It's long, it's boring, but at least it's an update! Just for the record, I haven't beated Golden Sun:The Lost Age yet, but I'm so close we can just say I did! If anything the proceeds the last chapter sounds Golden Sunish, it's not my fault!

SO VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY (five hours later) VERY, VERY MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN REVIEWING! I love you ALL! And I've gotten so many reviews lately that it would take pages to reply to them all, so if you had a question, please ask me again and I'll reply next update (which should be a lot sooner). Here's the chapter ya'll have been waiting for!

Hey, don't forget to read the notice at the bottom of the page, 'kay?

Chapter 12: Re-Resurrection

Hieke, unlike Link, had made haste in learning the ways of this new world, although she couldn't accustom herself to the awkward stares of every man she passed. I sure wish the traditional garb of a Sheikah warrior maiden didn't stand out amongst a crowd so blatantly, she thought as she turned her head from yet another of the prudent men.

As the incarnation of a goddess, one would think that Isis would stand out more. But, alas, that she did not, and it was infuriating to Hieke. "Excuse me, sir," the Hylian girl said as she approached an elderly man, "can you tell me where to find a young woman by the name of Isis?"

The old man turned around to face Hieke, and his eyes grew wide. "Goddess!" he shouted. Hieke chuckled nervously. "Yeah, Isis is the embodiment of a goddess," she smiled hesitantly. The man bowed down to the ground, and the Hylian girl heard his spine crack with age.

"Goddess!" he repeated, bowing repeatedly. Hieke looked around at the staring people in mortification. "I don't know what he's talking about!" she explained honestly. The people continued along, still issuing the girl wary glares. Eventually she gave up in her futile attempts to silence the man and shrugged, walking away.

It wasn't long before her progress was again impeded. She had bumped into another pedestrian. "Ouch!" the girl exclaimed. Her eyes were a fiery orange, like Hieke's. A crimson lock streaked her ebony hair. Hieke gasped and pointed an accusing finger, awed.

"What's your problem?" the teenage girl asked, hands on her hips and eyebrow cocked. "Can't you at least say 'excuse me'? Or are you just that rude?"

"Is your name Isis?" Hieke inquired hopefully, blatantly ignoring the queries.

"Yeah, what of it?" Isis retorted angrily. Hieke sighed in relief and extended a hand in greeting. "Thank the Goddesses. I thought I'd never find you!" she smiled. "My name is Hieke. I come from the land of Hyrule, a dimension that exists parallel to this. In my world, you are a powerful and valuable entity necessary to the defeat of a new evil that threatens our peace."

Isis appeared to be listening intently, but her expression was none other than skepticism. "Like I'm going to believe all that," she said, rolling her eyes, when Hieke had finished telling her tale. Hieke uttered a sound of disbelief.

"But you must realize what's going on! After all, Hyrule is your world! It would be impossible for you to not know!" she argued, rooting about in her bag for some way to remind Isis of her origins. She could find nothing that would suit her cause.

"Look," she sighed, "I don't know how to explain it any more clearly. The land of Hyrule is in danger. My friends and I need you and two other girls to protect it. After we're done, I can bring you back here if you want."

Isis was still protesting adamantly. "Two other girls?" she repeated. "So, what? There're three? Well, aren't you greedy, going after all three when you could settle for two? Why would I want to help a bunch of stingy people like you?"

Hieke growled in frustration. "Do you want an entire world to perish!" she shouted. Isis huffed. "What do I care?" she muttered. "It's not like I've ever even seen this blasted world of yours. Why would I take time out of my busy life to help?"

"Phew, this was starting to sound like a game of Twenty Questions. Thank the Goddesses you broke it," Hieke grinned, relieved. Isis raised an eyebrow. "Look," Hieke continued, "time moves more slowly in my world than it does here, so you won't miss a whole lot." The Hylian girl cringed moments after her statement. It was a lie… Time moved faster in that dimension, so Isis would be missing a great deal. Unfortunately, Isis caught on to this quickly.

The two were so busy with their quarrel that neither noticed the steadily growing void in the road off to the side.

