Sheik flipped back, holding both his daggers behind him. Link stood ready with his shield.

'I'm not letting you harm anyone else.' He said 'If I have to kill you, I will.'

'I wouldn't put it past you.' Sheik replied 'All you Hylians are the same. You don't give a damn about any of us.'

Sheik jumped and whirled forward with his weapons. Link blocked the attack with his shield and Sheik jumped back again, standing poised for another assault.

'Of course we do!' Shouted Link 'How can you say that when you haven't given them a chance?'

'I did and they ignored me!' replied Sheik 'How can you justify that?!'

Link decided he'd done enough blocking, his plan to try and make Sheik see what he was doing had failed. If he wanted him to listen, he'd have to stop the fight. Quickly, he dashed forward, catching Sheik off guard. He swung forward with the Master Sword and struck him. Sheik screamed out in pain.

'Aaack!' he yelped

He knelt down. Link stopped, the pause might have given Sheik time to think. Sheik looked up at him.

'This is what I wanted.' He said 'Come at me with everything you've got!'

Link just stood there and waited for him to get up. He found it cowardly to hit someone when they were down. Sheik stood up and stared at him. He thought that Link was gaining in sympathy. He couldn't let him, if he did he wouldn't get the sort of fight he wanted. He wanted Link to fight with all his strength.

'Heh. I'm surprised.' He said 'I would've thought that after the death of your friends you'd be a bit more upset.'

'I can't forgive you for that.' Said Link 'What happened to you in the past had nothing to do with—'

'You act like you've forgotten, Link.' Sheik interrupted 'I killed them. It was me. Why aren't you angry? Your chance for revenge is right here, so why do you refuse to take it?'

He paused and pulled down his mask. He looked so different with it off, like a completely different person. Before Link and Malon stood a blonde, well built man with a face that looked so forgiving. He just didn't seem capable of murder.

'… Unless…' he continued 'Unless you wanted it to happen. You must have, otherwise you would have done something about it. I did you a favor.'

'You slaughtered innocent people. Don't make it sound like it was righteous.' Replied Link 'Is killing the only way you can release your anger?'

Sheik stabbed his dagger into the wall, sinking it deep into the crack of the stone.

'I don't get you!' he shouted angrily 'Why aren't you mad at me? You should be fighting in rage by now, so why not?!'

'I'm not like you Sheik.' Explained Link 'I don't need to shed blood to vent my feelings. What you're doing is wrong and the least I could do is make you see that.'

'But… But why?' Sheik persevered 'Aren't you sad about the death of your friends?'

'Of course I am.' Link said solemnly 'But I know what you want me to do. I'm not going to fight in a blind rage because you'll have the advantage.'

'You are a fool!' Sheik shouted 'Don't you understand that I'm not going to stop? No matter what you say, it won't change a thing so let's just end this!'

Link held his sword back, preparing himself for a powerful lunge.

'Link…' he heard Malon say

Link held his hand up at Sheik and knelt down beside her. Sheik nodded, he also didn't believe in unfair fights. He knew the fights he'd fought before were in his favor, but this was different. This was a battle of honor and would finally prove his beliefs. He lent against the wall, folding his arms. Link faced Malon when he was sure he wouldn't be attacked.

'Malon?'

'Don't.' she asked him 'I don't want to see it anymore, I don't want to you fight.'

'I have to.' Link replied 'Look at him Malon, his mind is set. Nothing I say will change that, nothing can.'

'But if I lose you then… If Hyrule loses you it has no chance in the future.' She told him 'Please, stop it. Stop the fighting.'

'I'm sorry Malon—'

'Please!'

Link stood up back in ready stance. Sheik moved himself from the wall, preparing to fight.

'How many people have you killed Sheik?' asked Link

'Not enough to avenge my people.' Came the reply

'Tell me!' Link demanded

'… I lost count a long time ago…' Sheik said, looking slightly solemn

'And in all those people you killed, do you think that any of them had a family?' Link continued 'Do you think that they could have been a brother, a father, or a mother and a sister to anyone? They've lost all they cared about for no reason!'

'So did I!' Sheik yelled 'Don't you understand? Have I not told you enough for you to realize what happened? It pains me just to think of it!'

'Then you should know not to make anybody else go through that!' Link argued

'I'm not listening to you!' Sheik screamed 'You're just trying to confuse me. Well, it's not going to work. I'm not going to rest until I've destroyed you!'

Link nodded knowing that he would get nowhere if he persevered.

'I tried to make you see your mistakes Sheik,' he said, drawing a circle on the floor with his blade 'but if this is what you want… I guess there's nothing I can say to make you realize what you've done.'

'Stop stalling and fight me!' demanded Sheik 'If you don't then I'll make the first move!'

He placed his hands in front of him and closed his eyes.

'Jigoku e yõkoso Link.' He said 'Welcome to Hell.'

Link realised what he was doing, Sheik was preparing a magic spell. He placed his arms together and summoned a blue orb of light in his arms.

'Now Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom, please lend me your strength.'

