Hey! I'm alive! Lol, I've been working a LOT lately, BUT I've also been writing. Taking a break from the other stories for a tiny bit to work on this new one a little. But I will return to the others eventually. (I really need to continue Free...) Aaaaanyways, this one...I can't remember exactly how it came about into existence in my mind palace, but it did. I just like typing, man.

So, this is a Legend of Zelda story (duh) BUT it is not about Link. It's an all original story following Sheik as the main character. Sheik, in this story, is a guy, sort of... (this will be explained in this chapter). Magic, I guess... Basically, I like to go with the idea that Zelda used magic to turn into a different person (Sheik, a.k.a. - a guy). Also, I like Sheik.

Actually, I remember now that this kind of, very slightly, came about in my mind after the Smash Bros. games finally made Zelda and Sheik separate characters. Which was a long time ago now. Well, anyway, this story takes place several years after the end of Ocarina of Time's story.

Long ago, three great goddesses descended upon this once barren land. Together, they brought light and prosperity; they changed this land and formed it into what it is today. A land the people call Hyrule.

The people of Hyrule worship and follow the way of the Triforce, a physical representation of the combined souls of the goddesses. There are even special people born with the reincarnated powers of the Triforce.

There are three parts of the Triforce, but balance can only be obtained with all three together as a whole. Power, the physical virtue… Virtue of the body. It is the force that makes all things possible. It overcomes obstacles and creates change. But a person that possesses Power alone will become corrupt and evil.

Wisdom, the intellectual virtue… Virtue of the mind. Wisdom dictates the laws of behavior that all things obey. It cuts through the confusion and finds the truth. However, a person who possesses only Wisdom is impotent and vulnerable.

Courage, the spiritual virtue… Virtue of the soul. It is what drives all living things. It enables us to choose love over fear. A person who possesses only Courage may be weak and ignorant, but they stand to gain both Wisdom and Power through effort.

After the goddesses left the land of Hyrule to return to the Sacred Realm...all was good. But they found that the rest of the world was lost. Although the lands outside of Hyrule were ruled by other spirits, they felt the desire to assist. Unable to journey to these lands, the goddesses birthed three grand spirits, each representing a piece of their own combined souls.

Feing, the spirit of Power. The elder sibling. White beast with a black soul…but capable of containing Power and resisting evil.

Hope, the spirit of Wisdom. The youngest sibling. Golden beast with a golden soul. Wise and magically inclined, but physically weak and vulnerable.

Hart, the spirit of Courage. The second-born. Black beast with a white soul. Strong and brave, but compulsive and stubborn.

The goddesses sent these three siblings out into the world where they spread the light of the goddesses across the land. Where they walked, light and prosperity followed, but they rarely remained in one place for long. They befriended and helped other grand spirits around the world, gifting them with the light of the goddesses. The siblings spent most of their time traveling the world and spreading the light, but at times they would come together again in the land of Hyrule to return to the Sacred Realm… To return home again before heading out once more.

But one day… A human, not just any human, the one of Power entered the Sacred Realm. He had become corrupt, allowing Power to consume him in an eternal veil of shadows. He stepped into the Sacred Realm…and stole the light and became immortal. His vile corruption tainted the Sacred Realm, and, in turn, tainted Hyrule as well. After his fall at the hands of the chosen hero, he was sealed away and both realms began to recover.

But… Unbeknownst to even the goddesses… He left something vile behind in the Sacred Realm. Years passed, all seemed well. Little did we know that the bit of corruption he had left behind had been festering and growing all that time.

The siblings had returned home for a time… The day they were to head back out is when Corruption reared its head and bared its fangs at the world. A foul, chilling black mist suddenly covered the land in both realms, traveling quickly in the direction of the grand spirits. It took shape; it hunted them down, snared them, captured them, speared them, and brought them down. It corrupted them…changed them. The light spirits became like monsters, violent and destructive and unable to free themselves.

The siblings tried to face Corruption, but it had the advantage, even over half-spirits. The eldest sibling was caught and dragged into the darkness. He was transformed and became violent; the Corruption having taken over his mind, he lashed out at his siblings. If all three siblings were corrupted…all would be lost. The remaining two siblings fled the Sacred Realm…their home was lost. The Corruption chased them. The youngest had become the next target, and the Corruption was closing in. The middle sibling suddenly turned back, flew out in front of Corruption, pulling its attention on himself, then led it away so that the youngest could escape.

He lured it as far as he could before it caught up just enough to strike him. A swift, piercing blow to the chest like getting impaled by a spear…and he fell. He fell from the sky, his wings fading away, and crashed to the royal land below. The Corruption tried to follow, but something scared it away…

…

"You spend a lot of time out here," Zelda said. It was almost dark out; she had expected to find Sheik sitting on the railing of the balcony as he often did. "Even more so, lately."

