HOLY MOLY THAT TOOK WAY TOO LONG!

More details at the end...but here ya go!

Thank you, as always, for your reviews, your faves, and your support. It means the world to me, especially in this crazy time. I hope ya'll are taking care of you and yours.

Special thanks to anyone here classified as an essential employee, epecially anyone in healthcare. Enjoy your brief escape into the chapter.


Chapter 19- Powerless

Link sat in the living area of Paya's house, surrounded by open books and stray guardian parts. He held an open book in his hand, but he wasn't reading so much as just staring at the words as if they were foreign.

What am I even doing?

Almost two weeks had passed since he'd snapped out of the worst of his depression, but to Link, it felt like an eternity. He hadn't heard Zelda since her one short burst, and his mind was an abyss of anxiety. His lack of sleep didn't help, but he feared closing his eyes. In his dreams, he heard echoes of his own voice mixed in with Zelda's shrieks and pleas for mercy. Sometimes he saw snapshots...of her face, scrunched up in pain and eyes wide with despair. Of her arms and torso, covered in bruises of various sizes. Of her, with a terrifying beast of a man's arms around her neck, while she begged-

"Link," Paya laid her hand carefully on Link's shoulder, interrupting his spiraling thoughts, "What is it?"

Paya had spent most of her time researching with Link, studying dozens of books and passages with any hint or mention of the Triforce. They were in search of information about how to wield the Triforce's power. He'd halfheartedly tried to use it a couple of times to move guardian parts or other objects, but even with his lack of knowledge, he knew there was more to how the Triforce was supposed to work.

If I could talk to Zelda, I could just ask her...

Link swallowed the bile traveling up his esophagus.

Focus.

"Sorry," he muttered, "Just thinking."

Goddesses above...PLEASE just TELL ME.

Link groaned, threw his book to the side, and massaged his temples. Was this what Zelda felt in her quest for her powers a century ago? Did she feel this frustration...this helplessness...the responsibility of knowing that lives depend on you, but no one can offer guidance? But this is your burden, alone, while people you care about, love-

Paya squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

"I do not know her as well as you do," Paya assuaged, "But every story I've read, every journal I've consulted, and every one of my own interactions with the Princess have only led me to conclude that Zelda bears wisdom beyond her Goddess power. You know how intelligent she is. She helped orchestrate this...we need to have faith in her."

Link sighed...he knew Paya was right...but still…how could he not think about-

"Let me distract you with something else!" Paya attempted cheerfully.

Though still anxious, Link rolled his eyes. Paya had undoubtedly found another supposed clue about how to make his Triforce powers work. His suspicions were confirmed when Paya plopped in front of him, clinging to a dark, faded scroll.

"I found another document that talks about the Triforce," Paya said gleefully, "I can't place the date, exactly, but this scroll is dated from before the timeline split. This part here…" Paya gestured to the worn material, "Talks about the Triforce splitting."

Her distraction was working- Link quirked his eyebrow at the etched triangle shapes at the top of the document.

Paya cleared her throat, "It says, 'The Triforce... the sacred triangles... it is a paradise that weighs the three forces: Power, Wisdom, and Courage." Paya unrolled the scroll, and continued in a story-like tone eerily similar to Impa's, "If the heart of the one who holds the sacred triangles has all three forces in balance, that one will gain the True Force to govern all. But, if that one's heart is not in balance, the Triforce will separate into three parts: Power, Wisdom, and Courage. Only one part will remain for the one who touched the Triforce... the part representing the force that one most believes in.'"

Link frowned. He stared at the scroll- the writing was in Sheikah, but something about the style was definitely Hylian.

How does this help us?

"I know it isn't much," Paya said defeatedly, "But I think there's more to it...it makes sense that Ganondorf, the epitome of impurity, would obtain the Triforce of Power in the split...but I'm curious about the absence of the other two pieces. How are those determined, exactly…? How is it that Zelda has the Triforce of Wisdom, and you have the Triforce of Courage..."

