Clearer in Time

XX. Confrontations
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The Chamber of Sages wore a veil of anticipation over it’s face. The circular platform, with it’s six colored seals surrounding the seventh sigil of the Triforce, bore all of the respective wise men. Or rather, women, as only two of the six were male. All the sages gazed intently into the triangular platform, watching different scenes unfold. Their bridge was complete, and the rival had come to the aid of the Hero of Time. So far, things seemed skewed in the favor of light.

There was, of course, the matter of the princess…

Princess Zelda, bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, the Seventh Sage of Hyrule, hung lax from her chain bindings, unconscious from physical and emotional exhaustion. Across the stone chamber, Ganondorf was conversing with his subordinate, the wind mage.

Throughout the Chamber of Sages were different expressions upon the faces of Hyrule’s protectors. Rauru and Darunia, for their parts, were turned away from the center platform, having chosen not to watch what conspired. The both of them twiddled their thumbs awkwardly, not daring to look at one another.

The remaining Sages, the women, faced forward, their arms crossed about their bosoms, their eyes watching intently. They had seen what had transpired. Finally the silence was broken.

“Whore…” Ruto, the Sage of Water. She wore a triumphant smirk on her face, as if some unstated point of hers had been proven. “I always knew that princess was no good. And to think that she was all he would ever talk about…”

“That’s enough from you.” A strong, intimidating voice. Impa, Sage of Shadow and Zelda’s nursemaid. Her eyes reflected the two emotions reflected the emotions she felt towards her beloved charge. Disappointed, but compassionate.

“The princess is struggling unlike anything you could imagine,” the wise Sage continued. “Her heart and intentions are pure…”

“Well surely,” the sentence was cut short by a flurry of giggles. Saria, still not quite adult, had kept her hands to her face the entire time, her blue eyes peeking through her fingers occasionally. Presently, the Forest Sage’s hands were still at her mouth, so as to stifle her snickers as she continued to speak.

“Surely what the princess is struggling with doesn’t justify…well…that…” more giggles. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. I just mean, perhaps, with the Triforce of Wisdom and all, she would have better judgment.”

“You would be surprised, Saria…” Nabooru, the Spirit Sage, spoke in tones that seemed to exude absolute misery. All of them could see that her cheeks were streaked with tears. Saria mentally chastened herself for laughing moments before.

“The Gerudo King is not quite what you would expect. It is difficult to deny him…”

An uncomfortable silence now blanketed the chamber. Rauru and Darunia, assuming that the conversation was over, tentatively began to turn back around. Suddenly, Saria piped up once more, causing the two male Sages to pivot back around and try to tune out the awkward conversation.

“What do you think will happen between her and Link?” The question of the hour. Saria received silence, wondering if perhaps she should have said nothing. Then the opinions began to fly.

“He’ll do it,” Ruto started. “All men are the same. It doesn’t matter if they’re engaged, put a skinny little hussy in front of them, and they’ll forget all about you.”

“Just because that happened to you,” Impa retorted. “Doesn’t mean every fiancée is annoying enough to be abandoned.” The Zora princess looked as though she had been slapped.

“Besides,” Saria interjected. “He denied me, as well. He seemed to feel pretty strongly for that Sheik girl. But I guess, Sheik is Zelda, after all… I suppose it‘s inevitable.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Nabooru chimed in. She seemed to be feeling at least a bit better. She was composed, anyway. “The princess and the Sheikah girl may share a body, but they’re worlds apart. The Hero may not know it, but he has a choice to make…”

…

“They’re getting to close,” Ganondorf spoke calmly, but the intuitive young man could see the tension beneath the ruse. “This is your chance at redemption, Vaati. Do not fail me again.”

The young wind mage knelt before his master. His face was expressionless, as always.

“It will be done, my lord.” Vaati rose to his feet and turned to leave the room. Ganon frowned to himself.

“I don’t believe I’ve yet dismissed you,” The Evil King called to the parting young boy. Vaati turned to face him, saying nothing, just holding his gaze for a moment. His pale face was as mute as ever, but Ganondorf felt that, in the mage’s one visible eye, he could see the spark of defiance.

Then Vaati dropped his gaze, and turned towards the door once more. He exited the room without another word.

Ganon Sat back in his throne, looking around his master chamber. The princess was still bound against the far wall, sleeping. Ganon had long since used his magic to compose her, her used look pathetic to the point of disgusting him. Some princess she was. Seduced by the enemy.

Then again, he had read somewhere that the bearers of the Triforce were naturally drawn to each other, in one form or another. Surely it would explain his own impulsive advance upon her. Of course, he knew that more than that, it had been just to demean her, to weaken her. He loved the power of it.

Not that any of that mattered to him. Only one thing did, now that this melodrama neared it’s end. He had gathered in this room two shards of the Triforce. If the Hero somehow made it to his throne, the two youths would be slaughtered and relieved of their divine gifts. But more than likely, Vaati would see to his demise.

