AN: Gosh, something just doesn't want me to upload this chapter, I keep having issues. Oh well. So, here we are at the end, and I'm not entirely happy with this chapter 'cause I lost all the editing I did earlier this week so I've just had to redo it, but never mind. I hope you enjoy it anyway. Great big thanks to Chikaboo3000, Wildgirl404, silverheartlugia2000, Swamp Dragon Princess, ThePredicate, AkuDemyfan and The Reader for your lovely reviews, they meant a lot.
To The Reader: Thank you so much for your lovely words, they made my day. Ganondorf being stabbed is certainly very satisfying, isn't it? Gosh, a sequel? I don't know what it would be about but I'll certainly think about it! Thank you so much :D
Now, on with the final, final chapter.
Twenty – Link
'Link, Link please listen to me.' Zelda was speaking to him, but despite her wishes Link wasn't listening. He was still knelt with Dark in his arms, forehead pressed against his brother's cold shoulder as he rocked back and forth. It was a mindless, repetitive motion and he couldn't stop.
He didn't have the strength to do anything else, finding himself oddly exhausted. All of his pain had coalesced into one knot of agony in his chest, and everything else felt numb.
This was just… the last straw.
The absolute last straw.
'Link, please…' A hand touched his shoulder and he cringed away from it. 'Link… Let him go. There is nothing you can do. Please, there's nothing you can do.' The voice was so gentle, but the words were like knives.
Why? Why, exactly, couldn't he do anything? He was the Hero of Time, there had to be something he could do!
How had this happened? He couldn't believe he'd let this happen. How'd he been such a terrible brother right 'til the end? The end. Farore save him that sounded so final. He couldn't accept it, wouldn't accept it.
Goddesses, how could he have let this happen?
But still. If there really wasn't anything he could do, then, he might as well just obey. Zelda was a princess after all. Was there really absolutely nothing he could do? If it were possible, he would have gladly given up his life for Dark's. Right then and there, on the spot.
Slowly, painfully, Link laid his brother down, arranging his stiff arms gently and nearly breaking down all over again because he had to arrange Dark's arms. His hands were shaking and the world was swimming as he sat back slowly, staring blankly at Dark who stared back just as blankly.
As he watched fingers stained deep red reached past him to carefully shut Dark's eyes, and he couldn't bear it. Gritting his teeth against a half-groan he stared down at his hands, which he'd curled into fists against his thighs, letting his tangled fringe hang in his eyes. He squeezed them shut after a moment, praying that when he opened them it would've all been a dream and he'd be back in Hyrule Field, camping somewhere with a completely fine Dark across the fire from him.
'Link…' Warm hands caught his face, gently tilting his head to the right. He opened his eyes slowly, to find himself looking into Princess Zelda's soft blue eyes. He was still surrounded by the wreckage of a castle, still knelt beside the fallen form of his brother, still in pain.
'You said you'd look after him,' he choked, staring blankly at the princess. 'You swore.' It could've sounded like he was accusing her, but his words were hollow even to his ears. Maybe he should've been angry, or something, but he just felt tired. A small voice in the back of his mind was sure the princess'd done everything she could, but Link didn't really care.
In the end, what did it matter? Dark was still gone.
Squeezing his eyes shut Link groaned again at the thought. He just wanted the world to vanish, wanted to curl up and sleep forever.
He was so tired.
'I'm so sorry, Link,' Zelda said quietly, and Link noticed for the first time the faint tear-tracks on her pale, dusty cheeks. 'I am so sorry.'
'It's not your fault,' Link replied, voice dead. He was sagging, he noticed, so that her hands were the only things holding him up. He tried to straighten, or thought he did, but nothing seemed to be working anymore. So he just stared at her in silence, numb and tired with that dull ache in his chest. She stared back for a moment before her eyes suddenly darted around and closed. It was a painful gesture, like she was gearing up to doing something she didn't want to do.
'Link.' She tightened her grip on his face. 'Your brother, he- he asked me to tell you… I have a message from him, if you would hear it.'
'Oh.' The princess's face started swimming again and he grimaced slightly when the hand on his heart gave a savage twist.
Why couldn't Dark be there to tell him himself? Why'd he had some final message to say at all? Why hadn't there been time?
Why?
Why?
'What was it?' Link didn't know if he wanted to hear, his voice dry and crackly as he met the princess's eyes half-heartedly, trying to keep himself from looking at the body next to him.
Was that all his brother was now? Just another dead body left behind by Hyrule's war with Ganondorf?
