Ocarina of Time II: Parallel Symphony

Standard disclaimer: I don't own any of these people, places or things. Heck, even most of the verbs belong to someone else. :-) All characters and settings © Nintendo. Hey, they've earned it.

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Part One: Boy

Chapter Seven: Sixteen -- Spirit and Arbiter

Zelda, Ruto, Malon and Saria looked into the night sky, laying on the grass of Zelda's garden. They were sprawled out evenly, their heads pointed towards one another. From above, they might have looked like the leaves of a clover. A comet shot through the Sign of the Master Sword. Zelda smiled.

"You're not going to tell us that's you're favorite constellation, Zel?" Ruto asked, eye ridge raised.

"Oh, that's Nayru's Heart," Zelda replied without hesitation. The other women giggled. "What?"

"Nayru's Heart is the Lovers' Sign," Malon said. Zelda flushed. "I thought everyone knew that."

Saria cleared her throat. "Well, in traditional Hylian astrology, Nayru's Heart represents compassion, healing and the blessing of its goddess." She raised a hand and traced the lines of the constellation with one finger. "Its romantic elements came...later."

"Father says that astrology is a weak form of divination," Zelda said softly. "He doesn't think much of the idea that the movement of distant suns affects us personally." The Hylian princess folded her hands behind her head. "I understand that, but...the stars have always seemed magical, to me."

"I've always been fond of scrying, myself," Ruto said, kicking her feet absently.

Saria laughed gently. "Well, sure -- that's how you first saw Mikali, right?"

Zelda and Malon laughed as well, while Ruto's fins flattened against her body. "Zoras have a natural talent for scrying in water," she said defensively. "I was good at it back when I was Jabu-Jabu's attendant."

"Uh-huh," Malon drawled, grinning.

"I was!" Ruto said furiously.

"Come on, Ruto," Zelda said soothingly, patting Ruto's hand, "you know Malon's just teasing."

"Yes, the way those cats of yours tease mice," Ruto hissed. Malon swallowed.

"Ruto, that's not nice." Saria looked straight behind her at the Zora princess. "You know Malon doesn't have a mean bone in her body." The Kokiri girl nudged Malon with one small finger.

"Honest, Ruto, I didn't mean anything by it," Malon agreed quickly.

Ruto drummed her fingers against the ground in clear agitation. "Well...all right."

Zelda considered her fellow princess' emotions for a few moments. In for a green, she decided. "What was it like, being the Zora god's attendant?"

The grass beneath Ruto rustled faintly as the Zora shifted in place. Ruto sighed. "It was...Saria could probably explain it better than I can," she said finally. "When I was inside him, cleansing him, transmitting the prayers of my people, letting his mana flow through me...it was a wholeness I can't begin to describe."

"Link made it sound kinda scary," Malon said quietly.

Ruto snorted, though it was not an unkind sound. "Link was only inside Lord Jabu once, when he was infected by those horrible creatures of Ganondorf's," she replied dismissively. "I'm sure it was a horrible experience for him..." Ruto's voice softened. "...between that vile Barinade and a spoiled, half-panicked princess forcing him to carry her."

"You mean he really did carry you around?" Malon blurted.

The Sage of Time felt Ruto close her eyes. "It's not something I'm terribly proud of," the Zora princess whispered. Then she chuckled, peeking out of one eye at the ranch mistress. "Of course, he did use me as a projectile once..."

"He didn't!" Zelda gasped. Saria and Malon laughed hysterically.

"I mentioned that Zoras are immune to electricity," Ruto laughed. "Actually, what I said was more along the lines of questioning his manhood, and that if he couldn't handle a little bio-electric energy, he should let me deal with it." She made a throwing motion with one arm. "So he did!" Zelda gaped at the laughing trio. It's not funny! Zelda thought, scandalized. "It worked, too!" Ruto gasped between laughs. "Kicked the thing right out of the air! Of course, Link was horrified when he realized what he'd done, and came charging to my 'rescue.' I considered finishing it off," she said, laughter fading to chuckles again, "but I wanted to see what he was made of."

"That seems...very unlike Link," Zelda said softly.

"Heh," Ruto replied slyly. "That's when I started getting a crush on him. I figured he respected my skills as a warrior." She sighed happily and gazed into the stars again. "I was right about that part, too, even if he did throw me partly out of exasperation."

Malon shook her head. "How in Farore's name do we always end up talking about him, anyway?"

Zelda, Saria and Ruto looked at their red-headed friend in mild surprise. "He's...Link," Saria replied, waving her hand vaguely in the air. "Hero of Time, saves whole worlds, slays monsters, rescues innocents kidnapped by despots -- let's face it, Malon, he's interesting."

"Well, sure," Malon conceded with a shrug, "but we get to hear this stuff first-hand. The rest of you've seen some of it yourselves. I almost saw it once..." She wriggled her toes intently. "Don't get me wrong, I love him like a brother." She chuckled. "That cute kid brother who's always grinning his way out of scrapes, you know what I mean? I just can't figure why he keeps coming up."

"Let's see..." Zelda shook her head as she ticked off points on her fingers. "Let's start with that he's how we all met. The only things all four of us have in common are him and Ganondorf." The Gerudo King's name came out with a growl. "He shows up every time one of us needs him to bail us out of a jam."

"Don't forget very easy on the eyes," Ruto pointed out with a broad grin.

"You're spoken for!" Malon blurted.

"Spoken for, not blind," Ruto retorted, amused. "We Zoras aren't possessive by nature anyway. I only tried grabbing Link so hard because he was so searing slippery." The Water Sage shrugged, still grinning. "Mikali knows I love him. That doesn't stop him from looking at Zelda," she said pointedly, "or me from looking at her Hero."

Thank you, Impa, Zelda thought emphatically, applying her Sheikah training to keep the heat from growing any further in her face. Mikali? Gods be good. "Well," she said almost calmly, "it isn't as if you're the only one, Ruto. Brother or no brother, I can't imagine you haven't noticed, Malon."

"Honestly!" Malon flung her arms out and back, landing on either side of the Sage of Time. "Sure, he's cute, but let's be honest, he's kinda..."

Sheikah training fell apart. Zelda's eyes narrowed in spite of herself. "'Kinda' what?" she said, rolling over partway and glancing coolly at the redhead.

"Aw, come on, Zel," Malon groaned, "some of us like 'em a little more...I dunno...manly."

"Manly." Zelda knew her voice was edging towards sounding dangerous, but something inside her didn't care. Farore! As if I want the competition! she thought in frustration. I did not just think that, she amended in private embarrassment. Still, the part that didn't care was taking control of her voice. "You mean being brutish and possessive rather than selfless and caring."

"Now that really wasn't fair, Zelda," Ruto said, smile growing, even as Malon pulled back, chagrined. The Zora winked. "You don't want me to bring the Water Temple into this, do you?"

Zelda turned bright red even before Saria and Malon were sitting fully upright, looking between the two princesses as if watching a badminton game. "Oh, you can't stop there," Malon insisted excitedly. "Link actually made a move on our Zel?"

"It's...complicated," Zelda whispered, throwing a furious look at her 'royal cousin.' "Very complicated. Frankly, Ruto, I'm surprised you brought that whole incident up."

Ruto's fins all but vanished into her scales. She flopped back down into the grass, eyes firmly fixed on the heavens. "Just pointing out that occasionally, even the invincible Princess Zelda likes a little...initiative...from a man."

"Invincible." Zelda exhaled and fell back into the garden's embrace as well. "Hah. And a beard and bravado are hardly the same thing as initiative."

Saria chuckled while Malon was still working her jaw, trying to make words form, or maybe just figure out what happened. "Well, you seem invincible to us," the Forest Sage said agreeably. "Sage of Time, Crown Princess of Hyrule, archmage at fifteen, top archer in the court, best chess player in the court, mistress of the Sheikah arts..."

"Mistress of -- tell Impa that, she could use a good laugh," Zelda replied with acerbic humor. "I was barely passable when Bongo Bongo pounded me flat...gods, I still can't say that name with a straight face..." they all giggled at that. "...but between my being on the Council and Ganondorf's forces becoming increasingly active, I haven't had nearly as much time as I'd like to maintain my training." Zelda sighed sadly. "Impa tries, gods bless her, but she's slowed down since last year, and even the Sage of Time has only so many hours in a day."

"Okay, so now you blast 'em instead of kicking their heads off," Malon replied matter-of-factly. "You're only mostly invisible, and fast as thunder instead of lightning. Plus, all that other stuff Saria said." She chuckled. "Heck, even that one dance you do looks a little like you're about to knock someone over."

Zelda gasped and sat back up. "Which dance?" she asked intently. Saria and Ruto looked at each other in confusion, and Malon rubbed her big toes together self-consciously.

"That one with all the twirls, where your leg comes up in a kind of a hook?" Malon stood and tried to perform the spin, nearly falling over. All four ladies laughed, Malon hardest of all. "That looks almost as hard as training to fight!"

The Sage of Time looked her three friends over, weighing them carefully in her mind. Sear it, she decided. Impa can only kill me once. "Malon, that dance is a Sheikah training exercise." The three other women boggled openly. "I suppose it can't hurt anything, and perhaps it will mean something of the tribe surviving us. Impa told me about times when the Sheikah have had to serve openly in the court. Some monarchs feared their power, and many nobles were terrified of the Shadow Tribe, so they tried to watch them at all times. They had to devise ways of training the young without arousing suspicion. One of them was the Nocturne Dance." Zelda stood, weaving through the steps as if born to them. Her friends watched, mesmerized. "It's the one form of physical training Impa let me practice before I was twelve."

The trio watched silently until Zelda completed the dance with a complex curtsy that left her arms crossed over her abdomen -- a technique useful for trying to stab someone behind her. Then they applauded enthusiastically. "Wow!" Malon gushed. Then she giggled. "We even managed to stop talking about Link!"

They all laughed at that.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Hy-AH!" Link shouted, kicking into the air. Impa parried easily with her forearm, but the Hero bounced off the parry and backflipped away before she could grab him. He threw a Deku Nut down, trying to slide past space itself, but the technique didn't come. Link had more than half-expected that, though, so he slid through space normally, sidestepping Impa's spin-kick riposte and bringing his hand around to chop at the back of her neck. That, Impa caught, but as she whirled to throw him, he moved with her throw, cooperating to give himself momentum. Even Impa couldn't hold on to him as he whipsawed around the Sheikah, and he flew all the way to the wall, hitting it with his feet, then flipped forward to land on the ground. He went into the First Forward Stance.

