Chapter Fifteen: Ganon's Tower

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Link: OracleVortex decided that she didn't want to write these anymore. So she thought that she would get me and—

Sheik: Me

Link: --To do this for her.

Sheik: So she doesn't own us.

Link: Or anything else that has to do with the Legends of Zelda.

Sheik: So you can't sue her. P

This chapter is dedicated to my friend Link0623, who is a brilliant author on FF.Net. Go and read his LotZ fics – they are so cool and well done!!

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"If only we could fly…" Rae mused dryly. They now stood in front of the gap that once housed the castle. The bastion, itself, was several hundred feet in the air, hideous with its dark towers and turrets, gargoyles and pointed wire fences, and black marble. A thick cloud of smoke hung overhead.

"We won't need to." Sheik said.

As if on cue, six hazy figures appeared in the space in front of them. From Saria to Rauru, all the sages appeared. Turning in unison, they raised their hands to the castle, murmuring in low voices. In moments, a shimmering, shifting bridge of many colors appeared. Putting out a foot, Link carefully stepped onto the rainbow bridge. It was solid.

Rauru turned to the three heroes as the rest of the sages vanished. "Zelda is in the top tower with Ganon; go to her! You must hurry! Be wary of the Dark King! He has more than one trick up his sleeve. We will come to you when you need to seal the Dark King away in the place between realms. Go! Hurry!"

The sage of light vanished and the three heroes cautiously made their way into the castle, taking the care to be extra silent. After heading down a hallway that normally would have seemed grand, they entered a tall, wide room filled with magic and arches. The staircase directly ahead of them led up to a tower door. It may have sounded easy, except for the many shields of magic that extended around the tower entrance

Link poked the shields experimentally with the point of his sword. The barrier fizzed and then sang, throwing the weapon backwards. "Well…" He sheathed the sword again, putting his hands on his hips. "Now what are we supposed to do?"

Sheik cast a sidelong glance at Rae, but she only shrugged. There were no doors lining the room, like it had in the game, so there had to be some other way to dispel the barriers that were placed on the tower entrance. She and Link circled the area, looking for hidden switches and possible secret doors. They found nothing.

Sheik squinted at the magical barrier, closely examining the mixed braids of color and patterns. The strongest of them all appeared to be a violet sheen, shifting almost mysteriously around the rest of the six colors. "Rae, come here for a moment." He touched the violet light, feeling the darkness in the touch.

Rae was suddenly at his elbow. "What is it?"

"Help me look into the shield." Sheik said, crimson pupils shifting her way. "I think that there is more to the colors and patterns than we originally thought."

Rae nodded. "What must I do?"

Sheik pressed his left hand to her right, weaving their fingers together. Sheik suppressed a tremble at the warm heat of her touch, and extended his free hand to the wall of color. Rae copied his motion, and their fingertips met at the same spot, creating a ripple in the magic.

"Now concentrate on the truth, look for the key." Sheik instructed. 

"All right." She closed her eyes, drawing a violet disc from her pocket. It was the shadow medallion. "Perhaps this can help." She pressed it to the shield, and Sheik lightly touched the disc. There was a flutter, and there was a loud burst in the air, as they were sent flying back.

Sheik slammed hard against the banister, and he felt the wind abruptly leave his lungs. Rae crashed into the railing beside him, almost loosing her footing and tumbling off the edge. Link came their way, worry plastered across his features. "Are you two all right?"


Sheik sucked in air quietly, trying to hide his ailment. "Y-yes…"

Rae coughed, lightly touching Sheik's shoulder before standing. "I think we broke the shadow's barrier."

"Shadow's barrier?" Link asked, offering a hand to Sheik. The Sheikah shook his head, rising gracefully.

"When you defeated each of the guardians at the various temples, their power and spirits must have been sent back here to guard the tower entrance." Sheik indicated the shelf, which now was lacking a violet overshadow. "Being linked to the darkness, and to the shadows that is being protected, the shadow beast was the key to the rest of the shield. If you place the rest of the medallions on the barrier, the power of the Sages should cause it to fall."

Link nodded, reaching into a pocket to reveal a small velvet pouch. Dumping its contents into one hand, he began to place each of the colored medallions on the barrier. One by one, the multicolour began to fade away, sending a wave of air outwards as they collapsed. The last to be placed on the tower was the green medallion, the one symbolizing the forest.

