Everyone seemed to enjoy that last part, which makes this girl happy. As I always say, enjoy the next part.

-The Quest~The Pain~The Despair-

Link looked around for any way to prepare himself for the battle he knew was coming. If he took refuge in the Fire Temple, they'd follow and corner him. No, he had to face them now, no matter how much pain he was in. He held the Master Sword in his left hand, taking a step back. He bit his lower lip.

The lizafos managed to easily hop over the gap of the broken bridge to the triforce platform. Link narrowed his eyes, a scowl appeared on his lips. They stared at the hero, meeping while they approached him. Link counted about five of them and he knew he could easily bring them down. It might be tougher without his shield, but he wasn't about to back down.

Link watched in fascination, as only one attacked him. The others simply watched and danced around them. He thought all of them would come at him at one time, so that he wouldn't have a chance. Once he stabbed the first four with perfectly timed slashes ending their lives, the fifth one picked up his movements and dodged them easily. Link growled angrily before he began to hack and slash away. The lizafos was not expecting the full on charge and Link jabbed his sword into its gut. The lizafos let out a shriek, before it fell over. It vanished in a puff of black smoke, as Link coughed to clear some of the ash that was stuck in his throat.

Link was sweating quite a lot and panting just as much. He kept wiping his forehead to clear his vision from sweat getting into his eyes, but his head throbbed and his right side felt as though it was on fire. He watched the stalfos trying to figure out a way to cross the broken gap to get to Link. "Please hurry, Navi," he whispered. "I am trying to hold on as long as I can." Link placed his hands on his knees, watching five stalfos trying to figure out how to reach him. He coughed more, which caused his head excruciating pain.

Two stalfos managed to clear the gap, while the others fell into the lava. Twisting the sword in his hand, Link launched himself at them. The first one moved to the side and the second one raised it's sword. Link retaliated by raising his Master Sword to protect his head. He couldn't hear the other one because of his ear, but when he kicked his leg out like a horse, it fell over the edge and into the lava.

Link's eyes widen, not realizing how close he was to the edge. He gripped the Master Sword's hilt tighter. It was slick with sweat, and he launched at the stalfos. He pushed himself against the Stalfos, taking a few steps away from the edge. Link mistimed his side step and the stalfos took advantage by slashing its sword over Link's exposed right side, his burned side.

He screamed in pain and fell to his knees. His eyes began watering, making his vision terribly blurry. The burn flared up horribly and the pain exploded over his whole body. His knees trembled beneath him, as his head throbbed. The last thing he remembered was seeing a goron before he blacked out from the pain.

x~X~x

Ganondorf's yellow eyes watched the young teen, who was unconscious and his body twitched every so often. He knew the dark energy in Rinku was doing wonders, but he knew it would take more than that to make the teenager his. He had big plans and Rinku was going to be used whether he liked it or not. Ganondorf stepped out of the prison, he made his way down the dark corridor of the Castle. He stepped into his Throne Room before he looked around.

"Twinrova," he roared. A soft laughter was heard, as a beautiful woman with two brooms in each hand flew into view. One side of her head had flames, while the other side was frozen solid. Her face was a golden brown with golden eyes and a large nose.

"What can I do for you, Ganondorf?" Her voice was very soft, like a young woman. Ganondorf motioned for her to get closer. The witch did as she was asked and Ganondorf stroked his chin.

"Why is it taking longer for the spell you gave me to take affect on my prisoner?" Ganondorf asked her, watching her carefully as she stared at him.

"Magic is often unpredictable," Twinrova explained. "If he is the hero of the future, he possesses the strength, courage, and stubbornness of his predecessors. He has a strong will, but all you need to do is give this to him." She removed a vile from her side and handed it over to Ganondorf.

He took it from her with a bemused expression. He then looked at it before turning to look at her. "What is this exactly?"

A cruel smile crossed over Twinrova's lips. "Well let me simply put it to you this way, dear son. Mommy has made that hero your new play thing with that. Your device will became twice as affective and painful. The little hero will be puddy in your hands. Also it acts like a connection if you will. If his ancestor is hurting, he'll feel it ten times worse. Even if his ancestor is okay, he'll still be in pain." Ganondorf smiled wickedly, nodding softly. Twinrova left his view, as he returned to the prison.

Rinku raised his head, when the door opened. The harsh light made him shut his eyes and he moaned.