"Enough," Impa said wearily, waving him down. Link's arms drooped, and he leaned against the wall, breathing slowly and steadily. "I appreciate your help in my recovery, but you weary these old bones, Hero."

"My help?" Link chuckled. "I've learned more in the past year than any other two combined, and for me, that's saying something. Oh, and if this is what you're like 'old and tired,' Sage of Shadow," Link replied, still swallowing air hungrily, "I never want to fight you in your prime."

Impa made a sound that Link would have almost believed was a chuckle from anyone else. "Young wolf, you are strong and fast, worthy of your reputation. Were we the same age, I would have fallen to you quickly, skilled as I was even then. A century ago, however, you would just now be awakening, wondering what had befallen you."

"You know, I still don't understand why you can't just hand Ganondorf his head and be done with it," Link said, sinking to the ground while he shook his head.

"For the same reason I could not do the same to you in a real battle, Link," Impa sighed, mimicking him from the opposite side of the sparring mat. "In unarmed combat or with knives, I am your equal even as I am. With your sword and shield, that arsenal you carry everywhere, and your magical skills, I doubt I could have bested you in honest battle at fifty."

"So don't fight him in honest battle." Link drew his finger across his neck. "I'm not a big fan of assassination, sensei, but I've seen what Ganondorf's rule looks like. Farore, so have you."

Impa shook her head. "The Gerudo have long since learned to guard themselves against the Shadow Tribe, and Ganondorf is the mightiest of their sorcerers. If I thought I had a genuine chance, I would make the attempt and die gladly if I took the King of Evil with me, but his power waxes while mine wanes." She looked at Link evenly. "I am surprised to hear you sound so practical, Hero."

Link grimaced. Here we go again, he thought sadly. "Impa, I don't think 'pure of heart' means innocence, necessarily. Purity of purpose may be enough. I hope so." He looked down. Part of me does, anyway. "I have no problem with slitting Ganondorf's throat."

"Don't you?" Impa asked gently. "Could you do it? If I trained you for the next year to slay him in his sleep, and the Master Sword accepted you all the same, could you really murder the King of Evil in his bed?"

"Y--" Link began. The word choked in his throat. He gritted his teeth. "Yyy..." I don't believe this. He threw up his hands. "Farore! What's the difference?!"

Impa smiled fondly. "Honor. You are steeped in it, whatever you may think of yourself after so many years of hardship."

"You tell him, Impa!" Navi squeaked from under Link's hat.

"Quiet, you," Link shot back irritably. #We're not having this conversation again.#

#Why should we? Impa's doing a fine job all by herself,# Navi replied innocently.

Link made an incoherent sound of utter frustration. Soon after, he wilted, hands falling limp on the mat. "You have no idea how much I wish that were true, sensei. I..." he brought his hands back up, staring at them in disgust. "I have so much blood on my hands, and I can't even see wrong in it. I look back at what I've done, and only regret the missed thrust, the poorly timed spell. The people I couldn't save."

"Good!" Impa said emphatically, and Link looked up in shock. "You are no soldier, dealing in butchery for your bread -- and I say that having served as a soldier many times myself. You are a Hero, young wolf, and every time you have killed a sentient being -- a far smaller number than you give yourself credit for -- it was because there was no other way to protect others from the poor choices of the ones you brought low."

"What, and I have the right to decide that because I'm 'Chosen by the Gods?' Farore, most people who talk like that are locked away for everyone's good!" Link shook his head again, this time in disbelief.

"No, you have the right to do as you do because you act when you must and think when you can." Impa leaned forward, crimson eyes irresistibly drawing azure to them. "You do not regret because you never kill without need, never judge without cause. Link, there is nothing wrong with you. Yes, I tell you chil--you young heroes and Sages to think, but the time comes where thinking and weighing and considering must give way to doing. You do what you must when you must, no more, no less. That is what makes you a Hero, and I believe with all my heart that Farore chose you because of who you are, not the other way around."

Link looked at Impa, body trembling, emotions a tornado. Impa thinks -- Impa thinks --

#Sure, what does Navi know?# the fairy 'pathed tiredly. #She's just a part of your mind and soul, watched you go through Mandrag's own torment and back, and believes in you with all her heart anyway. No -- I believe in you because of who you still are after Mandrag's own torment and back.#

#Navi...# Tears gleamed in the Hero's eyes. #I didn't mean...I never...#

#I know,# she replied tenderly. A few moments later, the fairy chuckled ruefully. #I was being unfair, I guess. After Zelda, Saria, Darunia, Zelda, Ruto, Dotour, Zelda, Marth, Nabooru, Zelda, Ruul, Ambi, Malon, and did I mention Zelda...# Link rolled his eyes. #Looks like it took Little Miss Sheikah to hit the mark, that's all.#

"For the love of Nayru..." He summoned the Ocarina of Time into his hand and let his fingers run across it. #Can we at least leave Labrynna out of it for now, please? It's too soon. Time travel...hurts.# Navi nodded and sat cross-legged in her nest in his hair. "My life is still one battle after another, Impa," he whispered.

Impa nodded. "Ah." She rubbed the side of her nose with one finger, apparently absently, as she regarded him. "And what are we speaking of now, Hero?" Link rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting everywhere but on the Sheikah. "There is truth in what you say," she continued, and Navi muttered mutinously, "but all times of trouble end. When that day comes, you will know what to do."

There was a knock at the door.

"Hero of Timing," Link quipped shyly, rubbing the back of his neck again and standing. "I've got it, sensei." Impa nodded and waved him on.

Nabooru was waiting for him when he opened the door, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I've got it!" she said excitedly.

"As long as it is not contagious," Impa quipped dryly, "come in." Link sighed and stepped aside, and Nabooru darted into the room.

"And Link complains about my sense of humor," she said, mock-pouting.

Link leaned away from the Spirit Sage, eyeing her dubiously. "Gerudo jokes draw blood, Nabooru. Sometimes literally."

"Pah!" Nabooru waved in the air dismissively. "All this time, we have been waiting for the Evil King to make his move, but this time, we can steal a march on him!" She smiled ferociously and summoned a map to her hand with a gesture, unrolling it with a snap of her wrist. Link whistled.

It was a highly detailed floor plan of what looked like it had once been the Spirit Temple. Some chambers had moved, others were gone, and many were completely new. "This..." Link whispered.

"I got a second agent into Ganondorf's camp," Nabooru whispered excitedly. "It nearly cost the first her life, but she escaped, and we learned of his next move." Her joy faded quickly. "He marches on Altea."

Link paled. "Marth. No." He turned to leave.

"Peace, Hero," Nabooru said quickly, placing her hand on his arm. "I have already warned him." The vicious grin returned. "However, this means the Spirit Temple is virtually unguarded." She snorted, her long Gerudo nose quivering faintly. "They call it the 'Arbiter's Grounds' now, blaspheming jackals, but they'll pay for their disrespect toward holy Din!"

"So that is her..." Link said quietly. No. Fight now, explore later. "Nabooru, you said 'virtually' unguarded."

Impa nodded. "What has the foul one left behind?"

"Traps," Nabooru said dismissively. "Animals that walk like men. His usual contingent of vile half-dead monstrosities." Her eyes narrowed, and the predatory gleam in her eyes redoubled. "And the traitorous twins, the heart of all Gerudo corruption -- Koume and Kotake!" She grasped Link's shoulder hard. "Hero, gather a small band of those you trust. I shall bring my finest warriors. Together, we will finally destroy those sow-kissing Mandrag worshipers!"

Link's lips pressed together into a worried slash. "I don't like it, Nabooru. It's too easy." He glanced up. #Navi? What do you think?#

#Oh, now my opinion counts -- Farore, Link, I didn't mean it!# she cut in quickly, the hurt shooting through Link like a flame. #Just give me a second.# Link calmed down, but Navi frowned all the same. #It sure sounds like something Ganondorf and his so-called 'mothers' would come up with...but can we afford to pass up the chance anyway?#

#I'm afraid that's what they're counting on.# Link clenched and unclenched his hands. "I don't suppose we can get away with not telling Zelda about this."

"If you think we can hide it from her for long enough," Impa said evenly, "I'm willing to risk her wrath as well, but you know Zelda."

Nabooru scowled in outrage, crossing her arms. "That is unworthy, Hero. Twinrova owes Zelda a debt of blood as much as she does you. Besides, I passed her and her friends on the way down. She already knows I'm here."

"Din, Nayru and Farore," Link sighed. "In for a green, in for a red, I guess." He frowned. "How long do we have?"

"A few days march out, however long it takes Ganondorf to realize Altea isn't going to fall, a few days back." Nabooru thumped Link on the shoulder, the outrage already past. "Time enough for that devious mind of yours to work its wizardry."

Link frowned. Devious mind. I wish. I've out-thought Ganondorf's puzzles, but only his arrogance let me beat him last time. A sudden thought hit him like lightning, though, and his smile mirrored Nabooru's. Zelda.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Sheik gazed up placidly at what had once been the Spirit Temple. Outwardly, she was as impassive as any Sheikah, her placid expression perhaps even the equal of he whose name the Temple now bore. Din, Nayru and Farore, she swore mentally. How dare they?

Link's hand was still on her shoulder, a stable center to her ever-changing world. Impa, her other touchstone, stood by her side with an expression similar to her own. Sheik's sensei glanced at her casually, but Sheik knew the older Sheikah was making sure she was all right. Light and Time, am I? Zelda wondered.

Farore. Her birth-self was slipping into her alter-ego. I'll hear about that from Impa tomorrow. Sheik's eyes narrowed at the sprawling titan of the Arbiter's Grounds. If we live through this, that is. She glanced behind her. Hiding a grin, Sheik faced forward again, watching the three Gerudos through her mind's Eye.

Nabooru had come, of course, citing "her plan" at length, though by Gerudo standards she was no more than an above-average warrior. That made her the equal of most Hylian knights, but given what they were facing, only her stubborn implacability -- and her unparalleled skills as a sneak, lockpick and general conqueror of traps -- had ensured her presence. Sheik was comforted by her all the same.

The two allies she'd brought were as impressive in their own ways as the Spirit Sage herself. Telma, Nabooru's ad-hoc bodyguard, was large and powerful, though attractive all the same, and moved with a deceptive slowness when her twin scimitars were not in her hands. With them, on the other hand, she was a living whirlwind to rival the Hero himself, with a raw power he could not match without magic. Ilia was slender and graceful, hardly looking Gerudo at all with her strawberry-blonde hair, and wielded blades that were more saber than scimitar. She was deadly with them all the same -- she was Gerudo, after all -- but Nabooru hadn't chosen her for her swordplay. Ilia knew both Din's Fire and Nayru's Love, was one of the rare few to master the dreaded Ice Arrows, and wielded a mixed bag of less legendary wizard's tricks. Each was the best among Nabooru's faithful in their chosen fields.

