Disclaimer: I Don't own The legend of Zelda or Fire emblem

Yuga's face was pale "Th-they... There must be several hundred thousand soldiers out there! Would they dare...?! Is it... Is it possible... Is it possible it was Ralph they feared all along, and not me?!"

"Without him to back it up, your threat was only the grand shadow of a tiny spider." Onox said.
Yuga bristled "Tiny spider, is it? Well this spider has woven other webs in secret you could not even—"
"You mean how you blackmailed Ralph to keep his loyalty? Or perhaps your correspondence with the Lorulean woman...Cia, was it? Yes, I know you have designs on the Triforce... You have no secrets from me, worm."
"B-b-b-but... I... I don't... If you...knew all of that...w-why..."
"Why haven't I killed you?" Onox finished. "...I've asked myself the same thing, several times... But you're no threat to me. And I admit, you have your uses. Besides, I'm not one for court jesters, but you do...amuse me."

Yuga's arms flaied in the air. "Amuse you? I AMUSE you, like I'm a jester?! Are you AMUSED now? With a million swords at your door, come for your head?! You've lost! Lost, and you are going to DIE! All of you, ALL OF YOU! But not me! I want no part of this suicide!"

"...Why, Yuga, did you just volunteer to lead my personal guard against the rebels?"
"...What?! No, that's—"
"Unless you'd rather fight me. Right here. RIGHT NOW."

Yuga dropped to his knees, his hands above his head in a pleading gesture. "Mercy! Mercy! F-forgive me, my master! A moment's madness only—it will not return!"
"hen it's settled: we have our new captain of the guard. Congratulations, Captain. You'll be right at my side until the fray is upon us."

Cervantes laughed once onox was gone, yuga shivering on the floor in shock. "Do give our guests a warm welcome, snake. Perhaps offer them some of your tea? Hah hah... My equal... Pah!"

When Cervantes too, left, yuga stood, scowl on his features. "...They forget who I am. I could have fried them both where they stood with my magic! We will crush these rebels... We MUST crush these rebels... Or maybe...if Onox is sufficiently injured...I might "amuse" him with a spell... Nya ha, either way, this spider crawls out alive! Eee hee hee hee!"

"I see Onox, still seated in his throne room. It doesn't seem like he's thinking about escape." Zelda spoke.

"And his soldiers... They look ready to die before they'd surrender. One must admire their loyalty, at least." Link said.
"He does inspire that in people. It's part of what makes him so dangerous."
"He inspires that in SOME people."
"Yes, in some. But not me."

Yuga flew at Nayru in a rage. "...You. ...YOU! You and Ralph cost me EVERYTHING!"
"I only pray my brother is watching... Ralph, guide my hand!"
"You think I'm afraid? Of YOU?! Come, then. COME AT ME!"

" Die!" There was a sharp edge to Nayru's eyes as she charged, impaling the man with a cry of fury.

Zelda stared the conqueror down. "Onox!"

"Princess..." he acknowledged with the slight tip of his head.
"Will you surrender?" She questioned.

"Don't waste my time with questions you know the answers to, girl." He spat.

"It did not have to be this way... You believed in mankind's strength... So did my sister. You believe that we are masters of our destinies... So do I. You could have joined with us."

"ME, JOIN YOU?!" He bellowed. "Does a loftwing join with the flea on its back? A dragon, with a cow it eats?! You forget your place, GIRL. I am the Conqueror! I will unite the world!"
"No!" She said sharply. "...I will. And not by forcing all the people to choose the sword or the knee. Peace will only come by stoking people's hearts...not their fear."
"You think that's what you've done? What your sister did before you? No, she shouted some nonsense and leapt off a rock! Such weakness!"

"Wrong. Not weakness—strength. That one act lives on, and WILL live on, longer than all your conquests..."
"And longer than you will... Come then, flea, and die for your peace!"

Zelda's hands crackled with energy as she closed her eyes for one brief second. "Sel...I'm sorry. But now it's time to tip the scales!"

