This is technically the last chapter. Damn... the last one... it really doesn't feel like it. It's weird...


Zelda gave a heavy sigh. She didn't really mind the flying eyeball bats or the Bokoblins. She did mind that this strange man, Vaati as Link called him, had dragged her away from Link. Sure, it was Link's request but… she wanted to be there.

As she gazed at the massive fortress before them she frowned. Something was coming out of the fortress.

"Mr. Vaati," she said, "I think there's water coming out from the fortress."

Vaati walked over to where she was, about to scold her for such nonsense when he saw that she spoke the truth.

"What's happening in there?" Zelda asked worriedly.

"Would you like me to lie to make you feel better or do you want my honest opinion?" said the mage.

She bit her lip. He wasn't nice.

A bright light came from the fortress. She blocked her eyes and when it died down she lowered her arm. She yelped as she saw that even more water was sputtering out from the fortress. She heard the man next to her curse and the Bokoblins squawking in fear.

She lowered her head and held her hands together.

"What are you doing?" Vaati asked in an irritated tone.

"Shush," she said just as irritated, "I'm praying."

The mage scoffed. He doubted the goddesses would do anything to help, they never did. To his surprise, a faint glow came around the ship. The water level began to rise and as it did, the ship glowed ever more brightly. Finally, the brightness encompassed the whole ship and when it left, they were on the sea. The sunlight almost seemed to sting from how long they head been under the waves but he found himself chuckling in amusement. The goddesses did decide to do something useful.

Zelda just peered over the edge of the boat. She looked desperately at the water to as far as she could see. All she saw was the sea. Please goddesses… she thought desperately, Please say Link survived…

One of the Bokoblins squawked eagerly.

"What is it?" asked Vaati angrily.

It squawked excitably again and pointed out to the water. The mage scowled and went over to that side of the ship to see what the commotion was about. Zelda followed and quickly glued herself to the rail. She smiled broadly at what she saw. Three young women she knew were the Sirens were swimming towards them, pulling Link with them. He was unconscious and scratched up, but he seemed fine.

Ganondorf was gone then. He had succeeded. That was something to be happy about but she was really just relieved to see that he was fine. She bowed her head again and then clasped her hands together again.

Vaati forked an eyebrow as he saw the girl praying again. The boy was fine, what more could she want? "What are praying about now?"

She smiled and blushed a bit. "That me and Link will have a happily ever after."

The mage frowned. "Forgive me if I gag."


The waves were splish-splashing on rocks and sand, palm trees were swaying in the ocean breezes. Warm sunlight poured in through his window and slowly made its way to the young boy's eyes.

The warmth and brightness of the light slipped through his eyelids. The boy made strange facial expressions as he tried to figure out what was causing the strange light in his dreams. Realizing he was asleep, he slowly opened his eyes, shutting them immediately from the brightness of the sun.

The sun?!

He shot up and the winced in pain, regretting getting up so fast. He looked around. He was in his bed at his home… How'd he get there? He racked his brains. He remembered thrusting the Master Sword into Ganon's skull… but everything after that was just a flash of light.

"Oh my…"

He turned his head to the doorway. His mother was there, tears rolling down her face.

"Mom…?"

She ran and hugged him. "I thought you would never wake up…" she said just barely in a whisper.

"Ow… ow… Mom… it hurts…" he said. It really did. In the battle with Ganon, the Master Sword shielded him from pain. Now he was feeling everything that the Master Sword had been preventing him from feeling.

His mother pulled away quickly. "I'm sorry…" she said sheepishly, wiping her tears away. "We have just been worried… You have been asleep for almost a week now…"

"Is Zelda okay?" Link asked.

His mother nodded. "Of course… she has wanted to visit you, but ever since she returned the king hasn't let her out of his sight. Your grandfather's been going and updating her on your condition-he's doing it now too."

Link sighed in relief and nodded. Everything hurt, but he felt better than ever before just knowing Zelda was safe. He supposed he had to thank Vaati for keeping her safe in the end…

Vaati?

"Um, what about Va-erm, Haizea?" Link asked.

His mother tilted her head in confusion. "No, I haven't seen him at all… He was with you at the time?"

There was a knock at the doorway before Link could answer. Both he and his mother looked over. Bandaged in a few places, but otherwise looking fine, was Nabooru.

"Hey there, kid. How are you feeling?" she asked. She was normal again.

He smiled. "It just hurts to breathe."

She chuckled as she walked and sat down next to his mom and the bed. "That's too bad. I gotta thank you for before, though…"

For before… Link remembered. Koume and Kotake, those witches… they had possessed her. He shook his head, "It was nothing…"

"It wasn't nothing, kid." Nabooru said. "You and pale face saved me back there. I owe you two a lot. I'd have gone and thanked pale face too, but he just disappeared. It's not surprising your mom hasn't seen him." She shrugged and then messed up his hair, "I'm just glad to see you're okay."

Despite his mother's worries and objections he decided to go to Hyrule Castle to see Zelda. He required crutches, but other than that he said he'd fare well on his own. He wanted to make the trip alone. On the way, people he didn't even know kept talking to him. He heard "thank you" and "you're a real hero" and all sorts of things like that. He supposed he was a hero after that and he just smiled. It was a good feeling to be recognized by so many people… but it was a little weird too. Before the whole adventure he had just been a kid with a sword.