---

"You're doing what!" Kaze shouted, appalled, as he leapt from his seat on the floor.

Dameus smirked. "You heard me," he shrugged. "I'm going to revive Ganondorf for a little one-on-one with that Hylian brat. She only won last time because, one, she had Link to help her and, two, she sacrificed her spirit to hold him back. This time it'll be a fight to the death, and she'll have only herself to rely on."

"She'll be killed for sure," Kaze murmured, his brow furrowed in concern for his friend. "You've gotta be kidding me! I'll walk out right now unless you promise not to hurt Hieke!"

Dameus grinned maliciously. "Kaze, Kaze, Kaze…" he said slowly, shaking his head. "When will you ever learn? You're not making the rules around here. Maybe you didn't get the memo, but there's a new pecking order, and you're at the bottom, my young, foolish friend. If I decide to put my plan into action, which I have, you are to follow along. I believe that Hieke might be able to win, but if you interfere, I'll make sure there's a better chance of Hell freezing over than her beating Ganon."

The exchange was cut short as Aiko entered the chamber. "Is something wrong, my lord?" she questioned, not sparing as much as a passing glance at Kaze. Dameus sighed, running his fingers through his silver hair, and reclaimed his seat. "No, no. Young Kaze and I just had a minor disagreement. It's all sorted out now," he assured. Kaze narrowed his eyes and leaned against the stone wall, defeated.

"Aiko," Dameus addressed before the accused had left to return to her duties, "could you prepare a strengthening potion for me? I may need one in the near future."

Kaze glared at Dameus warningly, but Aiko merely nodded and left the room.

---

"What is that!" Isis shouted as she took a few steps in retreat. Hieke turned to find the cause for this distrubance in her 'discussion' and gasped. "I'd recognize that portal anywhere," she grumbled as she felt for her ax-headed whip, not daring to avert her eyes for as much as a fraction of a second.

Her amber eyes surveyed the growing void of blackness warily, waiting for her foe to come forth. A bead of sweat betrayed her anxiousness, though she made no move to apprehend it. Isis watched through fear-stricken eyes as she less than calmly studied the scene before her. Nothing was happening…

No sooner had the thought taken form than an eruption of laughter split the anticipatory blanket that thickened the air. Isis drew a sharp breath but remained as composed as she was able upon seeing Hieke's unflinching demeanor. The blonde Hylian took a deep breath and shifted her stance to defense. There was no way she'd win taking an early offense against the King of Evil. It would only tire her out and make her an easier target later in the battle.

"I bet you thought I was no more," taunted a sneering voice that resonated throughout the city. Isis noticed for the first time how there were no crowds swarming about, beating each other senseless for a glance at the spectacle. It almost seemed as if all life in the city had ceased to function. There were no cars, no passing airplanes or jets, no pedestrians, no children frolicking in the yard… nothing.

Isis suppressed a cry of dismay as a large boot, steel-toed and adorned with bolts and furs, emerged from the swirling vortex of nothingness. There came forth a hand of dark flesh, gloved, and then a torso protected by plates of armor. The incarnation could barely contain herself, such was her terror. For some reason, this being was the most horrific thing she never would have imagined.

Finally a head, complete with a confident smirk, passed the barrier and made itself visible. "The mighty King Ganondorf has returned," the man declared, spreading his arms above his head as the scarlet cape draped from his shoulders fluttered behind him.

Hieke's stance faltered for a moment as a gasp passed her lips. How would she ever win this battle without her friends or the strength of the Celestial Spirit?

Tedious, eh? Long and boring. But it's all set up for one of the best chapters yet, so be patient just a little more! I'd feel all warm and fuzzy if I could have some yummy reviews! Please don't curse at me for taking so long to update...

Oh yeah, the announcement! I KNOW you winner guys didn't get your awards yet (trust me, they're on the way), but there's a new contest up! It's in my profile, and this time it's not art! It's writing! I know you can do it this time! Anyways, all the guidelines are there. Give it a look sometime.

To those of you who already knew about the contest, there was a slight update to the guidelines explaining how I'll be scoring your entries. Arigatou and sayanora (only Japanese I've ever used ever)!