With a bright flash, the final barrier collapsed, dissipating into nothingness. The medallions clattered to the floor, and Link gathered them back into the pouch with one sweep of his hand. Pushing open the door, the three of them silently began the long climb to the top of the tower. The staircase was a narrow spiral, devoid of windows or decoration. It gradually grew wider as they ascended, and soon they could walk side-by-bide as they reached the top of the stairs.

The three of them simultaneously hesitated at the large grand doors before them. They all knew the evil and threatening darkness of the Dark king that lay beyond. The question was if they had the nerve or not to turn the gold, gaping, gargoyle handle.

Sheik and Link both shot a sidewards glance at Rae, who was standing in between them both. Both sets of eyes rose and met, the same thoughts running through their minds.

"Are you sure that you want to do this, Rae?" Link asked, turning fully to the girl in question. Rae nodded without meeting his eyes, her gaze fixated on the portal in front of her. "Rae, are you sure about this? There's no turning back once you have entered his room."

"I know that." She replied evenly, green-scarlet irises glinting dangerously. "There was no turning back since I joined you at Hyrule castle. This is my battle just as much as it is yours, now."

"Are you sure?" Sheik asked carefully. "These aren't your lands. These aren't your troubles. We don't want to see you hurt."

"And you won't…What's yours is now mine, Sheik, and I plan to fight for it."

There was a short pause at this statement, in which Sheik and Link looked at each other uncertainly.

"Rae…" Sheik lowered his head, sighing quietly. Rae looked up at him. "Forgive me…"

In a single swift movement, Sheik pulled her close to him, pressing his lips to hers. Caught in the moment, Rae didn't pull away, despite the look that Link had on his face. Swooning in the exotic taste that was Sheik, she was confused when he shoved her away from him and flung something at her feet. There was a flash of light and Rae had a sudden terrible thought that he had gone and ran. When she could see again, through the bright dots that the flash left on her vision, she was surprised to see that she was standing at the bottom of the castle, on the opposite side of the rainbow bridge.

"No…" She said in horror. "No!" Without another word, Rae started back into the Castle, worry and panic hastening her steps into a run. Din, Nayru, Farore…whoever may be watching now…please watch over them…

~*~*~*~

Link silently stared at Sheik, and neither one of them spoke. He felt something beginning to tear inside, but he had to ignore that for the moment. Unthinkingly, they went through the door, both aware and at the ready. What they saw, however, what not what they expected. Gannon sat at the front of the room…playing a hideously large pipe organ. Zelda was seen off to one side, still encased in the jewel.

"Zelda!" Sheik said, taking a step forward.

"Do not come any closer, Sheikah." Ganon said from his place at the organ. "By all rights, you should have died in the war, but you didn't. I want to draw your death out…I want to enjoy it."

"You won't get the chance." Sheik said lowly. "You didn't then and you won't now."

"Pathetic boy. Keep your delusions."

Link unexpectedly gasped, a sudden and brilliant light flaring on the back of his hand. Lifting it so he and Sheik could see, an imprint of the Triforce was visible, the lower left piece glowing. "Wha-"

"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 did not expect they would be hidden within you two…" Ganon laughed, turning away from the pipe organ. "And now, finally, all the Triforce parts have gathered here. These toys are too much for you." Ganon's eyes flared, and he suddenly held up his right hand, back out. "I command you to return them to me!"

"Never!" Link hissed through gritted teeth; abruptly feeling like his hand was being torn from his arm. "You could not get the Triforce on that one day, and you won't get it on this one."

"Fool child." Ganon clenched his hand, and made a pulling motion with his hand. To one side, Zelda cried out, falling to her knees. She glowed a deep blue for a moment, before crumpling to the ground. The Triforce piece that she had kept safe for seven years floated to stop in front of Ganon. The King of Evil laughed wickedly. "Now for you, Hero of Time."

Link gave out a half yell, as he felt a peculiar tearing in his hand and in his heart and mind. The fingers of his left hand splayed out, and a green light rose around him, revealing a glowing triangle. It joined its sister in front of Ganon, waiting patiently in the air. Sheik caught Link as he sank to the ground.

