Right then… This is sobs the last chapter. I hate to write it… but it has to be done. I hope you guys all enjoyed my first fanfic and I encourage you to read my other upcoming stories. (I have no idea when they're coming out now.)

So read and enjoy the epilogue.

Epilogue: A True Hero.

"Get all the decorations up now please, we're due to start any minute!" Malon called out to the small crowd of volunteer Hylians.

They scattered about and began to pin up various cloths and ribbons around the ranch's corral fence.

For three days, Malon life had been turned upside down. News of Link's victory over Ganondorf spread through the land like wildfire. Overjoyed at this turn of events, Malon and her father had organized a party for all to take part in.

During these days, the ranch was like a war zone. Random people could be found roaming about doing anything from nothing to carrying giant masses of food. And on top of al this was Malon, the self elected leader of the whole thing. She hadn't slept for the three days and was becoming anxious about the party.

"Has King Zora turned up yet?" She asked a passing man.

"No ma'am, you would be able to tell if he was."

Malon looked around and grinned as a few of the invited people showed up; Shopkeepers, carpenters, gorons, zoras and even a few kokiri.

The sun was beginning to set and Malon had decided to light the giant bonfire they had prepared. Talon gathered some hay and proceeded to make a flame. He threw the hot, orange flame into the pile of dry wood and it caught immediately. The ranch was soon aglow by the red-orange tongues of the fire.

The heat was pleasant in the cool autumn night. Malon tore herself away from the fire to greet arriving guests. She watched and took notice as they went by her. Several Hylians and the huge King Zora. Something bothered her though.

The party was well underway now and very little guests were coming now. Everyone who seemed to be coming was there. However, there were three special invitations she had sent out, and none of them had shown up. Neither Link, Zelda or Sheik had shown up. True, Malon had never met Zelda, but she thought it appropriate for her to come to her own peoples party, especially one as grand as this. It still hurt her slightly for her two friends not to have shown up.

She pushed away her hurt feelings. This was a happy party, and times were going to be happy. And if they didn't come, it was their own loss. She walked back to the circle around the fire. Many people who had taken in drink, had begun to dance, and many people who hadn't, had joined in too. Malon jumped in between her father and a shopkeeper and begun to dance also.

It was as though the seven years hadn't happened, like it had just been a long nightmare. This was the part where everyone got to wake up and live again. Malon smiled as she leapt around the warm, glowing fire.

Tired from dancing, most people staggered off to lay down on the grass. Malon took her place and gazed up to the starry sky.

A shooting star blazed across the sky and everyone pointed up to it in amazement. Several others followed it.

"It's a meteor shower!" Cried someone in a drunken stupor. At this, everyone became more intrigued by the flying balls of light.

The multicoloured streaks soon disappeared into the shadows of Death Mountain. Malon sighed as a wave of peacefulness came over her. Everything was all right now. Nothing was wrong anymore and she had nothing to dread. She got up and brushed herself off.

She looked around for someone to talk to. It was dark and the silhouette of a girl caught her eye. She had obviously just arrived and was looking around nervously. Malon strolled over to her and waved.

"Hello." She said, smiling at the girl, "You're a bit late, but that's fine. Everyone's out in the field." She pointed over to where the fire lit up the grounds.

"Oh," Said the girl, "Thank you."

Malon led her over to where everyone was. She was slightly embarrassed as her guests were still littered all over the floor. She turned to apologize to her new arrival but stopped.

She was Zelda. Her long, blond hair hung down in small ringlets and her crystal blue eyes shone back at Malon.

"Zelda?" She asked, then, remembering her manners, she continued, "I mean… Princess. I didn't think you were coming."

"And miss something like this?" She shook her head, "Not me."

Malon was slightly taken aback by how casual she had been. In fact, Zelda seemed to have fit right in all through the rest of the party.

…..

It was late into the night that the party finally came to an end. Guests started to leave the ranch, saying their goodbyes and thank yous. Malon saw them all off and fought hard not to fall asleep. Her eyelids were heavy and she was very tired from all the festivities.

Of the last to leave, was Zelda herself. She seemed to have enjoyed herself and was hanging about afterwards. Malon decided she had best see her royal guest off nicely.

She walked up to Zelda and smiled.

"It's getting late, Ma'am." She said smoothly, "You had best be getting off too."

"I best had, shouldn't I?" She replied. She and Malon set off towards the gates to Hyrule Field. It was pitch dark now and the bonfire had gone out.

"Your party…" Zelda started, "There were quite a few people there. Did everyone come?"

Malon sighed. "Well, yes." She stopped as she thought of her two friends, "Well… No. Some didn't, I'm sure. Not everyone could… make it, I guess."

Zelda simply nodded at this. She looked across at Malon and the two stared for a long time. "I'm sure if your friends had the choice they would have come."

Malon's eyes widened. "How did you know about…?" It was quite obvious that she knew who Malon was thinking about.

Zelda put up her hand top interrupt her host. "I'm slightly disappointed too. They were… friends of mine also."

