*Thanks to the guest who reviewed last chapter! I'm so glad you liked it so much! ^^ I put lots of work into it, so hopefully it showed. And don't be sad that Link isn't joining the light side yet. I'm only getting started. Have faith… =w=

Also, WARNING! This chapter includes a scene towards the end that some people may find disturbing. Just wanted to let you know before you get there. I think you'll see what I mean. e_e*

Young Link tossed his sword aside furiously. The temple garden was littered with bodies, Lana standing in the middle of it all. She glared at Cia, who returned her hatred openly. This staring contest had gone on for a while and he was starting to get bored. He sat on the stone steps alongside Agitha and Ghirahim.

"How long have we been here?" Young Link asked dryly, resting his chin in one hand.

"They started this exactly an hour and fifteen minutes ago," the Demon Lord huffed. "You'd think one of them would just kill the other already."

Agitha twirled her parasol over her shoulder. She wore a worried expression, though not for the reasons others may be thinking. Young Link, however, knew what she was truly fretting about. Wolf Link had disappeared without a trace. The Hero of Time wasn't sure what he would do now that his grandson was kidnapped, but he covered his distress well.

"Give it up, Lana," Cia finally shouted from across the garden. The trio on the steps let out a collective sigh of relief, knowing they were finally getting somewhere. "We've wiped out your entire army. Surrender and we'll show you mercy."

Sky Link and Zelda watched from the sidelines, both fearing for the worst. Cia and Lana were finally going head to head, both having requested the rest of them stay out of it. Both seemed equally matched, so this could go either way.

"I'm not surrendering," Lana refused sternly. "But I have an offer to make. I will give you something if you stand down." She unhooked something from the back of her belt and held it out. Young Link lifted his head at the sight, frozen in a state of awe.

"The Mask!" he shouted. "How did you-?!"

"You dropped it when you fell off the dragon knight," Lana explained. "I'll give it back to you if Cia agrees to give up."

Young Link sprinted forward and latched onto Cia's arm. "You have to get it back!" he begged. "I need it!"

"Please, Link, let me handle this," Cia said gently. She turned back to Lana, her tone once again stern. "We're on opposite sides and you can't change that."

Lana put the Fierce Deity's Mask back on her belt. "Cia, you know what you're doing isn't right. This isn't you! You tricked your 'allies,' tried to kill this poor boy-"

"Enough!" Cia readied her staff and pointed it at Lana. "Another word and I'll make sure it's your last!"

Young Link stared up at the sorceress and tightened his grip on her arm. "Cia… What is she talking about?"

She winced at his words, looking around at the others. Her small army was staring her in horror, particularly Sky and Young Link. The Hero of Time released her arm and cautiously took a step back.

"I-It's nothing," Cia assured them uncertainly. "She's lying. Don't worry, I'll shut her up."

"No."

The sorceress knit her eyebrows and turned to Sky Link. "What?"

"I said no," he replied sternly. "I want to hear what she has to say."

"Me too," Young Link agreed. He was having difficulty hiding his emotions, having been shaken to the core by the fact that Lana could be right. "Let's just hear her out…"

He must've looked so pathetic. Shoulders hunched with his hands clasped in front of his chest, trying to make himself look small… But could anyone blame him? He'd finally found someone who genuinely yearned for his happiness, only to be reminded that wasn't the case. But there was still hope. Cia wasn't outed yet, so maybe she was true to her word. Yes, she was a good person!

"The Mask told me," Lana explained. "It told me everything. You sent Volga out to kill the Hero of Time, and then–" she pointed at Sky Link "–you tried to off the Hero of Sky by giving him to the Demon Lord. All that to keep them from interfering with you and the Hero of Twilight."

Young Link's mind went blank. Interfering? Was that what she said? He looked to Sky. Based on his distant expression, he was having as much trouble processing this as his counterpart.

"H-Hey, what does she mean?" Young Link mumbled under his breath. He tried to say it so no one would hear, but it earned him a long stare from Ghirahim.

"Don't say anything," Hylia's Hero replied on cue. "Run as fast as you can when I tell you. Towards the fields."

"But Sky…"

"Don't worry about him," the Hero said. "He can take care of himself. Just wait where you are until I tell you to take off."

