Inspiration: "Aristocrat's Symphony," by Versailles, "The Arbiter Ground's," in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, "One," by Metallica with the S&M orchestra; "The Black Swan," with Natalie Portman, Voldo from "Soul Caliber 2," (Voldo is the sexiest video game character in creation lol... look at his stance), The Seven Deadly Sins; "Last Surprise," Persona 5 soundtrack, and "Tree of Life" album by Audiomachine for the 2020 reedit.
Original Shout Outs: Farore64, Thaytay, EternitySoul, PotterAlltheWay64, Lady Agent, Guest44, and Sontishinomme.
New Shout Out: Adelita P.M. I forgot to shout you out. Thank you for reading.
Recommended Readings: "The Legend of Zelda the Return," recommended by PotterAlltheWay64
Author's Note: This is my favorite chapter. Reedited 5/25/2020.
Word Count: 11,937
Chapter 19
As Link approached, I became slightly nervous, but prepared myself to let him know the change in plans. I had to be swift. Diligent. Hylia was expecting me to relinquish the shards to her before the day was over. However, before I could utter a word, when Link stopped in front of me he spoke up first.
"Fine, I understand your position. You want proof, you want to know my loyalty is genuine. I can accept that. So, I decided to do as you suggested. I'll prove to you that you're the woman I want. I'll go to the Twilight Realm, I'll see Midna, and after our reacquaintance you won't have anymore doubts. You'll know I love you."
My eyes widened at his change in disposition and sudden resolution. I couldn't lie, this was the last thing I was expecting him to say. Honestly, this was the last thing I was hoping he would utter considering what the goddess just revealed to me. Hylia gave me an ultimatum. How was I going to reconcile that now? I couldn't just disobey her. Or could I? I shook my head at his comment, needing clarification.
"I'm sorry?"
Link ran a hand through his damp hair and looked more determined than ever.
"I'm talking about what we discussed earlier. After I cooled my head, I was able to think a little clearer. I was able to see things from your point of view and you were right. Maybe I do need to prove to you that I love you the way I claim. My admissions in the past were shoddy at best, so I see where your doubts are coming from, but I promise you this time things are different."
Things suddenly were complicated. Hylia told me to circumvent this, but now it seemed things were right where they were before. I was so preoccupied with what the goddess told me, that our minor spat seemed insignificant now.
"Oh, right, I see."
The hero stared down at me and pursed his lips together.
"Do you forgive me for being so short with you? I didn't mean to yell."
I shrugged, knowing it wasn't what he intended and that it clearly wasn't all his own doing.
"Of course I forgive you." I attempted to smile.
He stared into my eyes after searching my face. He came up to me and took hold of me by the shoulders.
"No more talk about the past, okay? That's over, we only move forward from now on."
I appreciated his willingness to let things go. I needed to do the same. I nodded and finally initiated a hug. He held me tight when my arms went around him. I was grateful he was being so open and honest with me. When I pulled back he caressed my cheek and stroked his fingers through my hair. I knew at this point I should have told him what Hylia instructed me, but after seeing he was so determined to do the right thing, I wasn't sure I wanted our quest to be over just yet. I wanted for the both of us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we were what we both wanted in each other. That could only come if Link saw Midna again and was able to be honest with himself wholeheartedly. It wasn't foolishness on my part to desire that. It was only foolish in how I was approaching this situation earlier on.
"The past is the past," I said finally after a few moments, "and I promise not to bring it up anymore, but I am glad you're so willing to move forward."
Link rested his fingers at my chin.
"I'm not going to lie to you Zelda, I get a little… greedy when I get around you for some reason. I don't know why, maybe it's because you have this way of making people feel like they're the most important person in the world. That's rare to do and selfishly... I just wanted that all for myself."
After ascertaining everything Hylia told me, 'greedy' wasn't the best choice of words considering everything that was going on with the shards. But, I understood what he meant and smiled.
"I understand, sometimes I get a little greedy too."
He chuckled, then shortly afterwards looked at me seriously. His eyes searched my face again.
"You're still my queen, if you command me to do something, or not do something, I'll do it. If you don't want to go forward to the Twilight Realm, then we won't."
I took in a deep sigh and stared him in the eyes. I knew this was his way of reassuring me that whether we stayed in Hyrule or went forward, that things weren't going to change between us. I was grateful that he was acting so sure, but I really wanted to know for myself. Besides, I couldn't pretend that I wasn't curious as to what lied at the end of this puzzle. I knew Hylia would probably think I was foolish, but I wanted to keep going because I wanted to know who or what this 'arbiter's kiss' was. The goddess wouldn't tell me and that only piqued my curiosity. I then reached up and caressed Link's cheek.
"I think we should keep going." I forced a smile. "I think you need to follow through with Midna for yourself and for me."
Link was quiet for a moment.
"Are you sure? Is this what you really want?"
I nodded.
"Yes, I'm sure."
I'm sorry ancestral mother, but I have to see this through. I won't allow myself to cower in fear. I'll face Sheik and two arbiters if it means Link's happiness, he deserves it.
The hero nodded slowly, still uncertain of my reaction.
"Okay."
I nodded again, then pulled myself from his reach. Afterwards, I decided to break away for a moment and go bathe myself. I probably should have just taken Link up on his offer earlier, but I think he understood why I needed to be alone right now. When I returned, the hero was ready to go and nodded towards the propulsion cannon.
"Let's go," he directed.
With that, Link and I set out for the Arbiters Grounds.
~SSS~
Two days later, the Arbiter's Grounds
The Arbiter's Grounds was a place shrouded in a dark and convoluted history. One filled with beheadings, trappings of agents of evil, judgments bestowed on prefects, the murder of sages, and of course, the doorway to the realm of twilight. The original intention for the grounds was to establish a network of diplomacy and communication with the inhabitants of the Twilight Realm. That initiative began five hundred years ago. However, as time often does with intentions, it later became a judicial hall where the most extreme criminals were taken to be executed. The King of Hyrule and the King of the Twilight Realm at the time, made a pact that was supposed to generate peace for hundreds of years to come. As history had shown however, the pact didn't last long, and the two nations soon went to war. No one knew exactly when the break down between the two kingdoms took place, but there were rumors of all sorts as to the reasons why. One of the most erroneous and salacious being, a child was born out of a love affair between one of the kings of Hyrule and a queen of twilight. Scandal often ruled the day with the gossip mavens.
