Chapter twenty-three, the longest chapter yet! There's action, though, so don't worry. It's not just a filler! Woo! Haha enjoy :)))

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Clank of Armor

LINK POV

Completely confused and aching for answers, Link grabbed the third piece in his mouth and bounded out of the spring, still trying to figure everything out.

Protector… red eyes are the clue… He felt something tugging at his heart, a small bell ringing inside of his brain. Worry was now embedded inside of him, and he longed to warn Zelda. He longed to feel her tender fingers running through his fur, and he wanted to nuzzle her cheek with his warm snout. Most of all, he wanted to know what was going to happen to her. He needed to find out, and he was going to.

Link ran straight toward Ordona's spring, slightly anxious for what he would see happening to his beloved hometown. He had a terrible feeling as his muscular legs pushed him forward, through Faron woods. He was relieved, though, because it was returning to normal. But that fact only made him more nervous for what he was about to see; he was afraid to make comparisons.

Also, Link was filled with thoughts about how he was going to return to human. There was no way to get a hold of the other two pieces, because they had disappeared along with his human features. He was completely doomed and confused.

Link hurried on toward Ordon, shaking away the frightening emotions. The bridge was rickety as his paws pressed against the boards, and it swayed slightly. He wouldn't stop. However, as soon as he came off of the bridge, he immediately felt heavier. It was a strange, uncomfortable feeling. He slowed, and he felt as if a burden had just been placed on his muscular, broad wolf shoulders. A small, muffled whimper came from his curled back lips, but he continued nevertheless.

The conditions in Ordon Province were even worse. Link even felt warm tears welling in his eyes, but he proudly blinked them away. Everything was dead. The grass was gone altogether, the trees wilting and shrunken. Deku Babas were nowhere to be seen, and there was nothing but bleak blackness. Not even the slightest wind was blowing. The sun seemed to have disappeared from the sky, and there was complete and utter silence. Yet, it was deafening.

Link slowed to a walk, staring around him with weary eyes. The orb trembled just slightly in his jaw, but it failed to faze him.

No, he thought, an idea suddenly popping into his head. The people! Without another second's hesitation, Link pushed himself back into a sprint, with a bit of unexpected difficulty. He didn't even think about where he was going; his legs simply flew across the desolate ground, and it was second nature to him. He was headed for Ordon, his hometown.

He paused momentarily when passing his house, and seeing all of the color faded from it. It tore his heart in two; this was where he'd grown up, where he'd created all of his childhood memories. Fighting back more tears, Link forced himself to move into the village itself.

What he saw was something he hadn't been expecting. Nevertheless, it hit him like a harsh slap in the face. The wind was knocked out of him as if something had punched him in his sensitive gut.

This can't be happening, he shook his head, keeping his distance.

The people of Ordon were all gathered outside Mayor Bo's house, making an even circle. And… they were weeping. The part that hurt Link the most was what was in the middle of the circle: not one, but two coffins.

All the Ordonians were weeping, and the children were clinging to their parents…all of the children except Colin, who was clutching his baby sister protectively. And there was someone prominent missing from the group.

Unable to see well enough, Link ventured to inch closer, refusing to let the orb drop from his grip. On the contrary, he was frightened that the tenseness of his jaw might break the shattered piece. He was stiff, trying to peek over the heads of the mourning villagers.

"They will be dearly missed," Mayor Bo began, choking back tears. That's when Colin burst into sobs, and accordingly, the baby began screaming. That's when Link realized it, and hot tears rolled down against his fur, matting it.

"Uli and Fado," Mayor Bo continued, stammering slightly. "They contributed so much to Ordon and changed the lives of its people."

They were dead. Uli, Colin's sweet, adoring mother and Rusl's wife, was gone. Fado, the man that Link had spent so much time with on the ranch, herding the goats and lending a hand, was gone. It all hit Link so suddenly, and he sniffed loudly with his wet nose. The villagers still took no notice of him.

