Chapter 7; Anita's POV

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." I called over my shoulder, rounding a corner of the garden-Link closely at my heels. I kept sneaking glances behind my shoulder-nerves I supposed… I couldn't get caught out here again-not in this section of the garden anyway-Master wouldn't ever take any chances with me again-he'd learned that lesson the hard way by accidentally allowing me to escape the first time.

"I didn't think anything could grow down here…" I heard his surprised exclamation behind me, and I knew he must be talking about the flowers surrounding us.

"It's all done by Magic." I explained. "We don't have the means to grow anything down here-so we simply magic it up. Since the plants are created by magical means, they don't need sunshine or as much water to sustain themselves. You can see that they're not fully alive as it is…" I indicated the plants-still vibrant with color, yet wilting all the same, the edges of their petals dull and brown with leisurely untimely death. I rather liked them that way, I have to admit… it gave them a sense of uniqueness, and I liked the different display of colors, the patterns of the bright colors mixing within the dull.

"Magic, deals with devils, destiny… it's all starting to get on my nerves!" Link grouched behind me.

"We're almost there." I rounded another corner, and a circle of hedges surrounded us. In the center stood one lone statue…

Link paused behind me, and I heard his gasp of surprise before he walked forward. "Is that…"

"A bird statue-yes and yes again it is like the ones located on the Surface…" I knew Link would ask.

He stepped forward, placing his hand against the cool faded stone. "How did it get here?"

I shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine, Link…perhaps it was part of my Father's Seal…" the Goddesses would have taken every precaution necessary… "Don't bother." I murmured, watching as he closed his eyes-praying to the Goddesses, "It doesn't work anymore."

"What?" he opened his eyes to look back at me-as shock registered on his face.

"Have the statues on the Surface been working for you as of late?" I asked casually.

Link shook his head, "N-No… now that we can just fly through the Cloud Barrier from Skyloft to the Surface, there's no need to…"

I nodded, stepping forward, "The statues have gone into sleep-their magic is useless now that you're quest is over. They have no need to transport you from one area to another."

"Is this how… how you escaped before?"

I nodded, "I have no idea why it worked for me… in hindsight it shouldn't have even been awaken until the Master Sword hit it…" I remembered that day all too well… I'd escaped my room-ran blindly through the halls-and you could only imagine my joy at finding the gardens-seemingly so full of life… I'd run through the mazes, searching desperately for a way out… I'd found the statue, and needing rest, I'd leaned against it. How I wished with all my heart to get away… to simply escape from my torment… I remembered my confusion at the sudden light behind me, turning to find the statue glowing with another worldly light… blinding me… I must have lost consciousness, for when I next opened my eyes; I was in Skyloft… a sanctuary seemingly a thousand worlds away from my Demonic prison... Truly, it seemed that for once in my life the Goddesses had been on my side…

Link glanced at the statue sorrowfully before looking back at me, stepping forward, taking my hands. "Why did you do it?" he asked me-and I was grateful that his tone was not harsh as it had been earlier-rather quite the opposite actually. "You'd escaped, you were free… why return here?" he gazed longingly into my eyes, and I could he was desperately trying to understand. He couldn't understand why I would do something like that for him…

"I've told you my reasons…" I stated sadly, my voice barely above a whisper. "For you…" he had no idea what my Father had had planned for him… for what would have come after the battle…

He gave me a slight glare, "and yet I don't even know the terms… he sent me back to the Sealed Grounds when you proposed a deal. You didn't return…"

"Mmmm..." I tried to remember the exact terms agreed... it had been a spur of the moment agreement-just shortly before I had asked for another agreement; for a Treaty to be made with Hylia... it had been so long ago... "I think I should explain a few things first." I decided, finally giving him a glance.

Link nodded shortly, leaning back against the Bird Statue, hands behind his head, "Alright… well… just start at the beginning."

"The beginning? What do you mean?"

"Yeah, the beginning… you know like…" Link thought for a moment, "Like…" I could see some new form of curiosity in his gaze now-curiosity other than the terms of the agreement made with my Father. "Like what your life was like before all… this." He gestured to the castle ahead.