The blast she let loose was blidning, stricking onox hard enough to crush his armor around him, leaving him gasping on the floor.
"Nngh... Do you see? Often the sword...is the only way... My conquest...ends here..." The man seemed to accept his fate with a strange grace, removing a part of his helmet, exposing a strange smile on his lips before he stilled.

Mere minutes after, Impa appeared in a screen of smoke at Zelda's side. "Milady! Onox's soldiers have agreed to cease hostilities."
"Finally... Then pull our men back immediately." She ordered. "...It's strange, Impa... Onox and my sister were complete opposites. One gave her life to stop a war. The other took lives to create one. And yet they both inspired those around them; both walked a path to end all war. Both lived, and died, trying to unite the people."

Tetra placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. "Yes, Mother, but as they say, the method is the message. Your father suffered from beliefs similar to Onox, and his legacy is plain to see..."
"Mmm...these are matters too weighty for this moment. There will be plenty of time for reflection now that the war is done."

"Lady Zelda, a thousand thanks from every Labrynnan couldn't repay what you did for us. But I recovered the small piece of the Triforce that was stolen from Labrynna as a trophy."She dropped to a knee, holding out her hand, which shone brightly.
" You're giving it to me?"
"Of course, sir. It seems the fell god will soon threaten us all. I would feel safer knowing the Triforce was in your hands."
Zelda smiled, taking the power from the other Princess. "Then so it will be. Thank you, Nayru."

[Back in Castle Town]

Zelda sighed deeply, and Link wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I know that face... "Dueling with unpleasant thoughts," are we?"
"You know me well, Link."

"Hey, remember when Spryte first brought me here? When I met all the Knights? And Fledge... Ha ha! Oh, what a day! ...Actually, that's my first memory, in a way."
"Heh. I suppose so. I wish all our memories since could have been as joyful."
Link let out a sigh of his own. "I know... So much needless bloodshed. So many days of pain and doubt and fighting... We would have never made it without you there to guide us, you know."
"Funny. I was going to say the same to you."
"I guess we really are two halves of the same whole." He grinned.

"I've sent Impa to search for the final piece. And I've been reading more about the Awakening ritual. It seems that whoever attempts the rite must brave Hylia's fire. If both body and spirit survive the agony, they are blessed with the goddess's power. Otherwise, the candidate...dies."

"What?!" Tetra cried, appearing from around a corner. "No! ...Er, that is... Mother, must you attempt this?"

"Eavesdropping, young lady?" Zelda teased.
"Forgive me, Mother. I didn't intend to... I came to speak with you, but I couldn't find the right moment and—"
"It's all right, Tetra. And yes, I'll be all right, too. I will withstand Hylia's fire. I'm sure of it. Though I must make a stop down into our oldest treasury. There is a special sword down there I must use in the ritual."

Link and Tetra jumped as there was a flash of smoke.
Impa stepped out, an apprehensive look on her features. "Milady, I have returned."

"Yes, Impa? Did you find it?"
"I believe so, Milady. King Ghirahim has extended an invitation. He says Lorule has been guarding it, and now he wishes to return it to you."
"Ghirahim..."
"They sent word to me, milady. They must have caught wind of my search... In any case, Ghirahim asks that you visit him in person, that he might formally present it. Perhaps needless to say, milady, but I don't like this one bit."
"Neither do I, Impa the Wary. Neither do I. At best, it's selfish political maneuvering at a time when the world can ill afford it. At worst, our run-in with those dark forces last visit was no accident... But we will meet with him. Send word at once."

"Milady, are you...certain that's wise?"
"No, but we haven't time to be certain. ...And my sister never refused a diplomatic gesture, no matter how foul smelling. If he doesn't give us the piece, he may at least reveal where it is. ...Don't worry, Impa. I'm not walking into this blindly. We will make certain everyone is armed to the teeth."
"Then the Triforce, milady—you ought at least leave it behind."

"Unless that's what Ghriahim expects, and he comes to steal it with my best men away... No, it's safest with me, for now. We'll learn the truth of Ghirahim's motive soon enough..."