The orb shattered as though it was made of glass. It fragments spread far and then returned to him, expanding to make some sort of magic shield, then disappeared. Sheik still had his eyes closed and couldn't see what was happening in front of him. The ground below him changed into streaks of red, making a strange symbol right under his feet.

'… Kaji Ha…' he whispered

The symbol shot into the air above Link. Nine long streaks of fire were circling above him, lighting the entire room with their brilliant power. Without warning they shot down to Link, surrounding and engulfing him in their magic. He sensed it all, the immense heat of the flame, the suffocating burning smell as it caught his clothes and set them alight. Something was wrong.

'What's going on?' he thought 'This should be working, did I not cast the spell correctly?'

No sooner did he finish that thought did the spell start to take effect. The shield became visible again and stopped the rest of the fire getting through. The inside of it seemed to reach to the magic caught on Link's clothes which was setting them ablaze and smothered it in a blue spell. Like water against fire, Link's magic was more powerful and so he was sure to win. Sheik's spell disintegrated against the shield.

'Well done,' he said 'I see you managed to get more power from the Goddesses. Nayru's Love am I right?'

'Yes.' Link replied

'You see, I've spent a lot of time studying the ways of magic. When I heard about the spells that you used, well they interested me a lot.' Sheik continued 'I thought I'd devote more time to them.'

'What's your point?' asked Link

'Why, are you in a rush Link? You only speeding to your demise.' Sheik told him 'My point is that I made some interesting discoveries. I found out about the Goddesses, how powerful the spells were and, more importantly, their weaknesses.'

Link shook his head. This couldn't be true, Sheik was only trying to confuse him about things he already knew.

'That's impossible.' He scoffed 'You're talking about the Goddesses. There is no weakness in their magic.'

'Really? You're an ignorant fool Link, nothing is impossible. You shouldn't believe everything you're told.' Replied Sheik

'Why should I believe anything you tell me when you're the one that wants me dead?' Link asked

'I guess you won't believe me until I show you.' Realized Sheik 'Very well. I know your spell has a time limit so I'll strike now so that you don't think I'm lying.'

Again he held out his arms in front of him.

'Kikenna Mizu.' He murmured

His hands filled with blue water. It continued until it could only just fit, a blue sphere building up, radiating with power. He thrust his arms forward and the magic shot out. Link braced himself as the water swirled around him, a few jets heading straight for his chest. Nayru's Love shone again and stopped it dead in its tracks.

'I told you.' Said Link 'You can't defeat Nayru.'

'Just wait.' Sheik spoke smugly

The waves kept appearing, all lashing at Link but being blocked by his shield. More and more appeared, all of them hammering at him. Then, one got through. One, then another, and soon all of them were inside. The shield kept glowing, trying not to let anything pass. That was a mistake, the water was now inside with the shield not letting any out. It was rising and Link realised that unless he did something quickly he would most certainly drown.

'Link!' Malon screamed

'The spell will wear off.' He hoped 'Just concentrate.'

Link closed his eyes, filling his mind with images of the shield disappearing. He felt a calm surge of energy enter his body and then opened them again. Nayru's Love had faded.

'Thank you, Nayru.' He prayed

Sheik stared at the puddle of water that was by Link's feet. He couldn't believe what had just happened, there was no way Link could've done anything to prevent that. Shrugging, he brought his arms back down and relaxed, Link's spell must have reached its limit and worn off, that was the only explanation he could think of.

'Luck is on your side today I see.' He told Link 'But now I've proved myself. Your borrowed power is no match for my magic training.'

'How did you do that?' Link asked

'You haven't spent much time using that power, not as much as I have training. Ever since I was little I've been practising those techniques.' Sheik explained 'You on the other hand have merely used a power that is not your own. Even if it is a great one, it could never compare.'

'But the Goddesses are the most powerful beings alive… You're lying! It was just a fluke!'

'Oh please, have I touched a nerve?' asked Sheik 'Stop being so ignorant Link and just accept it. You can't compare with me, not even your Goddesses can help you.'

'I'll never believe anything you say Sheik, not after what you've done.' Link said 'How could you! How could—'

'Urusai!' Sheik interrupted 'Shut up! Only now do you feel sad about your friends? Quite a delayed reaction, I guess you're only just coming to terms with it. It took me quite a while to grasp what had happened to the people I cared about.'

'Bastard!'

Link held his sword back and lunged straight for him. Sheik was taken aback by the sudden charge, allowing Link to pin him on the floor. The hilt facing forward, he began to pummel Sheik, pounding down hard on his chest and striking his deceitful face with his blade. Sheik screamed out and struggled to push Link away.

'I'm going to kill you!' Link shouted 'I tried to be tolerant, but there's nothing to reason with. No soul rests within you, you are completely void of emotion! You can't be a Sheikah! Even if you were, now you're no better than scum!'

'I am a Sheikah you brat! Don't you ever call me otherwise!!'

'You say that I'm not worthy to be the Hero of Time, well you're not worthy of your title either.' Link told him 'If you lived by your own standards, you'd have been stripped of your rank a long time ago.'

