Hooray for part 6! I'm sorry for the wait; your patience and feedback have been really helpful and appreciated! *dies happy*
Anyways, I wish to apologize for several things *clears throat* 1. The length of this chapter...please don't kill me if you go cross-eyed! I tried hard-core spacing it out in an attempt to ease your eyes...let me know if it helps or if it's just annoying 2. Filler chapter is filler! These can be a little boring . 3. Little to no GhiraLink in this chapter...Please don't drop my story like a hot potato though! I promise it'll get better! 4. I went through this puppy with a fine-toothed comb and edited the shizz out of it, but thennnn my compute fritzed and I lost the edited version. So I apologize if there are any spelling errors in here!
Enjoy! As always, comments, critiques, and reviews appreciated! :D
Scaldera, the pyroclastic rocktite, proved to be easier to defeat than Link had originally expected. With the deadly combination of the bombs he acquired
earlier that day and his skill with the sword, it wasn't long before the fire spider exploded from its overwhelming wounds. However, Scaldera didn't leave Link
completely unscathed during their fiery battle; in truth, it took Link a while to figure out how to get past the rocktite's armored exterior and weaken its
defenses. After receiving several deep cuts and aching burns from getting too close to the enemy's burning surface, as well as catching on fire a couple
times, Link discovered that he had to wound the fire beast before attempting to get near to it.
Using his bombs to daze the rocktite, Link was quick to locate the source of Scaldera's weakness: his massive blood-red eye. The warrior would hack away
at the pyroclastic fiend, occasionally repeating the process of shocking the enemy by hurling a well-aimed bomb to its face, until the eye was exposed and
left vulnerable against Link's blade. By the time the fight was over, Scaldera was nothing more than ash and chunks of burning rubble around Link's boots.
Link sheathed sword, ignoring the ache in his muscles as they protested against his every move. His leg was bleeding all over again, sending waves of pain
through his exhausted body; what wounds had begun to clot over were now re-opened and crying out for attention. But Link was tired, so very tired; having
to deal with both Ghirahim and the fiery rocktite without a break in-between the foes, it was tedious and exasperating. And now, even the promise of seeing
Zelda while she was still in the Earth Spring seemed to not motivate Link from his position among the remains of his fallen enemy. Breath coming out in tired
pants, the warrior stood stationary, waiting for his legs to carry him up to the top of the ramp.
The idea of climbing up the colossal ramp with a deeply wounded leg was irrational, and Link couldn't help but chuckle morbidly at his situation. 'Yes, Link…
you had to kill the beast at the very bottom of the ramp. So, now that you are completely sapped of energy and strength, you give yourself the last
challenge of a giant ramp. Well done.'
The warrior gritted his teeth and fought against a jolt of misery as his knees nearly gave out, acting as a painful reminder that he couldn't stop, and had to
persist onwards amidst his weakness and discomfort. Link looked down at his ash-ridden boots, observing them with determination as they slowly inched
forward. He had to bite his lip to prevent a cry of pain when he lowered his wounded leg onto the ground and applied the slightest bit of pressure. His cheek
began to throb as the mark of slavery that Ghirahim had given him began to pulsate with the beat of his tired heart.
Link found himself inwardly cursing the demon lord for hurting him so badly, for damaging his self worth and confidence by making him a slave, but all threats
of ill-will died on his tongue before they passed his lips. Link let out a frustrated sigh, his eyebrows furrowed deeply. 'No…I can hardly blame him.' The warrior
shook his head. 'This…this is my fault. If I wasn't so weak, so…helpless, none of this would have happened. I can hardly blame Ghirahim.' But he wanted to
blame him. He wanted to blame and curse the demon lord until his lungs hurt, until his mind was completely clear. He felt so…powerless, pathetic and fragile;
whenever he encountered Ghirahim, it was as though he couldn't remember the brave, strong hero he was creating himself to be. No, whenever he saw
Ghirahim, it was as though his entire being became unbalanced, leaving him vulnerable and delicate and ready for the demon lord's mind games.
