Author's Note: Man, chapter V

Author's Note: Man, chapter V? I never thought I'd get this far! Thanks to everyone for being REALLY patient with me! I promise, the more I delay, the more I'll write k?

(Oh yeah, and for everyone who read 'The Truth' story that I did, you can forget ALL about that because it has nothing to do with this anymore. It was just one of those things I just come up with and then instantly regret it. Okay, I'll shut up now.)

V

Shadow stepped back and drew her two swords.

'Are we using magic in this fight?' she asked

'Nah.' Rayn said, shaking his head 'I don't want to hurt you now.'

Keyva held up his arm.

'Begin.' He ordered, dropping his arm

Rayn brought his sword high in the air and brought it down to Shadow's face. Shadow quickly countered with both her blades and tried to force him away but failed, Rayn's sword pierced forward and grazed her cheek. He stood back and looked down at her.

'You're not yourself.' He told her

Shadow took advantage of his pause and slashed at his leg, just missing it.

'What makes you think that?' she asked

Both of them could hear Keyva clapping but could tell he wasn't cheering them on. He was trying to get their attention.

'Whoa! Hey, stop!' he shouted

Shadow and Rayn both put away their weapons and walked back to where he and Link were standing.

'That was short.' Rayn said 'What's wrong?'

'I asked you to show Link how you fight,' Keyva told him 'like those demonstrations you do for Novices. I didn't say kill each other.'

Shadow held her cheek.

'It didn't hurt.' She spoke, rubbing it

'Good, but patch it up when you get back.' Said Keyva 'Maybe you should start again.'

'If you're not hurt.' Added Link

Shadow looked at him.

'Great.' She thought 'Now he thinks I'm weak. Could anything else go wrong?'

'You aren't, right?' Link asked her

'No.' she replied quickly

Link backed down, he didn't expect her to be quite so touchy. Shadow faced Rayn and stood back in attacking stance.

'See if you can catch me again.' She challenged

'You don't need to put on a brave face you know.' Rayn advised secretly

'Shut up and fight.' she snapped

Shadow was obviously not in the best of moods. She hadn't been trying her hardest and she'd been wounded in front of her leader, but even worse, she'd shown weakness to Link. It wasn't just her face that was injured, it was her pride as well. There was no way that she was going to show pain.

'Fight me dammit!!' She dared Rayn

'Wait. Someone's coming.' Alerted Link

They all turned around to where he was facing and saw Nightshade running up to them. By the time she got there, she was panting heavily. A large gash was running down her side.

'What happened?' asked Keyva

'Ambush… At the camp.' Nightshade stuttered

'How many?' continued Keyva

'I didn't see. I don't think there are… a lot.' She replied 'But we… We can't hold them off. They're very… too powerful.'

Keyva stood up, thinking about what to do.

'Shadow, you come with me to the camp.' He ordered 'Rayn, you stay here and heal her. Both of you join us when you're ready.'

'What about me?' asked Link

'I'm not your commander.' Keyva shrugged 'It's up to you whether you want to fight or not, just don't get yourself killed.'

'Fine, I'm coming.' Link told him

Shadow gave him a harsh look.

'He'll only slow us down.' She thought

Link noticed her stare and finally snapped.

'What is it with you?' he asked 'What the hell have I done?'

Shadow just stood there. She had no intention of replying.

'If we're gonna go, let's go now.' She said, ignoring him

Shadow didn't bother waiting for Keyva to answer her and ran towards the camp, out of view. Link watched her rush off.

'What's her problem?' he asked Keyva 'She's been giving me weird looks all day, I'm sick of it.'

'It's just her way.' Keyva answered 'She's not good at showing her feelings.'

'To you.' added Rayn

Keyva turned around and looked at him, sighing sadly.

'Go, they need you.' Urged Nightshade

'Come when you're ready.' Ordered Keyva 'Stay with them Link, I need to calm her down.'

Keyva ran off chasing after Shadow. He reached a less dense part of the forest and saw that she was waiting for him, her swords lying keen in her hands, ready to fight.

'If you want to know why I'm mad with him, I already told you.' She spoke

'I'm you're commander Shadow, don't talk to me like that.' Keyva told her 'I know how you are, don't lose your temper in the fight.'

Shadow nodded and they both ran to the camp.

When they arrived, they were shocked by what they saw. The camp was in flames and many Sheikah were lying motionless on the floor. Shadow looked around. Nothing.

'This is bad.' She thought 'Did the Novices escape?'

