Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Heroes

"So, you're the Mario I keep hearing about." Link said to Maria, as the two rode toward Eo's fortress on their Yoshis.

"Yup." Maria replied. "You'd be Link, the timeless hero?"

"Huh? W-well, I dunno about... timeless hero. I was only named after him, you know."

"So modest." She giggled. "You beat Bowser, right? And you don't even- oh." She cut off. "Never mind. Think you can face Bowser again?"

"I hope so. I mean, he won't be able to hold back this time, right?"

"I doubt it. I hope they do hold back, though." Maria sighed. "Well, I have the Voices. They make me stronger."

"You mean the Maidens? Yeah, they help."

"Oh, is that what they're called?"

"Uh-huh." Link said distractedly.

"Something wrong?"

"No. Nothing, nothing. It's just... across that land is my home, and..."

"It's hard for me, too." Maria sighed. "But, we have to stop Eo, or we won't be able to go home at all."

"I know, but still..." Link forced himself to look at the looming castle ahead. "This is all Eo's fault. We have to make him pay."

"You know it." Maria replied, winking. The two rode on in silence. Maria started pouring the contents of her two glass bottles into the vials.

Maidens

"This feels so weird." Peach moaned. She looked like her old self, except she now had fairy wings.

You're complaining? Eraf's voice sounded in her head. I'm stuck here, in pink nothingness, hearing and seeing your every thought. I didn't know you liked-

Stop it!Peach snapped.

"I know how you feel." A red-haired Zelda said. "Malon's not too pleased with it, either. But, if it'll help Link, then I'll put up with it."

"Yeah. I can do it. For..." She paused. "Him." She muttered.

"Now, now, Maidens." Lakitu said calmly. "They're almost at the castle. You need to synchronize your thoughts, and send them to your Heroes. Namely, Maria and Link." He turned to Toadsworth and Skull Kid. "You two can go back home and rest. You deserve it."

"All right." Toadsworth sighed. "I need it, too. I'm too old for this." He walked out of the throne room.

"I should go back to the forest." Skull Kid said. "I think I'm forgetting something, though. I just can't remember what." Lakitu grinned.

"You'll remember soon. Off you go. I'll watch things here." Lakitu shook Skull Kid's hand. Skull Kid used his teleportation magic, and disappeared.

"How come you can cross the line?" Peach asked Lakitu. "You're from the Mushroom Kingdom, and you said that I can't go into that world because-"

"I'm not from the Mushroom Kingdom. By the way, you can cross the line, since you have a Hyrulian in you."

"Really?" Peach eyed the golden line. "You sure?"

"Well, Eraf's in your body, and she's surviving here, so obviously it works the other way."

"Hm..." Peach nervously put a foot across the line. "Nothing... happened."

"Of course not."

"Can I cross the line?" Zelda asked.

"Uh... no."

"How come? Malon's been in Mushroom Kingdom for ages, so how come I can't cross if she's in me?"

"Because you're both from Hyrule. I don't want to experiment right now because it's too dangerous." He sighed. "Alright, they're in the castle. They're walking... okay, send those thoughts."

Heroes and Villains

"Ganondorf and Bowser?" Maria was surprised. "They look... so different."

"That aura is incredible..." Link gasped.

"I think... because our worlds have combined, Ganondorf's beard might be giving him strength, as well as his beliefs and his Triforce thing."

"Bowser's beliefs must be giving him strength, too, then." Link groaned. "Now they're twice as powerful, and they can't hold themselves back."

"We're twice as powerful, too, remember?" Maria assured him.

"Bowser!" Link called. "Can you hear me? Don't let Eo control you. You can fight him."

"Link, I don't think he can." Maria whispered. "Look at him." Bowser was now a darker colour, and his eyes glowed a dead yellow. "It's like he's lost his mind completely."

"I think you're right." Link sighed. "Looks like we have to fight."

"Then let's go." Maria said, dashing to Ganondorf, sword ready. Link sighed again, drawing his own sword. It was glowing a tremendous blue.

"What's this? It never glowed before..." He shook his head, and dashed at Bowser.

-

Maria slashed her sword at Ganondorf, throwing her body weight into it. Ganondorf, his face blank, blocked it and kicked her back.

