Disclaimer: GrimGrave does not own any of the characters or their respective franchise; Legend of Zelda and Metroid belongs to Nintendo, while Soul Calibur belongs to Namco Bandai. GrimGrave does not earn money for writing fiction.

Also, a big thanks to all of you who submitted your ideas for another harem in the previous chapter! Nearly all girls have been accounted for, allowing me to start contemplating about which ones to pick! Just remember that I won't be working on the actual story anytime soon, unless something happens.

But enough small-talk, on with the story!

A Hylian's Harem

Chapter 6

Final Clash

´It just… can't be…´ Zelda ceased her pinching of the bridge of her nose in order to throw another glance back at the group behind her.

She saw Link with a sheepish smile on his stoic face, his arms waving in order to ward of his friends from stepping into his personal space. Impa and Sheik were by his sides, subtly trying to ward off the others as well – a pity that it didn't go unnoticed by Zelda. In all her wisdom, she could easily see it now that she had pieced it together. They remained close to Link while supposedly helping him fend off the other women. Well played on their part.

But now that she had realised just what kind of guests she now had promised to shelter, Zelda had grown even more distressed. She couldn't flat out go back on her word, nor could she throw them out again. She owed Link an awful lot, and she wouldn't let his heroic deeds go fruitless, but judging by the women's earlier remarks and reactions it wouldn't be too long before they took their catfights to another level.

Worst case scenario, things got out of hand and there would be spilt blood.

The princess tapped her chin in thought. There had to be a way to keep it peaceful between them in a way that wasn't temporary. As the group of women kept talking over one another towards Link, Zelda took the moment to contemplate.

´What should I do?! Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom… Help me. I am at a loss, for the first time in a long time, and I am in desperate need of an answer… Just what should I do about this situation?´ She glance back at Link and the others.

´Should I confront Impa and Sheik about it? If they know that I know, maybe they can in turn help me… At least they don't let their feelings get the best of them. What if I told Link-´

Zelda stopped herself mentally. ´No. If I told Link that everyone here wants to… Want him to court them, I'm not certain of how he would react… But it should be a gradual thing for him to realize…´

"Your Highness." Impa's voice suddenly caught the blonde's attention, prompting her to look up at her attendant. The Sheikah woman smiled gently, a soft gaze lingering in her crimson eyes. "Should we head over there now?"

Zelda understood completely and nodded with a small smile of her own. "Yes, we should."

"We should go where?" Link asked out of nowhere, winking playfully at his two friends. "What are you two talking about?"

The princess giggled lightly. "You understand once we get there. Sheik, could you be a sweetheart and go buy some flowers from the nearby flower-shop?"

"Naturally, your Highness." Sheik replied. As the younger Sheikah woman walked away, Link sent a puzzled look in Zelda's direction in hope for a proper answer. Zelda simply giggled at first, joined in by Impa's chuckle before she answered.

"It's in the Back Alley." She eventually said, to which Link's cerulean eyes widened in understanding. Zelda nodded at the young man again. "We're just waiting for Sheik to come back with the flowers…"

:::::::

"I'm ashamed to say that I had completely forgotten…" Link said lowly as he placed his fair share of the flowers on the cobblestone ground. A small bouquet of roses and tulips, surrounded by a few, small lit candles that Impa had brought with her. Zelda, Link, Impa and Sheik were all gathered at the wall of a back alley building, looking solemnly at the spot of area that was surrounded by candles and decorated by flowers in silence.

"You've been traveling a lot, and your mind has been preoccupied." Impa replied. "It's understandable that you forgot. You are here now, at least."

Link smiled with a nod. Impa always seemed to know what was best to say in different situations, and now was no different. He lowered his head and closed his eyes in silence as did Zelda, Sheik and Impa. The only noise that went by was the people talking and rummaging through the market, and the whispers between the left out group of women who all eyed the Hylians with curiosity.

"What is this about you reckon?" Aveil whispered. The women either shrugged or muttered something incoherent until Veran decided to give the seemingly younger woman a nudge.

"Probably something personal, or they would have said something before they began… Mourning, I take it."

Aveil glanced back at Veran, golden eyes narrowed. "Mourning?" Veran nodded at the question.

"By the looks of the candle and flowers, and their little moment of silence, there is no indication of this being anything else. Someone died there, plain and simple."

"Would you two please be quiet?" Veran and Aveil both turned to Ivy who stood just a few inches ahead of them. Her sharp brow was raised high with her cold glance as she stared at them. "Don't talk so nonchalantly about the dead, whoever they are. The person in question was obviously someone of importance to Link and the Princess, so don't talk so recklessly!" Her voice was raised, as if to emphasize, but remained hushed and quiet. Ivy's glare was still mild in nature, but the spiteful intent was still lingering.