It was an alliance that would have made entire brigades tremble on the battlefield, but Sheik still found her blood running cold, even in the oppressive desert heat. The Spirit Temple had been sacrosanct even during Ganondorf's reign in Link's original stream. Link did more damage to it than anyone, Sheik thought with grim amusement. The Hero withdrew his hand quietly and strode forward. "The Spirit Temple had all manner of insane traps and puzzles," he said evenly, "so we have to be careful and examine every room carefully."

"Of course," Nabooru said with a grin. "Thank you, Hero. We Gerudo would never have known our own Temple so well without you." Telma and Ilia both laughed.

Link didn't laugh. "This isn't the Spirit Temple we knew, Nabooru." The Gerudos stopped laughing. "Even if you were forced to explore every corner the way I was, we have to assume the worst -- that nothing we remember is right, and everything from the great statue to the simple floor beneath us could be a trap."

"You have such pleasant thoughts, Hero," Ilia said sardonically. Her smile matched her tone.

Sheik shook her head. Link merely looked over his shoulder, affording the young Gerudo a brief, cool glance. "If you want to live through this day, you'll assume Ganondorf makes me look like an optimist." He turned and drew his sword and shield. The sunlight made the strange violet blade seem to glow. "Let's go."

Ilia's smile vanished. "Chief Nabooru, is he serious?"

The Spirit Sage nodded grimly. "When he's like this, you follow his lead, Gerudo," she said firmly. Exit, Nabooru the laughing thief, Sheik thought, watching the trio carefully, enter, the Chief of the free Gerudo.

Telma, on the other hand, did laugh, clapping an impressive hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't you fret, honey," the older Gerudo said cheerfully. "We'll bring back Ganondorf's eyes as souvenirs."

Even Link smiled at that, though it was a faint, ghostly thing. Zelda's heart fell. FARORE! Sheik snarled at herself, then focused firmly. The First Mind Kata pulsed through her thoughts, her will. Zelda does not exist, she thought firmly. I am Sheik. I am the Shadow, the invisible hand of justice, the blade by night for those who hide evil by day. I am Sheikah, the guardian in the dark, the shield of the dark. She paced forward placidly, relieved that at least her body revealed nothing of her turmoil. It was a stroll through the Spirit Temple, nothing more. To those who live honestly, we are salvation. To those who threaten the innocent, we are doom. I am Sheik. The mantra began to hum calmly, receding in her mind. It was Truth, now. She was Sheik.

#Good,# Impa 'pathed evenly. #Now, the mission.#

Sheik nodded, chagrin pulsing through the psychic field. Link's head flickered slightly towards her, his ears quivering faintly like antennae. "Sheik? You all right?" he asked quietly.

Sheik nodded. "Of course. Lead on, Hero." Link nodded and opened the door.

The Evil Realm itself seemed to boil out at them.

Link didn't even bother swearing. He seemed to have almost expected this. Immediately, he thrust his blade into the nearest foe, a Lizalfos warrior, who fell backwards clutching a hole of black flame. More enemies surged forward, but he was ready for that as well, and Sheik darted aside to allow him to use his legendary Spin Attack. That sent foes flying in every direction, some of them no longer whole. Dark Fire burned their remains all across the platform in front of the entrance.

"Din!" Telma spat, her scimitars already flashing. Sheik and Impa had already leaped into the air, the younger Sheikah hanging by her chain and throwing blades with her free hand, Impa having found a ledge to hook her legs over and loose death with both fists.

Ilia drew her bow, the arrow's head shimmering with frost, but for a moment she stared in awed amazement at the Hero. Link tore through more monsters with each passing second. A bomb flew into a pack of them, bursting a flock of keese like balloons. A Stalfos chuckled when Link's sword hit its shield, its humor vanishing when the Hero blocked its own blade. Quickly, Link summoned the Hammer and crushed it with one massive blow. "Beware the Stalfos," he called out calmly, slaying a Wolfos as he spoke. "Destroy them completely or they may reform."

"Now that's not polite," Telma laughed, slashing a Lizalfos nearly in half as she moved towards the Hero. Ilia fired her Ice Arrow into the fray, worsening the bottleneck for Ganondorf's welcoming committee. Nabooru appeared at last, laughing more than Telma as she slashed at the attackers from behind. Somehow, she was already inside the room, and several monsters fell before they realized the Gerudo Chief had single-handedly opened a second front.

#Farore,# Impa thought loudly enough for Sheik to hear, then vanished. Sheik fought a grin as the sounds of battle inside the room literally redoubled. "Reckless girl," the last true Sheikah growled faintly.

"Come on, tell me you're not enjoying this -- HNN!" Nabooru gasped.

Link, who had switched back to the Great Fairy's Sword, gritted his teeth and again switched weapons to the Megaton Hammer. "Farore," he hissed, no longer concerning himself with defense. "Clear! DIN'S FIRE!" The moment Impa had helped Nabooru retreat, he cast the spell with the inhuman speed granted him as the Hero of Time. He charged in, crushing another Stalfos, which left room for Telma to follow. The battle lasted only a few scant seconds after that.

"Din, Nayru and Farore," Ilia swore, once again staring in wonder at Link. "Who are you?"

"I told you, girl," Nabooru laughed, "he's the Hero of Time! OW! Impa!"

Impa tightened the bandage harder. "Next time, I wrap you in these and have Link send you back," she said tonelessly.

"Maybe another time," Nabooru quipped, winking bawdily at the Hero. Link, predictably, blushed.

"You've got good taste, Chief," Telma replied, amusement clear in every line of her face.

"None of this," Impa hissed, and Sheik's Mind Kata reverberated in shock at the sight of her mentor so visibly emotional, "is remotely amusing. We are just over the threshold, and we already have wounded. Unless Link's miraculous ability to reap weapons and power from the remains of his foes can replenish us all, we're down arrows, needles and mana as well." As if summoned by her remarks, Link handed Ilia a sheaf of arrows and a small green bottle. He drank a second he'd found. They all looked at each other; the Hero had helped considerably, but Impa's point still held.

"Impa, honey," Telma said, smile waning yet not vanishing, "I know you're trying to help, but in spite of what you're hearing we are taking this seriously." She shrugged, grin broadening again. "Well, as seriously as we ever take anything. 'Life's too important to take seriously.'"

Impa looked at Nabooru dryly enough to dehydrate her even in the desert wastes. "Another of your sayings?"

Nabooru merely pointed at the ceiling. Impa looked up, her eyes flickering across the text. #Farore,# Sheik heard her think, but outwardly the Shadow Sage's only reaction was to blink.

That brought Sheik back to her surroundings, only half-surprised to see Link standing before one of the two great slabs inscribed with the messages meant for him personally. "'Pure heart of a child,'" he whispered, caressing the engraved letters almost sadly. "No more sailing with the Master Sword for us, huh, Navi?"

"Good riddance," Navi replied emphatically. "I just can't understand why they're still there."

"To taunt us," Link said, his voice surprisingly even. "Let's keep moving. This isn't going to get any better for a while."

"What about the Silver Gauntlets?" Nabooru asked darkly.

Link frowned in thought. "The Arbiter has to be at least partly responsible for redesigning the Temple," he said after a few moments. "Given his priorities, I doubt he made it impossible to reach them."

"How close to impossible he made it is another matter," Impa muttered direly.

Nabooru chuckled. "Pah. Between the six of us, if it is possible, we will reach them." She started to stride forward when Impa caught her shoulder.

"Link takes point," Impa said firmly.

"Aww," Nabooru replied with a mock whine. Her glance at the Hero, however, was entirely serious. "I know I don't have to tell you this, Link, but I'll say it anyway -- be careful. You're the one he wants dead the most."

Link nodded and headed into the Grounds, the five women following. He hasn't even noticed, Sheik realized, not quite letting the smile form. Most men probably would have said something by now, especially after Impa had him take the lead. They went through a door and down a long, relatively empty corridor to another door. Link threw it open.

Sand was pouring down from the ceiling. Broken tiles littered the floor. Giant insects of several varieties crawled over sand and tiles alike. "Interesting decor," Sheik deadpanned.

Link merely drew his Hookshot and disposed of every bug in range in short order. Then he grappled onto a nearby grate and shot across part of the room. Sheik uncoiled her chain, looked at it, then slipped it back into her fairy space unused. Longshot, she thought sourly.

Stalfos rose from the sand. "Of course," Nabooru drawled, and they immediately tore into the skeletal warriors. They put an end to the battle quickly, Link finishing off intact remains with the Hammer, but Telma had taken a light slash across the belly and Sheik was favoring her right foot. Farore, she sighed mentally.

They continued on, avoiding whirlpools of sand in the next room, then came to a large chamber with four strange, reaper-like ghosts above pillars. Each pillar had a different-colored flame over it. The ghosts took one look at them and fled in separate directions, taking the flames with them. "Not again," Link groaned, the others giving him looks of varying levels of surprise. Sheik merely grimaced in sympathy. She and Link activated their Eyes in unison. "Green trail?" he asked.

Sheik nodded. The strange Poe-like monsters were considerably more vicious than their normal, bulbous counterparts, and tracking them down was a chore, but in the end were no more of a match for the group than any of the other monstrosities they'd yet fought.

"If this is the best Ganondorf has," Telma said with a grin, "I'm not likely to regret telling him where to put his scimitars." Nabooru rubbed her eyes wearily.

"You didn't," Ilia replied, dubious. Telma just smiled.

"There were few traps in this," Link noted quickly. "Watch yourselves." They returned to the chamber with the four re-lit flames and moved through the now-unlocked door.

A long corridor awaited them on the other side, unremarkable except that it sloped slightly upward. Warily, Link padded forward, the others following closely. He, Impa and Sheik used their Eyes constantly, and Nabooru checked practically every other stone. All the same, when they were halfway down the corridor, bars fell across both doorways and a huge stone ball landed in front of them. It began to roll in their direction, slowly at first, then with greater speed as it descended towards the heroes.

Link turned and ran, waving for the others to do the same. "Where are we running to?!" Ilia demanded, though she obeyed immediately.