Even still, I quivered at the thought of everything my family had done. I knew there were plenty of nations who wanted to exact vengeance against Hyrule. And they would probably be warranted in doing so. The Twili people would just be another kingdom of perpetrators. However, most recently the Twilight Realm and Hyrule avoided war for two reasons: the actions of the Hero of Twilight, and the treaty recently put into place by Queen Midna and myself. If what Midna and I agreed upon could be called a treaty.
Politics...
Thinking about the past and all it entailed was depressing to me. I decided to give the activity a rest for now. In the interim, I was determining the best way of dealing with the sweltering heat from the withering Gerudo Desert. I covered my face, knowing my fair complexion didn't stand a chance otherwise. I also attempted to protect myself from the many small sandstorms throughout the day. Link traveled in front wearing his own cloak, attempting to shield me from the sand as much as he could. However, he looked like he was suffering in silence too. The heat from this desert was legendary, making many wonder why it got so hot. The reason I hypothesized was the light rays from the sun hit the sand with the most concentrated form of quanta in all of Hyrule, white light. That white light had all particles of the spectra woven into it by a complex shifting of electrons. All of that pure energy hit Hyrule's surface in the Greudo Desert, and as a result the heat was unbearable. It was no wonder why the Gerudo people left this place when they did. It was a death trap.
As Link and I trekked on, I looked around the vast barren landscape and took note of a large abridged hole in the ground in the north east. I narrowed my eyes for a more focused look, but still wasn't sure what I was seeing. It was then I tugged on the back of Link's arm to get his attention. He turned to look at me, with his hand to his face as his cloak covered everything but his sky blue eyes.
"What's the matter?"
I nodded towards the hole I spotted.
"What's that place over there in the ground?"
He turned and looked where I was looking.
"Over where?"
I pointed to the north east. Link suddenly got solemn when he saw where I was observing.
"Ah yes." A grim expression crossed his handsome face. "That's the Cave of Ordeals."
I stared at him perplexed.
"The Cave of Ordeals? What's that?"
Link nodded and paused for a moment.
"Fifty floors of some of the roughest underground terrain you'll ever traverse in all of Hyrule," Link revealed.
I was intrigued, having never heard of such a place, then gazed back at the hole.
"I'm guessing you traveled through there before."
Link nodded at my utterance.
"Three times."
I stared at him stunned.
"Three times? My word."
He smiled at me, finding my inflection humorous.
"You know what was interesting when I got to the fiftieth floor the third time?"
I waited for him to go on.
"What?"
Link grinned again.
"The postman was down there," he disclosed. "That cave is supposed to be a challenge for warriors. Now I ask you, how did the postman make it all the way through that cave without so much as a scratch?"
I was surprised at the revelation and saw his point. What was the postman doing down there?
"Your guess is as good as mine, I have no idea."
Link shook his head.
"Our postman is a lot more than he's letting on. It wouldn't surprise me if he were in league with Ganondorf."
After hearing that, I laughed at Link's supposition and decided to scold him playfully for it.
"Don't you dare make such accusations about our friendly postman. Who's going to deliver our mail if he decides to go to the dark side?"
Link chuckled and went right along with it.
"True, and that's why I've kept it hush hush until now. It's up to you now to keep the secret."
His words made me giggle, but soon his smile faded as he looked towards the keep in the distance. He sighed at the sight of the large edifice and shook his head.
"There it is."
My smile soon faded as well. The sobering reality of what was about to happen was setting in. Link and I stared at the sand colored mausoleum in the distance in silence. I suddenly had a terrible sense of foreboding. A tingling sensation ran down my back that made me freeze in my tracks. Link turned to face me once more and looked concerned when he saw my expression.
"What's the matter?"
I kept my gaze towards the keep and my throat tightened.
"Nothing."
Link knew that to be untrue. His eyes searched my face for a moment.
"If you have doubts about doing this, we can turn around right now. We don't have to go forward."
I understood where he was coming from, but right now I didn't think I had a choice. We were here now and somewhere in that building lied the mirror.
He's in there... he's in there and he's waiting for me.
"It's not that, it's just... it's just such a terrifying looking place."
Link looked at me concerned.
"Then let's not go. I'd rather you feel more secure in this than you do. I can go by myself since I've been through the catacombs before and you can wait for me out here."
I shook my head.
"That's unlikely. Don't you remember how the guardians kept saying these are trials of wisdom? I have to go."
He reached over and took hold of my shoulders.
"Not if this isn't what you want to do," he reassured.
I kept my gaze past him, but finally looked him in the eyes.
"I..." I felt at a loss.
He kept his gaze constant.
"No one's going to hurt you, no one. I'll be right there to protect you."
I attempted a grin at his comforting words, but inside I felt more terrified than ever because I knew what Hylia told me about having to face Sheik alone. I wasn't sure if I could, or should, divulge that truth to Link. If he caught wind of what I was going to have to do to assemble this mirror, he would put a prompt stop to it immediately. I wouldn't even have to guess what his words would be. Even still, I reached up and caressed his cheek, thankful that he was the considerate man that he was.
No you won't Link.
"I know you will," I verbalized, then nodded towards the distance. "Let's keep going."
Link nodded in return and turned back around to continue going forward. The sweltering trek was nearly over, as the keep in the draw distance grew ever closer. The large vertical rotunda-like edifice lay at the edge of the Gerudo Desert, surrounded by a barren courtyard, where years ago an apparent massacre of some kind took place. I wasn't sure if I should ask if Link partook in such an activity, but considering the recentness of the carnage, I wouldn't have been surprised if he had. Even still, I didn't bother to bring it up.
The main structure of the Arbiter's Grounds was a crypt underground, overlaid by a gargantuan cylinder edifice with focused keystone arches above land. The risen structure was surrounded by pillars erected opposite each other that lined the escalating stairway to the sage's precipice. The sage's precipice was the former resting place of the first mirror. Before going underground, Link and I went upstairs to the hallowed place and paid quiet homage in remembrance to the breaking of the first mirror. Even though he would never admit it, I could sense being in the presence of the former mirror was having an effect on the hero. He was very quiet, possibly reflecting on what had taken place here seven years ago. Midna's reluctant goodbye... her trailing words...
"Link I…" she had said, but never finished.
One didn't need to be a genius to know what she wanted to tell him.
'Link I... love you,' is what she wanted to say. I looked over at the hooded hero. She loved you then Link, and it's quite possible that she loves you still... I can't say I blame her.
I saw the look of yearning in his eyes that he tried to conceal. He seemed almost incomplete without her and I contemplated that without the slightest hint of jealousy. I understood that yearning myself. It came from a deeper place of longing than romantic love. His connection was more visceral now and I knew it was conjuring for the presence of his beloved friend once more. It was actually a very beautiful feeling to have for another person. I walked up to him, touched his shoulder, and when he turned to look at me, I grinned at him.