All the liveliness and color of Ordon was gone. The small creek was completely dried up, and the pumpkin patches dead. There were no cuccoos in sight, or squirrels. Link's heart was broken in two to see his home like this. It tore even more when thinking of the deaths of the two beloved villagers.

Colin no longer had a mother. The newborn baby would be raised without a mother to love her and care for her as only a mother could. And now, with Fado gone, Link truly had nothing left here. His way of earning a living in Ordon was gone, as was his dear friend.

Also, Link could see the pale, sickly faces of the people of Ordon. Each one was falling ill, and some were leaning on others. The sight made Link determined to find the cure. He needed to save his people and his village, and he needed to do it before he lost any more friends.

The first step was saving Ordona before she died and all of Ordon Province was destroyed. With tears running down his cheeks, Link turned from the overwhelming scene and ran back towards Ordona's spring. There was nothing that could stop him now.

Link found himself surprised that the spring itself wasn't dried up… but the water was black. Dark, pitch black, and the wolf refrained from stepping into it. Ordona, however, refused to come from the spring. Link sat down, patiently awaiting her. When she didn't come, he was forced to put the orb gently on the ground, throw his head back toward the moon, and howl eerily. The sound echoed through the night air, truly making him feel like a feral beast.

The golden droplet appeared in the water, but it was much weaker than usual. That fact greatly worried Link. Ordona's shriek erupted, echoing in Link's twitching ears, and she emerged from the black liquid.

She did not look good. She was black, and the spots of green were becoming like tumors spreading across her body. She had lost her authoritative stature and that twinkle in her eyes, and the only light was being emitted from her sphere. It was the only thing still protecting Ordon, and if Ordona died, so would all of the people and the village itself.

"Brave…youth…" her voice was hoarse, almost like static. Link could tell that she was struggling just to speak. Ordona was just barely hovering above the water, her weakness threatening to get the best of her. "I…am close… to death…"

I have the third piece of the Orb, Link thought, pushing the piece toward her with his muzzle. Ordona coughed heavily.

"The fourth piece…lies within me…" she continued agonizingly. Link nodded, waiting for the orb to work its magic. It did; but it was very weak. He could tell that it was becoming hot as it shook, but it was a very weak shaking. Ordona, however, was evidently going through agonizing pain. She threw her great head back and cried out, making Link jump in surprise.

The process was much slower this time. The black was seeping out of Ordona, but slowly… ever so slowly… It was taking forever. Link was fidgety as her sickness flowed out into the spring, the bugs along with it. They dropped into the spring one by one. Each one balanced on the surface of the liquid, and Link bared his teeth, ready to fight.

"Hello, doggie," Came a menacing voice from behind. Just as Link turned around, a heavy object fell onto the top of his head. His eyesight became blurred, and the world started spinning.

With a weak whimper, Link fell into the filthy water, unconscious.

ZELDA POV

Once Shad was gone, Zelda headed back to the library. There was no way she was going to bed at a time like this. There was still much research to be done. Now that she knew the Sheikah had a connection with this plague, she was determined to find more information about the ancient race.

There was nobody in the halls and nobody in the library as Zelda lit the candles at the table. Darkness had fallen across Hyrule, and the stars were shining through the glass dome. Instead of sitting down, though, Zelda went back to the shelves to look for books of the Sheikah.

"Sheikah, Sheikah, Sheikah," she muttered to herself as she looked through the shelves, candle in hand. Her eyelids were drooping, and she was moving sluggishly, but she refused to stop. Hyrule needed her… Link needed her.

Finally, she found the perfect book: History of the Sheikah: Protectors of the Royal Family. It was significantly thinner than the other books, but it still held meaningful information for Zelda. And it still made a thump when she dropped it on the table. She sat down, and decided to tie her hair back with a ribbon to keep it out of her face.

