Chapter Nine: Tricked
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Disclaimer: I don't. Don't what, you ask? I think you know what I'm talking about.
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"He waits for you in the Temple of Time." The Queen had told them.
It was a week later, and the King had finally returned. Navi came to Link and Sheik early in the morning, where they had fallen asleep in the Royal gardens. Navi prodded them awake, her usual expression of no expression present on her face.
"We have to go."
Sheik had dressed in the clothes that he wore during their travels, not the ones that he donned at the palace. Link didn't ask, but he had the feeling that it was a defiance of sorts. The Hylian didn't question it.
The three of them left the castle, Shaya –Zelda- not present with them. Walking down the path to the city, Link had a strange feeling of deja vu. It was the same path that they had taken, with the same people that they had brought, at the start of Link's quest. He was surprised to feel slightly saddened as he realized that his travel had come to a close and his job was done.
Sheik wrapped an arm around Link's shoulders, whispering in his ear. "Will you stay with me, after this is done?" He asked lightly. "If you want to return to the forest, I'll understand-"
Link shook his head, momentarily resting his head on Sheik's shoulder. "I want to stay with you."
Sheik smiled, brushing drifting bangs out of Link's eyes. The three of them climbed the steps of the temple, pausing at the top to bow in front of the doors. Navi pushed open the door and they entered. The humming sound of the ages echoed around them, chanting in ancient Hylian. Light shone in from the tall glass windows on the walls, and two figures stood across the hall.
The first was the King, and the second Link recognized as the princess Zelda…Sheik's sister. Sheik's expression tightened, and he dropped his arm from around Link. Zelda looked up at them, the same strained look on her face as she gazed at Sheik. She spoke quietly to the King. "Father, they've arrived."
The King turned to face them, his bright blue eyes sharp. "Do you have the ruby and the sapphire?"
Navi produced them, bowing as she presented them to the king.
The King took them, his gaze strangely over bright. "At last. I have them all."
Zelda frowned at her father. "Excuse me, but we only have two."
"Oh?" The King said, turning to the pedestal of the stones. "Do we?" He placed the sapphire into the third slot, an audible click sounding. The ruby was pushed into the middle slot.
"Fa-" Sheik broke off. "Your Highness…what are you doing?"
"Something that I've been waiting all too long for, my dear Zenrik." The King said snidely, reaching into his pocket. His fist clenched, he pulled out the Kokiri Emerald.
Link's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?!"
The King laughed, and Zelda backed away, fear written into her features. She stood beside Navi and Sheik, and the four of them watched as the King spun to face them. "You fools don't understand?" The King's eyes rolled back in his head, and he fainted to the floor.
"Father!" Zelda cried out.
"Wait." Sheik caught her arm as she leapt forward. A misty shadow appeared over the king, and a tall man slowly materialized. He sneered at the young teens, dark features flashing dangerously.
To everyone's surprise, it was Navi who snarled at him. "Ganon." She hissed uncharacteristically. "Because of you, this body is empty!" She glared up at him.
Ganon examined her curiously before it dawned on him. "Of course… That Kokiri brat that was being 'born.'" He smiled wickedly. "How is it that you survived?"
"That business is none of yours." Link said sharply. "Give back the emerald and the other stones."
"Give them back?" Ganon raised an eyebrow. "What a peculiar notion. You gave these two to me, boy."
"Give them to us, or we will take them by force." Sheik said.
Ganon laughed. "You four? What humour you have today, Zenrik!"
"Don't call me that."
Ganon smirked at him. "Of course. It doesn't matter really; you can take your silly little gems. They are of no use to me anymore." Before an inquiry to this statement could be made, a deep rumbling thundered in the temple. He swept his arm behind him in one grand motion, revealing that the tall marble door was sliding open. "The Door of Time has been opened for me, and now I will retrieve the real gem; the Triforce!" He vaulted the pedestal of Time, standing in front of the door. "When I return…we'll see what I can really do…" He moved through the hazy curtain of the door, the shimmering water-like surface rippling as it swallowed him.
Link, a determined look on his face, hefted his spear and shouldered his quiver and bow.
Sheik sang out from behind him, eyes widening as he realized what Link was going to do. "Wait, let me come with you."
Link shook his head. "Stay here, Sheik. Help the King."
"Link, at least-"
"There's no time, Sheik!" Link approached the door. "I have to do this; I know I do."
Sheik tried again, his voice cracking with despair. "Link! Don't do this! You may never return to us!" His sister restrained him. "You may never return to me…"
Link didn't look back. He knew that if he did, he'd never have the courage to do this. The Hylian eyed the door carefully. "Love you always, Sheik…" And he vanished through it.
Sheik broke free of Zelda's grip and ran over to the door. Navi blocked his path, and he glared at her. "Move!"
The Kokiri looked at him mildly. "No."
"No?"
Navi shook her head. "This is not your fate, Sheik. Link is the Hero of Time. If he cannot do this, then no one can."
Sheik bit his lip, taking a step back. "But Link…"
"He's quite extraordinary." Navi said. "May the Green Lady favour him in this time."
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Link felt as if he crossed thousands of miles with the one step he took. A glance behind him showed a glowing doorway, much like the one in the Temple of Time. He started forward through the misty grass, heading for the only structure nearby – a giant gold pyramid in the distance. Link could see a dark shape ahead of him, black cape fluttering behind him. Ganon.
Link's eyes narrowed, and he broke into a run, using the tall grass to hide him. He ran crouched over, spear low beside him. Maybe if he could catch Ganon off guard, he could end this before it began. The dark man towered in front of him; spinning as Link jumped out of hiding, spear raised high.
"You!" Ganon blocked him with his sword, slicing cleanly through the wood shaft of the spear. "You cannot possible think to stop me!" Sheathing his weapon, the Gerudo King turned and ran for the pyramid.
Link winced as he lifted himself off the ground, winded. His broken pieces of spear fell from his hands, and he took off after Ganon. Even as the dark king reached the stairs and started up the long climb, Link knew that there was no way that he could catch up to him. He was too far away. By the time that Ganon was half way up, Link had only reached the bottom. Link paused, panting, and drew out his bow. The arrows had been made by Sheik himself, and Link could imagine the Sheikah in his mind. I should've kissed him one last time... Drawing the arrow, Link aimed for Ganon and quickly let go. It flitted off of his shoulder, and Ganon stumbled. Link redrew, and fired once more, but this one shattered at Ganon's feet as he leapt up and kept on going.
Link shot a third arrow, but Ganon had changed his pace, trying to throw off Link's aim. Link drew a fourth, knowing that only a few paces away was the pyramid's tip, and the Triforce.
Link let the arrow fly.
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What's this? A CLIFF HANGER??? BWAHAHAHA! Yeah, I know that I never do that, and I know that you're going to hunt me down for doing such a thing, but that's where it's going to end. That's where I want it to end.
Besides, this update brings you four frickin' chapters at once!!! HOW RARE IS THAT? Go read on and find out what happens!!
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