Chapter Twenty

So, if you guys haven't noticed, I bumped up the rating to M. It's Sheik's fault. Dark Zelda makes it worse later, but for now it's Sheik's fault. There's a bit of a lime in this chapter with. . . well, you'll see.

I still don't own Legend of Zelda, or Iblis. Iblis is RococoSpade's (people, GO READ HER STUFF! Seriously), and everyone else belongs to Nintendo. I DO own a copy of Skyward Sword, though. This game is AWESOME!

"It's getting late, so I believe that you shoul-" Sheik cut off abruptly, his eyes shooting wide open in horror. He leapt to his feet, gazing towards the swirling clouds at the center of the Dark Realm. They were weakening rapidly, like another wizard was trying to dismantle them and free the monster trapped within. "No. . .NO! Dark Link, the barrier!" A flash and he reappeared before the barrier, gazing up at the heights of it, the golden light attacked by a menacing blackness. "No, no, no. . ."

Sheik took a breath to calm himself and steady his weakening form. He stood poised with hands clasped, reaching inside of himself to pull forth whatever power he could find. Shadow magic crackled and sparked around his body, requiring every ounce of control he had. He couldn't spare his precious lover or little Link so much as a glance when he heard them skitter into the clearing.

Sheik fought with everything he had, fighting to protect Link, Dark Link, and his young princess. He could not allow them to be hurt! He drew forth more power still, pushing pushing back against the blackness, erecting new spells and strengthening old as he went. It almost seemed he was winning; he would be tired, certainly, but he would live.

Then she interfered.

Her magic fought his, and Sheik couldn't fight on two fronts, he just didn't have the strength. He tried to shout a warning, uncertain if he was heard or not. He threw more power forward, but she rode along with it, twisting his own spell to suit her needs. The resulting backlash washed Sheik from her in a wave of darkness that stole his consciousness so very far away. . .

A dream within a dream to tell the truth to one who had hidden it from himself and the rest of the world. He sought only to protect those he loved, but in the process he hurt the most precious one worst of all. The most precious searched the world over, broke himself into four, and still never found him. The hidden found the fifth himself, and he loved him as he loved the first. For the first always holds a special place, and when it's only a dream in any case. . .

Strong, oddly familiar arms wrapped around him, cradling him against a well-muscled chest as though he were the most priceless treasure. Gentle fingers wove through his long, soft hair, the man above him humming a quiet tune, the calming Serenade of Water. The smell of the forest, alive and lush, surrounded them. It was comforting, a kind of comfort Sheik hadn't experienced in so very long. He buried his face deeper into that warm chest, releasing a contented sigh. Sheik felt the chest rumble when the man holding him chuckled, adjusting his grip to pull Sheik closer against him.

Sheik froze. That laugh. . . Bloody red eyes snapped open, trailing up the green tunic of the one who held him, to look on that achingly familiar face for the first time in centuries. "Hero . ." He whispered, hardly daring to believe what his eyes were telling him. He was as handsome as Sheik remembered; his face perfectly chiseled by the goddesses themselves, with such a warm smile on that it made Sheik's heart ache. This wasn't the same suffering spirit who had come to him for help as the Hero's Shade, or even the little boy garbed in green who forced him to remember who he was but had never been. This was Link, the Hero of Time, as he should always have been. As he would have been, if Sheik hadn't been forced to erase himself from existence. . .

His strong arms pulled Sheik closer and he buried his face in the Sheikah's hair, inhaling his desert scent. For the first time Sheik realized he wasn't wearing his turban, or his cowl. Or, for that matter, a shirt (just whose consciousness was in control of this dream, anyway? Because it was a dream, a very pleasant one, but a dream nonetheless). When Link bent to press a soft kiss to the exposed skin of his throat, Sheik found he was rather glad of it. "Shhh. Don't say anything. Just let me hold you. Let me pretend, just for a little while."

"There's no need to pretend, Hero. . .Link." Sheik whispered, wrapping his arms around Link's shoulders and straddling his hips, leaning up to kiss him. It was gentle and loving, Link's fingers tracing lazy patterns on Sheik's hips while they pressed their lips together languidly. Sheik's tongue prodded Link's lips, and the other complied willingly, content to reacquaint himself with his lover's exquisite taste.

