Chapter Thirteen: The Master Sword Awakens
Zelda materialized on death mountain crater just in time to see a man with a giant mace bash Darunia in the face with it while another man held him down. "Darunia! No!" cried the princess as she dashed forward only to be stopped by another man with his arms out.
"Don't interfere stranger." he said with a deep thundering voice.
"Let him go! What are you doing here? Who are you?" demanded the princess.
"I said don't interfere!" he said as the other two continued to beat on poor Darunia. Zelda's anger began to boil.
"Let him go right now or I'll...I'll..." The man did not bother to repeat himself a second time and swung at the princess with amazing speed. Zelda, even more amazingly, managed to lean out of the way as she caught the fist and used a very fast, and sharp elbow to counter to her attacker's midsection. It knocked him backwards but he had already recovered from the blow before his feet touched the ground. The attack did manage to get the attention of the other two men, who ended their assault on Darunia, more interested in fighting with Zelda.
"Well, well, well. It looks like we have an interloper on our hands. Pretty good move stranger, but I doubt you'll be able to score enough lucky shots on all of us to survive." said the man with the mace as he patted the weapon in his hand in an intimidating fashion.
"Interfering with royal business is a serious offense stranger, " said Zelda's attacker. "You've just bought yourself a one-way ticket to hell. I don't care if you happened to get a lucky hit on me."
"It wasn't a lucky hit. I saw it coming." Zelda stated with confidence. The man laughed.
"What are you? A Shiekah? I heard their supposed to be pretty good." said the other man who was holding down Darunia.
"I heard they were extinct." said the man with the mace.
"Not bad looking either." said Zelda's attacker as he studied Zelda's body. "So you saw that coming huh? Well you'll never see what we have coming," he said as he smiled. The other two men started laughing and howling as they approached her.
"OOO yeah! This one will be really good!" bellowed the man. Zelda gritted her teeth.
"Let's see if you can see this," said Zelda. She pulled off her mask revealing her royal tiara. All three men stopped in their tracks with looks of shock on their faces. "Maybe you should explain this 'royal business' right now!" shouted Zelda. All three men knelt down before the princess.
"Forgive us your highness! We did not know it was you." said the man with the mace.
"How could the princess be able to counter a move from me?" Zelda's attacker thought to himself in confusion.
"So what if you didn't know? Is this how you treat every woman that crosses your path?" asked Zelda.
"Of course not your highness."
"Tell me why you were trying to kill the leader of the gorons. And don't you dare tell me the king told you too." The men looked at each other with worried faces. They were the Marshall Paladins, and so, they could only answer questions about their objective to the King and no one else.
"We-we can't princess!" said the man with the mace.
"Oh no? Well maybe I should just tell him how you planned to sexually assault me. What do you think he would say?"
"Alright! Alright!" shouted the other paladin. "We were interrogating Darunia! We needed the spiritual stone of fire!"
"You were trying to beat it out of him is more like it!" scolded the princess. "Why do you want the spiritual stone?" the men looked at each other again in worry and remained silent. Zelda took a very sappy feminine stance with her hand on her forehead and began a mock drama. "Oh daddy! It was horrible! The paladins! They were touching me and laughing! I-I tried to scream for help but they...they hit me! And then the one tore my shirt off! And the other held me down..." she began to sniffle and pretend to cry as the paladins looked at each other with worry mixed with anger, since they were being pushed around by a woman. Zelda continued her false weeping for a few more seconds and then stopped and retook her demeanor of anger. "Talk!" she shouted.
"Alright!" shouted Zelda's attacker. "There is a force that threatens the land of Hyrule. A man who was once a great hero has turned on us using the power of a god. We seek the sword of evils bane to do away with him. And thus we require the spiritual stone to unlock the door to the sacred realm so we can awaken the master sword! That's all I swear it!" he said. Zelda walked over to him. The paladin looked up at the princess.
