Author's Note: Whew, well I was certainly worried that I wouldn't be able to get this up for Christmas Eve. It was a hope, but it seems to have come true. Anyway, here comes the longest chapter of Ancient Roots. Not by a lot, but it's still gonna be the longest yet! Anyway, I have some stuff to get out of the way first, so lets get it over with so then you can read this! Please don't be expecting any review responses on Christmas Day, or maybe even Boxing Day. I want to hold off mainly because I don't want to be doing so much admin-y stuff on such a day about love and family, but I also want to celebrate if I wake up to 300 reviews on Christmas. Let's hope, huh?

Favourites & Follows: Wow, lot's of them this time! Thank-you very much to "LiddyRose" and "SnowGloby" for favouriting this story and "Nint3ndozzzz", "mastergamer2495, "LiddyRose" again, "SnowGloby" again, and "3xtrememaster" for following this story. I love you all for your support so much!

"If we don't end war, war will end us."

~H.G Wells~

Ancient Roots

A Skyward Sword FanFiction

Chapter 47: Eclipse

In this very moment, I long to be back home again.

As the Master Sword clashes with Demise's serrated sword, a deep sense of longing courses through my veins—the entire world on my shoulders sparking the desire to be away from this place. Sparks fly as the blades meet, locked in battle as our eyes lock. I grit my teeth and stand my ground against the Demon King's incredible strength, knowing that I have to hang on and keep myself steady until I can find some sort of upper hand against him.

Growing up in Skyloft, I always desired to explore undiscovered places and see the world both above and beneath the cloud barrier that were uncharted. I had always dreamt of spreading wings of my own and soaring into a life that I chose; a life without boundaries.

But as I stand before the Demon King and dance this fated dance with him, I've never wanted more desperately to end this and go back home to where my old life waits for me.

As I bore into Demise's eyes, however, I remind myself of one thing—my old life is gone, the one with few cares and sadness.

All that remains is me, Demise, and the fate of the world.

I must fight for this land and the land in the sky, and as much as I want to be back in the comfort of my home, there's no time for that.

Now's the time for action.

After all, the entire world depends upon it.

Demise forces me to take a few steps away from him, though I have no time to catch my breath before he charges me again. As we do, I mentally call for Fi, whose voice rings in my mind moments later, "The Demon King is a being that has conquered time itself and is the source of the monsters plaguing the Surface. According to legend, Demise appears differently to each person who lays their eyes upon him."

What did I do last time? I think to myself, hoping that she hears me.

Thankfully she does. "During your previous battle, Hylia feigned weakness before him before unleashing her Seal upon him. Whilst repeating this strategy has a low chance of success, vigilance is key. Unfortunately, I require more time to complete a more detailed analysis, Dominae."

I nod and the Master Sword falls dull, although the Demon King has soon had enough of simply clashing with me and decides to turn the tables against me. I cry out without warning when Demise raises his free hand, creating a sphere of pulsating dark energy that crackles with lightning and shoots in my direction without warning. I raise the Master Sword defensively, and the magic thankfully manages to bounce off the magnificent blade and destroys a nearby pillar.

Blinking in shock, I have no time to react before Demise charges me again, and I stagger back from the clash of our blades. "Here we are again, holy Hylia," he remarks, grinning down at me menacingly with razor sharp teeth. "How long I have waited for this moment…"

I simply glare back at him and say nothing, but he knows what I'm thinking—Hylia's longed for this moment herself.

Before I can react, the Demon King has forced me back a pace so that he can call forth an immense bout of dark magic. My eyes widen in alarm, to which he grins at me manically as the power surrounding him grows and flourishes before my very eyes. Unsure of what he's about to do, I'm only snapped out of my daze by Fi's voice echoing around my mind.

"Dominae, you must exit the vicinity as soon as possible," she warns me, and within moments I've spun around and begun to hastily flee the room. The Demon King doesn't apprehend me, but simply releases the power he had been drawing into himself—sending dark shockwaves out from around him. They reach me as soon as I reach the door, sending me flying away and rubble to crumble down from the ceiling.