Again I had to think on that for a moment… it had been so long ago, and the bad times had replaced what little good I could find within my memories. "The beginning…" I sighed, leaning my shoulder against him, smiling when he wrapped an arm around me. I don't know how, but that somehow gave me the courage to bring it up-made it easier to recall. "I lived in the Goddesses Realm before the war-we all did. Ghirahim, my Father, and I… Master still took advantage of me from time to time-it's sad to say, but that part of my life has always been constant-I've always been his toy… Mother didn't care..."

Link opened his mouth to speak-and I assumed it was to ask about my Mother, but my tone had implied rather strongly that that was a subject I hated talking about. He closed his mouth before opening it again, asking something different, "And… what about Ghirahim? He lived in the Goddess Realm? Why?" it was to be understood… Ghirahim was the dark version of the Master Sword-therefore he couldn't see why the Goddesses would have such a weapon of evil at their disposal.

"As for Ghirahim… Ghirahim wasn't always just a weapon for destruction he was... he was originally supposed to be The Master Sword…"

Link look appalled at that. "So you're saying instead of Fi, I might have had… him" he said it with disgust, "as a companion?! You can't be serious!"

I laughed softly, "Well, that's the thing-the Goddesses were worried that because he was designed to have feelings he wouldn't remain loyal to his mission alongside their Hero-you. So they created Fi. My Master sort of set everything in motion with the war... Hylia sent the newly created Master Sword-Fi-to the Heavens-and thus began the creation Skyloft-and you would know the rest if you paid attention in class…"

"I have!" Link rolled his eyes as he interrupted me to defend himself slightly annoyed, yet there was humor in his voice. "Skyloft took a few thousand years to create-and pieces broke off, and floated away in the sky. That's why we have so many smaller islands around us. See? I pay attention!" I only smiled back at him. He couldn't really blame me-Link hadn't always been a very dedicated student at the Knight Academy.

Despite his interruption, it didn't inhibit me from ending my tale. "My Father was then sealed away… and…"

Link raised a curious eyebrow at me, "And…?" he pushed me to continue where I'd trailed off.

I sighed, trying to force myself to find the words-to call them up. I had lived this life for thousands of years… yet recalling the memory of how it had all started… it always brought up 'what if's'. If I had done something different-would anything have changed? Or would fate continue to play a role for us in life-never truly allowing us a choice of our own? "A little before his imprisonment-a few thousand years before Skyloft was fully created-to compensate for his loss he... he stole Ghirahim. Stole me... Master... transformed him. While we were kept prisoner in the same castle we never saw each other. I was able to escape after a few thousand years but... I guess it doesn't matter now... and it was only two or three years of an escape at that..." I fell silent, reminiscing for a moment.

"When you came to Skyloft…" Link murmured softly, and I felt his arm tighten around my shoulders, pulling me closer.

I leaned my head against his shoulder, placing a hand on his chest. I had already started, so why not finish? "I'm sure you know the rest by now, Link." I whispered softly, "The first time I saw Ghirahim again-and the first time you met him I might add-had been in the Sky-View Temple in Faron Woods... he had no memory of his past life… no memory of… of me."

"That must have been so hard for you…" I heard Link whisper softly beside me. I only shrugged.

Perhaps it would have been better if Ghirahim's memories had been lost forever… then I wouldn't be feeling this pain right now. It would have started earlier-the shock and pain at finding out he didn't remember me, and later on the abuse, but by then, I would have expected it-and it wouldn't be as painful now. I would simply remember the old times, and I would miss them, but it wouldn't hurt-couldn't hurt as bad as this!

"What about the Treaty you had him make? Your Father… with Zelda…" I knew he would find a way to get around to that topic sooner or later.

"You know the answer to that first question." I chided him for forcing me to remember even further, "He needed Hylia's soul in order to resurrect himself... to continue living-to fully weaken the Goddesses Seal that had held him for so long... I offered my own in exchange for hers. But he didn't just want my soul-he still..." I blushed, turning away, "He still wanted my body along with it... wanted me to become his again like it was before... I just wanted you to be safe-I wanted Zelda safe..." I wanted to be with Ghirahim again... "I... agreed... but soon Master wanted to try and claim the Triforce again. I never wanted him going back to the surface, so I proposed another agreement with Hylia. Neither of us could enter each other's domain-no Demon to the Surface, no Light Dweller to the Demon Realm. Our worlds would remain separated… for a time at least. It would keep another war from breaking out-most of the Sheikah are still angered at my Father for what he did-and rightfully so. The deal is there to keep my Father in his domain, and the ones seeking revenge for Hylia in theirs. It's better for everyone that way…"

"No it isn't…" Link murmured, "it's not best for you… you're still stuck down here…" he glanced at the Bird Statue behind us, "M-Maybe if…"

I shook my head, "It doesn't work Link. The statue's will only respond to the Master Sword's power." He gave me a desperate look, "I've tried! You have no idea how many times I've tried! It's hopeless! I have no idea why it worked the last time-I have no idea what I did in order to make it work it just… did."