Before Link could dwell any further on his dangerous feelings, he could feel the light vibration of his sword as Fi materialized before him gracefully. "Master,
look behind you; I believe the pyroclastic fiend has left a parting gift."
Link realized that he was holding his breath, and inhaled slowly, calming his nerves that suddenly seemed to make an appearance. Getting a stable footing,
the warrior turned slowly so that he was once again facing the burnt corpse of the fire spider. But rather than seeing nothing but charred flesh, Link could
indeed see something glinting amidst the ash and rock; his heart leaped at the recognition of the glowing heart capsule, and he wasted no time dropping to
his knees to retrieve the healing container. His fingers were raw from countless burns, but he continued to sift through the rubble until his fingers grazed the
glass container. Instant relief poured through Link's body, and he couldn't help but shudder from the heart capsule's intense effects. His body seemed to
heat up from the healing powers the the container held within itself as it encased him completely, his skin glowing as it illuminated the glittering gold and red
when the heart began to disintegrate into his fully healed hands. Link sighed with new found contentment as the red and gold dust sifted through his
fingers, mixing into the grey ash that lay on the floor.
Fi continued to hover by his side, staring at him with her endless blue eyes as he rose to his feet. Testing the heart capsule's healing ability, Link placed the
most minuscule amount onto the leg that Ghirahim had previously ruined. When he subconsciously flinched at the expectation of feeling horrible pain, the
warrior let out a growl and deliberately placed more weight onto his leg, trying to prove that such a wound didn't scare him. But no pain accompanied Link as
he placed all of his weight onto the previously wounded limb; there was a dull ache, but it was nothing compared to the excruciating agony he was feeling
before. Link let out a relieved laugh and traced his fingers along the hole in his pants where the demon lord and cut through the fabric; though his clothing
was covered in blood, sweat, and dirt, his skin underneath was completely unscathed. He had a feeling that the dull ache he was still experiencing in his limb
would be something that would follow him for the rest of his life, but for the moment he couldn't help but feel nothing but relief. He turned to Fi and smiled,
but his smile was quickly changed into a look of concern when he found his spirit guardian paying extra close attention to him. Though Fi was not one for
expressing emotion of any sort, or any personality for that matter, Link knew his spirit guardian well enough that to be able to tell that something was
wrong. She floated closer to the warrior, gazing intently at his face. "Master, I predict that the healing capsule did not complete its job 100% as it should
have."
Link gasped, his hand immediately flying to his left cheek. He cringed as soon as his fingers made contact with his still raw skin; rather than being completely
flawless like the rest of his body now was, the warrior's fingers grazed fresh wounds that ached with vigor. He could feel his skin become moist as blood
seeped through the wound bed, trailing down his face till it dribbled off of his chin. Link's hands dropped to his sides and he glanced back up to his spirit
guardian. "Fi, the cuts that Ghirahim gave me… those slave marks, as he called them…why are they still here?"
Fi peered at his face for a moment longer before choosing to speak. "Master, if I am not mistaken, the mark of slavery is a mark of permanency; no amount of
healing, nor any amount of care for that matter, will remove it. The mark signifies that you belong to the one that gave it to you."
Link could feel his face harden in anger; a low growl left his throat before he spoke up again. "So, what will it do? It won't…control me, will it?"
"Negative, master. The mark is merely a symbol of slavery; the creator has no power over you to do his will. Do not worry; unless you are willing to do his
bidding, or he tortures you, he has no actual way of controlling you."
Link let out a small sigh of relief. His fingers traced along the diamond's edge lightly. "Well, if it does nothing then I guess it isn't so bad; a couple scars never
hurt anyone." He gave his head a slight shake. "I can't think about this right now. I have to get to Zelda. She's still here; I can feel her here, waiting for me."
Without waiting to see if Fi would follow, Link rushed up the ramp, feeling full of hope and life. Before he pushed the golden door open, Link's hand
subconsciously went to his wrist where Zelda's hair ribbon was still wrapped tightly around his glove. He tugged on the end, feeling a smile creep onto his
face. Then, without any further hesitation, Link pushed on the door with all his might, feeling it yield for him.
