Sorry it's taken me so long to update. Computer troubles, you know how it is. Anyway, we're getting close to the climax so I'll try to make the next updates quick. Enjoy!

Chapter 7. Reflections

My next destination was the Temple of Time. The Ocarina was currently in the past, which meant Link could come back at any time, but I had a mission. I needed the Temple.

Link was in the process of awakening the final sage (and most likely cursing my name) so I had to do what I'd known I needed to do for three years. I had to go into the Sacred Realm, and get the Arrows of Light.

I had been studying Ganondorf for the last seven years, and I knew him fairly well by now.

1. He was completely nuts.

2. He was a lot stronger than I would have liked.

3. He was not, as much as I would have liked him to be, stupid enough to get close to the Hero of Time and the Master Sword.

Link would need a long-range weapon that could destroy evil, without a doubt.

I stepped through the door of time (or is that Door of Time?) And onto the Pedestal. 'Rauru?' I said silently.

'Hello Sheik.'

'It's time.'

'Is it? Already? Oh well, good luck.'

'Thanks.' I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This was going to hurt.

I've never really thought of myself as "pure." Sure, I'd pretended to be plenty of times, but I wasn't really. This was bad, since the Sacred Realm is...painful to those not pure of heart. It would probably be nicer to me since I had the Triforce of Wisdom, but it had been badly corrupted since Ganon had tromped through and might hurt me worse.

But I had to go. The Light Arrows were essential and there was no way to get them out of the Sacred Realm except to go in and get them. So I did.

I was right. It hurt like hell.

"Sheik? What are you- Are you okay?"

I groaned and sat up. Looking around, I was rather startled to find myself sitting on Malon's bedroom floor. Judging from the light it was probably early morning of the next day. I didn't know how I'd gotten there or why Malon hadn't found me until now, but it didn't really matter.

I groaned again as I got to my feet. It would take hours to work out all these kinks, and it didn't help that I had woken up horney. Again.

"I'm okay Malon," I said.

"You don't sound okay," she replied accusingly. "You don't really look okay either."

"Thanks," I muttered.

"I worry about you Sheik," Malon said softly. "Some seriously freaky shit has been happening lately, and you just wander around all the time. You could get hurt!"

"I am hurt."

"See! Sheik..."

"Don't worry about me Malon, I'm fine. We'll all be fine soon enough."

"Huh?"

I paused by her door. Malon had been a friend to me when I'd needed one, she'd put up with all my crap, she'd known I was gay before I did. She deserved better.

"Malon, I've been lying to you."

"You mean about your name?"

"Well, yes, but about other stuff too. Malon, I'm not gay."

"But I thought you had a thing for that-"

"I do. But I'm not gay..." I hesitated, just for a second. "I'm a girl."

Then I got out of there as fast as Sheikah magic could get me.

May the Goddesses bless Sheikah magic.

I had Rauru tell Link I would meet him in the Temple of Time, then melted into the shadows and waited. This could be almost as painful as the Sacred Realm. I wasn't really looking forward to it but it had to be done.

Besides, I really wanted to see Link's face when he found out who I was.

I knew who I was now, that was an interesting side effect of having all illusions stripped away in the Sacred Realm. I was a woman, Zelda, with a personality that could pass for male, Sheik. I'm sure plenty of girls don't fit the princess mold any better than I do, so it wasn't a big deal.

I couldn't wait to tell Link, but I could definitely wait to tell him the rest of it.

He came into the temple only a little after I did, looking around expectantly. I stepped out of the shadows and waited.

"Sheik!" he exclaimed, turning. "What are you- Why did you-" He shook his head, as though to clear it. "Look, we need to talk."

"Later." I smiled a little (he was so cute when he was confused!) But the hurt in his eyes held me back. "First I have some stuff to say," I said.

So I rattled off a little speech, something like this, "When Ganon touched the Triforce, it divided into three parts, power, wisdom, and courage. He only has the Triforce of Power. The two lost parts were put within the two chosen ones of destiny. Those shall bear the Triforce mark on their hand. The one who has the Triforce of Courage…is you Link!"

The Triforce in my left hand began to vibrate, and I saw Link look at the back of his. The Triforce was shining through his glove, with the Triforce of Courage brightest.

"And the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom," I said with some difficulty, "destined to be the leader of sages is…"

I took a deep breath, then held up my left hand. I used its power to rend the disguise from me. For the first time in years, Princess Zelda stood in the Temple of Time.

I felt about the same, the Sheik disguise had been mostly visual, but I wasn't entirely sure where the dress had come from. Was this the Triforce's idea of a joke?

"It is I, the Princess of Hyrule, Zelda." I took another deep breath and babbled. "I- I apologize for meeting you in disguise, but it was necessary to hide from the King of Evil. Please forgive me…I-" I looked at Link for a moment, he looked shell shocked, then turned away. "I passed myself off as a Sheikah and hoped that you would return. I waited for seven years. Link I'm…such an idiot!" I exclaimed.

I started babbling an apology, trying to defend myself and degrade myself at the same time. Link's eyes were blank, stunned. He didn't actually look conscious.

Suddenly he exclaimed, "Oh god! I talked to you about sex!"

I blinked, startled out of my ramblings. "Have you even been listening to me?"

"God!" He exclaimed again. He was blushing furiously.

"Oh yeah, I remember that," I said. It was just guy talk, why was he worried? "Look, it was no big deal, it's not like I think any less of you or something."

"But- but-" he shook his head. "It was weird talking about it with Sheik, but you? You're a girl, and a princess besides, I just- It's so-"

"Calm down Link," I smiled at him (he was so cute!). "I'm still Sheik inside, just the appearance has changed."

"For the better."

I blinked. He'd said it so simply, almost unthinkingly, like he honestly meant it. "You really think so? I haven't seen myself in years so…"

"Trust me Zel," he smiled warmly. "You've got nothing to worry about."

Suddenly I was floating. He wasn't mad, he thought I was pretty, he had such a great smile, and... he'd called me "Zel." I shook my head to clear it. "Look, before I forget, you need to take these." I pulled out the bundle of pre-enchanted arrows. "Light arrows," I explained. "They destroy all evil monsters in one hit, and they're the only thing that will hurt Ganon from a distance."

I held them out and he took them. Our hands brushed. His were hard and calloused, but warm and strong. I wanted to feel them on me.

I looked at him, attempting a playful smile. "You know…no one's ever called me by a nickname before."

"Do- do you mind?" he asked, turning red again.

I shook my head firmly. "Not at all. Not at all…Link." I said his name softly, the way you would say it when calling your lover to the bedroom.

He gulped.

I started to tell him just what I was going to let him do to me, but suddenly my vision went...blue. I saw Link jump back in surprise, and I reached out to touch the blue.

Solid. I was inside a blue...I don't know, crystal or something. And I knew exactly who had done it.

"Goddammit Ganon!" I exclaimed. "You psycho bastard! Could you have worse timing?!" I started cussing in as many languages as I knew.

"Princess Zelda, you foolish traitor," Ganon began. I stopped listening and kept on cussing. He wasn't paying attention to me either, ranting on about something or other. He was a psycho bastard, and I already knew what he wanted from me. I didn't need to listen to him now.

Then my vision began to waver as the crystal floated farther away from Link. I knew Ganon would take me to his tower, I knew I was being taken from Link. And just when it had looked like I was going to get laid too!

"Link!!" I cried. I couldn't hear him, but I could tell he was crying my name too. I banged on the crystal and screamed until my throat was raw, but there was nothing I could do.

Link and the temple faded from my sight.