Link's response was to look up. He smiled sourly. "Always a way out. Impa! Sheik! Pick a Gerudo and chain-shot up there!" He pointed at what looked briefly to Sheik like solid rock, but her Eye quickly revealed a hidden shaft with Hook points. With a faint grimace, she leaped forward, grabbed Ilia, and let her chain fly. Impa snatched up Nabooru, and Link hauled Telma over his shoulder with ease. The six flew up over the corridor, the Gerudos gaping. Even Nabooru winced as they seemed to fly straight at solid rock, but to their credit, none of the Gerudos flinched significantly.

Sheik glared at the smooth rock sphere as it crashed into the door below them. Link's ear twitched, and he perked up like a cat hearing a bottle being opened. "We're good. It's over."

"How can you tell?" Nabooru breathed.

Link let go of his ledge, taking the brunt of his and Telma's landing, then gently placed the big Gerudo warrior on the ground. "I can...hear this...sound, I guess, this chime, when there's no more elements to a trap or riddle. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, it's never wrong."

The quasi-Sheikah regarded the Hero with as much calm as she could affect while helping Ilia to the floor. Impa and Nabooru, of course, were back on their feet. Every time I think I know him... Sheik thought fondly. "A sound," she said.

"Sort of a chime," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. He grinned, and Sheik examined the boulder carefully. "I think it's Farore's way of telling me I'm done, so I'll stop playing with the architecture." They moved on at that, no one able to say much in response.

The next group of rooms had a variety of gears and pulleys. Link examined the floor, brushing aside a pile of sand to reveal small round holes in the floor. Navi flew out of his hat, and the pair looked at each other. "We're going to have to turn these in some kind of pattern," he said grimly, looking up. "Those grooves in the ceiling -- look out for blades from above," he continued, then pointed at the holes, "and spikes from the floor."

Nabooru looked almost excited at the prospect, immediately darting to one of the gears and examining it with devilish delight. "Should be able to jam these good," the Spirit Sage said with relish. "Turn the whole thing into a mess of pulleys and mana engines...if we're lucky, something will even break hard enough to shut the whole thing down."

"And Malon says I'm scary," Link quipped.

"You are," Nabooru shot back with a broad smile.

"I take it," Impa said calmly, "you are certain that no lifts, doors or rotating sections of stone are connected to this system." Nabooru threw the Shadow Sage a deeply offended look, saying nothing, then returned to her examination with an air of complete disinterest in Impa's opinion.

Telma and Ilia took one look at each other and walked to the barred and chained far door, the spot farthest from Nabooru without stepping into the eternally descending sands. Ilia leaned against the wall next to it, while Telma slowly paced as much as the small space near the exit allowed. Link joined Nabooru at her task, though in a separate section of the room. Sheik and Impa kept watch, moving fluidly through the area.

"This is going to take a while, isn't it?" Telma asked. Link and Nabooru nodded in unison. The big Gerudo warrior sighed and sat on a broken column near the door.

Link's head shot up and whirled to look at Telma. "Stop!" he shouted...a fraction of a second too late. Telma leaped back up, but the column sank into the floor, followed by sliding and grinding sounds in the walls. A few seconds passed, but nothing happened.

Then a spinning blade shot down from one of the ceiling grooves, its arc implying a disc as wide as a small room itself. It spun towards Link, but the Hero ducked and held his shield over his head. Bladed disk met Hylian Shield, and though the impact threw Link back, the defense held. The blade retracted back into the ceiling. Telma's eyes seemed as wide as the disc. "You okay, honey?" she asked, her voice a touch shaken.

Link nodded, smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. Then he returned to his examination. Sheik began checking the floor stones more closely. "Impa, these indented stones, the ones with the diamonds engraved in them..." she said.

"Yes, I have been avoiding them too," Impa replied. "They likely activate more mechanisms."

Nabooru turned and looked at the two Sheikah, then almost ran over to the nearest floor stone in question. "Let me see that." She brushed the sand off the stone with deliberate care, then peered at it. "Everyone find a spot that doesn't put holes under you or grooves over you," she ordered. Link obeyed with alacrity, the others following his example in short order. "Now, what do you do, my little friend..." Nabooru grinned, took her dagger, and drew a line that bisected the diamond. This cleaned out a groove that delineated two equilateral triangles.

Sheik frowned. "That cannot be a symbol of the Triforce."

"Light and Shadow," Impa replied.

Link immediately looked around the room excitedly. "Nabooru, which one is pointing toward the exit?" he asked, moving towards one of several rays of sunlight streaming in through the cracks.

"What do you mean, which one -- oh, wait, this one has the sun disk in it!" she said, brushing off the triangle directed at the exit.

Link grinned, then his face grew placid and his eyes closed halfway. The bloody Eye formed on his brow. "Aha," he chuckled, then switched to the Mirror Shield and redirected the beam to shine directly above the door. A smiling, animated sun-face appeared, and the chains retracted. He lowered the shield, but the 'sun' remained. "Now for the bars."

"What are you supposed to do at night?" Ilia asked.

"Point a beam of moonlight at the crescent above the entrance," Link said, pointing at an apparently blank spot above the doorway they'd come through, "or wait until morning. Remember, the Sun's Song is your friend."

"If you happen to wield Time itself," Nabooru noted dryly. "Fortunately, these gears are impressive, but require nothing more than ingenuity. Clear, Hero?" Link took one step to his right and nodded. Nabooru took what looked like a small gear with a handle on the end out of her pouch and stuck it in one of the gaps in the wall mechanisms. Its teeth grew until it fit, and then it turned, sending the entire wall into motion. Finally, it clicked, and there was...a chime, very much like what Link had described. The bars retracted.

Sheik looked around. "Did anyone else hear that?" she asked. Link raised his hand, but pulled it back with a slight display of timidity when the other four women looked at each other in confusion. "Never mind. We should move on. Hero?"

Link nodded and moved forward, the Sages and Gerudo warriors following again.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

#Navi, what've we got?# Link asked.

#Din statue, dead ahead,# Navi reported. #Big hands with chests in 'em. Exploding statues, I think.# The fairy projected a frown. #More Stalfos, though, I think. Four piles of bones, two under each hand, with a sword and shield in them.#

#Lovely.# Link looked the door over with his Eye, then checked it for small markings. It seemed entirely normal. At least we're getting some actual Spirit Temple here. He frowned in sync with his fairy companion. I wish that were more comforting than it is. "Everyone watch yourselves. We may have more Stalfos to deal with." He opened the door and strode warily in, his companions following and spreading out carefully.

Once they had all entered, the door closed behind them, and all the doors in the room grew bars. The skeletons came to life, only four to the heroes' six, but instead of just swords and shields, armor flew from Din's hands to cover them, and they moved with a deadly grace the Iron Knuckles had lacked. One wore a helm with a tall crest, and its sword flared out with a curving blade at the end. "Light and Time. Those are new."

"Darknuts," Impa said coldly. "Rare and powerful. I'd hoped my tribe had destroyed the knowledge to create them." The six spread out, Ilia standing back and preparing a spell of some sort. "Alas, it appears we did not."

"Or you did, and the Arbiter restored it," Link replied furiously. "On the off chance I live through all of this, I'm--"

"Don't say such things," Sheik said with a quaver he'd never heard in the quasi-Sheikah's voice before. She dodged a swifter blow than Link had ever seen an Iron Knuckle throw, and her needles flew into every joint as well as through the helm's grating. Whatever brought that on, Link thought with mixed emotions, at least it's not hurting her moves any. Unfortunately, the traditional Sheikah weaponry seemed unable to hurt these undead juggernauts.

Navi loyally darted into place over one of the creature's heads, and Link leaped at it, slashing expertly. The armor shook, straps snapping, but it held, and the inhuman knight riposted. The Hero just barely brought up his shield in time. Oboy. He didn't have to think hard to wonder what four of these would have done to him by himself. Time to try some of those moves Impa and Nabooru have been teaching me. He dodged sideways as it swung again, rolling around behind it, then leaping up with a cry and a spin. As relatively fast as the 'Darknut' was, it was still plodding compared to the Hero of Time. Straps gave way all across its back, and the chest plate fell around its legs. Link grinned mischievously and kicked it in the back.

With a cry of fury that echoed with a metallic ring, the Darknut fell over. Link stabbed at it with incredible speed over and over, and its armor fell apart. He then backflipped and sent a Bombchu darting into the creature. Armor and bones flew in every direction. Link's smile became triumphant, and he turned to survey the battle. His smile vanished.

Ilia was backflipping away from one foe, Sheik barely slowing it with her chain. Telma was doing well against her opponent, laughing jubilantly, her scimitars spinning like the disc blades they'd just faced. Impa and Nabooru kept their distance from the leader, each hitting it with a superficial blow when it threatened to close with the other. That won't hold it for long. As badly as Link wanted to help Ilia and Sheik, they didn't seem to be in any immediate danger. The Hero charged with a wordless roar at the crested knight.

It turned and saluted him, much to Link's surprise, then charged as well. Impa leaped to Sheik's side and Nabooru joined Telma, leaving the Hero to contend with the powerful monster. Link's smile returned, a feral, hungry thing. Navi appeared over the knight's head, and the familiar sense of divination came to him. #Darknut Captain -- strip his armor, outmaneuver his swordplay, then smash him to bits!# Link's expression reversed again, becoming a deep scowl. Farore. I have to beat him three times? Had he been alone after all, he knew which of the foes he would have saved for last.

He wasn't alone, however, and as long as he kept this titan busy, his allies could no doubt deal with the remaining knights without much trouble. Link slid towards the Darknut carefully. It slashed at him, Link spun behind it, and the duel began.

Repeatedly, they traded blows, Link's speed and his foe's resilience an almost even match. The Hero was wearing down the undead knight's armor, but it was tireless and after so many battles and trials in a short time, Link was not. He couldn't do this forever, and one last piece of the armor's puzzle was eluding him. It barely hung together, but something held it in place.

Nayru. He concentrated, summoning the Eye, but no weakness revealed itself. He threw a bomb, but the Darknut blocked it with his shield. Fire, Ice and Light all proved ineffective as well. A Deku Nut stunned it briefly, surprising the Hero, but that simply gave him the chance to stab at the thing's body some more. It returned the blow in kind, and Link grunted when the powerful slash knocked him back. What's left...

The helmet? Link wondered. Maybe it's time to try another new trick. He wasn't well practiced at this, but it was all he had left. He leaped shield-first into the thing, staggering it, then did a tumbling leap over its head and slashed at the helmet as he went past. "SEI-YAH!" he roared, and the helmet went flying. The armor fell apart like a house of cards, but the knight's response was to fling sword and shield alike at the Hero and draw a more slender blade. He still wore a helmet, a slim bucket-like cylinder, and light chain mail.