Princess Zelda took a deep breath. 'That- That he was proud of you, and he was sorry for breaking his promise,' she said slowly, a measuring look on her face as if she was waiting for him to start screaming again.
That's right. They'd made a promise, hadn't they? Dark had promised. Never again, they'd said. How'd forever ended up being such a short thing?
'You idiot…' Link choked, dropping his eyes back down to Dark, who didn't react. 'You promised… you promised.' The tears came again, silently this time and he bowed his head, vaguely feeling them slipping down his cheeks. His nose was already all stuffy from crying, but if he opened his mouth he wasn't sure what would come out. So he held his breath, body lurching with the sobs that tried to break free. It didn't take long for his lungs to start hurting or his head to start aching, but he ignored it.
'Link…' Zelda sighed his name, stroking his head gently. It was an unfamiliar sensation but oddly calming. After a minute he managed to sit back, chewing the insides of his cheeks until he was pretty sure he could taste blood in an effort to control himself.
'Link, I have one final request of you,' Zelda said after a minute, tilting her head slightly. 'One final request of the Hero of Time.'
Link stared at her blankly, not sure if he'd heard right.
What.
What?
She still wanted more from him? Still wanted him to be her country's Hero, to serve at her beck and call?
'No.' The word crossed his lips before he'd really thought it through, and Zelda blinked once.
'I'm sorry?' She replied, and Link couldn't blame her. He'd barely heard himself say it. His throat felt raw and his voice was hoarse, and it hurt to talk louder than a whisper. Plus she probably wasn't used to being argued with, being a princess and all.
'I said no,' Link clarified, a few warm flickers of anger running through his body. His stomach twisted and he clenched his jaw slightly, shaking his head. 'I won't. I won't do anything else for you, or Hyrule. Haven't you asked enough? I'm done, I won't do it.'
'Link I- I understand, but please, will you-'
'I said I won't,' Link cut her off, pulling away from her hands. He didn't trust his legs to support him so he stayed knelt, leaning away from her as best he could. She looked a little hurt, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He'd had enough.
'Link, maybe you should listen to her…' Navi said softly, fluttering up to hover by his ear. 'She's a princess, after all…' He shook his head, forcing her to fly a little further away. Her wings drooped a little at the edges and Link swallowed down an apology.
'I said no, Navi,' he said as firmly as he could manage. 'I don't care if she's a princess, I don't care. I've had enough.' He looked back to said princess, who was watching silently. 'I saved your country, I defeated Ganondorf for you, what more could you possibly want? I let- I just let my brother die for you, so don't you dare ask me to do anything else. I'm done. I quit.' His voice wavered and cracked a little, but he kept his eyes trained on Zelda's, speaking as firmly as he possibly could.
Was that even something he could do? Quit being a Hero? It wasn't like it was a job, really, but it wasn't like he had to keep running around helping people, right?
'Link…!' Navi made a noise of protest but Zelda lifted a red hand, smiling gently.
'It is all right,' she said, the smile becoming a little tinged with bitterness. 'It is true, my country and I have taken so much from you, expected so much of you – you have every right to be angry, to rebuff us. I simply wished to request you be strong, to be strong for just a little longer, and return the ocarina to me.'
'That…' Link paused mid-protest, confused. 'What?'
Zelda watched him for a moment, her smile becoming gentle again. 'You see, Link, Ganondorf has been sealed away, our duties have been fulfilled, and now I must make up for my mistakes.'
'Your mistakes?' Link repeated, quickly growing more confused. He really couldn't deal with being confused right now.
'All of the tragedy that has befallen us, befallen you, is my doing,' Zelda said, her eyes dropping away from his. 'I was too young to comprehend the consequences of my actions, and so many have suffered because of it.'
'What are you talking about?' Link asked. His earlier words might've been harsh, but it wasn't like any of this was her fault, really. Zelda stared at him for a moment before smiling, and he was surprised to see her lips trembling. Unlike him, though, she simply took a deep breath and rose to her feet, turning away for a moment to look out across the wreckage of her castle.
'Link, you must lay the Master Sword to rest once more… close the Door of Time for good.' She turned back and held out a bloody hand, her voice strong despite the obvious wateriness of her eyes. 'Give me the ocarina, and I will return you to your original time.'
Link stared blankly for a moment before shaking his head. 'No, I don't want to go back. I- I can't,' he said, making no move to take her hand. He couldn't.
'Link?' Navi sounded confused, moving to once more flit around his head.