"Ow..." Maria groaned. "He's definitely stronger." She leapt to her feet, and ran to him again. She jabbed her sword at stomach, but it was a feint. Ganondorf fell for it, and dodged to one side. Maria, who had already anticipated which side he'd move to, span on the spot, bringing a leg up for a kick It connected with Ganondorf's thigh, and knocked him to the floor. Maria quickly planted that foot on the floor, and brought her other one up, intending to slam it down on Ganondorf. He rolled over, caught the foot, and threw Maria across the room, narrowly missing Link, who was leaping over Bowser's flame attack. He landed beside Bowser, and thrust his sword at Bowser's side. Bowser brought his fist on the sword, knocking it to the ground. The ringing and shaking from the impact hurt Links hands so bad that he dropped the sword. He quickly got his two hammers from his backpack, and just in time to block a punch from Bowser. But, he failed to block the kick from Ganondorf, who knocked him across the room. Maria leapt at Ganondorf in a flying kick, and her right foot connected with his right shoulder. Yet, Ganondorf didn't budge. Maria quickly brought forward her left foot, and slammed it into Ganondorf's face. This made him stumble. However, Bowser grabbed Maria and threw her over to Link, who had recovered a moment before. He neatly caught her and set her down. Bowser and Ganondorf rushed toward them. Maria and Link agreed to swap. Link charged at Ganondorf, and Maria at Bowser. This confused to two for a moment, but not long enough for Maria and Link to get a strong attack in. Instead, they continued their attack, and Link had to block Ganondorf's sword slash, and Maria had to grab Bowser's horns to try and stop herself being thrown back.

"Eraf! Boots!" Maria snapped. "Eraf? Dammit! She's not here!"

I am here! Eraf's voice cried. You want boots? You got 'em! The Iron Boots appeared on Maria's feet. Maria grinned, and leered at Bowser, who was now using his full body weight and leg strength, trying to push her back.

"This one's for you, big boy." Maria grinned, pulling a small vial of water out of her pocket. She uncorked it, and drank it all. In a flash, Mario stood there instead, in his full moustached glory.

"Remember me?" He growled at Bowser, then threw him across the room.

"How did you-" Link paused to kick Ganondorf away from him. "What was that?"

"I found a magical gender-changing spring in Hyrule. I bottled some." He grinned, and turned back to Bowser. "But, I think you need to take a full bottle's worth for the effect to be-" In a poof, Maria was back.

"Permanent. I knew it." She sighed. "Maria's only good for fighting Ganondorf. You should take my boots." She stepped out of them. Link nodded, and strapped them on.

"So, I get Bowser again." Link groaned. "I'm not particularly good at fighting him, either."

"Better than Maria." Maria told him. Ganondorf and Bowser were rushing back at them, Bowser looking particularly angry.

"You pissed him off." Link noted. He held his two hammers ready. Bowser, with surprising agility, dashed to one side, and charged at him again. Link turned, and prepared to block the charge. At the last moment, Bowser swung a mighty claw at Link, sending him rolling across the floor. When Link stopped rolling, he lay motionless. Bowser stared at him for a moment, then turned his attention to Maria.

"Link!" Maria cried in exasperation. "You can take more than that!" She tutted impatiently, and focused on her fight. She had only one sword, and two opponents. Scratch that, one. A huge surge of energy had blasted Bowser into the air, and over the side of the room. "Tricky." Maria complimented Link. She blocked a sword stroke, then a kick, from Ganondorf, then countered with a punch to the neck. Ganondorf choked, and stepped back. "Planting energy in the floor at the moment of impact."

"I'm just glad it worked." Link sighed, walking over to Bowser, who was already recovering.

"We're weakening them." Maria noted.

"Good." Link grinned, rushing at Bowser.

Don't get over-confident. A Voice rang in Links' head. It sounded like Zelda and Malon at the same. Despite the chiding in the tone, Link felt the strength in his body build. He clashed with Bowser, hammers hitting claws, sending a shockwave of energy out from either side of them. Link then pushed Bowser back, into the wall.

Just make sure you don't burn yourself out. Maria's Voice said. It was a fusion of Peach and Eraf. It sounded part concerned, like Peach, and part mocking, like Eraf. Maria felt her power increase. She smashed her sword against Ganondorf's, knocking it to one side, a blast power from the impact sending Ganondorf to the floor.

"Yes, Ma'am." Link and Maria said in unison, then grinned at each other.

"Jeez, these boots are heavy." Link moaned. He charged at Bowser again, hammers ready to strike.

"Get used to it." Maria hissed, dashing at Ganondorf, sword held behind her.

Link roared at the possesed Koopa King, who was still trying to recover, and brought his two hammers down on his head.

