Author's Note: Well, this certainly took longer than I expected. Anyway, another very long chapter for you guys which has a bit of action in, though I do want to know what you all think of it. I don't know what else to do with it, so I am leaving it in the hands of yourselves, you awesome people! Have a listen to Transformation by The Cinematic Orchestra and Gigantic Silhouette from Xenoblade Chronicles for this chapter! I'll let you guys read it then ^-^

Favourites & Follows: Thank-you very much to "serendipidious" and "Fate be damned" for favouriting this story and "chaotic strife", "serendipidious" again, "Fate be damned" again, and "Zeledious" for following this story! You are the best!

"It the beginning of the end."

~Charles Maurice de Talleyrand~

Ancient Roots

A Skyward Sword FanFiction

Chapter 44: Fortitude

~Interlude~

Bokoblins, Groose sneered inwardly. Those red bastards are back again!

He angrily smashed the leaver of the Groosenator down again and again, the catapult launching bomb after bomb into the dangerous pit below him. The name for his mighty machine hadn't come from him, as strange as it sounded, but from Grannie's input into the group's discussion on what to name it. It was her attempt to brighten the rather dull mood, and it had done so at first, though no one ever thought that the name would ever stick.

And strangely enough, the name lived on.

The bomb erupted against one of the walls spiralling down the pit, sending a mass of soil and stone showering down onto the battle below where Pipit and Karane were desperately battling both The Imprisoned and a sudden swarm of Bokoblins at the same time. They were used to seeing the Imprisoned and Bokoblins in separate fights, but not both together.

This seemed like The Imprisoned's last stand, and he wasn't about to go down without a fight.

Groose grunted as he heaved another bomb into the catapult of the Groosenator. The rain had started pouring in thick sheets not long ago—the priestess saying something about the presence of so many monsters messing up the nearby nature—and Groose was still getting used to this kind of weather.

With a yell, he forced the leaver down again, and the explosion barely missed Karane; although it did manage to hit The Imprisoned. He was stunned for a while, but that's all they could do without Zelda. Grannie was doing her best as well, but her magic wasn't doing that much either. Groose just hoped that she wouldn't hurt herself.

They just needed Zelda, and they had no idea where she was or when she would come back.

As the rain dribbled off Groose's face, he ran towards his supply of bombs which were running dry fast. He shook off the thought when he saw how close The Imprisoned was getting to the Sealed Temple, leaving the graceful handle of the Groosenator and began fighting off some Bokoblins that had made their way onto the tracks.

Memories of the people that he cared about flashed through his mind as he leapt at the monsters, screaming battle cries as his red hair fell around his face, golden eyes gleaming with the thought of revenge and retribution.

And strangely enough, even Link's face came to mind—he had to be saved for Zelda's sake, and after all that had happened Groose couldn't help but respect him just a little.

Zelda may not have cared for Groose like she had for Link, but something within Groose made him want to fight for the one that she cared about so dearly. Groose didn't want to be the one to tell Zelda that she had lost him too—especially after what happened to the Headmaster.

Zelda's face, so pure and innocent, flashed before his eyes as he slashed the throat of another Bokoblin, water and monster blood dripping off his clothes as he panted the breath back into him. Once he destroyed the creatures on the track, he redoubled his efforts back on The Imprisoned in an angry rage. Over and over did the sound of the leaver boom around the area, followed by the sound of the bombs exploding; its sound muffled by the rain.

Groose had never felt so invigorated in his life.

"This is the wrath the Goddess, you bastard!" Groose hollered into the pit below. "Give up before you get another bite of that wrath!" On his final word, he sent his second to last bomb soaring into the Sealing Spike on the beast's head—knocking it into his head slightly. Groose couldn't help but smirk as a wave of satisfaction flooded through him. He was following his destiny, and there was nothing better than helping his Zelda and the Goddess too.

And yet, in that single moment of victory, defeat loomed above them all.

As Groose took his final bomb into his hand, a brilliant bolt of lightning—something else he was still taking in his stride—danced down from the sky, startling Groose as he made his way back to the Groosenator completely drenched. In the corner of his eye, he watched as the bolt of lightning collided dead on with The Imprisoned's weakened form—sending out an explosion of light that everyone had to turn away from as the beast cried out in agony.

