With a sharp gasp, Link released the Master Sword. He rose halfway from his crouched position, but quickly lost his balance and fell forward, eyes closed. He was caught by Fledge, who had been standing in wait with Groose nearby. Link was terribly pale and weakened, leading Fledge and Groose to ponder the worst. Fi came forth from the sword.

"He is unharmed," she assured them. "He simply requires some time to gather his strength once more."

With a groan, he slowly opened his eyes, perplexed to find Groose, Fledge, and Fi all staring down at him. A curved brow showcased his moderate displeasure with their hovering.

"Did you get the last Triforce piece?" Groose blurted.

Link simply nodded his head and swallowed dryly. With Fledge's help, he rose to a seated position, while the color slowly returned to his face.

"So what happens next?" Fledge questioned.

His voice had all but faded when suddenly, a rumble made its way through the earth beneath them. Fi looked up at the Goddess Statue.

"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the Goddess, unite earth and sky," Fi looked back at Groose and Fledge and nodded. "Alas, Master Link has done just that."

"Wait," Groose drawled. "Does that mean…?"

Before Fi could answer, a crack tore loudly through the ground, splitting the Goddess Statue's courtyard from the stairs that led to it, leaving a mere sliver of earth at the landing. All felt their stomachs rising as the entire courtyard began sinking lower and lower. Link, Groose, and Fledge could see the people of Skyloft gathering to watch the spectacle, some in awe and wonder and others in horror. While they were not strangers to descending to the surface, they all still felt a sense of apprehension as they slowly fell through the cloud barrier.

Looking over the edge of the courtyard, they saw that they were approaching the Sealed Grounds. The spiraling outer shell of the Sky Keep beneath them matched that of the spiraling pathway of the grounds. The Statue and her courtyard came to rest, completely covering the Imprisoned's pillar, and fitting perfectly across from the Sealed Temple. Once all had settled, they rose to their feet and looked around cautiously.

"Master," Fi stated, "I can no longer detect the presence of the Imprisoned. It appears that the Goddess Statue of Skyloft was the final key to seal him away."

Groose and Fledge erupted into jubilant shouts, fist pumps, and claps. At one point they even embraced one another, until Groose became indignant and shoved the younger boy to the ground. Link allowed himself to smile and scoff at their joyful display. However, his green gaze met the Sealed Temple, and before he knew it, he was jogging toward it, with a look of great concern painted on his features. Groose and Fledge cut their celebration short to chase after him. Inside, Impa was waiting patiently with a wrinkled smile. Behind her, the stone doorway appeared to have shifted open slightly, and from the other room came a golden light.

"She is waking at last," Impa said, "but please, be gentle with her. A thousand years is a long time to sleep, even peacefully."

"Go ahead, Link," Fledge said gladly. "You should be there when she wakes."

"We'll catch Granny up on everything while you're gone," Groose added. "Just don't take too long."

Link nodded and rushed to the room. The amber-colored chamber which held her was now covered in cracks, and from each one spilled more and more golden radiance. A painful knot of emotion welled up in Link's throat as he watched, with dozens of questions rampaging through his mind all at once.

Would she awake as Zelda, or Hylia?

Would she remember him and all they had been through?

All of his internal inquiries were silenced when the chamber shattered into hundreds of pieces. The sound pierced his ears like a glass window breaking or dozens of clay pots being smashed to bits. He covered his face from the overwhelming light until he felt its warmth fade. He then looked up and saw her. Her tired, blue eyes were halfway opened and unfocused. Still, she took a step forward and drew in a gentle breath.

"Link?"

Her soft voice almost could not be heard, yet Link could tell by the color of her eyes and the way she uttered his name that he was not speaking to Hylia as he had before. It was Zelda. His heart raced so quickly he worried it might stop. She took another step and then another, but suddenly, her head shifted forward and her eyes closed once more. Link saw her legs weaken, and with a gasp, he ran to her. The weight of her body fell into his chest and her head came to rest on his shoulder. Wrapping his arms underneath hers, he lowered himself to one knee, and tenderly placed a hand on the back of her head, savoring her silky smooth hair beneath his fingertips.

