I am SO SORRY! I should of checked this chapter before signing out! It was all coded and... ugh... forgive me if this doesn't work...

Shout out to HeroAlexa249 for being the first to give a review. I really appreciate it when someone reviews what I write, and gives me more motivation.

Chapter 3: Angsting up the mountain

I had just come back from the god's statue and had recently opened up a new pathway to a new section of the surface.

"Can I ask you a favor Ghirahim?" I stayed by the statue, far from anyone who could be listening or could see us. "Do you suppose you could train me? I wan't to be better prepared, the next time we run into Fi. I can tell that this quest will only get harder from here on out."

Ghirahim eagerly agreed to this and I went to the sparring hall, where no body was around. This was good enough.

"I'd rather that you pick up a different sword." Ghirahim told me as soon as he came out of the god's sword. "I'd rather use my own, and unfortunately, I cannot do so while you wield the current one." He explained as he summoned up a sword similar to mine, with the exception of the handle on the hilt and the curve of the blade. "I much prefer my own over those more cumbersome knives."

I have to be honest, it was not easy. Unlike, Fi, Ghirahim didn't even try to hold back, and it took less than a minute for his sword to pierce through my torso.

...Yes you read that right: he pierced his sword through my torso. I could see the blade sticking out of me as a cold sensation overcame me.

Before I could comprehend what had just happened, Ghirahim explained "I can't injure you." He explained as he pulled the sword out of my body, which felt more like a tickle than as if I had been stabbed, but it still sent a chill through my body. "I changed the element of the sword at the last moment."

I shuddered. "I hope that never happens again."

"Which is why you need to be faster than me. Now come!"

I tried so hard from then on out, but Ghirahim defeated me overtime, and more often than not I felt his sword go through my body, he even stabbed through my head at one point, and I think my limbs were 'cut off' at least six times.

Eventually I got so frustrated that I just began swinging my sword at him. Ghirahim was having none of my attitude and placed a hand on my head as I tried to swing at him and kept a safe distance between the two of us. The fact that he was almost taller than Groose made me feel like a small angry child.

"Cease this childish behavior!" He hissed. "If you lose your patience and swing the sword like a mad man, not only will you be open to your enemy, but you will lose sight of what matters! Would your Link want to see you to behave so immaturely?!"

"I want to protect those I care about!" I cried out.

"Wielding the sword is more than protecting others! You are also protecting yourself! Like it or not, you and the sword are one and the same. A careless wielder is a careless blade, and if your opponent can see that, then your life is forfeit!"

I growled in frustration and staggered towards a bench, where I could rest, and carefully set the blade aside. "I bet I'm not even going to have enough time to practice, if I'm in a race against a woman whose emotions are as empty as a pot."

I ran my hands over my face "I've had enough for today. You're free to go... thanks for the help."

"As much as I appreciate the gratitude, I'm still not convinced. You should go side-questing, for whatever it is your kin does to calm your mind." Was the last thing I heard Ghirahim say before he went back into the sword.

-breaktime-

I was too tired out to say hello to anyone in the academy, or keep an eye out for Groose. Even when I was sharing the bath with Karane and felt myself rejuvenated, I didn't wan't to speak with her. I didn't feel ok until I was finally laying on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

"Are you going to be like this for the rest of your journey?" I heard Ghirahim once again. I couldn't see him in my room, and I could see that the sword was resting beside my bedside.

"No."

"...Why does that response fail to reassure me." I heard him let out a sarcastic sigh. "Was there anything you were able to accomplish that made this day bearable, like seeing the surface for the first time?"

Images of Faron Woods ran through my head. I recalled the Kikwi's, the large tree, and all the beauty of the surrounding area and let out a weak smile. "Yes. Yes I did. It was better than I could have imagined."

"It wasn't always like that. The last time I saw those woods, everything was burning to cinders and there were only a few acres of trees that remained safe from the chaos of war."

"...So what was the surface like?" I asked as I closed my eyes. "Before my ancestors were sent to the heavens?"

"Unfortunately, there wasn't anything I can remember that would put it in a good light. None of the races were close, and the world was in the throes of chaos when I was first created. Every day, a life would be claimed from either side, or the land would be overturned until it became barren."

"What was it like, to be created? How does that work?"

"...Well, imagine if you suddenly come into existence, with all the knowledge you need to know. I suppose it's the opposite of learning something with each passing year."

As much as I found that fact strange, that seemed sad. It sounded like a life that lacked a childhood, memories, friends, and so much more.

I wanted to ask him something that had been bugging me since I first heard the legends.

"The great evil that the legends speak of... what was it after? What reason could it have to seek out the entire conquest of our world?"

"...I can't promise you the answer to that just yet. More importantly, you need to prepare yourself for the next part of the journey: I doubt that a wooden shield will be of any use to you, where we are going next.