Veran caught the look with a slowly growing animosity; how dared anyone below her status to tell her off, it was absurd! But since she had grown fond of Link, she dared not to instantly lash out at the woman. It was time to fight fire with fire, and the idea made her full lips curl into a smirk.

"Noble words…" She whispered to Ivy. "For a woman dressed as a streetwalker…" Her smirk grew wider to the point that she flashed her teeth as Ivy's glare intensified – a glare as cold as the north itself.

´Looks like I hit a nerve there.´ Veran mused. "Oh don't act so shocked. You couldn't possibly believe that your clothing would inspire anything but perversions amidst the ranks of friend and foes alike."

"Watch it…" Ivy's whisper was almost seething as the words left her mouth, sharp as her sword and spiteful. "Or else."

The sorceress quirked an eyebrow with an amused smile. She liked where this was going. "Or else, what? Going to throw a tantrum with that distinct accent of yours? I can't say that you're inflicting fear on me…"

The ice-blue eyes glared daggers at the sorceress, and Veran knew it. She could see that Ivy was just a few words away from drawing her sword, and the thought enticed her greatly; due to her great mishap with her spell she yearned for a battle, and what better opponent to "accidentally" kill off than a rival? Just as they both were about to speak up, to end their silence with the announcement of their inevitable battle, Link walked up to them with his usual smile.

"What are you all whispering about?" He asked, scratching his neck. "Sorry about that… It's kind of a long story, but… To put it simply, a brave soldier of Hyrule died in that alley when Zelda and I were little when an evil king betrayed Hyrule…"

"And so you honour him by paying a visit to his place of death." Sophitia added with a warm smile. "That's very noble of you four. I'm sure the solider is at peace."

"That is what we are hoping for." Zelda replied. The Sheikah attendants both nodded in agreement. "My added apologies for keeping you all in the dark, briefly as it were."

Ivy, Aveil, Sophitia and Samus all laughed mildly at the apology, though the bounty hunter stepped up to friend immediately. "It was a personal business that you wished to honour as soon as possible. And since you didn't seem to expect company, I suspect that this was originally intended to be for you and Link. You don't need to apologise Zelda." The blonde hunter offered her friend a small grin. "So, shall we get going?"

The blonde princess giggled. "You're right. There is still much left for you to see before the sun downs on the horizon."

Lead by the princess and Link, the group continued their tour through the market, where the hordes of people ceased their activities to bow before the princess and their Hero, while throwing some puzzled or shocked stares at the visitors that seemed to be with their princess. They were all so foreign, though the Gerudo woman was spared from the curious eyes. But as they all ventured to and from the various shops and attractions, the guests themselves found that they had been stared at, if none other than themselves. A growing tension loomed above them, and they could all feel it.

They had all bared their fangs. Now they waited for the first one to strike.

::::::::

The guests all gasped in awe at the small, but majestic valley they had travelled to. Thanks to small network of newly constructed bridges, the valley was now a lot easier to get across due to the various heights and shapes of the natural platforms that rose up around the shimmering river. Decorated by nature's wonders, the valley was a sight to behold with its soothing sound of the water-current, the teeming trees that provided ample shades and the tranquillity of birds chirping above. Soft grass protruded underneath their feet and the sun basked them in its glow from the sky.

"This is truly beautiful…" Sophitia was first to say. The blonde Greek slowly spun around in order to see as much as possible; the untouched wonder of nature, made and designed by its own accord was truly remarkable.

"I have to agree with you." Samus added. "This valley is remarkable Zelda. Tell me, where exactly are we anyway?"

The princess giggled. "We're at Zora's River, Samus. It's part of the domain that belongs to the Zora's, an aquatic race that takes care of Hyrule's water supply. But this valley alone is open for us hylians to visit as we please."

"Quite different from St. James' Park," Ivy said. "but nevertheless beautiful. Your kingdom doesn't cease to amaze me your Highness."

"No need for formalities Lady Valentine." Zelda replied with a warm smile. "But thank you. I would very much like to see this park you mentioned someday."

With some of the guests preoccupied in a merry conversation, Veran had taken the liberty to distance herself from the group, standing by the edge of the flowing river. Aveil had performed a similar action by resting her back against a nearby tree, rendering the two of them the only ones not engaged in the overall conversation.