Impaz fell to her knees as a wave of exhaustion came over her, and Pipit and Karane were so blinded by the light that the Bokoblins recovered much faster and began to overwhelm them. With no other bombs, Groose had no other choice but to take up his sword again and leap into the fray.

At least he was until he saw a burst of light from the heavens and a gigantic shadow began to descend towards the pit; one that was rushing hard towards Karane and Pipit.

Goddess above…

~Zelda~

Everything falls still as I pull my hand away, my thoughts racing around my mind as I wait with anticipation for the Triforce to answer my prayers. Fi appears beside me as I silently beg for this to all be over soon, and as the glow of the Triforce becomes more intense, I'm struggling to wait any longer.

And then, after an eternity of a second, the Triforce responds to my wish.

An explosion of light that radiates out from the Triforce, sending me staggering back into Fi's arms before I can fall off the Statue of the Goddess. I can only dare to imagine how the Knights and islanders are reacting to this sight as everything around me starts to become engulfed in holy light.

With a loud sound, the Isle of the Goddess suddenly begins to break away from Skyloft.

I cry out in alarm as my stomach begins to react to the sudden fall, wind sending my hair whipping around my face as I grasp onto whatever I can to stay as stable as possible.

But it fails.

As Skyloft grows smaller and the wind grows louder in my ears, I topple over the edge of the hands. Having no time to grab my Sailcloth, I call out for Fi in a wail of panic, and a wave of relief floods into my system when she reaches out and snatches my hand with surprising strength, her fingers wrapping around my wrist as she hoists me back up onto the hands.

Crouching against the stone, I try my best to keep my panic down and calm my breathing, yet I can't help but hyperventilate. I have no idea why the Triforce has caused this to happen to grant my wish, nor how this will fulfil my desire of destroying Demise forever—I need to have keep faith in the Ultimate Power, though it isn't easy.

Clenching my teeth, I pray to the Goddesses and squeeze my eyes shut, holding my head against the smooth stone beneath me. The wind brings tears to my eyes, and as the world surges towards us, the cloud barrier with it, I feel frozen in time as I pray for salvation.

However, as we draw even closer towards the cloud barrier, the Triforce becomes so brightly illuminated that I raise my head in confusion; only to find my vision suddenly consumed by the same dazzling light. My hands shake as I blink rapidly in a failing attempt to clear my vision, my breathing rising as the wind disappears for a moment before I'm suddenly drenched in icy sheets of rain.

Snapping my head up, I raise my arm to shield my vision and scan the world around me. Somehow the Isle of the Goddess has been transported to the vast greenery of Faron Woods, more specifically the Sealed Grounds—where The Imprisoned is closer than ever to the Sealed Temple and hundreds of Bokoblins plague the area.

I must be dreaming… I must be dreaming…

Tears leak out of my eyes still as I grasp the Statue of the Goddess so tightly that my knuckles are white, and as the shrill cries of monsters and The Imprisoned grow louder and louder, I just keep praying.

A sudden force jars my body so much that my bones shudder, and I cry out as I fall onto my side; though thankfully not off the side of the hands again. It takes a moment for me to realise that I'm no longer moving, and that the Isle of the Goddess has slotted into place where the pit used to be—and then I think about how this could have been the very chunk of land that the Goddess sent into the sky during the Great War.

For a moment, everything is silent, nothing but the rain starting to let up.

But as I rise, the battle is far from over.

With another burst of light from the Triforce above me, a large cloud of dust flies out around the courtyard, and moments later large masses of smoke surge up from beneath the Isle of the Goddess—shooting upwards before soaring towards me and the Triforce.

It's Demise's spirit—with no physical body left to inhabit, he now attempts to destroy me and gain the Triforce once and for all.

I cry out and draw the Master Sword, squeezing my eyes shut as the liquid like dark matter surges towards me.

'We meet again, Goddess… for the final time!'

'Do not be afraid,' Hylia murmurs in the back of my mind. 'He shall not harm you.'

Heeding her words despite my fear, I stand tall and face the blackness with a stern glare.

And, as Hylia promised, the Triforce protects me before Demise can do anything to hurt me.