Sunlight greeted Link as he took a couple steps into the Earth Spring. Fresh air hit his lungs almost immediately, making the warrior realize just how long he
was stuck inside the stuffy temple without a fresh supply of oxygen. He took several deep breaths, enjoying the sun on his face as it showered him with rays
of warmth. Tall pillars stood alongside the cobblestone path, forming a pathway that would take Link to the goddess statue. Green ferns decorated the
stones around his feet, and Link couldn't help but reach down and rub several leaves between his dirty hands; it was the first time in weeks that he was
able to feel something fresh and alive, unlike everything that was dead and burning within the fiery temple. For a moment, Link was afraid that he had gone
deaf; the quiet of the spring filled his ears, offering no sound to ease his worry. But as Link took several steps forward, a soft, melodic voice entered his
presence. The warrior's heart fluttered magnificently as the owner of the angelic voice registered within his alert mind. 'I know that voice.' Link thought to
himself as he picked up the pace, turning a corner until he was at the bottom of the stone stairs that led to the goddess statue.
At the top of the stairs, where the stones met the stillness of the water, was a small girl clothed in white. Alongside her was an older woman, tall and
strong; from the markings on her face and the clothes that hung from her slim body, Link could tell that she was a warrior as well, a member of the Sheikah
Clan. Besides one long braid that hung off the side of her head, the woman's blond hair was cut incredibly short. Her clothes were dyed in orange and blue,
the symbolic colors of the clan she belonged to. The Sheikah listened intently as the sky child continued to strum gently on her lyre, singing powerful words in
a meek voice. Link listened for a moment, relished the intoxicating music that the girl was producing; even though he couldn't understand what she was
saying, her voice soothed his tense muscles, filling him with peace and calm. After many countless days from being on guard, being chased, and fighting, to
stand in the presence of such beauty was nearly overwhelming.
As she finished the last line of her song, a heavenly golden glow appeared before her, glimmering as bright as the sun. 'It's a portal….' Link thought to
himself; he continued to watch in silence as the Sheikah lifted a hand, motioning for the girl clad in white to step into the light. Link's heart skipped a beat as
he saw the blonde haired sky child nod to the woman and began to take small steps toward the golden portal. Link took a step forward, a hand
outstretched towards the girl. "Zelda!" He called out, breaking the quiet of the spring as his voice resonated along the walls.
Zelda, his dear friend, stopped in mid-step, and let out a small gasp as she turned to face Link. Zelda's face lit up brightly, a large smile adorning her face.
"Link!" She cried out with happiness, placing a hand over her heart in an attempt to slow its thunderous beating.
Link smiled with joy and began to make his way up the steps. His breathing became uneven with excitement as he drew closer and closer to the one that
was stolen from him. He was half way up the stairs when he noticed that Zelda was not moving from the top of the platform; the Sheikah's thin arm was
splayed out, barring the girl from going down the steps. Link stopped walking and stared up at his friend in confusion, his faced etched with concern. The
Sheikah's face was stern as she spoke in a gruff voice to Zelda. "You cannot go, Your Grace. Remember what we discussed. Restrain yourself, and focus on
the task at hand." Though she had yet to look at Link, the warrior could tell that she was angry with him.
Link watched in horror as Zelda nodded to the Sheikah, listening to her fervently. He couldn't help the small gasp that came out of his open mouth as his
childhood friend turned her back on him and made her way to the portal once more. "Zelda, what are you…." Link asked quietly, his voice teeming with
confusion.
The girl stopped walking and slowly turned to face Link; her face was downcast with a frown, her eyes brimming with tears. But she made no effort to move,
no attempt to get closer to him. Link's heart ached at the distance between them; he wanted to run forward, take her in his arms, and never let her go. And
yet, she stayed stationary, only staring at him with pained eyes. "I…I have to go. I'm sorry, Link."
