Chapter Six: Ganon's Castle

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*gulps down the Pepsi Blue* Mmm. Tasty. Just for that, here's another chapter that I wasn't going to write for a while. Thankies!

By the way…idontownit!

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He was preparing himself to go through the final door. Link drew his sword and shield, and Navi fluttered into existence, spiralling around him as if bestowing her blessing on him. He blinked, and blinked again, taking another deep breath. All he had to do was step forward. Step forward and open the door and save the land from the Dark King. He just had to—"

"Link!"

The blond spun, sword out before him at Navi's warning. There was a blinding flash and Link instinctively threw up his shield.  It took him a tense moment to realize that there was no one there to attack him. Willing his heartbeat to slow, Link noticed that there was a thin object on one of the stairs. Carefully, he approached it, eyeing the area around him suspiciously. Reaching out warily, he picked it up and examined it. 

It was a slender quiver, wrought with gold and bronze leaf designs, containing several matching arrows. The tips were coated with a gel-like gold, though it didn't come off on Link's fingers when he touched it. There was something mysterious and yet very sacred about the weapons.

"The Light Arrows…"

Link spun again, sword in one hand, the quiver of arrows in the other. The whispering voice echoed in the stair well, yet there was no source. Heart pounding, Link frowned in irritation.

"Come out where I can see you!" He said, gaze flitting from side-to-side. Navi hovered nervously near one of the windows, but couldn't find the source. The voice spoke again as Link dug in his pocket for the eyes of truth, slipping the quiver onto his belt.

"Use it when the Dark King's guard is down." The tone made Link shiver and his memory yell to him. The voice was…familiar…but disguised. Link's hand halted in its search.

"S..Sheik?"

"Goddess and the Eye bless, Hero of Time."

Navi fled back to Link, having lost the presence of the visitor. Link touched the soft fletching of the Light arrows, thoughtfully staring at the window.

"Link." Navi said. "Listen, we—"

"I know, Navi." Link said softly, turning back to the door. He pushed it open. "I know."

~

He hit hard. Very hard. Even his attempt to claw at the rungs of the pillar to slow his decent had only ended in broken fingers. So now the Hero of Time was lying crippled, scarcely breathing, scarcely living, in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the tall tower. Ganon's laughter echoed around him, as the Dark King gloated, preening as he sneered at the Princess Zelda.

I don't want to die. Link thought in dismay, groping weakly for a bottle. I can't die. Not yet. There's still Zelda, still Hyrule to save… I'll be damned if Ganon gets my Triforce piece!

He distantly hear Navi dancing in the air, frantically calling out. Numb fingers worked at a bottle cork. He couldn't lift his other hand. It was broken. Gritting his teeth, he used all the might he had left in him to wretch the cork open. Without his other hand, however, the bottle tipped over, and the milk spilled onto the floor.

"It seems your 'Hero' is defeated, Zelda!"

"No!"

"No? Well, perhaps I'll give him a few more moments…to die! HAHAHA!"

Link swore lowly, looking for another bottle. He had to have a faerie somewhere… He just…had to…

A soft sigh reached Link's ears. "Link…" In a dazzling moment, Link stopped breathing, and all that he saw was the blue and blond image of a certain Sheikah. He tried to lift a hand to reach to him, but found that he was unable to.

"Sheik…" Link gasped, as the other blond lightly laid his hands on Link's chest. "But you aren't… Zelda is…"

"Shh…" Sheik said slowly, he smiled at Link, and the Hero noticed, sharply, that the wrappings were pulled down. "There isn't time, Link." The Sheikah drew patterns on Link's chest, mumbling to himself under his breath. His eyes closed, and pushed hard on Link's breastbone.

Link gasped, and that breath filled him, surging through his bones and limbs like water from a dam. The fingers of both hands splayed abruptly out, and Link's body gave a sudden great jerk. He coughed, and then sputtered, before stilling. Sheik pulled him to his feet, slipping the Master Sword back into its sheath. He pulled Link close to him.

"The Eye does not want you yet." He whispered quickly, the words drifting warmly across Link's cheek. "I will take you to the top – you must defeat Ganon!" He kissed the Hylian swiftly, wrapping an arm around his waist. Link's mind spun, and the world tilted, and Sheik was gone.

"You!" Ganon snarled, pointing at him. "How are you still alive?"

Still tasting Sheik on his lips, and feeling the other man pressed up against him, Link drew the Master Sword.

"You will be vanquished." Link said evenly. "If not by my will, then by the will of the Eye and of the Goddesses!"

And the battle waged onwards.

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Hurrah for plot changes!

To Julian – I don't want him to be a girl either. *grin* But I'm glad you hate that twist enough to damn me. I don't get that often.

To Dark Evenstar – I just noticed you handed me cookies. Thank you! *munch*

To naGami cabAsa – 'Flirty-flirty'? XD Omg, I love it…

And worry not…I think there's another chapter to come… ^__~