Link tuned Paya out, and stared at the useless document. It didn't matter what it implied or how the pieces got to where. What mattered was that he had a piece, Zelda did, and Ganondorf did. And Link still had no idea how to use his. And he wasn't with her. He needed to save her-

Suddenly, Link's hand shimmered a brilliant white light and comforting warmth. Paya's voice fell, and she stared suspiciously at Link's hand as the Triforce symbol slowly faded back into a simple brown mark.

Link stared daggers into the back of his hand.

What does that MEAN?

"Who wrote this?" Link deflected.

"What?"

"Who knew this much about the Triforce?"

Paya shook her head, tore her eyes from his hand, and began to roll the script, "According to the histories, only the royal family, the hero, the Sheikah elders, and Ganondorf ever knew the Triforce existed...well, they were the only ones who knew where to find it and how to use it. However…" Paya tied the edge of the scroll, "This particular document was written by someone called, 'Sheik,' before the timeline split."

Sheik? That's original.

"I was curious…" Paya wondered, "With a name like that, it should be Sheikah, right? The Sheikah have been around since the dawn of Hyrule. But this document was clearly written by a Hylian...why would somebody call themselves Sheik? Why would they take the time to-"

Suddenly, Paya's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"The diary…" she mumbled, "The spell...Zelda's voice...your hand...hmmm..."

What now?

"Give me your arm," Paya demanded while grabbing at Link's wrist.

"Paya, what are you-"

"Shhhh!" Paya hissed, "Shut up for a moment, and let me check something…"

Link relinquished his hand to Paya. For a moment, the room was silent.

"I think I was wrong…" Paya traced the triangle on his hand, "I have a theory…" She abruptly pulled herself away, and stood determinedly, "Could it be that simple? I need to research...perhaps it might help to consult Grandmother's notes on Zelda's powers…"

One side of Link's mouth tweaked as Paya absentmindedly left the living room, muttering to herself about experiments and other theories about the Triforce. A halfhearted giggle escaped his throat at his brilliant friend, and he felt a jolt of gratitude for her thoughtfulness and care.

But then, it was silent once more. Link gazed outside, and tried to distract himself with the dancing fireflies fluttering about the village. When that didn't work, he decided to go upstairs, to Paya's room, hoping a change in surroundings might help.

That didn't work either.

He grabbed a book about the Divine Beasts. After reading the first two lines, the sense that he'd read this before overwhelmed him...but he couldn't remember when he'd read it or why he'd be reading it because when he tried to think about it he could only think of Zelda. Knowing she was alive kept him going, but he missed her. Ached for her. More than anything, he wished he could just wrap his arm around her, and pull her close. Smell the flowery scent of her hair. Feel her warmth against him.

Link whined. He flopped onto Paya's bed, and stared at the ceiling.

Get her out...

He massaged his temples again. Alone with his thoughts, he couldn't help but wonder...What was Ganondorf doing to Zelda? Where was he keeping her? How many horrific nightmares had he thrust upon her unconsciousness? How many memories had he warped and twisted? How many of Link's nightmares were Zelda's reality?

And...was just her mind in danger?

Zelda? Can you hear me?

Silence.

I don't know how to do this...I don't know how to talk to you.

More silence.

Tell me what to do! Tell me where you are! Tell me how to help you!

Link groaned, wrapped his arms around his legs, and curled himself into a small, aching ball on the mattress. He knew, intellectually, what grief entailed. That he was supposed to have moments like this...moments of helplessness, and fear. Moments where the pain would invade his chest and burn behind his eyes. But, even when the dam behind his eyes broke, and he whimpered into the pillow...he still felt weak. Ashamed. Like this was his fault. Her misery...her torture at Ganondorf's hand...his fault…his resposibility to save her…

The warmth in his hand pulsed. But it only made him angrier...more restless...

