Ganon fastened a strap on his formal wear, his back length red hair cascading down passed his shoulders. He looked into the mirror, focusing on his face, he was young once again, his body in shape and his health at it's peak. He glanced back at Naora, her bare form barely covered by the sheet she held, her hair covering her breasts.
"Next time you want to do that, give me some warning first." Naora said playfully, looking to her husband.
Ganon merely glanced at his wife, a smirk developing on his face. "Very well." he stated,
"What? Is the great Demon King embarrassed he has sexual needs?" Naora teased further.
Ganon tensed for a moment, it was something he had never thought about. As Demise he wasn't hindered by mortal wants and needs, he only wanted the destruction of the Goddess's creations, by any means necessary. Being reborn into mortal form was his only option after his defeat, the physical desires that come with it being an unwanted bother that he finally had to indulge. "Shilara should be returning soon." Ganon remarked, attempting to change the subject.
"Very well, allow me to get ready." Naora said with a smile, dropping the sheet and revealing her naked form.
Ganon averted his eyes, attempting to remain focused, it was his misfortune that he was given a wife in this era. He cringed at the thought as he started forward, he truly cared for her, and this confused him greatly, the last being he even remotely cared for was Ghirahim, and he was left unfazed by his death, how was it a simple female had mad him feel this way.
"Come, lest we be late." he said with a grin, Naora following, dressed in traditional Gerudo garb, her scimitar hanging from her waistband.
oOo
Prince Erris checked his timepiece, an old gift from the Terminians when his land was still on good terms with them. He glanced apprehensively towards Ganondorf and Naora, the two not having spoken for a while, their eyes remaining trained on the spot the portal was supposed to open. It had been quite a while now, and the mission was a simple one, retrieve the Light Sage, and if possible, kill the rest of the team he travelled with, with one catch of course.
"Does leaving the Hero alive not strike you as somewhat selfish?" Erris asked.
"Hold your tongue, boy." Ganon replied, keeping his eyes trained forward.
Erris groaned inwardly, if her were able to do away with the Hero now, it would definitely save him much grief in the future, but the Gerudo King was set on killing him himself, his determination unwavering. The Prince looked down at his ring, taking mental note of Wizzro's recent apathetic attitude towards everything, it hadn't been long thus far that he had noticed strange things about the week's events, he remembered ridding the Great Maku Tree of an insect infestation, and Wizzro attempting to protect him from a sudden attack from his mother, but it didn't make sense, and when he tried to ask Wizzro about it, the Dark Wizard would simply claim not to remember and retreat back into the ring he called home, a place where he spent much of his time, completely silent and uncaring of any event that transpired outside.
A few loud footfalls and the shuffling of Bulblin feet signaled the arrival of the Blin Emperor, the massive monster giving a snort followed by a swish of his tail. "The Dinolfos and Lizalfos have begun picking fights with my people, I demand something be done about this!" he roared, a glance from Ganon silencing him.
"We await the arrival of my sister, you can deal with your petty problems, unless you're too afraid of the reptile's chieftains." Ganon shot, his gaze remaining forward.
The Blin Emperor gave an agitated snort, turning to leave just as a bright light flashed, Naora and Goht emerging.
"Where's Ryos?" Erris asked, instantly noticing the Minister's absence.
"Death by Hero." Shilara answered, rolling her eyes.
"What do you mean, "Death by Hero"?!" Erris demanded, anger welling up inside him.
"I mean what I said, he fought the Hero, and the kid ripped him in half." Shilara shot, narrowing her eyes.
Erris clenched his fists, Ryos was not near to his heart, but was useful, and one his father's last servants that was not loyal to Ganondorf by this time.
"Cease your arguments!" Ganon roared, Erris scowling at his interruption while Shilara hopped to her brother's side.
"My apologies for taking so long, this one managed to break the Trans-location spell twice." Shilara remarked, indicating Elgon, who was being held firmly in Goht's arms.
"Let him down." Ganon said, Goht dropping the Light Sage, ethereal chains shooting from the ground, binding him immediately.
"What do you say we take off that mask now?" Erris asked, pushing his anger over Ryos's death to the back of his mind for the moment.
Goht stepped back, placing one hand on his head.
"I know you're reluctant to give up that power, but I will return it to you soon enough." Erris reassured the titan.
