily by evil hands." Blue pointed at the sword in the demon's grip. "So how come you can hold 'the only weapon that can defeat you?'"

It dawned on Vaati at the same time Ghirahim's lids lowered, a smirk twitching at his lips. "...a fake," Vaati muttered. He snapped his eyes to the demon. "It was a fake all along?!" He swore. Blue was right - he should have never trusted a demon to keep his word.

He clicked his tongue at Vaati's exclamation but kept his focus on Blue. "I do not know how you found out, Heroine. Your society has forgotten so many of the old legends, I had thought you wouldn't have a clue, and come dancing willingly to your grave." He looked at the fake Master Sword in his hand, then tossed it away with a scoff. "Well, no matter. Fooled or not, your death will be just as quick."

Blue held up a hand like a stop sign. "You didn't listen to me earlier! Why do I need a fake Master Sword when Link is just about to grab the real one? Yup, that's right - this was all just a huge distraction!"

The air literally grew chill next to Vaati. Ghirahim stared at Blue, fury cracking his composure entirely. Without a word, he vanished in flash of diamonds.

Vaati looked back down at Blue, to see her gesturing for him to go. "Go back to the castle! Link is waiting for you! And don't worry about me and Red - we'll be fine." When he just stood there, still trying to process all the crazy stuff that had happened in the last hour, she waved both hands more frantically. "Go, Vaati!"

He blinked and shook his head. Would he even be able to teleport? Tentatively, he reached for the wind, prepared to stop the moment his bracelet reacted. But nothing happened. Maybe Ghirahim was the one controlling when it blocked his magic and when it didn't. And right now, the demon was quite preoccupied elsewhere. With a nod to the two twins, Vaati summoned the wind to carry him back to Hyrule Castle.

He wondered what awaited him there.