Chapter Twenty-Four has now arrived. Please enjoy! I love all of you readers :)))

Chapter Twenty-Four: Down in the Dungeon

LINK POV

Link's eyes drowsily opened, and as soon as he was just the slightest bit conscious, he felt a terrible aching in his head. He whimpered quietly as he became more alert, and the pain only increased. It was as if somebody was pounding nails into his brain, and he clenched his large fangs in agony. Growling quietly, Link examined his surroundings. As of that moment, he had no idea where he was.

The wolf was in a dark cellar, chains around all four of his paws. Dark brick walls surrounded him, and the only light came in from a barred window. He heard the scuttling of rats, and dirt covered the cobblestones. There was almost complete silence, and even the smallest noise made Link's head ache. Curiously, he began sniffing and lifting his head. There was an odor of death in the air, and an eerie familiarity in the area. Butterflies appeared in Link's churning stomach.

"The doggie's awake," A voice called. It sounded cruel and sarcastic. Link whirled around, noticing the barred cellar door behind him. An instinctive bark escaped his mouth, regardless of his pounding head. Right outside the door, Link saw the Guardian of the Source.

His animal instincts kicked in, and he barked menacingly as he pounced toward the door. A surprised whine replaced the growling when the chains pulled him back, easily putting a stop to his resistance. The metal dug into the flesh of his paws, and he narrowed his eyes to try and hide the pain.

This situation reminded Link of when Midna had first found him, and along with all of his mixed up emotions, he now felt nostalgia and longing.

"Looking for... this?" the guardian pulled out the third piece of the orb, waving it around tauntingly. Link simply crouched low, snarling and growling. "Face it, Hero," he spat.

Link barked.

"You failed. The light spirit will soon be dead, and so will Ordon Province. Then, all of the races of Hyrule will fall to the same fate!" he cackled. "Even if you did escape, you wouldn't be able to do anything without this." He gazed at the orb piece. "Now all I need is the other two pieces, and the Source will be very pleased with me."

"Guardian!" Another, similar voice called. Link couldn't see the source of the voice, but he got a bad feeling in his stomach. Suddenly, another guardian moved into Link's eyesight.

No, he shook his head subtly. There's more than one? Well that would explain...

"We've located the other two pieces," the second guardian said. The first one's mouth curled into a psychotic smile, and he chuckled evilly.

"Perfect," he tucked the third piece into his armor. "Lead me there." He gave Link one last hateful glance before following the other guardian out of the cellar.

What? Link thought in confusion, sitting down and hitting his tail against the ground. He was completely baffled. I have the other two pieces... How could they have gotten a hold of them?

Link could come up with no solution to the question. He prayed that it was a fluke, that somehow the guardians had made a mistake. If they got a hold of the other two pieces, they would surely either dispose of them or find a way to use them to their own advantage. The thought of it made Link shiver involuntarily. And if he didn't escape in time to save Ordona, all of his childhood and the things and people he loved would be gone.

One thing that Link did figure out, however, was the explanation behind his encounter with the guardian in Hyrule Field. He realized that since there was more than one guardian, there could've been dozens. In Hyrule Field, just before the Guardian of the Source was about to kill Link, they'd heard a distant horn. It was no doubt a call to him from the other guardians, a call either to action or to a meeting. That part was now clear.

From a distance, Link heard the sound of banging, and frustrated shouts. He could've sworn he heard the sound of beating, but he couldn't be sure. His ears twitched, and he narrowed his eyes pensively as he inched as close as he could to the cellar door. The sounds, probably inaudible to humans, were muffled to his keen ears. However, he clearly heard the glass shattering. It was as if there was a fight going on, and Link itched to know what was going on.

Hopelessly, he sat back down and looked around him once more. Link tried to figure out where he was, but to no avail. He'd never seen a place like this, except for when—

Hyrule Castle! He thought finally. I'm in the dungeons of Hyrule Castle, where I'd first woken up in my wolf form!

He let out another bark as ideas and theories flowed into his racing mind. He began running in circles and tugging hopelessly on the chains with his teeth. Excitement overwhelmed him, and he was soon unable to control his actions. He had a strange idea of what was happening, and if it was true, then he needed to escape at all costs. There was only one explanation... And that's when he heard the high-pitched, bloodcurdling scream.

Zelda!