Goht knelt down, Erris's hands glowing with a blue magic as he removed the mask, the Goht's body shrinking down into the much smaller shape of Oreck.
"Did I do well?" Oreck asked, looking up to Erris.
"I'd say so." Ganon said with a smile. The Gerudo man grabbed Elgon by his long silver hair, jerking his head towards the younger man. "Recognize him?" Ganon growled.
"It can't be..." Elgon breathed, his ribs aching as he exhaled.
Oreck kept his eyes trained on his former instructor, only averting his gaze as a servant Erris had called escorted him back to his chamber.
"Interesting, is it not? When I first made his acquaintance he wouldn't ever consider harming you, as it was the Hero he was angry with for some ill-defined reason, but after a few sessions under the thrall of the mask, his heart's black as coal." Erris said with a smile.
"You bastard! What have you done to him!" Elgon roared, shooting to his feet as an aura of light energy exploded out from him, the magic constructs that held him struggling to stay intact against his power.
Ganon, looking unamused, knocked the Light Sage to the ground with a flick of his wrist, the man releasing a short yelp of pain he hit the ground, feeling his pain returning as the adrenaline rush that struck him faded.
"What have you done to him? How have you twisted his mind like this?" Elgon hissed, breathing in sharply as a jolt of pain traveled up his spine.
Ganon smiled as he looked down at the Light Sage. "After 3,000 years, you still underestimate me." Ganon raised his right hand, the appendage turning intangible before the Demon King jabbed it into the Light Sage's chest, Elgon breathing in sharply. "You are not the Hero anymore, so I'd suggest you stop acting like you are, and hide behind the scenes, a fat old man like usual, but it's too late for that, ISN'T IT?!" Ganon roared, thunder sounding outside as a small tremor shook the room.
"Careful!" Erris shot as he braced himself against a pillar.
"Even if you kill me, it won't break him." Elgon said through gritted teeth as Ganon's ethereal hand gripped him internally.
"Kill you? That is not the plan old friend." Ganon said with a smile. The Demon King jerked his arm back, Elgon falling back to the ground, the magic bindings resuming their hold as he turned his gaze towards Ganon, terror gripping him as he saw Ganon holding what appeared to be a person by the throat, it coudn't be...but it was...it was...him?
"You see, when it comes to possession by a God, Spirit, or Demon, one of the key factors is the soul, the strength of one's soul determines whether or not they'll be able to control the entity that has been bonded to it. Your former subordinate, Oreck, he has weak soul, thus Goht takes near full control of him...but you...you have one of the strongest souls in creation, thus you are perfect for what I have in mind, and not to mention the fact that your body was strengthened by it's presence, so the Demon I am planning to call forth wont' be able to rip it's way out of you." Ganon said with a broad grin.
Naora looked on, fear filling her as all traces of the man she loved seemingly vanished, the Demon King Demise emerging, to her left Shilara looked on, for once standing still, but was still visibly at the height of her excitement.
"Can you believe it? Big Brother's going to summon that Demon! We're going to be Queens! No! Goddesses!" she exclaimed.
Naora remained, silent, turning away as her husband sent an electrical current through the man's spirit, laughing as the Light Sage screamed in pain, becoming even more dismayed when even Prince Erris seemed to be amused by the display.
"Are you ready, boy?" Ganon asked, looking towards Erris.
"That's Prince, not boy." Erris corrected with a scowl.
"Are you ready, Prince?" Ganon asked sarcastically, narrowing his eyes at Erris.
Erris simply grimaced at the man before turning towards the wall behind him, if what his mother told him was true, this should be second nature to him. He closed his eyes and thought back to when she appeared in his chambers, recalling the massive energy he sensed from the portal she emerged from, he thought about that energy, calling on his magic as he did so. Slowly he felt the same force beginning to flow through him, a purple glow emanating from his body. With a loud yell, he thrust his hands forward, a purple blast of energy striking the wall like fire, exploding outward, and finally stabilizing into an enormous glowing portal. The Prince looked on, marveling at what he had called forth, only being slightly disturbed by the fear Mahlik seemed to feel from within him.
Ganon strode forward, holding out his left hand as he held the Light Sage's spirt with his right. Erris did the same, Ganondorf's Anteforce of Wrath activating as well as Erris's Anteforce of Fear.
"We call upon the God of Chaos, the Demon of Destruction, Majora! We summon you!" Ganon called out, with no response.