"Well you can't have the spiritual stone got it? You're the marshal paladins. You were trained so we wouldn't need a great hero to wield that sword anymore. You're supposed to be strong enough to handle this big threat on your own! Leave Darunia alone and go complete your mission. And if I find out you've been hurting people simply because you can, daddy is going to find out that he's going to be a granddaddy. Understood?"
"Yes your majesty!" shouted the three paladins. They stood up and walked away. Zelda's attacker glared at her with hatred as he walked by.
"Oh and just for the record," the paladin stopped and turned around to see her taking off her tiara and wiggling it in her fingers. "I don't need this to make you kneel." she said with a grin. The paladin glared his teeth in anger and he turned away to leave. "Jerks." she said to herself. Zelda helped Darunia back onto his feet. He was bleeding and dazed but he would be all right. "It's okay Darunia, they're gone now." said Zelda in a soothing tone as she helped Darunia slowly make his way down death mountain to goron city.
"Wait...the...crystal..." said Darunia.
"Oh, its alright, trust me. No one is ever going back to that island again. I promise." Darunia gave a weak smile through bloody lips. Zelda took Darunia back to his chambers and instructed the other gorons to watch after him. "Tell Darunia we will wait for him. The ceremony will be preformed once he is well again. There is no rush." instructed Zelda. "Mema, I want you to stay here for a while with Darunia." said Zelda.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?" asked Mema quietly.
"No, no, it's just that I need to...handle something, alone."
"Oh...I see." Zelda smiled.
"Hey, don't worry, I wont let any action start without you." Zelda said
"Okay. Hurry back!"
"I will." said Zelda as she left goron city and teleported away.
Zelda teleported to Hyrule field. She landed right behind Link, who was still waiting, his focus unwavering. She stood behind him with her arms crossed looking at him with an exhaustedly confused look. She slightly shook her head as she looked at him. After a long time Link spoke. "You've gotten stronger." Zelda didn't jump when Link spoke this time. Her voice had no fear in it. She moved calmly and fluidly.
"You saved me." she paused and looked for a reaction, but received none. "Why?"
"I didn't save you."
"Yes you did. That was your energy disc attack that flattened that tidal wave. The same one that wiped out the army. I want to know why."
"Maybe I didn't feel like getting wet."
"You saved me and I want to know why."
"No."
"No?"
"That isn't what you came out here to ask me. You came out here to ask me if I was trying to save you, or Hyrule. You want to know if I see something special in you still, or if I was just protecting my home. That's what you really want to ask me." Zelda stopped to think for a long time. What Link said made sense.
"So your admitting you saved one of us then." Link suddenly turned around, the first time in three days. Zelda didn't jump or cower or even look twice.
"I didn't save you princess." he spat curtly. Zelda narrowed her eyes in anger at Link. "I'm just saying that you came out here to ask me that question. I never admitted to anything."
"I think you saved one of us." Zelda said. Link got annoyed and turned around to resume his stance. "Whether it was for me, or if it was for Hyrule and I was just in the way. I don't think your evil Link." Link rolled his eyes and Zelda could see the back of his head shaking. She began to grow nervous because she planned to put her heart on the line before a wicked god, and she knew he would break it. Yet she wanted to do it anyway.
"Then you haven't noticed my little mood change I went through earlier this week."
"You've been up here for days Link. I can see all around here, within the vicinity of where your standing, the ground is littered with the bones of those who have tried to approach you over the past week and failed. Even that tidal wave that would have crashed on the shores, it threatened your space so you eliminated it."
"....." Link said nothing and Zelda took a deep breath for what she was about to say next.
"Everything that has tried to approach you has died. Everything...except me." Zelda braced her self for something horrible, but nothing happened. "I want to know why I'm the only one you've let speak to you. I want to know what makes me different, what makes me worthy to be spared."
"Nothing." Zelda paused for a second as she let what Link said register in her mind.
"What?"
"Nothing makes you any different than anyone else. Because if I decided to kill you, you'd be dead just like the rest. No different at all." said Link callously.
"Then why don't you do it? Why don't you kill me?" Zelda hoped Link would say something about his feelings for her. She wanted to know if he hated her for what she let happen. Link didn't answer. "Come on! Here I am! Why haven't you just killed me if I'm like all the rest? Why? I want you to tell me why."
