Disclaimer: Do I really need to keep sticking this up here?

Well, true to my word, I am typing this naught but five minutes after posting that very agonizing author's note. Sorry bout that, guys; I know you all were expecting an actual chapter but I had to let you know and apologize. Sorry!

Okay, since I haven't looked at reviews since… ::looks back at and sees when the last time she updated was:: ::eyes bug out and she gasps, clutching her heart:: JULY??!!!!??? Holy crap, it was that long ago?! I had no idea! Geez, I'm so, so sorry!!

REVIEW TIME!!!! YAAAAAY!!!!

Luthien: You, mellon-nin, ROCK!!!! Love ya babe!

Markus Aurelius: Thanks for sticking with me!! I know you love this so, here ya go!! Love you tons!!!

Kairi-sama: Don't know how soon you wanted this but… here it is!! Sorry about the delay!! And FYI, this chapter has HUGE spoilers, so if you don't want anything revealed, stop reading right now, go to , print the walkthrough and then come back and read. Don't forget to review!!

Dark Quiksilver: Cool name, dude! Thanks for liking the chapter! That last real one and this one are my faves! Yeah, I'm still working on my writing skills, but, as I was looking back at my first ever fanfic, I realized how much I've improved since then.

Thanks to all you guys who have reviewed and have stuck with me thus far. Oh, by the way this chapter is dedicated to two reviewers in particular (no offense to those not mentioned! You know I write all my chappies for all my reviewers, but these two really helped me get back in the spirit of the fic!):

-Luthien- You've stuck with me since chapter one, so YOU ROCK!!!

-Markus Aurelius- Even though you're new to , you helped me get back in the groove of this baby!! Thank you and amin mela lle!!

Enough blabbering, let's get on with it!!

Chapter Seven

A Resumption Of Fate

Link didn't know what to make of the Seal. Sheik was a Sheikah, right? But the Hylian did know one thing: He had to wake his friend up.

Link started prodding him and as he shouted, "Sheik, wake up! Koume and Kotake are close!"

But the Sheikah wouldn't open his eyes. Link saw out of the corner of his eye that Gerudos were approaching. Deciding to return the favour of Sheik having saved Link's life many times in the past, Link picked him up, groaning slightly because of the new burden. Placing Sheik under his right arm, Link withdrew the Master Sword. It would make fighting much more difficult, but there was no alternative.

Link charged forward through the pack of warriors, hollering, "Out of the way!"

"Link, behind you!" the Hylian heard Navi shout.

He turned around, preparing to see a spell aimed at him, but what he saw amazed him: Nabooru with the Gerudian warriors, every single one of them, sprawled on the ground, unconscious.

It didn't make sense; Nabooru was the one who had naught but thirty minutes ago, threatened to kill Link. And now, she was helping him…? Something was not adding up in Link's mind…

"Nabooru, what…?" Link's question faltered as he saw the look on her face: a smile!

Twirling one the sabers in her hand, she said to Link, "I'll lend you my sword, Mr. Hero!"

"What do you mean?" Link asked as he adjusted Sheik's body in his grasp.

"Firstly," the Gerudo replied as she stepped nearer to the Hylian, "I'm a robber of justice. I'm different than just any Ganondorf-like villain!" She winked at him.

Link was still working this through his head. Was she not the Gerudo chieftess who had had Link chained and locked in that dungeon? Had she not promised his execution by dawn tomorrow?

Navi saw Link's look of utter bewilderment and said in his ear, "She was brainwashed by Koume and Kotake, just as Ingo was."

Now everything clicked into place. "I understand."

But that moment of peace was shattered with Kotake's screech of, "Curse you, Nabooru!" The witch and her sister came zooming down on their broomsticks.

Throwing one of her knives with deadly accuracy, Nabooru sliced off the tail of one of the witch's brooms!

Kotake gasped and looked back at the broken end. "Ach, no! My precious broom! I made this myself, too!"

"What are you doing?!" Koume hollered at her sister. "Hurry up and get them! You can still use your magic!"

Nabooru ran in front of Link and said behind her shoulder, "Let me handle these two. Hurry up and get him some help! He needs it! Go!"