Erris turned to Ganon, locking gazes with the other man. "Maybe I-" was all the Prince was able to say before the pieces of the Anteforce he and Ganon carried erupted in a blinding red flash, a shockwave tearing out of the Gate of Souls, knocking all except Ganon to the ground. Pillars and windows exploded as fragments of the roof rained down on top of them, Erris raising a shield around himself while Shilara did the same for Naora and herself, the other occupants of the room fleeing in terror.
Ganon stared into the portal. "Majora, I call on you!" he roared, unflinching as the portal continued to let loose shockwaves, the Gerudo man standing firm as he was battered by intermittent waves of energy.
Thunder sounded overhead as lightning cracked the sky, rain beginning to pour down, and powerful tremors shaking the floor beneath them. Erris stood and made his way back to the Gate of Souls, pointing his right hand towards it, his Anteforce glowing brightly.
Both men opened their eyes wide and firmed their stances as the portal gave one last powerful shockwave before a torrent of red fire tore out of it, emitting purple smoke as it formed into a large ball of flame in front of them, two yellow eyes glowing from deep inside of it.
"You have no right to summon me, Demise!" it roared, a bone chilling tone to it's voice.
Erris raised a shield as the entity turned towards him, smashing his shield with ease, sending the Prince flying towards the wall, only being saved from the impact by Wizzro. He winced as he looked down, finding a rather severe burn on his chest, only straightening up as Mahlik began to heal it.
A beam of red energy shot from Ganon's hand, striking Majora in the center of it's fiery form.
"Fool." Majora stated, a blast of energy emerging from the entity's center, striking the Gerudo man in the chest.
Ganon battled the simultaneous urges to fall and succumb to the pain, managing to stay standing. "You..will not...best...ME!" he roared, pulling the entity towards him.
Erris extended his hand, the Anteforce appearing on his palm, a beam of red energy shooting out of it's center and embedding itself in the Demon's non-corporeal form.
With a mighty heave, Ganon pulled Majora into his grasp, the entity roaring all the while. He called upon the Triforce of Power, and even though it's power was faint, it proved to be what he needed. He brought the Light Sage's spirit and the Demon Lord of Chaos close, their essences meeting and becoming one, Elgon's soul twisting into a horned, yellow eyed abomination before being reduced to nothing more than a pulsing ball of red energy. The Demon King trudged across the floor, the brickwork cracking under his feet as he fought to contain the massive power he held.
Elgon stared forward, terror gripping him as Ganon made his way closer, a monstrous scowl on his face as he ground his teeth.
"This is your purpose, please, try not to die." Ganon said, a manic tone to his voice as he plunged the combined essences of Elgon and Majora into the Light Sage's body, the man screaming in pain as Majora tried to take over, tried to break out, but to no avail.
"Is it complete?" Erris asked as he approached.
Elgon writhed on the ground, his body spasming uncontrollably as he fought the Demon's control, unable to find his voice as he struggled to suppress it, terror gripping his mind.
"My plans for him are complete, but my plans for the world have only just begun." Ganon said with a large smile, Erris reciprocating the expression.
oOo
Cia found herself back in the room she was confined to in the Castle, the sun shining in through the window being the only source of light. She strolled across the room, stepping about an arms length from the window, as the Princess had made sure to create a magical barrier around it herself. The Sorceress smiled as she took in Hyrule's beauty, the rolling green hills and tall emerald trees made her wonder why she ever decided to take up permanent residence in the Valley of Seers. No one knew of the Gate of Souls other than her, and there was no longer anyone in existence to scold her for abandoning her duties after the extinction of her people...no one other than Ganondorf and Lannis that is. With Lannis it was his belief in a story that had long been considered to be a fairy tale about a magical portal to other worlds guarded by a beautiful fairy that made him seek it out, Cia feeling a slight tinge of frustration at being referred to as a fairy, but Ganondorf, how he knew of the Gate of Souls she did not know, attributing his wealth of knowledge to his time spent as the purely demonic Demise.
"I almost had you..." Cia said wistfully, extending her hand towards the window, only to have it zapped by a jolt of energy from the barrier before she could withdraw it.
"Did you have fun during your morning jaunt to the desert?" she heard a voice ask.
"Hm, it would seem the Princess herself is my own personal attendant, how lucky can a girl be?" Cia said sarcastically.