Sheik's hand trailed along Link's side and slipped under the green tunic's fabric, palming Link through the white tights he wore and causing him to break the kiss, throwing his head back with a needy gasp. "Sheik!" He moaned. The sound was too much for the Sheikah. He pushed Link back onto the bed of soft grass, claiming his lips in a hungry kiss as he pressed their bodies closer, drawing more of those delicious noises from the flushed Hylian.

Link cried out when Sheik rolled his hips against his, his fingers clawing at the grass beneath them. "Don't tease, Sheik!" He gasped out, "Goddesses, don't tease!"

Sheik laughed, sucking lightly on the tip of one ear to draw another moan from the hero before sliding slowly down his body, tugging his tights down as he went. "As you wish, Link."

So absorbed in their reunion, neither noticed another blond head peeking at them from the bushes. Blue scowled and seized the back of Red's tunic, pulling him away.

"Hey! Why does Green get to say hi first? I want to say hi to Sheik too~!" The smallest Link whined, twisting around to try to look back.

"We can say hi to him later!" Blue hissed, cheeks pink as Green groaned ("Sheik! Goddesses, how can your tongue even DO tha-AT?")

"But Blu~ue!"

"No!"

The smell of incense hung heavy in the air of the darkened room. A man's voice, low and powerful, echoed in the space. Three candles burned, a red flame, a green, and a blue, set in the middle of a complex pattern of ancient runes on the floor. The man walked slowly around the edge of the circle, chanting as he went in a language long dead, older than the oldest tale of the so-called Chosen Hero. . .

A black-gloved hand emerged from the cloak the man wore, a vial of some dark red liquid held within. A single drop sizzled onto the blue flame and it flared, turning black for a moment before resuming its previous color, though the flame burned brighter now. He paced the circle thrice more, and lifted another vial, though this one seemed to contain only flakes instead of liquid. Carefully, ever so carefully, he shook a single small flake onto the green flame. For a moment nothing happened, then there was the stench of burning iron, and the candle's flame flared high, higher than his head, almost to the ceiling of the room-

And it went out.

Cornelius swore, tearing off his cloak and tossing it down, staring in disbelief. Still? Still it wouldn't work! He'd been a fool not to take a vial of the boy's blood while he had him in the dungeon; goddesses knew he'd bled enough. Stubborn brat. But he wanted only the execution blood, the best blood for the ritual. It was already weakened because the princess' blood wasn't execution blood. . .

The red flame flared higher than could be natural and glowed black, the center a blinding gold. Cornelius dropped to his knees, pressing his head to the floor. "Goddess!" He whispered reverently. "Your humble servant awaits your word."

The voice that acknowledged him was everywhere and nowhere, inside of his mind but surrounding him so completely he could hear nothing but its high echoes. "How do the preparations progress, my Mage?"

Cornelius shook as the unfathomable power in that voice washed over him. How blessed he was that one of the Sisters spoke to him! "The rituals to release Power's Thief are almost complete, Goddess. As you said, it will release him enough to remove Power from him, so that the three can be reunited."

There was a long silence before She spoke again. "Then you have the blood of Courage's Thief?" There was an aura of danger in the everywhere voice and Cornelius shivered. She knew.

"In a manner of speaking." He began slowly. Wisps of the red flame reached out and trailed around him like slithering fingers, and he watched them nervously. "You are of course aware, revered Goddess, that the demon took him before he could be executed. . ."

"And just whose fault is that?" She cut him off sharply. He fell instantly silent, pressing closer to the floor. "Did I, or did I not tell you to wait until nightfall, and I would handle the matter myself?"

Cornelius gulped and stammered. "Y-Yes, Goddess, you did. I only wanted to take care of the unpleasant business for you-"

The fire lashed out at him and he screamed as it licked at his skin, consuming, burning, destroying- and then it was gone, like it had never been. He panted for breath, trembling before Her might.

"I forgave you for that idiocy, and allowed you the chance to look for the boy. You have thus far failed to find him. Lucky for you, my other followers are not so incompetent. Even now my darling- " (She HAD said darling, hadn't She? He almost thought he'd heard "darkling," but that didn't make any sense at all.) "- is handling the matter. When he succeeds, I will instruct him to bring the boy's body to you. Take what you need then. I want that spell cast, and soon."

"Yes, Goddess! Your will be done!" He gasped, crawling closer to the flame that carried Her presence as though it was the Goddess Herself and he could kiss Her golden robes.

"See that it is." And like that the candle burned with an ordinary flame again, and Cornelius was alone once more in the otherwise-darkened room.