"I look forward to our battle Zelda." The words struck Zelda with fear and pain.
"What?"
"I knew you would feel the need to 'help' me. You've always been so self-righteous. You've never cared about me or anyone else unless aiding their petty misfortune can make you look more holy. You'll do whatever you have to do, to clear your consciousness. Now go retrieve your sword and make your plans. I'll be waiting." Zelda wanted to cry again but she fought it. She fought it as hard as she could. The wind blew her hair as she squinted trying not to cry. She then opened her eyes, that were watery, but under her control. Her eyes narrowed and she turned to walk away from Link against the wind. She refused to give up hope that Link could be reached. That he was the way Ruto said she thought he was. An "angel in the clutches of a devil" she didn't know if she was strong enough to battle him, especially with his star getting closer, but she feared that she could. She didn't want to kill Link. She prayed to the stars, to the gods, to anyone that would listen that it wouldn't have to come to that. For she feared if she were forced to take his life, she would then have to take her own.
She walked down the hill away from Link and disappeared in a flash of green light. She appeared outside the forest temple. Her face was still an expressionless mask that bore drying tears. "Saria. Saria I would have words with you." said Zelda aloud. Saria materialized before her. She immediately looked sad when she saw Zelda, she could feel Zelda's pain and saw Zelda was coldly repressing it, denying herself the right to let it heal.
"Zelda, you look so sad."
"Saria, I need the spiritual stone." said Zelda in a cold, quiet tone.
"What happened Zelda? Are you alright?" Saria asked with warmth in her voice.
"The stone. I need the stone. Give it too me." Zelda didn't even realize it, but she was being as cold hearted toward Saria as her father was being to the rest of the country.
"Couldn't you get the staff?"
"I got the staff. But there's no point in using it until we know there will be a Hyrule left to enrich. We must defeat Link first. Give me the stone."
"Defeat? I thought you wanted to help him?"
"I don't have time to argue! Just give me the stone!" Saria looked down with saddened eyes and handed Zelda the stone. She was burdened greatly seeing as how Zelda was being cruel to her and no one was willing to help Link. Even now Zelda spoke of 'defeating' Link. Zelda took the stone and turned to walk away.
"You're going to kill him. Aren't you?" Zelda could hear Saria sniffling and crying behind her. Yet her expressionless face remained stone could.
"...If I must...If I can..." Zelda contemplated out loud.
"But I thought you cared about him! I thought you were going to save him!" Saria was crying loudly and Zelda turned around and said,
"Link isn't the same anymore Saria. He's changed. He has embraced the side of darkness. And we must deal with him as such." Zelda turned around again and continued talking. Out of nowhere Zelda's tears surfaced while she spoke. "One way or another." Saria couldn't see Zelda making any movements but she could hear the flections in her voice as her sorrow choked her words. Zelda fought once again to restrain her tears but it was harder this time. She didn't want to believe it, even though she said it herself that Link would have to die. At that moment, she herself wanted to die. She couldn't win over the tears; she leaned forward as she put her hand over her mouth. Saria could see her pain.
"Zelda?" asked Saria. Rather than face Saria with her pain she teleported away upon hearing her name.
Materializing in the temple of time, thinking she was alone, she bellowed a few short sobs. She fell to one knee as she pleaded to herself. "Please Link, don't...don't make us...I cant live without you..." Zelda finally stood up and regained her composure, as she walked sniffling to the altar of time. A voice from behind her startled her.
"You're not ready Zelda." Zelda whirled around to see Ruaru the sage of light. She then turned around to wipe the last of her tears away.
"I don't think we have a choice Ruaru." she said callously.
"Zelda, you have gotten stronger, but it's still clear that you are in great pain. And you haven't even had to do anything yet."
"All part of growing up Ruaru." she said callously and curtly. She placed the stones on the altar.
"I see you beat the marshal paladins to the sword?"
"No." she said casually. "I just told them they couldn't have the sword."
