Chapter 22: Sandstorm

Zelda took a deep breath, and tried to quiet her roiling stomach. She sat rigidly with her back against one of the dusty crates. Before her there was a bowl, and in it there was a head. Fortunately, given the nature of the demon who sat across from her on the crate, it was not the head of anyone she knew.

Unfortunately, he seemed to expect her to eat it.

"The Amplius is among the tastiest of all crustaceans, although I am surprised to see that they still roam this area. They are quite the delicacy! Better than you deserve for your last meal, but the formalities must be observed. My master would have insisted."

Zelda looked from the blank white mask to the dead eyes staring out at her from the bowl. She decided that if by some unlikely turn of fate that she managed to escape and become Hylia, she was going to forbid eating anything that could still stare at you.

She realized that the demon had begun talking about Demise again.

"-and he was the noblest warrior. Also, of all the wielders of the Unbreakable Sword, he was and will forever be the only one for whom it was truly suited."

Zelda felt confusion. And when she felt confusion, she also felt relief. That meant there was a question she could ask. She had made sure to ask the demon as many questions as possible. Still, she didn't dare ask too many obvious questions, for fear that the masked demon would suspect something. Some of her questions he had already ignored, although she had been able to find out a few things about the demon lord. She knew now that his name was Terrin, and that he had served Demise as something he called the Elite Guard over a thousand years ago.

"Why would you say that is?"

Terrin pointed a long claw at her.

"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I said that just because Demise was my master, but you would be wrong."

"Why did you say it, then?"

"Because Demise was your only equal in power, wisdom, and courage. And what better wielder for Din's final gift than the only one who could ever match you in battle?"

Except he didn't match Hylia in battle. She defeated him. Zelda didn't attempt to respond to the question, though. Instead, she turned the contents of her bowl until she could no longer see the eyes and took a reluctant bite. It tasted much better than it looked, actually. I am still going to forbid them to be eaten. No heads. Of anything. Ever.

Zelda focused her attention back on Terrin's words.

"-and that was when my master called on you to make a Vow of Peace, which you selfishly refused."

Zelda gave him a confused look. "But-why would I want to do that? I don't know why I wouldn't want peace."

Terrin gave an exasperated sound, half sigh and half hiss. He jabbed a single long claw at her. "It is irksome that you were raised as a Hylian. How tiresome to explain such simple things, but it cannot be helped. The war was about power, and who would possess it. To make the Vow, you would have ensured the peace of the realm, but would also have given up much power. That is why I say your greatest vice was greed, because you were unwilling to do that. Did not Demise show that he could ably rule the realm? Did not he show that he was a wise and just ruler? Even a merciful one?"

"Merciful?"

Terrin grabbed his mask, and for a moment she thought he was going to rip it off in frustration, but he only shook his head violently. "So painful to think on-his one mistake."

"What-what did he do?"

"Your hero-that-that vermin-he spared his life once, when they first crossed paths."

"What happened?" Zelda asked, this time genuinely curious. Impa had mentioned the first hero briefly, but had never said much about him afterward. Zelda had gotten the impression that Impa hadn't thought very highly of him.

"We had just defeated a group of Sheikahs and found that horrible, vile vermin still asleep in one of their tents. It was our first encounter with the hero, and Demise recognized him for what he was right away. I would have killed him, but he told me to spare that weakling Hylian scum in order to send you a message. He was no threat to us, he said. Of course he was right in the end. But if I had killed him then, instead of Demise killing him later, perhaps you would have destroyed me in your wrath instead. Perhaps Demise would still be ruling over this realm today!"

She heard a piercing scream from him then, and winced at the shrillness of it.

"I failed him! I should have disobeyed, but I didn't know-if only I had known..."

"But-how could you have?"

He turned towards her, hissing. "Obviously I couldn't have! Demise thought you would be civil. That you would never do anything rash. But he couldn't have known how dangerous, how unpredictable you were!"

He stalked over towards her, drawing his sword. Zelda's heart beat faster. She had made a mistake. He was going to kill her now. She prepared to run.

"I should have done this earlier," he said.

Zelda tried to move but found something rooting her to the spot. It wasn't fear, which would have pushed her to run, but some invisible external force.

The sword arced downward. Zelda screamed.

Its tip pierced the sand several paces to her right. Baffled, she watched as he began to trace it around her.

"Your screaming is unbearably shrill," Terrin growled.

Not as shrill as yours, Zelda thought, though she decided it would be best not to point that out to him. Instead, she asked, "What are you doing?"

Terrin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he continued to curve his sword through the sand.

She tried again. "Why did you do that?"

Finally, he spoke. "The spell requires a rune circle."

Zelda didn't have to ask which spell he was talking about. Earlier, he had gone on at length about how once Astaroth returned with the necessary supplies, they could begin the spell that would destroy Hylia.

Zelda still found she couldn't move. Terrin must be using the same telekinetic ability she had seen him use several times earlier. Sometimes Skyloftians also developed such abilities, though they were rare. In her Magical Mechanics class, Owlan had taught that magic of that kind was not always reliable. If the caster felt sufficiently uncertain or afraid, or if the person or object they were acting on was far away, partially obscured, or moving, the power of the magic might be completely diminished.

Unfortunately, I don't think I can take advantage of any of that in this situation.

When he finished, he took a chain and manacle, along with a stake and levitated them over to her.

"What are you doing?"

"Can't have you running off, now can I?"

The manacle attached itself to her leg and the stake hammered the chain into the ground. Terrin turned around and proceeded to push several crates against the far wall, this time with his hands rather than his magic. She wondered if the choice had any significance. She could hear him muttering, too. She caught several such absentminded musings as "...takes him any longer then I will flay him alive..." and "...wonder if Goddess-destroying spells leave corpses..." before she decided that listening to them wasn't really useful to her.

Zelda studied her surroundings, trying to find a way to escape her certain doom. Terrin had chained her to the area inside the circle he had drawn. Zelda saw now that this was because he apparently did need to sleep. At least, she assumed that was the reason he was lying on top of the four crates he had pushed near the far wall. She had begun to wonder if he was simply tireless, since the demon hadn't slept the entire night before. She had only slept fitfully herself, but whenever she had opened her eyes, the demon lord had been sitting on his crate, his mask turned down on her. Of course, given that she couldn't see his face, perhaps she merely hadn't been able to notice when he dozed off. It had still been terrifying. She remembered when she had been a young child, she would sometimes have dreams of the most horrible monsters. She remembered how she had woken and run to her father's room then, how he would assure her that they weren't real. Only now that she was an adult, the monsters were still there when she woke, and her father was a world away.

Zelda looked towards the entrance, which was blocked by a pile of rocks the demon lord had put there. Not that she could reach the entrance with the manacle around her ankle.

Terrin began snoring. He was definitely sleeping. Zelda looked around her for something that could help her escape. Her eyes glanced past the notices on the walls. She had read them all earlier, but they consisted solely of safety instructions or crate shipment tallies-nothing that could help her.