As soon as she opened the book, she saw dust scattered along its pages. Coughing, she blew the dust off and ran her fingers along the yellowing pages. It was as if it hadn't been opened for ages. As a precursor, Zelda flipped through the pages precariously. But as she did, the book opened to a certain page. There, sitting on the parchment, was a note. It was folded in yellow paper, and Zelda furrowed her brow as she picked it up. With curious eyes, she unfolded the paper and read the words inside:

If you are reading this, then you are no doubt a member of the Royal Family. Also, if you are reading this, read carefully. These stories can explain all. The Sheikah are a race that protected the Royal Family, but are now nearly extinct… I am the last remaining member. And now, the story is passed down only through the princesses and the kings of this land. The people have forgotten about their protectors. Impa is forgotten… Sheik is forgotten. But the Sheikah are the reason that the Royal Family has survived all of these years. Read the pages of this book, and spread the tale. Whether you are Princess Zelda or the King of Hyrule, read. Pass on the story of the Sheikah.

-Impaz, last member of the Sheikah

"Sheik and Impa," Zelda repeated, reading over the note once more. Then, she turned to the back of the book, where the index was. Running her finger along the lines, her eyes gleamed when she saw it: Sheik...Page 140.

Sheik was someone that Zelda had little to no knowledge of. All she knew was that he had greatly aided the Hero of Time in finding the sages and saving Hyrule and that he was an exceptional warrior.

"Finally, after all these years," Zelda sighed happily. For some strange reason, she felt as if this was important information. She felt that it was important in helping her figure out this entire mystery. Though Sheik didn't directly have a connection to the plague, her brain was drawn to this information. The little voice in her head (which was rarely wrong) was telling her to do this.

Sheik first appeared after the Hero of Time had awoken from his seven-year slumber. He aided him in finding the sages, but refused to reveal who he was. Sheik taught the Hero of Time each of the songs that awakened the Sages: Minuet of Woods, Serenade of Water, Nocturne of Shadow, Bolero of Fire, Requiem of Spirit. Sheik was also a very skilled warrior, filled with cunning and speed. The Hero of Time never truly knew what Sheik did or how he knew the secrets that he conveyed to him.

The next part truly grabbed Zelda's attention, and she found herself smiling at the new knowledge she was acquiring.

Sheik and the Hero of Time, as skilled as they were, were bested by one evil. Kakariko Village was attacked one day, and Sheik fought nobly to defeat it. The Hero of Time appeared and joined the fight, but at the entrance to the Shadow Temple, they encountered what Sheik believed to be the Shadow Spirit. They were both defeated. It was said to be the single instance when Sheik was seen defeated.

A fact not known to many, though, was Sheik's true motives and who he truly was. The Hero of Time did, in fact, figure it all out, contrary to many beliefs. After all six sages were awakened, Sheik and the Hero of Time met at the Temple of Time. There, Sheik revealed—

A banging on the library door interrupted Zelda's reading. She whirled around, quickly and instinctively shutting the book. Remaining silent, Zelda slowly and calmly stood up. The banging came again, harder. It was harsh, as if large hands were being pressed against the wood. Zelda's gut told her to keep her thin lips shut.

"Oh, Princess?" a rough, sarcastic voice called. Just before the door was burst open loudly, Zelda ran down the corridor, hiding behind the shelves. The ribbon flew out of her hair, allowing her tresses to fall against her back. Goose bumps covered her body, and her stomach churned in fear.

"I know you're here, Zelda," the voice came again. Then, the floor rumbled as they took a step. Zelda heard the clattering of armor as she put her back against the shelves. Summoning all of her courage, she peeked toward the entrance. What she saw made beads of sweat roll down her face, and she quickly hid herself once more.

It's him, she thought to herself. The one from my dream... the Guardian of the Source.

"Don't be afraid," he hissed, taking another step forward but still unable to see her. Accordingly, Zelda shuffled further into the aisle. "I only want one thing from you."

Zelda found herself panting as he came closer, and without any more hesitation, she sprinted down the aisle. She struggled not to trip on the hem of her dress, but she couldn't stop. She heard the clank of the armor, but the soft soles of her boots prevented her from making any noises.

"The pieces of the Orb!" he cried, his voice ringing out through the vast library. "Where are they?" Zelda didn't even falter. She kept running, weaving her way through the shelves. With each breath she took, the clanking of the armor drew closer.