ZELDA POV

Zelda was as calm as ever as the three guardians pushed her forward, muttering words to each other. Some of it was understandable, but some of it was in a language that Zelda didn't understand. She narrowed her glistening blue eyes, her mind processing the situation she was in. The princess knew that when they found out she didn't have the pieces, they wouldn't be happy. She had no idea what she was going up against, but she was determined to do it if it would save Link. That was all that mattered to her: Hyrule, and Link.

They pushed her on relentlessly, and Zelda stumbled a few times. In response, they shoved her and called her clumsy. She refused to utter a single word, and her face never took on an expression besides that of serenity and tranquility. She had learned that as a princess, it was always best to hide your emotions in dire circumstances.

Out of nowhere, Zelda started feeling a bit woozy. Lightheadedness diverted her attention, and an uncomfortable churning in her stomach caused her to double over. She struggled to hide it, and the dumb creatures failed to notice her sudden state of discomfort. The breath was leaving her suddenly and quickly, and she soon found herself trying not to gasp for air. Her eyesight was a bit blurry, but she forced herself to continue.

Immediately, Zelda knew that they were leading her to the dungeons. There was no doubt. Though the journey was short and usually not grueling, she found herself having a tedious time of it. The princess prayed to the gods that the guardians wouldn't notice her shortness of breath and her suddenly hunched over stature. A cry was itching to escape the confinement of her mouth, but she kept her lips firmly closed. She wouldn't let them see her weakness.

By the time they reached the dungeon, Zelda was struggling just to stay standing. She was flabbergasted: how had she suddenly become so sick?

Wait, she pondered for a moment, trying to straighten out her dazed brain. This can't mean... I didn't see a bug anywhere.

"Get in there," they opened a small wooden door, and harshly pushed Zelda inside. She no longer had any support since he'd let go of her arms, and she fell to the floor from the force of the push. Suddenly, she began coughing and gasping for air. She couldn't hide it anymore. The memory of Link in Central Plaza, sick and struggling, entered her brain.

The guardians looked at each other, confused as Zelda trembled on the ground.

"Stand up," one of the guards took the initiative, and stepped up to her frail body. He grabbed her arm harshly and pulled her up. Her knees buckled, but she somehow managed to stay standing. They chuckled at her state, but Zelda could only concentrate on not suffocating. The world was spinning, and she was now barely aware of her surroundings. And now, fear was beginning to take over.

In the room was a small table with a few plates and glasses, a shelf with two or three books, a small mirror in the corner, and no windows. Zelda managed to recognize it as the resting place of the warden and the prison guards. But now, it was deserted and the guardians had taken over.

"Now," the guardian twisted her arms behind her with one hand and then pulled her hair, forcing her head back, with the other hand. Zelda's eyelids fluttered, but the pain was becoming unbearable.

"Give us the pieces, and maybe we won't hurt you too bad," one of the other guardians held out his hand, glaring at her with narrowed eyes. Zelda didn't answer.

"Come on, hand them over," the one behind her hissed. Zelda only groaned in agony. The ache in her stomach was terrible, and the pounding in her head was only increasing. Then, one of them stepped forward and grabbed her face in his armored hand, and then brought his face inches from hers.

Behind him, yet another guardian entered the room. Now, there were four guardians, and Zelda was completely alone and suffering.

"Princess, use your famous wisdom to make the right decision," he whispered. "Give us the two pieces of the orb."

Zelda spat at him, keeping her pride.

"You little...!" The guardian stepped back, and without warning, slapped Zelda hard across the face. As the back of his hand made contact with her cheek, pain erupted, as Zelda had never felt before. She gasped in shock and agony as her head was flung to the side, and she coughed splatters of blood onto the floor.

She was now barely conscious, and she could hardly feel the hand wrap around her throat.

"Tell...us...NOW!" a voice screamed. The guardians were starting to realize that Zelda's weakness was getting the best of her. But they were relentless, with no mercy. If not for the arms grabbing onto her and pulling her up, she would've been on the floor. But, somehow, she managed a few words.

"I... will... never...tell..." Each breath she took between each word was raspy and struggled. Everything around her was just a blur.

"Very well, then," the lead guardian was furious. "Search her."

The two guards behind up stepped up to her obediently, cracking their knuckles.

"There's...nothing...to search for," she rasped.

"What? Are you telling us that you don't have the pieces of the orb?" the lead guard shrieked, outraged. Zelda no longer had the energy to say anything, but it was clear she didn't have them. "GAH!"

The guardian punched the wooden table angrily, causing the cups to totter and then fall to the floor, breaking. Zelda's brain ached at the sound.

