Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.

DEATH…

MISERY…

WE WEEP TEARS OF BLOOD IN THIS LONE DARKNESS…

OUR DESPERATE CRIES FALLING ON DEAF EARS…

THEIR TREACHERY SHALL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN...

THEIR LEGACY IS ETERNAL… A SENSELESS SLAUGHTER OF OUR RACE…

Page - – Requiem

Chapter 30 - Requiem

Watching with bated breath, Sheik witnessed as the red ice dotting the room began to melt under the magical heat of those blue flames.

One by one, the frozen Zora fell to the soaked floor. They coughed loudly with the first breath of air in years.

"T-Thank you… thank you so much for freeing us." Said an older Zora to Sheik, she is one of the first of them slid away from the dreadful crystallin prison. "We waited… for so long… Mister, you don't know how horrible it was. To stay awake, aware of everything, but never be able to move, blink, sleep… praised be the Goddesses for sending you."

Kneeling beside the woman, Sheik offered a hand to her. After looking at him with gratitude and reverence, she smiled weakly and accepted his help.

Taking hold of the woman's back, the young Sheikah supported her for long enough until her wobbly legs could stand on their own. He watched as more and more of them began to stand up, gathering around on the waterway beneath the large throne.

Some Zora began to weep, others fell to silence; each of them grieving for their sovereign who is dead and entombed inside the same nightmarish ice that just moments ago held prisoner his subjects.

"Princess Ruto, I don't see her anywhere," Sheik noted with voiced thoughts. "Can you tell me where they've taken her?"

Glancing at him, the older Zora blinked a few times, her expression growing sadder.

"She's gone." El'Azul replied in her stead, the broad Zora being the other one who came to the top floor to free the rest of his brethren.

"Gone where? How?" The Sheikah asked, turning his attention to the tall blue-skinned man who is helping an older man walk toward the stairs.

Rubbing the side of his head, El'Azul glanced upward as if staring into his own memories "One month or two before the legion attacked, I think, the water level of Hylian Lake started to drop. Princess Ruto said it was the work of a curse, and then she went there to try and solve it." Shaking his head, he sighed. "We… never saw her again after that."

"I… see." This information troubled the Sheikah. Not that he felt deeply for the woman, he has never met her personally, but having Princess Ruto rally their people against Ganondorf was part of their plan, and now without her, rebuilding the broken aquatic people can be extremely problematic. "The King… how shall we approach this situation?"

Looking up to the very large man sitting on his throne, El'Azul frowned deeply. "For now, it would be best to leave him like this." A few Zora that were crying at the feet of their lord turned back to look at El'Azul. "No matter what we do now, that spear has sealed our King's fate. If we melt that ice, what else can we do about him? We can't give him a proper burial; we can't move his body from this place… what is the point then? This blasted crystal will at least keep his image the way he is."

Sheik nodded at him. "That is a sensible idea. At least, it gives you a chance to pay proper respect to his majesty when this is over."

"Sheee- Sheeeik!" Vahn's scream echoed from the stairs leading down, the sudden outcry startling all the Zora who just got free.

Rushing toward the door, Sheik saw as Vahn climbed the steps in a mad rush, the boy tearing up as he jumped and crashed his head onto the Sheikah's chest. "W-What?! Vahn, what happened?" Sheik felt his heart speed up quite a lot, the distress coming from his smaller friend making him panic, instantly thinking of Link.

"H-He… He…." Vahn stuttered and almost bit his tongue, trying too hard to push a lot from his mouth at the same time, he is having a lot of difficulties saying even one word.

Taking the red-haired young man by his shoulders, Sheik pulled him back and looked down at his large green eyes. "Please, Vahn. Just breath in and breath out, then tell me what happened."

Vahn did as his friend asked. He stopped, took a long breather, and swallowed a bit of saliva that was pooling around his tongue. "S-Sheik, he's here. HE'S HERE! Ganondorf is here, and he is fighting against both Links."

Sheik's visible eye widened just as much as Vahn's. The blonde's gaze tilted to the side, trying to peer down there, but only seeing the dripping walls in front of him.

"OI! Red-haired kid, where's Lazul?!" El'Azul came running toward them, the big Zora putting one arm on Vahn, shaking him back and forward. "Where did you leave my sister? And what in the blazing hells is Ganondorf here?!"

"Ow, stop shaking me! I don't know why he is here! He just appeared floating in the air, then they started fighting." Vahn said back, pushing the Zora's tight gripping hand away from him.