He didn't remember falling asleep...but he stirred when he felt a soft weight fall across his body. Through the sliver of his eyelids, he caught Paya blowing out the lantern before tiptoeing towards the stairs.

So kind to him...even when she was miserable. Even when he'd offered no support in return.

Is she okay? I should ask her...

But sleep stole him away before he could.


Zelda gagged as hands tightened around her throat.

"Such a worthless excuse for a Princess," Link murmured in her ear, "How could I ever love you?"

She clawed at his hands, and tried to scream.

This isn't real...this isn't real...

"You're nothing," he hissed, "Hyrule will crumble because of you."

It isn't real.

"Link!" she shrieked anyway, "Please, DON'T!"

Suddenly, the hands around her throat disappeared, and Zelda's lungs finally filled with air. She clutched her throat, and tried to assess her surroundings. Zelda sighed into the coolness of the stone floor of her cell in the Hyrule Castle dungeons. She was unharmed, physically. Her short, blonde hair lay twisted and matted in chunks around her head and face. Her blue tunic and dark trousers clung to her sweat-soaked body, and she absentmindedly tucked one cold, bare foot between her legs to warm it up. She lay in the dark corner of her cell, as far from Ganondorf as she could manage.

See? Just Ganondorf…

Just inside of the door, Ganondorf sat, chuckling, on a broken piece of stone, his foot resting on his knee and his arms crossed. He grinned proudly down at her trembling form.

I must stay strong...

As Ganondorf possessed her over and over again, she'd slowly become familiar with her mind...the caverns, twists, and turns. The peaks and valleys. She couldn't describe the landscape, exactly...but she knew it. Felt it. She couldn't keep Ganondorf out, and she couldn't keep him from manipulating her mind...but she thought she could control what he found by hiding her secrets where he wouldn't bother to look. Over the past two weeks of her imprisonment, Zelda didn't contact Link, because the scientist inside of her urged her to understand exactly what Ganondorf could access and manipulate first.

That, and I don't want Link to know how miserable this is.

Zelda hid her original encounter with Link in the section of her mind that contained her most trivial thoughts. So far, Ganondorf hadn't discovered the connection between her and Link- or at least hadn't commented on it- but Zelda was sure of the first. If Ganondorf discovered that Zelda knew where to hide her secrets, she wasn't sure what hell he'd rain upon her, or Link. Especially since Ganondorf had grown more creative in his manipulation of her memory lately...more graphic...more painful-

"Interesting..." Ganondorf mused, "I knew this would be pleasing...but I hadn't anticipated I'd be this...entertained by you..."

Zelda shivered, and stared at the grimy stone, purposely avoiding Ganondorf's hungry gaze.

"Although," Ganondorf exhaled, and stood, "This is starting to bore me..."

Bore him...

Zelda's stomach churned, and the moldy bread and dry meat she'd eaten earlier threatened to escape. She gulped, and felt goosebumps rise across her arms. She remained silent, hesitant to even think. His heavy boots clunked loudly on the stone...then louder, with each tentative step in Zelda's direction. She curled into her corner, and wrapped her arms tightly around her legs.

What is he doing?!

"Heh heh heh," Ganondorf chuckled, each syllable sending panicky pulses through her veins. She buried her face in her knees.

"Look at me, Zelda."

Hylia, help me please...

Zelda held her breath, hugged herself even tighter, and tilted her head upwards, until her eyes met his. Ganondorf's transformation was complete- no more blotches of darkness on his dark skin. No errant tendons or healing muscles. His wild, orange eyes had simmered into a thoughtful, though hungry, amber, and Zelda even thought she saw an extra sheen to his hair and brow. Other than his height and build, Zelda was struck by how surprisingly normal he appeared, for a Gerudo man.