Link sighed, hugging me close. "Please, Anita, come back with me! When the portal opens at dawn…"

"I'll stay here and you'll go back to Skyloft." I interrupted him quickly. I couldn't give us false hope-it wouldn't matter.

"No, Anita! I can't go back! Not without you! You can come with me, we don't need to wait for Demise to do anything-we can leave tonight! You and me, and when the portal opens…"

"ANITA!"

I turned, gripping onto Link tighter as Master approached. How long had he been there? I didn't dare stand-I knew I wouldn't have the strength to stand under his gaze… "M-Master I…"

He waved a clawed hand at me, tearing me from Link's grasp. "GET BACK INSIDE!"

"M-Master I'm sorry! I wasn't…"

"LET HER GO!" Link shouted, jumping up from the ground. He reached for a blade-but found none.

Master merely rolled his eyes, grinning down at him, "Pathetic… you will leave her alone! I don't want you going anywhere near my daughter! Understood?" he began dragging me away. Reluctantly I followed…

Link snarled, jumping for him. "I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HER!"

I heard Master groan before turning-his palm outstretched and a blast of dark magic sent Link hurtling back towards the ground-smashing the Bird Statue to bits, pieces of the stone flying off in random directions of the garden.

"Link, no! M-Master, you promised me you wouldn't…"

"Don't you dare try anything like that ever again, Anita!" Master leaned close to me, growling angrily.

"I-I… I wasn't trying anything…" I whimpered, shrinking back, "W-We were just…"

He narrowed his eyes, pushing me back towards the castle, "Go back inside!"

"Y-Yes, Master…" I curtsied quickly, casting Link a glance before running back into the castle.

I had barely run inside-thinking I had found refuge in an empty room-a large fire glowing in the hearth-before I heard the door open behind me, and Master stepped through, his eyes on mine. "What the Hell were you thinking?!" he growled, coming up to me.

"I wasn't thinking anything… I… I just wanted to talk with Link…"

"I don't want you going anywhere near the Hero. He's caused you nothing but trouble here! Just look at what he caused to happen between you and Ghirahim…"

"L-Link didn't cause that!" I whimpered, "G-Ghirahim d-did it o-on his own!" I felt the lump rising quickly in my throat, and the tears stung unrelentingly in my eyes. No… I didn't want this! I didn't want to feel like this anymore! I wanted a distraction-anything to make me forget…

I waited… for something-anything-to happen to me! Nothing came, not a hit, a whip… I couldn't take it! If he were going to issue a punishment, why not just get it over with?! "Why can't you just hurt me already?" I screamed suddenly, tears cascading down my face, "Why aren't you punishing me? What are you waiting for?!"

Master simply smiled, "If I did punish you then I would only be giving you what you want. I find this a far more fitting punishment, allowing you to simply drown in your own misery-wishing more than anything for an escape from it. Don't you agree?"

I couldn't speak… I simply went numb, falling on my knees to the floor. My Master was clever; I had to give him that… I turned my gaze back towards the fire. He was right… I was willing to go through anything that would make me forget about it all… even if for just a moment…

"Don't worry… do you think I'm simply letting my Sword go without punishment?"

I turned my head back in surprise-seeing him move towards the door. I had never even seen Master harm him before… "W-What are you doing to him?"

He chuckled, glancing over his shoulder at me before opening it and stepping into the hallway beyond. "That's my little secret…" the door closed behind him.