I paused for a brief moment to stare into his eyes.
"You'll get back to her. I promise."
Link didn't say anything right away, but appreciated my efforts in understanding why he was feeling the way he was. He covered my hand with his, then afterwards nodded towards the staircase.
"Let's go."
A few moments later, we headed back down the main stairs and made our way to the entrance of the underground crypt that housed the catacombs. When Link opened the door to the dank dark vault, my heart suddenly accelerated to what seemed like a thousand beats per second. I didn't understand the magnitude of the involuntary reaction. Yes, I was scared, but my reaction seemed conducive to something deeper.
What in the world-? I stopped for a second.
Link too paused at my hesitation. His concern for me never faltered.
"What is it?"
I didn't answer immediately and a chill of terror ran down my spine.
Sheik... that warrior could possibly kill me today.
"Nothing," I fibbed, shaking my head. "It's just my nerves I guess."
At this point, I think Link was starting to guess that I was keeping something greater from him. He gave me his undivided attention and took hold of my hand.
"I've been in these catacombs many times," he reassured. "I promise nothing is going to happen to you here."
I looked into his eyes just then, wishing I could believe that, but I knew Hylia wasn't kidding when she divulged to me what she divulged to me. I was going to have to face Sheik alone. I reached up and caressed his cheek just then.
"Thank you." I knew I couldn't say more.
Link grinned through my touch and squeezed my other hand tighter. Afterwards, he tugged on it a little to nudge us forward.
"I've got you. Trust me."
I attempted a grin and nodded. We then went into the undercroft. The tomb led down a long stairwell to a sandy pit with several disjointed looking sections. Link took hold of me around my waist and held me close, then produced his claw shot to lodge us to a more safer landing across the room. I looked down when I took note of the shifting and swirling ground.
"Is that quicksand?"
Link nodded, but didn't verbalize anything right away. He looked like he was trying to deduce something from the distance around us.
"How far in the vault do we have to go?" he asked, changing the subject suddenly.
That was a good question and one I wasn't sure of myself. However, I was going to assume it would be the farthest recesses into the catacombs.
"The deepest part of the crypt. My guess would be there."
The hero nodded at my reply, and I think that was all he needed to know in moving forward. We traveled relatively quickly now, but we did hesitate at several junctions due to there being an apparent change of some kind in the architecture. Link was making mental notes of the new sites and changed our direction accordingly. I had never been down here, so I was solely relying on Link's memory to guide us through. However, it was also extremely helpful that he still had access to the map he acquired before. I knew one thing, when he sought to do something, he was definitely determined to finish the task. It was a quality I greatly admired. As we continued onward, my minor case of claustrophobia was slowly turning into a major case of claustrophobia. The constant darkness and the cramped halls were beginning to be too much for me. I never liked such places as a child, and I didn't like such places now. When we entered a large square room with four doors of exit and entry, it was here Link told me to stay put.
"Don't move," he ordered suddenly, then readied his claw shot to latch onto a pylon on the second landing above.
I looked at him like he was insane.
"Where are you going?" I grabbed onto his arm.
The hero looked at me surprised by the subtle fear in my tone.
"I have to get to the next room. I'll only be a moment."
My grip tightened.
"Can't we go together?"
Link looked at me now with open concern.
"Zelda," his eyes searched my face, "what has gotten into you? Why are you so jumpy?"
I didn't let him go and decided to be honest for a moment.
"I don't want to be alone here."
Link released his stance just then and took hold of me.
"And you won't be for very long, I'll be right back." He stroked my cloaked head. "I just need to open a door on the above landing, okay?"
He pulled back the hood to look into my eyes. I stared back, swallowed hard, and took note of his words reluctantly, afterwards I nodded.
"Okay," I said, but then impulsively reached up and kissed him on his lips.
Link looked at me surprised when I pulled away.
"What was that for?" he was a little disappointed it was so short.
I tried to smile through my fear.
"For good fortune."
He grinned back at me and shook his head.
"That should bring me lots," he half joked, then added, "stay put, I'll be back."
Afterwards, he aimed for a target above the opposite door and jettisoned away. With him temporarily gone, I stood on the centered stone aperture feeling my heartbeat steadily increase. I looked around and tried to reassure myself I was overreacting.
It's just four walls Zelda, I told myself, just four walls.
I nodded at my thoughts.
"He's going to be right back. Link is going to be right back, and everything is going to be sunshine and daisies."
It was in this moment I got a good look at where I really was, and that was when I realized my reassurances were ringing hollow. There were Hylian skeletons cluttered everywhere, along with giant cobwebs and sand pits. The sand pits forked every corner of the room, with death being the accompaniment at the bottom of the minor ravines. It made me wonder how in the hell Link got through this place the first, second, third, or however many times he traversed through here. It certainly took a definitive man of courage to get through a locale like this. To quell my troubled feelings, I started humming a melody from my childhood. It was one taught to me by my grandmother the Sage of Time. 'The Nocturn of Shadow' it was called. However, after I started humming the tune, I could have sworn the room got darker and the eminence became greater. It was then I realized it wasn't the best song to sing in a crypt. It was celebrating the beauty of darkness.
What the hell am I thinking? I felt more and more terrified with Link's prolonged disappearance.
I tried to calm down and looked over to a wall to the east of me. I squinted a little as I took note of something I hadn't seen before. There, written in ancient Hylian, were the words 'Arbiter's Kiss'. I immediately felt more anxious after that. Who or what was this 'Arbiter's Kiss'? I took in a deep breath while looking away from the wall briefly, but felt my heart accelerate when I looked back. I nearly jumped from terror because the wording had suddenly changed. The wall now read: 'Are you ready Zelda?'
"Great Hylia!"
My eyes widened and I covered my mouth as fear cloaked me. The words were changing ever still. The wall now read: 'The putting together of the insidious attributes will result in the Arbiter's Kiss.' I could hardly breathe. I was so shocked.
"The riddle."
The wall then changed once again, but it wasn't in words this time. It was the visage of a man's face... Link's face.
"End this foolish quest," the wall whispered.
At that, I involuntarily jumped back and into a quicksand pit behind me.
"Ah!" I screamed, trying desperately to get myself out, but the more I struggled the quicker I began going under.
Don't panic Zelda! Don't panic!