"Thank you!" Link hollered as he ran towards the western exit of the fortress. When he was out of harm's way, he laid Sheik down gently on the earth and summoned Epona with his Ocarina. She immediately appeared as if guided by magic. Hoisting the still unconscious Sheik onto the saddle, Link climbed up himself, behind the Sheikah's body. He urged his horse on. No sooner had he entered the desert in front of him, monsters and other vile creatures appeared!

Link wasted no time. He whipped out his bow and shot every one of them down with assassin-like accuracy. From then on, he and Sheik were safe as Epona galloped.

After riding for close to ten minutes, Link saw a great stone building. Above the doorway was a great statue of a Gerudo.

"For the time being," he whispered to himself and Navi as he stopped Epona and held Sheik in his arms, "we'll hide in here."

Dismounting Epona, he took Sheik gently down. He wrapped one arm under his legs and the other on his back, supporting him. He carried the Sheikah into the huge building. Upon entering, Link realized that this was the famed Spirit Temple. He laid Sheik on the ground in a cool place.

He gazed down with sorrow. "I need to do something about his wounds, but I have no bandages or healing herbs… like I would know what to do with the herbs anyways…" He stood up as he realized that he could help, or at least try: water! Sheik would need water when we awoke!

"Th-there's got to be an oasis or something around here!"

He ran outside to look for some of the fresh, cooling liquid, leaving Sheik alone.

About three minutes after Link had gone hunting for water, Sheik began to come back. He slowly sat up and muttered, "Ouch, ouch, ouch…" He had suffered serious burns from the fire spell. Deciding that it was too hot to wear the cloth about his face, he slowly and gently took off all the fabric on his head, revealing blonde hair and… long, pointy ears, a trait that only Hylians inherited…

Not having all his senses back, he whispered faintly, "I-Impa? Where am… I?"

Sheik gasped as he looked up: Link had returned. He hadn't known he was anywhere near the area. If he had, then he wouldn't have proceeded to take off his facemask. Too late now…

Link looked at Sheik's entire face for the first time. Then his eyes fell on the ears… the pointed ears. He was shocked to see them and he dropped the bottle of water he was carrying, causing it to smash into pieces on the floor, sending water spilling.

"Sheik, you're…"

But words failed the Hylian. He didn't know what to make of this discovery.

Under his breath, Sheik muttered, "The time has come…"

He stood slowly up and raised his arms above his head. Suddenly, his body started glowing. The light was so brilliant that Link had to shield his eyes and look away. As soon as the light faded, he dropped his hand and opened his eyes and looked in Sheik's direction, wondering what on earth had just happened…

The only problem was… Sheik was no longer present.

Link was gazing upon the fair and beautiful face of Princess Zelda.

"Zelda…?" he breathed. How was this possible? Link had always just assumed that Sheik had been a man. He couldn't tell because of the muffle in his voice and 'Sheik' had never stated the contrary… How was this real? Was this really Zelda? Was this the girl he had met in the marketplace seven years ago? …Or, was this another trick of Ganondorf's?

But something told Link that this beautiful young woman of seventeen standing before him that this really was Zelda, Princess of Hyrule. Was it the look in her radiant sapphire eyes… or Link's own heart?

Link gaped at Zelda as she said softly to him, "I am sorry to have surprised you like this. I-!"

A sudden crash had stopped her mid-sentence. Both Hylians looked around, wondering what had happened. Upon fixing their gazes at the ceiling, they saw Koume and Kotake through a giant newly implanted gap.

"They've made me so angry, Kotake!" Koume raged as she and her sister levitated down to the Hero and Princess' level.

"Well, Koume," Kotake cackled evilly, "why don't we teach them a lesson?"

Each sister flew to either side of Link and Zelda, placing them in between them.

"With my flame, I will burn you to the bone!" Koume hollered as she fired a flame spell at Link and Zelda. Link grabbed the Princess and pulled her out of the way. But it did leave behind a red-hot crater in the wall where the Hylian s had been seconds prior.

They raced down the nearest corridor, looking for an exit, but Kotake chased after them on her broom, saying nastily, "With my ice, I will freeze you to your soul!" She started preparing a spell.

"Don't they have a weakness?" Link said hurriedly to Zelda.

"Somewhere in this Temple," she relayed an ancient legend as they continued sprinting, "there should be a shield that reflects magic. With it-!"

She stopped suddenly, noticing that Link was no longer at her side. Zelda looked behind her a gasped, bringing her hands up to her mouth.

Link's left leg was trapped in ice!