I looked around. Ghirahim didn't appear; I heard no sound of running footsteps, so I had no fear of Link being near… my gaze fell to the sword and shield hanging above the mantelpiece... I reached my hand up for it, grasping it firmly in my hands. It would be so easy… so quick… and for once I was actually thinking of doing this-seriously considering it… no one could stop me, could they? If I hurried: if I got it over with right now… I placed the blade at my throat, closing my eyes… For once I was completely alone…

Ghirahim's POV

I hadn't moved from the bed. I couldn't move I had to think of something… I could only stare at the jewels and torn fabric scattered around me. The books had long since been turned to ashes in the hearth-save for the few I attempted to pull out of the flames, yet they were already too badly damaged and so I saw no point in their rescue afterwards.

I knew this time her heart wouldn't be won back by pretty words or baubles… I had to do something for her… something… but what? It had always been so simple to get a smile to cross her face, so easy to make her happy, even in her most despairing states… but now? I turned abruptly, hearing the door open behind me, and I expected her but… I rolled my eyes, glaring at him as I slumped back on the pillow-the boy shooting me the same look standing in the doorway.

"Oh… it's you…" we spoke-annoyingly so-in unison.

We simply stared at each other for a while before I turned away, "What do you want?!" I barked at him.

"Nice to see you too…" he closed the door behind him, making his way towards the bed, "I spoke with Anita just a little bit ago..."

I growled low in my throat-a warning that the boy did not heed. "Come to gloat have you?"

"It's not always about you; you know… she's pretty torn up about things…"

"You think I'm not?" he didn't need to remind me!

"Of course you're not! The only thing I could think you're even the slightest but torn up about is that you didn't get your chance to bed her in front of me, you freak!"

Oh, how his words stung! "That's not true!" I gripped the necklace in my hands, close to my chest, and I could feel the designs leaving an imprint in my skin. "That's just not true! You don't know anything boy!" I felt a tears sting my eyes… no! I couldn't show such weakness! Especially not in front of him, of all people! I was no doubt giving him enough satisfaction in this moment as it was…

I could sense it as he glanced around the room, behind me, "What is all this? What, destroying her dignity isn't enough? You have to destroy her things too?"

"She's the one who did this… they are… they were gifts… given to her over the years…"

"Why, just a way to earn her trust?" he sounded even more disgusted with every word that fell from his lips.

"Actions speak louder than words boy…" I should know that well enough by now…

"Seems like a waste of time and money for you-if you never even cared about her!"

I sighed, not exactly getting annoyed with him now more… relieved? I was hearing what I needed to hear-and despite it all, I did need someone to talk to I supposed… Master wouldn't understand-and Anita… she would merely fear being within even ten feet of me! "They were my way of trying to make her happiest down here… she spoke to me once of a past life and how I had forgotten it-forgotten her…"

"Yeah," his voice took on a different edge-sympathy? No, it couldn't be. "She told me."

"At any rate, my memories were soon recovered, and I suppose… I suppose… they were my restoration to her for all those forgotten years… mere trinkets though they were…" I sighed, "She destroyed them… she said she didn't want them anymore…"

"Does it really surprise you?" his tone was harsh again, "you hurt her!"

"I know that!" I screamed-not in rage, but desperation. I sat up, my head in my hands. What could I do? What could I possibly do? "Skychild-Link… you must help me!" I looked at him.

He stepped back, absolute revulsion written all over his face, "Excuse me?!"

"Help me!" I begged, getting up from the bed, standing before him, "You've spoken to her-you know what she desires-tell me, how can I earn back her affection?"

"You're… asking me for that kind of help?"

I could hardly believe it myself-truly I had reached the lowest point possible-nearly begging him-of all people-on how to redeem myself. For Anita, it was worth it… forget my Master-if she wasn't happy, if she couldn't be near me without constant fear, if she were to live the rest of her life in misery, I would have nothing to live for… "Please! I'm begging enough, boy! I need your help!" I implored him desperately.

He only looked at me curiously for a moment before glaring at me, hands on his hips. "Beg."

I took a step back, shaking my head, "Excuse me?!"

"You heard me! "I really think you can do better than that! Come ask me again…"

I growled low in my throat, "If you think for one minute that I'm going to beg you…"

"Then you must not really be serious about all this!" he interrupted me.

I stepped back, restraining myself. "I already asked, isn't that enough?!"

He shook his head, crossing his arms-an amused smile on his face. "I wish for you to beg. Grovel."

I couldn't believe this was happening! "I'm not going to-"

"You want her to forgive you, don't you? You want my help in making her love you again? Show me you're serious! If you really love her, then this shouldn't be that hard, Ghirahim!"