Until Ganondorf's cheshire grin, his pearly whites and sharp canines contrasting drastically against the darkness of the dungeon, narrowed his eyes at her like a predator bracing for it's prey. He kneeled to the ground, until his face was level with hers, and only a few inches away. She flinched when he cupped her cheek in his warm hand.

Don't. Move.

"Beautiful…" he sighed, "So much more in person than through your own eyes and thoughts."

Zelda couldn't help herself- she whimpered, and dug her nails into her legs.

"Relax," Ganondorf muttered cooly as he traced her jawline with his thumb, "I have no plans to ravage you today."

Today?

Before Zelda could ruminate further, Ganondorf continued, "I did want to let you know that my Yiga clansmen have located your Hero in Kakariko Village."

Link!

Zelda's eyes widened, and Ganondorf snickered.

"He will soon be disposed of," he said flippantly, grabbing her chin between his thumb and index finger, "But not before I seize the Triforce of Courage. Soon after, I'll be calling upon you to witness his execution."

Not Link! Please!

Ganondorf let go of Zelda's chin, and stared at her as if she were a puzzle.

"You know," he admired, and stood, towering above her like a Hinox, "I had planned to dispose of you immediately after my resurrection. However...you may prove to be very useful to me."

Zelda still hadn't moved.

Please leave. Please leave. Please le-

"That's enough for today," Ganondorf spat. He gathered the long, dark cape he was wearing, and flipped it behind him. "I must think about what's next for you, Princess."

Zelda shivered in the corner of her cell, and tried to block out the sounds: jangling keys, clanking metal doors, and Ganondorf's deafening footsteps and cackles as they echoed down the hallway. Tears welled in her eyes, and she tried to relax her breathing.

I can do this...I can do this…

Her heartbeat raced...her face flushed, and tingled...

"Breathe, Zelda. I'm here. You're safe."

It wasn't him...but her memory made it sound like him, and that was enough to sear into her chest. Zelda bit back a sob. If she could just tell him where she was, Link would protect her from whatever Ganondorf planned to do with her next! She missed his smell- wood and pine. She missed his awkwardness and the annoying way he hovered over her protectively. She missed his smile. His laugh, and his ocean blue eyes. His kisses...his embrace...him. Everything about him.

Ganondorf knows where he is!

Zelda's heart stuttered- the Yiga, in Kakariko once more, so soon after Impa's death? Before Link was fully recovered? Without warning?

She closed her eyes, and concentrated on floating...letting herself leave her body…

Link-

"Princess Zelda? Is it really you?" asked a deep, curious, feminine voice.

Zelda's eyes snapped open, and she shot to her knees, whipping her head towards the voice. In the cell right across from hers, a small, Gerudo woman- though small enough to appear childlike- kneeled, her hands clasping the iron bars. Her tattered black skirt offered little protection from the cold stone at her knees, and her small, black top was dusty and torn. Her incredibly long red hair was wild, and mussed despite the intricate braid.

When did she get here?

Zelda crawled to the bars, and looked more closely at the Gerudo woman: Despite the dust and bruises adorning her face and body, Zelda could tell that this woman was beautiful. Her angular cheeks were somehow soft, but her dark, wide eyes held a fierceness that only the Gerudo possessed.

She reminds me so much of Urbosa...

"Are you all right?" the woman asked.

Zelda nodded, and cleared her throat, "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't realize there was someone else here…"

Who is she? Is she even real?

For a moment, neither spoke.

"My name is Riju," the girl said regally, "I am chief of the Gerudo."

Zelda stared at the small chief.

She's so young...she can't be any more than my age…

"I'm sorry if I scared you," Riju placated, "I've studied the ancient texts and diaries, and I've inferred what I can from every interaction I've ever had with Link. You are Zelda, yes? The woman who confronted the Calamity?"

Zelda felt uncomfortable...and she wasn't sure how to respond, so she nodded.

