Updated 16/04/2010 4:35PM
All right, now I'm nervous. This chapter is a lot shorter than I wanted, but I can't think of anything I can add. I think I've lost my ability to write long chapters :S
Many thanks for the last chapter's reviews! Again, I tried to reply to everyone personally (in case people feel that being mentioned here is like naming and shaming XD), but if I missed you, my sincere apologies.
In other news, my website is finally up and running. I've been working on my server all week and damn, it's been tough - Linux just *doesn't* like me - fact! We've declared an uneasy truce for now, and PDFs of Heroes are gradually being created and uploaded. More background info will appear there eventually. April Fool's chapter is also available there for download! Use the link to my homepage in my profile or go to gargravarr dot boldlygoingnowhere dot org.
Oh well, enjoy!

Chapter 32
…Into the Light Part 2

(~*~)

My body reacted faster than my mind. In an instant, I had drawn the bow and had sunk five arrows into the ground, just as I had been taught. "The pentagram is the strongest of all shapes," I remembered as I channeled power from the Triforce, drawing out long lines of golden magic. "Its strength extends beyond this world, and a properly-formed star can defend you from almost anything."

I threw the strings of gold to the ground where they attached themselves to the arrows. In moments, five glowing lines surrounded me as the darkness crept from the stone.

Ganondorf was breathing heavily, his arm shaking as he focussed on the stone. "Something... else..." He panted as I watched.

Of course...!

His power came from the Nothingness, but what if something else were to draw that same power at the same time? It would weaken them both!

Link and Midna...

A tingle swept up my spine. They were right at the heart of this, I knew it! I had to buy more time!

I raised the bow and drew back another arrow

(~^~)

The strangest sensation flooded up my arm. At once it was alien and familiar. I'd felt it before, but never within me.

United magic.

The power swept into me, seeping into every corner of my body. I had never felt such energy. It radiated off my skin, and I felt my body begin to glow. I looked at Midna and saw the same. She gasped as her imp body began to shine with golden and black energy. Sparks crackled around our swords as flecks of golden energy raced around the Twilight blade, and squares of Shadow magic swam around the Master Sword.

It was happening.

Light and Shadow…

Suddenly my sight exploded into gold. It enveloped me and everything around me. I couldn't see a thing.

I felt even stranger. The power coursing through my body burned as it swirled within me. My eyes were forced closed and I couldn't control my breathing, which came in short, ragged bursts. I felt as though another power had slid over my body, a presence wrapping itself over and through me.

It was a sensation unlike anything I had ever felt before, and I struggled to comprehend just what was going on.

Link…

"Midna…" I whispered as I heard her voice… But wait… that wasn't her voice…

Link, what's happening?! I can't see!

"I-I don't know…" I breathed.

Did we do it? Did it work?

Finally, the golden glow around my eyes dimmed and I was able to open them. I gasped.

Already I could feel I was taller. I looked down to see myself towering over Azréalus, the sorcerer quaking in fear. My hand clenched on my sword and I looked at it.

"WHAT THE?!" I gasped.

The Master Sword was no longer in my hand. In its place was a simple broadsword, nearly a time and a half the length of the Light blade. It was golden and black, and its thick blade seemed to be made of pure energy. Its simple hilt was pure gold.

What got me most was the hand and arm that held it.

It wasn't mine.

The limb holding the sword was the same as the blade, swirling golden energy. I followed it into the rest of me and saw that my entire body was the same – gold and black, and pulsing with energy. I stood eight feet tall easily. On my other arm I saw my Hylian shield, it too tinged with gold, though given my current size it seemed oddly small.

Let me help…

Suddenly the shield increased in size, the metal creaking as it expanded. In a moment, it was the perfect size.

What happened? I thought.

That was me, Link.

I felt my golden skin crawl. Midna?!

It worked, Link! Light and Shadow are united. I'm here with you!

My eyes widened and I looked around for her.

No sign of the imp.

Goddesses…

Time to do their bidding, don't you think?

My body tingled with energy as I realised the prophecy had come to pass. I felt a powerful grin grace my features as I turned to our adversary. "What do you think now?" I asked in a voice that mixed both of ours with an otherworldly, haunting overtone. It rang out in all directions, incredibly powerful and rich. Midna's giggle bled into it, her innocent laugh somehow terrifying now. "Mere children?"