Her eyes fell on the dagger on Terrin's belt. If she could get her dagger back, she could attack him. First she would have to get him to come close enough so she could grab it. Even if she could do that, was she really sure she could? Zelda had never before considered taking another life. But then she had never even imagined being in a situation anything like this before. She recalled Impa talking in great detail about past battles she had been in. She had been horrified at the time, thinking of all that bloodshed and death. But now she tried to remember what the older woman had told her, about how to attack someone with the intent to kill them. I have to be quick. I have to not flinch. I wish Impa was here.

She frowned. So now I have a plan. But I have to think of some way to get Terrin over here so I can grab my dagger back. That's not going to happen if he's sleeping.

She screamed.

Terrin rolled ungracefully onto the floor but quickly righted himself into a kneeling position, drawing his sword. The sword tip pointed left and then right as if seeking something to impale. Finally, he growled and resheathed the sword. "What was that all about?!" he asked irritably. "Do I need to gag you as well?"

"No! I-I thought I saw something move in the sand," Zelda said, feeling her entire body shake. If he doesn't believe me...

Terrin stood and crossed his arms. "Well, there aren't anymore of the Amplius. I already checked."

"S-sorry. It didn't look like an Amplius, though."

"What did you see?"

"It looked like a-a-" Zelda began, trying to think of something suitably worrying.

"A what?" Terrin asked, his tone impatient.

"-a hand," she finished quickly. Zelda began berating herself for not thinking of something more frightening, until she realized that Terrin had unsheathed his sword again and had turned towards the large pool of quicksand in the room.

"How many?" he asked, his stance tense.

"I only saw the one," she said.

Terrin was silent for a long time. Finally she heard him mutter, "-shouldn't be possible-" He turned towards her. "We're leaving."

"We are? But-what was that-?" Zelda wondered if she was imagining the fear she heard in his voice. What could he possibly be so afraid of that looks like a hand?

"That is not important. What is important is that we're leaving." He gestured towards the rocks piled in front of the entrance and Zelda gaped as they were blasted away in an instant. The manacle attached to her chain clicked open. "Get up and be quick about it."

Terrin turned and walked briskly out into the midday sun. Zelda, shocked by his reaction, ran to catch up with him.

He held a hand up towards the entrance and the rubble that he had blasted away earlier began to float back towards the entrance of the ancient building.

He was probably preoccupied with moving the rocks back. Zelda crept towards him to reach for her dagger...

Suddenly the demon and everything around her disappeared in a blur. She felt herself being carried by a firm grip. A moment of alarm washed over her before she realized who that firm grip belonged to. "Impa!" Zelda yelled, relief washing over her.

Impa gave her a wide smile. She didn't have to say anything at all. Zelda clung to her, glad that it was finally over. She felt so much relief she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Finally, after they had traveled for some time that way, Impa stopped in a small cave. A bright sunbeam shone into the entrance, bouncing off the walls.

Impa glanced over at her and grinned widely. "You have no idea-how glad I was when I saw you were safe!"

"It can't be as much as I was glad to see you! I thought-I mean-I was afraid you might be-"

"Dead?" Impa asked. "Ha! I've dealt with demon sorcerers before. This one was tougher than most of them, but he was no match for me. I only regret that I was unable to kill him after he fled like the coward he was or eliminate the other demon. I couldn't risk you again, though."

"How did you find me?"

"I'd been hiding above that old building you were in for over an hour, actually," Impa said, settling onto the cave floor. Zelda did the same, almost collapsing to the ground.

"I can track you, you know," Impa said. "That other demon, the green one-I knew he was in there with you, too. I was trying to think of the best way to get you out of there. The sorcerer had placed some curses there before he left, so it was necessary to wait until one of the demons opened it up. I'm glad it was so easy, but I'm surprised that demon didn't wait until the sorcerer returned."

Zelda grinned. "Well, I might have had something to do with that..."

Link blinked slowly, trying to wake himself up. He saw Ghirahim seated on the blankets in front of him, smiling brightly. Link smiled back, though he was sure he didn't look nearly as alert.

"Ah, you're awake!" Ghirahim jumped up into a standing position, rubbing his hands together. "Let's get going, then! I do hope you will have breakfast for me shortly. Oh, and I'd like a bath, too. I'm sure you can find some sort of pond with one of those timestones. Well, come on! You certainly sleep a lot, don't you?"

Link nodded. Yawning, he slowly got to his feet, stretching. His mind wandered back to the previous night, and he could feel himself become more alert. That had been...satisfying. He certainly wouldn't forget it.

He shuffled sleepily around the cavern, grabbing his adventure pouch and shield. Ghirahim seemed to be in such a good mood. He was humming a tune and almost dancing around Link.

"Ah, I see you are finally ready to go forth and find all those things I have requested."

Link smiled at Ghirahim. He collected his sword from the wall of the cavern and called Fi from it. The sword spirit jumped out of the sword and bowed to Link. "I trust you slept well, Master?"

Link nodded again. He noticed that Ghirahim was watching them with a slight frown. Was he still jealous? Only, he didn't seem angry. It looked more like he was-thinking. Link turned back to Fi.

Fi tilted her head. "We will be approaching a dangerous area today. We must be cautious."

"Hmmm?" Ghirahim murmured. "What dangerous area?"

Fi turned her head to face the demon lord. "The ruins we will reach today have long been the haunt of thieves."

Ghirahim's frown deepened. "What kind of thieves?"

Fi didn't answer. Instead, a skeletal figure as tall as Ghirahim appeared in front of the demon. He jumped, then seemed to realize that the figure wasn't real. The figure made no sound and left no prints as he paced across the sand, though his mouth moved and he waved a large hook-like hand as if he was conversing with someone. The figure was lavishly dressed and wore a large, ornate hat.

Link gaped at the illusion. It looked almost like a redead. He felt a shiver run down his spine.

"This is Scervo," Fi said, her voice breaking into his thoughts. "He is..similar to the LD series, except in appearance. An earlier model. He is also the leader of a notorious band of pirates. Once, they sailed the sea in this area, robbing and striking terror in all who they encountered. I received additional information about them recently from one who we encountered in this desert. Now that the sea has dried up, they wander the sands, looking for those who are lost, so that they may rob any who are weak or hold items of great value."

"And Link falls in the second category," Ghirahim said, looking over at the elf.

Link gave the demon a confused look, trying to think of what he might be referring to. He still felt a bit tired, even though Ghirahim seemed to think he had slept a long time.

Ghirahim gestured to Fi's sword. "The Goddess Sword? Rather important, I'd say. Also, the leader of the demons." he smiled. "I am invaluable."

"Your assessment is correct," Fi said. "If they encounter us, they will surely attempt to steal my sword and you from Link. They are unpredictable and dangerous. While they will almost certainly try to ransom you, they have also been known to kill the person to be ransomed after taking the demanded valuables."

Ghirahim laughed. "Are you worried I might try to be captured by them? You shouldn't. Link has proven that he does not wish to harm me. I know I have no such assurances from this pirate and his band of miscreants." He gave Link a reassuring smile. "Besides, Link would never let them. And he has agreed to get me a decent breakfast and a bath. Isn't that right, Sky Hero?"

Link smiled back at him and gestured for him to follow. Ghirahim's easy confidence calmed his fears. He grabbed the satchel he had used to store the timestone. He was about to grab the other satchels, but Ghirahim offered to carry them. Link felt a bit uncomfortable about accepting Ghirahim's help, but the demon lord insisted, so Link didn't contest the matter further.