He glanced over his shoulder at her. "I am grateful to you…for giving me my own life, but…" he looked back out at the castle grounds. "I feel as if something is missing… I no longer have a purpose. Why did you free me?"

Sheik was a thin but muscular person with no true gender identity, though often referred to by both himself and others as male. He wore skin-tight blue and white clothing with the Sheikah emblem on the torso, a white turban of sorts and a white scarf that hid most of his face. He was tanner than Zelda and had red eyes, half covered by long blonde bangs.

She shook her head. "I used my magic to create you. To transform myself into someone else so that I could remain undetected during those times. And although it was still me, I had unintentionally developed a new, second consciousness. Another being born from my own soul and magic. You and I, we are like siblings now. We are no longer the same person, but we are still a part of each other." He didn't seem satisfied with her answer. She continued. "I could not keep you trapped. I could not just forget about you or destroy you. You had become your own individual."

"But I haven't."

"Then you will." He shot her a quick look and she smiled softly. "You're right. I no longer have a purpose for you, but… I used the ancient magic to allow you to be free and to find your own purpose."

Sheik, neither really male nor female, and neither really Zelda or himself… Born from Zelda's magic then later released and given his own form. But what to do with that form? Zelda spoke wisely, but he had a feeling that even she did not really know why she released him. He did not know what or who or why he was. He was starting to think he never would.

"Your Majesty!" A guard suddenly burst out onto the balcony with them. He was panting heavily, likely having run up the stairs at full speed in his armor. "Princess… *huff* Quickly, you must see!"

"Has something happened?" Zelda hurried over to him. He did not appear injured, only frantic.

He caught his breath and straightened himself, explaining more calmly. "Your Majesty, while on patrol some of the guards found something strange. It's a beast!"

Sheik hopped down from the railing and walked over to listen.

"Not just any beast, though! Princess, it's one of the Triforce Angels!"

Her eyes widened a little. "What? Impossible… They've never shown themselves before… Are you positive?"

"Yes! Princess, you MUST come see! They found it unconscious at the edge of the woods. It's very injured."

"I see." She lifted the hem of her dress a few inches off the ground and hurried past him. "Show me, quickly."

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Sheik," Zelda called as they went. "Fetch the doctor, please!"

Sheik did as she asked and went to find the doctor in her study, then the two of them made their way downstairs to the castle's main entranceway.

A cluster of curious and concerned guards had gathered tightly around something. "Shoo! Move it would you!" The short old doctor swatted at them with her cane, the wood making a clanging sound against the armor. After clearing them out of the way, she gasped upon seeing the large beast laying on the floor.

The beast was indeed large. If it were standing, it would have been about the height of a large horse. It was wolf-like in appearance, with thick black fur matted from its own blood. It had strange markings; a pure, snow-white bar trailed along its back from the end of the tail to a triangular or arrow shape on its head. The markings stretched out on the sides, folding over the shoulders and resembling wings. The beast would have been magnificent if it weren't for the bloodied fur and the horrific wound in its chest.

"Is it alive?" Sheik asked.

Zelda was crouched beside the wolf and looking it over. The doctor crouched beside her and carefully held her hand to its gaping maw. "Still breathing," she confirmed, "but barely. Quick!" She snapped at the nearest guards. "Get this beast to my office. Hurry!"

"Do you think it's really...?" Zelda asked breathlessly.

She hummed, watching as several guards carefully lifted the beast from the floor. "It has all the described appearance of one of the Angels. But we won't know until it wakes up and confirms it for us. Either way, we won't let this beast die! Sheik!"

"Of course." He followed her after the guards.

Not knowing what to do with himself, Sheik had recently began assisting the doctor with her studies and patients. He had learned a lot and, in the doctor's words, was 'one of the few people competent enough to practice medicine.' He enjoyed being helpful, at least.

Once they had carried the beast up to the doctor's tower, she directed them to clear the table and place the beast upon it before angrily shooing them all out aside from Sheik. She slammed the door shut then immediately set to work gathering her potions and herbs, bringing them all to another table in the corner. Muttering incoherently to herself all the while, she started grinding something down with a mortar and pestle.

"Sheik," she snapped after a moment. "Clean the wound and stop the bleeding! You remember that much, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then get to it!" She continued muttering.

He quickly gathered what he needed and moved to the table where the beast was. He paused a moment, staring at the arrow on its head. Without even realizing, he slowly reached his hand out towards it. He was staring so intently, suddenly lost and unaware. It was like he could hear something calling him…very faintly. He froze, suddenly coming back to his senses, the tips of his fingers only a hair away from touching the beast's head. Sheik shook his head a little then retracted his hand and set to work.

As soon as he had finished cleaning the wound, the doctor came over with a bottle of sparkling pink potion and carefully trickled it down the wolf's throat until it was empty. Then, she shooed Sheik out of the way and began to stitch the large wound.