'Shut up!!! You don't know anything about me, you can never know how I really feel! If you did you'd be the one who takes the lives of others, and I wouldn't stop you because I'd know that it's something you have to do!!' Sheik yelled, blood trickling down his temple

'You never had to—'

'No! No more talk!' he silenced 'The only sound I want to hear is the one you make when my blade pierces through your skin! We will fight for real!!'

Holding his daggers crossed in front of him, he looked straight towards Link.

'Another spell.' Link thought 'How can I fight him when I've no way to protect myself?'

Sheik's eyes glimmered pure scarlet and the light built up in his weapons.

'Hikari No Wa Kurai Tsuki!!'

His twin blades now emitted pure energy, each elegant carving illuminated by a gentle glow. Blood dripped from his face to the floor, wiped away from his eyes by his sleeve.

'What was that for, show?' Link mocked

Sheik gave a disapproving sigh and flicked his hair back. He held the dagger up and against the wall for about two seconds. When he moved it, there was a deep hole left into the stone as the crumbling fragments of brick and mortar fell to the ground.

'One touch, just one short touch on your skin and you won't even have enough time to bleed.'

'What… What is that spell?' Link asked

'A Sheikah technique, "Light Of The Dark Moon".' Sheik told him 'And now for my next trick.'

'Sundeimasu Nagai.'

More light emitted from his weapons, surrounding him in what looked like a holy aura. Grinning, he held his swords more casually and relaxed into a careless stance.

'And what would that do?'

'Take a shot at me Link.' Sheik challenged 'That stone, throw it at me.'

Link looked down to his right, there was the stone. Not really a stone, it seemed more like some small, jagged rock to him but he picked it up anyway. Taking a step forward he threw it fast at Sheik. It flew straight for his chest, then shattered before hitting him. Where the impact was came white round light that disappeared before Link had a chance to blink.

'"Live Long", another spell.' Sheik said 'Far more effective than your stupid Nayru's Love. Your spell might stop you from suffering injuring but you still feel the shock, mine stops it before it can get anywhere near me.'

'You're a real show off.' Link scowled 'I thought you'd at least want a fair fight.'

'This is fair.' Sheik told him 'You have magic, and so have I. It's only right that we use it.'

'You knew the you could defy the Goddesses.' Link realised 'The only reason you wanted me to get their power was so that you could use your own.'

Sheik smiled and laughed, tilting his head slightly. Sweeping his right arm forward, he created and small energy wave. It hit Link and knocked him off his feet, sprawling him on the floor, Nayru's Love had vanished and now he had to fend for himself. He'd depended too much on that spell to protect him before, now that it was gone he had no idea what to do. Granted, he had his other spells, but if Sheik could manipulate his shield there was no telling what would happen if he could manipulate his fire.

'You're not very quick are you?' Sheik asked, looking down at him

He stopped staring at Link and gave him one swift kick in his side. Link groaned on the impact and clawed for him, hoping to grab him. His leg, a piece of cloth, anything that would catch him off guard would have helped, but Sheik, true to his race, was fast. He knew enough about Link and any Hylian for that matter to know what would happen, all untrained Hylians were the same. Give them an opportunity to strike and they'd take it, fierce battle had the same effect with more risk involved.

'You are so typical.' Sheik scoffed 'All Hylians are alike, even you. Anyone could tell that you don't have a clue what you're doing.'

Link still stayed on the floor, acting like he was winded and buying some time to think things through.

'If he'll only fight magic with magic, I have to get rid of it. But how?'

Pain in his side, Sheik was still kicking him.

'How? I don't know how, I don't know why he can defy it.'

Sheik slashed at him.

'I don't understand! Somebody tell me!'

'Get up!!' Sheik shouted at him 'Stop playing the fool! I want this fight to be real! Never before have I used my full potential, I want to test myself and you are perfect!'

Groggily, Link got up.

'And how am I perfect?'

'I get my revenge and my true power at the same time, this opportunity is too good to let go.' Sheik told him 'Now fight properly and get ready to die!'

'Never!' Link yelled 'I will never fall to you! After everything that you've done, I owe it to all the people you've kill to avenge them!'

'To avenge them?' Sheik repeated 'That's the exact reason I'm fighting you.'

He moved back, preparing to repeat himself.

'Do you understand Link?' He asked 'Do you know what it's like to loose the people close to you, to loose the people you truly care about?'

'No! This is different!' Link shouted 'Stop comparing my grief to yours, your people went differently to my friends.'

'How? How did they go differently?'

'Your people were attacked by their enemies, they thought it was their duty. But Zelda and Saria… You murdered them in cold blood!!!'

'No! It was all for a reason! Everything happens for a reason!' Sheik shouted 'That fact doesn't stop my grief, but I know that it's my duty to rid this world of you!'

'Your place in this world perished when you took the lives of the innocent.' Link told him 'I'm going to avenge all the people you've hurt with your thirst for blood!'

Placing his hands together, Link decided to take a risk. He didn't care that his magic could be used against him, if all he could do was try then he would do it. Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for the attack.

Hee! Next chapter up soon! (hopefully!)