"Back to this now, are we?" Zelda asked, furrowing her brow.
"You knew the barrier over the door and window wouldn't be enough, didn't you?" Cia asked, a serious expression on her face.
"True, I knew it wouldn't hold you for long, but I didn't expect you to teleport to the furthest reaches of Hyrule." Zelda responded.
"How do you know where I went?" Cia questioned.
"Every trans-location spell leaves a distinct signature, a path of magical energy easy to follow." Zelda said calmly, teleporting a cup of tea into her hand.
"You were there?" Cia asked, shocked.
"I was present long enough to see what you did to Lawrence, I suppose a thanks is in order." Zelda said, raising her cup, "Want some?" she asked.
"What I want is to take action against Ganondorf and to get my son back." Cia growled.
"Suit yourself." Zelda responded, sipping her tea.
"Why are you paying so much attention to me anyway!?" Cia exclaimed.
"Because..." said Zelda, lowering her cup, I'm the only individual in this Castle powerful enough to defeat you if you were to have a turn of allegiance, I doubt even Link could stop you." Zelda answered, glaring at the Sorceress.
"You think I'm going to turn on you, after all I've said, after all that's been done to me?" she hissed through gritted teeth.
"If there's one thing I've learned over my many centuries of life, it's that no one can be trusted, not even those you hold dear." Zelda said in a somber tone, casting her gaze downwards.
"Well, you don't have to trust me, and I don't have to trust you, we just need to go to Labrynna, send Ganondorf back to the Dark World, and go our separate ways. Cia replied.
"You truly expect me to believe this? Love can be a fleeting thing when the one you care for is gone forever, which Lannis Ambi is." Zelda said, a dark tone to her voice.
"Do you mean to suggest I'm going to attempt to come between you and the Hero again?! I was foolish to try, I truly was! Lannis was the man I cared for, and he is gone forever, that is something I have to live with, and something YOU have no right to speak of!" Cia yelled, a purple aura rising around her.
"Save that rage for Ganondorf." Zelda said calmly, "Now, I must take my leave."
Cia gritted her teeth in anger as the Princess exited the room, giving a polite nod and smile to the guards outside. She commanded much love and respect from her people, something Cia could only dream of. The Sorceress turned to the wall, smashing a fist into it as she fought back the sorrow that came with her thoughts of Lannis, instead turning it into fury, anger to be used against the Demon King that took her family away from her.
oOo
Sir Mathias followed stealthily along a walkway above the corridor that Princess Kayala and Sir Gabriel walked, retiring to their chambers. He had made sure the other Gamelonian senators and dignitaries had let them be before he even thought of following them...and now here they were, all alone.
He hated thinking about what would happen if he went back on the deal, Minister Ryos would come after him, or maybe even the Dragon Knight, in any case, he was far from a match for either of them. He followed Sir Gabriel with his eyes, being more concerned with his offensive capabilities than those of the Princess, as all she wielded was a blunt staff that was only effective against demons.
This was the time to strike.
Sir Mathias drew two arrows, one tipped with a smoke bomb, and the other a firecracker. He loosed them both, a large cloud of smoke bursting out from the area of the arrow's impact as a loud crack and flash from the other arrow filled the corridor, further disorienting his targets.
"Who dares?!" Sir Gabriel called, waving to the Princess to stay behind him.
Mathias lunged at Gabriel, the foreign Knight blocking the strike.
"What is this?!" Gabriel roared, being greeted only by silence.
Mathias performed a jump attack, being pushed back by an upwards slash by Gabriel, the two Knights then ran forward, clashing blades before retracting their swords again. Mathias swung horizontally to the left, Gabriel batting his blade away with a rightwards slash. Mathias stumbled back, then rushed towards the other Knight, unleashing two quick stabs, Gabriel dodging both. Sir Mathias readied himself for another jump attack, but was forced to fade back as Sir Gabriel performed a spin attack.
"You're out of your depth." Gabriel warned, a severe tone to his voice.
Mathias smiled from under his helmet, pulling a throwing knife from a sheath on his waist, quickly tossing it at the Knight.
Sir Gabriel darted out of the way, with no time to respond as he heard Princess Kayala scream from behind him. "Princess!" he yelled, looking back in horror as blood poured from the wound in her chest, the knife still embedded. "You!" was all he was able to say as he turned, quickly being hit in the face with the hilt of Mathias's sword, the Gamelonian Knight falling into unconsciousness in short order.