Malon stood dumbfounded. It was no secret that the Princess and Link knew each other, they were together during the final battle… but Sheik as well?

"You know Sheik?" She asked her as she opened the gate to let the Princess out.

Zelda turned and smiled at Malon. "We're inseparable." She waved to her host. "Your lucky to have met Sheik, you know."

Malon gave a small smile to herself. He had done so much for her and she owed him everything. She was grateful. None of his advice ever led her wrong. "I know I am." She said.

She watched as the Princess mounted her waiting horse and rode into the direction of her castle under construction. (A few renovations had to be made after the old one had… collapsed.)

With her last guest gone, Malon went up to her bedroom for a long sleep. It had been an extremely busy three days.

…

It was six months since the last sighting of the Hero who saved Hyrule. Some had said that he was taken up to the Goddesses realm, where he would spend an eternity in peace and paradise. Some said he had taken up residence in the new castle with Zelda and they would soon be wed. Some had said that he still lived among them, he would just use his powers over time to only live what parts of his life he wanted to. Some believed that their Hero, who was taken from the past, had gone back to his rightful time, where he grew up properly and was still in Hyrule somewhere with his memories of what he had done. He would come out of hiding when he thought the time right.

Malon had, by then, heard so many rumours that they all meant the same to her. She didn't care about what the people had to say about her friend anymore, she just knew that he was gone at the moment. Maybe he wouldn't come back for another seven years… or even longer. What she did know was that he was still out there and alive because her horse, Epona had not returned.

Malon had arranged that day to go and see the new monument that had been built in the Temple of Time to honour that Hero. It had just recently been built and was now open for public viewing before it would be transferred into Hyrule Castle, where it would be the centerpiece for the Grand Hall.

Malon made the long trek over to the market on one of her fastest horses. She had asked her father to stay behind and watch over Ingo, who had been slowly descending into madness since Ganondorf was overthrown. She wanted to be alone for once.

She arrived at the huge, stone steps of the Temple and tied her horse. She walked through the huge, towering doors into the gaping vault. No one was there and it was empty and silent. Light from the sun shone through the many windows and cast long streaks of gold along the marble floor. Malon walked down the long, red carpet that led to the huge Statue in the middle of the Temple.

She slid her hand along the stone base. An inscription was written in gold on it. Malon leaned in to read it:

Hero of Time

Here stands the Statue in likeliness of our Saviour and Hero. With all the courage gifted to him by the Three Divine Souls he rose up and defeated evil. Wielding the Sword of Evil's Bane, he controlled time and took his place among legends.

Malon smiled softly at this passage, mostly because it was true, but it reminded her of all the things he had done.

She walked behind the statue and saw the Door of Time. A new plaque had been put up on it. Malon studied it and read:

Through this door, only few can travel. Now it is shut and all are denied. Through this gate, our Hero passed and saved our lands.

Malon smiled again at this. She now had a new appreciation of what he must have been through. She walked back over to the front of the statue. She knelt down, put her hands together and weaved her fingers together. She tilted her head down.

"O, great Goddesses. Healers of mine people and Creators of mine land. Bless upon myself Your power of control. Let mine path be guided by Your gentle wings and whispered words. Grant me Your courage and let me release the familiar. Bestow me with Your wisdom and let myself see as You see, and know as You know. O, great Divine Sovereigns. Hear mine prayers and answer. O, Heavenly Mothers of Hyrule and all it's grace, here mine prayers and answer."

She paused and looked up to the marble stone in front of her. The Hero stood with all his courage and his sword stretched out high in the air. His face was set and he looked determined, as though he were about to go into battle. His stone eyes were somehow filled with life. Malon smiled at the majesty of Link's statue. She then continued,

"Let my thanks to the Hero be heard. Let him know what he has done for me and all the people of this land. Let him hear what I am saying and how I know how much he has done. Let him know that we owe him our lives. Let Link come back to this land and know our gratitude. Let my thanks be heard."

A small tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away. She unlocked her hands and turned her back on the man who had changed her life. She walked out of the Temple and a gust of wind swept by her. The rays of sunshine had cleansed the streets of the market and a new day had begun.

Well, that's all folks. It's been a long ride, but I hope you enjoyed all of it. (Slow updates and all!)

The next stories in this series might come out a little later then expected. I wanted to do one focusing on Sheik's life, but I could never live up to Michelle Lancaster who has also done one. (I totally recommend this story. It's long… But awesome! It's still my all time favourite story) The next person who I wanted to do was Ganondorf, but just recently I've seen a story focusing around his life. I'll wait until that one has finished to start my own.

Before that, I'm going to be writing a new story. It'll be in first person and will be set in modern day time. Look out for it. I know it sounds cheesy, but I have a lot of great ideas for it. (I'm a lot better at writing in first person.)

Thank you to all my reviewers, constant or anonymous. It's been a whole load of fun and I really hope you have enjoyed it.

Review please… I mean, this is the last chappy, the least you can do after reading all of this was tell me that you did. Thank you so much.

Bye.