"What should we do with her if she doesn't have the pieces? Should we just...?" One guard ventured to ask. The leader shook his head.

"We need her alive. I'm sure she still has valuable information," he ordered. Then, he cackled cruelly and glanced at the fading princess. "And don't forget, she does hold one thing that we need to keep the Source safe for certain."

As if on cue, the Triforce on Zelda's hand began glowing.

"Ow!" the guardian holding her hissed. Her skin was beginning to burn him, and he instinctively let go of her. With a groan, Zelda crumpled to the floor as soon as he let go. Her body was shaking slightly, and she prayed for the pain to end. She would rather be dead than have to suffer this agony for one more second.

The Triforce was glowing golden and blue, and Zelda felt the black evil pulsing through her fragile veins. The guardians simply watched her suffer, dumbfounded. Then, her fingers involuntarily clenched into fists, and for a moment, everything was completely still around her. There was complete silence, and then there was a blinding white light.

And then the pain became like nothing Zelda could've ever imagined, and it shook her entire body.

"AH!" she screamed as loud as possible, unable to take it anymore. Then, a moment of black... she closed her eyes...

When Zelda's eyes opened, the pain was gone. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, but she felt as if something were covering her lips as she breathed. Confused and shaken, she sat up and put a hand to her head. Instead of her brown hair, she felt cloth beneath her fingers. Zelda blinked, examining her surroundings. The memory of her recent ordeal came back to her, and she remembered. She was still in the room, but the guardians were gone. Zelda was on the floor, and she realized that she had been unconscious until a few seconds ago.

"What...?" when she spoke, her voice was suddenly lower. With a furrowed brow, Zelda put a hand to her throat... more cloth.

Zelda, though it seemed as if she were suffering only a few moments ago, felt like she had more strength and energy than ever before. She felt a newfound strength, and without any attempt, she hopped to her feet. The agility she had increased tenfold, and Zelda found herself smiling.

What's going on here? She thought confusedly. Looking around, her eyesight was better than before. Then she noticed the strand of blonde hair falling across her forehead. With wide eyes, she touched the piece of hair, and then saw the glove covering the back of her hand and the cloth wrapped around her finger.

When she looked down, she couldn't help but cry out in surprise. Her royal, Hylian dress was gone, replaced by a blue suit covering her from head to toe. On her chest was a large, white piece of cloth; and on that piece of cloth was something Zelda was never expecting.

The eye, the sign of the Sheikah.

"Oh, my goodness!" she shouted, still taken aback by her low voice. When she looked at her arms and legs, she saw lean muscles, and she was in complete shock. "What's happened to me?"

Zelda touched her face, which felt no different to her relief. But when she took a step forward, her movement felt lighter and more agile. She ran forward a bit, and found that her speed had increased abnormally. Frankly, it was quite enjoyable to her.

A surprised laugh escaped her lips, and she jumped to experiment with her new agility. The height of her hop was more than she anticipated. She felt like a new person. With curiosity directing her actions, Zelda moved to the mirror in the corner.

What she saw made her feel suddenly woozy, and she put a hand to her head. She'd seen this picture in so many books; she'd heard this description so many times, spoken by her father.

Zelda was transformed into Sheik.

Shaggy blonde hair covered her eyes... her red eyes. The Sheikah sign on her chest was only proof of her new form, and the Triforce on her hand began glowing. Her knees buckled slightly, but she managed to keep herself standing.

Oh, in the name of Farore, she thought in shock. Now I get it.

Link's cursed form was the wolf: Zelda's cursed form was Sheik...But why?

What connection do I have with Sheik? Why in Din's name would I transform into Sheik?

She remembered what she'd read about him. Now, instead of a weak princess, she was an exceptional warrior with speed, cunning, and stamina. Zelda didn't even know how she could've changed so drastically, but the proof was undeniable and indubitably.

Without really thinking, she began playing with her new body. Lifting her muscular leg, she kicked the mirror. Barely trying, she shattered the mirror, and her reflection became cracked. Zelda couldn't help but smile. Then, she jumped easily onto the table and then onto the top of the bookshelf. She laughed again, doing a somersault as she hopped back to the ground. She felt as light as air.

Zelda's thoughts and experiments were interrupted by a haunting, familiar sound: the sound of a wolf howl... a distressed wolf howl.

This chapter was so much fun to write, so tell me what you guys think! Once again, I love you all! :D And if there's anything confusing, please let me know. I would be happy to fix anything that needs fixing.