Hi guys! I do have to apologize for last week, but I just got a new computer so I had to transfer everything from the last one. I also have to apologize for yesterday (since tuesday is my usual posting day). But anyway, we are entering the ending with probably my longest chapter yet. I hope you like it. For the sake of those who - like me - enjoy reading a fanfiction in one sitting, I won't be writting notes at the beginning of the last two chapters. My next note will be at the very end, so see you then!

Chapter 10

The corridors were completely deserted, but Ruto didn't mind it. In fact, it made her feel safer. She pushed a heavy fireproof door, than ran down five sets of stairs, until she reached the parking underneath the building. There, she trotted to the only red car of the parking, and knocked twice on the trunk of the car. Zelda opened it quickly, and jumped out, followed by Impa and Steven. They followed Ruto back to the stairs, and as she opened the door Zelda placed a hand on her shoulder, and smiled as best as her nerves let her.

"Thank you Ruto. I advice you leave quickly. There is no telling what Demise could do to this building."

The fish girl nodded, and handed over her key card.

"Here. Take the elevator. Although I bet you know the way."

"I'll never forget it."

Ruto reciprocated her smile, than turned to face Impa and Steven.

"I wish you good luck in your quest."

Impa gently smiled.

"Thank you Ruto, I bet we are going to need it."

After a small nod, Ruto ran back into the parking. Steven wanted to watch her leave, but as Zelda pressed them onward he lost sight of her.

Five set of stairs and a deserted hall later, the trio finally faced the elevator, the only access to Demise's office, after Zelda's sayings. As the door opened, the still had yet to see any guard, or even an office worker. Something was not right, the three of them knew as they walked into the elevator.

"He's waiting."

Zelda nodded.

"Probably."

Steven gulped loudly without even noticing. His left hand was itching since they arrived close to the building, for a reason he couldn't comprehend. And even though he couldn't, he wanted to hold his sword right now. But the elevator was barely large enough for the three of them.

"If we lose tonight, Demise gets the last piece of the Triforce on a golden platter." Steven couldn't help but declare. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Zelda clenched her fists.

"Don't worry. I won't let him complete his Triforce. We can't let him."

As the elevator came to a slow stop, the doors opened to unveil one of the largest rooms Steven had ever seen those past few days. The room must have been as large as the building itself, with a white plastic floor, and huge black windows which covered most of the walls. At the end of the room, a white plastic desk littered with papers stood in front of a turned leather chair. Zelda moved first, taking a few steps inside. Impa followed, and Steven hesitated for the longest time. Even right in front of his destiny, he still wasn't sure if he had the strength to hold it.

"Demise!" Zelda yelled. "We know you are in there! Show yourself!"

A loud, strangely young and human voice echoed around them.

"Demise? Is that how you call me now?"

The chair was suddenly pushed tot he side, rolling slightly before tipping to the side and falling on the ground. There, behind it, stood a man looking through the window, his back to them. Steven had to squint his eyes a bit to see him better. Blond hair fell to his neck, and his pointy ears were even longer than Steven's, close to Zelda's. He wore a black suit, with his hands crossed on his back.

"I remember when you still called me brother."

He turned around, and Steven heart sank. Not only had he barely registered Demise's words, but he thought he was going to faint as he finally saw his features. His blond hair fell on his forehead, and two longer strands fell on each side of his face. His skin was slightly gray, with a white star-like shaped scar around his ember eyes. His chest lightly glowed through his shirt. Steven was mortified as he understood who he was facing. As all the stories his mother had told him about came rushing through his mind, Steven couldn't help but shiver. Demise was none other than the reincarnation of Link.

Zelda clenched her teeth. It seemed to her that his condition was becoming worse and worse every time she faced him. Although she knew it wouldn't work, she tried to talk him out of the fight.

"D.. Link! I know you are in there. You have to wake up, and fight him! I know you can."

A large grin appeared on Demise's face, and he laugh maniacally.

"Oh no, sweet sister! There is no 'in there'. Only me, unique, singular, and more powerful than what you could ever imagine!"

Zelda took out her newly acquired sword, as he held out his right hand. There, two small and bright triangles appeared and started to glow brighter and brighter.

"See, I always had the power."

He closed his hand, and the triangles dissipated.

"Although I have yet to become the most powerful. But that, dear Steven, his your job."

Hearing his name snapped the young man out of his trance.

"What... what do you mean?"

"You did as I asked. I asked you for the Triforce of Power, and you brought it to me. So thank you, Steven."

The young man frowned.

