Notes: This and every other chapter written and to be written is dedicated to my very first fan, Kattie. Hopefully she stuck around these three years to find out how it all ends. Thanks for all your encouragement and help.

Also since this is taking place towards the end of the game, its just going to be spoiler after spoiler from this point.

***

Chapter Seventeen: Gannondorf's Trap

Link waited in the shadows until the senshi had traveled into the sun barrier's room. As soon as they all filed in he quickly picked up a giant stone pillar with his golden gauntlets and carefully dropped it in front of the entrance. He had cleared out most of the enemies in the room so they wouldn't be in too serious of danger. Besides it'd keep them busy while he focused on more important things.

Link quickly rushed upstairs and glanced upwards at the bats. He frowned and pulled out a few arrows. He wasn't going to let keeses stand in his way. He aimed his bow and quickly shot down two of the three menaces. With a loud shriek the remaining one flew downstairs and out of harm's way.

Navi fluttered behind Link with a frown. "Link…" she attempted once more to engage the boy in conversation.

Link didn't even acknowledge her as he climbed the stairs and opened the next door. He smirked as a Stalfos and Dynalfos attacked him. 'Are you watching, Gannondorf?' He wondered as he easily cut the skeleton down within a few blows before turning to the reptile. 'This is what I'll do to you when I get there.'

Navi quickly flew out of the way as a giant blue chest appeared almost squishing her. "Link, listen to me!" she objected flying into the boy's face. "I'm sorry that what I did caused her to be captured but you have to understand!"

Link pulled out the glittering boss key from the chest and glanced back at the fairy his eyes strangely icy. "Understand that you decided to trade her life in for mine?" he questioned. "That's not how things work, Navi. I'd never have done that to you."

Navi flinched as she realized he was telling the truth. "But the Great Deku told me to watch over you… If you had gotten caught Hyrule would be destroyed. You have to believe me, Link."

Link who was starting to climb the next set of stairs sighed. "You went too far, Navi… Usagi could be…" He trailed off his eyes closing to prevent tears from falling. Heroes didn't cry. "Anyway, we should hurry. I don't forgive you," he was quick to add. "But, I'll let you help since this is partly your fault." Navi nodded and flew up the stairs after Link as he entered yet another door.

**

"It's solid… I don't think that even any of our attacks can penetrate it," Mercury concluded as she twisted her earring and her visor vanished. "We're locked in here."

Tuxedo Kamen scowled. "First he steals Usako and now he's locked us in here to die?" He shook his head in disbelief. "If anything happens to Chibiusa…"

Sailor Venus glared darkly at him. "I think Usagi is more important in this case," she all but growled. She knew her fellow senshi had some sort of conspiracy going and she was going to figure out what. She didn't trust any of them at this point.

Tuxedo Kamen had the decency to look down in shame. She was right… His Usako was up above them somewhere possibly being killed. 'Maybe this is what the dream was trying to warn me from?' he wondered with a sigh. 'Why did I ever let that stupid vision interfere with us?'

Jupiter pounded on the stone and then pushed against it with all her might. "It won't budge..." She sighed and looked it over. "None of our attacks will work?"

Mercury shook her head again. "Its too thick… My ice wouldn't affect it, fire wouldn't do any damage, lightning wouldn't be any better than fire, and Mamoru-san's roses would only make small holes at a time. We're stuck."

"Wait," Mars interrupted as she glanced at the fuming blonde. "What about Minako's attack? Does she have a chance?"

Mercury's eyes widened at the idea and she quickly brought her visor back to life. "Maybe… It might work but she'd have to use a lot of power."

"No," she refused as she sat down on an empty chest. "I'm not helping you guys bring Usagi back… Just because Chibiusa is from the future we have to drag her back? How is that fair?"

Mars sighed. "We've explained this before, Minako… How is it fair to Chibiusa to not be born?"

Venus got to her feet and advanced on the raven-haired girl. "That's not the same! We didn't even know about Chibiusa until now and suddenly we have to make sure that Usagi follows that destiny?" She whirled on her heel and poked a finger in a startled Tuxedo Kamen's chest. "Besides if you want to go that river, then it's his fault for breaking up with her in the first place!"

"I think you mean road, Minako-chan," Mercury gently corrected.