Even so, Link's frown vanished, replaced with only intense determination. The rest, he felt certain he could handle. They danced around each other, the Darknut nearly as fast as he this time, but Link was ready for it. He had a shield; his foe did not. That made the second part of the fight simple, if not easy. While he took two more blows, Link quickly dispatched this swifter form.

From the chainmail, a Stalfos arose, bones sheathed in Dark Fire. It gazed at him like the depths of the Evil Realm itself. "You shall not prevail, Hero of Time," it echoed with a voice that seemed to hollow out Spirit itself. Nabooru flinched. "Mandrag shall yet consume you and take your princess."

That was its last mistake. With a roar of absolute fury, Link switched sword for Hammer and charged at the monster. It stabbed at him, but the Hero simply ignored the blow and slammed the legendary Goron weapon into his enemy's body with a starkly absurd speed. It survived two blows, but the third reduced it to powder. Its Dark Fire flickered weakly. "I will destroy you, Hero of Time..." the flame hissed hatefully, then vanished.

Link didn't waste time with a fallen foe, merely summoning his sword and examining the battlefield. Telma and Nabooru were struggling to finish off another knight in chainmail, but only because it kept fleeing them. Impa, Sheik and Ilia, oddly, were having more trouble. They, too, had reduced their opponent to the lighter, faster form, but it appeared from the glowing hot plates that only Ilia's spells had any effect, and the two Sheikah had to keep moving the wizard around to protect her. That was clearly making spellcraft difficult. Once more, the Hero smiled viciously. I can fix that. He slammed straight into the creature's back. It had missed his arrival, distracted by a Deku Nut from Impa at the perfect moment, and did no more than thrash as he drove the Great Fairy's Sword from the base of its spine all the way into its bucket-like helm.

This one did not turn into a Stalfos, mercifully, merely vanishing as most of Ganondorf's summoned monsters did. The Hero turned to finish the last one, but Telma beat him to it, finally driving both scimitars into her foe. She winked at him as it vanished. "Can't let you get them all, honey," she said with a laugh. "My reputation would be ruined!"

The room echoed with the familiar mana resonance of a trial being completed, and the bars opened. A shaft of sunlight shot into the center of the room. Link rubbed his hair in confusion. "That's new," he muttered.

"How odd," Ilia whispered, walking towards the light. "It feels...the light is almost mana itself..." she strode towards the ray more quickly with each step. Nabooru frowned at both the light and Ilia.

Link suddenly had an awful feeling. "Ilia! STOP!" He darted towards her, but she was running by the time he realized the danger. She's mesmerized! Din SEAR Kotake anyway! He'd almost reached her when she entered the heart of the light, reaching up at it with an open hand.

The floor vanished from beneath her. "Farore," Link breathed, making one last desperate leap toward the Gerudo. Yes! he exulted as he grasped her hand. No! he quailed as he realized he was going to go over with her. Ilia gasped, but gripped his hand tightly. Link did the only thing he could think to do -- he summoned the Hookshot and took aim at the wooden chest on the floor. He fired, already going under, but miraculously he hit his mark, and the chain jerked them both to a halt. They briefly dangled over a vortex of sand the size of a small city, and then the Hookshot pulled them to solid ground.

Nabooru had been only half a step behind him, Link realized as he and Ilia skidded to a stop. The Spirit Sage spent another second whirling around trying to figure out how to grab them, then realized they were safe and exhaled in outrage. "Of all the insane -- Hero, I thank the gods you saved her, but what in Nayru's name were we supposed to do if you'd fallen as well?"

Ilia looked mortified, but Link met the Gerudo Chief's gaze firmly. "I don't believe in 'expendable.' You know that, Spirit Sage."

"Farore!" Nabooru swore explosively.

Impa placed a hand on Nabooru's shoulder. Link was amazed at how gentle the gesture looked. "Nabooru, that is what he is. That is who he is. He cannot stop helping people any more than he can stop breathing, and continue to live." The Sheikah made an odd clicking sound with her tongue. "I sometimes wish it were otherwise myself, but if it were, he would not be...Link."

The Hero suddenly felt deeply self-conscious. Telma was grinning from ear to ear, Sheik was giving him an absolutely unreadable look, and Ilia...Ilia was still holding his hand. She, too, was smiling, though hers reminded him of a cat hunting a hummingbird -- the challenge was only an incentive. "So. Hero. Just how taken are you?" she asked slyly.

"Farore," Link breathed nervously. Telma and Nabooru both laughed uproariously. Gerudo humor! he thought in sudden outrage, skittishness burning away in the thought's heat. Din sear them! He released Ilia's hand quickly and stood. "Now that we've all had a good laugh," he said more hotly than he'd intended, "I suspect we have a lot more of the Arbiter's Grounds to get through."

Ilia glanced coolly at Telma and her Chief, then stood and bowed slightly to the Hero. Her smile returned when she was done. "I was quite serious, Lord Hero."

Wh-Lord WHAT?! Light and Time! He cleared his throat. "I live and die at Zelda's command," he replied, his voice far less forceful than he would have wished, but honesty echoed in his voice. He thought. He hoped. He looked up at the sunbeam with determination. "Okay. We need to get up there, about even with the face -- that's halfway between floors, as you can probably see. There's a platform at the top we can lower, or at least there used to be. There also used to be a series of mirrors..." he gazed for several moments longer at the ray of light, mind whirling, ignoring the older Gerudos' further amusement. Wait a minute. He thought of Zelda first, but 'Sheik' lacked the talent he wanted here. He turned back to Ilia, who wiped away the mild look of disappointment with ease. "Ilia, how's your mind over matter ability?"

She blinked at him, then smiled immediately. "I can lift over three hundred pounds -- slowly, but my stamina is superior." Sheik played with needle-blades in one hand. It looked like a nervous tic, but Sheikah didn't have nervous tics. Do they? What do I really know about the Sheikah? Link wondered. Sheik and Impa shared an indecipherable glance.

Oh, for the love of Nayru. My curiosity can wait. He nodded, then stepped up to the edge of the light. "You know what to do," he said, bringing the Mirror Shield to bear.

She did. Ilia lifted her arms into the air, and Link floated up, moving slowly into the beam. Angling the Mirror Shield carefully, he aimed it at the goddess' forehead. Sorry about this, Din, he thought sadly. I really hate to do this, but it can't be helped.

#We understand, Hero of Time.# It was a woman's voice, not unlike that of Din-the-Oracle from Holodrum, but echoing with a power that made his whole body tremble. Could that have...?

Forcing the thought from his mind, sparing only a prayer of thanks for their understanding if he had heard right, he waited as he held his reflected beam steady. The entire Temple shuddered.

Finally, Din's head turned into a gently swirling mass of sand and floated aside. The chests in each hand opened of their own accord, Link staring down in surprise at the sound of the familiar mana chime. One held the Silver Gauntlets; the other, the Mirror Shield. Impossible! Did he know -- how could he have -- grrr! If I live through this, I'm going to kill that guy!

#You know better than that,# Navi sighed, #but I definitely understand what you mean.# They watched the two artifacts levitate into the air. Time energy spiraled around each, and they vanished into the other stream's future. One year left.

Ilia finally shoved him into the opening, then released the Hero. She stopped to take a long breath. "Okay, who's next?"

Sheik snorted and vanished, reappearing at Link's side. Impa shook her head and joined them. The true Sheikah held out her hand. Sheik unhesitatingly handed the Shadow Sage her chain. Impa attached the two through some trick she hadn't taught Link, then draped it down. "You three can climb up this way," she said. "Link, a hand?" she whispered.

Link nodded, gripped the chain, and put on the Iron Boots. "Watch my back."

"Always," Sheik replied, a hint of humor in her voice. Link didn't blush again, but it was a near thing. A sudden chill went down Link's spine, remembering how Koume and Kotake kidnapped Nabooru last time, but all three Gerudos made it up the chain without incident.

They went down the corridor, Link again taking the lead. He opened the door on the other end. Why am I not surprised? he thought grimly. A huge circular chamber confronted them, a rim of a path surrounding a titanic sand pit. This one, at least, was not swirling into oblivion. Instead, it held only the skull of some huge animal, and at that its top half was all they could see. All the same, it looked familiar to the Hero. Where... He looked up. #Navi?# The fairy shook her head, though she stared at the remains as if trying to bore a hole in it with her eyes.

There were twin swirls of power above them, and Koume and Kotake appeared -- or at least, Link had to assume they were Koume and Kotake, because even though they rode the same brooms, one trailing fire and the other shimmering with ice, each looked like a smaller version of Twinrova! They each wore only the one hat and had but a single color of hair, Koume's the flaming red of the Gerudo and Kotake's a shimmering silver-blue, but other than that each looked tall and formidable. Someone who didn't know them, Link observed in disgust, might call them beautiful.

"Heh heh heh, look at this, Kotake, it's a grand party we receive!" Koume laughed, but for all that it had the same essence, her voice was too sweet to truly cackle.

Kotake giggled. Link felt ill. She sounded almost like a lovesick teenager at first. Then she spoke. "Indeed, Koume, but all they'll do is grieve!" Her voice was even more extraordinary than Koume's, but it echoed with a cruelty that, even after all his travels, made Link's blood run cold.

As one, they shouted a "ki-AI!" and drew down a ball of raw mana half the size of the room from far above. It flew into the skull and infused it. The entire skeleton rose from the sands, and finally, Link recognized it. He swallowed. King Dodongo. Again. And something tells me he won't be swallowing any bombs, he thought, looking at the open rib cage hanging from his spine, or sinking into lava. The undead giant roared, and the entire chamber shook.

"Din help us!" Nabooru cried, bringing her swords to bear all the same. Something echoed in the chamber, a reverberation that reminded Link of Ruto and the Hall of Illusion.

"Spirit Sage!" Link shouted over the thing's roars. "I think Din might just hear you!" He threw bombs under its feet as it pounded towards them with depressing speed, but the explosions barely made it shudder as it approached the cluster of heroes.

"Scatter!" Nabooru ordered firmly, and they did. Whatever you may think of your swordsmanship, Nabooru, Link thought with gratitude, you make one fine leader. The Spirit Sage scanned the walls, clearly reading the inscriptions in the stone, while occasionally feeling the cracks with her fingers.

Impa and Sheik had darted in separate directions, throwing knives into its many bone joints and distracting it with flashes of light. Telma ran towards Sheik, who was heading towards the Hero. Ilia followed Impa, both of them watching the Spirit Sage's back. Thank Din, he thought, then looked at the sand in annoyance. Here we go. He summoned the Hover Boots. Ilia's magic would surely come in handy, but Link suspected they'd need his arsenal to defeat the thing. He ran across the sands, hoping Lenzo's improvements held, and charged at the huge monster.

