I didn't sleep well that night. Half the night I spent worrying and the other half I had nightmares. Long before I needed to I got up and went to the surface. It was quiet and still as I started out towards Hyrule Field. The sky was beginning to get light when Daltus came up and stood by me.
"You're up early." he said softly.
"So are you." I replied.
We stood there in silence as the sun slowly came up behind us, bathing the lands beyond in a golden glow. A loud caw alerted us to Aren's arrival. The crow landed on my arm and stuck out his leg. Daltus untied the message and read it before starting to write a reply.
"Any last words to your parents?" he said with a humor that sounded forced.
"Tell them I love them." I said.
When the message had been securely tied to Aren's leg I gave him an extra piece of fish and stroked his head.
"Well, Aren, this might be the last time we ever see each other. Have a good life." I said before flinging my arm up and sending him on his way.
"As soon as they get the message in Kakariko they'll start a revolt." the prince said, "That will draw most of the guards away. The Zora will deal with whatever's left and go to help Kakariko, and we'll be able to get to Castle Town without too much trouble."
I nodded, and we stood there in silence until a messenger came and said it was time. After he had left Daltus turned to me.
"Well, this is it."
Without any warning he hugged me. After a second of surprise I hugged him back. We stood like that for a moment before drawing apart and going down to the entrance. A large group of Zoras were there. Most of them leaped into the waterfall when we came up, spears in hand. After a minute the prince played the song and opened the waterfall. We jumped onto the bridge and started heading down the river, occasionally coming across a dead guard with a spear in his back or chest.
When we got to Hyrule Field we found it completely empty, which meant we made good time getting to Castle Town. By then the sky had clouded over, giving everything an ominous feeling. As we reached the square I thought for a moment about how much it would suck if I got killed by a ReDead before facing Gannondorf. Putting that thought aside, I drew the Master Sword, snuck behind the nearest ReDead, and ran it through. It moaned and toppled over. I grabbed the prince's arm and ran through the square, dodging the ReDeads that were shuffling towards their fallen comrade. When we reached the other side we stopped. Daltus looked back at the ReDeads.
"Are they..."
"I don't know and I don't want to."
We walked along the path that used to lead to Hyrule Castle, now Gannondorf's tower. It was gray and dead-looking, and we went along like small ghosts in a haunted wasteland. After a few minutes we came around a bend and were met with the sight of Gannondorf's tower, looming darkly from the other side of a deep chasm. In front of the chasm stood a tall, dark figure with a sword that looked as tall as I was.
"This is it." Daltus murmured, "Either we win or we die."
I nodded, and we walked forward. The figure, Gannondorf, smirked when he saw us.
"So this is what the Goddesses send to defy me," he said in a voice that was both ominous and full of power, "a princeling and a little girl. How pathetic. Run away, children. Run away while you still can."
Daltus gave my arm a little squeeze. I looked at him and gave him a tiny smile before gripping the Master Sword and stepping up to face the Gerudo King. He chuckled and swung his sword a few times. I gulped, but held my ground. I was here, and there was no way I'd back out of it now.
"You wish to fight me, little girl? So be it. You'll be begging for your pathetic life before I'm done."
He swung his sword. The sheer force nearly knocked the Master Sword from my hands. How was I even going to get a hit on him, much less defeat him? After blocking a couple of blows I lunged, trying for a thrust. He stepped aside, his sword cutting a deep gash on my back as I stumbled past. Trying not to cry out in pain, I turned to face him. Gannondorf still wore his smirk, my blood dripping from his sword as he casually adjusted his grip. I knew I couldn't do something like that again. I'd get cut to ribbons, if not worse.
We began circling. After trying to stare each other down he started closing in. I feinted to the right, then went to the left. His booted foot made solid contact with my ribs, knocking me back. I hissed in pain as I got back up. I probably had a few broken ribs from that. Gannondorf once again closed in, this time going on the offensive. There was no way I could block all his blows. His blade sliced across my arm, my shin, my shoulder, my face. By the time he backed off I could barely lift the Master Sword.
"This is your last chance, little girl. Run away and live out your pathetic life, or stay here and die."
I wanted to run. There was no way on earth that I could win this. I was going to die if I continued fighting, and I didn't want to die. But...if I did run away, that would be the end. Kakariko would probably be leveled and everyone would be killed for rebelling. The Zoras would be hunted out and exterminated. And Daltus...he would die, too. The first person to really, truly believe that I was capable of being a hero. The first guy I could actually have a good conversation with. The one who trusted me with his life and the life of everyone else. I couldn't walk away and let him down.
"No." I said, "I am going to stay and fight, and I will not give up until I am dead."
The world seemed to go white, and I heard a calm, gentle voice.
"You have proven yourself." it said, "Take my power, chosen one."
A warmth flowed through me. As the world returned to normal the back of my hand began tingling. I looked and saw a Triforce mark. The Triforce of Courage. I guess I was meant to do this after all.
"So you do wield the Triforce of Courage." Gannondorf sneered, "Very well, then. All the more reason to kill you."
A ring of fire sprung up, preventing both me from fleeing and Daltus from helping. With a yell Gannondorf charged at me, and we began going at each other hammer and tongs. The Triforce of Courage gave me enough strength to keep fighting, and I even managed to score a few minor hits. Gannondorf was still both stronger and a better fighter, though. For every hit I made he got at least three. Then I let my guard down for a split second, and he lunged. The blade went right through me, hitting what felt like every internal organ. I was paralyzed by the pain. I couldn't breathe; my only thought was 'why am I not dead?' With a sneer he put his foot against my stomach and pulled his sword out of me. I fell on my back, staring at the cloudy sky.
"Dear Farore," I prayed silently, "I know I'm not your first choice of hero. I don't even know why you chose me. But please, just give me enough strength to finish this."
My lungs, or what was left of them, started working again. With more effort than I had ever used in the rest of my life combined, I struggled first to my knees, then to my feet. I took a step, but was stopped by a violent coughing fit. When it passed I looked at my sleeve and grimaced at the flecks of blood spotting the off-white fabric. This was going to be rough.
"So you have some strength after all." Gannondorf said. He still had his sneer, but it was beginning to waiver. "No matter. I will kill you and the princeling, and then I will be free from all opposition."
I suddenly swung the Master Sword. He blocked it, and for a moment we stood there, our blades locked between us.
"You're wrong." I whispered hoarsely, "As long as you continue to spread evil, there will always be someone to oppose you, no matter how many you kill."
He shoved my sword away. I stumbled back and was once again besieged by a coughing fit. With the metallic tang of blood in my mouth I started towards Gannondorf again. After exchanging a few blows he lashed out with his foot, knocking me onto my back. Somehow I managed to stagger to my feet, suffering through another coughing fit as I did so. We went at it again. Once again he knocked me down, and once again I got back up.
"Just die already!" he hissed, his sneer replaced by a mixture of uncertainty and hate.
"Not until you do."
With a hiss of rage Gannondorf swung his sword. I tucked under it and plunged the Master Sword under his armor and up into his stomach. The wall of fire around us flickered and died as he howled in pain. I pulled the Master Sword free and stumbled back. I though I heard Daltus yell, "Now, Sages! Now!" There was a bright flash, and then the world faded to black.

Just the last chapter, and this story's done. Thanks to everyone who's stuck with this story.