Author's note: Well, it looks like I have another chapter up! This one is really good, lots o' fighting. (heh, heh...) This is probably one of my favorites.

The Hero that Holds my Hope: Beginning of the End

Link had come at last over the hill and stopped and gazed upon the army, which blades flashed in the distance. Wind blew across his face as Saria and Mido remained by his side. Link looked at each of them to indicate whether they were ready or not.

"Prepared?" Link said to both of them.

Saria and Mido both nodded, still staring at the battle before them. Link commanded Epona to charge forward and down the hill. Mido and Saria were behind him on their little ponies. Link drew his sword and as he did, it flashed with a light under the morning sun. Some of Ganondorf's minions noticed this and flinched because of its glory. Light seemed to be pouring from that powerful, yet holy Master Sword as the wind brushed against its sides, letting out a howl of war.

So they joined in the fighting and they heard the screams and deaths of battle. Blood was being poured on the grass, and being tainted with death. The birds fled and the wind roared with anger as storm clouds began to gather over them and there was a flash, and rain began to fall.

It seemed as if the sky was crying, as they continued to fight, but this was a battle that could not be avoided. The great beasts that carried the drums waved their heads around violently, knocking soldiers, including their own allies, away from them and killing almost all in their path. However, Link had avoided this and went beside it and paralyzed its legs after knocking the foul creatures on it off and relinquished the great beast. He continued to charge forward. Link was heading toward Ganon's Tower, to settle his business and free Hyrule from its terrible fate, but that was not the only reason, he wished to free Zelda from her fate that was about to befall her.

However, three other beings were in the battle, which seemed to be above the rest. Their powers surpassed the common soldiers' to the point where it was just below Ganondorf's. They were known as Blind, Agahnim, and Gomess. None of them went after Link, for they knew their leader would defeat them, Dark Link. Their power was feared by those on the battlefield, and their destruction was great.

Link still pressed forward, pushing away all possibilities of death. His will of all things he supported was strong, and only death could break it, and his will was his hope. Eventually he had reached the black tower of Ganondorf, and he traveled in without hesitation. It was eerie and dark as usual. The only thing that was heard by Link was the deep breaths of Epona and her hoofs stomping against the ground, he could almost hear his heart beating strongly under his chest as the darkness continued to gather around him.

His eyes at last grew immune to the dark and he could barely make out a path in front of him. He traveled forward, still on Epona's back observing his surroundings. There were cobwebs all over the ceiling and dust in the air. There was a sickening stench that smelt as if it was from the dead. Link looked beside himself and saw a half-decaying man there. Shocked, he drew Epona backward, but she was startled when she stepped on a skeleton. She charged forward into the next room. That room was even more unpleasant than the previous. For Link could almost hear the faint screams of people who had died there. He turned his head sharply about, until he felt a cold chill down his spine. He looked forward and saw red eyes staring at him, not blinking and they seemed to be focused on nothing but Link.

Sweat began to roll down Link's cheeks, and the skin between his eyebrows tightened as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. His heart pumped faster, and almost feared that those fowl eyes could see his chest thumping up and down. It even felt his heart would break at that moment, burst into tiny pieces, leaving nothing and he would die at that moment.

The shadow, which possessed the evil, red eyes, stepped out from the darkness, and revealed unto Link that he was in fact in his image, this was indeed Dark Link. He too was on a steed, and he bore a sword as well. It almost seemed like he was Link's shadow, a dark figure, which bore eyes more fierce than any other creature's. He said nothing, just charged after Link with his sword parallel with himself.

Of course Link did the same and charged after him in almost the same position. When their blades clashed sparks flew from their swords, and it was so strong, Link fell off Epona and collided on the cold ground. He shouted out at the top of his lungs.

"Run, Epona! Get out!"

As if she knew what he was saying, Epona ran out and away from the battle. Link felt a sting on his arm and coldness was exposed to him. He looked down at his arm and saw blood leaking out of it. His shadow descended toward him like thunder after he had turned back around. However, Link stood up slowly and knocked him of his steed. Dark Link stood up slowly and turned around inhaling deeply.

"I will break your neck and tear you limb from limb." Dark Link said in his fowl, deep voice, which was an alteration of Link's.

The shadow zoomed toward Link and knocked him to the ground. However, he had stood up quickly and fought with Dark Link. Their moves were hasty, and the clashes were so loud, one would flinch when they would hear them. A ring was heard whenever the two blades would collide, those were the songs of battle the swords would sing, one deep and evil, and the other light and good. They knocked each other apart, and when they stood a distance away from each other, they paused.

Link's mouth hung open as he breathed heavily in and out, while Dark Link remained still. Link closed his mouth and began to breathe heavily through his nose before he had lifted the Master Sword to the point where it was horizontal, he charged forward, letting out a cry. However, Dark Link had found the right time to move to the side and strike Link, knocking him into the ground. Link clenched tightly onto his rib and saw the blood leaking from it. Just as his shadow was about to raise the sword to stab him Link rolled out of the way, avoiding the attack. It was then when the two of them stood apart... waiting for the right time to strike.

Dark Link seemed to have been on the upper hand, he was barely scathed unlike his opponent, who was bleeding from a light wound on the ribs and arm. The evil shadow sneered and raised his sword, ready to attack. He charged forward, but fortunately, Link managed to flip over him and attack him from behind. He managed to impale Dark Link in the back. Blood squirted out of the shadow as he fell forward after Link relinquished the blade from him. A thud was heard when he had fallen, and his last gasps of air let out his last fowl words.

"A shadow... can never die..."

Dark Link spat out blood before Link heard his last exhale, which was a faint laugh under his breath. He sighed deeply out of relief as well as exhaustion, how he longed for a drink of water, but he couldn't rest now, not now that he was so close to reaching Ganondorf. Though this was a time of hardship and suffering... Zelda was there in his heart still...

Author's note: Only two more chapters to update before completion. That's going to be a bittersweet moment... I'm trying to make the characters' emotions a big part of the story. Well... REVIEW! Oh yeah, for those of you who don't know who Blind is, he's a boss in "A Link to the Past" Gomess is the mini boss in Ikana Temple in MM, and Agahnim is the wizard from "A Link to the Past."

Special thanks:

Brownblade: Yay! I was right! I'll have to see what the Redwall fics are like. (I've never read the book... only the beginning... I needed entertainment in reading class, so I borrowed it from my friend.) Thanks for the review!

Janus Kamaren: I would buy a replica of the Master Sword! :D But you're probably right... Did you jump out of your seat when you read the fight between Link and Dark Link? ... Your theory is interesting... Purple Link MUCH more dangerous than Dark Link? I could go on writing a paragraph about my theory. (Well, you can expect that from the Hyrule Master! Ha, ha!) Thanks for the review!

LadyofDemons45: "Rock in pool, is nice and cool, our only wish, to catch a fish, so juicy sweet!" I love that song! Climax... good... thanks for the review!

BluSakura: Oo! (Takes a piece of popcorn) I updated! Yay! Now the popcorn is safe... or is it...? Thanks for the review!

kat-SageOfWisdom-princessZel: Yay! I'm glad you liked the chappie! There's only two more left, I'll update every other day, with the exception of Sunday, I don't update on Sunday. But... on the other hand... next week I go to band camp for marching band... so I won't be back home until about three o' clock in the afternoon Arizona time. That info may help. Thanks for the review!

branlee: Yay! I'm keeping suspense! But I guess part of the reason why is because I've already finished the fan fiction and am taking my time on updating the story. R...re...really?! This is the best story you've read...? Thanks for the review!