Saria waited for it.

A feeling, a sound. The weight of a house crushing her bones. The crash of buildings all around. But nothing. No sensation. No sound, no feeling. Not even the rush of the wind was present. Was she... dead? Slowly, Saria cracked an eye open. The world was still there. The cobblestone streets of Plurbiocris remained intact. However, the ominous shadow remained, looming over everything. If the shadow was there... then Saria was almost afraid to look up.

"Great Kaepora Gaebora!"

Saria fell to from her feet at a startling realization; the entire city was floating mere inches above her head. Carefully reaching up to touch, she felt the very real texture of the foundation. Before she could even think, she scrambled to get out from under the suspended debris. Looking above, she found Mandgrova and Link still in motion.

"What? No!"

Mandgrova strummed at the harp mercilessly, only to find it made no sound. Did that mean- Link smirked at the dismayed fairy. Oh yes it did.

"You fool! How have you stopped the flow of time? Until now, I had only considered you a distraction. But now, you have my full undivided attention. Return time's flow, or I will rend you to pieces!"

He had done nothing. Taking a glance down to the world below, Link saw his green-haired friend holding the Ocarina of Time. Did she know something he didn't? To his knowledge, there wasn't a song that outright stopped time. Saria herself was astonished at what had happened, but still managed to smile up at Link.

"Her... it was the forest girl! She stopped time! Then you're the boy who was so kind to bring me the harp. My how have grown. Both in stature and power. Now both you shall suffer my wrath!"

Fighting words if he had ever heard them. Blade behind his back, he coiled up to unleash a strike. Taking down this titan was going to be fun. With a swipe of his sword, he pelted an arc of energy, but Mandgrova conjured a wall of intertwined vines before it could land.

"Don't you see boy? I can handle any pitiful thing you try. It's hopeless!"

No, it was far from hopeless. He just needed to get a good hit in! A single overhead slice chopped Mandgrova's barrier right down the middle. Now that she was open to attack again, the warrior unleashed a salvo of sword beams. His wrath was kindled against the woman. Before any of his slices could hit her, however, she dodged out of the way. The projectiles soared off into the distance and exploded against the far off northern mountains. Witnessing the cataclysm behind her, a twisted smile crept upon Mandgrova's face.

"You completely missed me, you pathetic child! You may look like a man, but you do not aim like one!"

Just what did she mean by that? He had a fine aim, he would've hit her if she hadn't moved! All at once, Link's vision went red. While Link prepared to swing again, Mandgrova floated closer to the ground. When he sliced this time, the titanic fairy jumped away quite deliberately, leaving the sword's energy to decimate several buildings below.

"Watch where you're swinging, Link! You're doing a lot of damage!"

Back on the ground, Saria observed the fresh debris from Link's misfire. Buildings had crumbled to bits from the power of the fierce deity. Bricks and various shrapnel were suspended in air, frozen in time. What was he doing? He was going to hit somebody! Though Link tried to restrain himself, the rush of godlike adrenaline took over. The fierce warrior seemingly ignored the girl and swung again at his foe, demolishing a chapel.

"You've missed me again? My, would you even be able to hit me if I stood still?"

She was not going to make a mockery of him like this! In an angry flurry of attacks, Link began to rain fire upon Mandgrova, or rather, the city below. Mandgrova dashed to and fro, taunting her opponent each time he missed. All the while, Saria grew frightened of Link's explosive rampage. Even with time stopped, each blast seemed to rip everything apart.

"No! Link! Please stop!"

Saria ducked down and covered her face. Explosion after explosion went off around her, destroying all in her sight. All the while Link continued his mad series of strikes at the elusive Mandgrova. He... he couldn't control himself! All he could do was watch as he destroyed the city bit by bit. Houses reduced to ash. Shops rendered to rubble. No, he was better than this. He could fight it! The triforce of courage flickered faintly on the warrior's hand. All his movement seized, and Link grit his teeth. He was not going to let himself so carelessly fall to the mask's powers! With all his might, he fought it. It was as if his conscious was fighting just to have a say in his own mind. He was overwhelmed with power, with killer instincts. An inhuman bellow escaped the warrior, the only sign of an interior struggle.

"Getting frustrated, are you? I'm growing rather tired of this, boy. Perhaps you could start attacking me for real now?"

The small flicker of the triforce completely disappeared. What fight he was having with the mask, he just lost. Everything went red again. Did she really belittle him so much? He had the power of a god surging through his veins! He would show her a real attack! Finally fed up with his ineffectiveness, the warrior stopped swinging and took a different approach. With a battle cry and running start, he sprang towards Mandgrova. Midair, he swang several times, actually managing to hit the great fairy once or twice. His jump left him open, however, and Mandgrova countered him quickly by swatting him. Link slammed right into to the ground, leaving a crater. He stood up from his divot delirious with anger. Getting swatted like a bug was not amusing. All throughout, the fairy remained seemingly unscathed.

"Even without the harp, my powers far outweigh yours, pest. You'll be reduced to ash when I'm done with you! I can hardly imagine you would hurt me if you did hit me good!"

Now that he was on the ground again, Saria ran up to Link's side. He got up as she reached him, and the small girl had to run to keep up with his bounding strides.

"Slow down a moment Link, nothing you've done yet has worked. You're going to level the entire city if you keep this up!"

Though she tried to catch him by the arm, the fierce swordsman pushed the girl to the side, out of his way. However, Saria remained undeterred, and continued following after him. Link felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. He could see and hear it all, yet could do nothing.

"If you jump up there all hack and slash again, you're going to hurt yourself!"