He stooped as he went through the cave entrance, while Ghirahim practically had to crawl through it. When they exited the cavern, Link squinted at the expanse of sand in front of them. It was going to be a long walk.

After Link had called Firestar and they had eaten breakfast from his food supplies, he sought out a promising-looking timestone. Fi helped him to find one in a cave. A tap from his sword revealed a pond, as he had guessed from the smooth rocks littering the bowl-shaped area.

Ghirahim looked into the water and Link heard a distressed keen from him. "My face!" A gloved hand traced the pattern of chipped paint and dried blood.

He looked up at Link. "Why didn't you tell me? I'm-I'm hideous!"

Link shook his head and curled his arms around the demon lord. Ghirahim looked incredibly well-groomed despite his clear dismay at his appearance. Link felt bad about the blood, though.

Ghirahim sighed and leaned his head towards Link's. "I suppose you simply don't notice these things." He moved out of Link's embrace and began to remove the jeweled sash he wore. "Still, I cannot bear the thought of going any further without a good bath. Time to get out of these clothes!"

Link felt his face heat. He turned around.

He heard Ghirahim chuckle from behind him. "Shouldn't you be watching me, Sky Hero? You wouldn't want your hostage to escape when you weren't looking, would you?"

Link shook his head violently, and heard a chuckle in response. Ghirahim was right, of course. Link had asked Fi to return to her sword again, since the demon lord unsurprisingly hadn't wanted her to watch him bathing. But that meant that Link should be watching him. Fi and Link had agreed that the night had been too cold for Ghirahim to even contemplate trying to escape. But the day was warm, and Link knew it would not be at all uncomfortable for a demon. Of course, he wasn't sure that Ghirahim actually wanted to escape, and he would have a hard time of it here, since they had entered by rope through one of the skylights (and wouldn't be able to leave until Firestar lowered the rope again for them). Still, Fi seemed to think he would try. And she had said that Link should watch him carefully while she resided in her sword. But it wasn't polite to watch someone undressing! He would just give Ghirahim a couple minutes to enter the water.

When he heard splashing sounds, Link took a deep breath and turned around. But it seemed he had misjudged his timing. Ghirahim had finished removing his clothing but only his ankles were covered by water. Link stood perfectly still, as if he was rooted to the spot where he stood. Ghirahim was looking at the pond, but as he turned his head, he caught sight of Link watching him and smiled. "It seems you really do find me impressive, even in my current unfortunate state." He chuckled. "Just wait until I'm done here."

Link felt conflicted as he watched Ghirahim bathe under one of the many natural skylights in the cave. At least he could only see his head and chest above the water now, but Link found the languid, amused expression on his face very-enticing.

"You could join me in the water, Link," he said. "After all, we both have to bathe and it would be more-time efficient."

Link felt his face heat. As much as he wanted to...he smiled and shook his head. He would bathe after. As much as he wanted to accept Ghirahim's offer, he didn't feel he was ready to go quite that far yet. Not that they hadn't already done-many interesting things-especially during the previous night. But the sum of relationship advice he had received in Skyloft seemed to advise patience in cultivating relationships. Patience and self-control. He felt he should start trying to follow that advice, even though it was difficult. Even though he knew Ghirahim would be all too happy if he ignored it.

"You are a fickle creature, Sky Hero." Ghirahim sighed and splashed water onto his face, scrubbing at the flaking paint.

Link watched as the paint was slowly washed away, at last revealing all of the demon lord's shimmering black skin underneath. Link also noticed the diamond shaped markings on his shoulder and arms. This was the first time he had seen Ghirahim without his body paint, and he was fascinated by how dramatically different he looked without it. It was also very distracting. Of course, he was supposed to be watching Ghirahim anyway, but even so...

The demon lord gave him a mischievous smile. "Can't stop staring at me, can you? What are you thinking?"

Link could only smile and shrug.

"Nothing?" Ghirahim sighed. "Has all thought fled you upon seeing how stunningly beautiful I am?"

Link drew a picture of a heart flower and held it out for Ghirahim to see.

"Hmmm, I suppose that's a yes," Ghirahim said, rubbing water across his arms. "That's very sweet. But please try to gather your thoughts back, because I'd like to talk with you a bit."

Link tilted his head.

"I want to know something, Link. Whose side are you on?"

Link sketched quickly and held the image out for Ghirahim to see. The demon lord frowned.

"Everyone's?" He sighed, and shook his head. "That's not how it works. I think I understand why you are so irritatingly stubborn, though."

Link frowned.

"Ah, don't try to deny it with that wounded look of yours. Anyway, I do understand. I've read about your people. The Sky People. They were pacifists. Well, I suppose they still are. And therein lies our biggest difference, Link. While I do not wish to kill to solve my problems, I realize that there are times when it is necessary."

Link shivered at that last word. Ghirahim was right. They did disagree on that. Link had been taught that, above all, he should never kill another person. In Skyloft, the rare person who did such a thing was considered 'dead to the world'. No Knight would kill them, of course, but they would be left by themselves on one of the many islets-rocks too small to be called an isle or island but large enough to walk ten paces in each direction. The worst part was that their Loftwing would leave them forever, so they would be stranded there. Citizens were not allowed to talk to or associate with such people in any way. There were knights who were assigned to drop them the supplies necessary to survive, but none associated with them more than they had to. It troubled Link to think of how many of the Surface dwellers had killed, how many who, if they were judged by the standards of his people, would be considered 'dead to the world'. Including Ghirahim. Especially Ghirahim.

Yet Link felt an unshakeable connection to him, to this demon who even his dreams constantly insisted should be his enemy. The demon lord wanted his people to be able to live in the sunlight, away from the horrors of the Lower Realms, and he would do whatever it took to accomplish that. Link admired his determination, even as he was horrified by the lengths to which it took him.

"Pondering your response? You have the most charming little frown when you're thinking, you know."

Link gave him an indignant look.

Ghirahim laughed, splashing water at him. "Oh, I'm sorry if I offended you, great hero. Anyway, it is still nothing compared to your magnificent smile."

Link couldn't help but show his widest smile in response.

Ghirahim smiled serenely back. "Yes, that one."

Link only broke eye contact to sketch his response to Ghirahim. He wanted to explain to him that he was right, that his people wouldn't approve of Ghirahim's methods, but that he would never, could never, abandon him. It was difficult to think of how to convey such thoughts, but he explained it over a series of images that showed how such things were handled in Skyloft. Somehow it ended in an image of him embracing Ghirahim on one of the sky islets, refusing to leave.

"I am heartened to see that you consider me so highly," Ghirahim said. He sighed. "I feel as strongly for you as well."

Link paused, unsure how to respond. He sketched another response. Ghirahim moved his gaze back down to look at the drawing.

"Yes, I would like that. To travel the Surface with you, when the fate of the world does not hang in the balance." he smiled and sunk completely under the water. After a few moments he surfaced again, water dripping from his face and chest. His body was completely free of paint now, and gleamed in the sunbeam from the natural skylight in the cave.

"I never got to find out what it is you do in that Sky Realm of yours," Ghirahim said. "Do you have an occupation?"

Link considered the question. He sketched a response.

"You help people, and defend them? Yes, that seems very like you."