Sand was covering every orifice of my body and it was already up to my thighs. I was trying to reach up for the landing I just toppled from, but the give and force of the sand was too great. There was no traction for my feet and no way for me to anchor myself. I looked around frantically trying to find something to grope on to, but there was nothing. The sand was now at my waist, and the fear that suddenly enveloped me was one I couldn't begin to describe. I had heard horror stories about drowning and suffocation. The death wasn't slow and painless. It was harsh and it burned with a kind of tenacity that made a person wish for death. And I was going to die by drowning in a sand pit... a sand pit. I kept my head erect as tears started to fill my eyes and my body began to tremble. I abruptly started having flash backs of my childhood and my short stint as ruler.
It was wonderful while it lasted. Stressful, but wonderful.
All my thoughts swirled in my head at once: At age three, I remembered my father's anger at my grandfather's sudden disappearance into the Lost Woods... At age seven, I remembered my first lesson on a Gerudo Stallion... At age twelve, I remembered meeting Elbourne for the first time, he was awestruck when he saw me... At age fourteen, I remembered my last vacation when both my parents were alive with Elbourne and his family... I also remembered my first kiss... At age fifteen, my father died... At age sixteen, my mother died, and my grandmother died... and I committed a great disservice to my dearest friend Elbourne... At age seventeen, I became princess regent of Hyrule with the queen-ship left in trust until my twentieth year of life... At age twenty, Zant attacked and I met Link as the great hero of this age... At age twenty-one to twenty-two, I thought I was in love and wronged a great man... At age twenty-seven, I stood to die alone in a sand pit at the cusp of making amends for the degenerative actions of my past...
I tried to be brave, but it was a fleeting emotion.
It looks like I didn't have to worry about Sheik after all, I tried to find a comforting consolation.
The sand was at my chest now, when suddenly the door across the room opened.
"Zelda?" Link called out when he didn't see me.
I suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.
"Link!" I cried out, trying to keep my voice steady. "Link I'm down here! I'm in a sand pit!"
I couldn't see him, but I heard him move quickly. I looked up when I saw his face over the edge of the landing. He immediately reached down for me.
"Give me your hand! Now!"
It took a little wriggling, but I unbound one of my arms and grabbed for his. Link latched on to mine quickly and pulled me up with his one free arm. It took a few minutes, because the sand was so cumbersome, but finally we were making some progress. I thought Link's arm was going to dislocate from his shoulder with the strain from my body, but I greatly under estimated his strength, he wouldn't let up on me. Soon, I was high enough to climb onto the landing without his aide. When I was finally out of danger, I looked back over at the pit with a trembling countenance. However, I didn't have too much time to think about my would be death because Link took me in his arms in a tight hug.
"Are you alright?"
I nodded with my eyes closed, not answering. I was too petrified. After a few moments, Link saw fit to scold me.
"I told you to stay put! How in the world did you end up in a sand pit?"
I shook my head, not having an answer for him.
"I-I'm sorry." I couldn't think of anything else to say. "I just saw something and it made me-"
"There are always going to be things that make you jump Zelda! Goddamn it! I could have lost you!"
I held onto him tightly after he said that.
"I'm sorry," I apologized again. "I was foolish."
He pulled back for a moment and took off my hood.
"Does anything feel broken?" He did a brief examination.
I shook my head no, Link stared at me again with an upset look.
"You have to overcome your fears Zelda. There's no way you can get through life with this much fear trapped inside of you."
That was easy for him to say, he was imbued with courage, but I understood his point and didn't deny it.
"You're right, I didn't mean to cause you so much trouble."
Link took in a deep sigh and his face softened a little after hearing me say that. He caressed my cheek and stared into my eyes.
"I'm just glad you're okay." He then added trying to lighten the mood. "So much for your good fortune kiss."
I grinned at his attempt at brevity.
"Yes, so much for good fortune."
Link's smile gradually faded and he stood up.
"Come on," he took my hand, "you'll stick close to me. We're almost to Stallord's crypt."
I pulled back for a second.
"What's Stallord's crypt?"
He saw the need to clarify.
"The deepest inner most part of the vault."
His grasp tightened around my fingers as a reassurance, and I was grateful for the offer, but the feeling of fear for what was to come was still tantamount. Eventually something was going to happen to separate us. I was dreading that inevitable moment because I knew it meant I was going to be on my own. After the brief stop, we traveled deeper into the catacombs until we came across a large cavernous alcove. This was no doubt Stallord's crypt that Link referenced earlier. In the center of the commodious pit, were the skeletal remains of a deranged looking monster. However, also in the center of the remains was a large, full tang, three tiered, six pronged, adamantine fused, reddish black sword with an inverted symbol of the Triforce on it. From it, a strange black mist was emanating about the room in an eerie circular fashion, the same black mist Ashei said her spies had seen. I took several steps back at the sight and felt my heart begin to pound like crazy. Link on the other hand looked more puzzled by the bizarre sword's appearance than anything.
He immediately got on guard.
"That wasn't here before." Link then put his hand on the butt of his broadsword.
The surprises were about to get greater. Something else that was unexpected was shimmering slightly from the far left corner adjacent to the true origin of the black mist. A crystalline structure giving off soft multi colored lights. The final shard already fixated in the round base of the mirror. I couldn't believe my eyes.
"That's the-that's the fourth shard! Can you believe it Link? The fourth shard!"
Link didn't share in my brief reverie as he was still on guard. In fact, it seemed his sense of alarm was growing. He gripped his sword now and motioned for me to stay behind him.
"That wasn't here either," he said oddly in relation to something else.
At first I thought he was speaking about the mirror, but then I realized he was talking about the sudden appearance of the person standing next to the mirror. It was like he appeared out of nowhere within a blink of an eye. I was so preoccupied in my brief excitement that I missed it. I felt my blood run cold when I recognized who it was.
"Oh no, Sheik!"
Link lifted his arm, gesturing for me to stay behind him.
"I want you to stay back, he's mine."
I did as Link suggested... but it was not to be. I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. A wall of rock suddenly rose from the ground between Link and I, separating us from each other. It was only a moment later that I realized Link had been encased in a cylinder-like edifice of stone.
"Link!" I called out to him, suddenly horrified for his safety.
How in the world was he going to breathe in there?
"Zelda!" he called back, pounding on the structure from the inside. "Zelda! Are you alright?"
I tried pounding on the rock myself, but I knew my efforts were futile.
"Link!" I screamed, beginning to feel overwhelmed with fear. "Link! Please I need you!"
An unconventional reliable voice was about to give me a reassurance.
"He's going to be alright," the voice said from the bottom of the vault.
I looked down and saw that it was Sheik talking. The ninja walked towards the center of the room where the strange looking sword rested with his arms crossed over his chest.