The betrayal that Link felt was incredible as he watched his friend step into the portal without another word. His heart lurched uncontrollably, and he let out
a sound of fear as Zelda disappeared from his view altogether. 'No…no, you can't be gone. You can't leave!' Link thought to himself as he raced up the rest
of the steps, panting hard.
He was nearly on the top platform when the Sheikah turned back to give him a severe glare, stopping him effectively in his tracks. He let out a gasp and took
several involuntary steps downward. His wide eyes took in the platform in hopes of finding his friend; the Sheikah now stood alone, and the sight made
Link's heart drop. He cast an angry glare at the woman standing before him. "Why did you let her leave?" He asked through clenched teeth.
The Sheikah continued to stare at him with cold red eyes, analyzing him, studying him. Ignoring his question, she finally spoke. "It took you far too long to
get here, boy." She pointed a finger at him. "Looking at you, I fear the goddess is mistaken in her choice of agents. If this failure is any indication, you have
no hope of defending Her Grace from those who seek to assail her."
Link let out a snarl, but made no effort to speak. The Sheikah cocked her head to the side, causing a long strand of blond hair to roll over her shoulder. "Do
my words anger you, boy? Do my words sting? Let them. If I had not come when I did, your Zelda would already have fallen into the hands of the enemy.
And you'd have to thank yourself for that."
Link couldn't take it any longer. He let out a growl and started up the stairs again. "Look, I came here as soon as I could! If you could just let me see—."
Link's question was cut short when the Sheikah's hands made contact with his chest. Emitting a single foreign word from her lips, from her hands appeared a
large sphere of blue energy. The orb of energy rushed from her fingertips with several electrifying sparks and hit Link's chest with such a force that it sent
him tumbling backwards, crashing off the stairs until he landed at the bottom with a heavy thud. He let out a groan and remained on the ground for a
moment, trying to process of he had broken anything during his tumble. His chest burned from where the energy sphere had struck him, but other than that,
he was alright. He slowly stood up, dusting off the dirt that he had accumulated during the fall.
The Sheikah continued to stare at him with irritated eyes, and he matched her hard stare with a defiant one of his own. Softening a little bit, the Sheikah
sighed. "The truth of the matter is you were late. You were late, and you failed to protect her. If it is any interest to you, I sent your Zelda ahead to learn
more of the fate in which she is destined to play a part. So listen well, chosen one. If you so wish to be of help to Her Grace, you must summon a shred of
courage and face the trials laid out before you. Only when you've conquered the trials will you be of use to Zelda. No sooner. Am I understood?"
Link let out a threatening growl and clenched his fists. "So you're the goddess-serving dog that I've heard so much about." He muttered under his breath,
giving a curt nod as an answer to her question.
The Sheikah gave a small nod in return and began to walk to the golden portal. She turned to face him once more before she stepped in. "If you wish to
redeem yourself, you can find Her Grace and I at the Lanayru Desert. Come prepared." And without another word, the Sheikah disappeared into the portal.
Silence enveloped Link as the spring grew still; only the chirps of tiny birds and the steady bubbling of the stream could be heard. But all Link could focus on
was the empty platform that loomed atop the stairs. Zelda, the Sheikah, even the portal, all up there moments ago and now gone in an instant. He was so
close, so close to getting Zelda and taking her back home to where she belonged, only to have her snatched away from his hands again. And to see her in
the flesh, that made it even worse. Link's once hopeful state was erased by an incredible anger that seemed to burst through his veins and invade his
personal space with vigor. His body shook with pent up fury and, unable to contain it any longer, Link let out a howl of rage, punching the stone pillar beside
him with all his might. Though the beam did not yield to the warrior's outburst, the sounds of stone cracking and shift uncomfortably could be heard amidst
the gentle stream the flowed around him. The warrior's knuckles split open immediately began to bleed, leaving an ugly smear on the grey stone. Link closed
his eyes, letting out an angry sigh as he wiped his hand on his tunic and ignored the fresh wave of pain that accompanied his actions. In a blur of motion, Fi
appeared behind him, watching as Link calmed down once more. "She was here, Fi. She was here, and I couldn't take her home with me."