Link sketched another picture and held it up.

"Still in training?" Ghirahim said. "How long do you train for that?"

Link was enjoying this. It was rare that anyone else, besides Zelda, had the patience for any long conversations with him. Ghirahim would ask him a question, and he would sketch out a response, or sometimes write a word or two. One of those words in particular seemed to catch Ghirahim's eye.

"You're a knight?" he said, his eyes widening.

Link nodded.

Ghirahim looked thoughtful. "That is a very revered title, among my people. We had knights too, once. But they were all killed."

Link gave him a puzzled look. Ghirahim only sighed. "You know what I am now, so I guess I may as well tell you that the last of the true demon knights were killed by me."

Link looked surprised.

"My other half, that is," he said quickly. "The Unbreakable Sword. Understand, though, that the sword has no say and no understanding of what its wielder chooses to do. It was created to defend and protect, but for ages it could only do that if its wielder happened to be trustworthy." He smiled. "That's why it likes to be bonded to someone with whom it is compatible. The sword and I-we are complete together. Two parts of a whole."

Link considered what Ghirahim had told him. It was clear to him that Ghirahim liked being bonded to the sword. The Sheikahs considered that same sword a corrupted relic, and he knew that they sought to obtain it from the demons at all costs. Sheik had said that it should be sealed away somewhere where no one would ever be able to access it again.

"But right now the sword and I are-separated. It's quite an unpleasant experience."

Link nodded, though he had trouble imagining what it would be like to be bonded to a magical artifact like that in the first place. He wondered if Fi might understand better.

Another question occurred to him that he had been wondering about. It took him some time to convey his intended meaning, but finally Ghirahim seemed to catch on. "You want to know what a Lord is?"

Link nodded. He had met three lords so far, and he wasn't at all clear that he understood what their title meant. In Skyloft, the people had many titles-Professor, Headmaster, Knight, Herbalist, and any number of others, but there was no such thing as a Lord.

"A noble. Lords and Ladies rule over a portion of land. Usually they serve under a King or Queen, but in this case, I am the ruler of the Lower Realms. And the Surface."

Link was confused by this. Ghirahim must have noticed his confusion, though, because he said, "You really don't know what I'm talking about, do you? Well, what about your Sky Realm? Who presides over it? Who makes the laws?"

Link wondered what a 'law' was. Not knowing what else to do, he shrugged. And sketched a query about the word law.

Ghirahim gave him a bewildered look. "Your realm must be very different from anything I have encountered before. Perhaps I do not understand your people as well as I thought. A law is-a mandate that must not be broken. It's written down."

Wasn't that similar to a custom or taboo? People adhered to the customs because that was how they were taught to do things, and avoided breaking taboos like killing because of the censure they would face.

Ghirahim sighed. "I see these things may take some time to explain." He smiled at Link. "I'm finished bathing, though. It's your turn." Ghirahim looked significantly at Link. "You might want to wash your appallingly grimy clothes first, though. Oh, and mine, too. You wouldn't expect me to dirty myself up with such things right after I'd just finished my cleaning, would you?"

Link felt his face heat despite the cool air in the cavern. Of course someone had to clean their clothes, and it wouldn't make sense to ask Ghirahim to do it. But if he was also cleaning his own clothes, that meant he wouldn't be wearing them...

"I promise I won't make any trouble for you. Or watch." Ghirahim grinned. "Unless you want me to."

Link shook his head, despite the voice in his head that urged him to do otherwise.

Ruined walls curved around them, which Ghirahim didn't think boded well for traveling in a straight line in this place. They also had to watch out for the quicksand that filled the entire area. Fortunately, Link had a map outlining the submerged paths. If Ghirahim attributed any sort of personality to the desert at all, he would tend to believe that personality was best described as murderous-the ground sunk beneath your feet, the animals tried to electrocute you, and even the plants were covered in spines. I take back my original impression of this place. Sun or no sun, I'm not sure how many demons are going to want to live here. The nights are freezing cold, too.

Still, despite his disappointment with Lanayru, Ghirahim was feeling in a much better mood. He could tell that Link was, too. The bath at the spring had done both of them good, although it had turned out that Link was quite modest. He wondered if that was a Sky Person trait, or just a Link trait. It had taken some considerable self-control for him to stare at the stone wall of the cave while Link had washed their clothes and then bathed himself. He had amused himself by trying to persuade Link to talk, which hadn't worked, and by going through the details of his plan.

He smiled at Link. The Sky Hero smiled back. Ghirahim almost wished he could convince himself that there was nothing wrong with this. If I had discovered that one of the other nobles was in love with one of our enemies, I would consider them a traitor. I thought-I thought I could convince him to help me, and maybe he will, but how can I expect any of the others to depend upon that? They deserve better than maybe. I promised them better than that.

Ghirahim still held out a desperate hope that he could convince Link to join him-to truly join him, and turn his back on the Sheikahs. If so, then perhaps he could have both love and victory. But if not...

I will never turn my back on my people.

Link was giving him a worried look.

"Oh, I just have a lot on my mind. Don't worry about me," Ghirahim said. He looked over at Link. The Sky Hero's face was red, though Ghirahim could tell it was from the heat this time. Link stopped and took a drink of water from one of his glass bottles. Ghirahim placed a hand on Link's forehead to cool him. "You are simply burning up here, aren't you?" He ran his fingers down the Hero's cheeks and then down his neck, and was gratified to see him smile and shiver a bit.

They walked past the last of the curving walls, finally on solid ground again. Link stopped suddenly in his tracks.

"What is it?" Ghirahim asked. Link started running. Ghirahim was confused at first until he saw the body on the ground. Then he ran after the hero until they both reached the still form.

It was too late to render any assistance. Looking at the body, Ghirahim felt abrubtly ill. The dead eyes of the lizalfos stared up at him. The creature was covered in blood. Since when has the sight of blood ever bothered me? And lizalfos don't become redeads. So why did he feel so sick to his stomach? Also, he had the overwhelming urge to burn the body regardless. It just doesn't seem right to do anything else.

He knelt near the body and turned to Link. "Can you make a fire?"

Link looked inestimably sad staring at the lizalfos. Since he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, Ghirahim repeated the question.

Link seemed to hear him this time, but he only gave the demon lord a baffled look.

"You don't know how to-make fire?" Ghirahim asked, unsure why Link seemed so surprised.

Link shook his head.

Ghirahim considered this response for a moment. "You do know how to make fire, right?"

Link nodded.

"Then I-"

Fi jumped out of the sword hilt at Link's back. "Lord Ghirahim wishes to burn the body, Link."

Oh, Ghirahim thought, suddenly understanding the source of Link's confusion. But-nonononono... he thought, horrified. Maybe the Sheikahs keep their dead just lying around, but surely Link would never-

Ghirahim's thoughts were interrupted by the realization that they were now surrounded. Ghirahim saw several Lizalfos, a few of the robot creatures, some mogmas, and even a couple Sheikah. He backed up into Link.

Then a figure that resembled nothing so much as a Stalfos crested the hill, but Ghirahim realized it was the pirate Fi had shown them earlier. His mismatched eyes lighted on them and he gave a low bow.

