I don't own the Legend of Zelda

"So what's the plan?" Zelda sat on the end of Link's bed, looking at him expectantly. The room was now free of the mountains of dusty, old books that had occupied every available space the day before.

"I don't...actually have a plan." Link sounded as useless as he felt. Sighing with a sense of hopelessness, he sunk into his chair, feeling like he was back to square one.

"Don't worry we'll think of something. We'll find a way to bring him back." Zelda spoke reassuringly, as she patted him gently on the arm.' If we can get him back' she she silently added to herself. If she was completely honest with herself, Zelda seriously doubted that Ghirahim had survived his last battle, but she just couldn't bring herself to hurt Link and crush his heart by telling him this. So instead, she reassured him and tried to help, even if it was a lost cause, because she wanted to see him smile again. Link hadn't truly smiled at all since Demise's defeat, which was over a month ago, not even a little half-smile. This had puzzled many of his friends. Surely, they thought, he should be happy now that Zelda had returned and everything was back to normal? Then again, none of them really knew what had happened down on the surface, which seemed like a world away. One thing was clear, whatever had happened had turned a friendly, good-spirited young man into a lonely, isolated boy.

"Maybe tonight you'll have a new dream that'll give you something to go on." Zelda suggested.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Link agreed as he gazed wistfully out of the window, thinking about Ghirahim and how much he wanted to bring him back. Just the thought of how much he missed him makes his heart ache with sorrow.

That night, Link laid awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the Fledge's steady breathing in the dorm next door. He willed himself to go to sleep, he needed to see Ghirahim again but he was slightly scared about what he will see. What if Ghirahim was in pain again? It tore Link apart to see him like that. Or what if Ghirahim tells him that there is no way to bring him back? That Link is wasting his time? Eventually, Link collapsed from exhaustion and worry and was plunged into the world of sleep.

He found himself surrounded by thick trees, whose green, leafy branches block out most of the Sun's rays, making the area feel cool. 'I must be in Faron woods.' He thought to himself. 'But where is Ghirahim?' Link wandered through the trees, which felt too realistic to touch to be merely a dream. He walked slowly and carefully at first, unsure of himself but as he caught a glimpse of red and white between the trees he began to jog, then he ran. Ghirahim stood with his arms held out wide, waiting for Link. Upon reaching the white clan demon, Link became wrapped in a hug, which felt very different to the hugs that Zelda often gave him. The hug felt like it meant more somehow. Once again Ghirahim bent down and whispered in Link's ear, as if telling him a great secret. "Skychild, I need your cooperation. I want you to do something for me." Ghirahim delicately moved his tongue up and down one of Link's pointed ears, making Link shiver, while he waited for Link's response.

Link looked up into Ghirahim's dark eyes. "I'll do anything." He spoke softly, yet with confidence. Link really would do anything for Ghirahim. He didn't care if Ghirahim only wanted to use him, all Link wanted was to be near him and to make him happy, no matter what.

"That's a wise decision, Skychild and your agreement just fills my heart with rainbows!" Ghirahim dramatically placed his hand on his heart as he talked before breaking the hug. "Now I want you to listen very carefully to what I want you to do. I wouldn't ask for your assistance if it wasn't absolutely necessary." He clicked his fingers and a familiar sword handle appears in his hand, which he passed with great care to Link. Link studied the broken sword in his outstretched hands. It was made of a dark material with a small red jewel in the hilt. The blade had been completely broken off.

"Do you recognise this?" Ghirahim asked.

Link nodded slowly. "This...is your sword form?"

"What's left of it, yes. The little fraction of my spirit that still remains rests within the handle that you hold in your hands. This is what I need you for, skychild. I want you to fix my blade."

Doubt made its way onto Link's face. "Me? Fix you? But, Ghirahim, I don't know the first thing about forging swords!"

