Once again it's been a long long hiatus, and I can't thank you all enough for your patience.

Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, or Okami. All of the wonderful characters belong to their respective owners. Thank you.

"Bah... That furball's always spacing out like that,"

Her senses were dull, and all she seemed able to focus on was getting enough air in each breath she took. Amaterasu hardly even noticed the voice calling out to her. She panted, in and out, but it never seemed to be enough. The voice came again, like a little tug on her ear. She knew by now that hearing his voice could be nothing more than her imagination, but real or not, it still grabbed her attention.

"Ammy can't get anything done without my help!"

It was unmistakable. She was hearing Issun, real or not.

Pitch blackness was all Amaterasu could see, but she knew her and Yami were alone. Yet now she heard the sobbing of a girl echoing across the room.

"Is that doggy crying somewhere, sis? Is that why the sunshine has disappeared?"

She searched for answers with her ears. Perhaps it was all imagination, or some trick, but she could not stop herself from trying to understand what was she was hearing.

"I haven't seen the doggy for a while now..." A woman answered back. There was something familiar about their voices, but Ammy couldn't place what.

"Did my saying there's no such thing as gods cause all this?" The woman now asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

Her voice carried itself away in echoes like the others, only for the words of a child to fill the silence. A child Amaterasu had met back on in Kamiki village. Mushi.

"Snowy, the hole-digging king... I never dreamt that you were a god! You're gonna make Hayabusa a nervous wreck if you don't get that sun shining again soon."

Princess Fuse, Tama, Mr. Bamboo, she was hearing all their voices calling out to her, one after the other. She could feel their presence as though they were right beside her. She felt the love and appreciation their words expressed as though it were a physical thing. They were calling her a god, even thanking her! Amaterasu did not understand, but she couldn't deny what they were saying about her. They somehow knew what she was, and their words were those of praise and gratitude. She soon heard Mr. and Mrs. Orange, then Kushi, Susano, and many others whom she and Issun had met along their journey.

And sure enough, she heard him once again, by far the loudest voice among them all.

"Can you hear me, Ammy? You're not floundering about without me and blue eyes, are ya?" Issun asked her.

"You gotta pull yourself together! I finally chose my path. And I have the resolve to see it through! I've started to roam the land as your missionary with blue eyes, but you gotta take care of things on your end, too!"

Even though she had never asked to be recognized for those she helped along her adventures, she realized that Issun had somehow brought their attention to her. There was nothing she could do or say to understand how he had done so, but she felt their appreciation, and it was real and precious.

"Don't look so sad" his voice told her. "Just psych yourself up like we always did, remember?"

Amaterasu looked up, and what she saw were lights floating down all around her. It reminded her of a calm night in Wepkeer. When it wasn't too cold and the wind was calm, the snow would float down in large lazy flakes. She wasn't exactly sure what they were, or where they were coming from. They were such a contrast to the darkness surrounding her that they couldn't possibly have come from Yami.

"Amaterasu, can you hear me...?"

She froze from his voice. Part of her wondered if it could really be him, for in that moment everything felt too perfect. But she knew better, and even though it was silly, her drooping tail wagged in response. Just knowing that he was thinking about her was enough.

"Amaterasu if you can hear me, I want you to know how sorry I am that I can't be by your side right now. I know it mustn't be easy for you, being stuck behind that moon..."

His voice sounded so close that she anticipated the feeling of his fur brushing against her own as he found his way to her side. She closed her eyes again, and for just a moment it was as though he really was standing next to her.

"But I've also realized something Ammy... There's a reason I, or even Issun can't help you, and it's because you are a goddess, Amaterasu. You may not realize it, but you don't need us up there with you."

Amaterasu's eyes opened from his words. Goddess... It was what she was, so why did it sound so strange to hear him use that word? She remembered the day she was born, when all of the pieces had only just started falling into place. Even back then she understood the basis of who she was. God, wolf, Amaterasu; she was born again in the name of saving Nippon. It felt like another lifetime ago, from the first shake of her white coat - to now standing at the mercy of Yami, the Emperor of Eternal Darkness. She didn't feel like a god anymore, and if she was honest with herself, she hadn't for quite some time. She knew much had changed since the day her journey began, since finding Hyrule and meeting Link, but it wasn't supposed to be like this. She wasn't supposed to be trembling meekly in the shadow of her foe. Amaterasu knew what she was, or so she had once. She wasn't so sure anymore. Had she wandered so far from herself that she needed reminding of what she was? Could something so important also be so easy to forget?

There was tightness in Amaterasu's gut. It was a familiar feeling, one that had been creeping up on her for quite some time. It had been eating away at her from the very start, but for a lack of better judgment, realization hadn't struck her until now. Yami wasn't the one filling her with this horrible sense of dread anymore. How could he be, when it was she who was to blame for all of this?