Ganondorf frowned, thinking of the look the boy had given him before leaving. The wind mage was strange, to be sure. Although apparently emotionless, the boy always seemed to be silently defying him. Mocking him, even.

He had first discovered the boy years ago, long before his siege upon Hyrule. He had been drawn to the mage’s dark energy, seeing the potential for a second, a right hand man. Such strength, within the boy. Ganondorf had sometimes felt that Vaati’s well of power, if tapped, would be enough even to rival his own. But that had been before he had acquired the Triforce of Power. He was no threat anymore.

Still. The boy was mysterious. Years later, after the princess and the Hero had grown into young adulthood, Vaati had not aged a day past his late teen appearance, as Ganon had first discovered him. Probably he had misused his power and cursed himself, or something equally foolish.

He didn’t like that this young wizard would disrespect him so. He did not respond to intimidation, as the traitor doppelganger had. When he had lost the Mirror Shield, he had simply shrugged it off, as if it were a trivial matter.

“It just means he’ll be coming here,” Vaati had said. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

True, but still… Ganondorf’s brow furrowed, thinking deeply. Finally, he threw the entire notion aside. He rose from his throne, knowing just what would ease his mind.

A massive pipe organ sat against the wall opposite the princess. Casting a temporal window before himself, watching in anticipation, Ganon seated himself before the ivory keys as the mysterious wind mage made his way to kill the Hero and the Traitor.

…

Ganon’s Tower was an absolute hell on earth. Traps were set, not just physically but mentally. Illusions tempted and tortured the two swordsmen as they trialed through the dungeons. Stalfos roamed the castle, the living dead armed with swords and shields. It was almost as frightening as the Shadow Temple.

At first, Link had kept a cautious eye on the double, watching his every move. Dark Link seemed to know his way throughout the stronghold quite well, which made sense. The traps and puzzles, however, seemed just as surprising to him as they were to Link.

Over the course of their travel, they had developed a tentative allegiance, putting their young, prideful rivalry aside. Dark Link had even saved him once, pulling him back as a giant blade fell seemingly from nowhere.

Eventually, as they wound up a giant staircase that periodically fed into some sort of blade rigged room or monster infested booby trap, a hesitant conversation started.

“Why are you helping me?” Dark Link looked up from his thoughts as they ascended yet another winding stone staircase, the ominous dirge echoing even more loudly from higher in the tower. His red eyes were a bit surprised as they held Link’s blue ones. It was strange to hear him speak, considering that he hardly ever did. Dark Link considered lying, a natural habit he was trying to break, and decided he could tell at least some of the truth.

“I thought about what you said in Kakariko,” he started. “You were right, I suppose. I didn’t want to live a life condemned to either murder or execution. I decided to live my own life.” He silenced, hoping Link would be satisfied with it.

“That’s great,” the Hero said. “But you seemed to have avoided my question. Why are you helping me?” Dark Link grimaced, having hoped to leave the detail of Malon out of the equation. Who knew how the Hero would react?

“Well…” Dark started. “I was at the inn the night after you left. Your friend was there…” Link’s eyes widened as he connected the dots.

“You?” he asked incredulously. “You and Malon?” Dark Link nodded, trying to hide a faint color rising in his cheeks. The Hero’s mocking grin stretched wider.

“Oh, shut it,” the double said, annoyed. “Don’t think just for that I’m entirely soft. It compelled me to help you, didn’t it? Where would you be without me, right now?”

Link nodded, his smile gradually fading. Dark Link pushed the exchange onwards.

“What about you? Did you ever catch up with the Sheikah girl?” Link dropped his gaze, and Dark wondered if perhaps he had prodded a wound.

“She turned out to be the princess all along…” the Hero said. Dark Link’s jaw almost dropped. Suddenly it all made sense. The girl’s strange behavior. Ganondorf’s watchful presence always surveying her. The Evil King had known.

“Wow,” Dark Link fumbled. “Well, it all works out than doesn’t it? You’ve got the princess. Well, you will, once we save her.” Link faked a smile, his thoughts still troubled.

“Yeah, I suppose…” It felt like it should have been a truth. After all, it was Zelda. Princess Zelda. He had wanted nothing more than to see her again since he had last parted from her. He had fallen deeply for Sheik, feeling more than a little treacherous but not caring.

And low and behold, the mysterious Sheikah had turned out to be none other than the elusive princess herself. It seemed that he had feelings for her no matter what form she took. After the fact, he felt as though he had known all along. Sheik’s face had always held a somehow unique hint of familiarity.

Still, something lingered. Of course he was more than glad to see Zelda again, but… he had grown attached to the way she had been as Sheik. The two sides of her seemed so different. Then again, he had not had much time to speak with Zelda before Ganon had seized her from the Spirit Temple. Perhaps training with Impa all those years had made her more adventurous. Perhaps they weren’t so different, after all.