A shower of heavenly light spears Demise's spirit, causing him to screech in pain as the light consumes him.

I can't help but wipe away a tear as the dark matter is demolished until nothing remains and all goes silent again.

Is it… is it over?

Shafts of light begin to break through the storm clouds as the birds begin to sing again. Fi looks out on the world before us with a mix of triumph and content, and I slowly sheathe the Master Sword and allow myself a small smile as the wind whistles against my body.

Without looking at me, Fi gives me her report, "The Isle of the Goddess, which was formerly a part of Skyloft, has returned to the Surface." Returned… I think to myself. This really was the chunk of earth that Hylia sent into the Sky Realm. "Furthermore, I have detected the successful eradication of Demise—your prayers to the Triforce have been heard."

I gasp lightly. "Demise is… no more?"

It feels so hard to believe—the Demon King eradicated by the Triforce after centuries of being alive and trapped in the Sealed Grounds.

It can't be true.

"Yes, Mistress Zelda. There can be no doubt of the Demon King's destruction thanks to your valiant efforts." For a moment, Fi smiles at me. "And, in light of these factors, the seal that the newest Bearer maintained through his agelong sleep is no longer necessary. My projections indicate that he will wake momentarily. I advise you make your way to the Sealed Temple as soon as possible."

My eyes fill with tears as I remember the promise that I made to him.

"So, this time, when all of this is over, will you come and wake me up again?"

I can… I finally can, sleepyhead…

The Goddess's Mission has finally come to an end; I can barely believe it.

I don't even bother to wipe away my tears as I take out my Sailcloth and leap from the Statue of the Goddess, Fi returning to the Master Sword as I fall. The world rushes past me as I go, squeezing my eyes shut as I hold the Sailcloth above my head moments before landing in the middle of the circular design in a deep crouch.

Four figures emerge from the Sealed Temple as I rise, all of them muddy and exhausted, some of them bloody, but grinning and smiling warmly at me as I rush forwards to embrace them tightly with a laugh. They're talking to me, but I can't hear what they're saying since I'm too emotional to think about anything else but the end of the Goddess's Mission and Link.

As I pull away, I cry with pure joy.

It's over… it's finally over…

~Interlude~

As the Goddess celebrated her supposed victory over Demise, a lingering shadow watched from the treetops away from sight—simply observing. They had appeared when the Seal had shattered, waiting for the moment that the Demon King would finally claim the Soul of the newest Bearer and rain destruction upon this land.

But then the Goddess Reborn appeared, and with it crushed any final hopes of the Demon King's resurrection.

At first, it was difficult for them to understand how a chunk of earth could appear so suddenly, especially with how weak the girl was to begin with. But when they saw the golden triangles, they understood perfectly.

Although they mourned for the eradication of the Demon King, they knew that they couldn't waste time on such emotions when plans were to be drawn up. All they needed was to find the Gate of Time and resurrect the Demon King in the past, and with the Triforce out in the open it would then be only a matter of time before their destiny was fulfilled.

Finding the boy would be easy now that the Goddess believed that it was all over. She would waltz to wherever she had secreted the boy away and make him completely vulnerable, leaving the lingering figure to leap in and claim their prize.

The thought of crushing the Goddess's joy was positively delicious.

As the Goddess and her companions made their way into the rather derelict Temple of Hylia—perhaps it had a new name now—they mentioned the newest Bearer's name over and over again in preparation to celebrate his return. Leaning forwards, the shadow strained their ears to hear where they were hiding the boy, only to hear nothing of his location.

Anger swelled in them for a moment, though they kept their calm as best as they could. The search for the Gate of Time and the newest Bearer kept going cold, and after the Goddess escaped her capture in Eldin it became clear that patience would play a vital role in their plans—waiting for her to lead them straight to their prize.

She never seemed to learn.

Suddenly, their ears pricked up, sensing something nearby.

They had search nearby the Temple of Hylia after seeing those paintings depicting the Gate of Time was somewhere in a forest, however the place was empty save for those few mortals and a few slabs of stone. But now they could feel two forces that were almost startling.

They grinned at the prospect.

The first force was certainly the Gate of Time, perhaps only recently opened and so did not give off such an energy until now.

