Very, very looooooooooooooooooooong chapter ahead. Enjoy, read, and review! It actually gets good this time… –horsie890

He's getting suspicious, but he still hasn't figured it out. Aronos was watching from the Dark Realm. Ganon is starting to return to a Gerudo. Zelda's magic energy is so powerful that it might transform him into Ganon. Even though Aronos knew his master was no longer as powerful as Ganon, he was respectful of Ganondorf. He decided to see how the real Zelda, her spirit, was doing. He opened a magic window that showed him the inside of the Water Temple. Zelda was jumping around, dodging attacks from Dark Link. She was clearly fading away. Every ounce of magic Ganon absorbed made her become weaker and more invisible.

Zelda tried to evade the sword slashes of Dark Link. She had just enough power to make a thin, blue energy shield, but it was quickly weakening. She was relieved that he couldn't do magic, but she still thought it was the real Link. "Why are you attacking me?" she asked in fear.

"It's my job. I was told to kill Link, but he turned out to be too strong. You, on the other hand…you're making this too easy."

"What-what do you mean it's your job? And how could you kill Link if that's who you are?" "You really don't listen, do you?" He sheathed the sword and stood still, studying her. " I'm his shadow, Dark Link. I was created from all the evil that lives inside of him."

"There isn't any evil inside Link!"

"Oh please, you know that's not true. Everyone has some evil; no one is completely perfect all the time. Link's already seen his shadow. And I think it's time you meet yours!" He pointed the sinister blade of his sword at Zelda. It started glowing red and shot a bolt of energy at her. She felt like she was being pulled apart, like she was separating into two people. When the pain was finally over, she was shaking and kneeling on the ground. "It's about time you let me out," came a cruel, yet familiar voice. Zelda raised her head to see who it belonged to. A shadowy figure stood next to Dark Link. She had deep cobalt eyes set in an evil glare. "Who are you?" Zelda asked weakly. She felt like she was looking into a black mirror.

"Who do you think?" said the person. "I'm you. Well, your shadow at least. I've been waiting for years to get out. And now, thanks to Dark Link, I'm finally free!" She glanced at him. Zelda felt even weaker than before, as if part of her was missing.

"There's just one thing I don't understand. If you're Link's shadow, why didn't he get weaker like I have?"

"Well, he did defeat me, so he didn't lose power. But your shadow was drawn out of you, and your power went with her." Zelda's heart felt like it had been swiftly stabbed. She felt as though she was going to die from the pain. She fainted instead, falling forward from weakness. "So, you want to do the honors?" said Dark Link.

Shadow Zelda replied, "No, you can handle it. I'd rather watch." He stepped forward, unsheathing his black sword. "You know, she bugs me. I don't know how anyone could love Link that much. The only thing worse than having him around is having someone who is crazy about him."

"True. But at least she'll be gone soon. And so will Link, after Ganondorf is through with him." "How did you know what he has planned?"

"She's not the only one who can use telepathy."

"That's the only thing Link and I have in common. We really don't like that."

"You'll get over it." Dark Link stood right in front of Zelda (the non-evil one) and lifted his sword to eye level, studying it. "Do realize how many things Link has killed with this thing? More like, how many things I have killed. I always took over when we fought. But in the Water Temple, he got lost, and we didn't fight for so long, I got bored, gave up, left him, and found my own chamber. I decided it was time to see what he was made of, if he could fight without me. Looks like he could."

"I don't mean to rush you, but are you going to kill her or not? I would like to get going and watch the battle."

"Good point. Do you think my sword will go right through her? She does look like a ghost." "Only one way to find out. The Sword of Darkness is enchanted, right? It should work." He lifted the sword over his head with both hands and brought it down on Zelda's back, right on top of her heart. She didn't move, but her already slow breathing stopped abruptly. From the point where the blade touched her, purple tendrils of darkness began spreading throughout her body. When she was completely dark, she turned into ribbons of black mist that floated up toward the endless ceiling. Dark Link brushed them away with his hand. "Now that that's over with, shall we go watch the fun when Link finds out that his precious Zelda is dead?"

"Yes, let's go. I can't wait to see the look on his face."

"I should probably check with Ganondorf and see how far things have progressed," said Dark Link.

"Allow me," said Shadow Zelda, closing her eyes and concentrating. She made mental contact with Ganondorf and asked him, "Should Dark Link and I come watch yet? We've finished off Zelda's spirit; she didn't even put up a fight because you have all of her power."

"No, don't come just yet. I still need to make sure Link trusts me before I destroy him. Go to the Dark Realm and meet Aronos. I think he might need your help."