"And they listened to you?" asked Ruaru in surprise.
"I'm the princess, they have to listen to me."
"I contacted Impa as you requested."
"Thank you."
"I still wish you would-"
"Are you going to stop me Ruaru?" screamed Zelda over her shoulder. "If not, then get out of my way!" Ruaru, lowered his head in disappointment as Zelda pulled out the ocarina of time and played the song of time and the door to the sacred realm was opened. Zelda walked slowly into the wide chamber. She remembered the last time she was there. She was wearing the same clothing, only she didn't have her bust line taped down or her fingers taped up and her hair was tucked into her clothes. She had decided to reveal her identity to Link. They shared a small moment together, she was sure they would share a passionate kiss, but before anything could happen, Ganondorf kidnapped her. She remembered how bravely Link fought for her. She began to crumble. She wept as she approached the sword. Like a stubborn warrior, walking a gauntlet of pain, she stumbled but refused to fall. She knew she couldn't fight the tears, but she refused to let them stop her from fighting. She remembered the time they spent together after the imprisoning war, and she collapsed on the stairs. The single solitary light that shown down on the sword shone on her as well as she crawled up the stairs in such pain, like someone was physically beating her. She reached up and clasped her hand around the handle of the mighty sword, the same sword Link used to save her life, was the same sword she would have to use to take his life. She cried as she clasped her other hand around her hand and prepared to pull. She screamed at the top of her lungs as she looked to the sky and pulled the sword from the stone. Her mourning tempered off to light sobbing. She looked at the sword as if she was asking it "Why?" She recollected herself and started the long walk back into the temple. She wiped her tears away, even though she knew that Ruaru knew of her grieving.
Ruaru looked at her in disappointment as she stood before him holding the sword of evils bane. She concentrated for a long time on what she wanted to say, to make sure she didn't start crying again. "We will summon the sages tomorrow night, when Darunia is well enough to perform." She said as she slid Link's sheath over the master sword and slung it over her shoulder.
"What happened to Darunia?"
"Tomorrow night. Be ready." and Zelda left the temple.
Zelda materialized on death mountain crater just in time to see a man with a giant mace bash Darunia in the face with it while another man held him down. "Darunia! No!" cried the princess as she dashed forward only to be stopped by another man with his arms out.
"Don't interfere stranger." he said with a deep thundering voice.
"Let him go! What are you doing here? Who are you?" demanded the princess.
"I said don't interfere!" he said as the other two continued to beat on poor Darunia. Zelda's anger began to boil.
"Let him go right now or I'll...I'll..." The man did not bother to repeat himself a second time and swung at the princess with amazing speed. Zelda, even more amazingly, managed to lean out of the way as she caught the fist and used a very fast, and sharp elbow to counter to her attacker's midsection. It knocked him backwards but he had already recovered from the blow before his feet touched the ground. The attack did manage to get the attention of the other two men, who ended their assault on Darunia, more interested in fighting with Zelda.
"Well, well, well. It looks like we have an interloper on our hands. Pretty good move stranger, but I doubt you'll be able to score enough lucky shots on all of us to survive." said the man with the mace as he patted the weapon in his hand in an intimidating fashion.
"Interfering with royal business is a serious offense stranger, " said Zelda's attacker. "You've just bought yourself a one-way ticket to hell. I don't care if you happened to get a lucky hit on me."
"It wasn't a lucky hit. I saw it coming." Zelda stated with confidence. The man laughed.
"What are you? A Shiekah? I heard their supposed to be pretty good." said the other man who was holding down Darunia.
"I heard they were extinct." said the man with the mace.
"Not bad looking either." said Zelda's attacker as he studied Zelda's body. "So you saw that coming huh? Well you'll never see what we have coming," he said as he smiled. The other two men started laughing and howling as they approached her.
"OOO yeah! This one will be really good!" bellowed the man. Zelda gritted her teeth.
"Let's see if you can see this," said Zelda. She pulled off her mask revealing her royal tiara. All three men stopped in their tracks with looks of shock on their faces. "Maybe you should explain this 'royal business' right now!" shouted Zelda. All three men knelt down before the princess.