The young hero didn't bother to argue. But Cia's panicked eyes set him off.

"Link," Lana called gently, holding out the Mask. "Do you want to hear for yourself?"

He nodded slowly and walked up to the Fierce Deity's Mask, which Lana held in front of his face.

"Oh, we've been reunited," it mused. "How lovely. Now my plans for you can proceed."

"Shut up," the hero snapped weakly. "Just tell me if it's true or not."

A brief period of silence passed, but for Young Link it seemed like an eternity. "Of course it is, you fool. Did you honestly think a woman you've never met would care about you? She tried to kill you and get rid of the Hero of Sky to possess the Hero of Twilight for herself."

"…Possess?" Young Link repeated, his eyes becoming vacant with disbelief.

"That's right. She has an infatuation with the chosen hero, and an unhealthy one at that. She used you and your sky counterpart for extra firepower. To get rid of Lana and her army, to be exact. And it appears as though you've both outlived your purpose."

"Link!" Cia shouted. "I don't know what that thing is telling you, but it's not true! Not any of it!"

Young Link's arms tightened around himself, his fingernails digging into his skin. He had gone through those battles for her sake, was told the Goddesses hated him, and even believed it…

"She tricked you," Lana told him regretfully.

"…Why should I believe you?" Young Link asked emptily to the Mask. "You're always trying to manipulate me."

"Don't believe me? Fine. But don't come running to me when your precious grandson is being used for her sick fantasies," the Mask scoffed. "But her reaction should be enough for you anyway."

Young Link didn't have to turn around to tell Cia was losing it. He could hear her short, panicked breaths from where he was.

"It appears that black magic is catching up with her," the Mask chuckled. "She's getting what she deserves. Soon you'll see her for what she really is."

Lana quickly put it back on her belt, noticing Young Link's violent shivering. "I'm sorry. But it'll be alright. I'll take you with me and send you back to your own ti-"

"No."

She recoiled in surprise at the refusal. "Wha-?"

"I said no," Young Link said darkly. Her stared her down with a hateful gaze. "How am I supposed to trust you now? How am I supposed to trustanybody?!"

Everyone was in shock at his behavior, even Ghirahim, but he didn't mind them. He spun around and marched towards Sky Link, who almost looked afraid of him. Zelda noticed the fury clearly on the boy's face and took the opportunity to back away.

"We're leaving," he said flatly.

"L-Leaving?" Sky stuttered.

"Exactly. Let's face it, we only have each other now. We'll go someplace far away and find out what to do from there. Don't worry, it'll be fine." He offered his hand for his counterpart. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Sky almost looked inclined to take it. He reached out his own hand, but one look from Cia caused him to retract it.

"Kid, run!" Hylia's Hero shouted.

"No, not without Sky!" Young Link grabbed Sky's arm and pulled. "We're going somewhere where no one can hurt hi-!"

His words were cut off by a violet string of fog forming around Sky Link, wrapping around him like a snake. His arms were hugged to his chest as he was forcefully held in that spot. Young Link let go of his sleeve, instantly regretting the action.

"Cia!" Lana lunged for her, but Cia struck the butt of her staff against her head, knocking Lana out.

"Get back!" Zelda placed her hands on some of the magic that snaked around the hero, power flowing freely into her hands. However, the dark magic was stronger. The queen was abruptly knocked back and hit her head on the pavement, now laying there motionlessly. Young Link almost ran for her, but he was too focused on Sky at the moment.

"Kid, get out of there!" the Hero yelled desperately. "We'll come back for him, I promise!"

But Young Link couldn't look away from his counterpart's frightened expression. Words were gone from them both, only staring at each other with wide eyes. Sky Link struggled against his bonds, but that only made them coil around him tighter.

"Ghirahim!" The Hero of Time turned to the Demon Lord, Agitha hugging against him in fear. "Save Agitha!"

"If I must," he sighed. "But I'm coming back for my slave."

With that, he and the bug princess disappeared in a shower of diamonds. Cia paid them no mind, however, and started marching towards the heroes furiously. The crazed look in her violet eyes was enough to strike fear into even Young Link.

"You," she shouted, pointing her staff at him. "You ruined everything!"

"I-I didn't do anything!" Young Link spat. "You just need someone to blame for your own problems!"

