Preparation

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Sheik asked, as he followed Peach into the secret room.

"Of course," she smiled, pulling the blanket out of the hay. "I don't really want to sleep alone. And I know I can trust you… Remember how you guarded me while I slept back in Dinosaur Land?"

"Um…yes," he said nervously.

"Why are you so nervous?" she asked.

"Because I never thought I would be sleeping beside the woman I love so soon," he said, still kneeling by the entrance.

"Oh…" she said, blushing.

"Did you forget?" he asked, slowly sitting next to her.

"No…" she said, trying to hide her blushing face. "I just…haven't really had time to think about it… Why do you feel that way about me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked.

"I've gotten plenty of love letters before…but none of the senders have seen me do the things you've seen me do. They would never approve…"

"I love you because you are a woman full of strength, courage, and wisdom," he said, taking her hand. "You're beautiful, kind, and pure of heart…so pure that you crippled an evil spirit with a kiss. Words simply don't do you justice."

"Sheik…"

"I can't tell you how much I love you… I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I want raise children with you, even grow old with you. You are my queen, my angel, my goddess, sweet Peach."

"You're making me blush," she smiled bashfully.

"You're cute when you blush," he said, moving a stray tress of hair out of her face. "It makes you so…peachy."

"I've never had someone say things like that in-person," she said as he rubbed her hand. "I…don't know what to say."

"Just say you'll be with me, Peach," he said, smiling softly beneath his veil.

She looked around a bit worriedly and arched away. "Sheik…I'm not ready for that…"

He gave her a strange look and then realized what was on her mind. "Oh, I'm not asking for that. I just want your love. Sheikah were rather notorious for not doing much…erm, in that department. We had more important things to do."

"Have you ever…you know."

"No," he sighed. "I did love another woman though…long ago."

"What happened to her?"

"She was a great friend of mine," he nostalgically. "She seemed to hint at stronger feelings just as I had. Unfortunately, we both lost our lives during the war."

"I'm sorry," Peach said sadly.

"Though I miss her greatly, I see her in you," he said, looking into her eyes. "I can't ask you to do anything but be with me. I want to help you return to your world. Perhaps, I might even stay there with you, if only to see you… May I…hug you?"

"Yes…yes, you may," she nodded. He embraced her and laid his chin on her shoulder.

"Thank you," he whispered, stroking her mane. "You have such a beautiful soul. I appreciate everything you've done for Zelda and I…especially Zelda. When she needed extra strength, you were there. If and when you ever decide to have children, I'm sure you'd make an excellent mother."

"Um, thanks," she said.

"Would it be okay if…I kiss you?" he asked shyly. He quickly added, "Tell me if I'm asking me too much."

"No, that's fine," she said. "You've saved me more than enough times for one little kiss. Just make sure it's on the che…" Before she could finish, he had already pressed his lips to hers. He broke away immediately.

"I'm sorry. I should probably go now," he said, beginning to move toward the entrance.

"No, it's okay," she said, pulling him back. "It was a little mistake. No big deal."

"So forgiving…" he whispered to himself. "Um, perhaps we should go to sleep."

"Good idea," she said, also feeling a little nervous. They laid themselves down and pulled the blanket over. They soon discovered that the blanket was not big enough to cover both of them side-by-side. "It's a little small. Malon and Zelda must not sleep next to each other very much."

"I'm certain they lie on one another," Sheik said. When Peach blushed, he did as well. He scooted back against the wall and said, "You can keep the blanket."

"I don't want you to get cold," she said, scooting away from it. "Go ahead, take it."

"I can't do that," he said modestly. "It wouldn't be the chivalrous thing to do."

"Well, we'll both get cold if we don't do something," she smiled nervously.

"…You could lay against me," he suggested quietly.

"…Okay," she said, scooting in front of him and laying her head against his chest. She pulled the blanket over the both of them and said, "There. That works." She suddenly tensed up when she felt his hands wrap around her stomach.

"Goodnight," Sheik said, rubbing her briefly.

Peach was relieved that his hands did not move any higher or lower. They remained comfortably at her stomach. "Goodnight, Sheik," she smiled, snuggling against him.

