Isa: i am so sorry for the delay. My power has been out for AGES because of the two hurricanes that hit us here in Florida and school takes up a lot of my time too. So here it is finally!

Chapter Seven

Ganondorf strode out into the hall, coming from the dinning hall. He had just finished off a light snack with some of Hyrule's finest wine and fruit. He smiled to himself. He could enjoy food of that stature everyday now that he was King. But surprisingly world domination was not what he expected; he was often board and did not know what to do.

At least when he was just a mere councilmen he could study up on Hyrule's myths and legends and plot what he would do to overthrow the king and get rid of that miserable brat he had for a daughter. Everything started to come into focus on that fateful day he found the Triforce and used it's magic for his own will. Though he must admit the interference of that Kokiri child he had questioned on the road was very unexpected. He had no idea that little squirt would grow up to become his arch nemeses that he loathed so much.

The boy's skills were exceptional and led many to believe that he was chosen by the Goddess' themselves to bare the Triforce of Courage. According to the legend he was, but then that would also mean that Zelda and Ganon himself were chosen to hold their portions as well.

The King of Evil shrugged. Confusing as it all was it did not matter to him now. He had what he wanted and reassembling the Triforce was the only thing left he needed to do. But that part of his plan would be easy, he already had the Princess where he wanted her and Link would soon perish and his magic would be free for the taking.

Ganondorf glanced over his shoulder as he herd loud cursing and heavy footsteps approach him from behind. The King of Evil turned on his heals and raised his eyebrows. The cursing continued and Ganon's eyes widened as it worsened.

"Dear friend has the Goddesses brought you that much torment that you should refer to them so?" Ganon called out and turned the corner to see a skulking Dark Link emerge from a hidden passage. His eyes blazed with a black and bitter hatred and humiliation.

"Where is he!? That accursed son of Coulusse! May his soul be sealed with in the Black Realm for all eternity!"

Ganon laughed crossing his arms over his chest. "I am implying that you are preferring to your hikairi. Tell me? what has he done this time?"

"Do not mock me so!" Dark Link yelled thrusting his finger toward his master, "you know very well what has come to pass! that smile proves it! You son of-"

Ganon's gaze became hard and menacing and dark Link cut himself short and bowed sighing.

"Forgive me master. I apologize for my hastiness."

Ganon arched an eyebrow, still gazing down at his servant. "Hastiness? You put it mildly, but I will let it slide. But you better learn to hold your tongue or else you may not have one. And I do not know what has happened, I haven't the intention of probing that feeble mind of yours so tell me yourself."

Dark Link gritted his teeth. "I-I met him in the tunnels along with the other sages, they fled and I faced him in there."

"And?"

Dark Link threw his arms into the air. "It was not my fault! That boy is not human! He's some kind of....demon! Sent by the Black God to destroy us all!"

Ganondorf sighed and let his arms drop to his sides. "In other words he beat you in a skirmish. Honestly he's barely alive! It's amazing to me how much you can fail. As for him being a demon, you are forged from the same blood as he and if anyone knows the Black God then you surely do."

Dark Link's fingers wound into fists and he replied through clenched teeth. "Your title is the King of Evil."

"To some." Ganondorf countered holding up a finger, "it serves you right after all and you are lucky I do not cut your throat this instant. You had no orders to pursue him. You were to stay with the Princess which she better still be in her room or else...."

"But I should have pursued him!" Dark Link protested, "I am the one who found him after all, I can sense him Ganon. More then any of those pathetic women you call soldiers! Besides, guarding the Princess is beneath me I should be concentrating on more important matters!"

"You only concentrate on the matters that I hand to you. Nothing more. You are the servant and I am the master, you subject yourself to my rule, not the other way around. Now." Ganon grabbed Dark Link by the shoulders and twisted him to face the opposite direction, "tend to the Princess, I have my reasons for you being there, and if she should have escaped during your absences I will personally make you swallow your own heart."

Dark Link was shoved forward and he glanced over his shoulder as his master departed. The long gruedo cape swaying at his heals. Dark Link squelched.

"As you wish my lord."

Zelda glanced at the bare walls of her once beloved palace that was now Ganondorf's. If it was the castle of her childhood, then pictures of Hyrule's past Kings, Queens, and great knights would hang on the walls and large windows would let light pass and go as it pleased instead of dark violet drapes blocking it's path. No one has spoken a word since their track to the throne room began.

Link lay asleep on the stretcher, if he had to play dead at least he could get some shuteye Zelda supposed. Nakia trotted beside them chattered with Inyushi in their native tongue while Inyushi held the front half of the stretcher and Zelda held the back.

