CHAPTER 45

3 Hours Remain…

Peach lands on the ground at Bowser, who is struggling back onto his feet.

"So, you're still alive?" She asks. "I must say, I'm impressed at how often you've kept getting back up over the years."

"Yeah, yeah." Bowser says. "I'm alive. I still can't believe you lived after all of that."

"I made it this far because of people like them," Peach says, looking at her friends. "People who stood by me. People who believed in me despite everything we went through. Something you should probably look into."

"You got what you wanted," Bowser says. "Now you can move on with your life. I'm not going anywhere, Peach."

"Then I guess I'm going to have to make you go somewhere, Bowser." Peach smiles, holding her master sword up. Bowser's eyes grow wide.

"Ok! Ok! I'm going! I'm going!" he yells as he flees in terror. Peach giggles, but feels a tickle on her hand. She looks down to see all three of the Triforce are fully intact in her hand. She looks up to the skies in joy and raises her arms, releasing the Triforce back into the world. Her friends come running up to her.

"I feel so free!" Burnscar exclaims.

"I knew that you would win, Peach!" Yashil says.

"I thought for sure that Bowser's plan could never fail!" Kammy says kicking a rock. They all turn to her, she screams in terror before she quickly waves her wand to disappear and flee. "Wait for me, your lordship!"

"That strategy was most effective, Your Highness!" Naranjo salutes.

"Hey" Peach says, looking around. "Where's Daisy?"

Daisy is sitting on a piece of wall and before her is the spirit of Luigi.

"Luigi! What are you doing here?!" Daisy asks.

"I came to tell you that you did a great job today, Daisy! I'm so proud of you!" Luigi says, smiling his biggest smile.

"Thank you so much sweetie!" Daisy yells, trying to give him a great big hug. She only feels air however. Her giant smile turns to a depressed frown. "Oh...right. I forgot..."

"Yeah...I'm sorry, Daisy." Luigi says with a frown on his face.

"I never got a chance to say goodbye to you...I'm so sorry!" Daisy says with tears running down her face.

"Don't cry Daisy, I didn't want to leave either." Luigi says with tears dropping from his face. "I know you're going to be fine though. That's all that matters!"

"Why are you crying!?" Daisy wails. "I'm the one who has to keep on living without you!"

"But..." Luigi says. He stops himself from saying anything else and takes a deep breath.

"But what!?" Daisy demands.

"Nothing." Luigi says with a sad smile. "I've got to go now. I used up a lot of energy helping Peach beat Bowser. I can only stay for a minute or two."

"Wait! Wait! Don't go! Please! Tell me something! Tell me anything! Just please don't leave me alone!" Daisy begs.

"Just promise me you won't forget me." Luigi says.

"I promise, Luigi. I will never forget you! You're the only person who ever truly cared about me!" Daisy exclaims. "Goodbye, Luigi. I will love you forever!"

"I will love you always!" Luigi says with a wave of his hand. A purple ball of light wraps around him as he vanishes. Daisy waves to the purple ball and cries into the piece of broken wall.

"Well, that's Calamity Bowser over and done with," Zelda says. "There's still the problem of the Moon of Majora though."

Zelda points to the sky, showing that the Moon is extremely close above them.

"How did you manage to stop the moon, Princess?" Peach asks.

"It wasn't easy, and it took a lot of time, but we managed to do it." Zelda says. She turns to Link. "Link, take the Triforce, use the Mask of Inversion to seal the Moon somewhere where it cannot harm anyone anymore."

"Let me help, mister," Maxil says, climbing onto Link's shoulder and preparing some magic in his tiny hands.

Link nods, and touches the Triforce. He flicks the Triforce in front of him, causing it to change colors. Purple, Green, and Blue swirl together, forming a large circle around him. Link and Maxil close their eyes and put their foreheads through the circle. It shoots a beam of light at the Moon, causing it to disappear! Link has returned to his normal form! Everyone cheers!

"Wow!" Peach shouts. "We actually managed to do it!"

"Hooray!" Burnscar exclaims.

"Peace has finally come to our Kingdoms!" Azura says happily.

"Excuse me, Azura," Yashil says. Maxil sitting next to him.

"What is it?" Azura asks.

"I wanted to ask you something...about the future. If there is one." Yashil pauses, trying to find the right words. "I know you must be very busy, but if you could spare a few minutes of your time...I would appreciate...I don't think this is the time to go into details...but I was concerned about..."

"Can you live on Yoshi Island with me and Mr. Big Dino? Because Mr. Big Dino likes you!" Maxil bluntly says like the child he is.

Everyone gasps and the girls gush about how cute that was.

"Really?!" Yashil asks, looking at Maxil. "You just go out and blurt it out?!

"Yes! Of course, Mr. Big Dino!" Maxil replies, getting off Link and hugging Yashil tightly.

"Oh ho, I can't stay mad at you, little one." Yashil says, patting the boy's head. He turns to Azura. "Azura, I really enjoyed our time together. I was thinking we could gather the other Skull Children and raise them on my island like a...family." Yashil blushes.

"Of course, "Mr. Big Dino ``''. Azura giggles. "We'll have to get everyone together and decide when we can do that! It'll take some time moving my contraptions from Zora's Domain to your Island. I love the idea though!"

"Yippee! My friends and I are going to live on Mr. Big Dino's Island!" Maxil says.

"You truly are a wonderful woman." Yashil says. "I know I have my own problems, mostly being simple minded but I want you to know you can always count on me for support!"

"I will always be here for you, too." Azura assures Yashil, giving him a peck on the nose. Yashil turns red with embarrassment; you'd mistake him for a Red Yoshi instead of a green one.

"Burnscar! Approach!" Naranjo orders the ex-pirate.

"Yes, General!" Burnscar replies, marching toward Naranjo.

"It is with great honor that I award you this medal of honor for your valor in fighting against your own men for the greater good!" He places a medal on Burnscar's shirt. "The men you lost will be given posthumous achievements as well! I now pronounce you "General Burnscar of Shiver City''!"

"Thank you, sir!" Burnscar bows his head.

"We have a lot of cleaning up to do up there! So be ready for your first assignment at O'Six Hundred Hours tomorrow morning!" Naranjo commands.

"Yes, General!" Burnscar salutes.

Everyone is having a great time and celebrating the end of their adventures! Though one final detail needs to be wrapped up…