***Disclaimer***: I do not own Zelda

Spirit: The force within

Chapter 8: Meeting fate

Early the next morning Link and Liea woke up, ate breakfast, and headed out for Hyrule Castle. On the way they talked some more, but Liea kept a bit of a distance from Link from what happened the night before. 'He probably wants me gone'. Liea thought to herself. They soon arrived at the castle and stopped right in front of it. Link and Liea observed the huge black clouds encircling the castle knowing evil was defiantly lurking around and waiting to make more devastation.

"Um, Link, I'm not sure I want to do this anymore. This place is a lot different than what I thought." Liea said staring up at the massive palace, shaking.

"Aw, it's not that bad. It's-" Link began to reassure when he was cut off

"Yes it is! I mean look at it; it's huge, black and scary! I'm staying right here!" Liea hugged Link tightly hoping she didn't have to go in. Link just looked at her. Liea looked down; she felt ashamed.

"I understand, but we have to do this for Hyrule's and our future. You said yourself that you wanted to go home. So if you want to go home so desperately, I suggest we go in. Now lets get a move on!" Link grabbed Liea's hand and started walking into the castle. Liea resisted his willingness to go in. Link turned around and stared at Liea. His soft, tender eyes made her melt and give in. Liea hung her head as Link led her towards the castle.

Inside, Link and Liea traveled from room after room fighting off stalfos, lizalfos, armos, and moblins. While Link fought off the fiends, Liea noticed behind the muck and grime from the evil presence that the castle must have been a beautiful place at one time. She imagined Paintings of beautiful landscape and important people hanging on the walls and furniture scattered about while servants were running here and there before evil took over and destroyed. Liea tried to imagine also being in Princess Zelda's position worrying about what dress to wear and ordering people around. Link snapped his fingers in front of Liea's face, bringing her back to the present time and moved his arm motioning Liea to follow. Finally, they arrived into a large room where Ganondorf supposedly dwelled and held Princess Zelda and her father hostage.

The room had a red luminosity to it which brought out more evilness that the castle has become. There were multi-colored stained glass windows everywhere, but ironically not much sunlight was coming through them. The tile was cracked in some areas and iron rod lamps were hanging from the ceiling by chains and brought most of the dim light in the room. A strange yet heart-piercing aura of evil was looming around, haunting both of them. Liea shivered again from the creepiness and cringed again behind Link.

"Link, this place is still really creepy and it's sending chills up and down my spine!" Liea cried not wanting to be there. "AND I WANT TO GO HOME!"

"Seesh, you don't give up do you? C'mon!" Link said almost getting annoyed. He walked more into the room with Liea close behind.

Across from Link and Liea was a small jail cell and had an outline of a petite body in it. Liea squinted her eyes to try to see who it was. Link placed his hand on her shoulder and pointed that way. "Over there, is Princess Zelda." Some of the smoke drifting about cleared and Liea saw the figure of a young woman.

"Thank goodness; you finally made it!" The body began to say. Zelda moved closer to the bars. Liea looked at her better and put a name to a face. "I was beginning to wonder if you lost your way or something. You two better be careful because-"Zelda was cut off when the castle started to shake and an image started to float down.

"Link, watch out!" screamed Zelda. Liea jumped back, startled from Zelda's yelling and the shaking of the room.

"Ah! It's.It's." Liea stuttered trying to get Link's attention by pulling on his belt.

"Yes, it is I, Ganondorf! And I'm here to destroy all of you peons! To start, I'll finish you off first, brat!" Ganondorf thundered and looked at Liea. He formed a Dark magic ball in his hands and threw it at Liea sending her into the nearby wall full blast.