"The Triforce of... Power?"

Link laugh once again. He walked closer to them, pushing away the desk with only the might of his mind.

"Oh dear, you really thought you were the hero, didn't you? Well too bad..."

"Steven don't listen to him!" yelled Zelda.

Link gave her a killing look, before walking a few more steps toward them.

"Too bad for you, I am the hero, barer of both of the good Triforce! You only hold darkness in your palm. You are the villain. You are the Ganondorf of this story."

Steven looked down at his hands. No sign of a bright triangle was visible. He felt his knees weakened, and if not for Impa's reassuring hand on his shoulder he would have sunk to the ground. For the first time since the beginning of his quick journey, he doubted. He doubted that he was even part of this mess. After all they had been through, and even though he still remembered the attack in the train, he doubted that he had been chosen by some ancient goddesses to be a new hero.

"Steven, please..." Zelda implored. "Don't listen to him! He is the bad guy, and you know it."

"Is he telling the truth?" Steven voice turned into a murmur of both anger and sadness.

"Steven..."

He finally rose his head, tears dripping down his face.

"Tell me!"

Zelda stayed with her mouth slightly agape for a few seconds, before she nodded.

"You always had the Triforce of Power with you. But it doesn't make you the bad guy! Ganondorf was a bad man because of Demise, just like my brother! The Triforce only gives you power, and you do whatever you want with it!"

Steven wanted to agree, but something seemed to have broken inside of him, and he barely had the strength to remain standing. Zelda shared one last sad look with him, before she turned back to her brother, in the middle of the room. She stepped toward him. Impa tried to follow her, but her protégé shot her a look of assertion. This was her fight.

"So, dear sister, are you ready for a rematch?"

"I'm here to take back what's mine!"

He grinned.

"Yours? What, the Triforce of Wisdom? Oh dear, you have wanted it for so long. It must be sad to think that you are the less wise of all the Zeldas. So stupid you don't even deserve the Trifroce. The truth is, it never was yours to begin with."

She charged, her sword ready to strike. A sword materialized in Link's hand, a long and dark one with three large spikes on each side of the blade. He countered her attack, and tried to cut he shoulder. She avoided, giving him a blow to the side that he easily parried.

Steven was a wreck. Barely able to move, as if every word the Demon lord had spoken had taken away his vital energy. Impa, both her hands on his shoulders, tried to shake him out of it.

"Steven, come on! Look at me!"

The gaze of the young mas was still low and empty. After a quick look toward Zelda's duel, she slapped him as hard as she could with her normal hand. He suddenly blinked, only to notice over Impa's shoulder Zelda being forced to back away to one of the windows. He angrily frowned, and lightly pushed Impa away from his path.

"Leave her alone!"

He instantly took out his sword, and unraveled his shield. Link stopped his assault on his sister, only to laugh as Steven readied his attack.

"Have you already forgotten what I told you? Let me remind you!"

Steven clenched the handle of his weapon, before jumping toward his enemy. But as he hit the ground, he sank into what seemed to be a dark pool of ink, which suck him in. He barely had time to scream before he completely disappeared from the bright room.

As his mind finally cleared out, he was in a dark place, empty and deserted, in front of a mirror which reflected absolutely nothing. But as he stepped in front of it, his reflexion burst into flames, leaving in front of him a man. The vision sent shivers all over his body. The man was tall and large, with a strange grayish skin and bright flame-like hair. His eyebrows seemed to disappeared in his thick mane, as burning amber eyes seemed to mock Steven. He wore a dark armor, with a cape and an ornament on his forehead, with a great amber on the center. It almost seemed he had a third eye. The man grinned as Steven went pale. Was that his reflexion? His true self? Should he believe what Link told him? Only part of him couldn't.

Suddenly, Ganondorf walked out of the mirror which such velocity that Steven couldn't do a thing. In a instant, the man's long sword pierced his belly, only to get out through his back. In an instant of unbearable sanity, he felt the hilt of the sword against his wound. And in a swift move, the sword was out of his body, and so was blood, in an agonizing quantity. Steven instantly stumble to the floor, only to hear her scream. His vision blurred, but not to fast for him to understand what had truly hit him. Link, his sword full of blood, stood in front of him. He kicked his belly, and with a cough he rolled to his back. He could feel his hot blood against his skin, as if he was naked. Dark spot danced in front of his eyes, and a cold hand enveloped him like a cover. In the mist of this strange yet comforting feeling, he heard a laugh, and one last time, his name being yelled, one last anchor to reality before he fell into storm-like darkness.