And the second came from the burst of light shining through the cracks of the Temple's roof—a Life Force.

Flicking their eyes over to the Ultimate Power, their grin couldn't have been wider as they resolved to finally fulfil their destiny before rising. Oh, how the Old Gods had placed everything out so perfectly for him, and how the Goddess herself was so deluded to believe that her journey was finally at an end as she handed everything they needed to them.

Their Master would soon rest his fingers on the Triforce, and all would be well.

If the sun persists in rising, then I shall rise also...

With a snap of their fingers, the Demon Lord disappeared from sight.

~Zelda~

Silence is usually a blessing or a curse, but everything right now feels like a blessing. As Groose closes the doors into the Sealed Temple behind us, we take a moment to catch out breaths collectively. The late morning sunlight brightens up the inside of the Temple as we stand there for a while, my lips tugging up in to a small smile as I think about how light everything is now that Demise is gone.

I still can't get my head around it.

The Demon King has been the enemy for mere weeks in Zelda's life, but with Hylia it has been an ancient battle between her and Demise that has only now come to an end. Even though I've managed to calm myself and stem the tide of tears, the thought of the Goddess's Mission finally coming to an end is incredible.

Turning to my drenched friends, I smile warmly at them. "I'm sorry I took so long to get here. If it wasn't for your efforts, we wouldn't be here right now." They smile back at me but say nothing, too humble to speak, or too tired. "Now… there's something you have to see."

Without another word, I make my way towards the back of the Sealed Temple, waiting for them to join me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing," I assure them, then breathe deeply before I add, "When I told you all everything, I missed out something. When I saw Link in the past, he had placed himself in a dep sleep to make sure that the Seal holding back Demise would hold. That was in the past, and now he's been in that sleep for centuries…"

All eyes, except for Impaz's, widen.

"W-What?" Pipit stammers.

"It was his destiny… and is why The Imprisoned could never reach the Temple," I explain, then, "But now that Demise has been defeated, he can wake up."

They're still confused but allow me to open the doors behind me and enter, all of them waiting at the top of the steps as I head inside. I hold my hand to my heart as I cautiously step into the back room, barely being able to do so before light floods from out of the chamber. My heart leaps into my throat at the sight, and I can't help but feel like I'm lost in a dream still.

But it's reality.

As the light dies down a little, I manoeuvre myself around the gloomy altar in the room, slowing into a halt before the amber crystal floating above the steps ahead. All my thoughts, feelings, disappear as I lay eyes on Link, vines having wrapped themselves around the crystal over time and cracks in the glass that I never noticed most likely there from when The Imprisoned claimed a part of his Soul.

He's suffered so much… but now he doesn't have to, I reassure myself.

The crystal begins to pulsate with light without warning, and I keep praying that this is all real. As the glass begins to break, memories flutter through my mind.

Crack!

"I wanted you to come flying with me."

I gasp at the memory, thinking back to the Wing Ceremony so long ago when this all began. But now it's all coming to an end, and I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.

Crack!

"Father, I am the Goddess Hylia."

The cracks begin to scatter across the glass like a spiderweb, my mind a blur of memories of the Goddess's Mission as my heart pounds against my chest with anticipation.

Crack!

"Will you come and wake me up again?"

The crystal shatters.

I hold my breath as the crystal completely smashes in an explosion of light, various shards and chunks of orange raining down and tinkling against the floor as they bounce off it. The figure trapped within finally, after so long, breaks free from his glass prison and lands softly against the mossy steps, and I forget how to breathe.

My eyes water as everything falls still again, and a sensation of peace stirs in my heart as I take a subconscious step forward. His messy hair covers his face from my angle, but as he raises his head and locks his beautiful blue eyes onto mine, he smiles as if to say, "You came…"

He only looks away so he can look where he's stepping as he slowly makes his way towards me—his first steps of freedom—his body swaying back and forth with every step he takes. There's a slight tremor in his hand that I ignore when he finally finds my face again as he reaches the bottom of the steps.

And in that single moment of sheer love and passion, we both move to take a step forwards—desperate to hold each other after so long. I've seen his face and been with his spiritually for a while, but it isn't the same as him being beside me like he was before the showdown at the Temple of Time. I let my tears fall freely as he simply looks at me, a tiny smile on his face as he takes everything in. I haven't cried so much since Father's passing, and I can't help but feel like I can begin to heal now.