"And Lazul?" El'Azul asked again.

"She took the Zora downstairs and left. They managed to leave before Ganondorf appeared." Giving a small glance behind him, Vahn continued. "She said something about taking them to Hylian Lake, that it would be safer there."

A hint of inspiration flashed on El'Azul's big black eyes. "The hidden channel, of course!" He then spun around to face the other Zora staring at him with concerned eyes. "Listen up people, you need to move out and take the passage to Hylian Lake." Moving forward toward the first Zora in front of him, he presented the person with the last bottle filled with azure flames. "If the passage is frozen up again for some reason, just throw this at it with enough force to break the glass, okay?"

The smaller man nodded, clenching the bottle with both hands.

"What are you standing there gawking at me? MOVE!" He roared and people began to scramble around the room.

In a very uncoordinated manner, the Zora fled down the stairs in waves, everyone following the young man holding the bottle in his hands.

"You two, we need to get down there," El'Azul said moving closer to Sheik and Vahn. "Only a Zora can take that passage, anyone else will drown before getting halfway there. So, this leaves us with one option to escape this place." He smashed his fists together. "Past Ganondorf."

"Y-You are a Zora, you could leave with them." Vahn pointed out.

"What do you take me for, kid?" The Zora replied with an offended tone. "The Boss never leaves one of his behind, and right now there is one of mine fighting down there. So, move I say!"

With that, El'Azul ran down the stairs, hugging down the right side to jump from the stairs as soon as he could.

"Sheik…" Vahn called out to his friend still stuck staring down the stairs.

"We can do it…" The Sheikah replied very quietly. "Vahn, do you see it. If we kill him now, everything ends today. We can do it." Jumping to his feet, Sheik glared down the path and furiously began to dash his way down. "WE CAN END THIS HERE!"

Zanza the Divine - Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition OST [035] [DE] - watch?v=MnVemwebkiY

A massive bolt of golden lightning crashed onto the waterfall, blasting the hardened wall behind it, raining water on the second and first levels like it had started raining inside.

Another crackling exploded as a boom of air pulled everything toward the center of the vortex, forming a mighty ball of energy at the palm of Ganondorf's hand. "Last time we had the pleasure of meeting… I extended to you an amicable offer." His voice is as loud and vicious as the gathering storm forming at his will. "Would you care to… reconsider?" Ganondorf smiled, even the act of his lips parting feels like a mockery for those under his gaze.

Panting softly, grimacing just for holding his right arm upright to held his sword, Link glared at Ganondorf, giving the ever-subtle glance to the blue-eyed blond at his side. "My answer is the same."

Shaking his head slowly, Ganondorf simply chuckled. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… In one moment, you are at the edge of butchering him." He pointed his golden sword at the green-clad Link. "And now you growl at me like his attack dog. You disappoint me."

"I am nobody's pet!" Link roared, the sparkle of life returning to his eyes at the provocation.

With a wild bellow of his cape, the mighty King of Evil hurled the rolling orb of energy at the blondes. The blue-eyed Link jumped backward, the red-eyed one pressed his feet firmly on the ground and slammed the side of his blade against the ball, shoving it against a wall on the back. Another rampaging explosion shook the foundation of Zora's Domain, bolts of lightning flying as high at the broken bridge on the third level.

Ganondorf smirked. "So it seems. Not a pet, not a hero. Just a pariah, a walking joke made to be laughed at." His malicious gaze then shifted to the other blond, staring confusedly at his counterpart. "And you, mighty hero. I have half the mind of offering you the same, however…"

Link stepped forward with an angry scowl. "I would never take your side, Ganondorf! The only thing I will give you is the sharp point of my blade."

Allowing himself to descend slowly onto the surface of the lake, Ganondorf sighed with a roll of his eyes. "Predictable. My, you are the picture of mediocrity. That light in your eyes, so naïve, so… repulsive." Closing his eyes, he pressed the tip of his boot on the water, instantly the lake froze up as if kissed by the heart of winter. "There's no potential in you. Only a waste of saliva." His glare shifted onto the grey-wearing Link again. "Is that your final word?"

A sharp whoosh of Link's sword raising forward was all the answer that Ganondorf got.

"So be it." Clenching his empty fist, Ganondorf stopped the magic allowing him to float, his boots crashing harshly onto the ice, cracking various spots along the solid lake. "As a token of respect, I will keep you alive, boy." His lips parted into another mocking smirk. "I recall you asking for a date with my inquisitors."