-Eldin Volcano-

I really wish I thought of bringing spare clothing. The lava that still flowed from the volcano ruined my experience in the land of Eldin.

"Ah yes, Eldin Volcano. One careless misstep and you'll meet a burning end." Ghirahim explained as I looked at the volcano. "There is another temple at the top of the volcano, and there is a good chance your spirited warrior is up there."

"We probably have to climb that entire mountain, right?" I groaned. "I hope I don't have to do too much of that."

"...I can't make any promises Mistress."

-flash forward-

As I walked towards the gate up ahead, I found that a bridge suddenly started coming out from the other side, before it reached my end.

"Hey!" A husky, but clearly feminine voice called out from somewhere up ahead. I glanced around until I saw a tall figure dressed in a black cloak. Could this be the person the mogmas were talking about?

"You, the god's chosen hero!" She called out to me "Link is ahead... hurry!" She warned before turning around and leapt off the top of the gate.

"I wonder who that was." I wondered out loud. The woman's words were not reassuring, even if they gave me a glimmer of hope.

"She might be a member of the Sheikah Tribe." Ghirahim's voice rang in my head. "They are servants of the god Hylia. The old woman back at the temple also shared the exact characteristics: perhaps there are more allies here then you previously thought."

Unfortunately, after a painful trek up the volcano that made my legs into jelly (I cringed at how bad I would feel for the rest of tomorrow) I received some bad news. I overheard something from the mogmas (Ledd and Cobal was it?) when I reached the door to the temple and they were discussing the key to the temple when I heard this:

"Hey, that reminds me." The first one began."...That strange boy in the weird getting got taken away too."

"That's right!" The other chimed in. "And that guy they took is probably part of their master plan too. I'm telling you, I can smell the riches in there!"

They argued over the riches and finding the key before they realized that they could just dig their way into the tunnel. As soon as they were gone, Ghirahim appeared beside me.

"All humor aside, it does sound as if they were talking about Link. Unfortunately, as simple minded as the bokoblins are, they seemed clever enough to break the key up into peices."

"Couldn't you just transport me into the temple?" I asked. "Seeing as you can do that."

"...For the sake of my pride, please never refer to this incident ever again."

As soon as we transported in the temple, I asked. "Why couldn't we just teleport to the top of the mountain? Or transport to where Link is?"

"First of all, as magnificent as I am, I can only teleport us a certain amount of feet. Second of all, not only am I having difficulties sensing him, but it would be cheating."

"How is this cheating?"

"Divine purpose. I'd advise you not to think on it too much."

-five to ten minutes later-

"Ok, I now that I'm probably going to die if I won't keep my balance, but this is totally fun!" I let out a nervous laugh as I walked my way on the stone boulder and sent it rolling across the lava. "This temple is a lot better than the last one! I bet if there was a song for the temple, it would be really upbeat!"

-much MUCH later-

"OK I TAKE IT BACK, THIS IS NOT A FUN TEMPLE!" I panted as I found myself running down the step pathway and prayed that the boulder wouldn't squash me flat. "WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO BUILD THIS PLACE?!"

With a last burst of stamina I jumped over a gap to safety as the boulder sailed over my head and rammed it's way into the mouth of the dragon at the bottom. I remained kneeling on the ground in a sweaty, panting mess and my words slurred in my mouth.

"I... if... I ever... meet the... ar... architect... of th... this a... accursed place... I want a word... with him."

I don't know why, but I could hear Ghirahim laughing in my head at this.

"Please spare me." I moaned as I scooted back up into position.

-Boss room-

"We looked through this entire dungeon, but we still haven't seen any sign of Link anywhere." I complained as I looked around the last room on the map. It wasn't much: only a steep path that lead upward. Though, to be honest, I was getting tired of the many pathways in this temple, which always seemed to have some sort of trap involved, and tired me out in little to no time flat, even with the stamina fruit lying about. (and I still wondered how that was possible in a place where it was so unbearably hot.)

"He was here though." Ghirahim pointed to a set of chains that I didn't notice. "I can tell he was chained up here, but it's possible that he escaped."

"I hope so. I know Link can take care of himself." I tried to reassure myself more than anything.

"The spring should be up ahead." Ghirahim lead me up towards the pathway. Just when I thought nothing else would happen, I heard a familiar voice.

"Greetings, wielder of the god's sword."

I glanced up to the statue of a great dragons head. "Fi." I growled. "I'm not in the mood for this."

The young woman glanced towards me from her perch on the dragon's head. "...I'm afraid that your name isn't committed to my memory backs at the moment. However, it's not important, when I have more pressing concerns. I was informed that my subordinates had captured the spirited warrior, so I made great haste to arrive here. However, the servant of the goddess somehow came here first and took him away."

I let out a sigh of relief as Fi continued on.