'I can't leave Dark,' Link explained, swallowing past the persistent lump in his throat. 'Not here.'
'It is not a fitting grave for such a brave soul,' Zelda agreed, though she didn't lower her hand. 'But Link… Ganondorf has been sealed away, in all times. Once you return to your rightful time… your brother will be safe and well, free from the evil that held him for so long.'
It took Link a minute to process that. Dark was still alive? Somewhere, sometime, his brother was still alive?
Was that even possible?
'I… is that true?' He managed, finding his throat suddenly tight.
'Completely,' the princess said gently, stretching her hand out a little further. Link reached up to take it then hesitated, glancing down his brother who was still lying silently beside him, hands folded on his chest.
'You must let him go, Link,' Zelda said again, and somehow it didn't hurt as much now. 'You are going to see him again.'
'I am, right? I really am?' Link asked, staring up at her as the desire to remain by his brother's side and the desire to see him alive again warred inside him.
'I swear it,' Zelda said softly. 'I will never break a promise to you again.' Taking a deep breath and holding it Link cast one long, final look at his brother, and it might have just been the light but he could've sworn there was a faint smile on Dark's still lips, as if he were encouraging him to go.
He took Zelda's hand.
All at once the wrecked world around them vanished, replaced in a second by a vast, bright space. It felt safe, warm. Like the sages' chamber.
'The ocarina, Link.' Zelda's voice drew his eyes forward and he found she had changed too. Her clothes were once more immaculate, and she was completely free of dust and grime and blood. Her expression was still the drawn, grieved one it had been, but it seemed somehow softer now.
Without speaking Link handed her the instrument and when she reached out to take it she hesitated, placing a gentle hand over the little blue frame.
'It is time for us to say goodbye,' she said quietly, and Link was surprised by the sudden twist of pain her words caused in his chest. 'It is time for you to regain your lost time, and all the other things your journey has taken from you. Regain your lost time, in the place you are supposed to be… in the state you are supposed to be.'
'Goodbye, princess,' Link said, impulsively, and she smiled slightly. 'Thanks for everything.' He truly meant it, despite what he'd said. She'd helped him so much in his quest, after all.
'From the bottom of my heart, Link, thank you,' Zelda replied, softly, her voice wavering ever so slightly. 'Thank you so much.'
Link didn't have time to say anything else before she had lifted the ocarina to her lips and, eyes never leaving his, played that short, sweet tune he was by now so familiar with. Almost immediately everything began to glow so he closed his eyes, feeling a few more tears slide down his cheeks as the world fell away around him.
'From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you, Link. Goodbye.' Zelda's whispered words chased after him, her voice soft and painfully sad. Link looked back down, opening his mouth to say something, even just a final farewell, but she was already gone, lost to the channels of time. Feeling another gentle twist of pain in his chest he shut his eyes again, feeling himself becoming weightless as the world slowly took shape once more around him.
When he looked up again he was floating above a scene he didn't recognise, that same warm feeling still wrapped around him. It gradually wore away the deep ache in his bones, and freed his heart from that clawed hand as he realised he was looking down at Hyrule.
It was dark, but a great bonfire was chasing the shadows away. There were voices rising above the sound of flames, so different to the ones Ganondorf'd conjured, loud and happy.
They were celebrating. The people of Hyrule were all celebrating.
He thought he would've, but Link didn't resent them. The warm, fuzzy feeling just made him glad they were all alive and safe from Ganondorf. He could see them now, crowds and crowds of them gathered round the fire, all talking and singing and laughing. Because Ganondorf was gone, and Hyrule was safe. Link recognised so many of them, all of the people he'd met along the way, though all the most important ones were missing.
Dark. Zelda. Saria. The Sages.
Even as he watched, though, he saw five jets of light shooting through the sky above the celebration, unnoticed by most of the people below. But Link saw them, and he followed them.
They came to a halt on a ridge overlooking the land, changing from balls of light to the faces he recognised, and despite everything they were smiling, celebrating just like everyone else. Link was glad they were happy. It was all over, now. They had every right to celebrate.
And then the vision faded and Link's eyes blinked open, to find himself back in the Temple of Time. The Master Sword in its pedestal was once again taller than him, shining dully in the gloomy grey light.
It had never felt right that the house of something so sacred was so cold and grey.
Taking a breath Link felt the knots retie themselves in his chest, the dull aching coming back. Zelda was gone. Dark was gone.
But he wasn't, right? He was out there somewhere, right?