Azréalus stared at us, mouth agape in disbelief. His mouth quivered as I spun my sword towards him. His once-imposing figure now seemed pathetic. "I-I-" He stammered.

"-want to die?" I felt Midna say. "Why, we'd be happy to oblige!" The sword slashed through the air and I realised Midna had control of the united body as much as I did.

Right you are, Link! Tell you what, you stick to your speciality, I'll stick to mine! Her mischievous voice sounded in my head. And yes, I can sense your thoughts. If you try, you can probably sense mine too! Hehe, I guess I do sound a little mischievous…

I smiled and locked eyes with our opponent. He had drawn a deep breath and looked at us with utter venom. "This ends now!" He growled, summoning an intense ball of dark energy. As it flew at us, I felt my shield arm shake and a burst of golden-black energy shot from the hand. The two energies collided and annihilated each other in midair.

"Just so you know, I can do this all day!" Midna mocked.

Azréalus seemed to disbelieve us, as he created an even bigger charge of magic. As Midna repeated her own response, I felt the Triforce beckon to me, and I felt for it. The growing magic coursed through our arms and swept into the sword, burning through our hand. Just in time I realised, and tilted the sword as an intense burst of light erupted from the blade straight into the ball of darkness heading our way.

The two magics exploded in indescribable light that blossomed outwards, driving back more and more of the Nothingness surrounding us. It was then that I realised Azréalus was still concentrating on his magic, both hands outstretched. With a grunt, more blackness flowed out of his fingers straight into the thrashing magic before us.

Two can play at his game!

I felt the energy flow back into the sword and an intense beam of golden-black power shot out into the opposite side.

Azréalus was furiously muttering indecipherable words, sweat rolling off his brow as his hands shook. He must be struggling to hold on, I thought victoriously. And I barely feel tired.

The amount of magic we've got as one, Link, hehe, I think we could cook him several times over! What do you prefer, spit-roast or boiled?

Anything as long as it's dead!

The magic was reaching worrying proportions; the magics waged a war before us, whirling and thrashing several feet off the ground. Every now and again, I felt nibbles of darkness cross the beam from the sword, but with the slightest thought it was driven back.

Come on, I'm getting bored!

I gasped as I felt an enormous rush of all-too-familiar Shadow magic. Suddenly, all four pieces snapped out around us, whirled once, and slammed down over our head and shoulders. Power thundered through us, and I felt my Triforce erupt with energy, meeting the Shadow power head-on and merging.

This was it, the full power of Shadow and Light, channelled as one. I could feel Midna struggling to control the power and I grabbed ahold of it with my mind, helping her shape it, all the while maintaining the beam from the sword.

This ought to do it! Eee hee hee!

"WHOA!"

Energy unlike anything I had ever felt before seared along our sword arm, straight into the blade, from where it erupted as an intense beam of light.

Pure white light.

It scorched my eyes as I watched, bringing up our other hand to shield them. Suddenly I felt something wash over me, like warm water; it flowed over and around me before vanishing, along with the burning light.

I tentatively lowered the shield and took in the scene before me.

The ball of energy was gone.

Azréalus was no longer standing. I quickly saw him collapsed on the ground, clutching both his hands to his chest. As I watched, I realised they were both smoking.

Nicely done. We burnt out his power!

The sorcerer panted in pain as he shook on the ground, trying to stand without success. He lifted his head with effort and looked directly at us. "Wh-what h-h-have you… done…?"

"What we always do," we replied. "Disperse evil. Hyrule's had enough, and the Twilight Realm more than its share. Now, I guess killing you will seal the hole between dimensions?"

"Believe… what… what you want…" he gasped. "Darkness is the only constant. It can… never… be destroyed for-forever." He threw his hands before his face and cried out. I gasped when I saw they were charred, like burnt wood. And yet he clenched his fingers, his eyes locking with ours as he drew a breath and began chanting.

Somehow, I recognised the words, though I had never heard them before.

"Spirits of darkness I compel thee, rise and claim the world as your own! Consume the light and restore to night, take your places on your ancient throne!"

The smoke around his hands turned black and thickened as he repeated the spell.

Now would be a very good time to act!

I spun the sword uncertainly.

Yep, this is one of those times, Link!

My grip solidified on the sword as Azréalus chanted desperately before us. He was on his knees, and I stopped; it looked as though he was praying.

Praying to the gods of Tessek! The result's going to be a lot worse if we don't stop him!

