Link snuck forward listening for any indication that he was not alone. So far, the cave hadn't been too difficult, with only some minor booby traps and one difficult puzzle but he was confident he was on the right trail.
With his sword at the ready he entered the final chamber.
The room was lit by floating blue Orbs and a fountain was carved into the back wall. In the middle of the room, on the floor, there was another carving but this one was much more recognizable, the Tri-force. Two small braziers were set conveniently on either side of the stone work.
The young warrior slid his sword away and pulled his flint from a small pouch on his belt. Skillful fingers made small piles of dried material and lit them on the first try.
There was a flash of bright yellow light as the mechanisms released and dropped a large blue chest onto the symbol.
Link smirked to himself. He was about to pop the lock when a smooth voice made him jump.
"Greeting warrior."
As Link spun around, he saw the demon general standing there, casual as could be backed by a unit of Gerudo soldiers. The hero hadn't heard them approach at all, nor did he expect the black dagger that embedded itself in his shoulder.
"I am so pleased to have caught up with you! Your display back on the hill was breath taking and I hoped I would be the one to find you first! You may call me Ghirahim. In truth, I very much prefer to be indulged with my full title: Lord Ghirahim. But I'm not fussy."
Link was laying still on the cold cave floor. Lord Ghirahim already gone with the chest and the piece of the Tri-force.
The young warrior's armour was thrown to the side with his weapons, his shirt was torn open and saturated with blood. So much blood that it was now pooling around his prone form, bubbling up from a tortured chest.
His breath was ragged and wet, signifying significant internal damage.
A coughing fit sent the boy into violent shivers. More blood oozed from his lips.
He wasn't one to give up, but his situation seemed bleak. His wounds were mortal.
If he could get to his pouch, he could teleport back to the rest of his gear but that seemed moot at this point. Still he felt like he had to do something, even if it was just to hold his sword while he passed.
Something was wrong, as soon as he pulled the black blade from his shoulder he started to feel light headed. His arms and legs were heavy and not listening to his commands.
Ghirahim chuckled and walked towards him confidently.
"Can you feel it? That, my dear boy, is a neat little toxin I picked up in my travels." He bent at the waist, so his face stayed level with the sinking teens. "It will stop all communication from your brain to the extremities while still allowing the participant to remain conscience and feel everything. Delicious isn't it?"
Link sunk to his knees, eyes wide in confusion. His sword fell to the floor with a sharp clang as his fingers relaxed. Soon he couldn't even stay upright, he had to look up at the pale demon from the flat of his back, helpless.
The young warrior had regained enough movement that he was able to roll onto his stomach. The pain of the pressure on all the wound made his mind blank for a moment before he was able to focus his attention and take the first jolt towards his gear.
The blood rushed out in a hurry now and Link made a small whimper sound in his throat. Sheer stubbornness had him claw his way through the rest of the ten-foot expanse.
The sword that got him through hundreds of battles laid there as if abandoned. As his fingers closed around the hilt, he felt a calm come over him. The blade glowed a soft blue in response to the touch.
With the remainder of his strength Link rolled to his back and pulled the sword up to rest on his chest. His eyes followed the floating orbs for a moment before they started to feel heavy and he let them close just for a small rest.
The orbs flickered and moved close to the odd glow of the sword. They began to hum, and chatter back and forth, they were not lights at all but tiny fairies. One brave pink fairy ventured close enough to bop the strange being on the forehead. When there was no response the little sprite vibrated in alarm.
As one the cluster of fairies zipped back to the fountain and started to yell and hop up and down on the water's surface.
It took several tries before a loud yawn echoed through the chamber. The fairies scattered as their matriarch burst through the clear liquid. She stretched to the cavern ceiling then gently floated down to stand on the stone floor.
Red and green vines hang around her in droves, and her brilliant scarlet locks were twisted up into an organic crown. Long eyelashes highlighted bright ruby eyes that were now regarding the dying boy thoughtfully.
Link couldn't wrap his mind around the immense amount of agony the thin blade was producing. It sliced through his skin as if it were nothing then left without even causing pain. Instead that came in agonizing waves minutes after the actual cut.
Ghirahim sat on the young hero's hips, the knife poised to make another incision as he watched the blood bubble out of the other wounds. His pale lips spilt into a permanent smile, forked tongue flicking forward excitedly whenever the boy made any noise of discomfort.
The demon general had orders not to kill the boy, but to bring him back to Ganondorf alive. At first, he had every intention to do just that, but he soon got so wrapped up in his game that the Hylian was too far gone to even bother.
The Gerudo soldiers had already cleared the cavern, and had the chest secured for the travel back. They were mingling by the door waiting for the orders to leave but instead had to lay witness to the mutilation of the young warrior.
It did not sit well with them, but they were in no position to intervene in the general's sick game.
Ghirahim soon grew bored with his prey. Even at deaths door step the boy gave little outward sign that he was in distress. His eyes stayed locked on some fixed point on the ceiling, and his mouth remained closed.
"Well, this has been fun. I'd like to say let's do it again sometime but alas you have already bled out a good chunk of your bodies supply so it would be silly to haul you along." The General leaned over and ran his tongue up the side of Link's face from jaw to forward. He hummed delightedly as he hopped to his feet and gave his hand a clap. "Alright ladies, time to get a move on. Lord Dragmire is waiting for this chest!"
The Great fairy leaned down and scooped the boy into her arms.
"I don't work for free honey, but I think we will fix you up first before we discuss payment." She whispered then slid into the fountain. Once the warrior was submerged to his neck she started to hum and sway, the little fairies joining her. The water shifted into unworldly colours and filled the room with dancing light.
Gold beams suddenly burst through the wounds in Link's chest, surprising even the Great fairy.
The skin started to immediately knit back together. Bruises and blood washed away without a trace and colour filled his youthful cheeks.
With a loud gasp he bolted upright, and his eyes flew open.
With help he was able to sit on the edge of her fountain while he wrapped his head around what just happened.
"You must have some powerful friends in high places," the matriarch commented, "My magic is good but not that good!" She pointed to the light pink scars that now criss-crossed his chest.
Link looked down and ran a hesitant hand over the spot he could see his sternum and rib bones only moments ago.
"You have a higher purpose here today," the large fairy purred then leaned over and kissed his cheek fully. "Think of it as payment. Not every day I get to heal the Goddess' champion!"
Link moved with renewed purpose. The King of thieves now had a piece of the tri-force and that did not bode well for the people of Hyrule.
As the young hero geared up the brave pink sprite flew into one of his pouches and refused to leave. Link couldn't warn her of the perils of the path he was on, but he had to believe the fairy knew.
Link pulled out his sheikah slate and scanned the map intently. There was a forest North of the castle and west of death mountain. That was where he needed to go, and it was divine intervention that told him that.
Ganondorf felt as if his skin would break at the seams as the golden power filled him. He saw visions of his glorious conquest and the bloody ruins of his enemies.
Nothing else mattered but the need to take this new-found power and use it to impose his will on the land.
His dark laugh filled the halls as a symbol burned bright on his right hand.