"Why, how rude of meself not to greet our new guests." He straightened and grinned at them. "The name's Scervo, for those of ye not in the know. Pirate Captain Scervo. Or just sir, if that's too much o' a mouthful for ya." Scervo pointed his hook at Fi. "And if it ain't the Goddess Sword, an old acquaintance of mine. I'm sad to say we had unfortunate falling-out."

"You make an understatement," Fi said.

That's one way to describe blatant sarcasm, I suppose, Ghirahim thought.

"Only because it is best if I don't think about it too much. You could never understand-"

"I understand quite well," Fi said. "You reneged on your duty-"

"-to be nothing but a guard, a servant, a slave?" Scervo's voice sounded wounded. "No, Fi, you do not understand. But we both know that we will never agree, and no amount of blathering on will change it."

Scervo moved his hook towards Link. "And here we have the new Chosen Hero of the Goddess. Scary." He looked over at Fi. "Does this one like his snappy quips as much as the previous?"

"Link has taken a Vow of Silence," Fi said. "He does not speak."

Scervo clapped his one hand to his hook. "Oh, an improvement! I love improvements!"

"He is fated to bring justice to this world. It would be unwise of you to interfere."

"You mean like the last one? Fated to defeat the darkness of the Demon King, is he? Why, I am practically quivering in my boots."

Scervo's words caused a memory to surface in Ghirahim's mind, but he had no time to ponder it before the pirate turned to him. "And who might this-colorfully dressed character-be? Clearly he is a demon...so why is he with the two of you?"

Ghirahim crossed his arms. Scervo didn't know who he was. This was to his advantage. "I hardly see why that's your business. Anyway, I don't particularly wish to explain." He glanced at the group surrounding them, performing a quick mental tally of them. "And I assure you that twenty against three is rather poor odds for you in this instance."

"And why is that? Is the hero going to save you, demon?"

"No. I could take you all myself, but I'll be happy to leave a few of you for him."

Scervo laughed. The sound was metallic, almost like two swords clashing together. The other pirates also began laughing.

"Oh, you are a riot," Scervo said.

"Why, thank you. Producing laughter is a skill of mine," Ghirahim said. "I am but a simple entertainer who the Hero has seen fit to spare. But I assure you that you would not like to go against me in a fight."

"I am sure you are very formidable indeed. I have never met a demon who wasn't. But the odds, you see, are not twenty to three." His hand reached up to his breastplate, and he ripped it off. Ensconced within an intricate-looking clockwork in his chest was a green stone that looked similar to the timestones but had a stylized flower etched on it instead.

"Master, he-" Fi began. but Scervo tapped the stone with his hook, and she blinked out of sight.

"It's two against two hundred," the pirate captain said. Suddenly more pirates appeared over the sand dune.

He was keeping them in reserve all along.

Link looked distraught.

Ghirahim scowled. "What did you do?"

"To Fi? Nothing. She's just a teensy bit-stuck in her sword right now." He placed his hand on one of his ribs. Ghirahim shuddered inwardly. The pirate captain reminded him of a stalfos, though of course he wasn't-such creatures did not speak coherently. "So, what's it going to be? Come quietly or do we have to rough ye up a bit so ye get the point?"

Ghirahim looked over at Link. "I advise we surrender," he whispered.

Link inclined his head slightly, and put away his sword. Ghirahim turned back to Scervo and bowed.

"Please forgive me," he said. "Clearly I underestimated you."

"Certainly ye did. Ye must be someone of great note, to be traveling with the hero. Are ye his hostage? What is yer name?"

"You would not recognize it. I am no one important."

"Ye are a horrible liar," Scervo said, wearing his constant grin. "Ah, well. I'll figure it out later." He glanced at the pirates to either side of him. "Let's move out! We got ourselves some new plunder today!"

The pirates cheered and began herding Link and Ghirahim up the sand dune. Ghirahim shuffled gloomily by Link's side.

That was when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to Link, who glanced upward. Ghirahim followed his gaze.

It was the Loftwing.

Ghirahim smiled. A cacaphony of voices around them yelled, barked orders, or cursed as the enormous bird broke their ranks. Link grabbed Ghirahim and they jumped onto the Loftwing, who launched herself into the air.

The ground dropped out beneath them, red wings bearing them away from the angry pirates. It was then that Ghirahim discovered he was afraid of heights.

Ghirahim held on to Link's shoulders as he felt the crimson beast beneath him shift. He stared in horror at the flexing wings and clutched Link's tunic more tightly.

"Wait! Not yet! I just need to take-a few deep breaths." Ghirahim knew that he was overreacting. And he had wasted his previous chance to implement his plan because of it. And the chance before that. And the one before that. They had been flying intermittently for hours now, in order to put as much distance between them and the pirates as was possible. This is ridiculous. I'm not afraid of heights! And yet he didn't need the Shard of Truth's reminder to know that that was now untrue. The memories from earlier were still fresh in his mind. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. When he opened them, he saw that Link had turned his head slightly to give him a concerned look.

"I'm fine," Ghirahim said, smiling and working to project the confidence he didn't feel. "I am simply still unaccustomed to this mode of transport. Your lovely bird friend here isn't by any chance-carnivorous?"

Link laughed and shook his head. "Oh, good, " Ghirahim said. He placed his head on Link's shoulder and closed his eyes. This part of my plan is going to be much harder than anticipated.

"Please attempt to remain calm, Lord Ghirahim," Fi said. The sword spirit had only been temporarily affected by the strange stone Scervo had possessed. "Your mood may otherwise agitate Link's Loftwing."

Ghirahim laughed nervously. "What a soothing thought."

He still had to follow through with his plan. He had to. Even though he sort of-didn't want to.

I just need to think about what a wonderful surprise it will be for Link. It will work out. He will understand that it was for the best. It is necessary. Why do I even have to convince myself of this? The shard told him that it was because he was certain it would distress the Hero.

Of course. But I do want my powers back, my very self back. Do I not?

Of course he did. It was a strange feeling, though, for him to feel so indecisive. He did not think he liked it. Yet another reason I must do this.

He felt the bird launch into the sky and held his eyes closed until the movements of the creature felt smoother. When he opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the satchels attached next to him. Right next to him was the satchel with the timestone inside of it, tied down by one of Link's expert knots. A minor inconvenience only, though. It was only meant to deter gravity, not intelligence. Looking past Link, he saw the satchel where the timestone had been was attached just out of his reach.

Ghirahim moved his head from Link's shoulder and hooked one arm around his stomach. Then, he moved the other arm to the satchel and pulled the knot in one deft stroke. A feeling of completeness rushed into him as the satchel hurtled towards the sand below. The roar of the rushing wind seemed to cover any sound from his action. Link did not even look behind him. The Goddess Sword glowed, however.

Ghirahim acted quickly. He pulled the sword from its scabbard and dropped it as well.

Link did notice that. His head whipped around, his eyes wide and frantic.

Ghirahim grinned as he held onto the Sky Hero. "Surprise, Link!"

The bird went into a sudden dive after the falling sword. "No! Wait!" Ghirahim called a swirl of wind down which knocked the diving Loftwing off course and lifted the two of them into the air.

Ghirahim held onto Link and used his power to change the swirling wind into something more controlled, a strong gust that gently lowered them to the ground.

Link looked up at him, his expression uncertain.