The Hylain Princess yearned to know what the gruedo guards were talking about, she didn't want to be betrayed and not knowing there conversation made her uneasy. But she couldn't ask them to speak Hylain, that would prove to be too suspicious.

A few more twists and turns went by until Nakia finally stopped in her tracks and pointed to two bronze steel doors.

"Here is where Ganon's throne room lies. Wake the Hero of Time and inform him we are about to enter."

Zelda nodded. They couldn't risk Link sleeping and have him wake up in the middle of a conversation. The Princess placed a firm, yet gentle, hand on his shoulder and shook him carefully.

Link's eyes fluttered open and his head rolled to the side and he groaned muffledly.

"Link," Zelda whispered, "we're about to go into in. Stay still."

Link nodded and his eyes closed shut again. Nakia turned to the door and pushed it aside with some effort. The doors swung open with a loud clanking sound and the three women stepped inside. The room was just as spacious as Zelda remembered from her last visit with one exception.

The throne was empty.

"Where's Ganondorf?" she asked and Nakia shrugged.

"I don't know...perhaps he's in the library?"

Inyushi gestured for the Princess to set Link down on the floor and she did so. The gruedo stood up and rushed off to the east.

"Where are you going?" Nakia called.

"To send for him!" Inyushi replied over her shoulder, "I'll be back! Wait here in case he comes!"

Ruto placed her hand on the wooden beam that connected the two sides of the latter together as she climbed. It seemed as if she had been doing this forever and she glanced up into the darkness.

"How long have we been climbing?" she wined and the group sighed.

"A long time Ruto" Nabooru's voice sounded somewhere below, "too long a time. Who's up at the front?"

"Me." Rauru answered.

"Any sign of an end?" Nabooru asked.

"No."

"...My feet hurt!" Saria complained Ruto glanced up again, her voice sounded awfully close. A small ball of light danced up and down the latter as the group climbed. Providing each sage with a split second of light to see where it was they were headed. Navi stopped suddenly and panted.

"I know...I'm getting tired too..."

"C'mon people!" Nabooru screamed, "show some intuitive and strength! Don't quit now!"

All the younger sages groaned including Navi and continued to climb.

"I hope Link's ok," whispered the sprite and hardly anyone herd her.

"I've got it! Everyone! Stop climbing!"

Ruto ceased her pace and stared upward in confusion. "What's wrong Rauru?"

There was a slight rustling of feet and the light sage grunted as he pushed up against the ceiling. Sand drifted downward and landed on top of Saria's nose. She sneezed.

"I-I think I've found a way out!" the light sage reported and pushed again. There was a loud booming sound coming from above as heavy footsteps walked toward the trap door Rauru was trying to budge.

"Wait! Rauru! Don't!" Ruto's warning came to late. The stone shifted rumbling the latter and a pillar of light raced down the opening that strong hands from above had uncovered.

Ruto shielded her eyes with her hand and Rauru glanced up in horror as he beheld the one who gazed down upon him through small black eyes.

"Why look so pale my friend?" Durainia's thick voice boomed.

Rauru shook his head and relaxed somewhat.

"Dur-Duriania! Oh, for the love Nayru, I thought you might be Ganondorf!"

Durainia frowned. "Sorry to disappoint you." Rauru smiled and took hold of Durainia's outstretched hand as he helped the light sage up and the rest of the following sages.

"Durainia!" Saria squealed in delight and threw her small arms about the Goron's broad neck, "you're ok! you're ok!"

Durainia hugged her back comfortably. "Yes I am, and I'm glad to see you too."

"What happened?" Ruto questioned and Durainia stood, setting Saria down.

"To tell you the truth I don't know. I went through that spinning wall and then it seemed like a league of Gruedo was waiting for me. I jumped back and when I blinked they vanished into thin air! There was a bright light and then I was stuck inside this new cell and waited. Then I herd voices coming from below and I removed the stone and here you are."

Nabooru put her hands to her hips. "Magic no doubt. Ganondorf must have sensed you and teleported you here."

"Yes, but there is no escape out of this holding cage that I can see." Durainia answered sadly, "where is the young hero? Link?"

Everyone's eyes drifted and stared at the floor. The spirit sage rubbed her arm uncomfortably. Durainia glanced among each of his fellow sages eyes in turn and sighed, thinking the worst.

"Is he?"

Navi floated over and hovered by his ear. "We were attacked, Link told us to run and we did, we herd screams and that was all."

"But I don't think he's dead though." Ruto spoke up trying to lighten the mood, "the person screaming wasn't him. But he was pretty mad about something."

"So there's hope?" Durainia asked.

"There is always hope." Impa replied suddenly, "we must seek it out and keep it."

The sages nodded in agreement and Nabooru smiled.

"And with that in mind we should make a way out of here. For the Princess, Link, and Hyrule's sake."