"That casing won't hold him forever. Your enraptured hero is too strong to be held by such primitive bonds."
I wasn't certain if that was to be a reassurance or not, but I took a step back and covered my mouth. Sheik narrowed his eyes when he saw my expression.
"I gave him just enough time to sit in there and simmer so that you and I could tussle," he went on.
I backed up against the wall suddenly and felt my breath quicken.
"I-I don't want to fight you!"
Sheik scoffed and started making his way up the escalator to where I was standing, he was cracking his knuckles in the process.
"Of course you don't, but you really didn't leave me very much choice, now did you?"
I didn't answer and edged back a little as he got closer. I was increasingly getting more and more panicked, and I knew a panicked state was a dangerous state to be in. A person couldn't reason, judge, or learn anything when their body was gripped with panic.
"Sheik-"
"Shut-up, stop stalling, and get over here!"
From inside the stone casing Link could hear everything that was being said.
"Zelda I'm going to get out of here!" the hero tried to reassure me. "Don't fight him!"
I didn't think at this point I had a choice. I looked from the casing back over to Sheik, who had now stopped his advance, waiting for me to make the next move.
"I warn you, I don't like to repeat myself. Get over here!"
I could hear him loud and clear, but my feet were frozen. My feet felt as though they were implanted into the ground. Sheik groaned at my lack of propriety and shook his head.
"Okay," he lost his patience, then suddenly teleported.
I gasped at his disappearance, but then saw a moment later him reappear right in front of me. His red eyes were beaming, and he caught me by the throat, afterwards he teleported us down to the center of the room. When we reappeared at the bottom of the vault, Sheik let me go and shoved me hard to the ground. I landed near the strange looking sword and tried to get my bearings. I rubbed my left shoulder as I got up and turned to face the ninja. He was staring at me very poignantly.
"I'll give you one last opportunity to relinquish those shards without you having to fight me. You either give them to me now, or I'll take them from you."
I had no reply to his suggestion, and it seemed to anger him more. He took a step forward and nodded towards the eclectic looking blade.
"Do you know what that sword is?" Sheik asked abruptly.
I hesitated for a moment, but then glanced over at it, recognizing it for a moment, but ultimately shook my head no.
"N-no,"
He took another step forward.
"That's an ancient sword. That's an evil sword. It belongs to the great adversary of Hyrule."
My eyes widened at his utterance.
"What do you mean?"
Sheik scoffed again and shook his head.
"And you call yourself a sage and a daughter of the royal family? You fool, that's the Sword of Demise."
I had an idea, but that sword was supposed to have been banished to the nether regions. How in the world did it suddenly appear down here in the grounds? Even still, I couldn't keep the shock from entering my veins.
"The Sword of Demise?"
Sheik seemed to no longer be in a talking mood, as he began tightening his wrist bands and tying the bandages tighter around his arms.
"It's not at full strength," he went on anyway, "but it's got enough power to release itself and personify its form once that mirror is put back together," he said, then looked at me, "I can't allow that to happen."
I shook my head, taking several steps back.
"I don't understand," I said in all earnestness.
Sheik narrowed his eyes at me again and tied the sash around the waist of his breastplate.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't."
The ninja then took his battle stance and that was when I knew this nightmare was now a reality.
"Wait," I tried to reason.
He was done reasoning.
"You've stalled enough, now use your little trinket queenie." His menace was growing. "I'm going to show you why you never should have crossed me."
I took another step back, I needed some kind of filler.
"The only person who is to give me the order to use this bracelet is the great Hylia of Hyrule!" I tried holding an unwavering conviction.
Sheik narrowed his eyes at me just then.
"Is that so? Well guess what? If you don't use it, I'm still going to hit you... very hard, and if you don't fight back, you will die."
My whole body began to tremble thereafter, and I took another step back.
"Use the trinket," he uttered once more.
I stepped back again, and that was when he was truly done.
"Okay," he then suddenly lunged at me.
"Ahhhhh!" I screamed at the sudden movement.
Sheik came at me fast and before I could make sense of what was going on, he backhanded me with all his might across my face. I flew to the ground and blood poured from my now open lip. I turned back around stunned and quickly edged away by crawling backwards from the ninja. Link apparently could hear the scuffle from inside his temporary prison.
"Zelda!" Link called out again. "Are you alright?"
Sheik seemed visibly annoyed with the hero's utterance.
"Shut up!" he screamed back at the casing. "You keep calling out like that I'm going to kill your little girlfriend right now!"
The pounding from the inside got even louder.
"You bastard!" Link retorted. "I swear to you if you hurt her I'll break your goddamn neck!"
Sheik turned his attention back to me.
"Your boyfriend thinks I'm playing," he now stalked towards me. "Maybe I should show him that I don't make empty threats."
Involuntary tears filled my eyes just then and I trembled when the ninja advanced closer towards me. At his halting, he kicked me at my right side and then tried to pound out my knee with his foot which I dodged fortunately.
"Get up!" he seethed, kicking me again at my right side.
I cried out more.
"Ah!" I yelped, trying to bring my knees to my chest to protect myself.
Sheik didn't let up.
"I said get up!" he yelled, continuing his assault.
He paused for a moment while I coughed, and it only took me a moment to realize my sputum was blood. Sheik was getting increasingly annoyed with my resistance to using the bracelet. So much so, he reached down and grabbed me by the neck to lift me in the air.
"I warned you. I warned you back at the falls and in the sky city to end this stupid quest, but you didn't listen."
He suddenly assaulted me again with another slap, but then quickly turned my face back to his and held it there so my gaze would be fixated on him. He looked increasingly angry as he spoke.
"All you had to do was fall in love," he said cryptically. "You were never supposed to go after all the shards!"
I was weary from the pain he was inflicting on me, but I did look at him surprised by his utterance.
"What? What are you talking about?"
My question seemed to infuriate him even more, because afterwards in retaliation he punched me hard in my face, quickly bursting open one of my cheeks from the pressure. He then released me and I fell to the floor writhing in pain. I was dazed and the room was spinning.
Is this what Link goes through all the time?
"Yes," Sheik said abruptly as if in answer to my thoughts.
I wasn't expecting that and looked at the ninja dazed and confused for a moment.
"How did you-?" I stopped myself.
He shook his head angrily.
"You still don't get it do you?" Sheik ignored my inquiry. "Get up and use the damn bracelet!"
I was too dazed to follow that immediate command and Sheik was going to make me pay for it. He picked me up by the throat once more and held me up in the air.
"How much pain do you have to endure before you give in to your stubborn pride?" he shook me violently. "Is your greed for what awaits you on the other side so apparent that you're willing to destroy a whole country for it?"
