Blessed

Chapter Fourteen: Agitha

This seemed to have far less of an effect on them than she expected. Link paused for a second, then asked, "And...how is this a problem? Can't you just put another seal on him, instead of waiting it out?"

"No. I can't."

"Why not?" Ghirahim questioned.

"It will hold him for only a few minutes, no matter how strong it is. He's almost reached his ultimate strength - and once he has, there is no seal that can hold him back. I fear that, this time, he will come back stronger than ever before."

Link felt a soft tingling at the edges of his mind that reminded him of an event that had occurred a little over a week ago. "Um, Zelda? Is he able to contact anyone mentally through the seal?"

Ghirahim met his eyes with a tinge of shock drawn on his features as the former princess replied, "Possibly, if he sets his mind to it. Not for long, though, and it would tucker him out considerably."

"Would he...still be able to attack and kill someone, as well as set up an automatic barrier around Hyrule?"

Realization dawned in Zelda's gaze. "Y-Yes, probably. It isn't that hard to do. Did he...contact you?"

Link shrugged. "It was more like he attacked. Whatever the case, I think he's a lot closer to breaking out of prison than you think he is. And, um - he 'awaits' me, apparently."

The old woman rose to her feet. Her posture returned in an instant, and she sighed. "Then I suppose we shouldn't keep him waiting for too much longer, lest he be angrier than usual when he wakes up. Come, we'll retrieve the Master Sword, and then we'll wait for him to break the seal."

"I'm not using that sword again. I left Hyrule a long time ago. I don't even think it would accept me again, honestly."

Zelda scowled, hesitant at first. "...Fine. But we should at least stay near it, just in case yours proves to be...incapable."

"I am plenty capable and it is rude for you to assume that I am weaker than that pitiful excuse for a blade. I have a sharper, better-defined point and I have far more personality than it does."

"Who is - who is that?"

Fate appeared from the sheath and took a mock bow. "My name is Fate. I was created by Demon Lord Ghirahim to assist my master, Link, both in and out of battle. I consider it an insult to be compared to the Master Sword, so please do not do so again."

Zelda was silent for a second before continuing down the steps and walking straight past them, then turning back. "There's a temple nearby that - "

" - holds the Master Sword and is placed well in the event of a battle?" Link interrupted.

"Yes."

The Hero shot a glance at Ghirahim, who shrugged one shoulder and flipped his hair. Fate vanished back into the sheath the moment he nodded and stated, "Then let's go."

"Not yet," Zelda murmured. "I can't go, but I can tell my...granddaughter what to do once you defeat Ganondorf. Right now, I need to call Volga and ask for his assistance."

"Volga? The dragon knight?" Ghirahim questioned. "Since when does he fight for Hyrule?"

"Since we made peace after the war. After we lost you two. He insisted that he felt as though no debt would be repaid in the end, and offered to serve under me for the remainder of my life. As a dragon, he still has centuries ahead of him - but he understands that as a human, I had only one." She walked out of the throne room and whistled sharply. Almost immediately, the beat of wings filled the air. "This will be my final request of him - and we both know it."