I notice a flicker of something in his eyes, and I can't help but squint my eyes in confusion as I try my best to figure out what it was.

But when I think about his constant battles against The Imprisoned and his slowly weakening self, I realise that he's completely exhausted as his eyes roll back and he tumbles forwards.

My gasp echoes around the chamber as I rush forwards, able to catch him before he collapses against the ground but not strong enough to pick him back up, and so I fall to my knees and we hit the floor as one. I panic at first, though the thudding of his heart against my chest is enough to calm me.

I let out a choked sob as I embrace him.

He's here and he's safe… it really is over.

I bury my face in his hair and whisper into his ear, "Good morning Link…"

I simply sit there for a while and breathe in his scent, my tears and breathing slowing down as I patiently wait for him to wake up. He does after a while and let him wake up in his own time unlike what I used to do back in Skyloft. After all, he's been through enough and deserves the moment of rest.

"Good morning… Zelda," he mumbles, shuffling closer to me. I run my fingers through his hair and smile. "You're the best birthday present…"

I breathe out a laugh. "It's time to get up, Link. You can't sleep in on your birthday."

He sits up and cups my cheek, and for a second, we kiss tenderly, our smiles uncontrollable as we hold one another close. I hold myself back from kissing him again and help him onto his feet, holding his hand tightly as I turn towards the four others waiting for his return as well. Even though I wish I had him to myself, I can't deny the smile on my face when they watch on with pure joy.

Karane pushes Pipit forward first, knowing that he's been quieter after the verbal attack in the Earth Temple and the physical one in the Temple of Time. And now that he has his best friend back, he tries to keep calm as he grasps Link's arm in greeting before they tightly embrace.

Karane joins the hug next, missing Link just as much as Pipit did. I stay back as they all embrace, holding my hands over my heart at the sight. By the time that they break apart, Karane's eyes are water and Pipit is grinning broadly.

"It would seem that my stature is much of a curse, wouldn't you say?" Impaz complains with a chuckle, to which Link smiles as he falls onto one knee and hugs the priestess tightly. "I am glad to see you after so long apart, young one." Glancing behind her shoulder, she huffs, "Speaking of help, where's Groose gone to? Bah, that boy never stays in one place, always zipping in and out all in a hurry. I might as well make sure that all of the doors are locked tight next time."

We all breathe out a laugh as Link rises and slips his hand back into mine with a sheepish smile, one that becomes more confident when I pass him a smile of my own and squeeze his hand back.

"Uh," another voice mutters, and we all turn our gazes to Groose, who scratches his head. I assume he went outside to breathe for a moment by the way he strides towards Link, looking more nervous than I've ever seen in my life. Link tenses for a moment in confusion as Groose grasps his arm just as Pipit did. "I kept you safe from that sack of teeth, so you take care of her, alright?"

Link blinks for a moment, then nods subtly, to which Groose grins and slaps him on the back.

It doesn't make up for everything between them, but it's a good start.

"So," Link says after a moment. "How did you find the Triforce in the end?"

My smile broadens, "It's a long story, but once I show you something, you'll understand." Link looks at me quizzically, but lets it slide as we make our way out of the back room; him glancing back to the remains of the crystal for a moment before leaving it all behind. My friends all fall into step at our sides, Impaz taking Groose's hand for help which makes me smile at their closeness.

But as we make our way towards the main doors of the Sealed Temple, Link stops short all of a sudden, glancing around the room.

"What's wrong?" I ask, my voice full of worry and concern.

"Nothing," he says without looking at me. "I… I can feel something nearby—something dark."

I reach up for his arm and chew my lip. "Are you sure?"

Then he looks at me with so much certainty that it scares me. "Positive." He pauses, then, "Can't you feel it at all?"

I shake my head, suddenly very nervous. "I wished on the Triforce for the destruction of Demise… I don't understand."

As I lower my head to try and understand it, Link suddenly snaps his head up. "The destruction of Demise?" He parrots, and I nod slowly. His face loses colour, and my gut twists. "He's still alive… Goddess above he's still alive…"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

Link wraps his arm around my shoulder. "We have to go. We can't stay here."