"Peach? Peach? Peach, wake up! Please, you have to wake up!" Peach could hear Sheik's voice urgently calling her. She felt as if he was carrying her. She was too sleepy to really tell.

"Sheik…" she murmured.

"That's right, it's me," he said. "Now I need you to open your eyes. You'll be in big trouble if you don't snap out of it. You've been poisoned… Don't let it overtake you." She barely opened her eyes and saw the fuzzy image of his face before closing them again. "You can do better than that. I know you can."

"Too tired," she said, snuggling against him. She numbly felt gentle slapping at her cheek. The sensation became less and less to the point that she could no longer feel anything.

"She's out cold," Sheik said, laying her down inside the cage. It was hanging from the stone ceiling by a chain. It was extremely dark here. One would not be able to see too far away in the room. Sheik used telekinesis to bend the bars and hopped out. He bent the bars back into place and looked toward the yellow eyes of the Gerudo man sitting in a chair further in the darkness.

"Was all that drama really necessary?" Ganondorf asked.

"I prefer to play my part as accurately as possible," he answered.

"Why did you bring her here?" Ganondorf sneered. "This is Koopa's trophy, not mine." A whirl of sparkles overtook Sheik and he transformed into a smirking woman who looked exactly like Zelda in a royal dress.

"She's not just a trophy," she said. "She is also Zelda's friend. They'll find out that she's been kidnapped eventually. I made sure to leave a note. And I'm sure Sheik is doing his best to let them know. He'll bypass my barrier sooner or later. He'd do anything for his precious Princess Peach."

"Bait, hmm?"

"Well, I'm sure she will have some value to you," she said suggestively.

"I have more important things to worry about than finding a concubine," Ganondorf said, narrowing his eyes.

"If you investigate her yourself," she said, beginning to teleport, "I'm sure you'll find she has something of use to you. In the meantime, you might want to soften the others up a little."

"Ingrid, wake up!" Sheik yelled at her. She awakened immediately.

"What is it?" she asked, still holding a sleeping Zelda.

"Peach is in serious danger! An impostor tricked Malon and Zelda. That's why they aren't together. They were letting Peach stay with whoever or whatever it is!" At this, Ingrid shook Zelda awake.

"What is it?" Zelda asked sleepily.

"Is Sheik with Peach?"

"Huh? Oh, yes… Malon revived him last night. He's with Peach in our secret spot."

Ingrid hopped up immediately and bolted out the door. She sprinted across the moonlit pasture, jumping the fences. Instead of opening the door, she smashed through it and slid through the hole. She had her scythe ready when she was inside the room, but only found a dagger pinning a note to the wall. She took the note and quickly read over it.

She returned outside the silo and quickly ran back to the barn. "Zelda, get ready."

"What is it?" Zelda asked, somewhat irritated.

"Peach has been kidnapped," Ingrid said hurriedly. "If we hurry…" She never finished her sentence and ran out the door again. Zelda went outside and found her standing on the roof, looking toward Hyrule Castle Town.

"How did you do that?" Zelda called. Ingrid hopped down and opened the door to the house.

"Wake up!" she yelled inside.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Zelda scolded, grabbing onto her.

"There is an army gathering in Hyrule Castle Town," Ingrid said to her. "I need to gather our forces quickly." She thrust her hands upward and a Stalfos rose from the ground nearby. "Stand guard," she ordered. Zelda stood back in shock as the skeleton warrior obeyed and walked to the entrance.

"A Stalfos?" Zelda said in amazement.

"What's going on out here?" Mother Malon asked, peeking out the door with her daughter.

"An army is approaching…" Ingrid said. "Nabooru has no doubt sensed it herself… And Peach has been kidnapped."

"Calm down," Mother Malon said, speaking more to herself than anyone else. "We'll get through this…"

"Salome!" Ingrid called.

"Yes?" Salome said, peeking out the second floor window.

"Can you create a disturbance at the entrance to the town?"