The sorceress sighed, her eyebrows knitted together. She disliked it all. The untouched nature, the pure water, the birds that kept chirping in the sky. It was all amongst many things she had intended to get rid of in Labrynna, and here she was surrounded by it. She only put up with it because of Link – the Hero that she would normally hate, had it not been because A; it wasn't the same hero, and B; because he was drop dead gorgeous.

And to make matters worse, Link was surrounded by other women that wanted to bed him. The thought irked her terribly, even more so when she spotted from the corner of her eye that said Hero was walking over to the Gerudo woman.

"Not in the mood for being social, Aveil?" Link joked as he walked up to the Gerudo. The redhead grinned back at him, a sly mirth lingering in her golden eyes.

"On the contrary, I just don't feel like being social with them. A hylian princess that could easily have me thrown in jail, two mysterious Sheikah warriors and foreigners that easily gets on my nerves. To be honest Link, I would have preferred to just be with you." She paused herself.

"After all, we Gerudo have always been wary of you hylians. It's only you that we trust, and that's no small thing." Link looked back at the redhead. The small speech had him slightly baffled, but he did understand – the Gerudo tribe had indeed always been unkind to outsiders, and Link had been through some ordeal in order to gain their trust.

He eventually chuckled. "I understand that Aveil, but you don't have to worry. Zelda would never throw you in prison. As for the others…" He glanced back at the group. "They may be foreigners to you, but they are women, no? Surely your tribe have been more open to women than men in the past."

It was the Gerudo's turn to laugh. It was a loud laughter, with no womanly trace in it. "You sure hit the head of the nail sometimes Link. But there is a lot more to it than them simply being foreigners."

Link stared at Aveil puzzlingly. "What do you mean?"

She simply snickered. "By the time you'll find out, it won't matter, my little thief." Her golden eye winked at the young hylian who blushed, but sheepishly smiled. Thief. While Link definitely wasn't one, he had showed great capabilities to be one when he had infiltrated the Gerudo Fortress a few years prior. He clearly didn't understand what Aveil was on about though, but quickly decided to shrug it off for now.

Meanwhile, Veran still watched the two with a look of disgust and spite. Link wasn't supposed to be talking to the others like that! He was supposed to be gaining her attention, to talk to her and her alone. She was the Sorceress of Shadows, and what was that slip of a girl? A simple "co-leader" of an isolated clan, nothing more. Veran's animosity was growing with each second that passed as she kept glaring daggers at the redhead; while she didn't like the other women that much either, it was Aveil that held her attention for the moment, seeing how she was alone with Link.

´What's so special about that girl anyway?´

"A pleasure to see anything but that smug expression on your face." A voice suddenly remarked, snapping Veran out of her dreaded fixation. When the fire-coloured eyes settled, it was Ivy who stood just a few feet away from her with a sly grin.

The sorceress shot the British noblewoman a glare. "It may be a grim visage, but at least it wasn't brought by yours truly." Veran nudged her head in Aveil's direction, prompting Ivy to look over in said direction – sporting a frown on her otherwise beautiful features.

"I see." She replied, looking back at the lone sorceress. "That is unfortunate, but I'm not worried."

Veran arched an eyebrow as if to question Ivy's remark. The noblewoman chuckled. "Link is a young man after all, but a gentleman at that. It is only natural that he spends some alone time with women that catches his fancy, if even just the slightest. But in the end, he will come back for more when he finds the right one."

The sorceress' brows lowered till her face was completely deadpanned. "And who, pray tell, would that be?" The white-haired woman chuckled once again.

"Is it not obvious?"

Veran eyed Ivy up and down, still deadpanned. The ridiculously large breasts provided enough cleavage that would surely keep men running back to her, a note that Veran was tempted to remark on. Though granted, she wasn't that much far off – Veran's dress consisted mostly as a two-part clothing with her top revealing her ample cleavage as well, and her somewhat toned waist and stomach. But at least her bottom half was more of a proper dress than Ivy's entire attire.

The sorceress rolled her eyes. "I'm sure many men would like to give you a second glance, perhaps even come running back." Veran said calmly. "But if Link is such a gentleman, then he surely won't decide on being in the company of a loose woman like yourself." And there is was. The spark of hostility was slowly fed more fuel as Ivy nearly gritted her teeth at the sorceress.

Veran smirked. "Oh, would you look at that. My smug look came back – thank you for your assistance."

"I told you to watch it." Ivy nearly growled back through seething glares. "As a guest, I prefer not to participate in mindless barbaric activities but you are testing my patience woman! Keep your mouth shut unless you want me to permanently silence you."