Ganon laughed deeply, hardly flinching as the Triforce of power met its companions in the air. "Now, when they join together, I will have the entire Triforce, and nothing will stop me! Not you, not the Sages, not anyone!" He watched the three artefacts hang in the air, greedily.

A long moment passed.

"Forgotten something, Ganon?" Sheik asked lowly, with some relish. "Something that you need to put the pieces together?"

"Sheikah," Ganon growled, "You know something…"

Sheik shook his head dramatically. "It's a shame that you didn't do all of your research…you were this close to total domination…"

"You will tell me," Ganon threatened him, standing and going to the jewel in the corner. It vanished, and Ganon picked Zelda up by the hair. She was still unconscious. "You will tell me, or else your precious sister will die."

Sheik laughed hollowly, though he could not hide panic from his eyes. " It's too late, Ganon. The one thing that will bring the Triforce together isn't even here…you'll never find it…"

"What are you talking about, boy?" Ganon snarled.

Sheik shook his head, about to retort, but the door to the room swung open. Rae stood in the frame, Gerudo spear out in front of her defensively.

Sheik's eyes widened. "Rae? No – get out of here!"

"I told you, Sheik, this is my battle too."

"No!" Sheik set Link to the floor. "You don't understand!"

Ganon laughed again, this time a slow and menacing sound. "So…I see what it is that I'm missing…" Ganon waved a hand a Rae. With a yelp, she was jerked off her feet and into Ganon's grasp. Zelda toppled to the ground, forgotten. "This is the pretty little key to the puzzle? The one thing that will bring the Triforce together?"

Rae turned away from Ganon's touch, squirming in his hold. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Oh, but your friend here, does." Ganon lightly pressed a boot to Zelda's neck, his hands tightening around Rae's throat. "Tell me the secret, Sheikah, or I'll kill them both right before your eyes."

Sheik gasped, horrified at what Ganon was implying. In seconds, the two most important women in his life would be crushed, and could do nothing to prevent it. Rae whimpered, eyes flickering his way.

"Don't…not for Hyrule…" Her voice was cut off by the sudden tightening of Ganon's fingers.

"Your choice, boy?"

Sheik sighed painfully, glancing at Link before looking up. "I'm sorry." He stood. "Rae is the key. Only she can bring the Triforce into existence again."

"How?" Ganon sneered, stepping down slightly on Zelda's neck.

"I don't know." Sheik admitted. "There's something about her that gives her the power to touch the Triforce and make it whole."

"You're going to have to do better than that, boy." Rae pulled at Ganon's fingertips, feet kicking in the air.

"I don't know anymore!" Zelda began to struggle on the floor. "I swear that's all I know! By the Eye, I swear it!"

"Feh." Ganon kicked Zelda to one side, dropping his hold on Rae. She gulped for air on her knees, slowly edging away. "Now, fix it, girl." He jabbed her in the back with his foot. She exhaled sharply, wobbly getting to her knees.

"What do you expect me to do?" She asked breathily.

"Just put the pieces together." Ganon forced through gritted teeth.

Rae shakily turned to glare up at him. "I don't bloody well know how!"

Ganon pulled her to her feet by the short lengths of her hair, snarling into her face. "Well you'd better figure it out in the next three seconds, or I will kill your friends, and force you to watch!" To accentuate his point, he lashed out with one hand, a cut appearing along Sheik's jaw. The young man gasped, touching the dripping line. "Now do it!"

Rae swore under her breath, reaching out with her hands to the shimmering triangles. "Unite, damn you!"

There was a blinding explosion of light, and everyone gasped in surprise. Forcing herself to look up. Rae's eyes watered with lasting impressions. The fused Triforce floated into her awaiting hands, and Rae stepped over Ganon – who had collapsed, unconscious, on the floor.

"We must leave while we can." Sheik said urgently. There was a red smear along his chin, sicken-ly tainting the white cloth around his neck.

"What about Ganon?" Rae asked.

"Leave him here." Link said. He was standing by the door, awake and all right. He was carrying Zelda. "We don't want to be in the castle when the changes he made to it start shifting back."

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*Creepy music* Duh-duh-DUH!

Sorry this took so long. I had a temporary presence of writers block. I knew what I wanted to write, but I didn't know how to express it. Meh.

OracleVortex

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