The guards gratefully let him in. He didn't get a moment alone after that. He saw Zelda, yes, but he wasn't able to talk to her alone. Her father kept insisting on thanking him immediately so he spent a while shaking hands with him and about every other noble of the Hyrule's Court. If his arm hurt before, he certainly couldn't feel it afterwards.

After the never-ending stream of handshakes, Zelda managed to drag him away from all the publicity. They managed to find some privacy on the balcony and Link just sat himself down on the bench by the wall of it.

"Link…" Zelda started as she took a seat next to him, "Thank you… for everything. You saved me, like you said you would always do…"

Link felt a flush come over his face. "I promised I would, right?" he said a bit nervously.

She smiled. "You did promise it. But in saving me you also saved all of Hyrule." she said. "I heard that just before you came to get me that Ganondorf's forces started to overwhelm Caste Town. But as soon as you defeated Ganondorf, they just started to give up!"

"All a part of being a hero I guess?" he said nervously. He felt weird calling himself a hero, like it was an honor that he didn't deserve. "Are all of his forces gone, though?"

"We think so…" Zelda started. "Daddy's been sending ships to scout out islands nearby to check for any Moblins and Bokoblins that fled."

Islands…? Link suddenly remembered. "Did they stop by an island with a big mansion on it, yet?"

Zelda was puzzled but she thought for a moment. "I think I remembered hearing something like that… It was deserted I think."

Deserted? Link wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad thing, but he hoped it meant that those two had gotten home… wherever it was.

"Link," Zelda interrupted his thoughts, "Before you came and saved me… when you had come to me like a ghost… Did you mean what you said back then…?"

Link was redder than ever now. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. She smiled.

"I think now would be a bad time to talk about it…" she said apologetically. "You're in horrible shape… I think maybe we could talk about it when you're feeling better."

Link felt a sort of pain, like a disappointment in himself, but he nodded.

Someone called for Zelda. She looked back over her shoulder a bit, seeming a little annoyed. "I'll be right back." And then she stood and walked over back into the crowded room.

He just sat on the bench, angry at himself for not being able to admit it again. A gust of wind suddenly blew and he had a feeling he wasn't alone anymore.

"Still can't admit it, eh?" said a mocking voice.

Link turned his head and saw Vaati standing on the ledge of the balcony. "I admitted to it," he confessed, "I just cant do it again, I guess…"

The mage shrugged. "I wouldn't know what you're going through."

"Nabooru wants to thank you." Link added.

Vaati scowled. "Good for her. I think I'd do well not to see her unattractive face for a very long time." he said scornfully.

The boy just chuckled. The feud would never end, it seemed. "So… are you here to finish me off?" Link asked.

The mage thought for a moment. "I'd like to yes… but no. I have no interest in it anymore." he said plainly.

He looked at him strangely, not understanding why the mage suddenly lost interest in killing him. Not that he wanted to die, but he knew Vaati wasn't the type to just change his mind on a whim.

"I don't see why it's bothering you." Vaati told him. "Frankly, I thought you'd be happy to hear that you'd live long enough to court your princess."

He didn't let that last comment get to him. "But why?"

The mage sighed. He seemed to have trouble grasping the words. "I don't like you." he started, "Don't ever get the idea I do like you. However, after traveling with you for so long… I seem to have lost the desire to kill you."

Link just smiled. He knew what the translation was. "You're my friend too." he told the mage.

"I never said anything of the sort!" Vaati shot back angrily.

Link just laughed about it and Vaati just seethed. After he had had finished his chuckle-fest Link looked back at the sorcerer. "What are you going to do now?"

The wind mage shrugged. "I'm not quite sure. My plans for the goddesses are going to have to be put on hold for a while. I suppose I'll raise the Wind Palace again. I'm taking that woman, that's for sure. I can get Poe to come back to work too…"

Link laughed again. "I think he'd like that."

After a moment or two of silence Vaati finally said, "I should leave now. It isn't wise for me to stay."

"I guess this is goodbye for good, huh?" Link asked.

"Probably." said the mage.

The boy nodded. "Then see you later."

The mage cocked his head to the side and smirked. "I hope not." And then a cyclone came and went, and Vaati was gone.

Link just smiled. Zelda came back then.

"Sorry I took so long," she started, "Did something happen?"

He shook his head. "No. Hey, Zelda… I did mean it, what I said back then."

She froze and then smiled. "I feel the same way, you know." And then she sat down next to him and clutched his hand.

They sat there like that for a long while, wishing it could last forever.


... That's it. We still have the sidestory coming up but that's the end of this story. I'm a little sad. Anyways, special shout outs go to fleets, keetongu, and Evil Riggs. All my reviewers are special to me, and I love you all, but you three are the ones that frequently reviewed, as well as some of the earliest, and for that I appreciate it. It lets my know you've really stuck it out till the end.

Kudos to everyone whose read this whole thing. I'm sorry if I made anyone feel bad by not mentioning them, but I appreciate you all too! I love you all, thanks for reading this! Make sure to stick around for the special sidestory, though! I'll have it ready soon!