"Master, there is a 73% chance that, if we leave now, we will be able to follow the one you seek into the desert of Lanayru. I suggest we—"
"No." Link cut off his spirit guardian sharply. "I'm exhausted, I'm hungry, dirty, and I'm in absolutely no shape to go and try and save her again, especially
when that Sheikah thinks I'm going to fail again." He clenched his teeth. "I'm going home. I'm of no use to her." He looked down at his scraped hand where
blood continued to flow. "I'm of no use to anyone. I might as well go back and get some rest, and stock up on supplies before I get in over my head again."
Fi stared at her master, registering his words. "You will save her, Master." She said gently in her melodic voice.
Link offered a small smile at his spirit guardian's attempts to help. "I know…but when? When will I be good enough to bring her back home with me?"
"When you've completed your mission, Master."
Link shook his dirty hair and chuckled dryly, gazing up at the goddess statue. "And only the Goddess knows when that day will come."
...
By the time Link returned to Skyloft, the little island in the sky was growing quiet and preparing for sleep. The warrior managed to stock up on supplies in the
bazaar before they shut down for the day, and was able to make it into the Knight Academy without being seen; while he was usually friendly towards
everyone on the island, he was simply too tired to tolerate anyone at the moment. The first thing Link did when he arrived at the Academy was hurry into the
bathroom, locking the door securely behind him. He immediately took off his clothes and gave his tunic a good wash in one of the basin's by the bathtub.
While the dirty clothes soaked in an attempt to get out stains, Link allowed himself the luxury of a relaxing bath, enjoying the feel of his muscles relaxing
with each passing second. He tried to not think about how thin he looked when he saw his reflection in the bathroom mirror; though he stood strong, he had
lost a massive amount of weight, and his skin had grown pale from loss of blood. There were bags under his tired blue eyes from countless nights that he
went without sleep. And to make matters worse, he now had three diamond scars on his face. He could hardly recognize himself; his very own reflection was
enough incentive to take the night off, and Link decided to stop feeling guilty about his choice. After what seemed like hours, the warrior dressed into his
Skyloft clothes for the night, opting to let his tunic fully dry for his upcoming journey. Link had grown so used to the Hero's Garb that his ordinary clothes felt
foreign on him, and made his skin itch uncomfortably. But as soon as his eyes rested on the site of his bed, all thoughts of itchy clothes faded away until Link
couldn't think of anything but sleep.
And yet, Link couldn't sleep that night. It was the first time in months that he had the leisure of sleeping in a warm and relaxing bed, but he could not drift off
into the world of dreams and fantasy. Though his body ached to encounter sleep, the warrior's mind was alive and very much alert. His thoughts traced back
to the moment Zelda was taken from him on the day of the Winged Ceremony, to the many trials he had already encountered, to the countless tribulations
he had yet to experience. Link closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands. His mind wandered reluctantly over to a place that harvested Link's deep
and darkest undisclosed thoughts, keeping them safe from the world's eye. Link subconsciously bit his lip, unsure if he wanted to go through the trouble of
sifting through his thoughts that night. After thinking about it for a moment longer, Link allowed his mind to cautiously unravel the thoughts and questions
that lurked in the back of his consciousness since that fateful day. 'The day I met him…Ghirahim….' Link thought with irritation.
The very name of the demon lord sent the warrior's heart pounding with anxiety, his stomach performing uncomfortable twists and turns inside of him. Link
placed a hand on his chest where his heart was and let out a sigh. 'I wish…I wish I never met him.' He silently complained.
But, deep down in Link's heart, the warrior knew that he was lying to himself. The skychild furrowed his eyebrows with frustration. As much as he didn't want
to admit it—even to himself—the demon lord was growing on him with each passing second; his sadistic attitude, the edge of danger he carried with him, his
spontaneity, everything about Ghirahim was enough to make Link's heart flutter painfully against his ribcage. Link could feel blush begin to creep onto his
face as he thought about the demon lord's more intimate advances; the dominance he possessed with each kiss, each caress, it left Link feeling lightheaded
and intoxicated.