Fi appears to help me onto my feet before part of the ceiling can crush me, though I thank and dismiss her as soon as I'm standing again. Pain spreads out from the back of my skull, and from my slightly hazy vision I know that I've been hit; I shake my head and stagger away from the entrance to the chamber as I sense Demise recovering.

I whirl around when another blast of energy turns the rubble behind me to dust, allowing the looming shadow of the Demon King to draw closer to me. I tighten my grip around the Master Sword and breathe heavily, my heart pounding against my chest as his eyes glow in the torchlight; glowing as if to say, "Let us begin, shall we?"

And so we do.

With no battle plan in mind, I fall victim to my fight of flight instinct and take off down the corridor, cursing myself for looking so unbelievably weak in front of my adversary. Doing my best to ignore the Demon King's thundering charge from behind, I push my legs forwards and rapidly think of something to do. Taking him on directly will fail but running away endlessly will tire me out and allow him to corner me. Thoughts of my inevitable demise send waves of panic through my core, and with the uneven ground and frantic thoughts, I soon almost lose my footing and allow him to catch up to me.

I spin around and block his attack instantly, and a bout of realisation and reality hits me so hard that I almost falter for a moment. After going through so much to complete the Goddess's Mission, I'm here in this very moment—battling for the lives of so many by destroying the Demon King once and for all. I may be scared out of my wits, and the world may be sitting heavily on my shoulders, but I will make Father and everyone else proud when I end this.

Smiling through gritted teeth, I send a wave of magic in Demise's direction—thankfully he's surprised enough by it to allow me to create some space between us. As I race down the cold corridors with the Demon King fast in pursuit, the only way I can see ahead of me now is by the periodic flashes of lightning that dazzle the skies in the outside world.

"Why do you continue to run from me, Hylia?" Demise booms from behind me, but I force myself to keep moving and keep thinking about what to do—my thoughts frantic as Fi continues her analysis of the great being behind me. "You managed to seal me away in your divine state, but now you are nothing but a mortal; an insect to be crushed! Are you scared of death, holy Hylia?"

Of course I am, I want to say. But so are you…

I grit my teeth as I force the doors ahead of me open, descending a small set of sets before arriving at the same large set of stairs that I came up before the battle as well as during the Trial of Power—ghosts of servants and soldiers long gone flashing through my mind's eye.

Demise appears in moments, and so I take a flying leap at him. He blocks me effortlessly, though I'm much faster than him and recover quicker than him, swinging the Master Sword across his momentarily stunning the both of us. We both recover in record time, and I slice the Master Sword across his exposed chest and slice open the wound inflicted on him by the Minuere spell—my heart twisting at the memories.

He howls in pain and sinks onto his knees, swinging his blade in my direction without looking—catching my left shoulder. I cry out but bite down hard on my lip to keep strong, yet he snaps his gaze up to me and smiles deviously at my pain. As the Demon King clambers back onto his feet, I prepare myself for the next bout of attacks; my eyes flashing down to my arrows in my quiver.

The arrows from the Dragons…

An idea clicks at the back of my mind as I draw a Fire Arrow and start to run again, my eyes flickering up to the ceiling above me as the Demon King begins to give chase. Using Hylia's aid, I nock the arrow into place and aim it upward as I run, praying that my aim is true. Whilst the first arrow misses, the second arrow manages to lodge itself into the wooden beams in the ceiling—creating an explosion of flames that destroys the beam and sends it crashing down onto the steps.

Demise skids into a halt as the debris rains down upon him, flaming pieces of wood blocking his way for a moment. I know that he will simply step over it, though it gives me enough time to nock an Ice Arrow and shoot the steps in front of it—making the steps slippery enough to give me the time to escape and think of a proper plan.

Without hesitation, I run.

I jump down the rest of the steps, dodging any magical attacks that the Demon King throws at me before diving behind the nearest wall; one leading into another one of the training yards I went through earlier. Sweat pours down my face as I try my best to catch my breath, the taste of blood pungent in the back of my throat as I attempt to conjure up a plan.