"Link," Sheik whispered. She followed him onto the sand, her impossibly light steps keeping her from sinking in this relatively calm pit. The Hero gritted his teeth and concentrated. Navi appeared above its head, and Link learned that it had a weak spot...somewhere. Not much, but better than nothing. He threw a bomb at its back from underneath, then tossed a Deku Nut into the inside of its head. The bomb made the whole body shudder, but the Deku Nut seemed to drive it completely mad for a few seconds. It stomped in place wildly, and Link had to perform several acrobatic dodges to avoid being flattened. Sheik evaded with ease.

The Hover Boots gave out, and his feet sank into the sand. Great. He rolled across the sand, leaped into the air, and summoned the Hover Boots again. That, at least, worked, and he ran back towards their foe, looking at it intently. Weak spot...weak spot... his eyes flew across the body of what Navi had dubbed 'Stallord.' Link's eyes finally locked onto a vertebra that looked weak and cracked. #Navi, did my bomb weaken that point?#

Navi whirled around the creature, then sprang into place above the damaged bone. #Yes!# she sent happily. Then her tone saddened. #Not much, though. You're going to need to hit it straight on!#

Link grimaced and nocked an Ice Arrow. Letting Navi provide focus, he fired. The ice magic cracked the bone further, but only a bit. "Farore." Ilia threw a burst of flame at the same spot, following his lead. That looked like it might have damaged the thing a bit, but didn't seem promising. Okay. Some of these things have to be hit certain ways. The thought of trying to hit that one bone with direct bomb throws made Link grimace, even considering Navi. Hm. I've been practicing my magic, and I've seen Doc Bandam perform alchemy. I wonder... The Hero summoned a bomb and an arrow at the exact same time, infusing the mixture with mana.

What he got was a hissing bomb preparing to explode with a stick jutting out from one side. The fletching was sizzling faintly as well. "Link, stop messing around!" Navi blurted in fear.

"Whoa!" Link grabbed the bizarre device by the shaft and threw it at Stallord, which did no good as a weapon, but at least kept the bomb from going off literally in his face. "Light and Time." He pressed his lips together, expression flattening in frustration. #I've only got one idea left, Navi. You're not going to like it. Spot me on that weak bone.# Navi nodded and obeyed.

Link summoned his Hookshot. Navi, unsurprisingly, was as unhappy as he'd suspected, sending several images of him being mangled between Stallord's teeth. Maybe, but if I'm right...got you! He felt that little spot grow in the back of his mind the moment he aimed at the base of the monster's neck, right behind the skull plate. He let fly, and quickly landed on the thing's back. Hover Boots are finally working right, at least, the Hero thought in relief when he didn't slide right off its back. Running down the spine desperately, barely avoiding being thrown off by its stomping, he reached the vulnerable vertebra and pulled the Megaton Hammer. #You're not serious!# Navi blurted in horror.

#If you have a better idea,# Link replied grimly, gritting his teeth, #I'm listening.# He brought the Hammer down on the bone. Again. Again. It cracked repeatedly and deeply, much to Link's satisfaction.

Stallord screamed, sounding like a huge ReDead (without the paralyzing effects, thank Din), and bucked hard. Link went flying, but tucked and rolled to land without real damage. He turned to look the battle over. Stallord's thrashing had cracked his spine worse than even Link's blows, but the others were having virtually no effect. Sheik looked like a blue line traced across the far wall, but while her speed kept her safe, it didn't seem to help her offense.

Then Nabooru stopped at one spot on the wall and grinned with vicious triumph. She said something Link didn't understand, her voice echoing much as Ruto's had two years ago, and Stallord froze. Strangely enough, it was glowing bright orange. "Now, Link!" the Spirit Sage shouted.

Again, Link used the Hookshot, but this time, with the creature paralyzed, he was able to target the very vertebra he was trying to destroy and fly over to it. The Hero hammered the bone until his arms grew sore. When he paused to breathe he saw the orange glow fading, but the cracks had become wide and deep. This time, he simply placed a bomb on its spine and leaped away.

The glow vanished just as the bomb went off, and the thing cracked in two like a spent Deku Stick. Its back half fell apart, and the front, dragged down by its trailing spine, sank into the sand, clawing mindlessly in an effort to reach the heroes until all that remained, once again, was the top of its skull. At last, the room was still once more.

"Would anyone care to remind me," Sheik said, a crackle of annoyance in her voice, "what we are doing here, aside from adding to the Hero's worries?"

"I cannot imagine you would wish the Hero to fight four of those Shadow knights alone," Impa pointed out evenly. Sheik looked away.

Link sat down heavily and took long, grateful gulps of air. "What she said." He watched the monster's remains carefully. Nothing happened. "Uh-oh."

"What?" Telma asked cheerfully, jogging up to the Hero. "We just won."

Link shook his head. "No life energy. No gateway. No Medallion. No Arbiter. We're not done."

Instantly, the entire floor dropped away. Link barely had time to scream before they all fell into blackness.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Nabooru groaned, realized she was awake, and mentally examined herself. Huh. No broken bones. No internal bleeding. Nothing dislocated or torn. Some bruising, but Din's done enough for us as it is. Warily, she opened her eyes.

The Spirit Sage was in a huge circular room lit with a dozen evenly-spaced torches. She rolled up into a careful crouch, concealing herself in the flickering shadows. There was an empty arsenal rack on the far end, but the only other prominent features were three altars, one with an engraving of the Master Sword, one with the Phoenix of Hyrule painted in the center, and one with the symbol of the Spirit Medallion carved into each corner. Nabooru shivered in spite of the heat. Sacrificial altars.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are..." Kotake called in that sickeningly sweet voice. She sounds like a bad parody of Zelda, Nabooru thought derisively.

"Great Mandrag, Kotake, just leave so I can bathe the place in flame," Koume said bluntly. Nabooru perked up slightly in surprise. Farore. She actually sounded a little like a Gerudo.

"Now now, dear sister, we mustn't be rash," Kotake replied with glee. "We want some of them alive. The Shadow Sage is a particularly piquant bonus." Nabooru winced and looked down at her hands. She'd made fists so tight that she'd drawn blood. Impa, she thought desperately, then forced herself to remain calm. If there's one person on Hyrule who can protect herself, it's the Sage of Shadow.

Koume grimaced. "Bonus? Are you mad? If she learns what we've done..." the redheaded witch floated higher into the air, riding her broom like a sandboard, standing on it to get a better vantage over the area. "Sear their bones! I cannot see a single one of them!"

"Three Gerudos, two Sheikahs, and the Hero?" Kotake said dismissively. "If Impa hasn't trained that infuriating male brat in the art of stealth, then I'm Volvagia." The mistress of ice gestured into the air, and three shimmering discs of her element formed, floating above the room.

A hand clamped firmly over Nabooru's mouth. Shoving down a brief bout of panic, Nabooru touched the hand and felt the plating on it. Impa, she confirmed, exhaling silently through her nose. Din, Nayru and Farore, woman, are you trying to shorten my life span?!

Impa leaned forward. #Stop whining, Little Sister.# She released Nabooru. #Do you know what they're talking about?#

The Spirit Sage glanced over at her colleague. #Which part...oh.# Sadness filled Nabooru. What the Gerudo have endured is terrible, but compared to the Sheikah... She skulked forward expertly, Impa easily keeping pace. #I fear not, Shadow Sage,# she replied formally. #I do know they used...your son...for some ritual purpose, but I honestly don't know if even Ganondorf could tell you what it was.#

#I suspected as much,# Impa replied evenly. You can't fool me, Elder Sister, Nabooru thought, not after all these years. The Shadow Sage's expression and mind were both as unyielding as steel, but the grief in Impa's eyes told another story. #In the end, I suppose it does not matter. What's done is done. There are some things even Heroes and Sages of Time cannot erase.#

Nabooru knew better than to comment, so she just nodded. #What now?#

#We evade the ice mirrors, find the Hero, and kill Twinrova,# Impa said simply. The pair moved in unison, avoiding the reflected light from above.

Nabooru permitted herself a small grin. Kotake must be slipping if... The grin vanished. #Impa, it cannot be that easy--#

As one, the Sages screamed. Pain shot through Nabooru's entire body. Her arms and legs shot out as she flew up, hips and shoulders howling in agonized protest while she was pressed back to back against Impa. They made a bizarre X in the air. Kotake floated over, stopping in front of the Spirit Sage and taking Nabooru's chin gently in her hand. "Oh yes, now this is much better. My counterpart's memories seemed too good to be true, but having you here, like this..." Her exquisite maiden's face grew a terrible smile, one promising endless torment. "Oh yes, my sweet little morsel, I am truly going to enjoy this." Her hand darted to Nabooru's throat, and the Spirit Sage felt frost form on her skin. Kotake squeezed with precise, irresistible force, leaving the Gerudo Chief just barely able to breathe. Each icy gulp was just that tiny edge more painful than the last, razors seeming to grow along the inside of her throat.

"Leave...her alone...you monster," Impa gasped.

#Impa, no!# Nabooru 'pathed. A wall that seemed the size of the moon fell between their minds, Kotake's leering face carved on it in profile. She tried to swear at her captor, but even Gerudo resolve would not force her body to indulge in the agony that would result.

"Oh, I haven't forgotten you, little Sheikah," Kotake snarled, all pretense of gentility gone. Air churned as she shot in front of the Shadow Sage. "You have interfered in our business for the last time, sow. I would have thought losing your people and your precious son would be enough, but apparently you are simply a glutton for punishment."

"Do your worst," Impa shot back. "You cannot possibly hurt me more than you already have."

The smile on the profile in Nabooru's mind grew more sadistic, if that was at all possible. Even Koume, watching from below with her arms crossed, seemed faintly disturbed by the proceedings. "Impa, Impa, Impa. I thought you knew me better than that." The Spirit Sage felt Kotake lean towards her fellow captive. "Or perhaps you thought I didn't know you so well? Hero!"

"Do nothing this witch says -- GNM!" Nabooru felt as much as heard Impa's mouth slam shut, the ripple of mind over matter echoing to her Sage-born senses. Somehow, the last Sheikah managed to struggle in their invisible bonds.