"I think so…"

"Then, do it," Ingrid said, as Stalchildren began to walk into the ranch with a clatter. "…I suppose this will have to do for now. Zelda, I want you to pack your things and go to Kakariko. Make sure the Gerudo know what is going on. Then, do the same at Zora's Domain. Any and all Hylian soldiers are to report to either Kakariko or Lon Lon. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Zelda nodded.

"Good girl," Ingrid nodded back. Zelda rushed back into the barn to get anything else she needed before warping away.

"What about us?" Malon asked as the ground vibrated slightly.

"It's just Salome," Ingrid assured her. "Make sure everyone moves away from the edges of the ranch. If you have any tricks you haven't shown us yet, now would be the time to put them to use."

"I'm not sure," Malon said thoughtfully.

"Use the Cuccos," Mother Malon said without warning.

"Huh?"

"You have some power over life," she explained. "Many animals are at your disposal. And there are few things more dangerous than a flock of angry Cuccos. I had to assert my power over them back when we first hired Ingo and he had kicked them around a bit too much."

"I was thinking along the lines of a more strategic ability," Ingrid said as she sat in place "Perhaps you should keep that for yourself. Tell Fado to cause as much damage as she can. Malon, do you have any meditation aids?"

"I'm afraid not," Mother Malon frowned. "All I have are healing, stimulant, and sedative herbs. I've never had the opportunity to go pick the proper materials."

Ingrid sighed and closed her eyes. "What about those mushrooms in the barn?"

"Mushrooms?" Mother Malon said with surprise, rushing into the barn.

"Won't getting high mess up your concentration?" Malon asked, not knowing whether it was okay to laugh or not.

"Sheikah don't 'get high,' as you put it," Ingrid said. "However, entrancement will help me block out the distractions around me."

"Um, excuse me," Mother Malon said, coming out of the door. "I've never seen these types of mushrooms before. They look like some sort of odd toadstools." She held up the odd, but somewhat large fungus. It had a red cap with white dots. The thick stalk seemed to have two beady little eyes.

"It's kind of creepy," Malon said.

"I don't think it's very good for smoking," Mother Malon said doubtfully. Ingrid took it from her and took a bite out of it.

"It doesn't taste like any mushroom I've eaten," she said. "It tastes…good. Bland, but good." She had the slightest feeling of empowerment, as if she had grown stronger.

When Zelda arrived in the graveyard, she sprinted into Kakariko Village. She could see the Gerudos already gathering supplies. One of them spotted her and called, "Go see Nabooru in the windmill!" Zelda ran up the stairs and entered. Nabooru was standing on the spinning platform with her foot on a Hylian's chest.

"Tell me, dammit!" Nabooru yelled, smacking the man she had pinned down. He had a musical contraption on his back, though the song was being warped because he was on top of it.

"Please, let me go!" he begged.

"What's going on?" Zelda asked, rushing to her.

"This man had Link's soul!" she yelled. "Now, it's gone. I tried to make him give it up, but it just disappeared."

"I don't have it anymore!" he cried. "I'm sorry! Please, forgive me!"

"What were you doing with a soul?" Zelda asked sternly.

"He had a grudge against Link," Nabooru said.

"He ruined everything!" the man said, narrowing his eyes to a near-demonic degree. "Everything was spinning too fast! It's because he played that song! And whenever he comes back, he just says 'Hey, it's that Windmill Guy.' He never even apologized!" Nabooru kicked him in the jaw.

"Useless myagra!" she cursed. "There was another man with him."

"What did he look like?" Zelda asked.

"The other one looked like a rich, red-headed version of him," Nabooru said, glaring down at him. "He had the same eyes, but more evil. He was carrying a large backpack with masks all over it."

"The Happy Mask Salesman?"

"Yes!" the cowering man said.

"Where is the Mask Salesman?" Zelda asked in an intimidating tone.

"I…I don't know," he said. "He's insane… There's no telling where he is…" Zelda stood up straight and looked to Nabooru.

"You know about the attack force, right?"

"Yep," she nodded. "We're already preparing. I was about to give the message to everyone in Hyrule, but then I found this…man."

"Please, don't kill me!" he screamed.

"My mother is making good use of the dead," Zelda spoke. "But I think this one won't be useful as he is."

"Just as I was thinking," Nabooru said as the man suddenly fainted. His soul flew into her. "I have a plan."