"It's okay, it's okay," he said, voice quivering. "I've got you now."

He turned his head away, as he could feel himself reddening with emotion. Resting his cheek against the top of her head, he clenched his eyes shut, with a large, hot tear escaping from each.

"Just rest," he whispered shakily, choking back a loud cry. "I've got you now."

He composed himself with slow, deep breaths, each steadier than the one before it. After a time, he heard a tiny groan that made his heart flutter. Zelda lifted her hand and placed it on his arm. Slowly, she rolled her head up and back, then gave him a small, tired smile.

"Good morning, Sleepyhead."

A swift, wordless sound came from him that was half a laugh and half a cry. Albeit weakly, she pulled herself upward and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. Both cried into each other's shoulders, daring to never let go. She pulled away slightly, only to then lean her forehead forward into his. Her soft cries were broken up by small bursts of laughter.

"Has... has it really been a thousand years?" she asked weakly.

Link sniffled and nodded his head.

"I don't know how you slept for that long," he said with his own short laugh. "And that's saying something coming from me."

"You do sleep like a rock," Zelda agreed.

They relished one another's tear-streaked smiles for a time. Link hushedly thumbed a tear away from her cheek, with his forest green eyes staring into her striking blues.

"Demise... The Imprisoned..."

"He's done for," Link said. "I guess you could say he's been buried under the Goddess Statue."

"To think that all this time, the song was meant to be taken literally," she exclaimed. "And all this time... it was about you."

Link lowered his head, nodding softly.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice welling with sincerity. "I know you've endured so much through all of this, and some of it was my doing-"

"You need not worry about that," he replied. "That's all behind us. You're safe now. That's all that matters to me."

They shared the tightest of embraces for a long while, until Zelda felt well enough to stand. Link walked beside her, with her arm wrapped around his for support, though her strength seemed to be returning with each step. She glanced up at Link, noting an almost mischievous smirk across his lips.

"What's that look for?" she inquired, sounding more like her typical spunky self.

"You'll see..."

They stepped into the sanctum. Link watched in great amusement as Zelda's eyes landed on the others standing nearby in wait.

"Groose? Fledge?" she asked, letting her arm slip from Link's to step over to them.

"Zelda!" they both cheered.

They each shared a warm embrace with Zelda. The room was filled with emotional sniffles and laughter. Tears flowed freely as everyone soaked in Zelda's presence. Impa slowly made her way over and gave a small bow, though she said very little. Fi eventually emerged from the sword and offered a curtsy to Zelda as well.

"I am pleased to meet you, Spirit Maiden," she said in her melodic voice.

"Fi..." Zelda drawled, stepping closer to her. "I remember you."

Link, Groose, and Fledge all dawned a confused look.

"Hylia's memories... I still have them, as if they are my own. And I remember when you were created and bound to the fate of the sword."

Zelda's eyes suddenly widened and her face paled, as if she had entered some sort of trance. Link's heart leapt into his throat at the sight of it. He placed a steady hand on her back, worried she might faint again.

"Zelda, what is it?"

She swallowed harshly. Her wide, blue eyes met Link's. He could see both anger and fear in her gaze.

"Ghirahim," she said grimly. "Where is he?"

Link's mouth fell agape, though no words came forth. Somehow the demon lord had managed to slip his mind amidst the chaos of finding the Triforce. Groose and Fledge exchanged empty glances, while Impa simply lowered her head.

"Demise might be no more," Zelda said, "but I'm afraid of what Ghirahim will do yet, especially now that his master is abolished."

"Master...?" Link repeated slowly.

Zelda could tell by the furrowing of his brow that the pieces were finally coming together in his mind. His eyes darted to Fi.

"I remember, back in Skyview Temple, Ghirahim reacted... strongly... when you stood between me and him, like he hated you." Link straightened up his stance. "Why? How did he know you?"

"Tell him, Fi," Zelda said, gently.