Maria yelled at the possesed Dark Lord, who was struggling to his feet, and smashed the flat of her sword into Ganondorf's ribs.

Bowser shuddered for a moment, fell to the ground, then groaned and fell still.

Ganondorf rolled sideways along the floor, then stopped. He didn't move a muscle.

"Done." Link sighed.

"I hope so. Let's go get Eo."

Skull Kid

Skull Kid wandered the Lost Woods, his mind buzzing. Why did he feel like he'd forgotten something? He'd had this feeling before, on occasions, but not as strong as this. Lakitu had said he'd remember soon. Did Lakitu know what it was? Why couldn't he just say what it was?

Calm down. You're overthinking because you're annoyed. Skull Kid told himself. It didn't help much. He desperately wanted to know what he had forgotten. He strolled past the small pool which housed a warp to Zora's River. He then remembered the tunnel that led to the Goron's village. Strangely, he found himself remembering that he had pondered this before. What was it? Ah yes. Why did only the Lost Woods house these warps? Well, except for the one in Zora's Domain that led to Lake Hylia. But still, why would this forest, of all places, lead to two unrelated places? Or perhaps they were related?

"Let's see..." Skull Kid sat down on the grass, and lost himself in thought. The Lost Woods was a part of Kokiri Forest. In the Kokiri Forest, the Spiritual Stone of Forest, The Kokiri's Emerald, had dwelled for countless centuries. The Goron Village had once been house to a Spiritual Stone; The Goron's Ruby. But, The Zora's Sapphire had been housed in Zora's Domain, not Zora's River. Well, that was that theory out the window. Could they be purely unrelated incidents?

"Master."The Mask spoke. Skull Kid had almost forgotten he had been wearing it. "What say we research this further?"

"Of course. I need to find this out. It could be important to Hyrule."

"It may not, though."

"Regardless, I must research. Beside, these warps exist in different places to the norm. Both in tunnels, one underwater. Most warps are connected to energy, and can only be entered via magic. Yet, these warps are here for anyone who may find them to use. I must know why."

"You are beginning to sound like the Cloud-Rider."

"Lakitu?" Skull Kid chuckled. "I guess so. Maybe he's rubbing off on me."

"Maybe." The Mask replied, sounding amused. Skull Kid sighed happily, laying back on the grass. Still, he felt like he was forgetting something. But what? Was it connected to his researching of the Lost Woods warps? Was Lakitu involved? Suddenly, it all came rushing back. He got to his feet.

"Is there a problem, Master?" The Mask asked, sounding concerned.

"No, Mask." He smiled. "No problem." He knew who he was now. He felt the joy thunder through his body, as if it, too, was glad to be remembering what it had once been. His smile widened, then fell. "I must see Lakitu." He gasped. He used his magic, which had now been found, and teleported.

Heroes and The Evil One

"So, you destroyed my puppets." The Evil One said, sounding amused. His form was a sight that sent terror through Maria and Link. He resembled a human, but with four wings, two horns and a tail like a demon. His entire body was as black as an abyss, except for the blood-red eyes and teeth. Yet, this was not what scared the Heroes the most. Eo's aura was simply terrifying. Though they were stood at least ten feet away from The Evil One, the aura threatened to rip out their soul, shredding it in the process. "However, I will not be such easy prey." He grinned maliciously. "Submit to me now, and I may be kind enough to make you one of my puppets."

"Why'd you bother saying that?" Link scoffed. "You should know what the answer's gonna be."

"Worth a try." Eo shrugged. "So, you'll try to resist me? It's futile. I am one again, and my power is endless!"

"Endless? Yeah, right." Maria snorted. "There's no such thing. If your power is so endless, why did you have to wait until we were here to destroy us? And why couldn't you control Ganondorf and Bowser completely?"

"I did!" Eo snapped.

"Then, why didn't they kill us? It's not like they never had the chance." Maria grinned. "You're weak, Eo. Evil needs fear to be strong, and we're not afraid of you."

"Stupid woman." Eo spat. "Not afraid, are you? Then I shall show you fear!!" He roared, and the aura began to crush them.

"Stay calm." A voice said quietly from behind. Turning, Maria and Link saw Ganondorf and Bowser stood nearby, each holding the other up. "The aura is nothing. Just a mind trick." Ganondorf explained.

"Silence!" Eo yelled.

"We'll give you the power we have." Bowser said. "Maria, you take my Power Stars."

"Link, I'll imbue you with a large portion of the power from my Triforce of Power." Ganondorf told Link.

"Why not the other way round?" Maria asked.