The warrior could feel his tired body jolt with arousal as his thoughts progressed to more graphic encounters with Ghirahim. Images of their sexual
experiences flashed through Link's mind, and he let out a small breathy moan as he re-lived the moments in the privacy of his head. It was the first time in
months that Link allowed himself the leisure of thinking about the demon lord without immediately trying to shut out the addictively toxic thoughts. His
breathing began to hitch in his throat, his body heating up with excitement; it was astounding what the very thought of Ghirahim could do to his body, how it
could make him feel. What thoughts usually made him cringe with embarrassment now roamed throughout his mind without ceasing, and he let them without
shame; he was, after all, sharing them with no one but himself.
'You know, if you had just killed him like you meant to, you wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.' A tiny voice crept into Link's mind as he relished the
feelings of excitement he was currently experiencing. The thought brought him back to his senses, and he opened his eyes suddenly, feeling recognizable
guilt override any pleasure he was encountering moments ago. "I can't…I can't just kill him, though." Link said aloud to the empty room, feeling both
conflicted and torn. "It's not that easy."
'Why not?' The voice questioned deep within the warrior.
Link sighed. "Because…what happens when I do? He'll be gone, and then what will happen? What will happen to me?" He shook his head, causing his hair to
flutter around his face. "No, I can't. Not yet. Not till I have everything figured out."
Link could hear the tiny voice scoff within his mind, taunting him, ridiculing him. 'What's so important that you need to figure out?'
Link let out a growl and closed his eyes. "I don't know, ok? Part of me wants him dead so badly that I ache with anger…but then, part of me can't stand the
thought of…." The warrior sighed, realizing how silly it sounded to be having an argument with himself. "It's confusing, and I don't want to think about this
anymore. I'm going to sleep."
As he began to feel sleep finally overtake his exhausted state, the warrior's mind quieted into a dull whisper; but, as Link drifted off into the realm of dreams
and fantasy, one last comment was stirred. 'You're in too deep, sky child. Kill him before you get too attached….'
...
Link had never seen so much sand in his entire life; the Lanayru Desert was a sea of course pebbles and rocks that filled his boots and rubbed his skin raw
as soon as he set foot into the realm. His eyes began to immediately ache from the reflection of the sunlight on the golden earth, but he kept his complaints
to himself as he trudged along the vast wasteland. While the heat was excruciating, it was no match for the fiery Earth Temple, and so Link found it quite
bearable. The one thing that truly threw Link off his guard was the timelessness of the foreign land; if he strategized his moves, and paid close enough to
his timing, he was able to control the time era of the realm. By hitting an intricately designed blue stone that seemed to appear in random areas of the
desert, Link was able to change time between the past and present, thus closing and creating new leads in his journey to find Zelda and the Sheikah.
The ability to time travel, of course, also allowed the warrior to encounter more interesting variety of enemies that he had never seen before; it was as
though the combination of the sun and sand brought evolution to a new level in the desert in which, in some form or other, the beasts and monsters that
the warrior encountered had the ability to electrify him with a single touch. Link learnt the hard way about this, and experienced many painful shocks along
his sandy quest. But, with the help of Fi, the warrior was quickly able to move forward and find the generator that allowed the Lanayru Mining Facility—the
temple that led to entranceway to the Temple of Time—to run without losing a power source. Link didn't need to be told twice about the Temple of Time; ever
since the disappearance of Zelda, all he's heard about was the power the the holy temple held, and the supposed time traveling device it guarded within its
stone walls. The warrior knew that if Zelda could be anywhere, it would be in that historic building.
