And the Winner is...

Link and Peach were fighting more ferociously than they had ever fought before. Even though Zelda had told him not to strike in anger, he didn't care anymore. This monster had just killed his sister, and he didn't care about anything anymore. He didn't care about Mario wanting to save her and bring her back. He didn't care that Zelda saw hope for her. He wanted to make her pay, even if he completely ignored his title as the gods' knight.

Peach was fighting more ferociously too. She had come too far, and she was one step away from getting everything she desired. She had completely offered herself to the darkness within now, and was even more determined now.

Their slashes were so powerful that they were destroying the capital city just by fighting. Building were being destroyed simply by the waves coming off of their swords. They jumped up onto a building, and continued fight as they jumped from roof to roof.

Mario, Luigi, and Daisy just ran into the city, and saw all of the damage from the fight, "This is just horrible," Mario said looking around.

"There is no way that this is just due to Peach's attack," Luigi said, "Something just isn't right here."

"I'm worried about Zelda and Link," Daisy said.

"I know, me too," Luigi said holding Daisy's hand. He then turned to Mario, "Hey, where should we go?"

"The castle! That's where Peach would stay, and I know Zelda would go there," Mario replied. Luigi and Daisy nodded, and all three of them ran to the castle.

Peach and Link were now using magic against each other. Link was using Fafore's Wind to fly around Peach and slash, and Peach was flying around Link as a black flame slashing at him. Link knocked Peach down and she fell into a fountain. Link jumped down into the fountain ready to finish her off, but she jumped up and knocked him into the water. Now they had pretty much forgotten they even had swords and were just wrestling in the water. They were so wet and so into themselves that they didn't even realize that they were both crying.

Peach was now on top of Link with her hands on his neck. He kicked her off and she fell back. They both staggered up and ran at each other and grabbed each other's neck. They both fell into the water again and were now wrestling and fighting at the same time.

In the castle, Mario, Luigi, and Daisy were walking through the castle looking around. They were amazed at the size of it; it was almost bigger than Peach's castle.

"Zelda's castle is something else," Daisy said mesmerized.

"I bet it was beautiful before Peach got to it," Luigi said also mesmerized.

"I just want to know where-" Mario stopped when they got to the throne room, "SHEIK!!!!" he shouted running to the statue that was now Sheik.

"No! She can't.... Zelda can't be dead!" Daisy said burying her face in her hands crying. Luigi hugged her comforting her, even though he was crying too.

Mario went over to the statue and cried in front of it, "Damn it!!! DAMN IT!!!!!!" he slammed his fist on the ground in frustration, and continued to do so as he cried, "DAMN IT!!!!!! DAMN IT!!!!! DAMN IT!!!!!"

"Mario...." Luigi said looking at Mario in sadness. He and Daisy went over to him.

"It's my fault!!! It's all my fault!!! She died trying to prove me right!!! Trying to see if there's any good in Peach!!!! And this is what she gets for it?!!!! It should have me! IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!!!!!!" Mario shouted.

"Then who would save Peach!!!" Daisy actually shouted.

"Daisy, you don't honestly think after this-" Luigi started.

"Yes I do! I know my cousin is still in there! She had a chance to kill me, but she didn't! Instead, she spared me and even scolded me for doing that! Deep down she still loves us, I know it! All this proves is that Zelda wasn't able to connect to the real Peach! The only one who can is standing right here!" she said pointing to Mario.

Mario then remembered what Zelda had said to him:

Never loose faith in yourself or her, because it's only when you do, that you have truly lost.

Mario then got up and looked at the ring he gave Peach, "Mario...?" Luigi said looking at Mario, who was just silent.

"I won't give up. Zelda didn't give up on me, and I won't give up on Peach," Mario said quietly.

Luigi was incredulous, "What if Zelda found out that Link was right? That there was no other way to end this? What if you have to-"

"I refuse to think about that!" he said turning to Luigi, "Don't you see? Life without Peach for me isn't life worth living! I love her! Maybe I love her too much, I don't know! But that's what's driving me! So yes, I still think I can save her!"

"And how do you know that?!" Luigi asked.

"Simple, she hasn't killed me yet!" Mario replied.

Luigi was getting frustrated with Mario's way of thinking, "Mario, that's-"

"AHH!!!!" they heard from outside.

"That sounded like Peach!" Luigi said. Mario instantly ran outside, "Mario! Wait!" he said running after him, Daisy following.

Outside they saw Peach on the ground, and Link standing over her with his sword out, "Peach!!!" Mario shouted.