"Link, I-"

Ghirahim felt a fist connect to his face.

"Ow!"

Link ran towards the direction where his sword had fallen.

Ghirahim rubbed absently at his face, healing the damage from the unexpected attack. Then he snapped, and a yellow, diamond-patterned fence came down around Link, completely surrounding the Hero. Fi was still nowhere to be seen. I was right. Fi can no longer use some of the great powers she once had. How curious. He had remembered that Fi had disappeared the last time he had dropped her sword, presumably since she was bound to it. And yet when I first met her, she possessed no such limitation. A mystery. He had also been correct in assuming that Fi would not sense the move of the timestone between the two bags. Ghirahim knew that his ability to sense items of power was limited to sensing them within a general vicinity rather than precisely. If Fi had a similar ability, it seemed it must possess the same limitation. She had said nothing when Ghirahim had picked up the bag with the timestone along with the other two bags. And Link must have simply assumed that he knew which bag the timestone was in, exactly as Ghirahim had hoped. A simple diversion, but sometimes that is all that is necessary to craft an illusion as powerful as any by magic-people seeing what they expect to see.

He smiled. The shard was almost complaining about how self-congratulatory he was feeling right now. Ah, nothing better then taking a well-deserved moment to revel in my inevitable triumph.

He turned his gaze to his former captor and walked briskly towards him, stopping a little ways away from the cylindrical fence he had created.

A huge, red feathered beast dropped towards him at that instant, but Ghirahim was prepared this time and the Loftwing's claws hit only the shield he placed around himself. The creature squawked angrily. When she landed, Ghirahim placed her in a force field as well. He looked back over at the Sky Hero.

"Link, I need to talk to you."

Link pressed his hands against the power that confined him. He stared out, his expression at once desperate and hopeless.

"You don't need to be afraid, Link," Ghirahim said, trying to sound soothing. "I do not wish to harm you, or your friend Zelda. But now that I am free of that timestone, I plan to ensure the safety of my people."

Link's expression grew less anxious. He seemed willing to listen to what Ghirahim had to say.

"You are welcome to join me, Link." he continued, hoping he was judging the elf correctly. "I am going to end this war, one way or another. But I would very much like your help."

Link took out his sketchbook and again showed him the picture of Lord Terrin.

"Him again?" Ghirahim said. He sighed. "He is no friend of mine, but I need his help for a number of-" Ghirahim stopped.

Link had turned the page. It was another picture of Lord Terrin, but this time attacking Link.

"Is that-something that actually happened?"

Link nodded.

Ghirahim felt a familiar feeling burn in his heart. He ground his teeth and clenched one of his gloved hands into a fist. Lord Terrin believes he can do as he pleases, and I will do nothing. Or perhaps he believes there is nothing I can do? How dare he. He will pay.

"I will kill him myself," Ghirahim said. He forced himself to relax his expression. "Will you join me, Link? Think on what we could accomplish as true allies."

Link gave him a tortured expression. I know he wants to...

"I want you by my side," Ghirahim said. "I want to be by your side. I love you, Link. But it's more than that. I am also offering you an unparalleled opportunity-the opportunity to wield the Unbreakable Sword."

Link's eyes widened again, and his mouth hung open slightly.

"Don't look so surprised," Ghirahim said. "You will have to share, of course-the Unbreakable Sword is not owned, it is only wielded. Still, I think that, in time, you could be an excellent wielder of the sword. And, I know you have some magic in you. I can feel it growing in you, actually. Help me defend and protect those who have been cast aside as unworthy."

Link's expression looked troubled, but he also seemed-fascinated by the idea. Ghirahim felt encouraged. "Some call the Unbreakable Sword the Cheater's Sword, as it possesses its wielder with unparalleled ability. But as is the case with all great relics of the three Goddesses, the Sword has a requirement, a price which it extracts from you. There is nothing in that requirement that prevents evil from wielding it, but it is not, as some would believe, a grand toy which simply makes anyone the winner of any battle."

Link tilted his head.

"No. The Unbreakable Sword requires three things of its wielders-courage, wisdom, and power. You possess all of those traits. In addition, I actually like you, which will be a nice change of pace from certain wielders I have had to put up with of late." Ghirahim thought of Releris and Terrin, each of which he found appalling in their own unique way. One of which he had killed, and the other of which he intended to kill. "In fact, that is now my new, fourth requirement. Likeability. Yes, courage, wisdom, power, and-likeability. You have them all, Link."

Link gave him a small smile. Ghirahim felt his heart flutter. He continued.

"It would be nice to spend some extended time together when one of us is not imprisoned by the other." He moved closer to Link until their faces were nearly touching, and, because he might as well explain the full extent of his offer, he whispered, "I can think of many other contexts where your excellent knot tying skills would be much more-enjoyable."

Link's eyes widened.

"Link, we can only be together if you join me. You can trust me, Link." He dissolved the barrier and held out his hand. "What do you say?"

Link held out a picture of the Sheikahs.

"You must not help them, Link. Whatever happens to them is not your concern."

Link gave him a long look. Finally, he shook his head, an agonized expression on his face.

Ghirahim sighed. "After an hour, the shield around your Loftwing will fade. I can't just restrain you here, and leave you to certain death. Just-don't interfere in my plans, Link. I don't want to hurt you."

Link held out his hand, but Ghirahim forced himself to turn and walk away. It was the hardest thing for him to do in that moment. But he leaves me no choice.

Ghirahim wandered gloomily over the sand dune. If only Link had understood that he cannot be on both sides of a war. Ghirahim had been optimistic. Overly optimistic, he knew now. I thought he would join me, and betray his goddess and all his friends. Was I truly so blinded by my hopes for what I want to be that I didn't consider such things?

His thoughts wandered to Granite, who he supposed had betrayed the goddess and her friends. Except that she also insisted that I not harm Impa. And she chose to abandon the Sheikahs because she feared Tala, not to help me. I do not begrudge her that, but her choice tells me nothing about how to convince Link.

He sighed. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a surprised yell that was nearly a roar. He looked up. "Orynx?" he said.

The guard had an expression of genuine delight on his face, something that Ghirahim had never thought he would see. As Ghirahim watched with an amused expression, the guard ran up the sand dune. He hadn't expected that Orynx would grab him and lift him off the ground, though, or that his expression would suddenly become a murderous scowl. "You made me think you were dead! I told you not to leave your tent!" Orynx shook him a few times, as if for emphasis.

Ghirahim gave him a small smile, looking down at the guard. "I rule the world. I don't follow orders. Sorry, Orynx."

Orynx grunted and began walking down the dune.

"If you could see your way to putting me down, now-"

"No. It's like you said. You don't follow orders. So if I tell you in no uncertain terms that you are coming with me, you may simply decide you don't feel like it. But I don't need to give you a choice. My lord." Orynx slung Ghirahim over his shoulder and held his waist firmly as he descended the dune. The demon lord's nose wrinkled. Orynx smelled horrible.

"Put me down! I am no longer amused."

Orynx ignored him and began humming a cheerful tune.

"I'm a sorcerer! Do you really think you can stop me from-"

"You can't teleport here. And even if you were inclined to use deadly force on me, your powers are not focused enough for you to do so without harming yourself as well."