Ghirahim crossed his arms and sighed impatiently. "Then collect the materials for me and give them to a professional sword smith. Honesty, I'm beginning to lose my patience." Ghirahim uncrossed his arms and started to pace back and forth, while Link watched him. "Now, my sword is extremely special and unique, one of a kind. My blade is perfect, so sharp and deadly, yet truly a work of art. So naturally, I was forged from only the finest materials. Of course some of them may be hard to come by, but I'm sure that even a mere boy like you can manage it. My sword will require 10 evil crystals, 7 dusk relics, 5 Elfin ores, some onyx and..." He hesitated slightly. "I also need one goddess plume." He said the word goddess as if it was something truly disgusting or a bad word which must never be uttered out loud without consequences. He stopped his frantic pacing to face Link and look him in the eye. As soft, sky blue met deep, chocolate brown, Link could feel the weight of responsibly upon his shoulders. 'His life is literally in my hands. If I mess up I'm sentencing him to death.' Link thought with a shiver.

For a moment Ghirahim's confidence wavered and he looked slightly uncertain, as if he also just realised that Link and Link alone could decide if he should live or die. The demon seemed smaller and less powerful somehow."You will help me... won't you?" Link nodded and Ghirahim's usual confident smile returned and he no longer seemed small. "Until you reforge my blade I won't have the strength to appear before you in your dreams anymore. You'll be on your own, I won't be able to help you."

"I understand." Link didn't even attempt to hide his disappointment and slight fear. 'If I fail to save Ghirahim then this could be the last time I ever see him.' This thought made Link feel that no matter what, failure was not an option.

Ghirahim's smile vanished and he stumbled abruptly, as deep cuts began to appear all over his body, as if some invisible being was attacking him with out mercy. Link let out a gasp of surprise and horror as blood gushed from Ghirahim's wounds.

With a look of immense pain on his face, Ghirahim began to stutter. "H.. hurry Skychild, I...I d..don't have m...much...much time left. You must re...reforge m..my blade." Link could see the demon weaken and moved quickly to catch him as he crumbled into a bloody heap. Ghirahim was fading fast and desperation crept into his voice. "P..please...L..Link...help me." He closed his eyes and kissed Link on the lips and it felt amazing, setting Link's heart ablaze, but it also felt so sad, like the last goodbye. Link could taste Ghirahim's blood in his mouth, a metallic taste that served as a sharp reminder that Ghirahim's life depended on Link. Link could feel the life drain out of Ghirahim's body, just like in his first dream. As Ghirahim went limp and still, Link broke the kiss and cried out in despair. He lovingly brushed Ghirahim's silky, white hair out of his eyes with a blood splattered hand and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll help you, I promise." He said tenderly, his eyes full with grief.

Link woke up with a jolt, Ghirahim's handle clasped tightly in his fist. Seeing it filled Link with determination. He jumped out of bed and began to wildly grab anything that he may need for a trip to the surface, oblivious to the darkness of the night sky outside his window. As he rushed out of his door and along the corridor he bumped straight into Zelda and they both fell to the floor.

"Link what are you doing?" She asked as she attempted to untangle herself from the boy.

"Can't explain. I'm running out of time, I need to go now!" He spoke firmly as he stood up and helped Zelda up off of the floor.

Zelda frowned slightly in confusion. "But it's dark out, can't you wait until morning?" She said sensibly as she brushed herself down.

"It doesn't matter, I need to get to the surface now. I have to hurry or I'll lose him again." There was a feeling of great urgency in Link's tone and he started to go down the corridor at a determined pace. Zelda followed, with concern radiating from her and she grabbed Link's hand, forcing him to come to a halt. He turned to look at her.

"Link, you know you can't fly at night, it's dangerous. You're not making any sense either, please calm down."

Link continued look agitated as he explained why he's in such a hurry. "I saw him Zelda, Ghirahim, he wanted me to help him. He asked me to fix him, but then..." Link's voice shook as he relieves the horrors of his latest nightmare. "It was awful. He started bleeding all over and...he was desperate...he said...he said that he didn't have long left."

"Oh, Link." Zelda hugged him tightly, her pity clearly evident in her face and tone. Link, reminded painfully of Ghirahim's hug, tried to fight back his tears. Zelda could't stand to see her best friend, who was normally so strong and brave, breakdown like this.

"I'll go ask one of the rescue knights if they can give us a lift to the surface."

"Us?" Link asked uncertainty.

She smiled in an effort to console him. "Of course, I said I'd help you, didn't I? After all someone needs to look out for you. It'll be dangerous though, so make sure you're prepared."

Link nodded, once again determined to complete the task ahead. "Let's go."