~ Disclaimer ~ Own Zelda, I do not. Claim Link, I should never. Borrow him, I have!

Hello again. It seems like a long enough time since chapter 23 so here we go again. Steadily, we are coming closer and closer to the end.

I had to do that last one and now this one all by my lonesome. What am I thinking? I'm glad some people did appreciate that last one, though. I'm going to try ad stay serious then later, when it's all said and done, I can go back and update the other chapters. Lengthen them, polish them up, make more sense, and correct silly little errors like that stupid Rupee thing.

After that we can start playing with the "s" word. *coughsequelcough*

After all the mayhem, darkness, and fear from the last chapter, this one is going to be one of the most light-hearted ones of all. Mostly recovering and tying up lose ends. Such as Katie.

OK, I dedicate this chapter to those who have reviewed chapter 23 so far (cause I know they are sticking with the story). Yes, I will name them: Veilius (I'm glad that at least someone has their muses under a little control but the chapter wasn't all that good), Laura (Should Navi return to normal? Crystal will go insane if she doesn't), and Jelie36 (Shekro part human??? Umm.sorry, no. I'm glad you liked the description and as for the idea for Andrake, that'll come in this chapter.)

Kohachan: *Draws his thin ninja sword in one hand and throwing stars in the other hand* Now, Merrick, what do you have to say for yourself?

Unfortunately, even if I'm not completely by myself, CrysSton16 couldn't come. She'll be gone until tomorrow. She's going to hurt me if this story ends with this chapter . . .(It probably will be to.)

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~ Hard Choices ~

Crystal had regained control of herself over the fairy and knelt over Link. The herbs were fresh enough but his heart had stopped for a while! She didn't know what to make of it when he suddenly drew breath. It was a quick, ragged breath. But breath of life nonetheless.

She looked down at him, tears of fear changing to happiness. He opened his eyes only a slit and looked up at her. She was a younger version of her mother. Softly he said to her, "Sharra sends her love." Crystal felt her own pulse freeze. Sharra was dead though. Had Link really seen her?

Seeing her frozen over Link, Kohachan decided to see how the healing went. With Navi found, Crystal well once again, Andrake not around to give them a hard time, and the wolf business completed, the Sheikah could finally fulfill his promise to Zelda of bringing Link back home. It seemed like Link was waking up. Waking up from a place where not even the Sheikah could reach him.

Crystal placed the cool rag over his forehead once again. They were near the stream, too fearful for Link's condition to move him when his heart had stopped. Link closed his eyes once again and worked only on breathing, hoping to make it easier. Despite being alive, he was hurting all over from the fight. Soon, peaceful rest overcame him, carrying him gently away.

Crystal stroked his face with the cool rag while the beautiful sun warmed into his body, easing some of the pain of his bones. Kohachan thought of how to put this new adventure into verse but then put it off for another time. With no more danger, there was another time for everything else. When Link recovered enough, there were definitely some loose ends to tie up. Starting with Katie and her wolves. Or did they have to wait for Link?

"Crystal, how goes he?" he asked calmly. She smiled at him and said almost laughing with relief, "He's going to be just fine now! It seems the poison isn't affecting him anymore and his wounds aren't bleeding. We still need to move him to a cleaner place and dress his wounds not to mention get him new clothes." Kohachan nodded, he hadn't expected less. It was curious, however, how the toxins had dissipated from his blood without the aid of a fairy. Crystal's herbal remedies were potent but not perfect. Perhaps there was still yet more to the hero than what met the eye. Even the eye of truth.

Crystal set her hand firmly on his chest, measuring the strength with which he drew breath. She knew he was asleep and peacefully. He was smiling gently and the lines of worry were faded. However, the fight seemed only to have increased the odd signs of age and fatigue in and around his eyes. Dark circles were under his eyelids while his lips and face were still a bit pale but regaining color. His breath was strong but still a little raspy, even then he was improving by the moment. Even as he was in a deep sleep, he raised his hand to his chest and clasped her own, a small murmur escaping his lips with a sigh.