The last of the night faded as the sun rose over Lake Hylia. Sheik sat with his back against the tree, arms wrapped around Green who sat between his splayed legs with his head resting against Sheik's chest. Blue sat against the tree beside them, carding his fingers through Red's hair while the smallest Link slept soundly, using Blue's thigh as his pillow. The sunrise burned a brilliant, but dangerous red, and Green's eyes grew sad as he watched its glow. He heaved a sigh as though the weight of the world were on his shoulders once again. Reluctantly he sat up, turning to face Sheik.

Gently, Green took Sheik's right hand in his left and lifted it to his lips, placing a tender kiss on the palm. Blue eyes slipped closed as he placed that warm hand against his cheek. "It's time." He whispered, voice shaking slightly, though he tried to keep it steady.

"You. . .have to make a choice, Sheik. Soon, your body will be called to wake. Will you go? Or will you stay here, with me? If. . ." Green swallowed thickly. "If you leave, I cannot promise you will be able to return again."

Sheik's expression softened and he pulled Green close, kissing his lips so very tenderly, a long, lingering kiss. "I love you, Hero, my Link."

"But you're not staying." He bowed his head so that his bangs hid his expression.

Sheik lifted Green's chin to look into his eyes. "We both know that I can't. Princess Zelda still needs me."

"That's not your only reason, is it Sheik?" Asked Red, looking up from Blue's lap as he yawned and rubbed sleep from his eyes.

Sheik smiled, lacking any cowl to hide his expression as he reached out to ruffle Red's hair. "No, it is not. Vio is still a child in the waking world. He has yet to come into himself; someone has to look out for him."

Blue scowled, Red hurrying to move as he stood, arms crossed and glaring. "Stop avoiding the question, Sheik!"

"Don't yell at him!" Green scolded Blue, glaring right back at him. "This is hard for him too."

Blue's snort of disbelief told them just how much stock he put in that.

"Blue~!" Red whined, tugging on his tunic. "Don't start a fight!"

Blue raised his hand like he might bop Red on the head, but thought better of it, turning away with his scowl firmly in place.

Sheik wrapped Green in his arms, burying his face in his blond hair. He held him until the sun had completely risen, the red giving way to thick gray clouds on the horizon. "I love you, Link. . ."

"But you love him more, don't you?" Green whispered, curling closer to Sheik's chest and inhaling his scent one more time.

"Yes. I do." Sheik answered, his eyes and tone so soft and gentle and sweet it was almost heartbreaking to witness (or gag-inducing, as Blue would later insist).

When Green lifted his head again the threat of tears was gone. His eyes shone with determination and force of will. Sheik had to leave, and so he would let him go. He stood and offered his hand to Sheik, who allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. The scene around them dissolved in a swirl of color, and the four of them stood in the graveyard of Kakariko, as it had been a thousand years prior. Sheik, too, stood dressed in the blue outfit he'd preferred then, the same style he'd worn for as long as that.

Time meant nothing in this between-world the Links inhabited. The sky above was dark, though they had seen the sun rise not minutes before. It seemed. . . appropriate, somehow.

Sheik stared up at the ledge that held the entrance to the Shadow Temple, the gate which would return him to the waking world. He took a step towards it, and Green caught his hand. "There's. . .one more thing." That sadness, deep and aching, had returned. Sheik paused, turning back to face him.

"Many things have happened since your spirit left that world. Many ills have befallen those you love. I didn't tell you sooner, because there was nothing you could have done from here." Green brought his other hand up to clasp one of Sheik's in both of his, pressing something into his palm. "But there will be, when you wake. Remember, Sheik, that people can change. Learn to forgive. And. . ."

"Whatever you do, don't leave Vio alone." Blue was still glaring, biting out the words with the irritation he used to hide his worry.

Little Red's voice cut in, as he stared pleadingly up at Sheik with his hands clasped in front of him. "The demons find him when he's alone, and they'll destroy him if they can."

"What demons?" Asked Sheik, brow creased in worry and confusion.

"His own." Green released Sheik's hand, and opening it, he found a single, tiny deku nut. "Farewell, Sheik. I love you."

"Farewell." A bright, blinding flash, and he was gone.

