I don't own Final Fantasy nor The Legend of Zelda. Credit for their respective owners. :)

Enjoy.

:)

If anything is wrong please do tell me. :D Almost there! :D I guess. :P

3 or 4 more chapters and we meet the end of the road.

I held Link as his cried his heart to me. He had suffered for a long time and I guessed he had bottled up all of those emotions. I had lived through problems almost like those he had and I had crumbled rapidly. He…he had managed to keep his emotions at bay for seven long years and the years it took him to defeat the man called Ganondorf. How strong was he? How could he withstand all that fate brought to him? Things that he didn't deserve crashed at him. And he had managed to hold his ground bravely. How could he? What was he? He lost everything and what did he gain? Nothing! As far as I knew at least. He had yet to tell his entire story. But in any case, as far as I knew, he gained sadness, pain, torture and so many negative emotions I couldn't even describe. Not only that but…"In any case," His broken voice made my attention return to him. "I saved Saria and she gave me her power. After her, came my Sworn Brother, Darunia. And after him, Ruto, my fiancée." He chuckled. He…did he…HE HAS A FIACÉE? I WAS FALLING FOR A MARRIED MAN! HE WAS TAKEN! Link chuckled some more and I noticed he had witnessed my amazed expression. Ted did as well for she was smirking my way. And Zack…well…the look he had I wished it was for Link's declaration and not my expression. I felt to self-conscious. "At least she used to be. Not anymore. When I obtained the Spiritual Stone from the Zora it came with a not so pleasant surprise. She told me that she could only give it to the man she was to be married with in the future. I had to accept. I had no other choice." His smile then faltered. "At first I was glad that she had turned to be the Sage of Water. With all her bashing around and bothering me when I was kid." He looked at me and smiled sadly. "She tended to remind me a lot that I was to be ready for our wedding. Claiming, that she wanted it to be in Lake Hylia with doves flying around and that she was to wear a pink ribboned dress and that I had to wear a blue garment." He chuckled. "She said that my fair hair would then stand out and that my eyes would match perfectly with the blue suit. Yes. It all seemed wonderful to me when she appeared as the Sage of Water. But then I realized that I had lost yet another childhood friend. And so the time came when two other sages where released. Oh! Wait! I forgot to mention a friend of mine that helped me throughout my journey as well." He sounded so happy while saying that, that I couldn't stop a smile from appearing. "It was my horse, my beautiful mare Epona. She had the shiniest brown coat from all of the kingdom and the longest and prettiest white mane and tail ever. She was the fastest as well. No horse could ever keep up with her. My beautiful mare. How I miss her." He sighed. "Yet…like all of them…she left me as well. Died from a stab to the chest while escaping Gerudo Fortress after freeing Naboru the Spirit Sage. It seemed word had gotten to Ganon that I had successfully passed through the fortress and even made myself a reputation among the women that gained me a place among their thievery. So, him being the King of Evil and even King of the Gerudo ordered my execution as soon as I reappeared on Gerudo grounds. Upon my return, I was received with an army of hundreds of women armed with spears, bows and swords ready to attack at their signal. I managed to spot Aveil among them and for a split second her eyes showed sadness and regret. But the mask fell as soon as it came and at her whistle the army lunched towards me. I took out my sword ready to counterattack and yet knowing wholly that I was bound to die here. But as every Hylian Knight I was to perish in the battlefield with honour and grace. As I waited for my imminent death I heard the sound of distant hooves and among the ranks of the Gerudo my beautiful mare emerged powerful and magnificent as if the Goddesses had created her. She stood by my side throughout the battle. But soon, the forces of the Gerudo tired us and in the fierceness of the battle my mare took a hit to the chest, the tip of the blade piercing her heart. She died instantly. When I noticed this I grew frenetic and began to slash and slice without mercy. Various Gerudo lost their heads, some lost arms, others ears and eyes. I was crazy with fury and rage, thirsty for the blood of the kind that had dared to touch my horse; that had dared to find it funny to plunge a spear into his heart. But soon, my energy and strength left me. I was losing speed and committing mistakes that were close to ending my life. Next thing I know I'm unarmed and at the mercy of a battalion of Gerudo women."

"Fuck…" Zack added. "And you remained sane?" He said and scratched his head. "If it had been me I would have…"

"If you want your relationship with Aerith to last I suggest you to shut up!" I reprimanded Zack. He gulped and nodded. But suddenly stood up… "How…"

"It was pretty obvious." I said smiling. But he looked crestfallen. "And don't worry about it. I'm happy for you guys. I seriously am." I tried to sound as sincere as I could. He had to believe in me. After all, Aerith and him deserved to be happy. The least I could do was to jeopardized my happiness for theirs. Besides, I didn't love Aerith anymore. I guessed I never had. Maybe it was just an obsession. Or perhaps a reason to keep on living. Yes. That was it. Aerith had been an obsession for me to keep on. A motive, the cause of me still being alive. Now…that wasn't true anymore. I found another reason to keep on living and that was: loving Link. And this time…I knew it was true love. The pure and perfect love for someone else. Not the crazy obsession I had over Aerith.

Zack seemed to have realized the sincerity of my words and immediately relaxed, muttering a thank you before looking back at Link who seemed to feel the happy and vibrant vibes in the atmosphere for he was also smiling. I was glad he was feeling comfortable. While, he was telling the story of his mare he sounded like if he was in the verge of tears. I didn't want to see him sad. Not again. The tears he cried today…would be the last ones. "Please do continue Link." I offered. He nodded and gulped. "As I was saying, I had been surrounded by Gerudo guards. I was about to accept my fate when a spark appeared out of nowhere. I knew who that sparked belong to. I sighed with relief. You would never understand how happy I was when; Sheik appeared among the frozen Gerudo guards. He called my name and ran to my side. I guess I was pretty beat up for he gasped as soon as he got close enough. I could only smile and thank the gods for sparing my life one more time. He took me from the arm and we soon melted into nothingness as he whistled a transportation tune. I blacked out halfway.