He was immortal with the mask, he had nothing to fear. Nothing Saria said could get his attention. His sights were set on Mandgrova.

"Link you damn fool! Listen to me! Stop being so reckless!"

Saria jumped up onto the warrior's back and wrapped her arms around his neck. Even her full weight left him unfazed. Link yanked her from his body and pitched her about ten feet away from himself. He had no time for childishness. Again Mandgrova jeered at him.

"My, aren't you persistent? Perhaps I should finish you once and for all? Not unless you'd rather be toyed with more, of course!"

He was absolutely steaming. If Saria didn't do something soon, he was going to get them both killed and level the city in the process. But what could she do? Nothing in her strength could even so much as move a hair on his head. Out of options, she quickly became desperate. What could she do to even get as little as his attention at this point? She looked all about herself, and had only one thing left to do. Chuck what was in her hand toward the man. The Ocarina of Time clocked the warrior in the back of the head, causing him to turn around with a fire in his eyes. He looked as though he might slay Saria himself if she threw something again. As frightening as his appearance was, Saria swallowed her insecurities and spoke up.

"Link, I know you can hear me. For the goddesses' sake, think for two seconds! Nothing you've done up to now has hurt her. What makes you think more sword swinging will bring her down?"

The glowing, unblinking eyes of the warrior were hard to talk to. He hadn't turned back to Mandgrova yet though, so she had his attention.

"I have no idea what we can do to stop her if your swordplay doesn't, but I'm asking that you stop and think for a moment. Please, don't just jump back up there and swing every chance you get. You're doing more damage than good, and sooner or later you're going to hit me with that thing! Is that what you want? To be responsible for the destruction of the city, and possibly your best friend? Look me in the eyes Link, and tell me that's what you want! Because it sure as hell seems so! You shouldn't have put on that mask, Link. I wouldn't have let you if I had known it would turn you into this... this mindless sword swinging freak!"

Saria stopped for a moment and looked at what a mess she had gotten herself into. She had been so upset with her friend, she had just let whatever she wanted fly out of her mouth. She didn't stop to think that she could've made the warrior on the outside even angrier. Now, a seemingly soulless titan stared her down, and she didn't know whether it would slice her in half or burn a hole through her with his glowing eyes.

Once again, the triforce began to glow, just barely visible. Is that what he had turned himself into? A sword swinging freak? Hadn't he just gotten away from his dark side? This wasn't him, no... this wasn't him at all. He was losing his mind to the mask. Link could almost feel a wrathful demon cackling at him. NO! He was not a warrior! He... he was a hero! The Hero of Time! He was the protector of all good, destructor of all darkness. But above it all... he was Saria's friend. He was her friend before he was a hero, and even after fate had robbed him of his hero title, he was still her friend! He would let no harm come to her, much less from himself. The fierce deity dropped his sword at his side and knelt over.

"Nggggggggh... no..."

"Link?"

"NO! You will not control me!"

The warrior's hands clutched his head and he stood back up. He stumbled left and right, feverishly shouting to the world.

"No! No! No more!"

While the young man shouted, the triforce burned brighter than ever before on his hand. Dropping to both his knees, he faced to the sky and tore loose a bloodcurdling scream that may well have sent a chill down Ganon's spine.

"HYAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Saria and even Mandgrova both covered their ears from the terrifying shriek. Though, because time stood still, only the two were around to hear him. Seemingly exhausted, the fierce warrior collapsed to the ground, motionless. Hesitantly Saria started towards him, but before long, he pushed himself off the ground. He was unsteady on his feet for a moment, and seemed slightly unaware of his surroundings. Once his bearings were back, his gaze snapped straight to Saria. Kneeling down, he picked his blade up. The fierce warrior slowly stepped towards the girl, sword readied at his side. He was going to kill her. He was so going to kill her. She should've held her tongue earlier.

"I-I'm sorry, I overstated myself, please-"

Saria winced and clutched her eyes shut, but instead of any form of an attack, the warrior simply knelt.

"L-Link?"

"Forgive me... I... I was careless. I wasn't ready for this power again..."

A tear dripped from Link's lifeless eyes... no, they weren't quite lifeless anymore. Deep within, Saria could see a bit of her friend's blue irises.

"I put you in danger, you and all the city... I'm sorry..."

"It wasn't your fault, Link. That is who I'm talking to now, right? You said the mask was dangerous... well, you were right. But what matters is, you have control of it now, don't you?"

Link looked himself over, and squeezed his hand into a fist. He could still feel raw power coursing within him.

"Yes... I think."

"I can tell... I can see it in your eyes."

Now, Saria could definitely see Link's eyes in the warrior. Shining and blue. Before he had seemed soulless, but now his true colors were on display.

"But what if-"

"No Link, no what ifs... just promise me you won't be reckless. That's all I need."

"I... I promise."

"Then get back up there and- ooh!"

Before she could finish her sentence, Link picked Saria up right off the ground and embraced her in a hug.

"Uh... haha, Link, that's a bit tight... seriously Link, I can't breathe."

The gentle giant set her down, and left the girl to gasp for air. Link had let the adrenaline of the mask control him... but he would let it no more. He was in control.

"Thanks... now stick it to that witch of a fairy!"

"Saria..."

"Yes?"

"Did you really swear at me earlier?"

The young girl's face turned as red as a rupee. Yup... he was back.

"Fancy that! I leave you two alone for a minute, and you both start hugging. How beautifully pathetic. Perhaps you'd like to share a grave? I could surely arrange that!"

Author's Note

Out of all the chapters I've written, I've probably had to rewrite this one the most.
The next chapter (hopefully) should see the end of the final battle.

Until then, don't unbuckle your seatbelts.