"No!" Link said aghast as he watched the ice succumb over his leg, slowly moving along the rest of his body.

Zelda ran over to him and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him out. "The ice is creeping, Link!"

"Zelda, move!" He shoved her aside. He meant no disrespect but he didn't want her hurt because of his mistake. Besides, he had a plan. It would be hard, but Link had no other option.

Link pressed his knuckles hard on the stony ground. It was extremely hard now because the frost had reached his torso; he pushed harder, but the chill had started on his arms… Then concentrating all his strength, he broke free of the ice entrapping him! The ice shattered to pieces.

Wasting no time, Link and Zelda continued running as Koume said, "Pretty good, aren't you?"

Link gasped, "There's no shield anywhere!"

And, to make the situation worse, they had run straight into a dead end.

"This isn't good…" Link whispered.

Koume and Kotake had caught up with them. They flew in circles above Link and Zelda. "Now you've no where to run!" Kotake chuckled wickedly.

"Give Princess Zelda to us and we may, perhaps, let you go free, boy!" Koume hollered.

In order to protect Zelda, Link pressed himself and her against the wall behind them, placing himself in between the sorceresses and Zelda. He would die before he let these fiends take Zelda.

Koume released her fire magic at the Hero. Not knowing what else to do, Link pulled his Hylian Shield from behind his back and blocked her spell.

"Don't, Link!" Zelda pleaded. "You'll be burnt!"

Koume continued her spell as she cackled, "Heh heh… I wonder how long you can hold that shield…"

Despite the odds and the fact that his hand was burning, Link kept going strong. He would defend Zelda until the last… or die trying.

Suddenly a ray of light appeared, intercepting the fire and absorbing it. Koume stopped her magic and Link rested his arm.

He and Zelda then heard Nabooru's voice holler, "Link, use this!"

He looked and saw her brandish a magnificent Shield. It was outlined in crimson and the surface of it was silver, polished so well it was able to reflect magic. This was the legendary Mirror Shield!

The Gerudo threw it at Link, who had dropped his Hylian Shield, and he caught and immediately equipped it.

Koume continued, once again, with her magic and sent it to Link. But Link used the Mirror Shield: Just as it was supposed to, it bounced the magic back at Twinrova!

"To be done in by our own magic!" Kotake said in anger. "How terrible!"

"Lord Ganondorf will destroy you, boy!" Koume hollered as she and her sister disappeared.

After tending and bandaging Link's arm, he, Zelda and Nabooru walked out of the Spirit Temple into the dazzling desert sun.

"Nabooru," Link said to her as he held the Mirror Shield, "you saved my life! Where did you get this Shield?"

The Gerudo turned a shade of red and said hesitantly, "Well, uh… Actually I stole it from this Temple a while ago." Then, she burst into tears dramatically and ran off yelling, "I'm sorry I was bad!"

Zelda called out to her after telling Link to sit on a small stone ledge and wrapping another piece of cloth around Link's arm, "Link could have died back there; you do realize that?"

But the Gerudo didn't hear the Princess as she ran back to her fortress.

'Yes,' Zelda thought sadly, as she looked over Link's wound, 'Link had almost died… And it would've been because of me… I now must tell him the truth. He deserves it, after all the sins I've committed against him.'

Zelda stood up from where she had been tending her friend's ailment and said slowly, "The time has now come for me to tell you the truth, Link…"

She looked into his eyes and began to tell her story of seven years past, knowing that it would be hard to make it through without shedding a tear: "Seven years ago, Ganondorf entered the Sacred Realm through the Door of Time that you opened. Though you opened the Door in the name of peace, Ganondorf used it to obtain the Triforce of Power, thus becoming an evil king…

"Impa and I continued to flee as we were being trailed, eventually finding a safe haven in Kakariko Village…"

Flashback…

Impa had led Princess Zelda to safe quarters, but she was unsure as to what to do next. She had to go out and fight against Ganondorf, but her duty also bound her to protect the Princess; she would not risk the Princess' life. Thus far, the Sheikah woman had listened to her Princess' idea, but thought it absurd.

"What are you saying, you highness?" Impa said, stretching her arms open.

"Even if we continue to run like this, we'll be captured sooner or later," Zelda reasoned. "It would be in our best interest to trick Ganondorf and become one of his underlings."

Impa shook her head. "It is far too dangerous! How on earth-!"

