Chapter 18: Goodbye, My Friends

The boy's legs seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment as he raced to Shiek's side. Kneeling down beside him, Link gently cradled the Sheikah close.

"Sheik!" he gasped out. "Sheik! Please, open your eyes!"

The last remnant of Princess Zelda slowly opened his eyes, a weak smile forming as he recognized the elven boy that held him.

"L-Link..." he wheezed. "Y-you... m-m-made... it..."

A look of hopelessness was Sheik's response. Eyes filling with tears, Link stifled a sob, giving a desperate nod. The petit male smiled a little wider, paying no heed to the blood that drooled down the savage wounds he was a victim of.

"G-good..." he continued. "I-I'm g-g-glad... that you--"

"Enough!" was Link's anguished interruption. "You have to conserve your strength! You have to... you have to!"

Tears freely flowing, Link attempted to clean the blood from Sheik, giving a strained cry as fresh blood continued to seep forth, showing no signs of cease. A gurgling cough came from the Sheikah, who weakly shook his head at Link.

"Too late..." he choked out. "Th-there's... nothing... you c-can do..."

The pained look that showed on Link's face intensified as a trembling hand was lifted, to grip onto the green-clad boy's tunic, undoubtedly staining it with a bloody handprint. Sheik's smile faded.

"It..." the Sheikah resumed. "...h-happened... s-so... quickly... S-s-so... m-many... m-monsters... Held them off... f-for as... l-l-long as... b-but... c-c-couldn't..."

Sheik trailed off, giving very wet-sounding coughs, more blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Link fussed over him as well as he could, and opened his mouth to speak, but Sheik beat him to it.

"S-so sorry..." he added. "It's... all my... f-fault..."

The blond hero shook his head, cradling the ninja closer, ignoring the additional crimson stains that soaked his tunic.

"No..." he choked out. "It's my fault. I should have been quicker. I took too long to return, and because of that, you..."

Trailing off, the boy found himself unable to restrain his soft, distraught sobs any longer. As he wept, a sudden feeling of dread came to him. Fighting back panic, he scanned around, only now noticing remains of monsters, but with each sight, his panic began to show. Swallowing, he turned back to Sheik, his frantic gaze meeting with the younger boy's.

"Where is she?" he demanded. "Where...?"

The panic the boy felt as the dying ninja averted his gaze increased tenfold, the other blond looking quite, for lack of a better word, guilty.

"I-I'm..." he wheezed. "...s-s-she..."

Voice trailing, the Sheikah expelled a violent fit of coughs, specks of his blood spraying out. Alarmed, Link attempted to fuss over him again, but Sheik weakly swatted his hand away, still keeping his gaze averted.

"...s-saved me..." the ninja continued. "...s-saved the t-t-temple... and... the g-gate."

Although his limbs began to feel even heavier, Sheik lifted his hand and gestured to a nearby monster's cadaver. Turning his gaze, Link stared at the corpse, confused.

"B-but..." he stammered. "Where is she?"

Sheik trembled, hesitantly glancing at Link, before speaking a single word that made the green-clad boy's entire form freeze up.

"...gone..."


Time seemed to screech to a halt at that one uttered word. Eyes widened in despair, the green-hatted boy turned to face Sheik, a look of pure disbelief coming to his face. Slowly, he shook his head.

"N-no..." the hero choked out. "It's not... she can't be...!"

As Link tried to find his words, Sheik averted his gaze again, staring over at the monster corpse.

"It... did this..." he replied, trying not to choke with each word. "N-Navi... did what she... c-c-could... t-to heal m-me... but... t-t-too strong..."

Staring back at the boy he cradled in his arms, Link listened as Sheik continued his explanation.

"There was o-only one thing she c-c-could d-do..." the crimson-eyed boy said. "She... f-flew right up t-to it... and... w-w-with all her p-power... d-destroyed the b-beast..."