An ancient heart, long stilled by magic, began to beat again. Lungs, long unused, began to breathe again. All-seeing eyes, closed for far too long, blinked open at last. Directly above him the spirit of another being floated, the Minish, the Wind Mage. Sheik saw in his eyes all that he had done, all that he intended when he stepped foot inside the Shadow Temple. He smiled at Sheik, a strange little smile that spoke of one content with the knowledge that he was dying. It was a peaceful, gentle death; his life willingly given to stop the rise of a monster, to give Sheik the time he needed to finish what only he could. His red eyes slipped closed, and he grew fainter and fainter, his essence fading away.

The Hero's words echoed in his mind. "Remember, Sheik, that people can change. Learn to forgive. . ."

A red haze, born from Sheik's own blood, surrounded them, slowly dissipating as it vanished back into his healing body. Sheik could see nothing but the Wind Mage, dying so that he might live, fading with the blood-crystals.

"If enough living magic-users to cast the spell cannot be found, a sacrifice will be required. Their life for yours. The reversal of this spell will require only one."

Only one.

Vaati didn't have to die.

Sheik lifted his hand from the stone altar and held it out, his own quiet voice, only slightly hoarse from its long disuse, joining the song of power that filled the room. Some of the red crystal haze swirled around his palm, forming a tiny, dense ball. It swirled slowly as it rose towards the ceiling, guided by Sheik's voice and power.

Only one.

The demon Gufuu was enough.

The light from the top torches shot towards the center of the room and surrounded the little ball, swirling around it almost lazily, then faster and faster until the three lights blurred into glowing white. The ball flashed brightly once, twice, and again before sinking back down towards the altar and Sheik's waiting hand. The music around him faded away until only his own voice sang out, stronger and clearer than before. He brought his other hand up and the glowing ball settled between his palms, the white light fading away to reveal a sphere of gleaming blood-red crystal like the one that had held his body in its protective embrace.

A tiny crack appeared and spread along the surface of the crystal before the ball shattered, its many pieces fading away to reveal a tiny, sleeping Minish, curled up in Sheik's palm with his arms and legs tucked close, and his feather-like tail wrapped about him. His tail twitched and lifted, one arm reaching up to rub his eyes tiredly. He blinked and looked down at himself, then up, up, up at Sheik's face high above. He really was very cute, and a small smile tugged at Sheik's covered lips.

"Sheikah!" He squeaked. "I-I'm alive? And-and Gufuu's gone? For good?"

"Yes." Sheik answered. Vaati ran his hands over his purple robes and down his long-absent tail. He plopped down heavily and stared at Sheik with eyes filled with tears of gratitude, his expression awed.

"You saved me?" He whispered.

"No," Sheik answered softly. "You saved yourself."

"Well done, my child. I am proud of you."

Sheik's head whipped to the side quicker than a blink and his eyes grew huge with shock. "L-Lord Iblis!" He hurried to bow, but almost succeeded in falling off the altar instead, his body not quite ready to move so quickly. Vaati yelped and grabbed tight to Sheik's bandages, clinging on for all he was worth.

Iblis made made a sound of frustration as he reached out to steady him, helping him sit back on the stone. "Careful now, Sheik. Your body has been asleep for a thousand years. Give it time to adjust."

"My body. . ." His right hand, the one not holding Vaati, came up to rest on his heart, feeling it beat beneath his fingertips like a pulsing bombflower. He closed his eyes for a moment, bowing his head before his God.

Iblis was having none of that, reaching out to lift his chin. His expression was exasperated, but kind. "Do not feel the need to lower your eyes to me, my child. You are the last of your kind, and you will be the greatest of all."

"My Lord. . ." Sheik whispered reverently.

Iblis removed his hand and stepped back. Many spirits still lined the walls, and Sheik found himself searching for one in particular. She smiled at him, holding a small harp in her hands. She pulled down her cowl and her lips moved, though Sheik could not hear her words. I love you, brother.

"Death removes all illusions." Iblis murmured, watching the exchange sadly. "Even those cast to stop the ache of longing."

She glided forward, smiling sweetly. She looked as young as when his living eyes had last seen her, though Sheik knew that she had lived to a ripe old age, married to a Hylian man. She leaned in close, pressing a ghostly kiss to his cheek, something akin to static on his skin. "I love you too, Impaz."

Reluctantly, Iblis broke the moment. "Time grows short here, Sheik. Affairs have deteriorated terribly in your absence, though I gather you understood that from Vaati."