'I hope so.' Replied Keyva 'Look for survivors and be careful, they're hiding. I can't sense anybody.'

Shadow nodded and they both split up to search the camp. She went to the nearest tent and checked inside.

'Where is everybody?' she thought 'They wouldn't just leave.'

Shadow looked everywhere. There wasn't a trace of any sort of being. Her longs ears couldn't hear anything in the wind and her Eye of Truth technique revealed nothing about her surroundings.

'This just isn't right.'

She walked outside but stopped when she saw Keyva, or something that looked like him, standing in front of the door. Its body was exactly like his, only almost completely black. The only things she could distinguish properly were its deep ruby eyes. She clenched her blades tightly, preparing for an assault.

'What are you?' she asked

The creature didn't reply, just stood there, brandishing a weapon that looked much like Keyva's bow shaped sword. He held it perfectly, just like Keyva himself. Anyone not familiar with his sword wielding would end up with a badly injured arm.

'If he fights like Keyva, there's no way that I can even graze him.' Shadow thought to herself 'There's no point fighting.'

Shadow stepped forward, as though she were about to attack. Holding her sword high, she span round and sliced through the back of the tent, escaping. She could see Rayn, Link and Nightshade ahead. Rayn had been able to heal her fully. It was incredible just how good at magic he was.

'Rayn!' she called

The cry alerted him and he looked in her direction. Shadow could see that he wasn't looking at her, but past her. She turned around and felt a sharp pain across her right leg.

'Damn, he followed me!' she thought

The being went for her other leg and soon she was on the floor. It was using one of Keyva's techniques, injuring her so that she couldn't escape fast enough, then it would finish her off. Shadow didn't even bother trying to get away; she was nowhere near a match for Keyva. Moving would just waste her strength.

'Go on then.' she challenged

Shadow braced herself for pain; she didn't want her last moment to be of weakness. Unexpectedly, the being just walked away towards where the others were. It showed no intention of taking their fight any further.

'What, it's just going to leave me?' she thought

'It's leaving you for me to finish off myself.' A voice spoke

Nydek appeared before her, floating just above her level. His white hair lashed wildly in the wind.

'Who the hell are you?' Shadow asked

'I'm known as Nydek,' Nydek replied 'knight of the great King Ganondorf and enemy to all that oppose him.'

He looked at her more closely.

'Pitiful Sheikah.' He said 'Your beauty is wasted on you. Give your life to the true cause.'

Nydek gave her a stare that seemed to pierce straight through her eyes and infiltrate her senses. His eyes changed from dark blue to total white and Shadow found herself unable to move, hear or feel anything around her. Nydek's voice spoke in her mind.

'Give yourself up.' he controlled 'Give in to me. Give in to your new master.'

'… I…'

'Don't think. Don't feel. Just be.' he continued 'Silence all your emotions, for they are no use to you now.'

Shadow's eyes went blurry, out of focus, then totally blind. Nydek had a lock over her mind and was engulfing all her senses.

'What the--?'

Rayn had managed to destroy the Dark Shifter, with Link and Nightshade's help, and saw what Nydek was doing. He wanted to help Shadow, but didn't know if he should leave. More Shifters where approaching along with their scaly friends.

'Go.' Link told him, seeing the worried expression on his brother's face 'Help her.'

Rayn nodded and ran to Shadow's side. Nydek held out his hand and sent him flying back.

'You're pathetic.' he said

He drew his katana and prepared to strike.

'You do not think or feel.' he repeated 'Obey and accept your fate.'

Nydek brought his sword forward. Before it could meet Shadow's body a dagger shot past his blade and dug into the ground, halting his attack with surprise. Before he could look to see who was attacking him, he found another deep in his sword arm. He winced and stepped back.

'…… Ugh…'

Shadow stirred, rubbing her head. Nydek's distraction had released her from his control. Rayn went and knelt beside her.

'Are you all right?' he asked

'I'm fine.' Shadow replied, trying to get up 'What happened?'

'I don't know. I think someone wounded him.'

They both turned to Nydek and saw him looking for his attacker. Anger showed on his face, he obviously didn't like being interrupted.

'Coward! Show yourself!' he yelled 'A fight means nothing unless you have courage to face your foe!'

A figure appeared from behind one of the tents. He had long black hair in two low ponytails and red eyes typical to that of the Sheikah. His clothes were dark purple with a black cape and two swords were held in his hands. Shadow recognised him instantly.