"Spirits can heal well on their own," she told him. "But this wound…it may take a little time. That's why I gave him that potion. It's my special brew, see? I don't like to use it much though, because one of the ingredients is so rare in Hyrule. I wonder what could've harmed him like this…"

"This wolf is a spirit?"

She shot him a look as if he had sprouted a second head. "It's not just a spirit! Don't you know anything? This is one of the three Angels of the Triforce! You don't know what that is, do you?"

He remained silent and stared at her.

"Oh, for –! The goddesses created the three Angels long ago to spread their divine light across the world. Three siblings, one for each third of the Triforce. They're said to take multiple forms, but the most common form is a wolf-like beast. There are even rumors that they can take the form of humans to walk amongst us. Who in their right mind – or any mind – would attack one is beyond me! They're the only light spirits that don't have to follow the rule of passiveness."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning! They can fight! They protect the other spirits and fight off evil. Without them, the other spirits are left defenseless, and without the light spirits…" she shook her head gravely. "No, no…don't even suggest something like that, Lem!"

"Doctor Lemara, what can I do to help?"

"Well, for starters, you can stop asking questions! Also… I'll need you to stay awake tonight and keep a close eye on him. If anything changes, good or bad, fetch me immediately."

He nodded.

After Lemara had finally managed to close the wound it was around ten o'clock at night. On the doctor's orders, Sheik remained in the office with the unconscious beast while she left to get some rest. Sheik crossed his legs and sat himself down on the floor several feet away and watched. The wolf's breathing was more noticeable now and it appeared more relaxed as well. He stared intently at its face, half-expecting it to suddenly open its eyes and notice him. That strange, enamored feeling took over again, and he stared, not moving and barely breathing, for a long time before he blinked and managed to snap himself out of it. Spirit, Angel, or not…there was something peculiar about this beast.

After quite some time, a few hours perhaps, Sheik had closed his eyes to meditate in the silence. He had only just started when he shot his eyes open upon hearing movement. He tensed; the beast was moving its legs, as if testing for feeling, its large black claws scraping against the tabletop. The head moved, righting itself onto its chin. Ears and jowls twitching, it let out a snort and blinked open its silver eyes.

His vision was blurry; he couldn't make out where he was. Someplace dark…but there seemed to be a glowering light to one side. A fire? He had fell amongst the trees, didn't he? Was the forest on fire? No… He closed his eyes. It didn't smell like smoke…or trees. There was a different scent. Familiar, but vague. His body ached.

He opened his eyes again, this time he could see clearer. He appeared to be in some kind of room. A building? He could make out shelves and candles and strange instruments. He blinked hard, clearing his vision completely, and opened his eyes to find that he was not alone.

There was a…human? A human was standing across from him, watching him cautiously. They began to move closer. He turned his eyes up to see a pretty face almost completely hidden by bangs and a scarf.

Sheik stopped just in front of the table. The wolf's eyes were open, but it didn't appear fully conscious yet. He hesitated then raised his hand up to touch the wolf's head. He was startled and amazed when the beast suddenly shot up with a vicious snarl, baring its large fangs. Before he could further react, it leapt from the table, stumbling and knocking glass objects onto the floor. It was confused, and the loud crashing all around caused it to panic more and thrash around wildly like a caged monster.

Sheik lifted his arms to shield his face as small objects and bits of glass were thrown about. He could only hear the sounds of things falling, glass shattering, and the frightened angry snarls of the beast as it flailed around the small room before spotting the window and leaping through with another loud crash. He hurried over to the window; they were in a rather tall tower. Whether it had been hurt from the fall or not, the wolf was already darting across the castle grounds with the speed of a racehorse, frightening and knocking over guards that were unlucky enough to be in the way.

"What happened!?"

He turned to see Lemara standing in the doorway, a guard close behind her.

"Didn't I tell you to come get me IMMEDIATELY if anything happened!?"

He was at a lost for words, still shaken by the event. "I – W-well, it happened so quickly –"

She stepped carefully around the glass-littered floor and made her way to peer out the window. "Did you see the direction it went?"

"I – Yes."

"Good. Go after him and bring him back!"

"What?"

"Have you gone deaf? Go get that beast! If he keeps thrashing around like that, he'll hurt himself further… AND others! Find him and calm him down. If he's really one of the Angels, or even a spirit, he'll understand. He's not just some wild animal you know, but he's injured and confused."

"Yes, but… Why me?"

"YOU'RE the one responsible for this mess! Besides, did you hear the pathetic shouts of fear from those guards down below? I can't believe the safety of Hyrule is in the hands of such buffoons!" She turned and snatched a broom from the corner of the room. "I hope Link's journey is almost over. It's been years since he left us with these fools! What are you still doing here? Shoo! Go get that beast!"

"I – Yes, Doctor."

To be continued…

Hope it seems interesting enough so far. It's fun to write this story.

Lemara is a lot nicer than she lets on.