The mining facility was chaotic, confusing and, to say the least, very irksome. Several times Link found himself going in circles, or having to retrace his steps in
order to find a time shift stone and activate it. He was thankful that he brought an extra supply of healing and stamina potion on account of the countless
times he had to outrun both electrifying enemies and quicksand. When he saw his supplies getting low, he refused to go back to Skyloft, knowing that he'd
only get further lost in the maze that was the mining facility. Though, however confusing the facility was, Link couldn't help but appreciate the futuristic
aspects of the mine when he dove into the past; it was unfortunate to see such hard work destroyed by the unforgiving sands of time. He ran into several
helpful—if not grumpy—robots that helped the determined hero find his way whenever he seemed to get lost; they'd often scold him for his lack of focus and
eventually point Link in the right direction.
Along his journey, Link did manage to find a useful tool known as the Gust Bellows, which allowed him to blow any sand that accumulated in his way. It was
with this tool that the warrior found many useful herbs and flowers that could be mixed with potions back on the island to make them more potent. But the
most exciting thing that Link found was the Ancient Circuit, the golden key that would lead him to the Temple of Time, and to his dear Zelda. As the tired
warrior held the heavy key in his hand, turning it slightly, Link could feel his heart flutter with excitement. He'd made it to the temple on time, and be able to
finally bring Zelda back with him. 'I've trumped you now, Sheikah. It looks like you can't call me a failure this time.' Link thought with certain smugness as he
began to make his way back to the main room of the mining facility.
It took some time on account of constantly having to switch time periods, but Link eventually managed to make his way back until he reached the golden-
laced door that would take him to the holy temple. Hardly able to contain his excitement, Link hurriedly jammed the key into the lock without bothering to
make sure it would fit properly. Once he realized that his haphazard method would not work, Link took a deep breath and pulled the key out to inspect it
carefully. Calculating the movements in his head, the warrior gently placed the key in the lock and pushed it in. As he had anticipated, the key clicked in
place, and the door opened automatically for Link. The hero didn't waste another moment, and rushed through the door in two large strides. As soon as he
crossed the threshold, the iron-and-gold-wrought door slammed shut, effectively sealing Link inside the dimly lit room. Link looked back at the door with wide
eyes, a gasp leaving his throat. Body becoming tense, Link took in the large cavernous room; he could not see the ceiling, it was so far up, and the walls
were etched in intricate black markings that belonged to the past. He could not see anything in the room with him and, after a moment's consideration, the
warrior released the tension in his shoulders.
It was small, but Link could hear a faint clicking sound bounce off the stone walls around him. After a second of silence, he heard it again, louder, more
demanding of attention. Link's heart skipped a beat, sweat beginning to bead along his forehead. 'That's not clicking….' He thought with morbid recognition.
But the recognition came too late; as the third sound of fingers snapping resounded within the air, Link's left shoulder exploded in furious pain. The warrior
let out a cry of pain, his body tensing once more. He had just enough time to look down to see a black rapier embedded deep within shoulder before another
snapping sound met Link's ears. Blinding pain erupted from the hero's right shoulder, causing Link to scream with unending agony.
He couldn't move; the sky child was effectively pinned to the door he had just worked so hard to enter. Link made a sound of distress and attempted to
wriggle free, but was only rewarded with further suffering. He could feel blood flowing freely from both of his new wounds, mixing in with the cuts and
wounds he had been given earlier that day. The warrior became light-headed and fought against the urge to faint; he stifled the need to vomit and looked
back at his arms, trying to see the damage that was given to him.
A sound of amusement filled Link's ears; starting off as a light chuckle, the laughter erupted until it boomed within the cave-like room. Link looked around the
room, his eyes trying to take in the darkness. He heard another light snapping sound, and shards of yellow and red diamonds materialized at the center of
the room. In a swirl of colors, the demon lord appeared, eyeing the wounded hero with a dark glimmer in his eyes; a viscous smile adorned his lips as he
regarded Link's reaction of his arrival. Link let out a gasp, his heart hammering wildly against his ribcage at the sudden appearance of his enemy.
"Ghira…Ghirahim!" Link stammered, his voice laced with surprise and pain.
"I've been waiting for you, sky child." He said in a deadly sinister tone as he took predatory steps towards the trapped warrior.