"Because," Ganondorf explained. "You're going to need the power of two worlds within each of you, just as Eo does."

"I said shut up!" Eo howled, the aura crushing them harder.

"Take our hands." Ganondorf said, holding his hand toward Link. Bowser held his hand to Maria. Both Heroes took the Villains hands in theirs. "Let my power become yours." Ganondorf said softly. The golden triangle on the back of his hand raised into the sky, and flew to Links' hand, where it settled and glowed brightly.

"May the Stars guide you." Bowser intoned. Thirty bright golden stars circled him, then moved to circle Maria, then went inside her body. The two Villains slumped to the ground.

"Worthless nobodies!" Eo growled. "They should've stayed out of it."

"Too bad for you." Maria sighed. "Shall we just get this over with?"

"Don't get too confident. You still are still nothing compared to me."

Maidens

"Show time, ladies." Lakitu said, breaking the silence. "Send them all the happy thoughts you can. Don't stop. The more you send, and the happier, the stronger they'll be. You ready for this?"

"I'm ready." Zelda/Malon said.

"Me too." Peach/Eraf said.

"Then get to it." Lakitu grinned.

The Final Fight

Eo leered at the two Heroes who had given him so much trouble. He decided to wipe them out quickly, before the Maidens gave them too much strength. Not like it would matter. These two feeble mundanes could never match his power. Maria and Link met his gaze evenly. They prepared themselves for what could very well be the toughest fight of their lives. And one they knew they might not survive.

You will live. The Voices echoed in their minds. We won't let you die. Maria and Link smiled at this, and charged at Eo, spirits ablaze. Eo scoffed, and leapt to one side. Link grabbed Maria and shoved her over Eo. Maria swung her sword at him, but he leapt over it. Link was already beneath him, and smashed him with his hammers. Eo flew over to wall. Upon impact, he exploded in a mass of shadow.

"What happened?" Maria asked.

"Wait." Link said in a hushed voice. "Below us!" He leapt up into the air, and Maria copied. A mere moment after they had leapt, a huge black hand lunged from the ground, attempting to grab them. Maria slashed her sword wildly, sending several blades of energy at the hand, slicing it to ribbons. The remnants then reformed into Eo, who leapt at Link, a sword of blackness appearing in his hand. Link barely blocked the blow, but a strand of shadow stretched into the air above him, then slammed him into the ground. Maria was behind Eo then, swinging her sword at Eo's head. Eo's head disappeared before impact, and reappeared after the sword had passed. Turning his head round to face her, Eo opened his mouth, and roared a shockwave of energy at Maria, sending her across the room. Eo landed, and narrowly avoided an attack from Link. He dispersed into shadow again, which wrapped around Link, and threw him hard into the ceiling. The elf stayed pinned to the ceiling for a moment, then plummeted to the ground.

Get up, Link! His Maiden screeched. Don't you want to come back home with me?

Of course I do. Link growled, hauling himself to his feet. He looked at Eo, who was attacking Maria now. Maria leapt side to side, avoiding the spears of shadow that lashed constantly at her. She could not move in for an attack. Link found himself behind Eo, and kicked him in the back. This succeeded in merely surprising the Evil One, who reached behind himself, and grabbed Links' head. He tossed Link to one side. However, this distraction had allowed Maria to get in close, and she quickly ripped a gash down Eo's chest. Eo let out a brief hiss of pain, then the wound closed.

How do we win this? Maria wondered, panicking now. Nothing we do can hurt him.

"I see the fear in your eyes, plumber-girl." Eo sneered. "Why don't you run? Run from me, girl, so you can live a little longer."

"Fat chance." Maria hissed. "I'll kill you, even if it's with my last breath."

"So be it. Prepa-" A surge of energy smashed Eo into the ground. Looking at Link, Maria saw him holding his left hand in the air, Triforce facing forward, energy crackling around his fist. Link thrust his hand forward, and another surge of energy pounding into Eo. "Mere parlour tricks!" Eo's voice cried from the explosion of energy. The dark figure rose to its feet, and laughed. "That is nothing."

Talk to me, Maiden. Link begged.

We love you, Link. The Voice whispered. The Triforce on Link's hand burned, and shot a blood-red bolt of power at Eo. Eo only had time to gasp before it hit. Dust and rubble flew through the air, the shockwave clawed at the walls, and the boom ripped at the Heroes' ears. After it had all settled, Eo was on his knees, gasping for breath.