Ganondorf took one step forward and his body moved like a blur. In the wake of a sonic boom, the man crossed the distance between him and grey-clad Link in a breathes moment, his yellow eyes flashing with a murderous glint.

One flash of golden came swinging down lightning fast, the glowing engravings on the sword leaving trails of light in the air as it flew down in an arc.

Raising his right arm, Link held the handle of his sword in a tight grip, he then pushed his left hand up and pressed it against the side of the blade. He gritted his teeth and felt the blow crash on top of him.

His knees almost buckled at the weight of Ganondorf's sword, his boots grinded against the slippery floor.

Grunting, Link put the weight of his body forward, trying to push the other man away. Feeling his opponent replying in kind, the blond gave one strong push forward and then dodged back, allowing Ganondorf's sword to cleave into the ground.

"Clever…" Ganondorf praised the blond, but quickly jumped forward and kicked Link straight on the chest.

Flying like an arrow, Link crashed onto the wall at the feet of the stairs. He rolled on the freezing cold floor, his grey hat slipping into the wet ground.

'S-Spirits… how is he… that fast in a heavy armor?' His red eyes went up, glossy by the impact on his back. At first glance, Ganondorf is probably carrying the weight of a grown man on his body just with his adorned chest plate, making even more unbelievable the speed he is moving.

His last kick made pale warrior fly way too far than he wanted to, so Ganondorf switched his attention to the blue-eyed blond charging at him.

Raising his left hand forward, the Gerudo King summoned a spiral of energy, creating another ball of golden energy. Pushing his palm against the orb, he hurled it at the blond.

Putting a brake on his dash, Link tried to stop and jump away from the spell, but he failed to account for how slippery the frozen lake can be. So, instead of stopping, he went sliding forward into the projectile, and as a last recourse, he raised his sword to block it.

The same explosion that brutalized the wall behind the waterfall, ravaged Link's body. It first crashed onto his blade, bursting into a storm, piercing Link's arms and legs with arrows made of light, raining pure electricity on him.

Link's screams filled the area, his knees instantly going to the ground. Managing to open only one of his cerulean eyes, he glanced up just in time to see another golden ball flying his way.

Gritting his teeth, the blue-eyed blond managed to gather enough strength on his legs to stand up and raise his sword to block it again. Before he registered that it would be a bad idea to repeat what he just did, the spiraling orb was right upon him.

With little alternatives left, Link just planted his feet down and gritted his teeth. It was too late to wind up his arms for a swing.

Yet, before he could get assaulted by another explosive storm of light, a grey blur slid ahead of him, bringing a gust of air in a fast swing.

Blue eyes widened in surprise when the golden orb went flying backward, missing Ganondorf's head by a few inches. "Why?" Link asked the man standing in front of him.

Glancing behind him, the red-eyed warrior frowned and shrugged. "If you die now, I die too." He then glared at Ganondorf and took a step forward. "In the way that we are now… if we are to take him. We take him together."

"I don't need your help." The blond hero snarled, stepping forward to stand next to his rival.

His counterpart growled right back at him. "And I don't want yours either! Stop being a child and listen, imbecile. If you want to die, do it at another time, I will even cheer for you. But right now, we have the most dangerous scumbag in Hyrule glaring at us."

Link glared at his counterpart and then at Ganondorf and then at the red-eyed blond again. "FINE!" He screamed. "But you stay out of my way."

"Arghh, shut up and fight!" Roaring back at the other blond, Link straightened his stance, his counterpart mirroring his movement further infuriating the pale warrior.

Ganondorf smirked at the incoming duo. They moved exactly the same, as if one was the shadow of the other. But that only presented itself as a weakness of them. One and the same, two forces of equal height and strength, moving precisely equally, cannibalizing each other's space and momentum.

A roar of laughter exploded from the Tyrant's mouth. "Light and Darkness cannot coexist. And it appears, neither can you." Hurling three orbs at the same time, he watched as the blonds scrambled against each other to dodge or swat the projectiles away.

Each time one took a step, they did by pushing the other back. Even moving together, they are not working together but trying to outdo their supposed ally.

Gathering a wave of power on his right hand, Ganondorf infused his weapon with magic. Pushing his arm in a downward swing, he created a massive shockwave cutting a rough line across the frozen lake.

One Link tried to stand down and swing his sword against the sonic boom, the other had the idea of sliding down beneath the cutting air blade. Both tried to act at the same time and in the same space, neither of their plans worked as they tripped into each other's leg.