"Okay. Let us know when we can come. Dark Link and I don't want to miss any of the action." "I'll be sure to let you know." She opened her eyes. "He said to meet Aronos in the Dark Realm, that he might need our help. I don't think he's sure that Link trusts him, so we'll keep a close watch." She opened a portal to the Dark Realm and followed Dark Link inside, leaving the heartbreaking Serenade of Water behind them.

Link was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out what had happened to Zelda. What could be wrong with her? Maybe when that guy knocked her off of Hyacinth…There was a quiet knock on the door. "Who is it?" said Link absentmindedly.

"It's Impa. Can I come in?" He sat up and said yes. Impa stepped through the door, looking concerned.

"What's wrong, Impa?"

"It's Zelda. She doesn't seem like herself. She's just acting-"

"-weird. I noticed. When we were out at archery practice today, she was just fine. Then, out of nowhere, Ganondorf and this other guy showed up and knocked her off Hyacinth. She was unconscious. Then the other person-I think his name was 'Aronos' or something- he started some weird spell. There was a really bright flash of light, and when I looked, Ganondorf was gone, and Aronos was stepping through a portal."

"That sounds strange. What color was the flash of light?"

"Gold."

"Hmmm. I think I may know what happened. It sounds like he invoked the powers of the Goddesses. He probably fused Ganondorf's mind with Zelda, putting him in charge."

"How did you figure that out?"

"I know a lot of spells, and the ones with gold colored recoil- that flash you saw- have to be very powerful, usually requiring the power of the Goddesses. And since Ganondorf was gone, I think mind control was probably what happened."

"That makes sense. So how do we separate them?"

"Well, there's no guarantee that that's exactly what happened. I know this may sound strange, but Zelda could have played a trick on your mind."

"I doubt it. Zelda would never do that."

"I could go through the library and see if I can find a separation spell."

"Good idea. I'll try to read her mind and see what's going on."

"Okay. Let's get to work."

There was hardly anything left of the real Zelda. Her spirit was no longer a Hylian form. Instead, she could only drift around in the air, not as a ghost, but more as an idea. She knew she was dead; there was no mistaking that. She didn't know why she hadn't gone to the Sacred Realm to live in happiness. Of course, it wouldn't have been complete happiness; Link wouldn't have been there. What am I going to do? I can't contact Link, I can't touch anything, I don't even know where I am! She couldn't see anything, but she could sense she was surrounded by empty space. Suddenly, she heard a voice. "What are you doing here, Seventh Sage?" It was Rauru! She must be in the Chamber of Sages. She tried to speak, but realized she had no voice. Can you hear me, Rauru? I think I'm dead. I can't talk, or move, or even see!

"It is okay, Zelda. Yes, you may be dead, but it will not last forever. I cannot revive you, but I can put you back into a Hylian spirit form. Numenor!" Zelda sensed waves of magic building up around her, then suddenly felt filled with energy. She realized that she had eyes, and opened them. Looking around, Zelda noticed she looked like her Hylian self again, only still translucent.

"Thank you, Rauru. I have a couple questions. How did I get here, and where was I?"

"You were in the Water Temple, in the chamber where Dark Link resides. When he stole your shadow, you were lucky you didn't die. There was enough light in your heart to sustain you. When most people die and the decency inside them goes to the Sacred Realm, there is too much darkness, so they are not strong enough to stay in one body and must be separated. Anyway, when a Sage dies, they are transported here, to make the decision."

"What decision?"

"If they would like to be given life again, or if they wish to truly die and go to the Sacred Realm."

"I don't want to die yet! What about Link?"

"Sadly, my power, even combined with the other Sages, is not great enough to destroy Ganondorf and give you control of your body. I can only do one."

"I wonder if Impa is planning anything."

"Actually, she and Link are going to try to separate your body and Ganondorf."

"Then can't you just put me back in body when he is gone?"

"That much magic, even for you, would be too great and end up killing you. For good."

"I would rather have that than let Ganondorf hurt Link by pretending to be me. Besides, isn't there a chance that the combined spells would work?"

"I suppose there may be a slim chance. But if it failed, and Ganondorf was only separated from you, we would need your power to seal him in the Dark Realm, along with Aronos." "Aronos? But he was my best friend! You can't mean the same person!"

"I'm sorry, but he is responsible for this whole mess. He is Ganondorf's loyal assistant. Very loyal."

"Perhaps there is another way to solve this. I don't want to hurt my friend, but if he is loyal to Ganondorf, then I guess there's only one thing to do." She thought for a moment, then had an idea. "I know one thing that would be able to take my place," she said, almost solemnly. Rauru's eyes widened. "You don't mean-"

"Yes. The only thing powerful enough that any Sage can possess."

Review Responses: Same as last time. When some of you actually decide to review, I can change it! –horsie890