Suddenly, as she crossed past one of the shelves, a long and jagged sword swung out from the other aisle.

"AH!" she screamed as it landed in the ground right in front of her. She stumbled backwards as the sword became embedded in the carpet. One more clank of armor, and he stepped in front of her.

"Well, there you are," the monster cackled, easily pulling his sword from the carpet and taking a step toward her. "HYAH!" He swung his sword horizontally, and Zelda let out another panicked shriek as she ducked reflexively. Without another moment's hesitation, she once again began sprinting, back the way she came. She heard his frustrated groan, but kept running. The sound of the armor continued, at a faster pace. The guardian was running after her, and he was gaining speed.

Zelda, not having another choice, ran straight toward the exit of the library. The princess was winded, and her lungs were crying out as her legs seared in pain, but she didn't dare pause for even a second. The clanking was too close. She harshly pushed open the door and ran out into the hall.

Once out in the main corridor, she paused, looking around frantically. Then the muffled scream of the guardian coming from inside the library provoked her to run down the hall, lifting up her skirts as she did. Her hair was a mess, billowing across her face wildly as she ran. When she turned the corner, what greeted her was far from welcoming.

"The Princess!" Two creatures, looking exactly the same as the first one, were caught off-guard at the sight of her.

There's more than one? She thought in frustration and shock. But she barely had time to react, for they immediately pounced. With a graceful leap from the princes, they missed by a hair, and Zelda grabbed her chance to sprint past them. How did they get in the castle?

Tears of fear welled in her eyes, and she ran far into the depths of the castle. The deafening sounds were constantly behind her, reminding her that she couldn't stop running. Zelda ran aimlessly, through narrow and wide corridors, past doors and windows, up and down stairs. Before she knew it, she found herself in front of the entrance to her chambers. Her feet had habitually led her to her room.

She glanced back, seeing that the three guardians were running straight toward her, swords raised. With wide eyes, Zelda pushed the door open and closed it just before they reached her. Her hands fumbled with the locked, but she did end up getting it locked. For one tense second, there was silence. With a sigh of relief, Zelda leaned her head against the door and closed her eyes.

"NO!" she screamed again when three swords pierced the wood of the door, each one missing her by an inch. The princess ran deeper into her room, but in a few seconds, the guardians were moving toward her with cruel laughs and maniacal smiles. She had nowhere left to go.

"Now we've got you," they narrowed their eyes. Zelda kept moving backwards, but kept her face towards the approaching creatures.

"What do you want?" she kept her voice calm and collected. But she didn't stop backtracking.

"You know what we want." All three of them said at the same time, slowly approaching her. "The Orb."

Zelda remained silent and regal, lifting her head up high as they cornered her. But at the same time, her heart was pounding as sweat accumulated on her forehead.

"Tell us where it is," one guardian said.

"Never," she stated bravely.

"Give it to us," they ordered, snarling and lifting their swords. Before Zelda could even say anything, one guardian reached out and grabbed her, wrapping his forearm around her throat and putting his sword to her neck. She didn't make a sound, and tried to ignore the slight pain that the jagged weapon was causing.

"Tell us, or risk death," he whispered in her ear, the stench of his breath making Zelda crinkle up her nose.

"I..." Zelda paused, thinking it over for a moment.

If I die, then I leave Link alone to solve this mystery. He can't do this alone, she thought. I can feel it... now isn't the time for my sacrifice.

"Who has it?" he squeezed her neck tighter, but she refused to show any sign of faltering.

Link has it...her brain was saying. Link has it.

"I have it," she lied shakily, only thinking about Link's safety. She couldn't let the one she loved suffer for her foolish mistakes.

"We thought so," they cackled. Then, the guardian wrung her hands behind her back. She grunted quietly in pain, and he pushed her forward forcefully. The princess stumbled, but maintained her composure.

Zelda felt a small, stinging, and barely noticeable pain in her foot just before she was led out of her room and into the darkness of the deserted castle.

It was a really sad chapter for me, and it was literally difficult to write. :( But I really hope you guys liked it, chapter twenty-four should be up soon :)