A strained sob escaped from Link, and he felt like hyperventilating. He could do naught but imagine how hopeless the situation was if Navi had to expend her life force. Staring back over at the beast's remains, it was then that he realized what exactly must have happened.

"I understand..." he said softly. "I was in the past. If the gate was destroyed on this side, I'd have been..."

With another sob, he stared back at the boy in his arms, only to gasp as he saw two crimson eyes staring back into his, a sad smile on their owner's face.

"C-c-couldn't..." the boy coughed out. "...l-let you... c-c-couldn't... l-lose you..."

The Hero of Time felt his cheeks warming as Sheik reached up and weakly cupped his face. Again, Link ignored the blood, reaching up with a hand to place it over Sheik's. Reciprocating the sad smile, the hero listened as Sheik continued.

"I was... b-born from Z-Zelda..." he explained. "This... you already... know... b-but... I never r-r-revealed... h-how I f-felt..."

Unable to articulate a reaction, Link just stared, his cheeks reddening at the sudden revelation.

"L-Link..." he continued. "I... l-love... you..."

Cheeks becoming even redder, Link was taken aback as Sheik leaned up and pressed his lips to the other boy's. Link felt his eyes flutter shut, applying a soft amount of pressure in return. When he felt the pressure slacken, he pulled away and looked at the other boy, listening as yet more was said.

"Th-the p-p-path to l-light..." Sheik wheezed. "...b-begins... in the... heavens. I b-believe... in you... Link..."

Another sad smile was given by the weakened male, before he captured Link's lips with his own again. Moments later, the kiss ended, and Link glanced at the boy in his arms.

"Sheik?" he began. "Why me?"

There was no response. Sheik's eyes were closed, and when he removed his hand from Sheik's, it slumped onto his unmoving form. Eyes widening, he gave a disbelieving sob, and began gently shaking the lifeless boy.

"Hey, wake up!" he sobbed. "Don't give up, Sheik! I can... get you to a Great Fairy! Please, wake up!"

As Link desperately tried to awaken Sheik, he began to shimmer, before Ulzo appeared before him, placing a shadowed hand on his shoulder.

He's gone, kicsi farkas. There's nothing you could have done.

Glaring up at Ulzo through tearstained eyes, Link shook his head.

"Don't say that!" he snapped, causing Ulzo to whisk his hand away in surprise. "He just needs to..."

Trailing off, the blue-eyed boy broke into mournful sobs. Ulzo sighed, folding his arms over his chest.

I know your pain. You really cared for him, maybe even to the same degree as he did for you, but you shouldn't despair. He didn't seem to lament his fate. On the contrary, he was probably happy to have given his life for you.

Staring back at the shadowed figure, Link sniffled, his doppelgänger giving what seemed to be a smile.

It may seem disheartening now, but remember what you ultimately will achieve.

Blood-red eyes gleamed mischievously, the shadow unfolding his arms and punching a fist into the palm of his other hand.

You're gonna kick Ganny's ass, get the Holy Power, and then, with its radiance, repair the damage he has done. How does that sound, kicsi farkas?

In spite of his despair, the sapphire-eyed boy cracked a smile, nodding in agreement. His smile faded as he lifted Sheik into his arms. Closing his eyes, he concentrated the power of the Sages he had reclaimed.

"O Great Spirits, hear my plea... let my prayers reach out to thee..."

As Link concentrated, his unspoken wishes were answered, as Sheik's lifeless body began to radiate with a bright aura, before suddenly fading out of sight completely. Opening his eyes to empty arms, he gave a sad smile.

Please wait for me. I promise to avenge you, and make Ganondorf pay.

Ulzo said nothing, instead rejoining with Link, the boy walking up the stairs and returning to the main chamber of the temple. The corpses of the various monsters scattered about began to also fade, leaving the temple completely empty, except for Link. Stretching a hand out towards the altar, he watched as it returned to its original position, staring silently at it. Turning away, he continued onward, unsure of where to go next. As he exited the temple, he glanced back inside, taking a deep breath.

Goodbye, my friends...



End of Chapter 18.