"Hero, I know you're down there," Kotake continued, floating to the center of the room. Nabooru could see her once more, and the sorceress' look was pure calculation. Whatever misgivings Koume might have had were gone; she cackled -- a truly odd sound coming from her now-rich voice -- and flew up to her sister's side. "You will surrender, or you will watch as we shatter the mind of the traitor Nabooru. Then I shall teach the Shadow Sage that even she can still feel physical pain, pain beyond her vaunted Sheikah's ability to endure." She looked across the room. "Incidentally, only your status as Hero prevents me from finding you. Rest assured that I can find your remaining friends as easily as I did these two. Perhaps I shall shatter the sow's apprentice while she watches, unable even to scream, before I break her body." Kotake licked her lips hungrily. "A fine appetizer, don't you think?"

"You'll set them free first," Link shouted back. Nabooru heard him roll even as the witches looked in the direction of the sound. Koume swore voluminously and vehemently.

"Why should I?" Kotake laughed. Then she gasped as a Light Arrow flew through the end of her sleeve. Again the Hero moved.

"That, and I'm the one of us who's word can be trusted," Link replied fiercely. Please, no, Nabooru thought desperately, Din, Nayru and Farore, Link, don't do it!

Kotake glanced in the direction of the sound, eyes narrow. "Hmf." Then she placed her hand over her chest. "I swear, on the Strength of Din, the Knowledge of Nayru, and the Courage of Farore, if you surrender now, I will release these two Sages, unharmed, on the morrow." A peal of resonance rippled across the mana. Koume looked at her sister in amazement. Nabooru didn't blame her. Farore. Even Kotake wouldn't dare violate that oath, would she?

There was brief silence. "You'll release them somewhere safe, in the kingdom of Hyrule, and not attempt to...retrieve them...for at least three days. You'll also let the others go, with the same conditions."

Kotake snorted. "We will defend ourselves," she insisted curtly. "Otherwise, I so swear, on the Oath." Again, mana rippled. Link stood.

"In that case, I surrender." The Hero threw down his sword and shield, dropping the fairy pouch by its side. Nabooru's heart broke.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Link, what are you doing?! Sheik thought wildly, watching the Hero stride forward. I love them too, but if they have the Hero, we're lost! The shadow warrior licked her lips, thinking desperately. Freeing Nabooru and Impa was impossible in her current form, and Zelda didn't dare confront Kotake. Sheik can, but not alone.

"Excellent!" Kotake floated down, her icy powers forming in her upheld hand. "Take off your shirt." Link raised an eyebrow at her, then obeyed, removing his hat as well. Mercifully, there was no sign of Navi. "Good boy," she said, looking him over. A flicker of admiration passed across her face. Sheik gritted her teeth almost painfully. Then Kotake released her power on him, freezing him up to his neck. Link grunted, then hissed in pain, but did not scream. "Oh, very nice. Hold out as long as you can, please. I want to enjoy this."

"Yes," Koume chimed in, "we've seen what you did to us last time." That strange indecision the fire mistress seemed to have had was gone, and she stared at the Hero balefully. "You'll find us more of a challenge without the accursed Master Sword!" Koume gestured savagely, and Link's entire arsenal appeared in the alcove Sheik had spotted earlier. Her heart sank. Nayru help me. I was right. Every device and wonder had a hook or shelf that it fitted perfectly. The Ocarina, in particular, materialized in a solid glass oval that protruded into its holes.

Link stared back impassively, saying nothing. Koume glared at him more fiercely, but Kotake looked up at Nabooru and smiled more sweetly than ever. The ice mage gestured, and Impa swung around beside Nabooru to face the dark vista below them. Tears formed in the Shadow Sage's eyes. Her entire body shuddered with effort. "Tell me, Sheikah," Kotake whispered, "will this be like losing a son again?" Impa thrashed outright at that.

"This is my job, Sages," Link replied through chattering teeth. "When you get out of here, find hh -- HNNG!" His retort stopped when Kotake formed a gag out of ice, the sorceress forcing his head back until it almost touched the block he was frozen in, then attached the bit to the rest of his prison.

"That's enough out of you for now," Kotake said lightly. She stroked his forehead, and the Hero could only tremble in outrage. "One last touch, I think, then I'll let you consider your plight for a time." Her fingers brushed down to just above his eyes. Tears formed in them, Sheik sensing evil sorcery at that moment. The tears froze around the edges of his eyelids, not quite touching the eyes themselves but locking them open. "You'll be forced to cry more as the air brushes against your eyes," Kotake explained, her tone lecturing, "and those tears will slowly freeze as well." She leaned up to him, noses almost touching. "Fear not, however, that this will blind you forever. A sightless warrior will do Great Ganondorf no good..." her smile vanished, and her sickly sweet voice became as cold as her soul. "...and we mean you to be his right hand, Hero of Time!" They both laughed at that, riding their brooms up and circling like vultures.

Sheik had spent the entire time listening to that nightmare trying to come up with a rescue that didn't end with a dead Sage or shattered Hero. Triforce of Wisdom, ha, she thought dismally. How in Nayru's name did any version of me ever end up with--

#Hey!# Navi 'pathed.

Sheik's heart leaped back into her chest. #Navi! Thank the gods! How is he?# Sheik felt Navi slide carefully up her back and under her head wrappings. She tried not to think about what it must have been like for the tiny glowing fairy to slide along the walls and floor of this place to go unnoticed.

#Please don't ask,# Navi said, shivering, #but he's managing. What are we going to do?#

#Telma and Ilia are stuck in one of the corridors leading from this room,# Sheik replied tersely. #They 'found' one of the secret exits. I was going to lead the Hero to them so we could mount a rescue. That plan is, as you might imagine, obsolete.#

Navi pulsed, the mana from Link's companion resonating with and soothing her own. Gods be good. Is this how Link feels all the time? she guessed. No wonder he's so protective of her. Sheik's mind settled somewhat, but no ideas came to her even then. Suddenly, Navi's thoughts flowed into her mind once more. #What about Zelda?#

#Zelda!# Sheik avoided snorting audibly, but the effect echoed through their connection. #She's no match for them!#

#Maybe,# Navi 'pathed, showing more confidence in the princess' powers than Sheik had, #but surely she could handle one of them! Zelda's one of the most powerful wizards in the world!#

#Link's very kind,# Sheik thought back, smiling indulgently, #but I doubt...# Her eyes flickered back to the pair, smile fading into thoughtful stare. Their magics are elemental. Each is vulnerable to the other's element. Maybe...just maybe... #Navi, I'm going to bring you to the corridor where the Gerudo are. Tell them to be ready for Koume. Ilia has Ice Arrows, she'll know what to do. Can you help them?#

#Not as well as I can with Link, but you bet!# Navi replied excitedly.

Sheik nodded. #Good. I'm going to distract Koume. I doubt they've bothered looking for me yet.# Her smile returned with a semblance of hope and confidence to it. #Telma and Ilia don't need to beat her, just keep her busy for a little while. If our plan works, that's all we'll need. If not...# Sheik's blood ran cold at that thought. For the first time, she hoped that Link didn't return Zelda's feelings for him. #...it won't matter anyway.#

#Don't worry about us!# Navi 'pathed while Sheik slid to the secret door she sought. #We'll be fine. Just be careful with Kotake!# Cupping her hand over her head, Sheik brought Navi to a crack in the wall, air trickling from the corridor. Navi flew in and away.

Alone, now, Sheik thought, trying to calm herself. All or nothing. Time to prove I've been worth it to the Hero, having to drag me around all this time. She concentrated.

A burst of shadow and smoke exploded next to Koume, and Sheik's foot struck her jaw. Hard. "You'll not find the Sheikah so soft-hearted, witch," she said coldly, hating herself for it when Link shuddered. Another explosion, and the figure was gone.

"What -- ow -- HOW DARE YOU?!" Koume roared. She flew towards the identical cloud which appeared in front of the secret door. There, the twins saw Sheik, back pressed against the wall, manipulate one stone with her hand. The door opened, and Koume glared at the figure tumbling away from her.

"Oh, go on, Koume," Kotake scoffed. "This fool of a Hero isn't going anywhere, and maybe the Sheikah's pathetic apprentice will enjoy his suffering as well." Link snarled into his icy gag while Koume laughed triumphantly. The fire witch shot through the door, which closed with finality behind her. "Did you think you were friends, perhaps?" Kotake asked mildly, leaning on the ice in an almost friendly manner and regarding Link with a parody of sympathy. "Even I would not wish such a delusion on a Hylian. Trust me. Sheikah have no friends but their own foul kind. All others are tools to be used and discarded when they're used up."

"You'd know such ways well, wouldn't you, fiend?!" Zelda roared, appearing in a burst of emerald light almost on top of the sorceress. "DIN'S FIRE!"

Kotake's eyes bulged, flying backwards and parrying the jet of flames with her beam of ice. "ZELDA?" she screamed. "Impossible!" When the witch stopped the flames a yard away from her body, she exhaled in relief, then glared at the princess in frustration. "Sheik. You're Sheik. Mandrag's Maw. How did we not know..." Link sighed with guilt, almost whimpering.

"You'll not live," Zelda snarled, "to reveal my secret." Concentrating, she poured all her power into the fires, trying desperately to press past Kotake's defense.

Kotake's fear was fading rapidly. "Your little Sheikah illusion won't fool my sister for long," she chuckled, "and those two idiots will delay her even less."

"Long enough," Zelda spat back, shaking in fury. "You'll pay for all you've done to those I love!"

"Love?" Kotake laughed outright at that. "A greater and grander illusion than anything Sheikah magic can conjure." She snorted. "Unless, of course, the whole thing is a Sheikah deception in the first place." Kotake let herself drop to the ground, the fall of a single inch, and took a step back. "Your 'Hero' is your brainwashed slave, chained to your will by the gods. Everyone else is either out for themselves or deluded." The sorceress leered at Zelda then. "And if you don't incinerate the boy yourself, all I will do to him is transfer his leash from you to Ganondorf."

"I could almost feel sorry for you," Zelda hissed, concentration flowing into every mote of fire, "but you've done too much in your hate and greed."

"As if that matters!" Kotake pushed her hands forward, and the beam of ice pressed forward into Zelda's flame jet. "Even imprisoning those two Sages with my mind, I am your superior! You will fall, and I will break you piece by piece until the Hero begs me to let him serve the Great Ganondorf!"

"Not likely," Link snarled. Kotake's triumphant expression vanished instantly, replaced by a look of terror. Zelda exulted as he rolled into the arsenal.

"H-How -- that's not -- how can he even move?" Kotake whimpered. "After the agony I put him through..." She trailed into silence, perhaps realizing that it might not be best to describe her tortures in detail to the Princess of Destiny.

"He's the Hero," Zelda replied sweetly. "As for the rest, you were only advancing against me because the burst of our clashing powers hid my arcs of heat boring into his prison."