"Black magic will do that to you," the Hero said. "It's making her go crazy. We have to go!"

"No way!" Young Link refused. "I'm not keeping Sky with this psychopath! And…" He glanced at the queen knocked out cold next to Sky.

"Just go!"

He quirked an eyebrow and turned back to Sky. "What?! And leave you with this bitch? Are you nuts?!"

"I'll be fine," Sky assured him with a determined expression. "I promise. Go find Wolf."

The Hero of Time's eyes widened as he remembered his grandson. His only family, who may be in danger even as this was happening…

"Don't worry," Lana promised as she flipped open her spell book. "I'll go to find help." She dissolved into thin air before the hero's eyes. He turned back to Sky Link, who stared at him with a serious expression.

"I…" Tears welled up in Young Link's eyes, his mind brimming with thoughts of what Cia would do to Sky after this. "I'll come back!" he promised. "I swear!"

He instantly took off running, ducking past a swing from Cia's staff. She grit her teeth in anger as he darted towards the edge of the garden towards the fields. She pointed her weapon at a frightened Sky Link and grinned wickedly.

"You stay here," she cackled. "I'll play with you once I get back."

She took a step towards an already distant Young Link, but turned towards Zelda one last time. With a flick of her wrist, the queen evaporated into thin air without a trace. Sky Link's gaze was fixed on where she was, not paying attention to the sorceress as she took off.

Zelda wasn't quite sure what happened. When her eyelids fluttered open, she was greeted with the welcome sight of her bedroom. Her mind was muddled with memories of the past few minutes trying to piece themselves together. She lifted herself off the floor with a groan and looked around the room. Young Link and Sky were nowhere in sight, nor was her own hero-

Reality hit her like a brick. Of course! The last thing she remembered was trying to save Sky Link from the bonds Cia placed on him. Was it possible Cia sent her back to her own dimension…?

No, that wasn't important right now! No matter where she was, she could see what was going on. Zelda hurried to her desk and held out her hands to create a ball of light.

…Nothing happened.

The queen's eyes widened in panic, instantly knowing the cause of this. Cia must've put some sort of temporary lock on her powers. She couldn't do anything. Zelda took a deep breath to cease her panic and secretly thanked the gods the Hero of Twilight wasn't with Cia.

The only thing Young Link could hear was his labored breaths. His throat was dry and hoarse, practically screaming for water, but he couldn't pay any attention to it. Even throughout the plains far away from Cia he still heard the Hero's urges to keep running. So he just kept going despite his burning throat, wishing for once he had the Fierce Deity's Mask.

"Kid!" Hylia's Hero shouted suddenly. Young Link nearly tripped over his own feet from shock. "Go faster!"

"C…Can't," the hero choked. He was already sprinting at top speed. The prospect of going any quicker was ridiculous.

"You have to!" the Hero said. "If you don't-"

Young Link didn't hear the rest of his words. The next thing he knew, something wrapped around his ankle and his face collided with the ground. He weakly propped himself on his elbows, ignoring the blood that ran from his nose.

"Well, well," Cia's voice chuckled. She stepped into view, hitting her staff against her palm repeatedly. "Looks like you've run out of steam."

"Sh…Shu…" Young Link instantly gave up on the insult and merely glared at her. She gave a mocking display of fear.

"My, someone's a bit snippy today," she smirked. "Anyway, I don't think I should drag this out any longer. I'm not too sure where my dear Hero of Twilight is, so I won't bother looking for him until tomorrow or so. I'll simply replace him, I suppose. That Hero of Sky didn't impress me at first, but the more I think about it, the more his cuteness grows on me."

Young Link's fingernails dug into the dirt. She was planning on doing something to Sky! He reached out to grab her, but she lazily sidestepped him.

"Hmph. You really are a fool if you think you can hurt me when you're tied to the group like that." Cia motioned to a string of fog connecting the hero's ankle to the ground. "But you shouldn't be upset. I promise your dear little Sky will be absolutely elated to be my slave for the rest of his pathetic life."

The hero was about ready to rip her throat out. How could someone he thought he knew so well turn out to be so heartless?

"Calm down," Hylia's Hero told him sternly. "You can get out of this as long as you keep a level head. Got it?"

Cia raised an eyebrow as he spoke. "Who was that?"