Sheik gripped my neck tighter.
I can't breathe! I grabbed at his hand.
"Good," he whispered in answer to my thoughts again.
I was beyond shocked at what was going on here, and when I didn't answer verbally, he slammed my body back into the ground. I thought I was seeing stars for a moment from the sudden onset of vertigo. Sheik stood over me and just glared down at me, I thought I was seeing two of him.
"Your gluttony for trying to make things right with a world shifted so far from ours will be your undoing," he then knelt down and starting choking me again. "Your lust and envy for the hero and the twilight queen have blinded you to your true resolve!" he continued not letting up. "It was only in a moment of sloth and wrath at the night of the festival that you began to see the true consequences of your behavior."
I didn't understand that last part Sheik just uttered, maybe it was because I was losing oxygen to my brain from his hold. However, the only thing that saying could have been related to was when Link and I were drinking the ancient fruit juice leading up to the moments that followed afterwards.
But how would he know that? He did stop us, but how could he know what went on before that?
"Stop being a damn fool!" the ninja retorted. "Use the bracelet!"
I was finding it hard to catch my breath.
"Use it!" he repeated, and slapped me across the face again.
Blood from my open cheek splattered across the dirt ridden ground. I coughed when the dust perfumed the air.
"Use it damn you!" Sheik screamed in my face, letting go of my neck and grabbing hold of my collar.
I looked wearily at Sheik in that moment and was slightly taken aback by the sudden haunting, but faint familiarity I felt when I stared in those red eyes. I almost couldn't believe it, but then assumed it was just delirium on my part due to a lack of oxygen.
"Who…?" I asked anyway.
The ninja saw that subtle reprisal and backhanded me again across the face.
"Use it you weak bitch!" he screamed once more. "Is this all the queen of Hyrule has? You call yourself a protector of your country? Use the bracelet! Use the only means that will let you survive from here! Use it damn it!"
Sheik let me go and I collapsed onto the floor, I was physically and mentally exhausted. I heard Link's constant pounding and the screaming of my name in the background, but none of that was going to help me. The stone ceiling was suddenly circling about my head like a kaleidoscope of vertigo, and my mind wandered as my body ached. I closed my eyes when I tried to get my mind at peace.
"You have to overcome your fears Zelda," Link's voice echoed through my mind. "There's no way you can get through life with this much fear trapped inside of you."
The hero was right, and tears filled my eyes from how much I realized how true that statement was. When I opened them, Sheik was standing over me, looking down at me with open contempt. he shook his head as he gave me a long once over.
"You're pathetic. You weren't even a challenge."
I would normally let words like that go, as they usually had no real gumption, but in this case he had been right. Even still, I was sick of his vicious taunts and less than favorable words. He had insulted me and my rule enough. I was not weak. I was not a coward. I had every right to be the sovereign of Hyrule, and he was soon going to learn why. I narrowed my eyes at him suddenly, and finally something conjured an unshakable resolve inside me.
"Oh really?" I whispered finally through a labored breath.
Sheik nodded with a grunt.
"Yes, really."
My fists balled at my sides almost involuntarily, and then I touched my opposing hand to my bracelet. It immediately emitted a strange blue light.
"We'll see about that."
Suddenly, the light from the bracelet spread across the room and encapsulated the entire chasm. I instantly felt the wounds on my face and body heal, as my hair transformed from dark brown to platinum black with a golden blonde streak in the front. My tresses then wrapped itself by clairvoyance into a self contained bandaged scaffolding about my head, with only the blonde bangs showing. My cloak and dress suddenly disappeared and was replaced with dark blue, skin tight ninja gear decorated with that familiar emblematic white and red eye on the breast plate. My muscle tone and build changed, and I was abruptly a little bigger, my stance was suddenly a little bit greater, I grew four inches taller, just short of six feet like Sheik. In fact, I looked exactly like him now, with the exception of my blonde bangs and his dark brown ones. It was an uncanny resemblance, and I was certain if I had a mirror, I would be staring back at myself with the same mystic crystal red eyes. I was completely rejuvenated and imbued with the power of my ancestors.
I could feel it.
This was strength.
This was power.
This was what true wisdom was made of.
I had nothing to fear now.
I'm going to let go of all my reservations now Link, I closed my eyes for a brief moment and took in a deep sigh of relief, because you and ancestral mother helped me to see that I can.
When the transformation was over I stood up... no, I jumped up onto my feet and cracked my knuckles. There was a surge of confidence in me that just wasn't there before. It now tingled and burned at my fingertips. I even did a quick bow as Sheik did before back when he formally introduced himself in Zora's Domain.
"Is this better?" I taunted, realizing my voice now had that deep unisex resonance like Sheik's. I assumed it was due to the bandages covering my face.
The opposing ninja took a step back and narrowed his eyes.
"It's about time." He reengaged his battle stance.
For some reason I smirked underneath my bandages and initiated my own battle stance, the ninpo ninjutsu akido.
"Yes, I would say it is."
A few seconds after my feet were set, I didn't wait for Sheik to engage me, I lunged at him first and the fight was on. I plowed into his right side, his dominant side, making him stumble but not fall. He tried grabbing my arm at his reverb, but I slipped from his grip and caught him with a mid kick, knocking him to the ground. When he got his senses, his red eyes finally stared into mine impressed.
"Not bad for a newbie." He got up and rotated his shoulders.
I smirked again under my bandages.
"I've had the best teacher," I referenced Link.
Sheik paused for a few moments before setting his feet and attempting to come at me again. To defend against him, I pivoted my feet inward when he tried tackling me on my dominant side and took advantage of his positioning. Afterwards, I kneed him in the chest and sent him stumbling again backwards. However, Sheik shook off the attack and lunged at me again, but this time he was met with a punch to his chin which caught him by surprise. He stumbled back again and was now getting really upset.
"Okay, I'm done playing with you."
I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing he was eventually going to resort to mindless intimidation tactics.
"I didn't realize you were."
Sheik didn't wait for me to get settled and sprung for me again. I braced myself for his attack, but I fell onto my back from the impact. The ninja was on top of me now, ready to trade blows and hit me in the face, but I dodged his efforts and palm punched his chin upward, disorienting him slightly. He countered by grabbing hold of my neck, of which I then wrapped my unbridled feet around his own neck and yanked him backwards, it was time he had a taste of his own medicine. All the while in the background I could hear Link still pounding away through the stone edifice he was trapped in.
The ninja stared into my eyes as his grip tightened.
"Why didn't you just heed the warnings?" Sheik demanded of me suddenly.