Sheik took a moment to sort out his new knowledge. Dark Zelda was back. The Princess was missing. Link had been captured, and rescued again. Link. . . Sheik froze, staring down at the Minish in his hand. Vaati squeaked when Sheik lifted him by the back of his robes until they were eye level, staring hard at him. When he spoke, his voice was low, dangerous. "You left Link in the Sacrificial Chamber."

"If you mean the last room, yes I did." Vaati said slowly, gripping onto one of Sheik's loose bandages. "I didn't want him near me in case I didn't make it in time."

"Whatever you do, don't leave Vio alone."

"You left him alone?" Sheik's growl made Vaati cower, and Iblis frowned, reaching out a hand to try to calm him.

"Not entirely, there were other spirits there-"

"The demons find him when he's alone, and they'll destroy him if they can."

Sheik dropped him, and Vaati gave a muffled "Oof!" when he landed in the folds of Sheik's cowl.

A scream echoed down the hall, and Sheik's blood ran cold.

"YOU LEFT HIM ALONE?" He shot from the altar and past his God, running for all he was worth away from the dead and to the living who still needed him. He stumbled and tripped over his own feet, biting back a muffled curse when he fell against the wall, but still didn't slow, darting down the Hall of Portraits towards the Sacrificial Chamber beyond.

Impaz looked to Iblis with pleading eyes, and he sadly shook his head. "I know you want to help him, but we've done all we can. Let him handle the rest."

Vio's face was taunt even in sleep. He turned on his side and curled up into a ball, as though to make himself as small as possible. He reached out for the shadows, pulling them close in an attempt to hide as a whimper escaped his lips. "No. . . don't. . ."

One of the spirits knelt beside him, watching, but unable to help. The other two stared towards the Burial Hall, feeling the magic gathering there. "Soon." The tallest murmured.

"He's waking up." The kneeling one warned, backing slightly away.

"NO!" Vio screamed and jerked awake, his breath coming in sharp gasps as his eyes darted around. They fell on the spirits and swept past them, and he started to shake. "V-Vaati? Vaati? Vaati! Where are you?" He shot upright, Vaati's bloody cloak pooling in his lap. He stared at it in horror.

"Calm down." The tall Sheikah spirit said sharply. The others glared at him. "Lord Iblis took him to the Burial Room."

"B-burial? But- He- H-He left? He said. . ." Vio squeezed his eyes shut, holding his head in his hands. His heart rate was rapid, panic rising no matter how hard he tried to suppress it. "He left. He left, Shadow left, Sheik left, Mom left. Left. Gone, all gone." He choked on his words. "They all leave me. What's wrong with me?" He trembled and shook, upset and so very, very afraid.

The kneeling one reached out to him, but Vio screamed and rolled away from the ghostly touch. He scrambled and slipped on the bloody floor, running for the door Vaati disappeared through. "VAATI! VAATI, come back!" Tears flowed freely down his cheeks, mixing with the blood on his face until they looked like the Sheikah's bloody tears of old, those endless tears cried after the Great Betrayal.

"The door won't open but by a blood offering." Spoke the third, until-then silent spirit.

"Offering." Vio murmured. His gaze darted about the room until he spotted what he was looking for; Sheik's dagger lay on the floor, covered in blood and slime and who-knew-what-else. Vio ran for it, grabbing it in his left hand.

With a muffled cry he slashed the blade over his right palm, drawing blood, and ran for the door again. He tripped, throwing out his hands to break his fall on the bloody earth, but barely paused a second before he was running again, pressing his bleeding hand to the door. "Please, please open, please!"

The door slid open and arms too big, too strong, too much like them caught him and Vio screamed, tearing himself from the embrace. The hands caught him again and held him close. Bandaged fingers caught his chin and lifted his face- "Link, look at me, look at me! Calm down, it's me, it's Sheik!"

Sheik? Sheik!

Vio sobbed and Sheik held his tense, blood-soaked body tucked against his chest, trying his best to sooth him. "It's all right. I'm here. I'm here now. It's all right. Everything's going to be all right."

So...Please feed the author? It makes me write faster, I promise.

Thank you to the Chapter Nineteen reviewers RococoSpade (Thank you for being awesome! And Happy Belated Birthday!), Ray-Kat-Hollows (you left...a lot of reviews! Thanks!), Kick-Aft, Darkwolflink1, Demonologist666 (better now?), and Alranath (I believe I already wrote you a longer reply. Anyway, here;s a couple of your questions answered. Stay tuned for the rest!)