"So you woke up while I was gone," Ganondorf was highly amused. Rinku simply glared at him, but the fire in his eyes dimmed slightly. Maybe the magic was working, just taking longer to affect him. He raised the vile and Rinku stared at it.

"What the hell is that?" He whispered, watching Ganondorf approach him.

Ganondorf gently pulled the device from Rinku's head, before he grabbed a fist full of hair. Rinku felt his head get pulled back, as a small cry escaped his lips. "Let's just say, you'll no longer be a thorn in my side." Rinku didn't have time to answer, as Ganondorf bit the top off and poured the strange blue liquid into Rinku's mouth. Then he clamped his hand over Rinku's nose and mouth to ensure he swallowed it fully.

Rinku tried squirming away to spit out the liquid, but Ganondorf kept a firm grip. He felt Ganondorf pulled his hair higher. Rinku couldn't hold back anymore, as the blue liquid felt like it was burning his mouth. He swallowed it and Ganondorf released him. He coughed slightly, trying to ignore his throbbing head. He then let out a sharp cry, as his right side felt like it was burning. He glanced down at his torso and saw that it was blood red. He hissed out of pain, looking up at his arms. The right arm was badly burned. Then his right ear throbbed with enormous pain, as he lost hearing in it.

Rinku began to pant, not able to figure out what was happening. Then the pain doubled ten-fold and Rinku let out a cry. "Aaah! What the hell is happening? What did you do to me!?" Ganondorf appeared amused, the grin on his face widening. "Aaah!" His panting grew heavy, as he felt Ganondorf shove the helmet on his head again harshly. He flicked Rinku's right ear, out of spite, gaining a painful yelp from the hero. "St...stop it..." The pain began so intense that Rinku couldn't remain conscious any longer.

x~X~x

Link could only feel pain, as he gave a moan.

"Brother! Wake up!" The words sounded foreign and far to the young hero, but he managed to crack one eye open. He knew without looking around that he was in Goron City. The intense heat from the Volcano was not felt, which brought small relief to the hero. He still felt tremendous pain in his back, legs, neck, and his arms.

Navi backed away slowly, as she noticed that Link wasn't moving around much. She bit her lower lip, as she looked at Link-goro. "Does Danek know where the potion is?" Link-goro smiled at the fairy, before he nodded. "And he knows what he is doing?"

"He is what you would call a doctor, but brother Link would be the first human he ever worked on," Link-goro whispered. "But he wants to help him, since brother Link helped all the other gorons so far."

Suddenly, a large goron came into Link's vision and gave the hero a smile. "Hello there, brother Link. I'm Danek, one of the goron's you saved. I am going to patch you up." He got down on his enormous knees. "I apologize ahead of time if I end up hurting you." Link only nodded watching Danek. He felt the massive hand on his back. He realized that Danek needed him to sit up and he only nodded.

Slowly the goron lifted Link to a sitting position, as Link-goro came over and helped keep Link up. Link held back a soft cry. They managed to removed the tunic, by ripping it from the hero's burnt body. They wanted to cause him little pain if possible and raising his arms would cause to much pain. His gauntlets were removed, as well as his white shirt. The blisters on his body became more visible. Danek shook his head slowly, as Link-goro looked at the hylian, who was whimpering softly in pain.

"Now this will hurt brother Link," Danek began softly. "But I'll try to be as gentle as I can and I got Link-goro helping too."

Link nodded and watched the two of them get to work. First, the goron washed the wounds and the blood off Link's face with the water in a bucket and a cloth. Link bit his lip to hold back a cry of pain. It was hurting him so much. Next, Danek wrapped the bandages soaked in red potion around Link's naked torso, which the hero jerked back in pain and cried out. Link-goro gently held in in place, so Danek could finish. His neck and arm were also cleaned and wrapped. Soon, everything they were doing was done.

"Thank you," Link mumbled, feeling weak, tired, and in great pain. Link-goro picked up Link gently. The hero and Link-goro made it to Darunia's room and through a door that was under one of the Goron's tapestries that Danek had thrown aside earlier. Here was a dimly lit circular room with a deep hole in the middle of it. The gorons had found blankets and made it soft enough for Link to lay in. There was a pillow that Link laid his head on and he felt tired.

The red potion, the fight, the pain, everything just felt as though it was bombarding Link all at once. He let out a small sigh, before sleep engulfed him completely. Navi watched as the young hero fell into a deep, much needed sleep. She couldn't help, but smile watching him quietly.

x~X~x

Sheik was staring at the lyre in her hand, as she thought about Link. She knew that Zeruda was annoyed that she wasn't going to save Rinku.