Can he really-?

Do you really want to find out??

As if in response, I felt Midna spin the sword and take a step towards him. I felt the magic shift, as though something was tearing, as if both sides of us were moving in different ways…

We lose the union if we don't work together. Come on Link! You said it yourself! We have to do what is necessary!

You mean kill him!

Link, that spell is an ancient power. It'll use his own life-force to rip open the dimensions. He's going to die either way! And personally I'd rather Tessek stays in Tessek!

I didn't think any further. I simply stepped forwards; the feeling of tearing vanished. As one, we stopped before our adversary.

Sweat dripped from his brow and in such a position, he was wide open to any kind of strike. We breathed deep and slow, and I could feel fear.

My own coupled with Midna's.

I didn't want to do this. My dark twin was one thing; he had sworn to keep trying, but Azréalus was commanding magic, and I didn't want to believe he was still capable of such an act.

Link, it's going to happen! Accept it and stop it! We have to be together on this!

At that moment, the sorcerer's head snapped up to look at us.

That second changed everything.

His eyes glowed red, pulsing with pure hatred.

"You will not win!" He snarled at us.

Together, Midna.

Let's end this!

I felt another force grip the sword with me; golden-black magic coursed through our arm. I spun the sword ready, taking aim. Such an easy strike…

As one, we drove the sword straight into the crouching form before us.

Azréalus' breath caught, a rough gurgle rolling in his throat. His eyes blinked several times before his head lowered to face the blade impaled in his chest. He drew a rattling breath and looked back up at us, bringing his hands between us.

The black smoke thinned and vanished.

Another strained breath escaped his lips and his face slowly turned to acceptance. "Darkness was not strong enough…" He whispered.

A rush of magic thundered down our arm and the sword began to glow. The light faded slowly between black and gold before turning pure white. The point at which the sword had run our adversary through glowed brighter, eventually radiating light.

Azréalus had frozen with a look of utmost shock on his face. His limbs began to slowly shake as he took rapid, shallow breaths, blood grouping in the corners of his mouth. Suddenly his eyes went wide.

Light, stronger than anything I had ever seen, erupted from the wound. It brightened to the point where it consumed him, and I felt our eyes burn as everything around us turned pure white

(~*~)

I loosed several arrows at Ganondorf as he cried out in determination, forcing a yell of pain from him. All of them met their target, vanishing into the air as the arrows scorched the flesh they touched.

But it did nothing to slow the growth of the black from the stone. It was still moving, ambling slowly outwards, a cloud of thick black…

It happened instantly.

Pure white light exploded from the stone, and I felt my eyes burning as I threw my hands up to shield my face. I couldn't see a thing, but I heard the Twili let loose an almighty roar of anger.

When the white finally dissipated, I tentatively lowered my arm, slowly bringing the bow to readiness.

All of the darkness had gone.

I let out a sigh of relief as I aimed the bow at Ganondorf, who stood facing the stone and breathing heavily. His ragged breaths were laced with rage.

"Impossible…" he snarled.

"Possible…" I whispered as I nocked another arrow.

"NO!" He roared, raising his hand above his head, and my sight was stolen again as gold erupted from it.

I released the arrow without looking, hearing the light weapon sink harmlessly into the sand. What was he doing?!

I scrunched up my eyes, trying desperately to see what was happening.

Ganondorf's Twili body was washed with golden light, to the point where I could not make out his form. The golden shape burned bright for several moments as I struggled to comprehend what he was doing. Finally the glow dimmed and I could see what had occurred.

"Oh Goddesses…" I breathed.

Not ten feet from me, rolling his head around to settle his neck bones, was the immense form of the Dark King.

Ganondorf had retaken his true form.

He gave a satisfied sigh, tilting his head back as I stood paralysed by fear. He slowly looked down at his hands, marvelling at his restored body. He snickered darkly. "All it took was a little kick in the right direction…" He looked upon the Triforce on his hand, the relic clearly glowing gold.

Panic was threatening to take me. I realised what he'd done; his rage and his natural power had allowed him to harness the Triforce's true power.

Icy chills swept through me. I knew he had used fragments of the relic's power, but I had never seen the sacred mark used to such a degree. If he could repeat that act, I stood no chance.

Ganondorf flexed his fingers and turned around. His cold, merciless eyes locked with mine. "Ah, such a valiant attempt, Princess. To think that a star like that could protect you… now that the full power of the Triforce is mine." He chuckled, again gazing at his mark. "The Nothingness may have been banished, but your Hero does not realise what he has set in motion now."