Ghirahim fumed silently for a few moments. Orynx resumed his humming. Then the demon lord had a sudden realization. "Unless I used lightning!"

"Hmmm. True." Orynx's voice sounded troubled. Ghirahim knew Orynx would remember his invulnerability to electricity.

"And I wouldn't need to kill you, either. Only stun you. I'll do it. I will!"

Orynx sighed. "Fine. You win." He set the demon lord back onto the sand. "You're insufferable, you know."

"Thank you. I try. And-I'm sorry that I worried you. I promise to tell you the next time I plan to do so." Ghirahim grimaced. "You have the most appalling smell right now, Orynx. Where have you been?"

"It's a long story. I'm glad to see you again, too, my lord."

"Of course I am overjoyed to see you as well, Orynx. But can you summarize the story about how you came to smell like a most unpleasant heap of keese guano? Because you have transferred your most unsavory scent to myself, and now I must know the best way to remove it." Link had admittedly smelled somewhat strong, but that had been different. Hylians sweated. Demons did not.

"I believe you have answered your own question, my lord. One comes to smell like keese guano by wading through piles of keese guano. I did not want to attract attention, so I traveled through the caves whenever possible."

"Ah." Ghirahim said. So that explained the dry, mottled material that covered Orynx's chain mail.

Charming, he thought. He would have to take a bath. Again. He smiled, though. Not only because he was reunited with Orynx, who he had begun to miss, but also because the guard still carried the Unbreakable Sword. As long as the two halves of me stay together, those troublesome timestones will trouble me no longer.

It had taken Link a considerable trek to retrieve Fi. Fortunately, she had assisted him by appearing above her sword. Otherwise it might have taken him hours to find the weapon, which had been covered over in sand by the wind. Also, Firestar had been released from her confinement eventually, as Ghirahim had promised. The entire time, he thought about what could have happened, if he had made a different choice.

Now that he was no longer watching Ghirahim, Fi had advised Link that it would be best if he spent the night in Skyloft. She assisted him in locating a bird statue. Ordinarily, he would have been able to do that himself, but right now his mind kept wandering to thoughts of what he should have done to convince Ghirahim that he would help him. When they arrived, Fi explained patiently how both Link and Firestar would return to the sky if Firestar touched the statue while Link was on her back. Before Link touched the statue he gave Fi an apologetic look.

"You needn't apologize to me," Fi said. "I understand why you are not at your best right now."

Link gave her a small smile.

Once they had been transported back to the sky, Firestar flew Link to the main island of Skyloft. He dismounted, feeling strangely out of place. People walked calmly around in the dusk light, some waving or smiling at him. Here in Skyloft, Link could almost believe that there was no war going on, that there was nothing to fear.

He walked to the bazaar. He had to get a new shield to replace the one Ghirahim had destroyed. He headed straight to Rupin's stall, and held out the sad remains of his broken shield.

Rupin gave the broken shield a horrified look. Then he looked up at Link, and a plastered-on smile suddenly appeared. "Haha, not to worry. Let me find you another one . You should get the shield upgrade from Gondo, too. Looks like you'll be needing it."

He walked his sneaking walk to the back of his shop.

Rupin returned with a new shield and handed it to Link. Then he pattered away to latch onto a potential customer.

"Ah, Kina! Back for more Purely Pumpkin Fertilizer, are you? Simply the best fertilizer in all of Skyloft..."

"Er, not really-" she said.

"No problem! Feel free to browse! I am sure there is something you need here! No pressure!"

Link felt a little pang of guilt as he moved over to Gondo's shop. He felt a bit bad for Kina, since it wasn't her fault that Rupin had just given Link another free shield. Now the shopkeeper was probably trying to recoup his losses.

Link stood in front of the counter to the repair shop. Gondo was fixing something at his workbench in the back of his shop. Link rang the bell at the front counter.

"Hey," Gondo said, turning around in his chair. "It's you again!" He rose and walked over to Link. "I was just working on that little side project of mine. You know, the one I inherited from my grandfather." he gestured towards his workbench. Link glanced over at it, turned to face Gondo, then turned his head back towards the workbench. Was that-what he thought it was?

"Looks almost complete now, doesn't it?" Gondo asked. "Quite the challenge, too. Didn't exactly come with an instruction manual, after all. I'm a little bit of a genius, if I do say so myself."

Link turned back to face the blacksmith and nodded. When he had time, he would definitely try to find out more about Gondo's side project. He had seen its scattered pieces for years, but they had never looked like much. And yet, after comparing the present, more complete version of it to the Lanayru robots, he thought he knew what it was. Still, he was exhausted right now and he couldn't forget his other task. He held the shield out to Gondo.

"Ah, a sacred shield! I've been hoping someone would request a magical enhancement to one of these for a while now. Wait until I show you what I can do with it..."

Link stared up at the ceiling from his bed. He was in his cozy room under warm blankets. It was comforting. It almost seemed that everything that had happened on the Surface had been a nightmare. He hadn't even seen the many-eyed monster, the only thing from the Surface that had invaded the Sky Realm. Perhaps Levias had already taken care of it. But Zelda's room was locked. Locked and, he knew, empty.

He couldn't stay here, even though he wanted to. The Shiekahs, the gorons, the mogmas, and the kikwis from the surface needed all the help they could get. And the demons. He had to go back. His mind turned to Ghirahim. He wanted to help him. But the choice the demon lord had asked him to make...

Fi jumped out of the sword suddenly. Link looked over at her. She shimmered blue in the darkness. "You do not seem to be sleeping well, Master Link. It is important that you sleep to be well rested in the morning. But I suspect you are troubled by recent events. If you wish to have someone to give advice, or even just to share your thoughts with, I will always be here for that."

Link gave her a wan smile. He allowed her to see his thoughts about the demons.

-You do not wish to seal them away- Fi said into his mind.

Link nodded.

-Your reticence is understandable. Perhaps there is some way for you to find happiness. Would it satisfy you if you could be with Ghirahim, even if all the demons still had to be sealed away? If you were sealed with them?-

Link shook his head. Of course he would willingly agree to be sealed if it were in exchange for the demons being released. But as an alternative to that, it would do nothing to alleviate their suffering. He knew Ghirahim would never accept such an offer, and neither would Link. There had to be some way to break the curse.

-I see. I have not seen anyone discover a way, but if anyone can, it would be you.-

Link smiled at her encouragement. He wouldn't be able to solve this on his own, though. He would need Zelda's help. And Ghirahim's.

He closed his eyes then and dreamed.

Link had returned to the surface at the same location that they had left. The bird statues were useful, he just wished they were already active. Then they would be able to travel to nearly any place on the surface they needed to go. Fi said that because of the long time that they had stood dormant, their magical power had been depleted and so they needed his touch to activate them. It was, Link supposed, a form of magic to bring them back to life. Still, it was hard for him to think of himself as a sorcerer.

Link stopped, his attention turning to the scene in front of him. He saw three cages, all empty except that one contained a time stone. He considered the odd sight. What could it mean?

Finally, he decided to find out. Placing his sword carefully between the bars, Link hit the stone once. The area became a vibrant green. A blunt, crackling weapon barely missed him as he rolled away.

"That's the Sky Hero!" a voice called. Link saw that he was surrounded by bokoblins with strange electrified weapons. Link winced. What was it with this place and electricity?