"I wish we'd met under more...desirable circumstances…" Riju's face fell, and her breath quickened. For a moment, Zelda forgot her own pain. Her heart throbbed for Riju, and for the hell Ganondorf had undoubtedly brought upon the Gerudo.

"I've read of Ganondorf- the Gerudo King of legend," Riju whispered, "I've even translated ancient Gerudo symbols to make sense of the horrors the King would thrust upon us if set free. But this…" Riju sniffed, "I thoroughly underestimated what he is capable of."

Riju breathed heavily, and wiped her arm across her eyes. Zelda ached for the young chief, and for her people.

Riju started to cry. "My guard fought bravely...but it was no use." Riju wailed, "Bullaria...Barta...all of them. My protectors...my friends! They are gone! And then, when it came time to kill me, Ganondorf insisted on taking me prisoner instead."

Riju whirled towards Zelda, the desolation apparent in her eyes.

"Legends say you are a Goddess...that you've kept Ganon at bay for over a century..." Riju thought aloud, "Urbosa herself wrote of the Goddess powers. I've no idea what's become of my people, or of Gerudo Town. I don't...I need…" Riju's hands gripped the bars desperately, "Can you help me? Can you help save my people?"

Zelda pressed her forehead into the bars.

Who does she think I am? I am nobody. I am nothing, anymore.

Zelda wanted to tell Riju it was going to be okay. That her powers would save them both. But she couldn't. And she didn't have the energy left to lie.

"I don't know how I can help, Chief Riju…" Zelda muttered despondently, "I don't know how to use the power I have left...if I even have any..."

I'm sorry...

Zelda's voice trailed off. It was quiet for a while. She heard Riju's defeated sigh, and her inpatient shuffle to a different corner of her cell. Zelda eventually followed suit, rustling back to her corner...but she felt...guilty. Like she owed Riju a better explanation.

A different explanation would have to wait, however, until after Zelda warned Link of Ganondorf's discovery.

Once again, she closed her eyes, and concentrated on floating...letting herself leave her body…

Link? Link!


"Finally..."

Huh?

Link opened his eyes, and instantly winced at the brightness surrounding him. He sat up, and sluggishly rubbed his face.

"Listen to me, Sleepyhead…"

Link's eyebrows furrowed at the light, melodic voice. He propped himself up to his knees, and looked up towards the source of the brightness. His eyes adjusted, and focused on the figure before him.

Zelda...?

No...it wasn't Zelda...right? This woman had long, blond hair and bangs, with two twists on either side of her angular face. Donning a simple, white, flowing gown, she sauntered towards Link, the train of her sleeves billowing behind her.

"Of all the heroes…" the woman beamed, "You, Link of Hateno, might be my favorite."

All the heroes?

She knelt in front of him, her knees only a few feet from his. Up close, he noticed silver bracelets on her wrists, similar to the ones Zelda used to wear when praying at the springs. When he fixated on her face, he found his heart fluttering with familiarity at the deep, royal blue of her eyes.

Strange...

"Took you long enough to get here," she teased.

Who was this woman? Why did he feel like he knew her?

"It's all right," the woman soothed, "I know you very well, Hero. I've known you since before you knew yourself. I've been waiting for you to gather your strength and power."

What?

"I am the Goddess Hylia."

The GODDESS?

Link immediately gasped, and threw himself to the ground in submission.

"No...you do not bow to me, Link," she giggled, reaching for his hands and clumsily pulling him back up, "Not after everything we've been through together."

She pushed him gently back. When he fell back on his knees, he found Hylia much closer to him than before. She reached out and tucked one of his stray hairs behind his ear.

"I missed you."

Even though every nerve in his face prickled at the intrusion, Link couldn't help his racing heartbeat.

Zelda-

"Well...not you," she sighed affectionately, "But your spirit."

Link raised his eyebrows, and gulped. Hylia kept staring.

"You know…" she murmured sadly, as she settled back on her knees, "That I am Zelda, just as Zelda is me. Every time. Every reincarnation. I've lived so many lives, Link. But I only ever got to love in one of them."