Young Link's breath caught in his throat. Cia couldn't hear the Hero…could she?

"Of course I can hear him," Cia said, answering the hero's thought. "I was reading your mind, to be honest. I haven't been using it of late, but… I could've sworn I heard a man just now." After a brief moment of silence, a sly grin crossed her lips. "Ah, yes, I recognize that voice. You're the long forgotten hero of the past, forsaken by his Goddess."

She was met with silence.

"Well, no matter. He doesn't have a physical form if I'm right, so he can't really help you." Cia cautiously placed her free hand under Young Link's side and rolled him over. "I have fun times in store for you. No reason to delay."

Her staff dissipated into thin air, now replaced with a dagger. Young Link could feel his wrists being held down by an invisible force as the fog that encased his ankle disappeared. Cia knelt by his side and hovered the dagger over his right eye.

Is she…?

Young Link's mind was a blur as the sorceress slowly raised the weapon.

She can't be…

Cia gave him one last grin as she positioned her hand.

"Don't!" the Hero shouted desperately.

"Too late!" Cia cackled.

The hero watched in horror as she slammed the knife into his eye. His entire body shuddered at one brief moment of pain, but it quickly passed. He didn't feel anything as Cia twisted the knife violently in his socket. He didn't hear the distant screaming of the Hero. And with his eye no longer there, he couldn't see Cia's disturbingly calm smile. The only thing he could register was the metal crunching whatever was in its way destroying what was left of his eye…

But soon another thing was made known to him: the damp feeling of his left cheek. He was crying, wasn't he? Tears were pouring from his left eye. Perhaps his body was registering the pain when he couldn't.

Then he heard Cia. She was humming to herself, as if she was doing a monotonous job. The hero wasn't against her upbeat attitude, though. It took his mind off what was happening.

At least it did for a while. Reality was brought back to Young Link with a quick twist of the dagger. A loud crunching sound echoed through his head, but still, no pain. Yet his body jerked erratically at that moment, obviously feeling something the hero didn't.

A few seconds later, there was a new feeling: his breathing. Somehow even his own breaths, loud and laborious as they were, escaped him. His chest was heaving unsteadily, matching his breathing. Then, a final sensation was made known when Cia gave the knife another twist.

The pain.

Young Link let out a shrill scream as the agony registered. Even with his hoarse voice, his suffering was clear. He heard Cia's elated giggling, but it was mostly drowned out by his own voice. He kicked his legs desperately in a wild panic. He wasn't sure what this would accomplish, but with his mind in the state it was in, he wasn't too sure of anything anymore…

"Oh, pipe down." Cia's words barely reached him through his unintelligible pleads for mercy. "I'm almost finished."

For once, she was telling the truth. She gave the knife one exaggerated twist and finally pulled it out. Young Link rewarded her with one last scream as she freed him.

"What a good boy you were," she praised him mockingly. "Now I have a reward for you."

She reached down and rummaged through the pockets on the hero's belt. He was in such a daze from what just happened, he didn't have the strength to stop her. Eventually she held an object over his good half-lidded eye: the Ocarina of Time. The precious gift Zelda gave him…

"You won't be needing this anymore," Cia smiled. She threw the ocarina on the ground, out of Young Link's sight. He heard a crunching sound that spoke for itself. The sorceress entered his view. "Good, now you can't travel back in time and fix anything. And as for you…"

The two sat staring at each other for a few long seconds. Young Link gave her his best attempt at a confused expression.

"Now it's just the two of us," Cia told him. "Don't have that pesky Hero bothering you."

Tears brimmed in Young Link's eye all over again. He didn't have the strength to be angry about it. Hell, he barely had the strength to care at all. The hero wondered what happened to his temporary companion, but he pushed away the worst case scenario.

"Now that that's over, we have one more thing to do." Cia gingerly picked Young Link up and held him close to her chest. The plains disappeared around them and were replaced with the rocky plateaus of Death Mountain. They were standing on the edge of an especially high, seemingly bottomless, cliff. Cia held Young Link over the pit and let his tumble out of her arms.

He suddenly found strength again.

Cia blinked in confusion as the hero dug his nails into the edge of the cliff. He somehow hoisted himself up, resting his elbows on the surface. The sorceress placed her foot on his forehead to stop him.