Impaz takes a step forward. "The Triforce will fulfil any mortal's desire, however one must be specific. In wishing for the destruction of Demise, the Triforce will have only assured his death, not the end of the Demon Army—and with it the Demon Lord."

The world drops from out underneath me.

Goddesses… what have I done?

And then I feel it.

As Link holds me close and murmurs into my hair that it wasn't my fault, I feel a ripple of darkness nearby. I open my mouth to warn everyone that it's too late to leave, but I myself am too late.

A burst of dark magic pierces the ground in the middle of our group, sending us all flying apart. I smash into the doors leading out of the Sealed Temple, and for a moment my world goes dark. I groan as I recover, my vision slowly coming back to me as I clutch my head. Groose and Impaz lie beside the Gate of Time whilst Karane and Pipit are unconscious from colliding with pillars on either side of the Gate, Link lying on the ground and completely open—still recovering a little from his battle against Demise less than an hour ago.

Instinctively, I reach down for the Master Sword, but that too has been thrown far out of my reach and is shrouded by shadows; leaving me unable to call for Fi's assistance.

I shake away what dizziness I can and try to get up, a grunt from Groose and cries ripped out of Karane and Pipit even in their unconscious states halts me. Nothing is near them, so I move again, only for them to do the same.

"Hold back, Your Grace," Impaz calls as Groose helps her to sit up. "Your movements have been cursed to harm your companions. Stay—"

But her words are unceremoniously cut off when the Sealed Temple's roof collapses and a dark figure jumps down from above, shafts of morning light illuminating their face.

I feel sick.

Dread and anger fill my gut as the figure straightens and casts their gaze down to Link with a sparkle in their eyes before holding out their arms and addressing us all, "Now isn't this just a touching reunion?" Ghirahim remarks. No one says a thing, to which he makes a small tsk sound. "Such a cold reception—though I suppose I have cut such an emotional reunion short, haven't I?"

"Here!" Groose calls out, unbuckling his sword and throwing it to Link, who reaches out and catches it before the Demon Lord can stop him. Swinging the blade upward, Link forces Ghirahim back a pace to give himself a moment to stand; albeit weakly.

'Be careful,' I murmur to him.

He doesn't smile outwardly, merely glares at his opponent, but when he replies I can hear the smile, 'I will. I'll protect you, Zelda.'

"It's been some time, boy," he comments, drawing his signature onyx blade out of thin air. I know that I need to dispel whatever curse Ghirahim has placed on me, Karane, Pipit, and Groose, but the sight of Link and Ghirahim so close together again after so long and defeat so close leaves me frozen in place.

He must have waited for me to reveal where Link was, and with it the Gate of Time.

Goddesses I've never been so stupid…

"When there's a meeting, a parting's soon to follow," Link retorts, similar to what Nayru said during my confluence with the Goddesses. "You won't touch them or me, and you'll fall just like your Master did!"

Hearing the strength in his voice stirs emotion in my heart, and I can feel Hylia swelling with pride. Nonetheless, Ghirahim smirks as I focus within my self to find the curse and destroy it—nothing but their voices remaining on the edges of my awareness. "My Master may have perished in this age, but in the past he lives yet. Once you join me beyond that Gate, you'll be nothing more than the fleeting memory that you are to the Old Gods!"

"Join you?" Link scoffs, and metal suddenly clangs. "The Gods favour me, and I won't dishonour them or myself by freely walking through that Gate."

Ghirahim chuckles, and their blades meet again. "You truly believe that the Gods favour you? You are nothing more than their puppet who…"

Their words are soon drowned out as I focus harder on myself, my spirit shining in my mind's eye despite the inky blackness behind my closed lids. With Hylia's aid, I search around until I spot dark tendrils worming their way around my muscles and through my bloodstream. The pulsating darkness winds its way towards me once it realises that I am trying to fight it, and it takes all that I have to keep my focus away from the fight outside of my mind.

Banish the darkness within me, I pray quietly. Please Hylia… there are people here in far greater need than I, and I must help them. Your Champion's life depends on it.