Luckily for them, both Master Swords locked together when they dug into the ground, making enough resistance to halt the transparent spell's lethal force.

"Look where you are going, hardhead!" Pale Link yelled at the blond on top of him.

"Me?! You are the one tripping over my legs."

A large smile spread over Ganondorf's face, pure delight on the man's yellow eyes. "Together you are less of a challenge than standing alone." He chuckled, raising his sword at them. "Let me prove it to you."

Moving like a blur again, the man appeared on top of them. He swung his blade from right to left. It exploded in a ringing sound as it clashed against the Darker blade. Whirling like a tempest, the Gerudo brought his sword down upon the other blond, almost crushing him under the weight of the blow.

He smirked when those blue eyes glared at him from behind the locked swords. Giving one forceful push forward, he tried to behead Link on the spot, but his sword wouldn't budge forward.

Clicking his tongue in mild annoyance, the man decided to swat this pest away. With a powerful kick, he sent the boy flying spinning to the open cave on the back.

His attention quickly swapped to the pale blond jumping to strike at him. Parrying the blow with his sword, Ganondorf shot his left hand up and grabbed Link by the neck, and shoved him into the frozen lake.

The solid water gave in to the pressure, cracking a hole where Link's face came crashing on. It gave the tyrant a twisted new idea, and so he pushed the blond even further, burying his head inside into the water.

As Link kicked and twisted in place, desperately trying to push his head from within the lake, Ganondorf started to laugh, shoving the blond even further in.

However, even in the grandness of his fun, he noticed the movement from the corner of his eyes. It gave him time to release his hold on the pale blond and jump back before the other one slammed his sword into an empty spot.

Twisting his body in panic, Link pushed himself out from the lake, coughing so loudly that his throat began to hurt. He glanced to the side, just to see his other-self bleeding from the forehead, panting heavily in the setting fatigue.

No reprise was given to either of them. Ganondorf came crashing with a coat of lightning around himself. He swung his weapon at one Link, as the blue-eyed blond matched his blow, the sparkles of magic flared up, engulfing both of them in a painful current of electricity.

They screamed in unison, both falling to their knees in front of Ganondorf as a thin line of smoke shimmered from their clothes.

Both Master Swords clanged on the icy floor, both Link's lacking enough strength to hold their heads high.

"The Goddesses' protegee, divided in two… Look at you, so weak and pathetic." He growled angrily, taking the grey-wearing blond by the collar of his tunic, raising him to eye level. "Aren't you the chosen one to challenge me? Aren't you their holy bastion!" His yellow eyes trailed to the shining mark on the back of Link's hand. It made the man turn mad with rage, he snarled furiously and in instinct, he tossed the blond to the other side of the room.

"I… I…" The other one still on the ground stuttered, making the tyrant glance down at him. Slowly his head lifted, his blue eyes glaring defiantly at the man. "Stop… you…"

Any resemblance of control in the self-proclaimed monarch disappeared when staring on those earnest blue eyes. "Stop me?! You are an error, a mistake. A naïve boy playing hero with his toy sword." He leaned in and punched Link on the face, splattering blood on the frozen water. "I AM A GOD! NO ONE CAN STAND AGAINST MY POWERS!"

Link's screams echoed loudly again. Ganondorf began to mass his power at the palm of his hand again in the same manner he does to create the balls of energy, but this time directly pushing it out onto the blonde's face.

Slowly, Ganondorf was snuffing the fire of light from Link's eyes. His bright cerulean orbs getting glossy and unfocused.

However, the tyrant just stopped the torment he was inflicted on his hated enemy and looked up.

Pushing his right arm above his head, he blocked the flying daggers coming his way. Right then a nimble blond fell from above between him and Link and kicked the red-haired monster in the chest. It wasn't much in terms of damage, but this one blow made the tyrant give enough space for the Sheikah to pull the hero away.

"Link… Link! Talk to me, please." He shook Link back and forward, growing only more alarmed when his lover's beautiful blue eyes just lulled everywhere but onto him. "You can't do this, love… You can give up now. We will get through this right? We will outlive this war. You said it yourself."

"S-Sheik…" Link replied in a broken whisper, but it was enough to make the Sheikah smile happily at him. However, when Link grabbed him by the arm in a painfully strong grip, a wave of concern quickly washed over him. "R-Run!"

Following the line of Link's panicked gaze, Sheik saw Ganondorf steps away from them, one hand trained at them already forming that powerful ball of energy.