Peach looked up at Link, who was staring at her with sheer hatred, "This is the end of your reign....! Die Deas!!!!" Peach looked down as Link's sword came down on her.

"Peach!!!! NO!!!!!!" he said running up to them.

Link's sword came down....

And stopped.

Stopped by a golden shield.

Everyone was shocked. No one was more shocked than Link though.

"Why?" he asked in shock, "Why won't it kill her!" he then tried to slash at her continuously, each time the slash was stopped by that same golden shield, "What's wrong with this thing!!!!" he shouted at the sword.

Mario, Luigi, and Daisy were really confused by all of this, "Why won't the sword hit her?" Daisy asked.

"This is really weird," Luigi stated.

Peach began to laugh, which just angered Link even more, "What's so funny?!!!" he asked.

"You don't understand anything," she said calmly, standing up, "True courage isn't striking without fear, but not letting fear stop you. True courage is when you admit that you are afraid, but you still push forward."

"I know that!!!! That has nothing to do with this!!!!"

"It has everything to do with this! The Master Sword is the god's weapon, only given to those who display true courage, and fight without malice in their heart. You may know what courage is, but you haven't displayed it ever in this battle. You let your emotions get in the way of rational thought, and the sword stopped you from making a big mistake," Peach walked up to Link, "Face it, you've lost here. You don't deserve the Tri-Force of Courage, and you sure as hell don't deserve that sword!"

"And you do?!"

"Trust me, you have no idea," no sooner than after she said that, the Tri-Force of Courage flew off of Link's tattoo, onto Peach's tattoo.

"What?!!" Link was more shocked than ever, but what happened next no one was ready for. The Master Sword began to glow, and it actually faded away, "The Master...Sword...."

Mario, Luigi, and Daisy were horrified by this, "Did you guys see that?" Daisy asked.

"I saw it, but I wish I hadn't," Luigi said, holding Daisy's hand.

"Looks like I win," Peach said smiling evilly.

"Not yet you don't!" Link said pulling out a knife and getting in a fighting stance.

"Pathetic," a black wave pushed Link way back, "I'm way out of your league now."

"Wait, Peach!" Mario called out. Peach turned around and faced him.

"Mario..." she then looked at him with an evil smile, "It's a shame we couldn't meet on better terms," she snapped her finger, and all of her soldiers came out.

"AHH!!!!" Daisy screamed.

"She has this many soldiers?!" Luigi said in shock.

Peach just smiled to herself, and then turned to the gate, "Peach!" Mario called out.

"Come and face me, if you survive this," she then ran off out of the capital city.

"No!" a soldier was about to attack Mario, but Luigi and Link saved him, "Huh?"

"Why are you still standing here!!! Get moving damn it!!!" Link said to Mario.

"Link?" Mario was confused by Link's actions.

"You want to save her, right?!" Luigi said to Mario.

"Then get moving! Don't worry about us!" Link continued.

"Luigi, Link, thank you!" he said running off.

"Mario!" Link called, making Mario stop, "If you fail this, then you better pray that she kills you, because if she doesn't, I'll kill you myself!" Link said harshly. Mario nodded and ran out the capital city.

Luigi and Link were standing next to each other smiling, "Did you mean that, when you said that to Mario?" Luigi asked Link, who just chuckled.

"Please, I don't even plan on coming out of this one alive. I just said that to motivate him."

"I see, you too huh? You think we'll die here?"

"Oh yeah. But we don't have to win here, we just have to buy Mario time."

"I agree. Let's see this through, to the end!!!"

"Right!!!" Luigi and Link rushed forward and fought the army of at least one million soldiers, knowing full well that the end was coming.

Daisy went back inside the castle where it was safe. She closed her eyes and looked up with a hopeful smile, "Peach, when Mario brings you back to the light, I hope that you can eventually forgive me. You aren't invisible. In fact, I see you now more clearly than ever. Take care of each other, Mario... Peach..." she then reached for two swords hanging on the wall, and opened the door to face the army in front of her, "This time I'm not running away! I'm not hiding! I'll fight with everything I have!" she then ran toward the army, and began fighting them.

As Mario ran, he thought about everyone who got him this far, "Luigi... Daisy... Zelda... Link... Thank you for everything. I promise, I'll bring Peach back! No matter what it takes," he then sopped and pulled out the ring, "I'm bringing you home Peach, today!!!" he then put the ring on his finger, and continued to run.

Run to what would be his toughest fight ever...