Author's Note: So Link had some sad moments in the previous chapters and some blacked out moments…but we are OFFICALLY at Arbiter's Grounds! Damn…I really hated that place. Did anyone else did? Thanks to snakedabomb for reviewing, favoring and following the story, following me and favoring me as an author. Thanks to HPC for favoring Skyward Sword, following and favoring me as an author. Onwards!

Chapter 24: A Mere Illusion

I descended the semi-lit hallway; yeah it had stairs, big surprise there…

After getting out the hallway, I halted at the edge of the smallish platform. Right before me was a medium size quick sand while out beyond had cracked old walls that looked like they were going to pass out any second now.

Truthfully, I was amazed of how well this old building was still being kept in one piece. Well, sort of.

There were medium size pointy fences that seemed to be guarding at the side of another platform while there were also many other platforms being scattered here and there. The light came from way ahead of me as I saw two lit torches while to my far diagonally right, there was another lit torch that was attached to the wall.

There were also a few pillars as well. The sound of the rushing sand reached my ears, making me to feel a bit better that this place won't be eerily silent.

But from this moment, I knew I was going to hate this place with my guts.

Also, ahead of me there was a closed gate that needs to be triggered by something while above it, stood the Triforce crest being implanted between the two large pillars.

I eyed the slithering creatures that slithered in the sides as if they were trying to use the element of surprise by popping out of the sand. Deciding to kill them first, I used my clawshot to kill the little critters which are known as Moldorms.

They are the worm-like enemies that bury themselves beneath the sand as I had stated before.

After they were killed, I started to think on how I am going to get to the diagonal right platform. It wasn't too soon that I had spotted a target in which my clawshot can be grabbed at it. I then began to hop across the scattered platforms though I quickly jumped on another piece of ground since one of the platforms began to tremble, sinking down at the sand.

I then eyed the other wider path that was across from me so taking a short breath, I backed out to give myself a good distance before quickly doing a somersault the moment I was on the sand.

Peering through the black fences, I couldn't help but to think that there was something hidden underneath the sand. So, curiosity got the best of me and I found myself at the smaller path only to have numerous Stalkins emerging out of the sand, creepily.

The Stalkins are like smaller version of Stalfos

They each pointed their pesky sword at me though they were quickly destroyed from my quick spin attack. I was right when I previously had said that there was something hidden underneath the sand.

It was a long chain which I grabbed it with my clawshot. The door to the diagonal right of me opened the second I tugged on the chain. I quickly made it to the other side.

Once to the new area, I saw a locked door in front of me and beside me were two entrances. Ignoring the one on my left, I went to the right side. The entrance was blocked from the wood though they got cut off, allowing me to venture in further. I hopped on a platform then on the wider path so that I could reach the treasure chest in which I obtained a small key.

As if something had sensed that the key got taken away, small noises reached my ear and I looked down to see small black crittering insects that were climbing on me. The scarabs were swiftly got thrown off me when I used my sword attacks on them. I slightly winced when I saw a few Scarabs being harshly smacked against the wall.

Deciding that I do not want to linger in here, I got out of the room and used the key to the locked door which got opened. The new room was dark, causing me to barely see anything. I suddenly got poked on my sight and I realized that it was the Stalkins. Like before, they were killed.

There were two unlit torches at the side of the locked door. Using my lantern, I made them to be lit so that the door could be opened. When it did, I went inside.

The new room was large and dark except for the lights that were hovering above the torches. I saw the grand door opened so I made a ran for it but suddenly, I halted once I reached the dark entrance. Four ghostly figures flew out of it which forced me to duck down.

I whirled around to see the four ghosts hovering above the torches. They each found themselves a torch and began to go in circles. It was then that I realized that they were taking the blue lights away and I also whirled around again to see the big door closing down.

The blue lights came at me, going around in circles making me to unsheathe my sword so that I was prepared to attack them. That is, if they were going to attack me.

The four ghosts then vanished away; each of them going in different directions except for one. The last one looked like it wasn't going anywhere since it just stood there as if it was guarding the door.

I automatically knew that it was a poe so I told Midna to be transformed into a wolf so that I could hone my senses and to defeat the poe. Once defeating the poe, I sniffed its scent. As a result, I was able to see the rest of the poes's scent and they seemed to be going everywhere as if they were trying to confuse me on which way to go.

I quickly defeated the poe that was in front of me before sniffing its scent so that I could follow the other poes.

Being smart, I followed one of the scents and stuck to that one. I halted when I thought I heard a noise like a clanging and a moan.

"What is it?" Midna asked, noticing my sudden halt.

My ears perked up at the moan then it quiet. Not moving, I fixed my gaze on the dark room ahead of me before continuing. Seeing a sand filled hole, I dug it up to reveal a chain that was hidden underneath the sand. I pulled it with my teeth to open a set of stairs that thundered down.

I went down the stairs while swiftly killing a flying skull—don't ask…yet again, I did see weirder enemies. I then pushed the lever that was attached to a large pillar in the direction of clockwise which opened the hidden door well a chest actually.

The moment I went to reach the chest, a blood chilling down to core screeched, making me to feel paralyzed for a couple of seconds. I realized that those were the redeads—nasty little things, if you ask me.

