Chapter Fourteen
Link sat up. It was dark outside but he could hear people talking in the next room. He slowly got out of bed and stood up, but a dizzy spell hit him and he dropped back.
"Eh...what on earth...?"
He heard the door open and looked up, and saw Zara and a Zora and a Gerudo walk in.
"How you feeling, Link?" the Zora asked.
"....Isuke? Is that you?"
"Sure is. Long time since we've seen each other. Yeah....What happened...?" He looked up at the Gerudo. "And why is there a Gerudo in here?"
"Eh-heh, this is Rittowa. Don't worry, she's on our side. As for what happened..."
Isuke explained to him about how he had turned into Oni Link, what happened, and how they had changed him back.
"A mask?"
"Yes, a mask," came a voice. A Sheikah was standing in the doorway, holding the mask that resembled Oni Link.
"Sheik?!" Link exclaimed. "No...Princess Zelda?"
"I am not your princess. Zelda merely used my spirit to conceal herself."
"So you're the real Sheik... I....I don't understand. Why are you here?"
"I am the last Sheikah that is still loyal to the Royal Family. Well, Impa and I."
"That doesn't explain anything to me."
"Do not interrupt me," Sheik said, narrowing his eyes. "Long ago, back when the races of Hyrule were at war, a few of our kind got tired of serving the King....they began to think that Hylians were inferior, and couldn't exist without their protection. Those Sheikah, lead by the highest ranked among us, started to plot against the Royal Family. It was I that informed the King of their betrayal. He banished all of the Sheikah.... Sealed us in the gap between dimensions. It is a place that knows no time, nothing but a black abyss. And I was sent to guard the seal. Now, they have come back to take revenge on the King for sealing them in that cursed realm."
"Something tells me they won't stop there though," Rittowa muttered.
"Yes... The Sheikah that went against the King in the first place... he is going to destroy the Hyrule we know, and create his own kingdom in the ruins of it."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Isuke growled, cracking his knuckles.
"There's one other thing you have to explain," Link said.
"What's that?" Sheik asked.
"How the Sheikah broke from the seal in the first place."
"I was getting there..." However, before he started his next story, the Sheikah's crimson eyes shot over to the window. "Get down...NOW!"
"Wha...?!" Link felt himself being pulled to the floor along with everyone else. Following was a great explosion that made the inn rock, and shattered the window into pieces of glass scattered across the wooden floor.
"What the heck was that?!" Isuke yelled. He was the first to hop back to his feet and rush to the window.
"They're here..." Sheik sighed.
"The Sheikah..." Link muttered, drawing the Master Sword.
Sheik nodded and suddenly a short katana appeared in his hand. "Come. We must defeat them before they destroy the village. But be wary, these Sheikah are stronger than past Sheikah you have fought."
The group raced out of the inn and into the street where they saw a pile of rubble that was once a house. Three Sheikah stood in front of it, holding the usual short katana, and clad in the usual Sheikah attire, except one of them had nothing covering his mouth. The leader of the three, Link presumed.
"Welcome, Hero of Time," He grinned.
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"Sire, villagers of Kakariko claim that it was the Sheikah that attacked them."
"I still do not believe it," the King replied. "My father sealed them away. There is no way they could escape. Do not bother me with such things, Ephiel."
Ephiel was the Royal advisor, about forty-five but and was already bold, which he hid under his hood. The King was in one of his 'moods', and he refused to do anything about the people that were killing all around Hyrule. It was times like this when his job seemed really pointless. What good is an advisor when the King wouldn't even listen to his advice? Much less take it.
"But, your Highness, all of Hyrule is under attack by these beings that claim to be Sheikah. Something must be done ab-"
"Silence!! Would you have me give up the search for Zelda? I haven't the time, nor the manpower to stop these annoying fleas and search for my daughter."
"No disrespect, Sire, but burning down an entire village is hardly the work of fleas. Would you sacrifice every child in Hyrule for but one?"
The King stood up from his throne and walked past his councilor. "Guard, where is my son and the Queen?"
"In the courtyard, Highness."
He turned and looked back at Ephiel. "Do not give up searching for the Princess, under any circumstance. Do understand?"
"But what if the Sheikah h-"
"Do you understand?!"
"....Yes, your Highness."
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Link and the group stood in a line, facing the three Sheikah, all with their weapons out and ready.
"What business do you have here, Sheikah?" Link said.
"You know why, Mr. Hero," the unmasked Sheikah said. "Allow me to introduce me and my colleagues. I am Spiaze, my friend to the left is Orma, and to my right is Yuma." He smiled. "I've been waiting quite awhile for my chance to fight you, Hero of Time."
"Well now you have your chance," Link answered. He then glanced at everyone and muttered, "Run as soon as I say."
"You know, of course, that you will not leave here alive."
Yeah, if you're stronger than Ganon... Link mused. "Sorry, but we'll be leaving now anyway. RUN!!"
Link turned and ran off, followed by everyone, even Isuke (even though he was somewhat reluctant to do so). The Sheikah instantly followed them, going all the way out of the gates of the village, and into Hyrule field. As soon as they were some distance from the village, Link stopped and turned back to face his foes. Everyone did the same, and Isuke leaned towards Link and whispered, "What was the point of that?"
"I didn't want to fight in the village. Innocent people would get hurt if we did."
"Did you honestly think running would help you in any way, Mr. Hero?" Yuma laughed.
"Well, not I," Link replied, spinning the master sword around once then tossing it from hand to hand. "Prepare yourself, Sheikah! I will avenge the Kokiri!" He ran forward, holding his sword high to bring it down.
Spiaze grinned and ran at him.
Steel clashed with steel as the two warriors came within reach of each other. The metallic 'clang' of the blades hitting each other continued on for ten minutes, both warriors seemly equal. Link finally knocked Spiaze's arm back and, before Spiaze could jump too far away, slashed him across the chest, leaving a trail of crimson through the air. Spiaze growled in pain, but the cut wasn't too deep, so he could still fight.
"You drew first blood, Hero... Very good. You're stronger than I expected, especially for someone that's been out of commission for seven years."
Link got back in a stance, waiting for the Sheikah's next move. "You talk too much, Spiaze."
The Sheikah laughed. "Indeed. Let us resume our battle."
Isuke looked up, and realized that he had been so into Link's fight that he had forgotten that there were two other Sheikah there, just waiting to be sliced up by his blade-like fins.
"Heh, this'll be fun..."
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Bleh, I'm SO sorry about how long it took to get these chapters up, but there has been quite a lot going on lately, so I've been busy. Anyway, please R&R and I'll start writing the next chapter on Tuesday.