'It… It's Reyon.' She stuttered

'You're kidding right?' asked Rayn

Shadow looked at him.

'Do I look like it?' she replied

She looked back to Nydek and saw that he was preparing to fight.

'I have to help him.' She said

Shadow started to walk forward but the pain in her legs strengthened with every step. She sat back down.

'Heal me.' She demanded Rayn

'Not here.' He spoke

Rayn closed his eyes and concentrated on his magic. Soon after, he and Shadow were far away from the combat zone.

'You bastard!' Shadow cursed 'Take me back! I have to help Reyon!'

'No, you'll just get hurt again.' He told her 'I know you. You'll get caught up in the fight and then do something stupid.'

'No! I have to see him fight!'

'You've got nothing to worry about.' Rayn informed 'That guy's renowned for his fighting skill.'

'I know, I know.' Shadow interrupted 'The greatest whatever in the entire Sheikah race.'

'Warrior?' he asked

'Yes!' she barked

Rayn backed down.

'Just try and understand, Shadow.' He asked 'I… I don't like seeing you hurt.'

'You didn't care earlier.' She replied

'No. You're wrong. I do care about you.' He told her 'It's hard for me to describe because the feeling is so alien to me, but I know how powerful it is.'

He knelt down and took her hands. Shadow just stayed still. She wasn't sure what she should do.

'I realized it just then. I don't want to see you hurt, Shadow. I want to stay by your side forever and protect you. I want… to be with you.'

Rayn paused and took a deep breath. What he was about to say was harder then any battle he fought before.

'… I love you Shadow.'

Shadow remained silent. Nobody had ever shown her anything like this before. Her feelings were mixed up; she didn't know what it was she felt.

'I can't.' she thought 'I can't get close. Anybody I trust always leaves me… What is this I'm feeling? I don't understand.'

'I understand you Shadow. I know that you've never felt this before and so you must be kind of confused.' Rayn assumed 'But if you could just think about it before you make up your mind… Please?'

'I don't know what this… I've never…'

She trailed off, it was like she had forgotten to speak. Thousands of thoughts were buzzing through her head. Rayn placed his arms under her and gently lifted her up.

'You don't have to think about it now.' He whispered 'Let's go find the others that escaped. We'll be safer if we leave here.'

Reyon stood determined in front of Nydek. It had been a long time since he had been home and now it had been destroyed. He tried hard so as not to show his anger, as it could easily be manipulated.

'You did this?' he questioned

Nydek smiled proudly.

'It's my duty to rid this land of whatever plagues it.' he replied

'You said you were a knight, but that task makes you nothing more than an exterminator.' Reyon told him 'But if that's your job, I don't understand why you wish to fight me.'

'You attack me, I settle the score.' he explained

'I was protecting my sister.' Informed Reyon

Nydek shrugged.

'It makes no difference to me.' He said, clutching his long sword tightly

He brought the sword forward to Reyon. Reyon took one effortless move and avoided him, giving him a hard punch to his back.

'You'll have to be quicker than that.' He patronized

Nydek turned around.

'Oh, I can do a lot better.' He said

He held out his arm. Magic built up in his hand and sent out a powerful jolt to Reyon's body. He simply jumped out the way.

'I sure hope so.' He laughed

Nydek lowered his arm.

'What, all you can do is dodge?' he assumed

'You don't have the skills to beat me just yet.' Told Reyon 'As the saying goes, "Kill or be killed". You can't slay me, so why should I kill you?'

'You were toying with me?!'

Reyon nodded.

'I am no doll! Fight me or I'll set this entire area ablaze!' Nydek threatened

'You'd kill your own followers?'

'Your friends have already disposed of them, they mean nothing to me.' He answered 'Now, will we battle? Or would you prefer to see this place go up in flames of my success?'

Reyon looked around. The only people left were them, Link and Nightshade.

'In flames it will be, but not by your glory.' He said

With that, he threw a Deku Nut on the ground. The flash blinded Nydek and he was forced to turn away. Reyon ran to Link and Nightshade.

'Get out of here.' He ordered

'But what about him?' asked Link

'He doesn't pose any threat now.' He replied 'Come, follow me.'

They all ran as fast as they could, far away from the camp. Reyon turned around to once again bid farewell to his home. Now it would be nothing more than a memory resting in the back of his mind.

(I know, it wasn't worth the wait I'm sorry, but I'm really bad at doing the fight and "romance" parts. Flames down here please…)

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