Pulling Link onto his arms, Sheik hugged the Hero close to his chest and turned his back towards Ganondorf. Closing his eyes, he just waited for the wave of pain to fill his body.

But instead, it was his ears that got overwhelmed by the loud explosion flaring just behind him.

Turning instantly to look at it, Sheik saw the other Link standing between him and Ganondorf, small crackles of energy still flashing across the pale blonde's body.

Falling to his knees again, Link has his head hanging low, lips quivering with the excruciating pain still assaulting his nerves.

"W-Why?" Sheik asked subconsciously, surprised to see the other man putting his body as a shield for the Sheikah's sake.

Link didn't reply, he couldn't, at least not with words. Instead, the red-eyed blond just turned slightly and glanced at Sheik. His gaze lingered at the image of the Sheikah holding the blue-eyed buffoon so close, it was impossible to hide the hurt from his face.

"Maggots… like maggots you keep popping out from the ground, one after the other." Ganondorf growled in a vicious snarl. "I will burn every single one of you-"

A boom of air exploded directly on the Gerudo's face, staining his mouth with drops of blood coming from his busted lips.

"Hahah! You hit the mark, kid!" El'Azul's booming voice sounded from above as the tall Zora slid down the side of the wall using a broken sword as a deterrent to his fall. "Amazing little disk you got there."

Vahn, the first person in many years that managed to make the great Ganondorf bleed, instantly turned green on his face. Descending the last row of stairs from the upper levels, the young scholar threw his Chakram without much thought when he saw his friends at risk.

Now, under the heated glare of those yellow eyes, the red-haired petite man is ready to collapse in fear and stress over his action.

"You… DARE!" Fire venting out from Ganondorf's bleeding mouth, his ragging glare fixated on the little traitorous Gerudo.

Moving by instinct, both Links gritted their teeth to overcome their pain and moved to stand between Ganondorf and Vahn.

"Never…" Link said quietly, his green hat almost sliding from the side of his head.

To his left, the other blond raised his sword. "No, you won't."

"Link…" Vahn whispered, moved deeply by their eagerness to protect him.

"Stay back!" Both Links yelled at the same time when Vahn took a timid step forward in their direction.

Ganondorf's next step echoed across the entirety of Zora's Domain, most of the frozen lake's surface cracked. "Your devotion to the little traitor is commendable. Hah, to think one day Hylians would stand up for a Gerudo." Taking the handle of his golden sword with both hands, the yellow-eyed man smirked, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth down to his chin. "I will make you watch as I rip out his spine."

"Nova… Nova…" Lars whispered to his companion lying on the edge of the platform overlooking the shattered frozen lake. Seeing as Nova couldn't register his voice, he slowly crawled his way to her side and nudged at her with an elbow. "Nova, this is way over our heads. What are we doing here?"

Nova still ignored Lars' words for a while, her eyes glued at the scene of Ganondorf bombarding the two blonds with a range of flying spells. "They will lose…" She thought aloud. "If we don't do something, the bastard will kill them."

"We do something? Are you crazy?!" Lars whispered a little louder now. "That is Ganondorf we are talking about. Even Link and that… twin of him can take the monster. What in the hells do you suggest we do?"

"ANYTHING!" Nova yelled at him, not caring if people noticed them. "Look at them, Lars. They will die, and the boss is down there with them. Do you want to just turn on your tail and run? Didn't we come all the way here to help the boss fight?"

"Fight soldiers, fight people like us. Not to throw myself in a suicidal delusion that I can hurt Goddesses-thrice damned Ganondorf!"

"Lars! For one moment in your life, can you not be a spineless coward?!" She glared at her friend, almost twisting her arm on the floor to slap him on the face.

And Lars, who at first glared back at her offended by the words, then looked past Nova and his face turned pale. "B-Blazing hells! Is that?!"

Nova followed his gaze and instantly jumped to her feet. Her sudden movement got the attention of the people down there, Ganondorf included. "Stop it, FIE!"

Raising her hand, she tried to reach to the little girl standing at the tipping edge of the platform directly above where Ganondorf is, the Gerudo woman watched as the little girl just threw the little knife she had.

The small piece of metal didn't have even enough force to fly head first down. Instead, it just spirals down like a small pebble hurled down a cliff. The little blade, however, continued to spin until it bopped Ganondorf at the side of the head, and then it fell into a crack of the icy surface.

