Chapter Fifteen: Bridge of Safety
Link stared at the fairy shocked, "I do?"
Navi nodded, "Hai."
"How long have you known?"
Navi looked away, "Ever since you and Usagi were attacked while children. The light that came from your hand was the tri-forces power."
Link glared at her, "You knew all this time and yet you let her Just let her be taken!"
Navi straightened, "Stop it Link. My mission was to protect and guide you. Not some girl you picked up along the way."
Link glared at the fairy again and turned away. "I'm going to the castle." He paused and studied the senshi. "If all you really want to do is talk you can come with me. If not tell me now and I'll kill you where you stand."
Mamoru wisely didn't comment. 'You just lead me to my Usako and then we'll leave this pathetic world' He repressed the urge to glare at Link and merely followed the slightly younger boy to wherever the castle was.
Link closed his eyes for a brief moment and fought tears. She had looked deadAfter she had screamed that strange word and that flash of light she had looked dead. Her head had slumped forward and from what he saw he couldn't see her breathe. 'Just a little bit longer Don't give up, Usagi.'
**
Usagi frowned and rubbed at her eyes. She paused and looked around confused. The chains and shackles were gone. With a sense of fear she'd never show him she glanced around the room and found herself alone. She sighed and leaned against the wall.
"Link" she hugged herself and clutched at where her necklace was. A frown came to her lips as she realized it was gone.
"You're finally up, ne?"
Usagi looked up startled and saw a strange girl smiling at her from inside a pink crystal. "Who are you?"
The girl-woman inclined her head slightly, "My name is Zelda-hime Demo you know me as Sheik."
Usagi's eyes widened, "Demo demo demo you're not a guy," she gasped in realization. The full meaning behind all of this came to her and she closed her eyes for a moment. If Sheik wasn't a guy then it all made sense. "You you're in love with him, aren't you?" she asked softly.
Zelda jerked in surprise and lowered her eyes, "Is it really that obvious?"
Usagi fought to hide her tears. Of course it was! "I just realized some things you did as Sheik make more sense now that I know you're really a woman." She wisely omitted the word girl.
Zelda flushed and looked away, "I met him when I was a child I'm the cause of him going on the entire quest"
Usagi felt that the other hime wanted to add and the reason he met you. She leaned against her wall again and looked around, "Why am I unshackled?"
Zelda shrugged, "You were before I came in."
Usagi frowned, "How'd you get here anyway? You seemed untouchable as Sheik."
Zelda sighed, "When I became myself once again Gannondorf captured me. He wants all three triforces and the only one left is Links."
Usagi bit her lip, "We can't let Link try to rescue us then"
Zelda frowned, "Why? Do you doubt him?"
Usagi shook her head, "No of course not It's just I don't want him hurt."
"It's his destiny," Zelda replied.
Usagi frowned more, "No I won't believe that. There's no such thing as destiny. People are free to make their own choices."
Zelda frowned, "But if destiny isn't followed then others suffer. Can you really let others suffer and even die for the sake of one's happiness?"
Usagi closed her eyes and looked away. "If the person could truly be happy yes."
Zelda gasped, "That's horrible!"
Usagi only shrugged, "I've lived longer then you I know more about destiny then anyone I've escaped my own."
Zelda crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Usagi. It was one thing to give her Link to a girl that was accompanying him on his travels but it was another thing all together for the girl to run away from destiny! It just proved that Link was meant to be hers and not this Usagi girls. "I'm sure you hurt a lot of people with your decision."
Usagi nodded, "Hai"
"So why'd you do it? You really thought your happiness was more important then everyone else's?"
Usagi shook her head in denial, "Iie I just didn't want to travel the road fate gave me."
Zelda gave a very unprincess like snort, "You're being selfish."
Usagi sighed, "I know"
"And yet you pertain in doing so? Why are you fighting destiny? Destiny is laid out for us to help us be the best possible people we can be."
Usagi turned away. She was already sick of this princess. "So people like Link risking their lives for hime's and such is perfectly acceptable?" she scoffed.
Zelda saw red. "I never said that!"
"You did so!" Usagi retorted whirling and glaring up at the beautiful ruler. "You said we all must follow destiny. According to you it's Link's destiny to fight and save you from you enemies! I won't allow you to use him like that!"
Gannondorf chuckled and both himes turned to face him similair glares in their eyes. "You're both very beautiful when you're angry," He commented with a smirk. "As you can see, Usagi I've released you from your bonds. You're free to go."
Usagi frowned. Something in his words wasn't quite right. "What about Link?"
Gannondorf smirked, "As soon as he hands the trifocre over to me then he to will be released. If he truly wants to be with you the easiest solution is to give in to me."
Usagi glared at him. She tried to summon the Ginzuishou but the gem wasn't responding. "Leave Link alone," she demanded as she took a step forward.
Gannondorf laughed and opened his palm showing a barely shining gem within, "Looking for this?"
Usagi's fist clenched and her head fell. With the Ginzuishou in his possession she was powerless. "Why can't you just leave Link alone?" she whispered softly.
Gannondorf slowly circled her as a shark circles its prey. "Why is he so obsessed with you? He barely batted an eye about the hime His full attention is only on rescuing you. Why are you so special to that boy?"
Usagi didn't answer as the thing's fingers glided over her smooth skin. "Let go of me," she finally whispered jerking back.
This however was a mistake as he grabbed her with his strong pointy fingernails digging into her skin. She gasped in pain but he seemed unaware of it. "You either stay still or I'll force you I will find out why that boy is so crazy over you. The Hero of Time is acting like a fool."
Usagi winced. She felt the change of mood. Those fingers were sinking into her skin and she could feel her flesh slowly breaking and tiny streams of blood started to flow from beneath his grasp. She struggled to break free and he backhanded her almost sending her into unconciousness. "Leave me alone," she whispered her vision hazy.
Gannondorf suddenly let go of her and Usagi's body started to fall without the support. She still felt to weak to try to save herself and braced herself for a fall. She was startled as arms grabbed her and she looked up. A strange glint appeared in Gannondorf's eyes and Usagi choked back a sob. This couldn't be happening
Gannondorf lifted a strand of her hair and studied it. "Tell me why he's doing all of this for you or I'll find out myself." He yanked and Usagi gasped in pain as he literally tore the hair out of her head. He smirked, "You know if I have to find out it will be quite painful."
Usagi swallowed her tears. She was positive that this monster wouldn't be able to understand the answer that Link loved her enough to do all of this. She shuddered and closed her eyes. Nothing she could say could rescue her. Her arms hugged herself tightly and she winced as Gannonodorf leaned closer and she could begin to feel his breath on her neck. The true pain was about to begin.
**
Link suddenly tensed as he was crossing the bridge. His eyes flew to the top of the tower and he clenched a fist. Usagi was feeling so much fear and there was the beginning tingle of pain. He wasn't sure how he was experiencing this but he had a feeling the sages had a hand in it. "Usagi"
Minako frowned, "What is it, Link?"
Link shook his head, "Somethings happening to her Gannondorf is doing something but I don't know what"
A flash of light appeared and Rauru appeared. "Congratulations for getting all the medallions, Hero of Time. We six will gather our power to create a bridge to the castle where Gannondorf dwells."
Link swallowed and nodded. The sage of time looked quite imposing and impressive.
He held his breath as the sages formed and power flowed from them creating a
multi-colored bridge. "Arigato," he whispered before he ran across
it. He now had a way to save her Whatever Gannondorf was doing to her
would be paid back ten-fold when he was done.