"Forgive us your highness! We did not know it was you." said the man with the mace.
"How could the princess be able to counter a move from me?" Zelda's attacker thought to himself in confusion.
"So what if you didn't know? Is this how you treat every woman that crosses your path?" asked Zelda.
"Of course not your highness."
"Tell me why you were trying to kill the leader of the gorons. And don't you dare tell me the king told you too." The men looked at each other with worried faces. They were the Marshall Paladins, and so, they could only answer questions about their objective to the King and no one else.
"We-we can't princess!" said the man with the mace.
"Oh no? Well maybe I should just tell him how you planned to sexually assault me. What do you think he would say?"
"Alright! Alright!" shouted the other paladin. "We were interrogating Darunia! We needed the spiritual stone of fire!"
"You were trying to beat it out of him is more like it!" scolded the princess. "Why do you want the spiritual stone?" the men looked at each other again in worry and remained silent. Zelda took a very sappy feminine stance with her hand on her forehead and began a mock drama. "Oh daddy! It was horrible! The paladins! They were touching me and laughing! I-I tried to scream for help but they...they hit me! And then the one tore my shirt off! And the other held me down..." she began to sniffle and pretend to cry as the paladins looked at each other with worry mixed with anger, since they were being pushed around by a woman. Zelda continued her false weeping for a few more seconds and then stopped and retook her demeanor of anger. "Talk!" she shouted.
"Alright!" shouted Zelda's attacker. "There is a force that threatens the land of Hyrule. A man who was once a great hero has turned on us using the power of a god. We seek the sword of evils bane to do away with him. And thus we require the spiritual stone to unlock the door to the sacred realm so we can awaken the master sword! That's all I swear it!" he said. Zelda walked over to him. The paladin looked up at the princess.
"Well you can't have the spiritual stone got it? You're the marshal paladins. You were trained so we wouldn't need a great hero to wield that sword anymore. You're supposed to be strong enough to handle this big threat on your own! Leave Darunia alone and go complete your mission. And if I find out you've been hurting people simply because you can, daddy is going to find out that he's going to be a granddaddy. Understood?"
"Yes your majesty!" shouted the three paladins. They stood up and walked away. Zelda's attacker glared at her with hatred as he walked by.
"Oh and just for the record," the paladin stopped and turned around to see her taking off her tiara and wiggling it in her fingers. "I don't need this to make you kneel." she said with a grin. The paladin glared his teeth in anger and he turned away to leave. "Jerks." she said to herself. Zelda helped Darunia back onto his feet. He was bleeding and dazed but he would be all right. "It's okay Darunia, they're gone now." said Zelda in a soothing tone as she helped Darunia slowly make his way down death mountain to goron city.
"Wait...the...crystal..." said Darunia.
"Oh, its alright, trust me. No one is ever going back to that island again. I promise." Darunia gave a weak smile through bloody lips. Zelda took Darunia back to his chambers and instructed the other gorons to watch after him. "Tell Darunia we will wait for him. The ceremony will be preformed once he is well again. There is no rush." instructed Zelda. "Mema, I want you to stay here for a while with Darunia." said Zelda.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?" asked Mema quietly.
"No, no, it's just that I need to...handle something, alone."
"Oh...I see." Zelda smiled.
"Hey, don't worry, I wont let any action start without you." Zelda said
"Okay. Hurry back!"
"I will." said Zelda as she left goron city and teleported away.
Zelda teleported to Hyrule field. She landed right behind Link, who was still waiting, his focus unwavering. She stood behind him with her arms crossed looking at him with an exhaustedly confused look. She slightly shook her head as she looked at him. After a long time Link spoke. "You've gotten stronger." Zelda didn't jump when Link spoke this time. Her voice had no fear in it. She moved calmly and fluidly.
"You saved me." she paused and looked for a reaction, but received none. "Why?"
"I didn't save you."
"Yes you did. That was your energy disc attack that flattened that tidal wave. The same one that wiped out the army. I want to know why."