Ganondorf's eyes trailed down the knife until it disappeared under the dark water, then his eyes raised toward the little Sheikah girl. "Annoying pest." Raising his hand, he gathered a gigantic sphere of energy onto his sword. The weapon flashed with light and transformed itself into a long spear, it's head wide and long.

Snarling at the image of the girl glaring at him, the tyrant hurled the spear at the full force of his arm, lighting shooting out from the metallic pole at each meter it raised in the air.

One large shadow cast itself upon Fie right before the golden lance exploded upon her, a tempest even greater than the one that destroyed the waterfall raged on the platform, destroying more than half of it, raining ice, rock, and blood to the cracked surface of the lake.

"FIE!" El'Azul cried, his mouth hanging open in disbelief of what he witnessed. Ignoring the giant threat in front of him, ignoring the falling rocks coming from above, he just ran toward where Fie fell. Diving inside the raising smoke without a care for his safety.

Stunned by the sudden shift of events, Link's blue eyes just stared on that spot. An awful taste of bile rose to his throat, he can't believe that something as ghastly as that happened to a small child. Reliving the sound of the explosion makes his entire body shutter, his soul chilling witnessing so much evil.

Then his head started to hurt, an unbearable pain hacking his thoughts, clawing at his temples. Claiming his will, poisoning the deepest level of his consciousness. For no particular reason, his gaze shifted to the man at his side. His counterpart fell with his knees on the ground, his forehead pounding on the ice as both hands clenched on the side of his head.

The pain became greater, it cast a veil over Link's vision, on his awareness. Shutting his eyes close, he opened them again, just to find himself surrounded by nothing but darkness.

He glanced left and right, his breathing growing fast. He tried to reach forward, compelled to reach for anything to pull him out of this place.

And by this call, the darkness beckoned.

From the empty space in front of him, a giant red eye opened itself, giant lids peeling apart like a blooming flower. Its gaze pure blazing hatred, its divided pupils dancing around the orb, moving circularly, pulling Link closer to its grasp.

"Embrace your legacy."

It commanded with a deep, echoing voice.

Unable to bear the pain in his head anymore, Link closed his eyes, and… obeyed.

"GANONDORF!"

Vahn and Sheik winced under the cheer pressure of Link's scream. Even with their hands covering their ears, they had no choice but to step back from the sheer force of both Link's visceral shout.

They witnessed as both blondes, shoot forward as if nothing could ever hinder their body. Moving at the same speed, manner, and form, the estranged twins bolted toward Ganondorf like both were of the same mind and body.

Where one jumped forward to slash at the man, the other ran faster and forced the tyrant to open himself to either one of their attacks.

Blocking the blade coming from his stomach, Ganondorf was completely unable to stop the one cutting deep onto his shoulder, blasting half of his chest plate in one single swing.

The man screamed in pain for the first time, he stumbled back, raising a curtain of lighting between him and both warriors.

This desperate diversion held them for only a split second, as both Links pulled their arms back, the Master Swords instantly glowing with blinding gold light, they then slashed against the lightning wall and destroyed the spell in one strike.

Stepping onwards, they seemed to occupy the same space, both swords grinding against the side of the other as they cut upwards towards the man in front of them.

Ganondorf raised both arms, hoping his elegant bracers would block the damage. Metal caved in, and blood spilled forth as each sword cut harshly on the flesh beneath the silky sleeves of the tyrant's arms.

The man raged, screaming so loud that the ice beneath his boots gave in and fell to the water. This hole expanded for at least a few meters, forcing the blondes to jump back. But as soon as their feet found firm ground, they pushed their legs down and leaned forward again, aiming the tip of their blade at their enemy's chest.

Spinning in place, Ganondorf made a vortex of light around him. The energy clashed against the Holy Swords, violent bolts flew out, trying to push the blondes away, but in the end, the one sent flying to the wall was the red-haired Gerudo, his cap flapping angrily before he crashed his back onto the dripping rock.

"T-They can do it!" Vahn cheered, a hesitant smile showing on his lips. "Sheik, they can kill Ganondorf!"

He turned to his blond friend, gripping excitedly on the Sheikah's arm.

Watching quietly the fight unfold, Sheik felt his gaze slowly shifting away from Link's form and more onto the weird darkness hovering above both of them. Squinting his visible eye, the Sheikah tried to perceive that ominous shadow hanging above his lover, and slowly an ethereal form started to appear.

A chilled gasp escaped the Sheikah. Taking one hand to his covered lips, he breathed a little faster. "Are those things… hands?" He asked to no one.