I didn't feel anything; it felt like I was frozen in one spot as I helplessly watched the redead raising its weapon to attack me. When it stopped screeching however I was somewhat able to move—I still felt stiff—and before it could attack me, I hacked it away quickly so I wouldn't give a chance to let out another horrible screech.

I shuddered once the thing was defeated. Something tells me I'm going to see them a lot…

I then grabbed the key from the chest and was about to get out of this room until I realized that I was stuck. I looked around, trying to figure out a way to get out of this place. It was then that I looked up to see a clawshot target so I used my clawshot to get myself up there.

As soon as I reached the upper floor, I heard gnawing and chewing.

Rats. Disgusting little creatures, if you ask me…

I soon got out of that current place to go to the door which eventually will lead me to the next new room. The new room turned out to be a medium-size place with eerie blue lights. My ears perked up so I told Midna to transform me back into a wolf.

I instantly spotted the poe after I honed my senses. However, when I was fighting the poe, I could've sworn I heard a ghostly whisper but I just shook my head and continued to defeat the poe. The enemy was dead and I followed the scent which will bring me to the very main chamber—the one where it had the poes to steal the blue lights.

However, I noticed that two out of four torches were lit. I went to the stairs that once led me to the second poe but instead of going down, I went around the stairs in order to reach the door that was above it.

I frowned when I suddenly got a headache that kept on pounding my head the moment I unlocked the door which led me to a new room that was partly filled with sands, a little "island" with a bridge in order to reach across and a great big quicksand that planted itself right in the middle of everything.

Even if I took a slightest step, the headache continued to grow bigger and more painfully. I groaned, slightly feeling myself spinning around so I clutched a nearby wall to support myself.

"Link?" Midna asked, concerned.

"I…I'm fine." I panted, sliding down. What was wrong with me?

I felt nauseous and was extremely pale, according to Midna who instructed me to rest there until I feel better. I felt I wanted to throw up—no joke. I moved my eyes to look at the opposite side though the minute I did, there was a faint figure standing there with its yellow menacing eyes.

And just by staring at it, I blacked out.

The new surroundings looked strange. It almost looked like an execution place as there was a great big black wall with a figure that seemed to be chained to it. A few centimeters ahead of it, stood six figures though they look more of ghostly spirits if anything else.

The chained figure had its head down as if it was exhausted from doing something but yet, it just had enough strength to lift it. The face held nothing but pure malice and hatred as it glared spitefully at the ghostly spirits that stood before it.

The captive figure never left its malicious glare at the spirits. He wasn't unfazed when a long white sword was lifting itself up before it went upward and then in so much of a blur, it struck in the middle of the evil figure ending him forever.

Nothing moved from the wicked figure; no muscles, hands, heads and so on. It stood still as a statue.

But, something very faint started to glow on his left hand. It glowed faintly while at the same time, his hand twitched. It was as if the glowing object (that was on his hand) gave him his life back—his strength.

The figure gave out a bone chilling laugh that caused the spirits to cower with fear at the sudden alive person. He was supposed to be dead. How can someone from the dead suddenly been brought…alive?

Feeling this new strange strength, the wicked person reared himself up and started to get himself loose since he was tugging harder on those chains that didn't seem like they were about to budge. But the harder he tugged, the looser the chains got loosen.

Every move he made, the glow on his hand became brighter and brighter. It was as if it was feeding him power.

Finally, his left hand got free and he placed his hand in front of him. Now everything made sense. The spirits gasped with pure shock and horror at the glowing triangle.

At last, he was completely free and with a raging anger that was boiling inside of him, the evil person rushed towards one of the spirits, instantly killing him. The person snarled heavily while giving the spiteful spirits a look—a daring look.

With a so much of an effort, the wicked person took out the light sword that got plunged through his chest out of his body. He was feeling livelier than he had before. He was no longer weak; he felt more powerful.

Quickly thinking, one of the spirits stared at the huge illuminating mirror—a infamous mirror that was known as the Mirror of Twilight. The other seemed to know what he was thinking since all of them raised their hands so that it was facing the Mirror.

The Mirror was triggered as it was radiating off its white light that soon transformed into a column of light that struck the black empty wall, creating a portal.

The evil person snarled and growled, not wanting to give in from the powerful force that seemed to be pulling everything inside the portal. The force was still too powerful since the light sword that was once in his hand was now flying through the portal.

Finally on the last pull, the wicked man was forced to be sent into black particles which then soon made him to go through the portal, disappearing forever…

I gave a sharp gasp, instantly making myself to wake up. Cold sweat was trickling down my forehead as my breathing gradually became quicker.

Just…what was that? Who was that being?

The more I think about it, the more it made me to widen my eyes in realization.

"Oh my Goddesses." I whispered, alerting Midna who seemed to be snoozing off only to be awoken.

"Hey you're back!" she said, cheerfully before a worried look was placed on her face. "You don't look so good. Are you getting another fever?" she placed her hand on my forehead. She frowned. "It seems normal…"

"I saw him." I whispered.

She stared at me.

"What?"

"I saw him. I saw Ganondorf."

Author's Note: Don't forget to review!