The black stallion had obediently stuck near, grazing in the grass and welcoming the sunshine after the previous night of living nightmares. Kohachan patted the horse's neck with affection, knowing he would be needed soon. After that night, people of the town were going to want assurance that the end of their lives was not upon them. He glanced over his shoulder at them to see Crystal transfixed with looking at Link and Link's hand holding her own. He slightly laughed and thought of how much the young hero deserved a break from adventuring. But even then both adventuring and fighting were in his blood and soul. He could never just stop. Leaving the two in as much peace as he could, he kept his back to them and busily brushed dust and dirt from the horse's coat.

Navi felt she had waited long enough. Forcing herself out, she gained control over Crystal's body. With a mental yelp of surprise, she was set back into her own mind and forced only to watch Navi's interaction. She looked down at Link, saw the hand being grasped and pulled it away quickly. She smiled rather maliciously and suddenly yelled, "LINK! WAKE UUUUPPP!!!" Kohachan yelled aloud as his horse spooked at the sudden atmosphere change. Link jerked wide awake, rolling over on the ground and leaping painfully to his feet, felling for his sword but it was not in it's sheath. With the Sheikah clinging to his neck, the horse sped away but only for a few paces before Kohachan verbally corrected him. It seemed Navi was indeed back.

Link stared at her dumbfounded as he gazed up at him with silver shining in her eyes. He was caught even further off-guard when she suddenly did leap up at him, encircling his shoulder with her arms and cried with joy as she toppled him to the ground once again. Link yelped with pain of the sudden impact as Kohachan watched in pure amusement, wondering when he should lend a hand once more.

"Link, I missed you so much!" Navi said, tears very well streaming down her cheeks. Link winced as his side gave a dull throb of protest but managed a smile nonetheless, "Hey, I'm fine. Or I was. So, Navi, you are stuck inside of Crystal?" She nodded and then buried her face into his dirt and blood stained tunic, staining it with her own tears. He patted her head playfully as she laughed at the gesture. It was a laugh touched by sobs of absolute relief. Link lifted he face to where they could see each other's eyes, "I'm not going anywhere now. I've been in heaven and the opposite but now I'm going to stay. An angel told me so." She smiled as he stroked a tear away with his thumb. She reached closer to him, eyes half-closing and Link began to lean toward her.

They were interrupted by a sudden shower of frigid water. Navi screamed out loud as did Link, his voice shrill with the surprised sting of his wounds. Kohachan began laughing. He was laughing without control as the two glared death stares at him. He staggered away from them, holding his stomach for his laughter, not realizing he had turned his back on the wrong fairy. Navi gave Link the promised kiss on the cheek then climbed off of him, eyes locked onto the Sheikah. Silently, she was sneaking up behind him, then with a yell and a leap, she tackled him to the ground. Kohachan recovered himself and escaped her fierce grip, only a smudge of dirt on his face. He turned her away and pinned her with one arm behind her back.

Desperately, she twisted about. Snaking one leg behind his, she then shoved hard against the ground, forcing him back. With her leg behind his, stopping him from taking a step backward, they both fell. Navi safe atop him while he had all the breath knocked out of him. Yet he still managed a laugh. Link sat up to watch their fun, laughing to himself, this is what life was supposed to be like.

Then his thought returned to the Naturals. Sensing Link's sudden despair, Kohachan stopped Navi from attacking him again and went over to Link. Link cocked his head back, looking at the dirtied Sheikah upside-down. Kohachan grinned and said, "Don't worry so much, Link. All will be well. The Naturals are alive and well as is at least half their clan. It will be along time before they can fight again, though. As it will be for you." Link fell back with a solid thump, welcoming the slight sting. Just as he hit the ground, Kohachan hauled the hero to his feet. Link groaned aloud as Navi began to help.

They managed together to get Link on top of the black horse. Navi insisted on riding with him. Kohachan was left to walk alongside his friend as they walked back to the burned site where the fight had ended. The sword was left there.

After reclaiming the weapon, they followed Link's instructions to Crystal's house. Inside her own mind, Crystal complained that she could ride her own horse but Navi was not yet done having fun. She hugged Link from behind and talked the entire way there, pausing only for breath, response, and when Link pointed towards the certain part of the forest where the humble house was hidden. Kohachan wished he could close his ears and felt sorry for Link but began to ignore the sound of her voice, listening more intently to the sounds of the forest as they drew near.