I grunted as his hold was lessening but still proving effective, this man's strength was otherworldly. I took his wanting to speak to me as a way of trying to distract me, but it wasn't going to work. I never replied to his question, and suddenly jabbed at him twice near the middle of his chest, trying to disengage his breastplate. I knew if I could get a break in his armor, I could possibly destroy the rest of it. I got my first real breakthrough when I elbowed his midsection from the side and heard a crack.
Perfect.
Sheik, when he realized what I was doing, tried grappling my arms to hold them down. He was attempting this with my legs still wrapped around his neck, holding it back. He finally had to release me and jump off me when he realized he was putting himself in a more submissive state. I too wasted no time jumping on my feet and repositioning my stance. Once I understood his skill set, my moves became fluid, I knew exactly which counters were for what moves. I believed a great deal of it was due to the guiding influence of my Triforce of Wisdom.
This has to be a gift from Hylia. There's no way I could have done this on my own.
Sheik took in a deep breath, and then did something I was anticipating from the onset of this fight, he teleported. I watched over my shoulder and waited, then dodged him when he reappeared and tried to land on top of me. I rolled to the right and countered with a high kick to the side of his head, which made him stumble immediately, and once I had him where I wanted him, I didn't let up on him. I realized I couldn't, or he would attempt to kill me again. I began pounding his face relentlessly with blow after blow from my fists once I had him in a submissive state. A few moments later, Sheik fell to his knees attempting to try and defend himself from my onslaught, but I was not about to let up. I let out all my frustrations on him.
"This is for getting in my and Link's way on our way to Zora's Domain!" I picked him up shortly thereafter and punched him square across his chin.
The ninja flew several feet backwards and landed on his bottom near the strange looking sword. I stalked towards him again, not giving him a chance to recuperate or revamp, and gripped the fabric of his body suit before pulling him up from the ground to face me once more... just like he had done to me earlier. I narrowed my eyes at him before I spoke once more.
"You twisted deviant. How dare you use the sanctity of the Sheikah tribe to exact your vengeance against a queen of Hyrule? This queen! You remember now all that you had done to try and stop Link and me because it is being delivered to you seven fold! This is for stabbing Link and poisoning me in Zora's Domain." I then suddenly threw him over my head with a burst of strength I didn't know I had.
I watched as he landed on his back. I wasted no time going back over to him and straddled over him. I readied myself for another assault.
"This is for when you choked me out at the City in the Sky." I dropped down abruptly on his groin and head butted his head into the ground.
"Ahhhhh!" he cried out and went to protect himself.
Sheik was dazed from my attack, but that didn't stop me from going on.
"This is for nearly killing everyone at the festival," I continued, and got up to kick him in the side.
I was so frustrated with that, that I kicked him again. Sheik closed his eyes, and winced in pain. Even still, I showed no mercy.
"This is for almost preventing me and Link from getting the last shard!" I picked Sheik up again by the neck and assaulted him into the wall below where Link was trying to get out of the stone casing.
I looked up and saw that the hero was going to be free soon. Afterwards, I came up to Sheik and took hold of his collar, bringing his face within inches of mine.
"And this …" I trailed, trying to catch my breath, "this is for being a traitor to the royal family, you're an accursed man who's going to have an accursed memory. You know the Sheikah are rightly servants to the throne of Hyrule!"
I then brought my knee to the ninja's genitals repeatedly until I heard the crack of the groin plate. Sheik's eyes suddenly widened and rolled to the back of his head. Afterwards, he had no more fight in him and he slumped to the floor. I prevented him from falling completely and caught him by the collar once more.
"You said you wanted a fight," I taunted. "Was that good enough for you, you rotten bastard? Or do you want more?"
Sheik never answered my questions and merely stared at me as he breathed laboriously.
"You... you have no idea what you're about to release with that mirror," he ignored my taunts. "Don't do it."
I scoffed at his warning and got visibly annoyed when he didn't answer my question. Instead of heeding his premonition, I kneed him decidedly in his groin and let him go. I watched as he fell to the floor.
"Hmph," I groaned, and twirled my fingers, "surprisingly that was child's play."
My timing couldn't have been more perfect, because as soon as Sheik fell to the floor defeated, Link broke through the stone casing he was once trapped in. The hero jumped out and hurried down from where he was on the above landing. When he got to the bottom floor, he stopped short of me when he didn't recognize me. He looked taken aback suddenly when he saw Sheik beaten and lying prostrate on the ground nearby. Afterwards, his eyes darted back to me and he immediately got on guard.
I made no qualms about what just happened.
"He won't bother us anymore."
Link still didn't advance, narrowed his eyes at me, and had his hand fixated about the butt of his sword.
"Who are you?" he demanded quietly, probably already knowing the answer to that question. "Where's Zelda?"
I stared at him for a brief moment before pulling the bandages from my face so he could get a good look at me.
"It's me. I am Zelda."
Link's face suddenly distorted with confusion.
"What?"
I nodded while he gave me a long and puzzled once over.
"Why do you look like that? You look like... like him."
I then held up my wrist.
"The bracelet turned me into the warrior that I never knew was within me. My grandmother once traveled the land and lived in hiding this way."
He didn't have much to say in the way of my explanation, but then looked back down at Sheik. He was silent for a moment.
"Did you... did you do that to him?"
I paused before answering, but soon nodded thereafter. Link didn't reply, but looked troubled. I chose for now to ignore it as there were more pressing matters at hand and was about to make my way over to the mirror, when Sheik suddenly grabbed my ankle in a last ditch effort to stop me. His eyes were wide and desperate.
"Please! Don't do it! Don't put that mirror back together!" Sheik implored, barely able to breathe. "I'm begging you! Don't do it!"
I simply stared down at him with narrowed eyes, then, without giving him, or Link, a warning, I kicked the fledgling warrior in the throat. Afterwards, he past out cold and was immobile from thereon. I snatched my leg from his grasp and watched from the corner of my eyes as Link stared at me mortified.
"Zelda…" he trailed in uncertainty.
I darted my eyes back to the hero.
"We've come too far. This wretched bastard tried to kill us! Serves him right for being such a ruthless charlatan!"
I made no apologies about the contempt I felt for him. Even still, Link stood his guard especially when I walked up to him. I began unwrapping the cloth scaffolding around my face to release my two toned hair.
"Don't worry about him," I stroked my blonde bang, "he isn't dead."
Link was staring past me at the fallen warrior, then looked back to me again with doubtful eyes. I just stared back and raised a brow, I was done with all the delays.
"We have a mirror to assemble. That's why were here."
