Past and Present

I grabbed hold of Zelda as the rumbling got worse. I wasn't going to lose her now, not after all we've been through.

Not after Sheik revealed to me his true identity.

The rumbling shook harder and harder until I couldn't keep my balance anymore. I fell...

And let go of Zelda.

Man, I wish I'd never done that.

Because as soon as I let go of her, a pink diamond shaped crystal surrounded her.

"Link!" she called out to me, while pounding on the crystal.

I dove for her as the crystal rose higher and higher...

And what I saw up there made my blood boil.

Ganondorf.

I suddenly realized why Zelda had been disguised as Sheik all this time.

To get away from him.

I didn't really understand it all too well before why she had dressed up as the mysterious Sheikah, but now I do.

Ganondorf starts laughing that disgusting laugh of his.

"I've been waiting for this moment. The right moment where the princess would be stupid enough to come out from hiding. But lo and behold! She was the Sheikah!" He turned to Zelda, who was behind him, and said, "Tsk tsk, Princess, you're going to have to get a punishment for that."
And with that, he and Zelda disappeared.

I gritted my teeth and fell to my knees, hands in my face.

But I couldn't just sit here crying.

I ran out of the Temple of Time into the castle.

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My heart burned. This was the hardest thing I had ever had to do.

With my hand still outstretched, I said softly, "Zelda...this is your chance...if you want me to go back...I'll go back."

She just looked at me shocked, and after a few minutes, she finally talked.

"I will never tell you how I feel for you...I may hate you, I may despise you...I may love you, I may cherish you...but it will be harder for me if I ever do say so."

She took the ocarina from me. And I understood.

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I ran up the long, winding stairs to the heart of the castle. I fought my way through all the monsters in my way, all the while thinking of Zelda and what horrible things Ganondorf could have dome to her.

And finally, I got to the giant boss door. I fit in the key and...

There was Ganondorf, playing on an organ, Zelda floating beside him.

I slowly walked toward her.

Suddenly, Ganondorf turned and laughed that annoying laugh of his.

"Soon...I will have all the Triforce pieces! But...to get them, I will have to kill you and the princess first."

"Give up, Ganondorf!" I screamed at him.

"Give up? Never! This is too much fun! Ha ha ha!" He then made Zelda float higher and higher...

"Zelda!" And, in absolute rage, I lunged at Ganondorf.

And I made him pay dearly for all he has done.

I made him pay for Hyrule.

I made him pay for every race that suffered.

I made him pay for Zelda.

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"Zelda...I want you to have this," I said, reaching for my pouch. I opened it, and pulled out my fairy ocarina; the one Saria had given me on the start of my quest. She carefully took it, smiled at me, and put it away in her pocket.

"And I want to know something...I know I won't remember you, but...will you remember me?" I asked, hopefully. Maybe there was a way for this to have a happy ending.

She hesitated, as if she didn't want to tell me. Finally she said, "All the Sages will remember your heroic deed, Link."

"Thank you, Zelda," I said, voice cracking. I nodded, telling her without words that it was time.

"Goodbye...Link..." she whispered softly.

"Remember what I said...I'll always love you," I whispered back.

She then lifted the Ocarina of Time to her lips, and played the song that started this journey...Zelda's Lullaby.

I felt myself being lifted upwards, and my eyes suddenly began to drop...

Before I left the world of consciousness, however, I could have sworn...

I heard her say...

"I love you."

The end?

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**AN** How did you like it? Thanks to all who kept up with this story! If you all want, I'll also post what would've happened if he stayed! Tell me in review! I've already started on the sequel =)

~K. Yoshi~