"You know staring at your lyre won't do anything," Zeruda commented. Sheik rolled her eyes angrily, before she played her lullaby. Zeruda was shocked, because she knew the tune all too well. "Look, I'm sorry."

Sheik raised a brow. "You're sorry? Hmm...for what exactly?"

Princess Zeruda let out an audible sigh. "For speaking such things I know little about. Tell me though, did you make the same mistake? I mean, it was a big mistake letting a ten-year-old boy become the Hero of Time forcibly, may I add, and then depending on him to save the kingdom. Not to be rude, but he is a child in an adult body. Ever think of that?"

"Shut up!" Sheik screamed, causing Zeruda to jump in fear. "I know that! It was all my fault that this evil and horror had befallen the kingdom. I didn't mean for this to happen to Link! I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Tell me Princess, did you ever make a mistake that led to destruction in your kingdom?"

Zeruda inhaled a sharp breath. She let out a rather shaky, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I have.."

Zeruda watched her tutor walked up to the blackboard. "Did you get it, Princess?" The young Princess nodded. She was currently learning the roles and political issues of the kingdom. She was barely seventeen-years-old, but she was to become the rightful monarch soon. Her parents were killed by King Bublin and his followers.

"Princess!" The door slammed opened, startling the Princess and her tutor. Standing there was one of Zeruda's dear friends, Sir Ian, who was head Captain of the soldiers.

She narrowed her grayish-blue eyes at her friend. "What is it?"

"We are under attack," Ian continued. Zeruda got to her feet, staring at him. "The men are trying to hold them off, but it's difficult to describe. A black evil mist and monsters come out of it!" Zeruda looked at her tutor, who nodded. She ran out of the room with Ian beside her.

"What of Nicholas and Paul?" She asked of his right hand man and one of their strongest soldiers.

"Holding them off on the first floor, your majesty," Ian replied breathless. They made it to the Throne Room, where a dozen soldiers were. She reached behind her Throne and withdrew the blade her father left her. Suddenly shouts and screams were heard and Zeruda flinched. Those were her subjects that were being tortured.

"Ian, I must," She began.

"No, your majesty," Ian retorted. He glanced at her. "We've been friends since childhood, please. I beseech you!" She simply nodded.

The door to the Throne Room was forced opened by a magical force. A strange black mist entered, throwing some soldiers off-guard. Then dozens of monsters came out, attacking the soldiers. Ian's eyes widen, as he stood in front of his friend.

Suddenly, it cleared as man entered. Or it appeared to be a man. He was walking towards Zeruda with a shadow beast on either side of him. The figure wore a monstrous mask which reminded the Princess of a lizard. She watched him continue walking towards her and then stopped just below the steps. Although she could not see his eyes, she knew he was staring at her.

"Hmm...Princess of Hyrule. It is time for you to choose: surrender or die." His voice was smooth like silk, with a hint of evil to it. She narrowed her eyes."Oh yes, a question for all the land and people of Hyrule." She watched as one of her guards was being strangled in front of her. The figure looked at the Shadow Beast before looking at her. "Life? Or death?!"

Ian and the other guard near her gasped in shock. They look at Zeruda who seemed conflicted. She didn't want her kingdom to be taken over or her subjects to die either, so she dropped her sword and surrendered to the Usurper King.

"Really?" Sheik whispered. "So something did happen in your time."

Zeruda let out a soft sigh. "Yes, the land was blanketed in Twilight, but one person took it on head first. That person was Rinku." Sheik closed her eyes, thinking. It seemed that Rinku was a hero and that is why Zeruda trusted him fully. "But it was my choice and I paid for it. "

"Could we...not fight anymore?" Sheik asked in a strange, yet soft tone. "Please?"

"I'd like that,"Zeruda replied. The two had strong opinions, very strong opposite opinions, but that didn't make them enemies at all.

"I trust you," Sheik suddenly said, surprising Zeruda. All she did was smile. Sheik let out a soft sigh, wondering what was going to happen now.

Author's Note: I have gone through comments from previous chapters and I love Mighty Moo's comment, so I'll add some lyrics to it.

"Joy to the world 'Cause Navi's dead.
We barbequed her head.
We tossed her off death mountain
not near a fairy's fountain!
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice!
Let us, let us re-e-joice!"

I'm so nice, ain't I? Lol. xD Tell me what you thought of this chapter, thanks.