"Maybe I didn't feel like getting wet."
"You saved me and I want to know why."
"No."
"No?"
"That isn't what you came out here to ask me. You came out here to ask me if I was trying to save you, or Hyrule. You want to know if I see something special in you still, or if I was just protecting my home. That's what you really want to ask me." Zelda stopped to think for a long time. What Link said made sense.
"So your admitting you saved one of us then." Link suddenly turned around, the first time in three days. Zelda didn't jump or cower or even look twice.
"I didn't save you princess." he spat curtly. Zelda narrowed her eyes in anger at Link. "I'm just saying that you came out here to ask me that question. I never admitted to anything."
"I think you saved one of us." Zelda said. Link got annoyed and turned around to resume his stance. "Whether it was for me, or if it was for Hyrule and I was just in the way. I don't think your evil Link." Link rolled his eyes and Zelda could see the back of his head shaking. She began to grow nervous because she planned to put her heart on the line before a wicked god, and she knew he would break it. Yet she wanted to do it anyway.
"Then you haven't noticed my little mood change I went through earlier this week."
"You've been up here for days Link. I can see all around here, within the vicinity of where your standing, the ground is littered with the bones of those who have tried to approach you over the past week and failed. Even that tidal wave that would have crashed on the shores, it threatened your space so you eliminated it."
"....." Link said nothing and Zelda took a deep breath for what she was about to say next.
"Everything that has tried to approach you has died. Everything...except me." Zelda braced her self for something horrible, but nothing happened. "I want to know why I'm the only one you've let speak to you. I want to know what makes me different, what makes me worthy to be spared."
"Nothing." Zelda paused for a second as she let what Link said register in her mind.
"What?"
"Nothing makes you any different than anyone else. Because if I decided to kill you, you'd be dead just like the rest. No different at all." said Link callously.
"Then why don't you do it? Why don't you kill me?" Zelda hoped Link would say something about his feelings for her. She wanted to know if he hated her for what she let happen. Link didn't answer. "Come on! Here I am! Why haven't you just killed me if I'm like all the rest? Why? I want you to tell me why."
"I look forward to our battle Zelda." The words struck Zelda with fear and pain.
"What?"
"I knew you would feel the need to 'help' me. You've always been so self-righteous. You've never cared about me or anyone else unless aiding their petty misfortune can make you look more holy. You'll do whatever you have to do, to clear your consciousness. Now go retrieve your sword and make your plans. I'll be waiting." Zelda wanted to cry again but she fought it. She fought it as hard as she could. The wind blew her hair as she squinted trying not to cry. She then opened her eyes, that were watery, but under her control. Her eyes narrowed and she turned to walk away from Link against the wind. She refused to give up hope that Link could be reached. That he was the way Ruto said she thought he was. An "angel in the clutches of a devil" she didn't know if she was strong enough to battle him, especially with his star getting closer, but she feared that she could. She didn't want to kill Link. She prayed to the stars, to the gods, to anyone that would listen that it wouldn't have to come to that. For she feared if she were forced to take his life, she would then have to take her own.
She walked down the hill away from Link and disappeared in a flash of green light. She appeared outside the forest temple. Her face was still an expressionless mask that bore drying tears. "Saria. Saria I would have words with you." said Zelda aloud. Saria materialized before her. She immediately looked sad when she saw Zelda, she could feel Zelda's pain and saw Zelda was coldly repressing it, denying herself the right to let it heal.
"Zelda, you look so sad."
"Saria, I need the spiritual stone." said Zelda in a cold, quiet tone.
"What happened Zelda? Are you alright?" Saria asked with warmth in her voice.
"The stone. I need the stone. Give it too me." Zelda didn't even realize it, but she was being as cold hearted toward Saria as her father was being to the rest of the country.
"Couldn't you get the staff?"
"I got the staff. But there's no point in using it until we know there will be a Hyrule left to enrich. We must defeat Link first. Give me the stone."
"Defeat? I thought you wanted to help him?"