Taking a shallow breath, I focus on what energy the Goddess can provide for me and guide it towards the darkness, working the light around the inky blackness until it is completely consumed and destroyed—dispelling the curse from me, and hopefully from the others too.

Snapping my eyes open, I spot Karane starting to regain consciousness whilst Link battles with the Demon Lord; holding his own despite his fatigue. Parrying Link, Ghirahim briefly follows my gaze towards her and flicks his wrist—sending a familiar crimson knife towards her, the blade hovering against her neck and poised for an attack.

I stop moving, knowing that I can't go to her now.

With Pipit still unconscious and Groose caring for Impaz, it's up to me to do something. Steeling myself, I pull out my Harp and dive into the battle as they parry one another, raising my instrument up and shielding the both of us from the Demon Lord's next attack.

Ghirahim sighs and steps back. "The meddling Goddess returns," he groans. "Will you give the boy any freedom?"

"We fight together, as we always have," I sneer back.

He almost rolls his eyes at my response. "You have been rather persistent in your quest to get in my way, but I can no longer tolerate you nipping at my heels, my dear." He used the nickname to rile me up, and as much as I try not to let it affect me, he smirks when something on my face betrays me.

Before I can do anything, he uses a swirl of dark magic to knock my Harp from my hand in my moment of weakness and uses the back of his hand to hit me across the face. I cry out, only for him to reach out and snag my neck with his incredible speed. In a mere second, I'm in the air clawing at his neck—choking on his grip.

Link surges forwards to attack, but my cry at Ghirahim's tightening grasp stops him before he can. "You all seem to forget who holds the power here," he proclaims before turning his attention on Link. "Changed your mind about joining me now, boy?"

The anger breaks on Link's face when he looks at me. "Link…" I croak, then, 'You can't do that.'

'I know.'

'Link I—'

My words are cut off when the Demon Lord snatches my Timeshift Stone from my neck and crushes it in his hand.

No!

"I've had enough of your silent connection," he snaps. "It's much too infuriating."

Link falters for a moment as the glass falls to the ground, then, "Let her go!" Ghirahim only chuckles and says nothing, only increasing Link's anger. As I try to break free from the Demon Lord's grip, Link decides to take matters into his own hands and stabs forwards to try and at least injure the Demon Lord.

But it fails.

Instead Ghirahim unceremoniously drags me in front of him.

I scream and close my eyes.

But the pain never comes.

Someone's breath hitches.

Someone else screams.

I open my eyes, and a horror that will never leave my mind awaits me.

Link's sword is mere centimetres away from my chest, his instinct saving me from death. However, the Demon Lord took his moment to strike.

His onyx blade is buried in Link's stomach.

"No!"

A deathly silence fills the Sealed Temple as I choke on my sobs. With no more need for me, Ghirahim tosses me to the ground like a used toy. Coughing the breath back into my body, I sob as Link silently parts his lips and looks down to his abdomen—blood pooling out from the wound and onto his green tunic. I moan as more tears fall; my body too weak for me to protect him.

The Demon Lord takes Link by the collar and jerks him forward, the latter grunting as the sword goes deeper through his body. "We have a date with destiny, boy. We better not keep her waiting."

Shoving Link off his blade, Ghirahim keeps a hold of him before he can fall and seals the wound up with a flick of his wrist to keep him alive before smashing the pommel of his blade into Link's head, knocking him out immediately.

My stomach twists as he falls limp.

I swore to protect him, and I failed.

With no one else in his way, the Demon Lord tosses Link over his shoulder without a care in the world and all we can do is watch on.

Forcing myself in movement, I stagger towards Ghirahim in a weak attempt to stop him, only for his magic to hoist me into the air; nothing constricting my airways, but I'm still unable to do a thing as he makes his way towards his next target.

Taking the Gate of Time into his sights, Ghirahim strides towards the thing that has been hiding from him for so long now. After his constant questioning and threats of torture for him to find its location, he finally has it and there's no one left to hold him back. As he said, Demise still lives in the past, and with it our growing chances of defeat.

Hatred boils in my veins as he moves closer and closer to the Gate, not even wasting time to brag about how I should have protected it better. He's showing how he doesn't even have time to grind his heel into my broken heart, and all I can do is simply stare at my lost hope, knowing that there's no way to break free from his magical grip until he's gone, taking Link with him.