Link was scared to hope. But what else could he do? There was no going back now. If Dark wasn't there, then he was nowhere. Link couldn't stand the thought so he forced it from his mind as best he could.
Looking down at his hands briefly he stared at their round, chubby childishness, flexing his short fingers before tilting his head back to look at the ceiling, which was much higher than he remembered.
'Link…' There was the soft chime of wings and then Navi was fluttering around his head, something about the way she was holding herself in the air making him uneasy.
'What is it?' Link was scared to ask, but he did anyway. He was too tired to be startled by the sudden high pitch of his voice, though somewhere inside he was grateful his throat wasn't still raw from crying.
'I…' Navi trailed off before she even said a word and, somehow, Link knew what it was she was going to say. He couldn't guess the words, couldn't even imagine them, but somehow…
He knew.
'Navi…' His voice broke, her name coming out wobbly and small. He couldn't ask her not to, couldn't ask her to stay. He didn't know how, or why, but he just knew. There was nothing he could do and nothing he would do.
But he couldn't help but wonder why.
Why was everybody leaving him?
'Say hello to the Deku Tree for me,' Navi said, sounding almost cheerful, her wings without the slightest droop. She was purposeful. 'And all the others too.'
Link just nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Navi fluttered closer, pressing against his temple briefly. Letting out a shaky breath Link reached up a hand to stroke her gently, feeling rather than seeing her pull away because he'd squeezed his eyes shut to stop the prickling.
'Go and find Dark,' Navi whispered as Link forced his eyes open again, watching her swim and sway as he sucked in another shaking breath. He nodded again, biting down hard on his bottom lip and hugging himself tightly to stop the shaking.
It took a gargantuan effort to hitch the smile onto his face, and everything hurt when he did. He felt like his heart was crumbling in his chest. 'Thanks, Navi,' he choked. 'Thanks for everything.' She didn't reply, just turned away and flew quickly up to one of the chamber's high windows. There she paused, bright even in the sunshine, and then she was gone.
Link sobbed once then twice then held his breath, scrubbing at the water running down his cheeks with the backs of his hands.
This was no time to be crying. He would miss her but they would see each other again, he was sure of it.
And he had more important things to think about. Because Dark was alive. He had to be. If Zelda hadn't been right then there would be nothing left, and he couldn't stand the thought. It was too painful.
Straightening his back Link stared at the Master Sword for a long moment, before he turned his back on it. Turned his back on it all. He was no longer the Hero of Time. That was over. He was done.
Zelda was gone. Navi was gone.
Dark was gone.
But they weren't lost forever, and he was free now. Ganondorf was defeated, so finding and beating him was no longer an issue. He didn't have to hunt down sages, he no longer had to risk his life on a daily basis. What a strange thought. He was completely free.
He had the time to travel wherever and whenever he wanted, so he could go find Zelda whenever, if he wanted to. They might have to rebuild their relationship, but if he wanted he could do it.
Navi, too. He might've had to let her go for reasons he didn't quite understand but he could find her again. It'd take time but it was possible. He was sure they would see each other again.
And Dark… Link prayed to all three goddesses that what Zelda had said had been right. They'd let him down so many times, no doubt laughing and mocking all the while, but surely they would give him this one prayer. If nothing else, he'd earned it, surely.
Sighing he let his shoulders slump briefly before straightening, staring out across the room in silence. Maybe the next time he smiled it wouldn't feel like he was going to fall apart, and maybe someday he'd actually want to smile again.
But it was strange. The whole time he'd been tracking Ganondorf and the Sages down he'd felt like a child with an adult's body, too strong and too tall, wanting nothing better than to return to his bright and innocent days amongst the Kokiri. Now, now he felt like an adult with a child's body. He was so tired, and the thought of going back to those bright days was an impossible dream.
There was something, though, that wasn't so impossible. Dark was alive. Link was sure of it. More sure than he'd ever been of something before.
Dark was alive, and he was waiting for Link.
Taking a deep breath Link curled his hands into fists and walked away. He left the Temple of Time without looking back once, striding through the city beyond without pausing. He knew the route like the back of his hand, after all.
He had a purpose, and he would not let anything distract him.
He was once again searching for his brother.
And this time Link knew exactly where to find him.
Well, here we are at the end. Thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed and favourited this story, it means so much to me! I hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Now, for a little shameless self-advertising, if you're interested in seeing any more of my stories in future then I've put a poll on my profile for which of my ideas I should write next. Please do let me know if you're interested! But anyway, thank you so much for reading, and this is the end of This Divided Loyalty. Bookworm out xxx