She shuffled to him until their knees touched, and took his hands in hers.

"I know you feel it too," she insisted, "You have the Hero's Spirit...Surely you must…"

When he didn't respond, she huffed, and propelled herself forward, wrapping her arms around Link's neck. She buried her face into his shoulder, and sobbed.

Too close!

"Hero...my Hero...you've no idea how much I miss you. How much I will always miss you."

Despite his growing confusion and panic, Link found his arms around the shaking Goddess, feeling bursts of uneasiness, pain, and adoration.

"She doesn't realize how lucky she is," Hylia cried into the fabric of his linen shirt, "How rare it is to feel love like this. This doesn't happen every lifetime..." She sniffed, and pulled away, wiping her eyes in shame, "I'm sorry, Link. I know I must be making you immensely uncomfortable."

This isn't Zelda...or is it...

She was right...but, wisely, Link remained silent, his hands resting on his lap.

"The first Hero...the first Link…" Hylia agonized, "His spirit lives in you. And every hero after him is so...similar to him. You are so similar to him. Every once in a while, depending on the lifetime, I feel forced to watch my own love story knowing that I will never get to have him again."

He was still slightly uncomfortable, but he felt a pang of sorrow for the Goddess before him. He wanted to say something...but he wasn't sure how to appropriately converse with an actual Goddess.

"I apologize, again," she continued, though her voice remained thick, "I suppose you are wondering what this is." Hylia gestured vaguely around the bright space.

Link nodded.

"You're dreaming," she said, as if answering his thoughts. "As you already know, I am no longer connected to Zelda. This hasn't happened since...well, the beginning." Hylia rose, and he remained kneeling before her. "I had thought that tempering Zelda in the Springs would work...as it did so many eons ago…but I was wrong. Her spirit is now Ganondorf's."

Link's hands balled into fists.

"And I have figured out how to help her."

He sat up straighter, but Hylia's face contorted in pain.

"She needs you..." Hylia said wistfully, staring into space.

"Link? Link!"

Zelda!

"Help her," Hylia whispered, "I'll come to you tomorrow."

What?!

Suddenly, the brightness surrounding him morphed from a white light into a dark, ominous orange, as his consciousness returned. He lifted himself up, and the smell of smoke assaulted his nostrils as it wafted into Paya's room.

"Ganondorf knows where you are…"

"WHERE IS HE?!" seethed a high, raspy voice, "Where is the Hero?!"

"I don't know!" Paya whimpered, "I already told you...he was here two weeks ago and then left-"

Link heard a loud SHING, and Paya cried out in fear.

Paya!

"Then you are of no use to us!"

Barely awake, Link leaped out of bed, and tiptoed to the top of the staircase. When he peeked around the corner, his eyes finally focused through the smoky haze.

Cado's body lay lifeless at the entrance, in a large pool of blood.

No...

And there were three Yiga clansmen, clad in their red bodysuits and white masks adorned with an upside down Sheikah eye. Two were small, and equipped with demon carvers and duplex bows.

And the larger, sinister one held a windcleaver to Paya's throat.


Full disclosure: I originally planned the ending to be a bad ending, a couple of chapters ago, and I was going to kill a character and make the other live unhappily ever after. However, after making some different creative choices along the way...that ending simply didn't fit my vision anymore. Not that specific one, anyway.

This is turning into more of a story than I intended...and I like it. But now...I'm kind of writing blind. Hence, the amount of time it took to get this chapter to you. I will never again fault a writer for writer's block!

I don't anticipate a lot of smut in the near future...but it'll be back before the story ends. The only confident promise I can make you is that I WILL finish this story! I don't know when, I don't know how long it will take, I don't know when I'll have wirter's blocks or write three chapters in a day, but I WILL, DAMMIT!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll stick around for more as updates come :)

-KOQ