When I came to I was lying in a comfortable bed. I was in so much pain. Now that the adrenaline was gone, it came tenfold. I looked around after it settled a little bit and noticed that Sheik had fallen asleep on a chair beside the bed. He looked so peaceful, no scowl whatsoever. I was happy he was still there. Most of the time he just disappeared and I had to wait weeks for him to come back. But now he was here and to top that taking care of me. I felt so safe and for the first time in a long time I fell into a deep sleep.

I woke up to the sound of screaming and to the scent of smoke and fire. Running out the door I noticed that I was in Kakariko Village, but this time it was a burning Kakariko Village. Sheik was standing near the well as in trance. I ran to him, trying to realize what the hell was going on around here. But as soon as I came close, he yelled at me to step back before being send flying over my head as if he were a rag doll. I pulled my sword out ready to fight whatever came out of the deep and dark well. My fate ended the same as Sheik's. I fainted instantly.

Sheik woke me up. He checked for any injuries in my body while relating to me what was wrong. It seemed the thing that came from the well was a monster that had been sealed there by Impa herself. Unfortunately, with all the evil and darkness that flowed in Hyrule, it had managed to brake free. Impa headed to the Shadow Temple in an attempt to sealing it once more. But, she was at a disadvantage and Sheik feared for her safety. Being the first time Sheik had ever expressed emotions, I couldn't deny Impa the help. I asked for Sheik to take care of the village and headed straight to the Shadow Temple.

The temple was far worst that what I had imagined. It reeked of death, blood and putrid corpses. Every single turn a chill would run down your bond and constantly I heard voices inside my head that told of massacre, torture, murder, self-loathe and so many other and terrifying things that I can't relate. It was mental and physical torture were present every minute. I never thought it would end. And…well as you can see…I didn't come out without side effects." He smiled wearily. "In any case, I managed to defeat the monster and awaken the last sage. It happened to be Impa, the Princess' assistant. She asked of me to protect her and gave me her power. I promised I will and went to meet her. She had told me that the Princess would be at the Temple of Time." He sighed. "And she told me she would explain everything." Link clenched his fists. "And explaining she did. But…that day I lost another friend. Yet one more. That friend was Sheik." He hissed. "ANOTHER FRIEND I HAD TO LOSE BECAUSE OF HER!" He yelled standing up and began pacing in the room. I was afraid he might end up having one of his attacks. But for a reason he just rambled. "I went to the Temple of Time as fast as I could. I was so glad and overjoyed. Finally, all of this madness was going to end. Finally, I would be free. What more could I ask after all? I had lost everything. My home, my friends, my family, my innocence, my life…I just wanted freedom. That's all." A silent tear fell from one of his blue eyes. "I just wanted freedom and an explanation as to why all this fell upon me. At first, I was so happy that I going on an adventure, so joyful that I was going away from a place I knew I didn't belong to. I was naïve. So naïve. Who would have thought that such a choice would make me loose everything I held dear. Not only that…but I had put my life in the line for a girl I met for a few minutes. What had she lost? Had she lost as much as I did? Had she suffered as much as her kingdom did? Why did she go into hiding? She didn't have the ocarina anymore so, why would Ganondorf want her at all? Why did she never come in contact with me? Why was I chosen? My life would have been much better if I had left it the way it was. I would have avoided being stripped of everything. I would have avoided being stripped of who I was. I would have grown normally like any kid in the woods. I would have still been bothered by my peers. Yes. But I would have grown like a real person, not a toy of the Goddesses' mouldings. I wouldn't have lost Saria. I wouldn't have lost Darunia. I wouldn't have lost Epona. I wouldn't have lost myself. I knew I would meet them one day. I knew I would leave the forest one day. I just knew. I mean…I was bound to meet them. I would have met them without having to venture into my quest anyway. So…why did I accept to help the petty Princess and her petty kingdom? Why? Why have I done so? Why didn't she do it herself? Why me? Why my friends? Why meddle with my life? My journey should have ended the moment I returned to her with the stones. But no…I had to go even to further lengths to end everything. And went I did. I lost everything! I LOST ALL OF MY LIFE!" He fell on his knees. I was about to go to him when he spoke once more. "When I arrived to the Temple of Time, there was no one. I thought that perhaps Impa had lied to me. Or maybe…the Princess hadn't made it. I was about to leave when from the shadows Sheik appeared. He explained all about the balance of power, courage and wisdom, and how the person who touched the Triforce had to have all of three blessings in balance. He also explained how Ganondorf had failed at his attempt in gaining the Triforce and how the Sacred Realm had become a place full of evil thanks to him. He explained that I was the wielder of the Triforce of courage. My breathing stopped for a moment. I was the wielder of the Triforce of courage? Was this another sick and twisted joke of the gods? Not only was I the Hero of Time, which was more of a curse than a blessing, and now I was also the wielder of a piece of the Triforce? How much more did the gods want from me? Sheik suddenly got scared of my lack of response and tried to get close to me. At first, I backed away. Realizing it was him, I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding and fell to my knees defeated. He was by my side in a flash and his arms encircled me. I had come to the realization that I wasn't the owner of neither my life nor my destiny. I understood that I had no saying to what happened to me or where I wanted to go. I was a puppet to the higher powers and will always be." Link looked at me and smiled. A smile I had grown to hate over time. The smile of a masked man…the smile of the defeated and resigned man.