Mathias stepped over his fallen opponent, walking towards the bleeding Princess, "Give me the scepter." he growled, trying to act as menacing as possible.
"No" she said, pulling herself backwards, wincing in pain with every movement.
"I said give it to me!" he roared, the Princess shaking her head from side to side in protest.
"Fine then, I'll take it from you!" he yelled.
The Princess closed her eyes tight, using what little magical ability she had to call someone...anyone.
"Step away from the Princess and surrender, this is a Royal Decree straight from...well...me." Prince Audrik said as he came upon the scene.
Mathias turned, inhaling sharply as he found the Prince, accompanied by the entire Sheikah tribe, Minister Tonbride, and Admiral Ginthorne.
"Whoever you are, I'd advise you give up immediately, as the Prince has given me full permission to thrash you as thoroughly as I wish if you do not." Impa said as she stepped forward, her hand firmly gripping her great sword.
Mathias stumbled backwards, almost falling over as a bright flash of light went off from behind him, whirling around, he found Princess Kayala had been replaced with a furious Zelda. He turned back to see the Prince and company had taken a few steps back, something he repeated as he raised his blade, the Princess only growing angrier as he did so. She walked forward briskly, tapping her index finger against his sword, the blade turning to what appeared to be sand.
"I am not in the mood for this." she growled.
Mathias attempted to turn, hoping he could breach the line on his opposite side, but found himself caught in the Princess's telekinetic grip. He cringed as she removed his helmet, all talk in the hall ceasing.
"Mathias!" Ginthorne exclaimed. "I handpicked you to guard the Royal family and this is what you do?!" he roared, falling silent after receiving a glare from the Princess.
"Princess, I can explain." he pleaded, meeting her gaze.
"No...you can't, and even if you could I would not hear it." she said, beginning to walk away.
"Zelda wait! I...I still care for you deeply...I did not mean to cause you anguish" he called, a sincere expression to his voice. He felt relieved as she made her way back to him, less so when she raised her hand, striking him in the face with enough force to send him skidding into the waiting grasp of Oren and Impa.
"Take him to the dungeons for now, and someone call for a transport to the Arbiter's Grounds, I'd rather not have him here any longer than necessary." she said.
"Come on!" Impa growled as she pulled Mathias to his feet, Oren giving him a shove from behind as he bound his wrists.
"I don't think even I could have hit you that hard, Goddess's know you deserve it though." Ginthorne growled as he looked down at the silent man.
"Prince, are you coming?" Oren asked as Audrik headed for his sister.
"Someone needs to calm her." he replied, Oren shrugging in agreement, Lemuria shooting him a quick smile before following her parents and the others.
oOo
"Dearest sister, what troubles you so?" Audrik asked as he caught up.
"It's nothing, Audrik." she replied, casting her gaze downwards.
"Surely Mathias's betrayal can't be weighing too much on you, sure, he was a trusted Knight and a devoted suitor, but he..." Audrik said, trailing off as Zelda glared at him.
"I've taken Kayala to the Royal Infirmary and sent for healers for Sir Gabriel, but he seems to be uninjured, see to it that they do their job anyway." she said, speeding up as she walked away.
"Sister, I can read you, possibly better than the Hero himself, I know when something is bothering you, please, let me be of help." he pleaded as they turned down a sunlit corridor. "It has something to do with that Sorceress, doesn't it?" Audrik asked.
"Listen, could you just leave me alone?!" Zelda snapped, softening her demeanor after seeing Audrik's hurt expression. "I'm...sorry for snapping at you like that."
"Do not worry, I am a man...I can take it...it wasn't as bad as the beatings you gave me when we were children." he said with a smile.
Zelda gave a small smile, Audrik was the only one other than Link that could cheer her up, with Impa not even being proficient in the task. "The Sorceress is an old friend of mine, a friend I thought was long dead." she admitted.
"Old friend as in "past life" old friend?" Audrik questioned.
"Yes, she and I have...much to talk about...and there's also the matter with the Zora." she said, casting her gaze out the nearest window.
"But that's not it, is it?" Audrik questioned, "The Hero...is he in trouble?"
"I...just became aware of something...something terrible..." she confessed, looking to her brother, being comforted by his concerned expression.