Her eyes followed yet another floating light, but as it fell it grew much brighter than all the others. She held her breath when it landed on her nose, tickling her with the lightness of a feather. Instead of flickering out like she expected, the orb disappeared in a burst of light that left her pelt tingling.

"I hate being stuck down here, and having to let you do this alone... But I'm not scared anymore Ammy."

A light struck her again in a burst, followed by one after another that all crashed into her from every direction. Each time it left her momentarily blind and shaking, yet she felt more alive now than ever before.

"You are stronger and braver than anyone I have ever met, and I know you'll triumph over whatever is trying to stop you. So just do whatever it is you need to do Ammy, and shine again!"

She let her eyes fall shut, and with it she could feel everything as though the whole world lay bare beneath her paws. Her true battle had been a war she was never going to win. It was strange how simple the truth could be, she had simply refused to see it until now. It was a twisted and cruel enlightenment, but in it she also found relief if only to finally see things for how they needed to be. She was the Sun Goddess, and that is what she has always been. It was time to stop running from her destiny, her duty, perhaps even fate itself. She was Amaterasu, and all of Nippon's people were her responsibility, her children.

Thank you, Link... I think I finally understand now...

And at last, Amaterasu knew what she needed to do.

So fast and all at once, the flurry of orbs crashed into her. Everything turned white, and suddenly flowing like a river from the tip of her nose to her tail, was light. The prayers, love, devotion, gratitude, and belief of the people poured into her. It was for her alone to harness their gift, and put to rest the misery and anguish brought to her world by Yami. Amaterasu lifted her nose to the sky and cried out a in a piercing howl, knowing that she had finally reclaimed what had always hers. The sun.

Its rays were both warm and familiar, and Yami's sinister aura was washed away until there remained only the light. The Day of Darkness would soon meet its end.

()()()

Link sat amidst the crowd, peering up at the black sky. Issun still prayed silently beside him, along with many others surrounding them. He looked up where he imagined the sun would be, but there was no sign of it moving out from behind the moon.

All he had been able to think about was how much he hated being stuck down here while Ammy's light was quenched by the day of darkness. He had thought of what she was facing on that Ark, and the possibility of her not coming back out. He had paced, and racked his brain for anything that might help her. Whatever he and Issun had done, it still didn't feel like enough. Link had sat with Issun and felt hopeful when so many people gathered around them to listen to Issun's words. He had known Ammy to be a goddess for nearly as long as he had known her, but it seemed he had since forgotten what that meant. The truth of Issun's words wrung loud in his ears, and it was all so simple. She didn't need him or Issun by her side, and finally he was able to let his fear of losing Ammy go. When he closed his eyes and pictured her, he saw her bright grinning face beaming down upon him like the sun. What he told her was something they had both known since beginning, but somewhere along their journey had forgotten.

It was just silence and whispers now, and all anyone could do was wait. Whether his message had been received or not, Link wasn't certain. He knew Issun believed that if they prayed their belief would become Amaterasu's strength. If their prayers could be heard by Amaterasu in the form of words, no mortal could say. All Link knew was that she needed neither him or Issun at her side, and he hoped she realized that as well.

The first rays of light that broke through the thick clouds were blinding. For a moment, Link could scarcely believe what was happening when the bright sphere burst through the clouds. Everyone around him cheered, and jumped, and the children screamed with joy. The sun was bright and beautiful, and he was sure that the light warming their faces was the feeling of Ammy's smile. Link could think of only one place he wanted to be, and without thought he sprung from his sitting position.

"Hold on a sec blue eyes!"

Issun's voice brought him to a halt. He looked back at the little green glowing orb.

"Say hi to that furball for me, will ya?"

Link smiled, and nodded to his friend. Then he ran through the crowds and out the gate. Ammy was safe, she had won, and soon he would see her again.

As he ran along the beach and between the trees, Link could once again hear the birds' song in the trees, and the sound of a crisp breeze rustling the leaves. Her light had indeed chased away the long night to unveil what remained of a glorious afternoon. Link was sure he could run for miles across the rolling hills and dappled forest floor. By the time he reached the north leading tunnel, the minutes had felt like hours. No matter how fast he bolted across Nippon, seeing her in an instant would not be soon enough.

Ammy, I'm coming for you...

Not a cloud could be seen over Wep'keer or all of Kamui, and the air was cool but not bitter like it once was. He raced through the snow to the village, paying little attention to anyone he blazed by. All he could think of was telling her how much he loved her, and that he knew she could do it, and how much he wanted to embrace her and cover her in kisses.

In little time he reached the gate leading to the lake and slid to a stop, because there she was. Pure and white, she was silhouette standing tall at the foot of the rainbow bridge. The sight of her, glowing and alive, and covered in the markings he had only ever seen in Issun's paintings, had he been a hylian he surely would have wept.

