"You are worthless, less than worthless!" a voice boomed.
Ghirahim was in a dark void. He could only hear voices.
"Master, I tried!"
"You tried? Hah! You cheap, pathetic servant. The goddess reborn's attraction to you cost me my resurrection. Such a waste of my power to create you..."
The voice faded.
A new voice faded in, this one a thunderous, heavenly female voice. "Why do you continue to cling to an ungrateful master? You'll be given one last chance. I grant you freedom, you just have to accept it."
...
"He's gravely injured. I don't think he can pull through this time," Gaepora told his daughter, who became increasingly distraught. She couldn't stop crying.
"Maybe this is for the best, my dear. He doesn't belong here. Now your friend, Link, is worried about you. I'm sure he'll listen to anything on your mind."
Gaepora turned to leave Zelda to herself.
After a few moments she heard a familiar knock on her door, like a secret password she shared with her best friend.
"Come in," she said, trying to hide the sadness in her voice.
"Zelda, Why do you care so much about Ghirahim? He's the cause of all this. He nearly killed both of us. I don't know what happened between you two, but how could you cry over him after all he's done?" Link asked, looking confused.
"I can't accurately describe it to you, Link. No matter how much I try to reason with myself that I should be happy, it never helps. I guess I pity him. Hating him would only be a misplacement of where the real blame lies. Ghirahim just did was he was created to do. With what little free will he had, he showed me kindness that he didn't have to. I didn't believe it at first either. He could have ignored me when I cried, but he didn't. It was like he actually enjoyed my company. When I was with him, I felt something I've never experienced before. Do you think there's anything that could save him? I don't know what I'll do with myself if I lose him. I brought him here, so he's my responsibility. I can't just let him die."
Link thought for a moment and sighed, a little frustrated by Zelda's outlandish request. "There is something that might save him. I'll be back with it as soon as possible. But if he causes any trouble I'll personally turn him into remlit food."
"Thank you," she said, wiping her eyes.
After Link had gone, Zelda went to see Ghirahim, who had been moved to Gaepora's office. Ghirahim was laying on the mat, struggling to breathe. She held his hand in hers and waited for Link's return. Every now and then, she could feel Ghirahim squeeze her hand lightly.
After what seemed like hours, Link returned with a glass bottle. He handed the bottle to Zelda, and she could see a small pink light flying around inside.
"It's a fairy. It can heal almost any injury. Zelda, I can't tell you what to do. I'm sure you know how I feel. I can't make the decision for you, but I guess I'll stand behind whatever you decide to do."
After Link left, she said a silent prayer. Zelda uncorked the bottle, and the fairy went to the dying demon lord on the floor. The fairy flew around Ghirahim's stomach, healing it instantly.
Ghirahim's breathing eased and he opened his eyes to look at her.
"You saved me again? Why haven't you given up on me? As a follower of the Demon King, I do not deserve your mercy and I should not want it."
Zelda's voice hitched as she struggled to get the words out. It came out as a faint whisper.
"I can't go back to the way things were before I met you, if you're not with me."
Ghirahim wiped away the tears running down her cheeks.
...
"I know it's only been a few days, but I should go back to the Surface. You and I both know that it's not over yet," Link said, sounding serious.
Zelda and Link sat on a small plateau on Skyloft, where Link had asked her to meet him.
Link continued. "I want to see this through. I need to find out what I need to do next. When the old woman at the Sealed Grounds asks about you..."
"Just tell her I'm safe," Zelda cut Link off.
"I will...What's all this about maintaining the seal? Do you know what Impa meant?" Link asked.
"That I don't know yet... I'm still trying to recover all my memories. So I guess Impa told you about me? About Hylia."
"Yeah, and she gave me this..."
Link produced the golden harp and showed it to her. Zelda gave Link a relieved look.
"I can't believe I forgot, but I'm happy it's in safe hands. You should hold onto it. You might need it. Well, I should go now," Zelda told him as she stood up. "I hope you return soon, and please come back safe."
Link smiled as he looked up at her and nodded. She waved a quick good-bye before running off in the direction of the Knight Academy.
...
"Let me show you the proper way to do it," Ghirahim smirked as he watched Zelda hack at the logs in the sparring hall.
"What do you mean 'proper' way? I think my way is just fine, thank you very much," she said indignantly.
Ghirahim smiled and walked up behind her. He wrapped a hand around Zelda's arm, leaning in close.
"Try swinging like this," he said as he moved her arm to show how she should swing.
In reality, she only pretended to not know how to swing the sword so she could get close to him.
...
Skyloft's annual festival was held a few days later. Everyone gathered around the plaza. Link returned from the surface for the night so he would be be able to attend. Groose, Cawlin, and Strich were hanging out together off to the side, mocking the people that were dancing. Ghirahim and Zelda walked down the dirt path from the Knight Academy. The villagers stared in shocked silence. Who was this man? Ghirahim payed no attention to them and smiled smugly down at Zelda.
Zelda waved to Link across the way and he returned the gesture. Groose approached Link and appeared to be questioning him, looking wildly confused, pointing at Ghirahim and Zelda. Link put a hand on Groose's shoulder and walked him back to the corner like he was explaining something. At least now Groose would stop bullying Link, Zelda thought to herself, smiling.
Ghirahim and Zelda walked into the crowd and danced together to the harp songs being played. He held her close to him, and she wrapped her arms around him as they looked into each others eyes. The dance ended and she beckoned him towards the waterfall on the other end of Skyloft.
"There's something I want to show you," she said. They walked through the cave and emerged on the other side. A small waterfall flowed in front of them and all the stars in the sky shined brightly in the darkness.
"This is where I first heard your voice calling out to me that day. I never imagined all this in my wildest dreams, but I don't regret any of it," Zelda said.
Standing in the moonlight, she took in his appearance without looking away. She leaned against his body, resting her face against his chest.
"When you were in my care on the surface, I often watched you while you slept..I wanted you, but I knew I had to deny myself or it would mean the ritual to revive my master would be void...but to tell you the truth, I don't want to be used by him anymore. I deserve better, greater things. I've decided I'm going to live for myself now, and for you. I've realized I want you more than anything else. I've wanted this from you for so long," he explained to her softly.
He leaned down to meet her face to face. Their lips met, and they stayed like that for the longest time, and when she grew tired, she fell asleep in his arms.