"Better." He said, respect tinging his voice. "I'll have to keep my guard up now." He looked at Maria. "Perhaps you should go play with your dolls, girl, and let the men fight."

"Bad move." Maria chuckled. She pulled out the vials of water.

"Think you'll get a chance to drink those?" Eo asked. He sent a barrage of shadow spikes at her. Link was suddenly in front of Maria, and sliced all the spikes in hald.

"Who said anything about drinking the vials?" A voice said from behind Link. It wasn't Marias' voice; it was too harsh. Link turned, and Eo stepped to one side to get a better view. A different woman stood in Maria's place. Her white hair fell to her shoulders in a neat ponytail, and her face was decorated with tribal markings. Red lines under her eyes, blue spiked lines on her cheeks, and a red upside-down triangle on her forehead. She wore chainmail over a black sleeveless shirt, chainmail gloves and leggings, and black boots. She held a large sword in her hands. It had two blades, which twisted and twined around each other, meeting in a point at the end.

"Fierce... Deity Mask!" Eo gasped. He took a step back, then recovered himself. "No matter." He sighed.

"Good idea, Maria." Link said happily, the Fire Flower now in his hand.

Try this. A Voice said in his head. It wasn't Malon or Zelda. Who was it? Another Fire Flower appeared in his left hand, but this one was blue.

"Eraf gave you an Ice Flower. Lakitu gave her it." Fierce Deity Maria told Link.

"Nice. Thank her for me."

You're welcome. Eraf's voice said happily.

"Here we go." Link said grasping both Flowers against his chest. Empower with the true strength of fire and ice. Let these opposing elements work as one. In a flash of blue and orange, Link transformed. His tunic was now bluer than the ocean, and his leggings and sleeves redder than the hottest flame. His gloves had disappeared. On his right hand, flame danced around his wrist and between his fingers. On his left, a frosty mist shrouded his hand. "Cool, no?"

"Very." Maria said appraisingly. Without another word, a huge wave of energy thundered at Eo. Upon impact, Eo froze in place as the energy ripped at his body. Link threw a fireball at the Evil One, burning his skin. Eo howled in agony for a few moments, then growled and leapt to the sky. Maria and Link quickly followed. Link punched Eo on the shoulder with his ice fist, and Maria smashed her sword against the frozen limb. Eo's arm fell to the ground. Link quickly singed it, then powered his right leg with fire and kicked Eo in the back. The flames burned Eo's shadow-flesh. Maria moved herself back, then threw an energy blast at the Evil One's stomach. Link flew to one side as the energy ripped through Eo's body, splitting him in two. Link and Maria floated to the floor as the two halves of Eo slammed into the ground. The two halves shuddered for a moment, then reunited, forming Eo again. His formerly severed arm had returned, though Eo himself was now slightly smaller.

"Looks like we're winning." Link said happily from behind him.

"Looks like it." Maria agreed.

"Fools." Eo grumbled. "Just because I'm smaller doesn't mean I'm weaker. But if it bothers you so much..." He suddenly grew to his original size. "This better?"

"Inferiority complex, much?" Maria grinned. Eo scowled.

"Joke all you like. See if you're still laughing when I send you to Hell!"

"I think we will be." Link said. As Eo turned to face him, Link swept his fire-arm upwards, and flames shot from the ground. "This is what Hell looks like, right?" Link then laughed at Eo.

"Sh-shut up!" Eo snapped. Maria laughed too. "Stop it! Immature children! Stop laughing! I am the God of Evil! I am not to be trifled with!" He lunged at Maria, who kept laughing. A foot before her, a pillar of flame shot him into the air.

"HA! How do you like that?" Link asked, then continued laughing. Eo crumpled to the floor.

"Silence, mortal!" Eo hissed, but his voice sounded weaker. Maria launched a beam of energy at him, laughing all the while. The beam catapulted Eo into the wall. He groaned weakly, then slid to the floor. Link and Maria chuckled, sighed happily, then stopped laughing.

"That was fun." Link said.

"Yup yup." Maria agreed.

"Shall we finish him?"

"Nah. Let's just walk away." So they did. They walked to the door, picking up Ganondorf and Bowser.

"Wait!" Eo called. "You will die here!" A tsunami of energy fell in front of the door.

"Please, Eo." Link sighed. "You've lost. So just be good and die." He held his ice hand toward him, then froze the Evil One. Maria sent a shockwave, shattering the frozen Eo into a million pieces. The two then left the castle and made their way back to Mushroom/Hyrule Castle.