"I'll become a Sheikah," Zelda interrupted. "Right now, Link may be sealed inside the Sacred Realm by the power of the Master Sword, but he will surely become the Hero of Time and return. Until he does, I will, in turn, seal Princess Zelda."

Impa was surprised at the little girl-no, the young lady before her. The Princess' wisdom was as deep as Lake Hylia itself, and what she had just said proved it. Besides, the Sheikah knew it would be futile to argue when Zelda's mind was made up.

"Very well," she sighed in defeat. "Hiding right in front of the enemy may very well be that safest option at the moment. I believe masquerading as a Sheikah would work well, considering past happenings."

Impa used her index finger and lightly touched Zelda's forehead. She said to the Princess, "It won't be suspicious if you tell them that you're the descendant of the Sheikah clan who, a very long time ago, were betrayed by the Royal Family and then banished. Tell them also that you've come back to Hyrule because you heard of its decline.

"Until 'that time' comes, I'll put Zelda's consciousness to sleep. Live now as a Sheikah!"

As Zelda was drifting to slumber, she said wearily, "Thank you, Impa… for hearing out my whims…"

"My dear Princess," Impa replied softly, tears rolling down her face, "please take care of yourself…"

Then, suddenly, Zelda was no longer there. Instead, the Sheikah known as Sheik, was standing in her place…

End Flashback

"So that was it…" Link whispered quietly once Zelda had finished. Now it all made sense…

Zelda continued, fighting the tears that threatened to pour down her face, "In order to keep Ganondorf deceived… I-I had to trick you, as well, causing you to meet innumerable dangers."

She could hardly believe that she had aided the Gerudo in capturing Link. Zelda closed her eyes, the tears spilling over. She nearly cursed herself; she had had to betray Link, her best friend and maybe more…!

"I knew," Navi said kindly, "that Sheik was truly a good person at heart."

Zelda smiled and saw that Link had stood up and was walking slowly towards her. She tried to wipe her tears away, but more replaced them.

"I'm a little sad not to be able to see Sheik anymore, but…" he whispered.

Again, Zelda dried her eyes fruitlessly, saying through quiet sobs, "To have been able to have this adventure with you… was indeed a pleasure."

A couple of feet only were what now separated Link and Zelda. He walked closer. Link gazed into her sapphire, radiant eyes and whispered, "I missed you."

Finally, he had found her! After worrying about her safety and whereabouts for weeks on end, here she was! And to think that she had been right under his nose all the time…

Hesitantly, Link reached for Zelda's hand. He was close to holding it… when a sudden rumble and slight earthquake halted his actions. He took a step backward and looked around; Zelda did the same.

The rumblings and earthquakes continued as a towering voice boomed out from over head, "Princess Zelda, you foolish traitor!"

Then, as if by magic, a hollow, pink crystal suddenly entombed Zelda, trapping her inside!

Link ran up to the prism and pressed his hands on it. "What is this?! Zelda! Zelda!!"

From inside the crystal, Zelda pressed her hand against the glass; Link placed his over it. He was so close to her, and yet so far away…

Then, by some unseen force, the crystal containing Zelda rose into the air.

Link's gaze followed it upward and not only did he see that Zelda was now unconscious, he saw none other than Ganondorf himself! He was the one behind this.

Link gasped.

"Boy, if you wish to save Zelda," Ganondorf addressed Link, challenging him, "then come to my Castle!"

And then, with an evil laugh, he vanished just as quickly as he had come, along with Zelda.

As he extended a hand skyward, Link called out, "No, Zelda!! No!"

But she was truly gone… and in the hands of a madman. Link collapsed to his knees on the stone floor. Time seemed to stand still. He had been mere feet away from her and yet… he had failed to protect her. He couldn't believe this. Ganondorf's words were still echoing in his mind…

There was only one way to end this. A look of hatred crossed Link's face as he looked up. He would destroy Ganondorf for kidnapping Zelda.

"Ganondorf," Link said with a deathly tone. "You will pay for this!"

Ooh, yes, evil, I know! But hey, at least I'm back on track with you guys! Next chapter might be up before this week… might not. I dunno yet. But once I get the next chapter up, I have no idea how long it will be until the last chapter is up because, like I said in that cruel author's note, I can't access the Zelda no Densetsu website. So pray that it is able to come up again really soon!!

I love you all!! Namarie!