A few minutes ticked by… and still I remained silent. I wasn't going to demean myself to such a pathetic state-not for him! I was above him-he was human, I was a Demon! A blade of absolute destruction, my place was not to grovel, but to command!

He shook his head at me, turning away, "I knew it… you don't love her! If you were truly serious, you wouldn't mind a little humiliation in return."

He made his way towards the door, and I found myself reaching for him, grasping his arm as I fell to my knees. "Link…" I gritted my teeth, "I'm begging you-on my knees!-what more could you want?!"

"I'm waiting…" he looked down at me-kneeling before him! Goddesses, this was too much!

I gritted my teeth, sinking my shoulders in defeat. No… not defeat… in doing this, I was showing him truly how much I cared in order to earn her back-my dignity meant everything to me-I was not one to beg, begging was for the weak! Begging as I was now to him-such a lowly act to a mere human-had to show him… "Please, Link...I need your help."

It was a while before I looked back up, seeing him smiling down at me approvingly. "There now, see?" He held out his hand, bringing me up from the floor, and I actually saw a glimmer of praise in his eyes. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"On the contrary," I groaned, pulling my hand away. "It was the worst torture imaginable!"

"I know." He smiled, "yet you did it anyway… there's no doubt you'll do it for her-and you'll need to!"

"Please, I hardly think begging like that will win her over… she isn't one for that sort of attention…" I glanced over at the bed, sighing. "What could I give her? It has to be something important… extravagant!"

He shrugged, "The usual things girls love: Flowers… chocolates… promises you don't intend to keep…"

"I've tried nearly all of those already! None have…" I turned towards him, the glare on my face rivaling his humored expression, "You're mocking me aren't you?"

"You can't just give her a gift-any gift." He frowned at me disapprovingly, "Look, as far as I know, there's only one thing that I think she could ever accept from you now…"

"Well? Tell me! I'll do anything! You've gotten proof of that fact!" I snarled, clenching my hands into fists.

He looked at me with a sympathetic expression, shrugging his shoulders, "She wants her freedom, Ghirahim…"

I could only blink dumbly at his words, before falling back against the covers of the bed, sighing as I placed my head in my hands. It was hopeless… utterly hopeless… "Yes, I know she desires her freedom… and yet that is the one thing I cannot give to her…"

Demise's POV

I smiled, hearing the exchange from the other side of the door. As I thought the boy had gone in search of my daughter… Honestly, it took all my strength not to harm her-but it had to be done. If I were to punish my blade, I had to ensure that she punished herself-allowing Ghirahim to see her pain. It was so simple… the girl was offering my blade a punishment of her own, and neither of them realized it. I was simply allowing them each to drown in their own misery… The fact that my sword had sunk so low as to beg the Hero of Time… well, that was simply an added bonus-and merely more salt had been added to his wounds.

It was rather amusing actually, considering the events that had led up to this. The lust my sword felt for my daughter was understandable-(was I not also tempted, even when my daughter had been so young before? I was still tempted… the beauty of a Goddess she has-same as her Mother-the traitorous wretch!) It seemed my blade could harbor but a few emotions at a time before he finally cracked, his moods changing easily. Jealously and Lust had run their course, and the opportunity had merely presented itself at the right time… Anita would soon overcome her depression-my sword had his ways of winning her over. She was so easy to please, so easy to fool… far too trusting of him-can't she see that I've molded him so that he is too far gone? The Sword Spirit she knew in youth is gone! Replaced by my weapon! Any affection he has towards her-I'm certain-is merely a flicker of memory; a shadow of what's come to pass… it truly is a pity…

The Goddesses had lost a valuable weapon, and even they couldn't see it. Thousands of years later, and what have they to show for it? Their precious Hero-their precious Reincarnation of their Goddess Hylia failed. They did not bring my destruction, they merely have delayed the inevitable… the Treaty my daughter issued will fall; it is merely another temporary setback-hardly worth my time, or my concern. Had Ghirahim been the Hero's blade, things might have turned out differently, and the boy would have not been disappointed. Having such a weapon of power at his disposal, it would have been such a blessing to him… he might not even be in this situation now had things been different... well… what does it matter?

The Hero of Time is mine now… they are all mine!