"A death threat?" Veran said with a stifled snicker. "Threats are nothing but violence clad in words. I'd say you have already engaged in barbaric activities, brute."

Veran couldn't help but to stifle a sudden burst of laughter. Ivy's stare was so intense, she reckoned that Ivy wasn't even blinking. The white-haired head was slightly craned to its right as Ivy glared at the woman, silent and motionless. Oh how Veran enjoyed stepping on people's toes.

'Time for the final nail into the coffin!´ "Why not complete the circle and rip that ridiculous clothing off and yell "Me angry woman! Me smash puny sorceress!" and be done with your charade, you vulgar whore."

By the time that Ivy's was ready to strike, Veran had already teleported away to the other side of the river, catching everyone's attention. With a loud war cry, the British noblewoman dashed after her via the nearby bridge.

:::::::

The other women and Link was startled out of their peaceful trance of admiration of nature as Ivy's war cry echoed in the valley. Instantly turning to the source of the outburst, they saw Ivy rapidly closing in on a defenceless Veran. The whip-sword flailed its extended form through the air in its slicing glory, ready to rend flesh much to Link's horror. Without a second thought, he ran towards the two. And by the looks of it, Samus, Impa and Sophitia were thinking the same.

"I-Ivy!" Sophitia cried out. "Cease this immediately! What's gotten into you?!"

"Be silent!" Ivy snapped back without a glance, her whip-sword narrowly missing its intended target; in its wake, a deep, thin line was cut in the earth. "I've had enough of this woman! I'll shut her mouth up permanently!"

"What is this all about?! Didn't I tell you all to-" Link's speech was cut short. With a mighty dash, Impa pushed the young man aside, her kodachi(1) unsheathed.

"This is not the time for words lad!" She yelled back at him. "I will not allow violence in Her Grace's presence. Lady Valentine, cease your actions immediately! I won't repeat myself."

As another swipe of the whip-sword missed Veran narrowly, the noblewoman turned her attention towards the incoming Sheikah. With the last shreds of her British composure and clear-mindedness burnt out at Veran's hands, Ivy's rationality had become twisted. It was no secret to her that Impa was also a rival, and seeing said woman coming at her with weapon drawn sent the British noblewoman onto defensive. A flick of the wrist, and the whip-sword coiled around Impa's ankle at the speed of the wind, robbing the Sheikah of her balance.

She landed on the ground with a thud, quickly attempting to get up on her feet again only to see Ivy about land a deadly blow on Veran.

Zelda gasped out loud in fright as the blade was swiftly descending on Link's friend. Impa cursed mentally as she struggled to get to Ivy in time, as did Sophitia and Samus.

"NO! Don't do it Ivy!" Link yelled out in panic. "STOP!"

It had all seemed like the day would end with an unforeseen and gruesome bloodbath. As the edge of the sword was about to rend the flesh, and in doing so take the life of a friend, Veran did the unthinkable, if not impossible.

She vanished. Just before the final inch of the deadly strike, Veran disappeared from sight in a faint black smoke. The sword dug deep into the ground as a result with Ivy, along with the rest of the group in complete shock and disarray.

"What the bloody hell?!" Ivy cursed out loud. Bewildered, she searched with widened eyes as she pulled up her sword from the ground, frantically searching for Veran. As did the others, but to no avail.

"Where did she go?!" Sophitia was next to yell out. "How could she just vanish into thin air?!" Samus on the other hand had put her helmet back on – scanning the area just as fixating as Ivy. Only Link remained somewhat calm at first as he thought it over, albeit slightly stressed out.

´She did claim to be a sorceress, but I didn't think she could even teleport at will- Wait! Teleport… The only beings I've seen that have been able to teleport like that were the Wizzrobes… No, don't tell me…!´

Sharply, Link looked up at one of the stone pillars to confirm his dreaded suspicions. To his horror, he found out that they were correct. Standing atop of the naturally made pillar, Veran boasted a loud, ominous laughter that caught everyone's attention and shock.

"Over here, woman!" She yelled, laughing all the while as Ivy blinked her eyes in disbelief.

Link stifled his gasp. ´I knew it! She must be similar to those Wizzrobes! But that means- Oh no! The only reason they teleport away is to…!´

The young Hero turned to Ivy in horror. "Ivy, get out of the way!"

"Time to repay your friendliness, harlot!" Veran laughed raising her hand up to the sky. To everyone's further shock, magical fire began to ball up into a sphere above her before she lunged it down at Ivy. The noblewoman just barely managed to jump out of the way of the scorching blast; the spot she had stood on moments ago was nothing but a small, burnt crater.

