A bright streak of lightning momentarily lights up the sky. The deep, dark clouds of turmoil and doom cover the realm in darkness. Link staggers forward, feet wading through the shallow water in the boundless dimension in which Demise had taken them both. His legs were shaking and every muscle in his body screamed at him to quit. He stumbled, and fell to one knee, and he felt as though he would not be able to go.

No, Link thought, I have to keep fighting. I must save Zelda. I must save our home, this land, and everyone else. They are all counting on me. There will be no hope without me. I'm the chosen hero, I must not let Hylia down! I WILL SAVE THEM!

Link sprang up to his feet and lurched forward, hurtling himself towards the Demise, who was slowly bearing down on him. He raised his sword against the great evil in front of him, preparing to strike once he was within range. He saw Demise raising his sword too. As if in slow motion, he saw the twisted sword striking down, right where he was standing. His reflexes had slowed, but he narrowly managed to jump out of harms way.

Something hit his boot and sent a sharp pain through his foot before he crashed into the ground. Looking over, he could see a large tear in his left boot and blood trickling out. Had he been any slower to react, he would have lost his foot entirely. A few feet away from Link, Demise was struggling to pull his sword out of the ground. It would have taken great force for the sword to have sunk into the ground so far.

Fear shot through Link like an arrow. He knew he didn't have the energy or speed to keep this up any longer. His dodges were becoming more and more late, something that he couldn't afford. Link reached out for his bottles. He knew he had already used the last of the potions he had brought with him. He had made sure that every bottle was filled to the brim with these glistening concoctions, but Demise was much stronger than Link had anticipated. Not to mention the fact that he had already spent so much energy on trying to stop Ghirahim from resurrecting Demise in the first place.

Link drank whatever spare drops of the potions were left, but it was no good. There just wasn't enough left to help. He wanted so much to just continue to lay there, to rest and let himself pass out. Maybe all this was just a nightmare. Who cares if he was killed, he'll just wake back up in his warm bed, probably getting woken up by Zelda like she does every morning. It's all just a dream, right...?

But the exhaustion and pain he felt was so real, the scene so vivid. It was nothing like the nightmares he had had before. It was all too real, and if he didn't get up soon, Demise would come and finish him off... But... what was he fighting for again? His mind was becoming so foggy and everything felt so distant. What is happening?

He shook his head violently. ZELDA! I HAVE TO SAVE ZELDA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! Link got on his feet again. I must strike down Demise while he's busy!

A grumble of thunder filled Link's ears, but he could hear Fi calling out to him. "Master Link, do not worry, I believe in you. You are the chosen one, I know you can defeat him."

A burst of energy flooded Link's muscles. He raised the master sword skyward, and filled the sacred blade to the brim with divine, holy energy. The warm glow from the light and Fi's confidence gave him reassurance. He could do this, he was sure of it.

Charging forward, sword raised, Link belted out the loudest war cry he could muster. He drew closer to Demise, still hunched over his sword, ready to bring down his sword onto the scaly back of this oversized demon. He was just about to release his attack when it happened.

In only a split second, Demise was no longer struggling with his sword. He whipped around, eyes gleaming like red hot coals and the most wicked smile on his face, as if he knew something Link didn't. More lightning shot through the sky, making him a most eery sight to behold.

A large fear settled in Link's heart. Demise had not actually been struggling with his sword. It was merely a set up, a distraction, and Link had fallen for it. Demise's sword came rushing at Link's side, and his eyes widened in surprise as he tried to dodge the attack.

It was to no avail, however. Demise had caught Link off guard for the last time, and he just didn't have the reflexes to maneuver out of harms way this time. The next thing Link knew, he was drowning in pain like never before. Demise was cutting into his side and the sharp pain was unbearable. Link was sure he felt and even heard a few ribs breaking as well at the force of the blow.

Link fell to the ground and his body felt as though it were on fire. Every thing burned and ached. He could no longer move. He looked around him, eyes beginning to go blurry and saw red blossoming in the water. Soon he was surrounded by his own blood, and faintly he could sense Demise standing over him, watching, probably with that wicked grin of his. The fire was subsiding, only to be replaced by a numbing sensation. His body became cold, his vision dark, and even as he continued to breath, he lost the sense of his body. There was no hope for him, this was the end. His body no longer responded to his thoughts, and his consciousness slowly faded away.

I'm so sorry... Zelda... Fi... Everyone... I let all of you down... I-

Link took his last, shuddering breathe, his eyes glossed over, and passed away. Hylia's chosen hero was defeated.

Demise let out a growl of pleasure. "We did it, Ghirahim. We won."