Upon reaching the house, Link was set straight to bed and Navi forced to let Crystal regain control. Gramps welcomed Kohachan and thanked the man profusely for aiding them in their troubles. He shrugged it off, saying it had to be done. The sooner it was done, the sooner Link could travel away. Crystal became disheartened by this as did Link, only pretending to sleep.

~~~~~

It was soon decided upon that they would all, except Link, go to the town and see what they were going to do about Katie. It was obvious to everyone there that something had to be done about her, what, though, was yet to be decided upon.

Crystal grinned suddenly as she also stood in the throng of people as they discussed what to do. Kohachan easily called for their attention and Crystal came out saying, "Why not strip her of her belongings here including her citadel and then some and send her over-seas? Somewhere where she can't cause problems for either man or Wolfos? The Naturals will eventually let go of their thirst for vengeance and I'll talk with them myself." Gramps rolled his eyes at the mentioning of talking to Wolfos but listened approvingly to the rest. Kohachan knew that if they were going to go by sea, there would most certainly be people sent to escort her and b sure she landed with no way of returning.

The town leader elected, of course, for Crystal, Kohachan, Link (if he was up to it) and Andrake to escort her. They all agreed though Gramps was unsure about leaving Crystal and Link alone. Kohachan ensured that with her big brother hanging around, Link would not try anything. So it was decided and the threesome to join a few other knights in telling Katie the news.

They all rode horseback to her citadel. Crystal knocked on the great doors. They opened slowly to show Katie dressed in her finest wares. Crystal said with a smile, "Pack up, Katie. You're going on a boat ride after that last stunt." Katie shot Crystal a look of poison before entreating to the guards, "Surely she can't be serious." They did not reply. She turned to Andrake, "Andrakie, will you please get her off my doorstep?" He crossed his arms over his chest. Pleading now she turned to Kohachan, "Please, good man. Please tell them to leave me alone! I've done noting wrong."

"On the contrary, Katie. We have witnesses who know of your creating and aiding that monster. Now, by order of the knights of Dondoran, retrieve your most needed possessions. We are to escort you to the docks." One knight said, holding forth the officially signed document instructing for her retrieval and arrest. She pouted a moment and looked even more desperately to Andrake, "Please, help me. You know I would never do such a thing. Please, Andrake, tell them differently." Andrake stared darkly at her, not falling for it anymore. He was no longer her puppet to control. But he said, "I'll help you, Katie. I'll help you pack." She grew angry then and called out for aid.

Drawing back into her citadel, the wolves appeared from all around the house including the stabled. Some of the knight's horses fidgeted nervously at the growling but Crystal's and Kohachan's mounts did not. Crystal sighed slightly and withdrew from her back her bow and from the pommel of her saddle, an arrow. Taking aim at the feet of the slowly approaching wolves, Crystal let the arrow fly, stopping their approach. She did not want any more to die.

Kohachan felt the same and as he drew forth a fine dust from a pouch, he directed his horse out of the group and closer to the wolves. When he was close enough, he gently blew the fine powder at them. The sneezed and shook their heads furiously but slowly their eyelids closed and they sank to the ground. Quickly pulling up another pinch of powder, he managed the stallion to the other side and did the same for those wolves.

Each one fell to the earth in a deep, tranquil sleep. "They'll be out for a good six hours. Now, can you open these doors or is that something I must do as well?" He asked a bit sharply of the knights. Taking no heed in his tone, they gathered together and managed to break open the doors. Katie screamed in fear and but was seized and told she would be provided clothing if she would not gather her own.

Shrieking in protest, Katie fought against them, lamely beating her fist against Kohachan's chest. He dragged her out easily, ignoring her shrieking voice and finally forced to use the same powder. She lulled her final complaint and fell limp in his arms. Mindful of her dress, he threw her onto his horse' shoulder and mounted behind her. The knights secured the wolves, tying strong straps of leather around their muzzles and paws then tying them to a stone statue for good measure.

Andrake took care of one last problem. He went through the citadel into Katie's room and removed a paper proving he was Crystal's brother. It was the final bond that held him under Katie's control. With no wolves around to guard it, it was easy to claim and hide. He went back outside and mounted, preparing for the trip back. He nodded to Crystal and Kohachan and together they departed.