Link smiled to himself. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. It had been foolish of him to worry over nothing. The two girls were one and the same, after all. All he needed to worry about now was saving the princess, Sheik or Zelda, whatever she preferred to be called nowadays.

They approached the landing at the top of the stairs, another door before them. The Goddesses only knew what lie behind it. Link and his counterpart each grasped a handle of the double doors and pulled them back, peeking their heads inside before entering.

The room was large and vacant, made of cold stone, akin to most of the castle. The ceiling stretched upwards, extremely high. At the far end of the room was the other door, the one that would put them back on the stairs towards Ganon’s chambers.

Wary of traps, the two warriors slowly crossed the room, approaching the exit. They were close enough to grasp the handle when Link felt a strange, familiar wind breeze past his hair. Him and his double about faced to see the wind mage standing in the center of the room, arms crossed, face blank. There was a small, half moon scar under his visible eye, where Link had cut him all those years ago. Other than that, however, there was no difference. The boy had not seemed to age a day.

“Remember me, Hero?” Vaati said. As always, he sounded rather bored. “I’ve come to finish what I started.” He raised his hands to his sides, the air crawling through and around his fingertips, gathering strength.

“Pfft. Show off.” Dark Link smirked disinterestedly at the younger looking adversary. Vaati held his gaze.

“It’s not too late for you,” Vaati said to him, causing his smirk to drop. “Ganondorf isn’t fond of seeing such precious blood weaving gone to waste. He’s sworn not to kill you if you take my side now. A bit merciful of him, if you ask me. I’d kill you.” Dark Link said nothing, only drawing his sword and taking his stance. Link reached behind him to draw his own.

“Don’t Link,” Dark said. Link stared at him puzzled. His counterpart stood in front of him, as if protecting him. He looked over his shoulder momentarily to look at the Hero. “Ganon’s chamber is the next floor up. You need to save the princess. Go now while I hold this guy off.”

Link was taken aback by his dark counterpart’s noble actions. He contemplated refusing, but realized that Dark Link was right. He nodded, slowly backing towards the door. Dark Link flashed his signature grin, his canines showing.

“I’ll catch up when I’m done,” he said. “Good luck, Hero.”

“I think not.” Vaati’s words echoed throughout the room. He shot his hands forth, propelling razor sharp winds towards them. The swordsmen both jumped out of the way. The wind left slashes in the door and surrounding stone.

Dark Link was on his feet in a second, rushing towards Vaati. The mage fired another spell, but had no time to charge it. It hit Dark, leaving a tiny rip in his tunic, but not slowing him at all. He tackled Vaati to the ground, pinning the smaller boy.

“Go now, Link!” The Hero nodded and ripped open the door, slamming it shut behind him. A second later, Vaati managed to buck Dark Link off of him. They both got to their feet. Vaati trembled with rage. His voice quivered, but was still as monotonous as ever.

“You traitor,” he said. “You could have been spared. Ganondorf would have shown mercy on you.” At this, for the first time Dark Link could ever remember, Vaati seemed to smile a bit. Just a little.

“But I won’t.” Vaati raised his arms to his sides once more, closing his visible eye. Dark could feel the wind twirling all around him, almost snatching his cap off. He reached absent mindedly and held it to his head.

Vaati’s body rose into the air, his cloak flowing around him. It seemed as if the room was getting dimmer. As if the very energy of the room was being harnessed.

Then, as if it couldn’t get any stranger, a strange aura began to emanate from Vaati’s body. A smoky, black cloud all around his person. It grew larger and larger, enveloping the young wind mage in darkness.

Soon it was a giant sphere of blackness, hovering above the ground. Dark, smoky tendrils began to snake forth from it, tentacles. In the center of the sphere, a single giant red eye opened, staring malevolently. The giant cyclopean monster that had once been Vaati blinked a few times, before advancing towards Dark Link, his face set and sword raised.

…

Link made his way up the staircase, the wailing organ music growing to a deafening volume. Sun peered through the stain glass windows lining the wall, covering the tower in deceiving drapes of beauty. Finally, he reached the top of the stairs. A large, elegant doorway stood before him. The music came from just behind it. This was it, he thought. This is what it’s all been building up to. There’s no turning back now.

Link steeled his resolve and opened the door.

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*I think I have the ending pretty much mapped out. It's coming up. Just got a few details to work out. Hope you guys are enjoying this so far.
*As far as pairings go, it seems as though most people hated the Ganon/Zelda. Disappointing, but not the end of the world. I stand by it. I've gotten all positive feedback on a Link/Zelda pairing, so I guess it's gonna happen. If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace. Although at this point, I dunno if it'd make a difference.
*"Jarty" and "Chris," thanks for the reviews. Sorry you didn't like the pairing, but glad you're enjoying the story.
*Story's almost done! FEEDBACK!!! Rate, Review, and Enjoy!!!