Link looked from me to Sheik once again with a tentative expression. He eyed me with open suspicion when I came closer still. I stared back, but then spontaneously reached up and kissed him forcefully on the lips. I didn't let him go even when he tried to pull away, and when I did pull away, he looked at me stunned. I just licked my lips, knowing the shards influence were acting their most powerfully right now. My actions and lack of regard proved that.
"You care too much. Didn't you tell me to stop being afraid?"
Link's gaze searched my face just then, trying to find the woman he had spoken to only a short while ago. She was gone for now, and he was going to have to accept that. I let him go, letting him think what he wanted of me, it was none of my affair. I just wanted to assemble the mirror. I just wanted to see what was at the end of this intricate puzzle. I walked past Link and headed for the shard set in the circular frame of the mirror. Link didn't follow me immediately, he was still looking at the now fallen Sheik. He shook his head, displeased with my actions. It seemed to take him a good while to verbalize his feelings about the matter.
"We could have gotten intelligence from him Zelda. That blow could have killed him."
I shrugged.
"Could've, should've, would've," I approached the mirror standing in the corner, "it makes no difference now. As I said before he isn't dead, he's just down."
Link still didn't feel good about any of this and sighed troublingly. It took him a few moments but he finally joined me at the mirror. I looked up at him, when I saw his hesitation and grim expression.
"What's the matter?"
The hero cut his eyes to me and looked mildly distrustful.
"What's gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?"
I reached out for the shard.
"I encountered one great big family reunion all at once."
Link didn't understand what I meant.
"What?"
I shook my head.
"Forget it." I changed the subject. "Where are the shards?"
Link hesitated again at my tone and manner, but didn't argue with me on the subject. He opened his satchel and handed the three pieces of glass to me. I put the pint sized shards into specific fitted holsters, and then watched as each piece went back to its original size. It was incredible, I stared at the mirror entranced.
"Now we'll finally know what your big secret is," I whispered absently, not really speaking to Link, then recited the first riddle. "'The putting together of the insidious attributes will result in the Arbiter's kiss.'"
All the while Link was looking at me slightly disturbed.
"Zelda-" he started, but didn't finish when the glass suddenly shined brilliantly.
It halted the both of us. Link and I covered our eyes when the light didn't dissipate. In fact, it started refracting in red and seven ancient Hylian words appeared across it: superbia, invidia, accidica, avarita, gula, luxuria, and the last word that seemed to appear the biggest, ira.
Link looked at the wording perplexed.
"All seven are appearing at once."
That's right, he doesn't know the significance of the words yet.
The mirror abruptly bonded and crystallized into a perfect undeterred latticed structure. The mirror suddenly created a fractal, integral image, of rotating pixelation inverted inward on itself. It looked like a gate way to another realm.
My eyes widened with excitement.
"That's it!" I whispered, but Link was hesitant to share in my excitement.
I got closer to approach it, when all of a sudden, the sword that was fixated in the earth, rose itself and spearheaded toward the glass.
"Look out!" Link shouted.
Link saw the rotating blade, and instantly pushed me out of the way of its intended target. The sword pierced the glass, but surprisingly, the glass didn't break. The sword began to meld with the glass, as if melting into the structure of the mirror. The black mist that permeated the room soon congregated at the glass and stayed there.
What's going on? I felt a growing sense of dread.
The glass diffracted different colors suddenly. The hues changed from black, white, and red. Near the back of the chasm Sheik managed to sit up and looked on in terror.
"Too late," the ninja whispered.
Link held onto me tightly, and tried to shield me from the random excitations of color. Finally, the mirror stopped shifting and another strange occurrence took place. There was an image in the mirror now. The image was of a male. When he opened his eyes, they were as black as night with a dark purple lining around the orbicularis oculi, the bottom muscle of the eye socket. His skin was platinum white, the same as his hair, with slight lavender pigmentation to his lips. One of his ears was pointy, while his other was sliced into a curvature. He smiled when he saw Link and I, and then came through the mirror. Once his full countenance was expended, he stood six feet eight inches tall. Even though he was only four inches taller than Link, he looked like he towered over the both of us. He wore a skin tight body suit that was decorated with diamonds along the sides and a belt around his waist. He had an other worldliness about him that made him terrifying, but alluring at the same time. He looked like he could have been thirty years old, but he seemed to have been around for eons. When he turned his attention to look at me and Link he licked his lips and grinned.
"Were you the one who put the mirror back together?" he asked in a deep sonorous voice.
His voice gripped me with fear. Link quickly pushed me behind him and stood his ground in front of me.
"Who the hell are you?"
The male narrowed his eyes at Link and licked his lips again.
"You're not the Hero of Sky, are you?" he asked more to himself than he did to Link. "You have his spirit, but you are not him, but I sense the presence of one with whom I know very well."
The male turned his attention to me and I gasped.
"No…" he stared at me with an un-hidden desire, "not you… though you are, without a doubt, the most magnificent creature I've laid eyes on in a thousand years."
A thousand years?
Link narrowed his eyes at him.
"You didn't answer my question!"
The male held up his pale hand and pulsed a force of great magnitude, sending Link and I flying back about twenty feet. We both looked at the male creature dumbfounded.
"No," the male started, and then began walking across the chasm to where Sheik was lying, "I didn't answer your question, and I don't plan to, especially if you ask me like that."
The male creature then walked up to Sheik and picked him up from the ground by the neck. But, when the creature whipped off Sheik's bandages, everyone was in for a horrible surprise.
Sheik wasn't a man at all.
The countenance that stood before us was that of a woman with golden blonde hair, and a dark brown streak in the front that protruded as her bangs. She was beautiful... and she looked just like ancestral mother. In fact, she was ancestral mother. I felt shock enter my veins, and I fell to my knees when I saw her face.
That was who I was fighting?
"Dear goddesses." I then covered my mouth.
Link was dumbstruck too, but not for the same reasons. He had no idea who this woman really was.
"Who is that?" the hero whispered more to himself than anyone.
The male creature held her up in the air with one hand and grinned at her with a wicked smile. It was like he had known her the whole of his life.
"It's been a long time... Hylia."
The goddess looked down at him and wallowed enough in her throat to try and spit in his face, but was unable to when the creature squeezed her throat.
"Ah, ah, ah. I don't want to have to squeeze that pretty neck of yours."
She grunted at her captured state.
"Whatever you crazy bastard," she gripped at his hands.
The man then turned back to Link and I, with Hylia still in his hand, and bowed.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he said with a snide knowing smile. "You may call me Ghirahim."
The next chapter will be up soon