~~~~~

After settling all the official things for her exile from Dondoran, the companions started for the ship. Fortunately, Kohachan decided to make one last stop before leaving. He returned to Crystal's home where Link was humming a tune, still in Crystal's bed but relaxed with his hands behind his head, looking at the ceiling.

He turned to find a small vial tossed his way. It landed on his chest, vibrant red mixed with a creamy pink swirled in the glass as he looked at it, then to the one who tossed it. Once again, Kohachan dragged a chair over and straddled it, leaning his head o the back of it. Link asked aloud, "Okay, what's the final say over Katie?"

The Sheikah shrugged and said matter-of-factly, "She leaves. And you are to join us in escorting her across the ocean, away from this land. If you are able to, that is. That potion is like an extract, it will heal you completely and restore your lost energy." Link nodded slightly but was playing with the vial, shaking it till the colors almost blended but they returned to their well-defined lines of pink and red.

Finally, he took of the small cork and downed it, trying to swallow before he could taste the concoction. The effects were more acute than the normal red potion but soon Link got himself out of bed, revealing he wore pants and the bandages fairly well covering his torso and forehead. These he quickly unwound and rummaged around for a fresh tunic when Kohachan finally worked up the nerve to start an unwanted conversation, "Link, do you want to go back?"

Link stopped his rummaging and looked at the redhead, "What do you mean?"

Exactly what I said, do you want to go back to Hyrule? If I recall, you were treated like a normal orphaned Hylian everyday. The only ones who remembered what you did were Ganondorf, Zelda, Navi, the Great Fairies, and the sages." Link winced at the memory of re-introducing himself to Malon. He even remembered Ruto never giving up on the promise. At least Saria had always been there when he got depressed. He sighed as he thought about the decision he had made a long while ago. "No, Kohachan. I don't really want to go back. I know Zelda would take it the wrong way but I don't want to go back to any land where I know everyone and they can never know me."

The Sheikah nodded and said, "Well, that is what I thought. Zelda won't be happy to know this but I just was unable to comply with returning. You were taken away on a dire mission that could not go without your consent and complete management of the situation." Link stared at Kohachan even as he held a tunic over his head. He suddenly lit up in a smile and nodded, realizing Kohachan was giving him an excuse to leave and not go back for a long time. It would not be forever, seven years at the most. Link pulled the tunic on, finding the sleeves and held his hand out to Kohachan.

Kohachan took the hand in a firm grip and shook it once. "Thanks, Kohachan." Link said before turning away to find his belt and items. "My pleasure. You do need a bit of a rest after all. Now, I will be outside to guide you to the docks."

"One last thing." Link suddenly said as he cinched the belt and buckled it. Kohachan had one hand on the doorknob but stopped to hear Link out. Link turned only a little to look over his shoulder, hoping for a perfectly honest answer, "How do you know so much? You seemed to know everything about me and my adventures, where I was going, what was going on with Crystal when she was knocked out both times and you knew about Navi's ability to save her the second time, not to mention Zelda sending word for you to fetch me. Now, how do you know all this stuff?"

Kohachan smiled secretly and said, "That is something for me to know. Perhaps later I can explain but not now. Come on, hurry up. We don't have forever. I want to be nearly there before Katie waked up. You know she will throw the mother of all tantrums." Link nodded and picked up the pace. Packing all his items, he grabbed the ocarina in one hand to summon Epona and followed the Sheikah outside.

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*Sits back and relaxes* Well, that is all folks. Unless, that is, you write me and tell me to make more to this story before the sequel. Before the sequel to this story, though. Link I mentioned earlier, I'm going to go back and clean up the previous chapters. Hopefully get rid of those stupid symbols.

I do hope CrysSton16 doesn't murder me in the night. Or Shadow Knight for that matter. Or Merrick. Or Veilius . . .

Well, all there is to say is THE END! (Or is it?)