She stood still and as speechless as she. Her golden eyes locked with his. Then they were bolting towards each other. Skidding to a stop, their noses barely brushed, but nothing had ever felt so right and so real. Her gaze bore down into him, her smile somehow brighter and sweeter then he remembered, yet there was something else… A sadness in her gaze. It was enough to make him hesitate going further, to wrap his neck around her, or to kiss her face, fearing that perhaps something was wrong. He tried to shake the thought.

Tendrils of light swayed from her back, elegant crimson markings covered her sides and face, and long tufts of swirling fur extended out from her elbows and above her paws. Gone was the plain white wolf he had watched board the ark. He swiped a paw over his eyes as it sunk in, that he could finally see her, the real her.

Without a second thought he placed his head over her neck as she pressed her head into his thick mane. Here she was, alive and beaming with light and he once again by her side. Link wondered if this moment felt as surreal to her as it did him. He nuzzled her close, part of him still fearing she would disappear the moment he opened his eyes.

"Link, thank you. Thank you for everything. I couldn't have done it without you."

Closing his eyes and sighing, he brushed his nose against hers. "I never doubted you Ammy. Never."

She brushed her cheek against his and rested her head against his neck. "I know..."

It's over, he kept telling himself. It's over. With each skip his heart made from excitement, it raced with every touch, every breath. He felt so anxious but couldn't really place why. This was real. Ammy wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't like before when neither he nor Issun knew if they would ever see her again.

"Link, listen to me," Her voice had grown soft, softer than he was used to. He felt her grow tense against him. His ears perked. He wondered whether he should really be feeling this nervous about whatever she had to say.

"There's something you must know."

Amaterasu pulled away to look at him directly, if she was trying to hide the sadness swirling in eyes before, she certainly wasn't now. She could barely hold his gaze, and when she spoke a stubborn part of him refused to believe what he was hearing. But his ears worked perfectly, and he knew that.

"I can't stay."

He met her gaze, but what he saw was everything they'd been through. They had made it this far, against all odds. They were from two separate worlds, but they had somehow found each other from across universes, whatever that even meant. He loved her and she loved him, why was that so wrong?

"I cannot stay." Ammy whispered again. "I can't stay because I can't keep running from my destiny. I must return to the Celestial Plain, where I belong."

He was left staring at her, his mouth dry of any words. Even if he wanted to, he realized there was nothing he could have said that could change this, or offer solace. It was over, they were over, and soon she would be gone. Perhaps he should have not gotten so swept away in his joy, but it had been so beautiful and perfect. It had been too perfect.

"I'm sorry," She blinked and looked down. "I'm sorry for everything... I don't belong in the mortal world, and that will never change... I have to stop pretending I'm something I'm not." When she looked up at him, he knew that this was hurting her as much as him.

"Ammy, I... I knew this was always a possibility. We both did... So you'll have to forgive me for wishing it could be different... I don't want you to go, not when I just got you back again."

"I don't think I could have stopped myself from falling in love with you Link, but acting on my feelings for you was wrong. I was wrong to love you the way I do, and for that I'm sorry..."

"Ammy, is this what you want?" He wasn't sure why he asked such a question when this was obviously painful for her, but maybe it was what she wanted. Maybe she did have a choice, and this was the one she was making. Maybe he could rest better knowing that at least one of them might be happy.

"What I want? I'm afraid it's not about what I want. It's the reality of what we are, of who we we've always been... From the very beginning we were destined to be…"

"Star-crossed." Link finished for her as he turned his head away and let his ears fall flat.

She dipped her head, eyes wincing shut.

"So this is it then?" He asked quietly, still looking away at nothing in particular.

"Yes".

Ammy was standing right in front of him, but Link knew they had never been farther apart then they were now. The damage was done, and there was nothing more either of them could do or say. She looked to him one last time, trying to meet his gaze, before sighing and turning towards the Ark.

"Goodbye Link..."

He regretted not fighting harder for a better answer than fate or destiny, but he couldn't. No matter what he did or didn't do, nothing was going to change and he knew that. She was a goddess, he was a mortal, and theirs was a story not meant to be written. Yet as much as it hurt, as much as he wanted to feel angry and cry out from the cruelty of it all, he didn't regret any of it. He loved her. By the goddesses he loved her more than anything. How could any amount of pain make him ever regret what they had shared?

"Ammy."

She stopped and looked back over her shoulder, eyes sad and full of longing.

"I don't regret us. Not a single moment. I'm not sorry you fell in love with me, and neither should you be."

Amaterasu dipped her head and turned away for what Link knew would be the last time. He watched her stalk up the stone steps to the rainbow bridge, her head low and weary. When she entered the ark, he watched the massive stone door close behind her. Link was left alone in the snow a second time, the first feeling like a life time ago despite being only a day's passing. The image of Amaterasu walking away would be forever painted in his memory.

"Goodbye Ammy..."

For those of you out there still reading this story, I am always happy to hear your thoughts and feedback. Thank you again for your patience, I hope you guys enjoyed and are ready for the final chapter. I'll see you then. Thank you :)