He looked up and saw a red bokoblin standing on a nearby wall. Like the bokoblins that surrounded him, he was wearing a helmet with goggles and thick gloves. He looked down at Link, a scowl on his face. "Don't move, or I guarantee you will regret it," he growled.

Link considered his options. He knew the bokoblin wasn't exaggerating. He remembered when Ghirahim had attacked him earlier by electrifying his sword. And each of the bokoblins surrounding him carried an electrified weapon. Of course, he could stun others with his sword as well, using the Skyward Strike. And he had his new shield, which would deflect electric attacks.

But the sword would take some time to charge. And in the meantime, he would have to shield himself on all sides.

"Surrender, or we'll do this the hard way," the bokoblin on the wall said. He tapped the electrified edge of his baton on his other gloved hand. Judging by his lack of reaction, Link decided the bokoblin's thick gloves must be preventing the electricity from reaching his hands.

If he held both his hands up with his sword in one of them, maybe it would look like he was surrendering and he could charge his sword. There wasn't really any time to think of another plan. Link held his hands up and pointed his sword towards the sky.

"Take him!" the bokoblin yelled from the wall.

So much for that plan.

Link resheathed his sword and dropped to the ground, moving into a roll. He held his shield near his body, hoping it would deflect all of the attacks from the strange weapons.

It worked fairly well, to his relief. He was able to fend off the bokoblins and soon, he shot Skyward Strikes at them. He charged his sword for the next strike and aimed it at the demon on the wall. The red bokoblin threw himself to the ground, though, and the energy beam missed him by a hair.

"Don't think you've seen the last of us!" the bokoblin growled, jumping back up. He gave one final growl, and then jumped, disappearing behind the crumbling wall The other demons disappeared just as quickly, almost as if they had turned to sand and blown away. Link took several deep breaths and watched the area around him for some sort of trick, but it appeared that they had truly gone.

Fi jumped out of the sword. "This retreat is unanticipated."

"Hey!" A voice called from behind Link. "Can you help me get out of here, brrzzt?"

Link turned around and noticed an LD in a cage like the one that held the timestone. He walked over to the LD. As he approached the cell, Link felt a sudden surge of electricity course into him through his feet. He crumpled to the ground as he heard the voices of demons. In his blurring vision, he saw the sharp-toothed faces of a crowd of bokoblins closing in.

Link awoke staring at the ceiling of a cell. Blinking, he slowly rose to a sitting position.

"So, you're awake," Link heard the voice from behind him. He turned around, and saw a grinning red bokoblin standing outside the cell.

"You stepped right into my trap, ehehe." He flourished his electrified baton. "I always wanted to say that."

Link clutched the bars of his cage. Where was Firestar? He also realized he didn't have his sword. Where was Fi?

The demon seemed to notice his distress. "Yes, we had to restrain that bird of yours. Oh, and we took your sword and the rest of your stuff. Now it's time for your interrogation. I've heard you don't talk, but a simple nod or shake of the head should do for most of it. Also, as I've left you your pencil and paper, you should still be able to answer me that way. I'm Captain Darrow, by the way. Your name is Link, I believe?"

Link nodded.

Darrow held a skewered, white-shelled creature in front of him. It appeared to have been cooked if the blackened marks on the shell were any indication. "Scorched scorpion?" he asked. "I also left some jars of water in your cell, as you can see." He gestured to the side of Link.

Link cautiously accepted the cooked scorpion. They weren't the tastiest-looking creatures, but at least it was missing the stinger and head.

The bokoblin's expression grew serious. "Now that we're properly introduced and you have your food, it's time for you to answer my questions."

Link wondered what the captain might want to ask him.

"It's simple, really. I want to know if you've encountered Lord Ghirahim anywhere in your wanders in this desert."

Link hesitated, not sure how much he should reveal. Finally, he nodded.

Darrow's eyes widened. "And? Was he all right when you last saw him? Is he nearby?"

Link nodded to the first question, and shook his head for the second.

"Where is he?"

Link drew a picture of the area where he and Ghirahim had parted ways and slipped it through the bars to the captain. Darrow took the paper and examined it closely before rolling it up.

"I hope you're telling the truth, Link."

Link nodded.

"Heh heh heh. Of course you say you're telling the truth. A pity that there's no way I can tell. And even if he was where you show him, he may not be now."

"I have a suggestion, Captain," said a voice behind Link. Darrow's eyes darted up and Link turned to see a large winged demon standing outside the other side of the cage.

"Ah, Trelan," the bokoblin said. "What is your suggestion?"

"He might have more to say if he had someone prod his memory. Perhaps by hanging him over an open flame."

Link grimaced. He had heard some of the Sheikahs describe how the demons liked to torture people. Of course, he trusted that Ghirahim would never do such a thing, but he didn't know what any of the other demons might do.

"Torture might make him talk, yes," Darrow responded. "But I see no reason to believe it will make him any more truthful." Darrow's gaze flicked back to Link. "Also, the screams of those in pain may draw unwanted attention."

"With all due respect-"

"My decision is final, Trelan," Darrow said. "Unless you'd like to fight me for it, in which case perhaps we can have a repeat of that amusing little incident earlier where-"

"I apologize," the other demon growled, "for bothering you."

"It was no bother at all, actually. After all, though I do not believe torture any inducement to honesty, it may be useful as a-punishment for untruthfulness. I'll let you know if I need your help with that. Understood?"

"I-yes, Captain. I'll return to the perimeter."

"Thank you. You are dismissed."

Link watched as the winged demon launched himself in the air and flew away.

"That one is very agitated," Darrow said. "I hope for your sake that you are telling the truth, Link. Do you know what is more difficult than leading a group of soldiers into an unknown and hostile territory?"

Link shook his head.

"Doing all of that knowing that the one who vested that authority in you is missing, possibly dead, and certainly not around to help or back you up. Walking a fine line to avoid being viewed as either too sentimental and weak or too cruel and tyrannical. Or sometimes both, all at once. And then suddenly Hylia's heroic troublemaker appears out of nowhere! I'll have you know that I did consider just slowly burning you alive-"

Link grimaced.

"-but it would be too dangerous to anger your sword, who I notice has not deigned to attack us yet. Which bolsters your claim that Ghirahim still lives, and so their agreement still holds." Darrow grinned widely then, showing a mouthful of shiny, perfectly pointed teeth. "I hope you enjoy your rather comfortable open-air confinement. I would really rather not have to hurt you. You seem a friendly sort. If you are a good and truthful Sky Hero, I'll even throw in a pillow!"

Link gave him a small, tentative smile.

His expression grew serious again. "If you are not, then I am afraid that Trelan will not be allowed to torture you."

Link frowned in confusion. He had been expecting the demon to say the opposite.

"Some of us have considerably more imagination than him. You do not want to make me angry, Sky Hero. If you do, you will wish you could scream."

After the captain left, Link thought about that last part for a long time. He looked into the distance, and watched the sand swirling into the air. He didn't relish the idea of being in this cell if the storm became too powerful. Would the demons bother to cover it if the sand became too dangerous? Even if they did, that still wouldn't help Link reach Zelda in time. He had to find her. She was the only one who could end this war.