"He'll not help you!" the witch wailed, throwing more of her power into their odd duel. "Even if he can move, he's far too weak to gather up his toys in time! As for the rest, I still have Nabooru and Impa!"

"So you do," Zelda said, her voice low and near-feral. Her mind flickered. Kotake gasped, then her head snapped back as if struck. The Sages' bodies relaxed and floated quickly to the ground. "Now. If what my Hero tells me is correct, the proper phrase at this point is 'yield or die.' What say you?"

"You -- you'd let me live?" Kotake gasped.

"That would be for a court to decide." Zelda focused her flames and pressed them forward. Kotake retreated again. I...I really am more powerful than her. I'm going to win! She advanced herself. "Well?"

"We -- we have..." Kotake began.

Suddenly, an explosion of flame rocked the room, and Koume emerged from the passage. "Get away from my sister, Hylian!" the fire witch roared. Kotake exhaled, shaking in what had to be relief, as the crimson twin flew at Zelda. Uh-oh. Options raced through Zelda's mind. The situation suddenly looked far grimmer. Telma and Ilia were clearly no longer relevant to the battle, and none of the others could possibly be in any shape to help. She braced herself to endure Koume's fire, hoping against hope that she could maintain an ice shield while continuing her assault on Kotake.

There was an streak of forest green, and suddenly Link was there, standing on an altar between Koume and Zelda. Navi appeared over the witch's head as a bright yellow ball. He held up the Mirror Shield, and while Koume's own flames could hardly harm her, she was briefly blinded by the reflected attack. The Hero added a Deku Nut to the counterattack, then fired Ice Arrows at her with amazing disregard for his mana reserves. "I'll hold her, Zel! Get Kotake!"

My Hero, she thought with a grin. "So, Kotake, about that surrender?" Impa appeared at the princess' side in a swirl of shadow, even the great Sheikah warrior trembling after her ordeal but holding her nodachi ready before her.

Kotake vanished in a swirl of green and white light. A burst of flame hit her before the spell was complete, and she howled in pain, but then she was gone. Koume gaped in disbelief. "Kotake?" the fire mage whispered.

Zelda whirled on the remaining Twinrova sorceress and released a blast of cold and shadow. Koume shuddered, her fires hardly slowing it, then fell to earth in front of Link. She landed with a bone-cracking thud and wheezed painfully. Link pointed his sword at the sorceress, eyes as cold as his prison had been. Nabooru strode to behind Koume's head, hands on her sword hilts. "Please, try something," the Spirit Sage said harshly.

"You have her?" Link asked, Navi buzzing over Koume's head like an angry hornet. Impa stalked over to Nabooru's side, fingering her blade.

"Yes. Go," Zelda said, immediately realizing what Link intended. He proved her right instantly, running to the shattered section of wall Koume had come from. Navi flew back to his side. Zelda stared coldly at their prisoner. "Do I have any reason to let you live?"

Koume glared back, eyes blazing. "No." She began to glow a brilliant crimson.

"Farore!" Nabooru swore, a hint of admiration in her voice. "She's going to Final Strike!"

Zelda's eyes widened. "Scatter!" Throwing as much ice as she could at their erstwhile captive, she literally flew back and away. Impa sank into a shadow, trying to grab Nabooru, but the Spirit Sage had already bolted, fleeing to the far altar and ducking. "Nayru's Love!"

The explosion rocked the chamber, and Zelda felt like her entire body had been battered, but the protective magic quickly banished the pain as illusory; she was, of course, unharmed. The comforting crystal blue field shimmered around her. "Nabooru?" she called. "Nabooru!"

"Din, girl, why are you whispering?" Nabooru shouted, standing and rubbing her ears. "Farore, I didn't think she had it in her. At least she died like a Gerudo."

"Small comfort," Link snarled, carrying Ilia into the room. Telma staggered after him, wavering until Nabooru helped her sit on the sole intact altar. Zelda gasped. The older Gerudo looked like she'd walked through a bonfire. Most of her clothes were gone, and she had no hair left. Still, the burns looked a lot less serious than they had any right to. She'd clearly recover.

Ilia was another story. She was groaning in agony, both arms limp, and her left leg ended halfway down her thigh, cauterized. Nayru have mercy, Zelda thought with horror. Link laid Ilia gently on the altar next to Telma. No healing magic will help that. If we don't do something about the shock, though... Ilia was strong. She was fighting. Zelda didn't know, however, if it was enough. "Link, tell me you still have a potion left."

"I had two. I gave them each one already." He looked at Zelda with such helpless grief that she felt her heart breaking worse than before. "Zelda, I don't know what to do..."

Resolve filled her all at once. "I do." She strode over to Ilia, placing her hand gently on the young heroine's forehead. "She shouldn't be dying, but the shock is severe." The Sage of Time looked up at Nabooru. "Are Gerudo more vulnerable to this sort of injury?"

"Not physically," Nabooru said angrily, "but some -- too many -- of my people think that being crippled is worse than death." She darted to Ilia, gripping her shoulders with fierce worry. "You hear me, you idiot girl?! You think you can't ride a horse or fire a shot or cast a spell like this? Live, sear you!"

Poor choice of words, Zelda thought, but said nothing. She'd feared as much. I'll have to go deep for this one. Mana flowed from her into the Gerudo, stabilizing her life energy. Something rippled in grief within Ilia. It all but asked Zelda to let her die. Zelda frowned faintly. Only one response to that. She let the mana ripple out from her, encompassing the others. Zelda could feel their desperation, their determination to help Ilia, their fear for her. That meant Ilia did too.

#Din,# Ilia swore in the depths of her mind.

"Gods be good," Link breathed. Ilia breathed too, her body's shudders fading and heartbeat steadying. "You did it."

Zelda smiled at him winningly. "Did you doubt me?"

Link took her hand in his. It was pale and cold, but it still sent a shock through the princess. "Never," he whispered.

An orange glow appeared next to the arsenal alcove. The Spirit Medallion appeared and vanished above them, all but unnoticed by everyone except Nabooru and Zelda. Even the Sage of Time only afforded the wonder a brief thought, praying that it helped her cross-world 'sister.' Meanwhile, Link released her hand and snarled; the Arbiter appeared from the glow as he always did. "You have done well. The last Medallion is yours," the enigmatic figure said.

"Then why hasn't the Light Medallion appeared around the Temple?" Link demanded. "What did beating Koume have to do with any of this? Din take you, we've paid in blood this time! Who are you?!"

"There is far more blood yet to be paid, Hero of Time," the Arbiter replied. It was the weather again, or the latest legal debate. His voice was as empty as the wastes. "The Grounds are no longer in Ganondorf's control, nor will he claim it again unless he triumphs over both you and Princess Zelda. You should accept what you have won today. Even the Hero cannot be everywhere or save everyone, nor could you even when the Master Sword could replicate you to protect the four corners of Hyrule."

"Don't you try to -- what?" Link blurted. The Arbiter was already sinking. "Wait! Replicate -- me?! What in Farore's name are you talking about?"

"You are the Hero," the Arbiter replied simply. "Though Ganondorf is the greatest challenge you have ever faced, did you think you were never needed before?" With that, he was gone.

Link fell to his knees, looking at his hands. "I...I can't...it's...too much..." he looked up at Zelda, the helplessness more torturous than ever. "Zelda...you could have been..."

#Don't you dare,# Zelda 'pathed to Impa with a growl.

#So you sensed me moving,# Impa replied fondly. #You did well. As for the Hero,# she continued, as if there had been no threat at all, #I think he understands the gravity of his actions.#

#What else was he supposed to do?# she whispered back, hating herself for it, hating Kotake for what she'd done to her friends, hating Ganondorf for all the misery he caused. Hating herself all the more for letting herself indulge in hate at all. #Impa, I wish I could keep him away from these terrible battles, let him explore, teach him to dance at court...but he's the Hero. You said it yourself -- he can't stop helping people any more than he can stop breathing.# The entire conversation sped through her mind as she kneeled next to the Hero. "Link, I owe you their lives. You went through an unspeakable horror because it was the best you could do." She smiled at him and stroked his cheek. "Farore, if I can't save you now and then, what have I been doing following you around all these years?"

Link exhaled and nodded. "I know. It's just...they know, now."

Zelda frowned and nodded. "I suppose it doesn't matter. This was the last Temple. Once we leave...then it truly begins." She smiled again and stood, taking his hands and guiding him to his feet as well. "For now, though, we've won a major victory. We've paid for it..." she looked at Ilia, who was now cradled in Telma's powerful arms, "...some more than others...but Koume's dead and Ganondorf's lost the Temple. That's what matters." She gestured to the gateway. "Let's get out of here."

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Dead." Ganondorf glared at Kotake. The ice witch nodded impassively. "Koume...is...dead."

"I believe I said that, yes," Kotake replied tonelessly.

Ganondorf didn't throw her across the room or cast fire at her or snap her neck like the dry twig it had been. It was a near thing. "You just left her there to die. Your own sister."

"I thought she would teleport away, as I did." Kotake met his darkly burning gaze with an empty one of her own. "Instead, she chose to sacrifice herself. At least it worked; the Flame of Despair has lit. Mandrag's power shall soon be yours, Heir...as shall the Power that is your destiny."

Ganondorf growled and paced. Koume. Her, at least, I could half-trust. Kotake I can trust not at all. He glared at the witch with a coldness to match her nature. The King of Evil could almost believe that her sister's death had affected her, with the hollow echo in her voice and her eyes. Almost. You taught me too well, sorceress. 'To care is to be weak.' You cannot care; you froze your own soul long before you taught me to empty mine. Besides, she was correct. Kotake always was, of course. The Dark Flames of Sorrow and Destruction had long burned; now, with the final Flame alight, he could bring Mandrag into the world, but under his command. There was only one requirement left. "Will the boy draw the Master Sword again? He will be wary, this time."

"He will have little choice," Kotake replied dully. "Without it, he cannot defeat the evil you control even now. With it, he will have a chance, however slim."

Ganondorf nodded, returned to his throne, and waved Kotake away dismissively. She bowed and left without another word. At last. It comes. He opened and closed his right hand slowly, deliberately. It itched for a blade. One more year. One more, and he will be ready. One more, and at last I can prove that I am the world's destiny. Me, not some orphaned Hylian brat or that pathetic excuse for a princess. He stood and paced again, hand opening and closing. I will lead the Gerudo to greatness. I will crush the Hylians under my heel. The last Sheikah's blood will adorn my blade. The Gorons will bow, and the Zoras will grovel. All will at last be mine. MINE!