Link turned back to Veran, a look of anger crossing his features. "Miss Veran! Enough of this! I don't know what you two are fighting about but I-"

An armoured hand patted him on the shoulders as orange came into his field of vision. "Leave her to me Link!" Samus had said as she readied her arm cannon, aiming it at the sorceress.

"Samus! No, you'll kill her with that blast! At least use something less-"

"She tried to kill your busty friend just a moment ago, why are you defending her! But don't worry, I'll aim at below her feet – the river should provide an ample landing."

"What can you possibly do with that chunk of metal scrap?!" Ivy scoffed in anger. "If you haven't been able to see through that quirky helmet of yours, that witch is using magic! She'll just teleport again!" Samus didn't give Ivy a second glance at the crude remark. She didn't even need to check for Aveil, whom was eyeing the bounty hunter with an equally sceptical look. With the exception of Link, Zelda and Sheik, the others had already declared her as anything but a warrior. But she would show them in just a second just what kind of warrior she was.

The bounty hunter grinned, ignoring the pleas of Link and the crude statements of the other women. As Veran began to summon another magical bolt of fire, so did Samus charge up her arm cannon to its maximum capacity. There would be nothing half-assed; she would show them a portion of her full power and arsenal.

The cannon shook and glowed as the slowly growing charged up beam balled up, shining brightly with its intergalactic mass and power. The pleas grew louder, and the mocking voices died out – the charged up beam was nearly complete, and the spectators stared in awe and disbelief.

´What?! I thought she didn't rely on magic! How can she-! No matter! This blast should at least knock them all away without too much damage… After all, I don't want to risk my handsome Hero any wounds…´ Veran thought with glee. As she threw her firebolt down from her pillar, Samus fired her beam – and the valley was for a second dancing the light of crimson and white.

It was in sheer shock that everyone present was gawking at the foreign beam of power that passed through the magical fire, dispersing it in the process and obliterated the pillar. Chunks of stone scattered across the valley, accompanied only by a loud screech. Once the dust and rubble had settled, there was no sound being heard. Only the noise of the flowing river and the gasping coughs of a soaked sorceress climbing up on the river's edge.

Link sighed in relief over Veran's survival, though his animosity was not forgotten. But as he had been before, so was he now ignored as Ivy, Samus, Aveil and even Sophitia rushed over to Veran, weapons at the ready.

Veran got up, soaked and angered as she spotted the group charging towards her. Link was close behind yelling at them, but her ears remained deaf on his words. Granted, she was the cause of this sudden battle royale, but she did not enjoy seeing herself getting ganged upon.

´So you wish to all fight me head on? Very well!´

"I can't help but feel that I'm at an unfair disadvantage here!" Veran yelled mockingly at the group. With the simple, but spell-coated gestures of her hands, they began to glow a dark, eerie light. The group didn't even seem to care at the point, as hell bent on taking Veran down as they were.

"Don't tell me she's going to… Damn it, what is she up to now?!" Link yelled to himself. "Veran, stop it already! That goes for you lot as well!"

"My apologies Link, my dear" Veran yelled back. "but this might but some fright in your bones!" The sorceress laughed out loud as she finished her spell just in time – the other women was just about to reach her when the shadows suddenly grew darker, and wider, till they stormed out of the ground-based portals.

The shadow beings roared in dark-pitched voices, similar to a mindless beast as she emerged, stunning everyone including Link right on the spot. Now it was clear to everyone else besides the Hero just what kind of magic Veran favoured, but the shadows themselves were not the true source of their dread.

With ebon blades and shields at their disposal, the beings laughed and roared as they stepped out of the shadows. With their hair sporting a sickly shade of grey and white, they stood firm and tall against the women, clad in the darkest of clothes that was almost a complete mirror image of the Hero's clothes. Their skin was equally dark, and their eyes glowed red as blood, eyes that glared soullessly at their opponents.

With the middle one raising its sword with a might war cry, the shadow beings ran forward in a larger group towards the horrified women. There was no doubt about it – they were;

"SHADOW LINKS!" Zelda screamed in horror. Veran's laughter echoed across the valley.

(1) A kodachi is a traditional japanese short-sword which is literally translated into "small/short sword". Impa's official artwork as well as an official artwork of her and Link battling some monsters depcits Impa wielding a kodachi.

Anyway, I hope as always that you enjoyed the update! The fire between them will eventually die out, dont worry. But the rivalry will remain ;)

I will try to not keep you waiting for so long till next update.