"I don't have time to argue! Just give me the stone!" Saria looked down with saddened eyes and handed Zelda the stone. She was burdened greatly seeing as how Zelda was being cruel to her and no one was willing to help Link. Even now Zelda spoke of 'defeating' Link. Zelda took the stone and turned to walk away.
"You're going to kill him. Aren't you?" Zelda could hear Saria sniffling and crying behind her. Yet her expressionless face remained stone could.
"...If I must...If I can..." Zelda contemplated out loud.
"But I thought you cared about him! I thought you were going to save him!" Saria was crying loudly and Zelda turned around and said,
"Link isn't the same anymore Saria. He's changed. He has embraced the side of darkness. And we must deal with him as such." Zelda turned around again and continued talking. Out of nowhere Zelda's tears surfaced while she spoke. "One way or another." Saria couldn't see Zelda making any movements but she could hear the flections in her voice as her sorrow choked her words. Zelda fought once again to restrain her tears but it was harder this time. She didn't want to believe it, even though she said it herself that Link would have to die. At that moment, she herself wanted to die. She couldn't win over the tears; she leaned forward as she put her hand over her mouth. Saria could see her pain.
"Zelda?" asked Saria. Rather than face Saria with her pain she teleported away upon hearing her name.
Materializing in the temple of time, thinking she was alone, she bellowed a few short sobs. She fell to one knee as she pleaded to herself. "Please Link, don't...don't make us...I cant live without you..." Zelda finally stood up and regained her composure, as she walked sniffling to the altar of time. A voice from behind her startled her.
"You're not ready Zelda." Zelda whirled around to see Ruaru the sage of light. She then turned around to wipe the last of her tears away.
"I don't think we have a choice Ruaru." she said callously.
"Zelda, you have gotten stronger, but it's still clear that you are in great pain. And you haven't even had to do anything yet."
"All part of growing up Ruaru." she said callously and curtly. She placed the stones on the altar.
"I see you beat the marshal paladins to the sword?"
"No." she said casually. "I just told them they couldn't have the sword."
"And they listened to you?" asked Ruaru in surprise.
"I'm the princess, they have to listen to me."
"I contacted Impa as you requested."
"Thank you."
"I still wish you would-"
"Are you going to stop me Ruaru?" screamed Zelda over her shoulder. "If not, then get out of my way!" Ruaru, lowered his head in disappointment as Zelda pulled out the ocarina of time and played the song of time and the door to the sacred realm was opened. Zelda walked slowly into the wide chamber. She remembered the last time she was there. She was wearing the same clothing, only she didn't have her bust line taped down or her fingers taped up and her hair was tucked into her clothes. She had decided to reveal her identity to Link. They shared a small moment together, she was sure they would share a passionate kiss, but before anything could happen, Ganondorf kidnapped her. She remembered how bravely Link fought for her. She began to crumble. She wept as she approached the sword. Like a stubborn warrior, walking a gauntlet of pain, she stumbled but refused to fall. She knew she couldn't fight the tears, but she refused to let them stop her from fighting. She remembered the time they spent together after the imprisoning war, and she collapsed on the stairs. The single solitary light that shown down on the sword shone on her as well as she crawled up the stairs in such pain, like someone was physically beating her. She reached up and clasped her hand around the handle of the mighty sword, the same sword Link used to save her life, was the same sword she would have to use to take his life. She cried as she clasped her other hand around her hand and prepared to pull. She screamed at the top of her lungs as she looked to the sky and pulled the sword from the stone. Her mourning tempered off to light sobbing. She looked at the sword as if she was asking it "Why?" She recollected herself and started the long walk back into the temple. She wiped her tears away, even though she knew that Ruaru knew of her grieving.
Ruaru looked at her in disappointment as she stood before him holding the sword of evils bane. She concentrated for a long time on what she wanted to say, to make sure she didn't start crying again. "We will summon the sages tomorrow night, when Darunia is well enough to perform." She said as she slid Link's sheath over the master sword and slung it over her shoulder.
"What happened to Darunia?"
"Tomorrow night. Be ready." and Zelda left the temple.