"What is this "something", if I may ask." Audrik inquired.
oOo
Two Hours Ago
Link walked forward at a quick pace, glancing back at his group as they came to a halt.
"They're looking at us." Kallil said, indicating the large statues on either side of the entrance.
"Don't be alarmed, they only attack if they sense an evil presence, now hurry up." Link said as he waved his comrades on.
"Comforting as always." Thrakon remarked, looking up at the stone giant nearest him, sensing it's gaze as it turned to watch the group approach the last door.
Link quickly diverted his course, slashing away the underbrush to the left of the Temple's door, revealing two shattered Gossip Stones, one remaining intact.
"Are those...?" Trystane began.
"Gossip Stones, yes." Link replied, scouring the intact one for any damage.
"I don't think this is the time to hear if it has anything to say." Aren said, looking eagerly in the direction the Master Sword rested.
"I don't plan on hearing what it has to say, I plan in it hearing what I have to say." Link corrected, quickly tracing his finger across the it's eye design, the stone glowing a slight blue. "Princess Zelda." he whispered. Link waited, the stone remaining quiet.
oOo
Zelda sat at her desk, resting her head as she thought of current events, House Gavan had yet to settle their dispute with her, the Zora were still marching to war, and Link was in parts unknown, not having made contact yet, and not to mention Cia had proved capable of escaping her quarters, even with all the warding.
She sighed, moving to set her head down on her desk as she was roused by something completely unexpected, a blue glow filled the space before her, the Princess looking about the room, only to find that the glow emanated from her. She looked down to find her Seer's Stone was the cause, activating for the first time since her father, the King had last contacted her with his. Cautiously, she lifted the necklace from her chest to her mouth, stroking her thumb along the stone, stopping when a familiar voice spoke.
"Zelda?"
oOo
"Link?" it asked.
"Zelda!" Link called, grabbing a hold of the stone.
"Come one, let's give him some privacy." Trystane said, slowly directing the others towards a pillar on the other side of the meadow that was once the Temple of Time's courtyard.
"Link...how is this possible?" she asked
"I've arrived at the Temple of Time...the original Temple of Time." he said, looking over the decayed structure. "I'm using one of the Gossip Stones outside."
"Link, please, tell me everything goes well." Zelda answered, holding her Seer's Stone firmly.
Link sat silently for a moment, bowing his head before speaking. "We...we were attacked by two of Erris's minions, Minister Ryos and a Gerudo Woman."
Zelda's breathing quickened, "A Gerudo woman?" she asked, fearing the Gerudo may have allied with Erris, under the influence of Ganondorf. the Gerudo had been absent for long, having returned to Hyrule after reuniting with the Terminian Gerudo that resided in the Great Bay, she grit her teeth as she thought of it, the Gerudo had returned after the Twilight the Invasion, when she was well into her eighties, they wanted to resume their solitary lifestyle, but even in her old age, she strove to have a good relationship with them, barely managing to convince them to allow the Hylians that had settled in the desert in their absence to stay, she did not want to see her work go to waste.
"Only the one, they also had a third attacker with them...I can't be sure, but I believe it was Oreck empowered by the mask of one of Majora's servants." Link explained.
"Link...I thought those masks were to destroyed." she said, fear welling up inside of her.
"So did I." Link answered. "I need to tell you something."
Zelda stayed silent for a moment, holding her Seer's Stone tightly, "What is this "something"?" she asked, a concerned tone to her voice.
"They...they took Elgon." he said, gripping the stone harder.
Zelda tensed in shock, when Link had told her of the attack she had assumed they had been there to kill him as well as the rest of the team, her confusion growing the more she thought about what Link had told her. "But why...why Elgon?" she asked.
"I'm sorry...I should have told you this sooner..." Link said, going silent for a moment, "Elgon is the Light Sage in this era...and has been in many other eras, there were times when he wasn't..times when he was reborn in a position just to guide me and help me when required...he has gone by many names, Rauru, Bo...Gaepora." he said quietly, Zelda remaining silent.
The Princess nearly fell from her chair, placing a hand on her head as she thought of it...all these lives he had been there, guiding them, not just as a friend and ally...but as her father. "Link...you knew?" she asked.
"Not for long, Elgon told me not to inform you...he didn't want you to worry." Link answered.