As if to prove himself, he clasped both hands together, interlocking his fingers as he began a low, quiet chant. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.

Come on, there must be something you can do!

I could barely think. If I left the protection of the star he could kill me instantly, but if he truly did command the Triforce's true energy, my efforts to stay alive were in vain. Nothing could protect me from such power.

Stop it! You're stronger than this! You've faced him before and survived! If only to buy them time, you've got to fight him!

My free hand clenched into a fist. That voice was right; too long had I relied on others to save me. I had lasted this long; I would fight him until my dying breath if it gave Link and Midna a chance.

As I searched for a spell, or a charm, or anything I could use on him, I saw another golden glow emerge from his hands. He slowly drew his hands apart to reveal a ball of golden energy.

My mind stalled.

The Gerudo raised his head to face me and sneered. "You think that the Hero will come rushing to save you. As much as it is my desire to face him man to man, he has irked me too much for that. In time, his punishment will find him. Until then…" He smirked darkly, his eyes closed to serpentine slits. He drew a deep breath and parted his hands, holding the crackling ball of gold in his Triforce hand.

What happened next made my blood run cold.

In one motion he snapped around, his arm following as he cast the golden ball.

I flinched.

But the ball wasn't heading for me.

I followed its path as fear coursed through me.

It flew majestically through the air.

Straight into the Void Stone.

Time slowed.

I watched with absolute panic as the swirling energy neared the black rock. There was nothing I could do to stop it. As soon as it touched, the ball exploded with a deafening roar. And my worst fears came true.

The force of the attack blasted the top of the Stone apart, tiny fragments of the ruined obsidian raining from the sky a moment later. In its wake, the rest of the black rock crumbled, chunks falling freely to the ground.

The portal had been completely destroyed.

Link was trapped forever in the Twilight Realm.

And I was here, facing Ganondorf.

Alone.

Every thought met with a shot of panic. I was frozen in absolute terror. The Gerudo slowly turned, a satisfied smirk on his face. "A fitting end for the relic they used to try and destroy me,"he cackled. "Your Hero will never see the light again. He isn't coming to save you, Princess. No-one will rush to your aid."

He smiled menacingly. "We find ourselves in the same situation again, don't we?" He narrowed his eyes and glared at me. "The choice is still yours, that question for the ages. Surrender to me, your true King, or you will die and I will lay waste to your precious land. I leave it to you to decide."

No.

You've been forced around by too many people. Your life is your own to live. Link fights for his. Now you've got no choice! Never give up!

Suddenly I felt my own Triforce warm. Link?!

No answer.

Instead, golden energy, more intense than anything I had ever felt, flooded into my body. Energy of the stars…

Wait!

THAT'S IT!!

The answer grabbed me and shook me. I could feel it, screaming to me, and I acted. Such colossal power was already flowing through me, so driven by my thoughts and my fears and I knew the spell would not be necessary. Sparks of golden magic crossed my hands and I threw the bow onto my shoulder. I met eyes with Ganondorf, his face questioning as he saw my hands.

I focused on his face, feeling my hatred for him rise. All my emotions crashed into my mind, every fear I had repressed, every trace of anger, everything that could possibly distract me. I stepped back from it all, shaping the emotions into a force that drove even more magic out of the Triforce into me.

I WILL kill you if it is the last thing I ever do!!

My teeth bared as I felt the emotional energies surging through me, and I threw myself down, slamming my hand into the ground as I yelled out, "PLURII!!!"

The response was immediate.

Golden energy rippled out into the ground and bolts of lighting ran in reverse as bursts of gold shooting from the ground.

I followed them into the sky.

And the stars began to fall.

Biggest issue I found with this is that I grabbed onto the first major-plot-point that I thought of without thinking about how I'd develop it. It's been extremely difficult to keep things coherent and stop them devolving to the point where people start asking me 'WTF are you going on about??' Please say that hasn't happened yet!
As for the promise of a major action scene, I'll grant you this wasn't up to much. I guess I'll have to make it up to you all - let's just say one major bad guy is still in play!
Update: Merged what was Chapter 33 into this to make one longer chapter instead of one modest and one far-too-short. C33 wrote itself after I uploaded C32. This should read okay, too!
Until then,
Gargravarr