"Ghirahim and I have shared a connection since we were created," she answered plainly. "The Goddess, Hylia, created Ghirahim first to serve my purpose. He was meant to be the spirit of the Master Sword."

Link's eyes grew wide and his jaw opened once more.

"However, the Goddess granted him the ability to have freewill. He was rapidly corrupted by Demise and his malice, and committed himself to serving Demise, rather than Hylia, who had created him."

"Then you were created and bestowed upon the Goddess Sword, only..." Zelda paused, rather sadly. "... you weren't given a freewill, were you?"

"That is correct, Your Grace," Fi nodded. "To ensure the fulfillment of my purpose in aiding Master Link."

"So..." Groose drawled. "Ghirahim is to Demise what Fi is to Link? I didn't see that coming."

"That means that if Ghirahim is alive," Fledge surmised, "then he's still a threat. He'll still be after Zelda."

"Very... much... so..."

The demon lord's shrill voice filled the Sealed Temple thunderously, jolting everyone terribly. The room grew dark and heavy as Ghirahim's malicious laughter rang out. Link drew the Master Sword and ushered Zelda behind himself. Groose and Fledge huddled near Impa. All heads and eyes darted this way and that in search of Ghirahim. In a flash of malice, his clones appeared behind both Groose and Fledge, with each drawing their weapons and holding them to their necks. Impa was stranded between them, and began shaking her head in apparent sorrow. Fi flew forward looking for the real Ghirahim. Alas, she was hit with a blast of malice. Her metallic frame fell to the ground and was motionless.

"Fi!" Link shouted.

The demon lord finally appeared with a snap of his fingers. He cruelly placed hit foot on Fi's neck, cackling as he did.

"It was so heartwarming to hear you all putting your feeble little brains together to finally figure me out," he said, his sharp tongue whipping across his lips. "You were mostly correct about everything. Yes, it is true; I hate her with every ounce of my being," he said, digging his heel into Fi, who sputtered, but put up no resistance. "And yes, I betrayed my original purpose and committed myself to the servitude of Demise instead of Hylia," he said rapidly and lazily, as if he was growing bored. "Can you blame me? Demise defeated Hylia. Why would I waste my own existence on aiding the losing side?"

He looked down at Fi and grimaced.

"You can see how well that's going."

He flicked his white hair to the side of his face most dramatically.

"You were wrong about one thing, however," he sneered. "My master is very much still alive." He strutted over to the Gate of Time and pretended to walk his gangly fingers up it, staring at its rotations lustfully. "Maybe not presently, but the funny thing about time is that it can be unwound so easily. He's waiting, impatiently, just on the other side of this forsaken gate."

He drew his weapon and stretched out his empty hand toward Zelda.

"Come on, darling, I don't have all day."

"You'll have to kill me first," Link growled.

"Okay," Ghirahim replied plainly with a shrug.

With a snap of his fingers, a streak of malice and orange light appeared in a flash and struck Link on his left side. It felt as hard as stone and packed a horrendous punch as it collided with him with breathtaking speed. Link could feel the same rib Ghirahim had broken in Skyview Temple snap in half once more. He fell to the ground and growled bitterly, holding back a cry of pain as he tried to rally to his feet. Zelda crouched down to aid him, but Ghirahim appeared and put his blade to Link's throat.

"No, no, no, little dear," he tsked. "You heard the worm. In order to take you, I'm going to have to kill him."

"No!" Zelda protested, her eyes welling with angry, biting tears. "Don't hurt him."

"It's a bit late for that," Ghirahim said, rolling his eyes in amusement.

"I will go with you," Zelda declared.

"Finally, someone shows a lick of sense."

He fiercely took her by the arm, sliding his blade up to her neck. Walking backwards, he glared darkly at Link, who looked to be fading in and out of delirium.

"If you so much as think about getting up, I'll kill your friends with a snap of my fingers."