And yet the shadows replied to him, a little above the flying hands controlling both Links like a puppet, a massive eye glared down at the Sheikah. That hate-filled pupil shining with an orange-reddish color, like the blazing inferno of hells itself.

Sheik's gaze then lowered back onto both Links, what he saw made him almost puke instantly. There was no bright cerulean blue nor piercing scarlet red anymore, their eyes are the same flame-blazing color as the shadow flying above them.

He tried to scream, to beg Link to come back despite how much he is pushing back against the tyrant. The Sheikah tried to reach both hands towards the twin Links, but he could only stand there and watch.

Exploding the chunks of rock tugging at his body, Ganondorf flew from the hole he made on the wall. His yellow eyes almost turned blood red with the raging anger flashing on them. He glared at the blond coming his way, his stare twitching at the blood-stained swords aimed at him.

Looking down to where the brat has fallen, he thought of going for his weapon but decided against it, those two would reach him first if he moved toward it. Biting his swollen lower lip, he wracked his brain to try and find a way to stop those two.

And right then the shining symbol of the Triforce came to life on his hand. He glanced down at it, and small enlightenment flared on his mind. Slowly, more calmly, his yellow eyes traced the glowing shadows hovering above those two.

At first, he smirked, but then he frowned. "Still clinging to this world?" He spat against the flaming eye now staring at him. "Your influence has grown tiresome." Pushing his hand forward, presenting the holy symbol to the swirling shadow, Ganondorf shot a single beam of light at it. "Begone to that sad catacomb where you belong!"

Releasing a hellish screech, the creature feeding on Link's hatred disappeared, releasing its hold on both blonds.

Instantly, both Links feel to their knees. The fatigue, stress, and pain returning at full force to their body. The pale-skinned one feels his exhaustion a whole lot more than his twin, as he is giving his all just to stay awake past the aching throbs.

"Now… gentleman. Let's us resume our battle without that thing's interference…" Ganondorf mocked them, his eyes glinting at the sight of his enemies so tired and beaten. Raising one hand, he made another one of those balls of energy and hurled at them. He chuckled and laughed when his fated rivals had to crawl away pathetically and still get blasted away from the explosion.

Rolling to his back, Link raised his sword at Ganondorf, panting as he addressed the pale blond slowly getting back up. "Now… what?"

Closing his eyes and taking a long deliberate breath, the red-eyed twin glanced at his counterpart. "Are you willing to shut up and listen?"

The other blond frowned but nodded back at him.

"Good… so hear very carefully because I will say this only once." Slowly climbing to his feet, the grey-clad blond extended his hand for his rival and pulled him up. "Next time… please don't bring Sheik. No matter what he tells you, no matter how much he yells. This… is my… our fight. Do you understand?"

Link's blue eyes stared in confusion at those piercing scarlet ones. "What are you-" Before he could finish his sentence, his counterpart slammed a powerful blow on the back of his head, forcing his twin into unconsciousness.

"Link!" El'Azul called out to him, the Zora carrying the small form of Fie on his arms. When the blond almost broke into tears, the Zora shook his head, wiping a smudge of blood off her forehead. "It's okay… Fie is okay."

"But… how?!" Link asked, almost rushing toward his friend and the little girl.

The response came not from El'Azul's mouth, but by the echoing laugh of the hateful man floating in the air. "Of course… there was too much blood on the ground to be just the little rat."

Pressed on the ground, with rocks over his body and the golden spear still stuck on his round belly, Teddy was the one caught in the ire of Ganondorf's attack, the gentle Goron gave his life to save his little friend.

It pained Link to see the aloof Goron in such a horrible state, slain by such a vile man, but knowing that the man gave his life to save their little troublemaker… It pushed him into action.

Pushing the man in his arms to the floor, he grabbed the Master Sword and tossed it toward Sheik. "Vahn, go grab Fie from El'Azul, I will need him to carry this one." From the platform above, Nova was ready to jump down when Link spotted her. "You stay there, keep a watch on the entrance. Make sure everyone else can leave."

The Gerudo woman looked at him unsure but quietly nodded back at him.

Carefully placing Fie on Vahn's arms, El'Azul ran back toward Link, quickly reaching for the man in green. "I am not stupid, Link… This is not right."

"Stop complaining and take him." He stepped forward as Ganondorf hovered closer to them.

"Really boy, in what universe do you imagine that any of you will leave this place?" Lowering himself onto Teddy's body, he pulled the spear back, opening an even bigger gash on the Goron's belly. "Every single one of you dies here."