"Cia, please!" he begged, cringing at how pathetic he sounded. "You don't have to do this!"

"Of course I do," she huffed with a roll of her eyes, as if what she was saying was obvious. "If I don't, none of you will ever be with me. And I'll have to watch you all get with that stupid princess. I'm not having that."

Before Young Link could say more, Cia pushed her boot against him and watched him tumble down into the pit. She nodded with a sense of accomplishment, but her triumphant expression disappeared at a bright cyan light distantly below her. She grimaced and turned around to see a familiar face behind her.

"Lana," she sighed. "I thought you left for help."

"Already did," Lana replied. "They're on their way to the temple now. I came to find you after that, but…" She glanced at the cliff's edge. "I was a little late."

"No matter," Cia shrugged. "I got to torture him a little, at least. So where did you send him? Somewhere he can't interfere with my plans, I presume?"

Lana crossed her arms defiantly. "Yes, but also somewhere you won't bother to go searching."

"Of course you did," Cia groaned. "Well, as I said, no matter. I have preparations to make before your little army arrives. I'll be waiting."

She vanished without another word, leaving Lana for more important matters.

"Link?"

He nearly leapt out of his skin, staring at the person who woke him in a panic. "Oh… It's you," he sighed in relief.

Zelda offered him a cute grin as she stood at his bedside. Ever since she let him stay in the castle, the princess came to his room every so often when he was having nightmares. It was embarrassing, but admittedly welcome.

"Having a bad dream again?" she asked sympathetically. She giggled at his obvious blush. "Nothing to be embarrassed about. It's alright." The princess reached out and pet his blond hair affectionately. "I'll keep you company."

"H-Huh?" Link inched towards the edge of the bed as Zelda climbed in with him. "P-Princess I don't think…!"

"Hm?" She grinned at him innocently, settling under the covers. "What's the matter?"

Link's face somehow turned even redder. "It's just that we shouldn't…" He slumped his shoulders in defeat when he saw her oblivious expression. Zelda knew what they were doing wasn't normal, but the fact that it was inappropriate soared over her head. For the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom she sure was clueless…

But he couldn't blame her. She didn't have the mind of an adult. And as much as it pained Link, he couldn't see her as either a mature adult or an innocent child. He knew her as both, and they were the same to him. She would always be his princess. He would always cherish her. Which was why this setup was incredibly embarrassing…

"Don't be embarrassed, Link," Zelda smiled kindly. She pulled him into a tight embrace. Any other person would've found this cute, but Link's days as a teenager twisted his thoughts. "I'll protect you, I promise."

The hero frowned at her words. "I'm supposed to be protecting you."

"I know," Zelda admitted. "But you're leaving soon, right? To find that fairy you used to be with. And when you're gone, I'll give you the ocarina."

Link's eyes widened at the prospect. "But that belongs to the royal family, I-"

"I know," Zelda interrupted. "And you'll be part of the royal family soon, won't you?"

"…Eh?" Now things were sailing over Link's head. "But I'm a peasant."

The princess giggled at his questioning expression. "Don't you like me?"

Link's face gradually became redder at he registered her words. "B-But I can't marry you! We aren't on the same social status, we're too young, we…"

"Forget all that," Zelda told him. "When you come back from your journey, promise me we'll get married when we get older. I don't care if years pass. I really like you. You're the one I want to be with forever."

Her childish grin sunk Link's heart. Her idea of marriage was a young girl's fantasy, not a commitment. And her love for Link was a simple crush. But seeing her eager smile lifted his spirits a bit, so he decided to humor her.

"If your father approves," he said with a smirk. Zelda simply nodded, probably knowing she'd make him buckle eventually, and rolled over. Link grimaced at the lack of a reaction and turned his back to her.

"Hey, Link?"

He raised an eyebrow at her small voice. "Yeah?"

"Do you like me?"

"…Yeah," he decided. "I do."

The hero could clearly hear her victorious "yes," try as she might to hide it. He allowed himself a smile and fell into a deep sleep with Zelda at his side.

*I decided poor Young Link needed a moment with Zelda after that happened. T_T This is where the story starts picking up, so please await the next chapter! :D

P.S. See what I did with the chapter title? Eeeeeh~? :3 ...To soon?

K bye.*