As Link watched on in absolute horror, Ghirahim, with Zelda in-hand, backed up into the Gate of Time until neither could be seen. A short time later, his clones vanished in bursts of malice. Fledge nearly fainted and took a moment to steady himself before stumbling over to Link. Groose ran forward to the Gate of Time, ready to run through on his own.

"Groose, don't," Link strained through a wince.

"We can't just let him get away with her!" Groose shouted.

Fi rose up from her place on the ground and flew over to Link, who had managed to lift himself up to his hands and knees. He clutched his side and held back a yelp that tried desperately to escape.

"Master, I have confirmed your rib has been severely fractured once more. However, it appears that the injury has also caused you to begin bleeding internally. You must seek aid before you lose too much blood."

"There is no time for that," he said through gritted teeth. "Help me up."

He choked down an agonized scream as Groose and Fledge pulled him to his feet. Link's head spun with dizziness, fury, and too many thoughts for him to even begin putting words to them. However, after several slow yet shallow breaths, he nodded his head.

"Here's what we're going to do," he began, standing on his own. "Fi and I will go after Ghirahim, and kill him if we can, something I should have done when I had the chance. Groose and Fledge, keep yourselves hidden, but get to Zelda and get her back through the Gate of Time. Once you're through, I'll destroy it."

"Link," Impa protested weakly, "you mustn't. It's the one and only gate remaining. You will have no way of getting back."

"I know," Link replied steadily. "If it means I get locked away with Ghirahim and Demise, then so be it. If I can make it back to our time and then destroy it, then I will, but if it comes down to it, get Zelda through and don't look back. Am I clear?"

Fledge and Groose were left speechless. Neither wanted to commit to such a plan, yet neither had another to put forth themselves, and time was running short. With as deep of a breath as he could muster, Link started toward the gate with Fledge and Groose following. On the other side of time, Link found Impa, the Sheikah warrior, lying on the ground with a fresh, bloody wound above her eye. He fought through his own pain to crouch down, lifting her head in his arms as gently as he could.

"Impa, can you hear me?"

"Link...?" she mumbled.

"Yes Impa, it's me. Are you hurt?"

"I..." her lower lip began to quiver, "I didn't see him coming, Link."

"I know, I know. We're here to get her back. Are you hurt?"

He could see by the sharpness of her eyes that she was coming out of her daze. Her brow furrowed as she nodded her head and strained to sit herself up.

"I'll be alright," she assured him. "I can fight. We must. For Zelda."

Groose and Fledge helped Link and Impa to their feet. They all raced outside. The darkest of clouds were billowing over the Sealed Grounds, and a frigid wind blew so strongly that even the greenest of leaves were being torn from their trees. The company stayed close to the temple, but crept forward and peered down to the bottom of the Sealed Grounds. There, malice was beginning to rise from beneath the center pillar, which Zelda was bound to by her hands. Ghirahim was walking around her in circles and appeared to be taunting her.

"Here's what's going to happen next, little dear," he sneered gleefully. "I am going to slowly, painfully drain your spirit from you, and with it, finally revive my master, Demise. Then he will destroy those pesky dragons, those incompetent Goddesses, and that little hero friend of yours, before he takes his rightful place as ruler over this forsaken world."

"You're a monster," Zelda growled through her teeth. "You'll be subjecting countless innocent people and peaceful creatures to lifetimes of torture."

Brows raised, Ghirahim's large, dark eyes flicked from side-to-side in thought.

"I'm sorry," he chuckled, "I was waiting for you to tell me something I didn't already know. Perhaps you're only just realizing this, but that's been the endgame all this time. You're a lot more dull than you look, darling. And here I thought you were the smart pick of the crop."

He straightened up his stance and raised his hands to his chest, forming strange patterns with his gangly, white fingers.

"By the way, if you'd like to try to use any of your powers to escape, then please be my guest," he chuckled. "The more you expend, the easier my job becomes."