"This is unacceptable. The spirited warrior is required, in order to resurrect my master. The only thing that could give me me the greatest possible amount of satisfaction is if I take it out on you. A meeting with my companion will certainly inspire me to improve my performance capabilities."

I didn't even have time to dwell on what Fi meant by 'master.' As soon as she disappeared, the dragon's mouth opened up to reveal my much hated friend, the rolling boulder of death. I rushed out of the way as soon as it came my way, and watched as a monster emerged out of it.

...Looking back, I think someone up there hated me with a passion.

-Somewhere in time and space-

"Hey, don't blame me if you think this is too hard for you." Nayru acknowledged Zelda's complaint. "It's not my fault I need to watch the rest of Breaking Bad before the internet can ruin it for me."
"I thought that was Wilfred!" Farore complained. "You said it was going to be Wilfred!"

"Nah, it was the Walking Dead." Din added.

"...I don't think that show is over yet."

"...Ah **** it, I still need to finish Doctor Who."

-back to reality (Oop, there goes gravity!)-

As soon as Scaldera was defeated, I made a vow to ever come back to this place for a long, long time. I was really tired of going up and down this volcano and the temple inside it.

- Time and space again-

Nayru paused the show on tv and turns to you.

"If you won't say it, then I won't say it."

-Let'sneverspeakofthatagain-

As I made my way through the hall, I realized I could hear the ballad of the goddess playing being played on the harp. I glanced up the flight of stairs to see two figures, one being the strange woman from earlier, and the other was dressing in a pale green tunic and hat, that looked identical to the knight's uniforms at the academy, and he wore armor and had a large sword at his back.

The song ended and a pillar of light rose from the ground. The strange woman then gestured to the light and the other was about to go towards the light when suddenly, he turned and I felt my heart jump in my chest.

"...Zelda?!" Link gasped.

"Link!" I let out a smile of happiness and ran towards him and his companion. In turn, Link also smiled, and suddenly, it felt as if all that I went through within the the past few hours was worth it just to see him again.

Before Link could even make so much as five feet, the woman held out a hand. Too my confusion, this made him hesitate.

"You cannot go to her, Sire. Remember what we discussed." I thought I heard her say. "Restrain yourself. Focus on the task at hand."

I stopped at the steps and looked at Link. We only made eye contact for a few moments before he turned away. "I... sorry. I have to go Zelda." I heard him say, but it was evident that he regretted what he was doing. It didn't feel the hurt that I began to feel when he headed towards the column of light and disappeared into it.

I didn't know what else to do, and I wanted nothing more than to find out what was going on, if I couldn't share even one 'hello again' with Link. I began to rush up the stairs and only made it part of the way when the woman turned sideways and shot me a glare that was so intense, and so full of anger, that I felt myself stop in fear. It was the look of disapproval that was only given in the worst of circumstances, and I had seen it given throughout the academy more than once.

The woman held her hand up as if to halt me. "It took you far to long to get here." She all but spat at me. "Looking at you, I fear the god is mistaken in his choice of agents. If this failure is any indication, you have no hope of defending his Sire from those who seek to assail him."

As her hand lowered, she calmly continued. "Do my words anger you girl? Do my words sting?"

Yes, they did. They did so much more than that, and it shook me to my core, and it kept me from saying anything. My vocal chords were frozen and my mind was numb.

"Let them. If I had not come when I did, your Link would already have fallen into the hands of the enemy. The truth of it is you were late. You were late and you failed to protect him."

"I sent Link ahead to learn more of the fate in which he is destined to play a part. Listen well, chosen one. If you wish to be of help to his Sire, you must summon a shred of courage and face the trials laid out before you. Only hen you've conquered the trials will you be of use to him. No sooner. Am I understood?"

I was unable to respond. I was too angry, and too hurt to do so. The woman could sense this and turned towards the portal until she vanished along with it.

I almost yelled out in anger at where the portal was, but I felt as if I had been drained and my head fell.

"...I should have never suggested that we would fly together. If I hadn't, none of this would of happened. We could of been together, or we could of stayed in the heavens, away from all of this." I whispered.

"She's right: I should of been faster." I sighed.

"Don't you dare go back to that phase of mind!" Ghirahim hissed in my mind. "That stick of a woman doesn't understand what you have gone through, and what is still at hand. It is an innoconvience as to how the events became out of order, but if you start moping, I will be very cross with you. In fact, if you keep this up, I'll be furious, outraged, and sick with anger!"

"...You have a way with words Ghirahim." I let out a chuckle. "But they make me feel somewhat better. As unusual as you are, it's nice to have you as a companion."

"It would not bode well for you if I wasn't around. A little insanity is good for the soul."

I laughed. "Ok... well, let's get the next part of the tablet and get out of here. I had enough of this place and I'm going to be sore from all that running up and down steep paths."