"Ganondorf… if you dare turn your back to me again… I swear, I swear I will piece your heart from behind." Standing in front of the man, Link poised himself ready to attack, purposefully showing the tyrant that his threat is not a bluff. "Go!" He yelled, glancing at El'Azul and then at Sheik. "Take the horses and go… I will take care of Teddy."

Showing clearly on his face the distaste for the idea, El'Azul still followed Link's words and tossed the other one over his shoulder. As he ran past the hesitant-looking Vahn, he grabbed the red-haired by the arm and pulled the scholar with him to the stairs.

Ganondorf spotted as the duo appeared on the upper side, his right hand quickly raising to aim at them. But before he could summon another ball of energy, Link jumped at him and forced the man to lock blades with him.

"Eyes over here, bastard." The blond snarled, his arms trembling with the force he is putting on them to pressure his enemy. "Sheik, GO! I can't do this forever…"

"But…"

"Just go! He is too strong right now and we are half of what we should be…" He cried out when the yellow-eyed man shoved a kick on his chest, forcing the blond to tumble back. "Remember the trials, we can't… not now."

Sheik stared at the red-eyed blond for a second more, his gaze then went to the Zora carrying Link to the exit and the people following him. Hugging the Holy Sword to his chest, the Sheikah bit his lips and turned to leave.

"Sheik!" Link called, making the blond stop and look back. "I am… very sorry, for hurting you."

Giving a small nod back, the Sheikah averted his gaze and ran up the stairs.

Ganondorf trailed the slim warrior as his figure appeared on the second level. Gritting his teeth, he lifted his arm and poised his weapon to throw at the Sheikah.

As his upper body began the motion, the Master Sword came flying and crossed a deep line on the tyrant's chest.

Ganondorf's scream of pain was the last thing Sheik heard before he crossed the giant open door.

Glaring furiously at the blond smirking at him, Ganondorf slammed the pole of his spear on Link's face. As the blond dropped groggy on the ground, the Gerudo tried to lift off and go after the others, but Link jumped up and grabbed the man's leg, this time digging the Master Sword deep on the King of Evil's thigh.

"You pest!" He screamed, crashing down on the broken ice again. This time exclusively focusing his attention onto Link, Ganondorf crashed his boots on the blonde's chest, making the younger man cough a mouthful of spit and blood.

"I… Ack… I… Told you…" Link grinned at him; lips tinted red with blood. "Turn your back… and I… kill… AAGGHHH!"

Ganondorf pressed his foot onto his chest, taking great pleasure in the boy's pain. "Resilient, aren't we? You have no idea how much I will enjoy breaking you."

With a trembling arm, Link tried to reach for his sword, but his hand got pinned down on the ice by the pointy edge of the golden spear. "Just shut up… and finish this… baldy."

At first, gritting his teeth angrily at the provocation, Ganondorf's expression turned into a wicked visage. "Oh… you won't die here. Tsk, tsk. The pain you are feeling now will be like a soft breeze compared to what my inquisitors will do to you." He chuckled, lifting his foot and stomping Link's face onto the ground. "I haven't forgotten your wish, little hero… Your little date shall be one to remember. And when they are done peeling the skin out of you, we will know exactly where our dear Princess is hiding."

"Hah… hahaha…."

Those yellow eyes twitched at the aggravating laugh of the blond man. "This charade of yours is pathetic. Have despair driven you mad already boy?"

"Oh, no… is just funny, your highness." Grinding his cheeks against the heavy boot, Link did his best to glare at those distasteful eyes. "You want information, but my memory is not working very well. I think… hahah… you will get shit from your little tortures."

Lifting his feet from the blonde's face, Ganondorf limped forward, knelt to grab Link by the neck. "That… we shall see."

End of Part II - Between Light and Shadow

Day Twenty-Five – Log

I dreamed of him again…

Each time is a blessing and a curse. I dread every single night that he might appear in my dreams. Not because I hate it, but because in the end, I have to wake up.

I still don't understand how cam I love a person I've met so few times. It's like my heart has a will of its own.

Spirits, even with my muddled memories, I can still picture his hurtful face on the day I forced a kiss on him.

I hate it. To see him sad, conflicted, and pained. I hate it all.

If I could take it back, I… I probably would.

If could ask him one thing… I would only ask this;

Sheik, what in the world would I need to do… to become a Hero in your eyes?

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Day Twenty-Five – Log End.