Heroes, Maidens, and Villains

"Interesting way of defeating Eo." Lakitu said as the two Heroes entered the castle. "Maidens, I'll seperate you know." He did so, Zelda and Eraf appearing on the Hyrule side, Peach and Malon appearing on the Mushroom Kingdom side.

"Bowser!" Peach gasped, dashing to the Koopa King. She looked at Maria, who had removed the Fierce Deity Mask. "Is he... dead?" Tears shined in her eyes.

"No, just passed out." Maria assured her. "I had to beat him up pretty bad. Then he gave me all of his Power Stars."

"Not all." Lakitu said. "He kept one for himself, to stay alive."

"Bowser..." Peach whispered. "Wake up, Bowser."

"He'll be fine, Princess." Lakitu said gently. "It's time for the worlds to part, and for everyone to go home." He sighed. "I'm almost sad to see this moment."

"I'm not." Link grumbled. "I can't wait to go home with Malon." Malon grinned and blushed at this.

"Aren't you sad at all?" Maria asked him.

"Well... I'll miss Num and my Yoshi. I never thanked Daisy properly, or apologise to Luigi."

"What happened with my brother?"

"We fought. I need to thank Bob, too. He kinda started the relationship between me and Malon."

"Link, Malon. Step over to Hyrule." Lakitu said quietly.

"Will we be okay?" Link asked.

"I'm sure you will." Link and Malon nodded. They grasped each others' hands, then stepped across the golden line into Hyrule.

"Ow..." The two winced.

"Don't worry about it. While the two worlds are connected, your bodies will grow accustomed to Hyrule quicker. Maria, give me the mask you have." Maria did so. "Now, step into the Mushroom Kingdom, please."

"Wait!" Eraf cried. She flew to Maria, landing on her shoulder. She buried her face in Maria's cheek. "Can't you stay?" She asked, the tears evident in her voice.

"She can't, Eraf." Lakitu said sadly. She needs to go home, and quickly, before the LODT remove him from Hyrule."

"Let go, Eraf." Maria said, pulling the fairy from her shoulder. She gave her a light kiss on her cheek, before releasing her and walking across the golden line.

"I love you!" Eraf howled. "I love you, whether you're a girl or a boy! Lakitu, can I please go with her?" She pleaded to the tortoise.

"Do you have an anchor?" Lakitu asked.

"I... I don't know." Eraf gasped, tears pouring from her eyes. "M-maybe... Link, can you do it?"

"I don't know." Link replied.

"He can't." Lakitu told the fairy. "He doesn't care for you enough to be your Knight. I'm sorry."

"Come to me, Eraf." Maria said gently, smiling. "You'll be fine."

"Maria..." Lakitu said, voice tense. "I'm not so sure..."

"I won't let her be sad because I'm gone. And I won't let her die if she comes here. I'll be your anchor." She sounded confident. Eraf flew up to the line, and stared at it apprehensively. "Trust me." She whispered. "I won't let anything happen to you." Eraf squeezed her eyes shut, then dashed to Maria. A mere foot across the line, the fairy began to glow. "Eraf!" Maria gasped. "What's happening?"

"I warned you!" Lakitu yelled. "You idiot! She's gonna..." He paused, then chuckled. "She's gonna be fine." The glow grew in size, until it was the size of a young human. The glow faded, and Eraf stood there, human. Her wings had gone, and she looked like a teenage girl.

"I..." She gasped, looking at herself. "What happened?"

"The worlds are rewarding you." Lakitu told her. "For helping save them from Eo, they've given you a form that will allow you to stay with Maria."

"Really? Maria!" She cried, running forward to hug her. She barely reached to Maria's breasts. "Maria, I can stay! I can stay! Oh, Maria, I love you so much!" She stood on her toes, and kissed Maria on the lips. "I can stay!" She cried happily. Maria smiled, and held the girl close against her.

"I'm so glad." Maria whispered in her ear, stroking her hair.

"I'm going to seperate the worlds." Lakitu said, disturbing the moment. "Best of luck to all of you." He bowed to each of them, then disappeared. The double throne room started shaking, then the two thrones moved away from each other, fading away into nothingness.

"Link!" Maria yelled. "Thank you for saving the Mushroom Kingdom! I'm glad I met you!"

"I'm glad I met you." Link replied. "Thanks for taking care of Hyrule. I hope I see you again."

"Me, too!" Then, the Hylian throne room, Link, Malon and Zelda disappeared, and the walls and paintings of the Mushroom Kingdom throne room reappeared.