With an evil grin, he began reciting a dark incantation. Though he spoke in a slithering whisper, his voice echoed through the entire Sealed Grounds. After only the first few syllables, a golden light appeared in the center of Zelda's chest. She resisted with all she could, but before long, she found herself growling and straining, as a searing pain seeped through her veins. Ghirahim raised his hands over his head and waved them in a rhythmic pattern, continuing the incantation. However, he was stopped short by a sudden burst of cyan light. It lifted the demon lord into the air and sent him crashing down several feet behind the pillar. As the light faded, Zelda looked up and saw Link, Impa, and Fi standing ready. Zelda at once noticed that Link appeared weary and pale, seeing right through his brave facade.

Fi came forward, and with a flick of her cape, she tore through the malice which had bound Zelda, who then ran and joined Link and Impa.

"Get her to the temple and through the Gate of Time," Link said hoarsely.

Impa nodded, and before Zelda could protest, Impa seized her by the arm and began running with all haste. Meanwhile, Ghirahim rose to his feet, aglow in orange and black malice.

"I swore to my master that I would let him be the one to kill you, Link," he spat, "but you've pushed me too far. You will die here, not a hero, but a weak and foolish child."

With a roar, Ghirahim erupted into a burst of malice. He was now silky and black, with his eyes glowing white, and an amber-colored diamond artifact fixed to his chest, much like Fi's sapphire one. He snapped his fingers, and in clouds of malice there appeared Bokoblins, Moblins, and Lizalfos.

"Bring the girl back to me, my minions," Ghirahim laughed. "Don't touch the boy. I want to drain every last drop of his blood myself."

A Moblin lurched toward Impa and Zelda. With a slash of its weapon, it sent them both to the ground. Zelda was seized once more, this time by two Lizalfos, each taking one of her arms in their sharp claws. She kicked and thrashed and screamed with all of her might, to no avail. However, Fi, outlined in beautiful, Sapphire radiance, flew with amazing grace and speed, crossing the path of the Lizalfos. Her trail of light remained, serving as a barrier between them and Ghirahim, who growled bitterly at the sight of this. Furthermore, through the raging chaos, all heard the ear-piercing whistle of an arrow flying through the air. One of the Lizalfos holding Zelda shrieked, sputtered, and then fell to its death. Fledge, from high above, took aim once more and shot down the second Lizalfos.

Ghirahim batted Link to the ground. Then, turning toward Zelda, he reached out his arm and drew his fingers into a fist. As rapidly as he could, he spoke more of the incantation. With every mysterious word, each dripping with evil, Zelda felt more and more of her power being drained. She grabbed her chest and screamed out in pain, fighting to keep herself upright. Impa tried to break through the barrage of monsters to get to her and was continually forced back, until suddenly, a loud, baritone shout erupted from behind her. Groose, with his hammer-like weapon, charged forward and began smashing through as many enemies as he could. Meanwhile, Link sent a skyward strike barreling toward Ghirahim. The demon lord batted it away with his weapon and engaged Link once more.

The barrier created by Fi faded. Zelda collapsed to her knees as she continued to grip her chest, crying out in agony. Her tear-filled eyes glanced up in time for her to see Link, growing weaker by the moment, fall to the ground. Their eyes met. Link's gaze burned with desperation, while Zelda's was flooded with grief.

"Run!" Link shouted.

Zelda shook her head and clawed her way to her feet. She began making her way to Link, but was stopped short when she was once again grabbed, with Impa taking one arm and Groose taking the other.

"Let me go!" she screamed. "He's going to kill him!"

Impa and Groose exchanged glances but said nothing. Though Zelda struggled against them, they continued until they reached the start of the spiraling path. Time seemed to slow down as Link watched. There was Zelda, tears flowing down her paling cheeks as she thrashed and screamed out for him. He clenched his own eyes shut, unable to bear the sight of her in so much torment. Every beat of his heart was like a violent cry of terror coursing through him. Somehow, this hurt worse than all of their other separations, all of which flashed before him in his mind.

Watching her fall into the raging whirlwind.

Seeing her tearfully turn to leave him in the Earth Temple.

Feeling her forehead leave his as she was pulled away at the Lanayru Gate of Time.

