Chapter 22

Final Battle

She held up her left hand and an engagement ring flashed in the light…how had he missed that in the first place? "That's right…I wanted her to die and you to live just so you could suffer as I did. I remember that alternate future…how could I forget like everyone else? I remember the day you and those wretched sages brought him down and sealed him away in the Evil Realm…I remember all too well. And I would have been queen too! If only Ganondorf had remained conqueror over the pathetic land…I would have been queen…I deserve to be queen because of this, but there is still one left related to the Royal Blood line…that ungrateful wretch right there." she indicated Chunk.

Alexis' eyes widened and darted to Dark Link's face, that had to have been what he meant when he said king…But…how? And why the heck were they not noticing the fact that she was being held captive by Dark Link?

"W-what are y-you t-talking about?" Chunk stammered.

"How little you know…unknown to most, the mother of the Princess Zelda had a sister…a sister who bared a son named Chunk. You may not be a direct heir to the throne, but you are the last Hylian alive with any blood relations to the throne…by birth rights this would make you king." Malika explained slowly, if she messed with his mind a bit by allowing him to find out the truth, this would give her the upper hand.

"But I grew up on the streets, I've never led a life of any luxury…how can I be…king?" Chunk asked. If what Malika said was true, it would certainly explain why his mother had been in that portrait…and why Malika had been out to get him. But why had Alexis, his best friend, been dragged into this? Thinking of her name suddenly made him realize he hadn't seen her all that recently…

"I just explained kid, and now you know why I have to kill you." Malika spoke venomously, but her words fell on deaf ears as Chunk wasn't listening, he was looking for Alexis.

Chunk, king? He hardly knew the guy, but Link had never known that and by Chunk's shocked expression, he hadn't either. But there was something deeper bothering him…something paralyzing him with guilt…Malika had killed Zelda out of revenge on him. And to think, he had always wanted revenge on Malika for taking his love's life…She had taken Zelda's life out of revenge on him! Did this mean he was at fault for her death?

Once Chunk spotted Alexis, he was shocked. Holding her captive was Link! Only…different…like a shadow…like who had seen when he escaped the first time…

Malika realized her phantom had been spotted and yelled, "Idiot! Get me my necklace before they do!"

Dark Link abruptly ripped the necklace from around Alexis' neck and tossed it to Malika, who in turn, caught it with a triumphant smirk spread across her face.

Chunk glanced back at Link to see that he was just standing there in a transfixed state…if Link was there, who was the other guy and what exactly was so special about that stupid necklace?

Malika cackled evilly as she held the necklace up for all to see. "This necklace contains some of my precious Ganondorf's power, with his power added to mine, I am unstoppable!"

Alexis suddenly jabbed her elbow into Dark Link's stomach…only it passed right through it, that's when she saw he was fading away and that she was finally free of his grasp. He then completely disappeared.

"First, the boy who vanquished my love will go…" Malika snickered.

Link didn't even flinch as a beam was launched at him, at least that was how it appeared to the others. But in truth, his mind was racing in thought as he saw it coming directly at him. He felt no urge to move out of the way…if it was him who was responsible for Zelda's death, then he deserved nothing more than to die right then and there…but he couldn't allow Malika such a victory…these thoughts put his mind in such a turmoil.

"Link!" Alexis screamed frantically, she was at too much of a distance away to step in and do anything. Chunk however, was not. He was not about to let his comrade go down, so with a short burst of speed, shoved Link out of the way before twisting aside himself and letting the beam fly harmlessly pass.

When Chunk had made brief contact with Link, each of the triforce pieces on the back of their hands had flashed with a blinding light, making the occupants of the room dazed and seeing blinking dots swim across their vision.

Chunk had certainly solved Link's dilemma for him, and when the triforce pieces had flashed, he had finally come to his senses. How could he have even thought he was at fault for Zelda's death? Malika was the one who had killed her…not him…even if she did it out of revenge on him, she was the one that had chosen that option against him…such a great burden this lifted off his chest.

The flashing of the triforce had also brought more information to the surface. Chunk had the wisdom piece! If what Malika said had been the truth, this would make sense seeing as how Chunk was the rightful king and a cousin of Zelda…of course if what Malika had said was not true, then why would Chunk have it?

"You have two golden triangles like the one I have…what is the meaning of these things?" Chunk asked, obviously puzzled.

"The triforce." Link replied bluntly. "We gotta finish this." there seemed to be a new light of powerful determination shining in Link's eyes as he charged directly at Malika.

Alexis hurried to stand next to Chunk, "I thought he was a goner there for a second…"

"It almost seemed like he didn't want to move…I had to step in, I couldn't just stand there and let him get hit…and shouldn't we help?"

Alexis nodded and the two dashed in a pincer movement after Link and closed in on Malika.

To give him the full force of the blow, Malika bided her time until she thought Link had gotten close enough. With a grunt of effort, she released a beam, pulling energy from her body in the process.

Link had known her strategy all along…oh he had known it. Once she released the beam, he used all the strength he could muster in his legs, and shot off the ground, performing a smooth front flip high over the beam and over her head before landing behind her in his battle pose. He quickly swung around and plunged his blade straight through her black heart…how such an evil being had ever found love was beyond him. At the same instant Link's sword had gone through Malika's heart from behind, Chunk and Alexis' swords found their way through it from the front. Malika let loose a blood curdling scream.

When they pulled their blades back, Malika dropped to the ground…somehow still alive. The necklace skidded from her shaking hand.

The vengeful look in Link's eyes told Chunk and Alexis to let him finish this, he stepped forward, crushing the jewel on the end of the necklace, and his blade slashed downward into Malika's writhing blood spattered body. She fell limp and her bloodshot eyes rolled back into her head.

Malika…was dead.

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IMPORTANT! : This is NOT the last chapter for those of you who might think that, and I mean it is NOT the last chapter!

Ok now that I've gone and said that...lol. : ) THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL MY AWESOME REVIEWERS! Emeralddestiny, da marshmallow, SacredBlade, Vladimir the Hamster, PokeMaster7, Jupiter-Lightning, and harrypotterfan: )

And always remember...running 4 miles in the rain is not fun...especially when you have to run up a huge hill...lol. Of course I bet you're thinkin' runnin' 4 miles is never fun, but heh I'm in cross country so back off...lol J/K. : )

blondie91 : )