Chapter Ten: Seven Years Later
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Disclaimer: I disclaim everything. Except Kadros, because he owns himself, and Shaya, cuz I created her… Sort of.
This chapter will see the appearance of Kadros The Minion of Time, as a Sheikah. Heh. I promised him a guest shot in one of my stories, ages ago… Do you remember that, Kadros? Hell, for once I didn't forget something! HA! … Anyway, as it is his appearance, I urge you to go and check out Kadros' fic, A True Friend. It's great and amazing. Feed him reviews! (Er…and me too, while you're at it…)
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I looked into his eyes and all I saw was my reflection staring back. There was no warmth, no feeling. He reached out a pale hand to me, and I couldn't help but back away. Who was this apparition? Who was this being that would dare impersonate my beloved? I didn't know what was going on, but I didn't want it to happen…
Sheik bolted upright, hands gripping the cotton sheets tightly to his bare chest. It was the third time he had had the dream in four days…each was clearer and more urgently disturbing than the last. He threw off the covers and stood shivering on the cold bedroom floor of his house in Kakariko Village. The feeling of dread clung to him as he changed, and he had to stop and splash water on his face several times to avoid lapsing into the memory of the dream.
It had been seven years since that fateful date…since that day that Link was suddenly and completely torn out of Sheik's life. There wasn't a moment when Sheik couldn't see his beloved striding into the Sacred Realm, a determined look on his face, armed with nothing but a Kokiri-made spear and Sheikah arrows. Immediately following that image, however, was Ganon, stalking out of the Sacred Realm; alone and unharmed, holding up his fist in triumph. He had gotten hold of the Triforce, and he now had the piece of Power. The first thing that the king of evil did was seal the Door of Time, and made it so that it couldn't be opened again. Link had been trapped. Alone.
Sheik shuddered, tying a woven belt of white bandages around his waist, in honor and memory of the many Sheikah that had died in the Final Battle. He, himself, was one of the handful of survivors, bent on releasing the Child of Destiny and bringing order to the land once more. Sheik stood in front of a full-length mirror. Gone was the innocent and carefree clothing of a young Sheikah. He now bore the full navy bodysuit, matching leather boots, and white over shirt with the Eye, of a Sheikah warrior. He still went unarmed, and still only carried his harp, in a leather case, on his back. It was all he had. It was all he needed.
Sheik was jerked out of his thoughtful reverie by a low, uneven gasping. Throwing himself into a half crouch, he made his way to the window peering outside. Eyes fell on a dark lump in the bushes, a scuffling revealing that it was a person moving around.
"Sheik!" Hissed a voice.
Sheik leaned out. "Kadros? Is that you?" Hearing a grunt of acknowledgement, he went on. "What are you doing?"
"Redead…losing life force…help me, please!"
"Goddesses above!" Reaching out with one arm, Sheik half-pulled, half dragged a young man out of the bushes, carefully pulling him into the house via the window. The one called Kadros winced as he was lowered onto the bed, one hand flying to his shoulder. He wore the uniform of the Sheikah as well, substituting the white over shirt for a black one still bearing the Eye. Sheik tore the top of Kadros' shirt with a sharp jerk, exposing the wound to the air. There was no bandaging, and the imprint of the injury seemed to be in the shape of a hand, nails digging into the skin. The flesh on Kadros' shoulder was starting to decay.
"By the Eye! You left this unattended!" Tracing the wound with a single finger, a glowing line was left in his wake. Sheik was stopped as Kadros gripped his wrist.
"There was no time, Sheik. We had to get word to you…something has happened in the Temple."
"Is it Link?" Sheik asked urgently, with sudden hope. "Has he returned?"
Kadros nodded. "But the redead in the city attacked—had to get word out. Don't know if…"
"Did you not play the Sun's Song?" Sheik asked, referring to a song that repelled the dead. "There are but few—"
"There were many." Kadros interrupted, smoky claret eyes flashing. "They came at us all at once, working together. It was as if they were possessed." Kadros gripped Sheik's wrist tighter. "They came into the temple, Sheik. All of them."
Sheik frowned, placing hands on the encircled wound. At the contact, Kadros hissed, pale pink light resounding on his skin as Sheik applied his healing talents. The temple is holy ground; the dead cannot – no – will not walk there. It gives them great pain to even come near. Sheik lifted his hands from Kadros, revealing skin that was unbroken and healthy. "What happened?"
Kadros took a deep breath, absently rubbing his shoulder. "They surrounded Link. Rauru had broken the seal on the Door of Time. Link tumbled out, and the redead appeared, going directly for him." Kadros sat up, fiddling with his torn shirt. "Janiv sent me to retrieve you."
Sheik stood to pace the room. "What," Sheik asked again, "Happened to Link?"
Kadros hesitated. "I don't know. I was coming to you. All I saw was Link, Janiv and a few others being cornered."
Sheik paused, his jaw set. "Then let us leave. We must go to the Temple of Time."
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A short little thing, but completely necessary. And look! Sheik is all grown up!
See ya around,
OracleVortex
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