"What is it?" Zelda said.

"Everyone but Ganondorf and his forces will know," Nabooru said, focusing. "All able warriors are to attack from the south and the east. Hilda the Reaper will cover the south. From the east, Gorons will take the lead, followed immediately by Gerudo and Hylians. Zoras will attack from the river. Our goal is to lure Ganondorf's army away from the castle. That way, Zelda will be able to go the Temple of Time unnoticed. Hopefully, she will be able to retrieve the Sword of Evil's Bane and defeat Ganondorf. Our prayers are with her. The rest of us will march! I ask that all disembodied souls come to our aid. Souls, come unto me!" Moments after she finished her sentence, a whirling soul stream came through the wall and surged into her.

"Good luck," Zelda said, taking out her lyre.

"I'll do my best to find Link's soul," she said, opening the door. "For now, we'll have to manage without the Hero of Time." Zelda played the Prelude to Light and looked upward. Nothing happened.

"It looks like I'll have to do this the hard way," Zelda said. She transformed and took on Sheik's clothing, minus the metal plate and codpiece.

"Impa and Sheik want you to know," Nabooru said, smiling, "to use all the training they've provided. With the flow, not against it."

"I understand," Zelda said. "I'll sneak ahead and wait for you all to get their attention."

"Just make sure to rescue Peach," Nabooru said, obviously speaking for Sheik. "Hopefully, we'll see you later."

Ganondorf sat in the darkness, thinking to himself. He was in an unusually good mood thanks to the little surprise his cohort had left him. He knew there would be an imminent response to his army. He knew it would come down to a small fight in the end. At the most, he would only have to fight the Sages. At the very least, only one person would show up. He was sure it would not be Link, since the supposed Hero of Time was still in his possession. The only thing that concerned him was the Sage of Time and carrier of the Triforce of Wisdom. The Sages, as strengthened and threatening as they were, would be of little consequence. He had already made arrangements to keep them out of the picture. Suddenly, Peach's most recent kidnapper appeared again, still resembling Zelda.

"According to our calculations," she said, "they will attack around dawn."

"You know the plan," he said, leaning his chin on his black broadsword.

"Let them think they have a chance, overwhelm them, and finally…"

"Crush them. And what about our guest? I don't want any surprises out of her. She's caused Bowser enough trouble. I don't want anything on my end to…"

"You have nothing to worry about, Ganny," she smirked. "The poison I gave her is a special kind that not only puts the victim to sleep, it also kills them slowly and painlessly. Since Sheik had such strong feelings for her, I figured that it would make sense if he were to…let her down easily. You know, 'killing me softly.' No mortal magic can cure it. I hope that will satisfy you."

"It will suffice," he smiled wickedly. "Soon, the Triforce will be mine…"

"Then, I shall report to Bowser," the Zelda look-alike said, bowing.

Ingrid rode atop a horse, carrying her scythe. She was leading a small, but increasing army of Stalfos and Stalchildren. They were atop a hill, surveying the enemy army before them. There were Moblins, Stalfos, Iron Knuckles, Dodongos, Wolfos, and various other land forces. She could see Guays and Keese flapping their wings in a black cloud of feathers and leathery skin. She was sure there were aquatic defenses along the river as well. Fado and Salome's assaults were evident, judging from the damage the army had already sustained. There was a dying tornado tearing through their ranks. The land around them had large cracks, trenches, and even sharp rock that had jutted through the surface. It was evident that both Sages had tired out by now.

Though she was sure her Stalchildren would not last very long, she had more confidence in herself and the Stalfos. Since her location was closest, she knew she would have to fight before her allies could get there. She watched as the morning light began to appear over the horizon and the stars disappeared into twilight. She hopped off her horse and turned it back toward the ranch. She never liked riding horses unless she had to. She smacked its rear and it galloped back to the ranch.

"For the honor of the Royal Family," she spoke, raising her weapon as it showed a reflection of the rising sun. "And the memory of my fallen brethren… It will rain blood today…"

"Aaaah!" her undead companions cried as they all ran ahead, charging into battle. "Slay them all!"