Chapter 67: Goddess Sword Room

As the darkness began to fade, Link emerged into a dimly lit room where an anvil with a stone sword stood. Behind Link, the Gate vanished to be replaced by a map containing jeweled tablets depicting a world he did not recognize. Then as Link continued to watch, the room changed where the anvil was replaced by a metal table which Zelda was strapped to and in the map's place was a machine with various buttons and nobs. Nearby stood Cia, who was unmasked and preparing a camera-shaped device that was hanging down from the ceiling.

"Now, my dear," Cia said as she placed the red orb from her staff into the device. "What you are about to witness is a creation of mine that has combined magic and science perfectly. This device, which I have called the Code Breaker, amplifies the magic of this stone through a machine that'll uncover the secrets buried in your mind and slowly break them down. You'll feel a slight pain in the head at first, but then it'll gradually get worse the further the Code Breaker penetrates. So either you explain why Ganon cannot unlock the Infinity Gauntlet's power or let the Code Breaker figure that out."

"Do your worst!" Zelda said remorsefully. "All you're going to get is the same answer."

"We'll see about that," Cia said and aimed the device at Zelda.

"Let her go, Cia," Link abruptly said, appearing out of the shadows.

"Link!" Zelda exclaimed. "Where did you come from?"

"That Puncture sent me to the future of this timeline," Link answered. "But I made it back and I'm here to rescue you for real this time."

"How adorable!" Cia said getting between Link and Zelda. "But I'm afraid that's not going to happen, False Hero."

"And why not?" Link asked.

"Because if you attempt to take my prisoner away, then I'll have no choice but to kill her." Cia tapped her staff once, and the red orb returned to it.

"You wouldn't dare," Link responded. "Your master would be mad if you did."

"Ganon is not my master!" Cia snapped. "And I'll prove it by killing Zelda."

"Don't!" Link was about to take out the Master Sword, but instead he held out his hands. "Take my life instead, but not hers."

Cia gritted her teeth. "What is Zelda to you?"

"Huh?"

"Is she special, or are you just trying to prove yourself as a hero?"

"I'm not sure how this is relevant."

"Why would you give up your own life for a girl you've barely known for less than a few days? What is it about her that compels you to save her over and over again?"

"Because she's been locked up against her will by a man who wants to exploit her gifts for his own reasons, has lost her own parents, and was abandoned by her guardians! How could I not be compelled to save her?"

"You foolish child! Don't you realize that this story has been played out many times over already? Not just in this timeline, but in many parallel universes as well?"

"I'm not sure I follow."

Cia sighed. "Before my unexpected 'separation' with Lana, I was a Seer. With this staff, I could watch the timelines of several realities and in every single one I found a few consistent elements. The first thing I noticed was a great evil that kept manifesting with the intention of destroying Hyrule, but it would always be thwarted by a young hero clad in green. Then another thing I noticed is that with every incarnation of this hero there would always be a young girl accompanying him. This girl, usually of noble birth, would in turn aid the hero after being captured by the great evil.

"Now do you see the bigger picture? You, Link, are the reincarnation of a soul that has transcended through space and time along with Zelda and even Ganon, who is a manifestation of the great evil that has threatened Hyrule numerous times before. Your story has repeated itself in the past, present, and will continue to in the future in a never-ending cycle of pain and misery. For this reason I made it my mission to break this cycle no matter what happened to me, even if I had to side with the great evil himself. But I could achieve this goal much faster if you help me."

"How?"

"Agree to be mine forever."

Link flinched. "As a slave?"

"No, as a lover, dear boy," Cia said as she used one free hand to touch Link's cheek. "If you pledge your love for me, then together we can end this cycle you're trapped in."

"What about Zelda?"

"I won't harm her, and she'll go free."

"You're such a hypocrite!" Proxi said, flying around Cia's head. "You criticize Link for going after a girl he's barely known, and yet you're all head-over-heels for him even though you've only met him in person recently."

"Silence, Fairy!" Cia shouted as she attempted to zap Proxi with a bolt of purple lightning.

"Hey, you leave her alone!" Link said and grabbed Cia's staff.

"Let go, Link!" Cia said, trying to wrench it from Link's grasp.

The two struggled with the staff between them while Zelda used the edge of the Talon Clasp which she had hidden underneath her sleeve to cut the leather straps that bound her. After a few minutes, though, Link was backed against the machine. Cia grinned maliciously as Zelda managed to unbind her wrists and was currently working on her ankles.

"So you're not interested in me, is that it?" Cia said. "Then I shall kill you slowly and possess your soul once I've wrenched it from its body!"

"No, you won't!" Zelda said as she got off the operating table.

Surprised, Cia turned around. "How did you free yourself?"

"You'd be surprised how useful the Talon Clasp can be," Zelda replied aiming the Talon Clasp at Cia. "It can let you swing from Skyloft Rails, cut leather, and allow me to do this!"

Before Cia could react, Zelda wrenched the staff from her hands with the Talon Clasp. Then in one swift motion, she threw the staff down causing the red orb to crack. This in turn caused electrical sparks to emanate from the machines and from within the walls.

"No!" Cia cried, picking up the staff. Once she saw the cracked orb, her face turned sour. "I'll get you for this!"

Leaving the staff on the floor, Cia stood up and held up her left hand. A Triforce symbol glowed with the top triangle lit up. In response, similar symbols appeared on Link and Zelda's hands only with the right and left triangles lit up respectfully. Then the triangles leapt from their hands and appeared over Cia's hand where a third triangle appeared. Together, the three triangles formed into a complete Triforce with Cia grinning.

"At last, the Triforce is complete!" Cia said. "With this power, I shall rewrite the history of Hyrule in all its various forms and change its future to end the cycle which you two are unfortunately caught in."

"Not so fast, Cia," Ganon said, appearing in the room.

To be continued…