As promised, chapter 6 right on schedule! Thank you to all my reviewers & followers, I love you ~.~
Hyrule, Lanayru Province, Hyrule Castle
It has been days since he has seen her. Weeks. That's what it seemed like. Impa said there was an attack. Someone found her. That she needed to hide. I could have protected her, he had thought. Instead of fleeing like a coward. But now it was too late. Now she was gone.
"She is not herself anymore." Impa had said. "She is living a different life, with a different identity."
"What does that mean?"
"It means she is gone. Even I do not know where she is,"
Link's expression was pained.
"Worry not, Hero, I've trained her well as a Sheikah. She can handle herself," Link swore a smirk tugged at the corner of Impa's lip, but he said nothing. He still blamed himself for her absence. If he had been able to protect her, she wouldn't have to hide away... But she was, and he would never find her. How could he find her if she was a different person?
"Which reminds me," Impa had said. "Since she is not here, your duties are not required, so you're no longer needed as a guard,"
Link felt the sting of her words, but he knew they were true.
"For now, you may go back to your duties as a knight."
His duties as a knight. Meaning mindless training, meaningless drills with soldiers whom he took no pleasure in associating with. It was boring, and played out. He wanted his freedom back, but what was the point if he didn't have his happiness?
On a sunny evening, after many hours spent wasted training the midday sun, link joined the soldiers in a dry, damp dining hall for dinner. Having nowhere else to go, he ate in silence, listening to the aimless and often vulgar conversations of the knights.
"Oy, have you heard? Her royal Highness is gone," One mentioned in the middle of the meal.
"Gone?" Another replied.
"Yeah, off on some journey or some such. Say she left her Guardian in charge while she's gone,"
"You mean that crazy Sheikah lady? Can't say I trust her all that much. She's intimidating,"
"Yeah well, like it or not, the Princess trusts her, and she's in charge."
Silence followed for a moment.
"Hey, where d'ya think the Princess' gone?"
"Aw, probably off on some luxurious vacation over the Great Sea,"
The chatter continued, and Link's headache grew with each moment.
"I heard she's visiting some royal folk in Labrynna or the like,"
"Yeah?"
"Why do ya think she left anyways?"
"I heard she's off havin' some affair with some foreign prince of Koholint or somethin'"
"Makes sense if ya ask me. She oughta be married soon. I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't want a king for Hyrule,"
"She's probably off sharin' the bed with one or two o' them foreign royals."
Slam!
The soldier's cackles got silent when Link stood and slammed his bowl on the table in front of him, its contents spilling out. Fury coursed through him, but he kept his head down and walked out without a word. He heard their murmurs and whispers but he ignored them all.
"What's his problem?" One knight whispered when Link was out of earshot.
"Dunno," Another replied. "He's peculiar. Don't know why the Princess trusts him so much."
"Don't talk like that! He rescued the Kingdom, don't you remember?"
Link slumped against a side wall of the castle, completely alone. The knight's awful gossip and chatter reminded him of how much he hated it all - the working, the constant criticism of the knights and captains, the sickening brand of conversation that only the knights of hyrule could provide. He missed the freedom of being on his own, of traveling without being forced to deal with such people he could not stand. The only reason, he realized, that he decided to stay was Zelda. And now she was gone, goddesses knew where. Maybe, he thought, just maybe she was getting a taste of the life he used to enjoy - a taste of that freedom.
Nightfall in Hyrule and thunder echoed in the skies. Link watched the storm fixedly, alone in his quarters. He counted between the lightning and the thunder, noting as the storm got closer and closer with each passing moment. The rain pattered as Link buried his face in his hands. With each clap of thunder he became filled with more and more worry for Zelda. And with worry came guilt, and with guilt, regret. He grew angry at himself for letting this happen to the person he cared about the most. Lost in his mind, he gazed absentmindedly out to Hyrule Field. Suddenly, there was a white flash in the sky, much more intense than any lightning he'd ever seen. In front of the castle town gates was a man's figure, though it was shrouded in a red and yellow smoke and it glowed an unnatural white. He did not think. He jumped to his feet and dashed out of the room, grabbing the sword that lay next to his bed.
Outside, the rain continued, and the figure stood, watching the castle carefully. Impa was already watching the intruder from a distance. She waved link over from her spot in the shadows.
"That is the man who attacked Zelda," she said.
Link gripped the sword tighter in his hands. It was no master sword by any means, but he could still fight with it.
"Careful, Hero. He is dangerous and unpredictable. We must plan before we-"
"That is not necessary," came a voice from behind them. There the intruder stood, and on his face was a frightening smile. "oh my, if it isn't the little hero," he said with a chuckle. "oh, excuse my rudeness, please... I've yet to introduce myself. I am the Demon Lord Ghirahim."
Link watched his every move carefully.
"Now correct me if i am wrong, but you're the one who slain the Bearer of the Triforce of Power, correct?" When Link gave no response, Ghirahim continued, "And it so happens you are the Bearer of the Triforce of Courage?"
The Sacred triangle mark on Link's hand glowed faintly.
"Perfect!" Ghirahim exclaimed, apparently pleased. "Now," he said, pacing around them. "Where is your Princess?"
"She is not here," Impa said calmly.
"I don't think you understand," Ghirahim replied with his eerie smile. "Where. Is. Your. Princess?"
"She is gone," Impa said forcefully. "She is hiding from the likes of you."
"LIAR!" Ghirahim shouted, haphazardly swinging his sword at Impa. She vanished before the blade could reach her and reappeared behind him.
Ghirahim stayed silent and took a deep breath. That unsettling grin appeared on his face again as he said, "Fine," He turned back to Impa. "Fine. It seems I will just have to find her." He began pacing again. "Just be warned, both of you - I will not hesitate to tear this dreadful kingdom apart until I find your precious Zelda."
Furious, Link ran towards Ghirahim, sword in hand, with every intent to try to kill him. But before Link could even thrust the sword towards him, Ghirahim vanished and reappeared behind Impa. Her face was uncharacteristically shocked and pained. Ghirahim snickered and pushed his sword into her side and quickly pulled it out. She fell to her knees, clutching her wound.
"Now, Don't get any ideas, Courage," Ghirahim said. "Or your princess will suffer the same fate." And he vanished
Link rushed to Impa's side. "Are you alright?" He asked, voice trembling.
"I'll be fine, Link." Impa panted as she struggled to sit up. "I'll be okay. Just... try to stop him." Link nodded. "And if you find Zelda, make sure... she's okay." And slowly, Impa vanished as well.
Link stood, suddenly filled with rage, and sheathed the sword he held. He knew where Zelda kept the Hylian Shield, he would have no trouble finding it. But there was one thing he needed - a sword. Not the powerless blade on his back, but his sword. The Master Sword.
Hyrule, Faron Province, Faron Woods
The Master Sword was placed in its pedestal, looking as it always had. Link slowly walked toward it, taking time to bask in the light that penetrated the thick forest of Faron Woods. A ray of sunlight shone off the blade, and Link smiled. There was the Master Sword, his sword, the Blade of Evil's Bane, and he got to use it again. He slowly closed his hand around the sword's hilt, tightening his fingers around its grip. A dim light emit from the Triforce Symbol on the blade as Link lifted it out of its stone pedestal. Without a word, he sheathed it behind the Hylian Shield. Where it belonged.
Well I think the ending was not my best work. But nonetheless, it's complete so I hope you enjoy. Reviewreviewreviewreview!
Uploaded on 4/12/13, 10:50pm EST