Chapter 7: Love Everlasting
« Hyrule Market: Morning »

The Market place was barren. Though it was not of any surprise. Just a few hours earlier undead had plagued it, and the entire armies of the Zoras, Gorons and Hyrulians had to fight to defeat it. Link was traveling to the castle. Behind him was Ruto and Saria. Ruto, still wearing her armor, brandished a Zorian Short sword while Saria, who was wearing a Goron tunic, wielded one of the best of Hyrule's attack boomerangs. As they neared the evil castle that stood on the Holy ground of the Temple of Time, Link felt the evil pulsating from within, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. Surely he hadn't come this far as to fail now?

« Castle Golem: Morning »

The doors of the castle were huge. They rose to at least twice the height of Link. Drawing the Sword of Dreams from its scabbard, Link hacked away at the door. He had come so far; he wouldn't let this door stand in his way. Cracking and buckling under the strain of Link sword, the door suddenly flew inward and collapsed in the center of a huge room. The room reached farther than Link could see, though the room was ill-lit. The inside of the castle was no better than the outside. As Link and his companions walked down the hallways, only an occasional torch lit the darkness. Every footstep Link and the others took echoed down the corridors. If only he knew where to go ... what he would find. A sound fought its way among the darkness. Somewhere ... a scratching ... a clawing ... Suddenly, a Wall Master dropped from the ceiling and attacked Link. Prepared, Link sliced upward cutting the undead hand into two halves. Although still quite "alive", the hand slithered away from Link.

"Be careful girls, I've seen thing ... bad things ... just be careful." Link said to Saria and Ruto.

Holding tight to Link, Ruto clasped to Link with Saria following close behind. Oh how she wished they could be like this all the time, him close to her. Just hearing his breath slowly whispering in and out, in and out calmed her, fear clinging to them both. If only ... While this experience had brought Ruto and Link closer together, it wasn't exactly what she had planned for, or what Link had planned for. Link loved Ruto. He still barely remembered how it all happened, so long ago ... Something to do with a quarrel between Ruto and Saria. Whatever had happened, it had opening his eyes. Ruto was so lovely, why he had not seen it at first, he did not know. All he knew now was that he loved her. Loved her eternally and forever. And if they survived, Link knew exactly what he must do.

Suddenly they were there. As they rounded the corner on the stairwell they had been traveling on, there stood before them two tremendous doors carved of stone. Link tried to push them open, but they did not do so much as budge. Drawing his sword, Link started hacking at the door to no effect. Suddenly Link felt a chill, though there was no wind. Looking around, Link saw nothing. That is, until he draw out his Lens of Truth. Looking though the magical apparatus, Link revealed the worse. The undead Bongo Bongo, an evil spirit Link had vanquished so long ago. Link drew his bow and notched an arrow, prepared to stick yet another arrows in Bongo Bongo's eye when suddenly a song filled that air. It spoke of flowers, and green grass, of a quite field on a sunny day; It was the Sun Song. Looking over at Saria, Link could only watch as Saria played the notes through the Ocarina of Time. Time seemed to stand still as her noted flowed through the air. Bongo Bongo screamed in agony as the sunlight bit deep into his rotting flesh and Link let out a whoop of excitement. But the rejoicing was cut short when Link was hurled through the air into the doors. The crack of bones could be heard as an unseen presence crushed Link into the ground. Suddenly a blur of light flew through the air. It struck into air and held fast as Bongo Bongo tried to remove the Light Arrow from his eye. Screaming in agony, Bongo Bongo slashed at Link once on the chest, drawing blood, before he collapsed and lay dead. Link looked to see who had fired the arrow. Ruto stood above Link; Bow in hand, String still vibrating from the arrows release, She had saved his life. Offering her hand, Ruto helped Link onto his feet. The time had come. Pulling out the Sword of Dreams, Link started to viscously attack the door. The sweet song of dreams filtered though Links head as he cut, and as he sliced and hacked, he could see faces. Of the weak ... the dying ... the innocent ... Before he knew it, a hole the size of the small child had been carved into the door. Crawling through, Link, Ruto and Saria faced the greatest challenge that ever plagued Hyrule.

AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Blinded! Suddenly enraged, Espejo roared on his throne. Someone was entering the throne room! Espejo feared the worst, but he was prepared. Summoning a storm, it conjured Morpha from the grave. But alas, Link harpooned Morpha and slammed the eye into a wall before it ever had a chance to attack. Espejo knew his time was up. He hadn't prepared enough. While evil roamed throughout Hyrule, it had forgotten to protect his own castle! It had been over confident. If only...

The softest and gentlest song flowed through the air ... it spoke of justice and righteousness. It carries the support of all that is good and right. The people its backbone ... the good its power ... the Song of dreams ... of Hopes. Of everything Espejo was against. Just hearing this song made Espejo cower. It knew it was over, so soon, Gannondorf had done better. Why Espejo had failed confounded it to no end. The blinding light flowed toward Espejo, overwhelming and consuming it. Drawing back his sword, Link sliced through Espejo. The shadow gone, the evil ended, so ended his terrible curse...

« Zora's Domain: Night »

The quest had been long and tiresome, but it had been done, and now Link and Ruto could spend all the time they wanted together. As soon as they got back to Zora's domain, reports carried news all around Hyrule. The Ghosts and Ghouls were retreating to the dark from whence they came. The Undead were peacefully resting, their souls calmed. The skulltullas were burning up and dying. Everything was returning to normal.

Fumbling with his cap, Link carefully and slowly made his way up the steps to the King's chamber ... it was now or never, and he would have to face him sometime. The huge Zora stood before Link. Bowing down on one knee, Link stood before King Zora. His words fumbled. Eventually, Link made his discussion with King Zora.

--- Later that Night ---

In the Zora Royal Banquet room, Link and Ruto ate cheerfully at the table with all the other Zoras. Standing up, Link held up his glass up Zorian Wine.

"I would like to make a toast.", Link said, his chest bursting with pride and happiness. "To Hyrule and especially the Zoras, may everyone prosper!"

"Here, Here!" echoed the crow of Zoras.

"And ..."

The room quieted, all faces turned towards Link. Link looked around the room. So many people ... was here the right place? Of course ... now was the time. He knew he would never regret it, and probably never get another chance. Walking slowly over to Princess Ruto, Link got down on one knee. A silence filled the room, all breathes stopped.

"Ruto ... words cannot express ... what I feel, I have loved you for so long. So long ... Ruto, I know that it may not work out, but if I don't ask, I could never live with myself." said Link. Reaching into his pocket, Link pulled out a small box. "Ruto, Will you marry me?" Her eyes, filled with tears, gazed at Link. Oh, it had finally happened! She never thought he would, never thought it could, but it had! Link had proposed to her. Oh, the joy burst inside of her! Feeling could not even begin to express what she felt. Opening the box, Ruto revealed a miniature version of the Zora's Sapphire on a ring. The crystal blues of the diamond sparkled with all the grace in the world.

"Oh yes Link! I WILL MARRY YOU!", came Ruto's reply. Filled with joy, Link picked up Ruto and kissed her deeply on the lips as the whole room burst into cheer.

"Let the party begin!", Announced King Zora chuckling with joy, and bursting with pride. His little girl was getting married, and not only that, but to Hyrules hero and savior. They were no doubt, a match made in heaven.

« Hyrule Castle, Chapel »

"And do you, Link take this woman ..errr.. zora ..errr.. to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"And do you Ruto, take this man to be your husband, is sickness and health, in poorness and richness, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I DO!"

"As priest of the Hyrule Chapel, and Counselor to Princess Zelda, I now pronounce you MAN AND WIFE! You may kiss the bride."

Rice and cheering filled the air. Link and Ruto had finally gotten married on their own accord. Strangely enough, the Happy Mask saleman gave Link the Zora's Mask as a wedding present. And upon putting it on, transformed into a Zora. Vowing never to remove it, Link and Ruto lived happy together, living and enjoying each day with each other. Although their lives after are another story.


***---... Somewhere deep inside a cave, a shadow lurked. Twice it had failed now ... it would not again ...---***