The skin of his fist splitting as he tried to break through the seal in which she slept.

Ghirahim creeping through the Gate of Time with Zelda in his grip.

Link knew all the pain they each had endured would be for naught if Ghirahim finished his incantation. Drawing in what breath he could, Link staggered to his feet, making a silent vow to do all he could to stop him, even if it led to his own death. He charged a skyward strike and engaged Ghirahim once more. Impa, Groose, and Zelda were once more intercepted by a wave of monsters. Fledge began making his way down the path, firing arrows as he went, while Impa and Groose circled around a weakening Zelda, cutting down enemies as they approached.

Link managed to land a blow across Ghirahim's stomach. With a pained growl, the lord of demons stumbled backward and fell to a knee.

"Fi," Link called breathlessly, "go with Zelda!"

"Master..."

"As your Master, I'm ordering you. Go with Zelda!"

Fi stood frozen for a moment before nodding her head.

"Yes, Master."

She flew to join Zelda. Groose and Impa, now met by Fledge, had started up the path once more with Zelda in-hand. After a short exchange of impassioned sword strikes, Link charged another skyward strike and, with a shout of rage, hurled it directly into Ghirahim's chest. The diamond-shaped artifact split into two, and the demon lord fell to his knees. However, even as he gripped his chest in obvious pain, he let out a delirious laugh.

"You're too late," he cackled.

Raising his arms, he screamed the final words of his incantation loudly enough for all of Faron Woods to hear. His voice was cut short by the Master Sword plunging into the center of his chest, yet the damage was done. Zelda gasped and faltered. Her heart seemed to swell within her chest before throbbing to a near halt. Her legs collapsed beneath her.

"Stop," she uttered breathlessly. "Please, I can't..."

Before she could finish, her eyes closed, and all of her weight fell forward. Groose and Impa gently lowered her to the ground, resting her across Groose's broad lap, all while a cold rain started to fall.

"Your Grace," Impa stammered, "you must hold on."

Zelda simply shook her head, now straining for every shallow breath. A faint light emerged from her chest and traveled with the wind until it reached the center of the Sealed Grounds. The light twirled around the center pillar, and the earth began to shake. All watched in horror as the sky was set ablaze with lightning. Trees fell, and parts of the ground split open. It seemed as though the world itself was coming to an end right in that moment. Link pulled the Master Sword from Ghirahim's chest. The lord of demons was coughing and laughing, when suddenly, he arched his back, further opening the tear in the center of his chest. Link felt sickened as he watched what appeared to be the hilt of a sword come from his ribcage, followed by a ferociously jagged blade, which inched out further and further, seemingly out of nothingness. With one final cackle, the weapon was released from Ghirahim, and the demon lord melted into a cloud of malice, laughing maniacally as he went.

Link stood frozen, afraid to even breathe. He felt a dark presence rising behind. The evil seeping from it nearly paralyzed him. Alas, the boy turned, and his eyes were met with absolute horror. There, standing before him, was a towering figure with hair like a raging fire, and the grayest, deadest looking skin one could imagine. His chest, arms, and legs were covered in thick, sharp black scales, and in his monstrous hand, he held the weapon that had been pulled from Ghirahim. He slowly turned his head, revealing a broad, angered face, and eyes so hollow and red that Link thought he might never be able to look away from them. Every breath the beastly figure drew rumbled like thunder as his evil gaze bore into Link.

"You," he said, his deep voice dripping with power and cruelty. "I know you."

Link's mouth fell agape and his knees weakened with every word.

"You are the pathetic puppet the Goddess fooled into doing her bidding."

He paused and scoffed.

"While it is impressive that a mere boy could wield the power contained in that blade, I cannot help but to be disappointed. I have been waiting for a worthy adversary to finally crush under my power, and the best she could do was deliver a spineless child in her place. Pathetic."

"Demise," Link growled at last.

The dark lord smiled.