"I had a right to know!" Zelda exclaimed, her fingernails scraping against the chair's arm.
"I know...I should have told you sooner, I can only apologize for not doing so." Link admitted.
Zelda closed her eyes tightly, trying to calm herself, her father had been with her through these many lives, and was now in the hands of Ganondorf, anger would do her no good now. "I...I understand." Zelda said, feeling her anger subside. "What we need to focus on is getting him back...if he truly is the Light Sage, we need him now." Zelda said.
Link relaxed, feeling slightly relieved, "I'll stop the Zora so we can end this on our terms, I will do whatever's necessary...for you." Link answered.
"As I would do for you." Zelda answered.
"Goodbye, my love, may our reunion be soon." Link said, a small smile forming on his face.
"Return to me safely." Zelda answered, smiling through the worry growing inside of her.
I shall, I promise." Link answered, feeling more determined than ever, he'd make sure he succeeds in his mission, even if he has to fight through Erris's legions himself, something he'd gladly do for his Princess. He stood and looked over at his teammates, beckoning for them follow.
Link walked onward, mindful of his team's gazes, it made him wonder what it must be like, proceeding on a quest, knowing that if you lose your life, it's lost for good. He admired them for going with him in spite of this, when many of the Knights of the same order as Trystane would likely fabricate some poor excuse as to why they couldn't be present.
"This is it" Link said, stopping in front of a large arch, it's opening filled with aged masonry.
"Excuse me Hero, but it would seem we've quite literally hit a wall." Trystane remarked.
"In my last life, I led a team of builders to help reconstruct this Temple...the statues outside were more temperamental back then, and all we managed to get done was this wall, so I decided to seal the archway so the Master Sword would be safe after the Skull Kid's time as it's guardian passed. Link looked over his team, their baffled expressions being understandable, as he spoke of events that transpired 300-500 years in the past.
"Well, with that said, how are going to get through?" Aren asked, all the while scanning the wall and archway, looking for a way to go up and over it.
Link smiled slightly, "Just watch." he said, turning to the massive wall. Slowly he placed his left palm against the wall, closing his eyes as he did so. The spaces between the bricks began to fade away as a golden light shone through, the light growing brighter and brighter, until with one brilliant flash, the wall was gone, an ethereal Triforce symbol standing in it's place until it faded completely.
"Do you believe yet?" Trystane asked an unamused Thrakon.
Link listened as his teammates ceased all noise, before them lay the Sacred Meadow, the Pedestal of Time in the center, the Master Sword resting within.
"That's it...the actual Master Sword..." Kallil said, the expression his teammate's faces communicating the same reaction.
"That it is." Link said quietly as he approached the blade, behind him his group had stopped about three meters away, looking on as he sheathed his Knight's Sword, and slowly spread his feet apart, adjusting his stance as he raised his arms. The Master Sword began to glow a dim gold just from his proximity to it, his Triforce of Courage doing the same. With one quick motion he wrapped both hands around the handle, tightening his grip as the sword began to move, with all of his might, he pulled, his muscles tensing, the Goddess's power flowing through him into the blade, and through the blade into him. With one last motion, the Master sword was freed, the blade pointing skyward as Link drew it, a blast of light energy shooting forth, the heavens thundering as it struck the sky. Link didn't show it, but he was stunned, never before had he and the Master Sword commanded this much power, and that, joined with the fact that Zelda's powers had been restored near to the levels they were when she was Hylia made him wonder why the Goddess's saw fit to give them such strength in this life, and how large of a threat they were truly facing. Link tensed, narrowing his eyes as he looked off to the east, a gold aura beginning to form around him and the Master Sword, he looked at his awe-struck team, pointing the Master Sword towards the archway.
"Let's end this."
oOo
And that ends chapter 29, I hope you enjoyed it!
Gerudospirit: Thank you so much! It makes me so happy that you're liking how the plot is coming together, I wanted to create a bunch of subplots and such that all kind of tied together somewhere in the story. I actually didn't know where I was going to go with Cia at first, but I found that she's actually quite fun to write with the attitude she displayed in game, even if I've toned her craziness down. I'm glad you liked the way I wrote her and you can rest assured that you'll be seeing a lot more of her! Thank's for reviewing!
Thank you to DontThrowThePumpkins favoriting my story!
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the new chapter!
Best of luck!
-Prometheus17