But one last saviour stands in his way.

Groose, who seems to have taken his sword back from where Link dropped it, stumbles onto his feet and holds his arms out in front of Impaz and the Gate of Time protectively. Even though Groose hasn't ever seen the Demon Lord, but he knows from my stories and what he's done here that we can't let him leave.

"You bastard!" Groose snarls. "I ain't letting you past! Give up right here, or you'll have this sword right through you!"

Ghirahim frowns. "Stand down, boy. You're in my way." Groose does nothing, only frustrating him more. "It seems you require a lesson in submission."

Groose hesitantly glances at me before shifting his gaze back to the Demon Lord, holding his blade up higher. Ghirahim is silent, shifting Link's weight on his back—droplets of blood dripping from his fingers ominously as his captor attacks.

Effectively disarming Groose, Ghirahim stabs forwards and slices across Groose's thigh, forcing him down onto the ground in an instant. "Submission looks good on another mortal. Isn't that right, Your Grace?"

The glare I pass him is enough to make him laugh as he kicks Groose and Impaz aside, smiling as his last victims fall to the ground.

I grit my teeth as Ghirahim turns to me, gesturing in my direction with his bloody blade. "You may have spoiled all hopes of reviving my Master in this day and age, so I see no point dawdling here. After sparing your life more than once, I suppose it was the least you could do to repay me."

"I will come for you, and when I do—"

"When you do, the corpse of the one you supposedly care about will be free for all to see. Maybe even your shattered body will serve as a fine sustenance to the Demon King…" He chuckles. "And to think you believed that you had won…"

Spinning back to the Gate of Time in a flourish, Ghirahim can barely contain himself as he drags his pale fingers across the Gate's surface, and the river of time opens out before him.

"You won't get away with this," I growl.

He finally drops the magic around me, glancing over his shoulder as I collapse to the ground in a choking mess. "Oh, haven't I already, Your Grace?" I say nothing, simply glare at him—he hasn't won, not yet. I refuse to believe it. "But before you wish to place any of the blame on me just recall how it was you who created these exquisite Gates, you who toyed with the boy's Soul, and you who will cause the deaths of so many more than I ever could. Soon enough you'll finally be begging for my Master's mercy as you submit to him! "

"No!" I retort angrily, barely able to push myself onto my knees. "It will be you begging for my mercy at my feet. I swear, whatever it takes, I will drag you into an eternity of torment, Ghirahim! I will save my people no matter what the risks are! Demise will never return, and you will face the deepest, darkest depths of hell for what you have done to us!"

"And you wish to stop me with what?" He wonders with a devious smile, eyes glistening with mirth and power. "You have nothing left, Your Grace. Everything that you held died when I whisked that little Tornado up as a present for the boy winning his little bird ceremony." He knows that he has struck a nerve, but he doesn't stop there. "Send Fiona my love. I'm sure she just adored seeing the reincarnation of her love bleed at my hand."

Tears trail down my face as he begins to step into the Gate, and I barely muster a few last words. "I'm coming for you. I'm not letting him die!" He sighs and touches his forehead for a moment, turning to me one last time.

"Oh, Your Grace, you've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" He remarks, smiling at my reaction. "A mortal girl with two lives slowly tearing her apart, the one person left she loves dead by midday." He grins, two rows of pearly white teeth shining in the morning sunlight. "What a wonderful birthday you've made for your lover. I'm sure Father would be proud."

His cackles can be heard even after the Gate has swallowed both him and Link up, leaving me to sob of the floor as his words spin around my mind. I lie on the blood-stained ground as the entire world crashes down around me.

I really am a failure.

This wasn't the end; it was just the beginning.

The beginning of the end for our world.

Author's Notes: Well, I certainly hope that the chapter was good enough, especially since I have been getting a lot of good feedback from the previous chapters. Still, please drop a rate and review if you haven't already, and I'll see you soon in the next chapter, where we'll be leading up to the very climax of Ancient Roots after a year and a few months in the making!

*The "Crack!" followed by a memory came from the Skyward Sword medley in Symphony of the Goddesses. I wish I could have gone, but I don't live anywhere close to London.

~RandomButLoved~