"You and I are bound to engage in battle," he sneered. "Hylia, being the false protector she claims to be, failed to tell you this. You and I must fight for the fate of this world. The prophecies, older than even that blade you hold, foretold that only one of us is to survive."

His red eyes glanced over Link's shoulder for a brief moment, before returning to meet Link's stunned gaze.

"But first, I think it is only fair for you to see the end result of your failed efforts."

Link's brow raised. He turned, and through the harsh rain, he saw Fi, Impa, Groose, and Fledge huddled together partway up the path. His heart sank at once. Without giving Demise a second thought, he began darting up the path, stumbling every few steps under the mounting weight of his internal injury. He could feel himself growing lightheaded with each step, but he pressed on until he came to the group. Zelda was lying across Groose's lap. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were drained of nearly all life and light. Link caved to his knees beside her, running a hand tenderly over her wetted hair.

"Link..."

"Shhhhh, shhhhh, shhhh..." he whispered. "You don't need to say anything. Save your strength."

She shook her head and slowly raised a trembling hand, which Link took in a gentle hold. Her fingers were frighteningly cold.

"Link," she said quietly. "You have to finish this. You have to defeat Demise."

A small, weak smile crossed her lips.

"I believe with my whole heart that you can, and I offer what little I have left to aid you."

Link felt a strange warmth coming from her otherwise cold hand. A bright, otherworldly golden glow outlined her fingers and her palm, then spread to Link's hand. He also felt a new pain deep in his side where his injury was, yet this pain felt good, like a splinter being released from one's skin.

"Master," Fi said, "I can confirm that Zelda is using what remains of her power to restore you to full health."

"No!" Link protested.

He tried to pull his hand free. Despite Zelda's weakness, he found that he could not, as their hands were bound by the golden light.

"Zelda, let go!" he pleaded tearfully.

Once more she shook her head, blinking slowly. Her eyes became unfocused, and her smile faded.

"You must go on to defeat him," she repeated. "For me, and for all."

The pain left Link's side, and the light around their hands faded to nothingness. Zelda's hand now felt colder as Link watched each of her fingers slowly uncurling from his. Her eyes closed, and her hand went limp in his grasp.

"Zelda?"

Groose's thick lips curled into a wide, mournful scowl. Fledge, kneeling behind him, closed his eyes and buried his face in Groose's broad shoulder. Impa turned her face away and bit down on her lower lip while Fi bowed her head solemnly.

"Zelda?" Link repeated, stroking her hair once more.

With no answer, he lowered his ear to her chest, closing his eyes to tune out all other senses in a desperate longing to hear her heartbeat. Alas, several long seconds passed, and he felt neither the pounding of her heart nor the rising of her chest. He lifted her tenderly, caressing her head against his chest, which burned with unimaginable sorrow. Lowering his face to the top of her wetted hair, he unleashed a scream so loud and grieved that it made the others feel sickened to hear. Fledge continued to cry into Groose's shoulder, while Impa rested her hands on Link's arm. She felt horrendous tension building in his muscles with each heaving sob he took. All-the-while, they could feel Demise's dark presence growing impatient.

Holding his breath tightly, Link gently lowered her down. His breaths slowed, each growing deeper and hotter. He slowly straightened his back, meeting the gazes of Groose, Fledge, and finally, Impa, who nodded her head.

"We will take her to the Sealed Temple," she said, voice quivering. She then drew in a slow, steady breath, lowering her voice and tightening her jaw. "Destroy him, Link."

Fury now coursed through his blood with each thunderous beat of his heart. He could no longer feel the cold wind or pelting rain. He couldn't feel his own body at all. Even his sorrow disappeared, making way for only pure, seething rage. All sounds were dampened as he rose to his feet, setting his sights on Demise, who waited for him with the worst smirk imaginable. Sword drawn, he slowly made his way down the path, until he was once more face-to-face with the beast himself.

"Let us begin," Demise sneered.

The Sealed Grounds vanished. All Link could see were flashes of lightning, and Demise's burning red glare staring into the depths of his shattered soul. Surely this was to be the fight to seal the fate of all.