Jupiter stared hard at the stone willing it to crack. "We shouldn't be fighting at all… The longer we're in here the longer that weirdo can hurt Usagi… We have to trust in Link. Usagi chose him…" She turned and glanced at the hopeful blonde. "I agree with Minako. Usagi has already given us her decision. Is it really right to come here just because of Chibiusa and make her feel horrible for being happy?"

**

Link easily dodged the two lumbering sets of metal as he attacked. He wasn't going to let a pile of junk keep him from his goal. He had made her wait long enough. He was going to end it.

He easily dispatched of the first and turned to the second. Unlike the first it was a bit stronger and was able to catch him off his guard and throw him into the wall. He groaned in pain but quickly sprang back up. "You really want to apologize, Navi?" he demanded as he glared at the fairy from the corner of his eye.

The small being nodded, "Of course, Link. Just tell me what to do." She felt herself shiver at the almost bloodthirsty look in the youth's eyes.

"Distract him so I can take him out faster," he requested tilting his head towards the silver Iron Knuckle.

If fairies could turn pale she would of. "Distract him?" she squeaked almost shaking in fear. Link merely nodded and taking a deep breath she flew at the metal man's face attempting to make it swing and hopefully miss at her.

Link smirked and leaping into the air started his strike. He knew that merely fighting fair with these monsters would slow him down too much. If he didn't hurry it would be too late for Hyrule, for Zelda, and for Usagi. His screams of fury echoed off the walls as his sword sliced through the silver suit and Navi flew to safety.

Link pulled his blade from the second of the defeated Iron Knuckles and went up yet another flight of stairs. He opened the door and glanced around at the room full of pots. "What's this?" he wondered out loud as he moved to the next door. "Gannondorf has some weird taste…"

As soon as the two entered the next room they heard the faint strains of an organ. "Link…are you ready to fight Gannondorf?" Navi asked from beside him worry evident in her tone.

Link nodded as he quickly climbed the stairs. "I'd fight him barehanded if it meant freeing Usagi," he all but whispered. "I'm ready, Navi," he reassured in a louder tone to the hovering fairy. He paused at the locked door and pulled out the key. It was time.

**

Zelda pounded at the walls of her prison as the madman kissed a submissive Usagi while playing. She knew what the image would do to Link and she couldn't have him fooled by Gannondorf's plans.

She winced as she saw the giant door beginning to open and a chuckle from Gannondorf before he pulled the girl fully into his lap as he continued to play. "Link, it's a trap!" she screamed but her voice only echoed in her crystal prison.

Link pushed once more on the doors and they opened and bright light blinded him for a moment. When he was able to see again he saw Zelda gesturing furiously from her prison. Puzzled he looked behind her and felt his heart stop.

Usagi was in a passionate embrace with the King of Evil himself. "Usagi," he whispered shocked. He wasn't even aware that his triforce had begun to shine.

Zelda looked down in hopelessness and realized her own triforce was starting to glow. She cautiously glanced at Gannondorf and saw him chuckling as he pulled away from the clinging Usagi and gestured for her to keep playing. "She's under a spell," Zelda tried to mouth to the young hero but was unable to get her point across.

Gannondorf got off the bench and smirked as Usagi continued to play. "She's already chosen the one that will rule Hyrule," he informed Link with a superior smirk.

"The triforce parts are resonating… They are combining into one again… The two triforce parts that I could not capture on that day seven years ago… I never expected they'd be hidden within the likes of you two," he sneered.

His eyes seemed to shine for a moment. "And along with the power of the triforces my musician friend here has given me the source of all of her power. Not even the Hero of Time can stop me now!"

He turned around and threw back his cape as he began to laugh. "These toys are too much for you." He clenched his fist and his triforce of power began to shine brightly. "I demand you return them to me!"

A black vortex appeared behind him and he smirked at the furious and still shell-shocked Link. "You've lost, Hero of Time."

"Usagi," Link whispered his tone dull. "Usagi!" he tried again attempting to get her attention. Why wasn't she even looking at him? Did she hate him that much for not getting here sooner? "Usagi… I'll make him pay for hurting you! I promise," he swore before starting towards the vortex.

"No, wait!" She demanded her head turning even as she continued to play. Her eyes were full of pleading as she spoke, "Don't hurt him, Gannondorf-sama is important to me."

The words shattered the already fragile hope that Link had. His head dropped and he walked blindly into the portal not noticing the tear that trailed down Usagi's cheek.