"Why do you still evade your fate, Hylia?" Demise's deep voice growls. I refuse to take the bait and think further on my plan, but his next words break my resolve. "Many are dead because you failed to protect them from my wrath, and now you hide from me. Pathetic!"

My shoulders slump forward, and so I draw the Master Sword and step out from my hiding place cautiously, taking a few steps forwards as he reaches the bottom of the stairs easily. "Many have died because of us, but I shall end that bloodshed today!"

With one last ounce of strength, I slide the Master Sword across the Demon King's exposed chest, forcing him onto one knee. He reacts instantly, stabbing forwards with his serrated blade to force me back a pace before staggering back onto his feet and sending dark lightning in my direction; leaving me with no choice but to run back towards the training yard.

Finally having a moment to myself, I hide behind the pillar furthest away from the entrance and slump against it—sweat pouring down my face as I press myself to catch my breath. Resting my head against the stone, I assure myself in a hushed tone, "I'm not done yet…"

I gasp when the pillar is ripped to shreds by a river of darkness, one that sends me flying into the nearest wall and sends my vision black for a moment. Blinking my vision back, I groan as I push myself onto my knees, my fingers coming back wet with blood when I put pressure on my head.

Despite the fatigue and slightly spinning vision, a small voice in the back of my mind whispers out to me, you're not done yet…

It's right.

I'm not.

Locating the Master Sword a few paces away, I bring out my Harp as Demise towers over me. "Once I dispose of you, there will be nothing standing in my way," he spits, tightening his grip on his blade. "Your defiance is over, Hylia. Prepare to endure an eternity of darkness and suffering!"

Never.

Time feels like it's slowing down as I react. Whilst the Demon King raises his sword high into the air, I raise my hand to the remains of the pillar and call forth the Ventus spell, condensing the rocks into a ball before sending it soaring towards Demise; knocking him down as the spell collides with the side of his head, giving me enough time to dart over and reclaim the Master Sword and rise to my feet before he charges me once more.

With a roar of anger and strength, Demise clashes with me again, though I simply keep moving and dodging his attacks; striking him where I can. I keep my focus solely on speed as I rush underneath his attacks and parry them as I backpedal into the main chamber of the Fortress, my confidence growing as I keep landing small blows across his body every now and again.

I'm so focused that I barely think about my own injuries.

"Be careful, Mistress," Fi's voice calls out to me from within the Master Sword. "Whilst the Demon King is suffering from the wounds you have inflicted on him, your fatigue levels are growing, and with it are chances of sustaining critical injuries."

I say nothing in response, too focused on staying alive to answer her.

But her words linger at the back of my mind.

I can't push myself, I tell myself. Everything is riding on this…

Demise almost knocks the Master Sword from my hand, a wicked grin crossing his features as he pushes me further and further towards the door leading outside the Fortress and onto the grassy plains outside. I grunt as I bring my Harp up defensively over and over, tiredness seeping into my bones as I struggle to keep attacking him without being blocked.

My breath comes out in panicked, rapid breaths, my heart hammering against my chest as I finally drop my defensive stance and meet the blade of the Demon King. I briefly think back to the other battle between Demise and Hylia, flashes of battling in an ethereal realm sparking at the back of my mind. As I think about ways to gain the upper hand, I recall the Thunder Dragon's gift to me.

"Take these Light Arrows, my dear, and you shall never go astray."

Realisation dawns upon me.

I don't know whether it will work or not, but I have no choice.

I have to try.

Diving out of the way of Demise's next attack, I inhale deeply and calmly sheathe the Master Sword and put away my Harp, much to the Demon King's surprise. Nonetheless, he smirks down at me as he stalks towards me; my breath ragged as I feel completely vulnerable.

"Have you finally decided to bend the knee, Hylia?"

Adrenaline courses through my veins as I stare him down.

"No," I respond coldly. "I'm waiting for you to bend yours."

Before he can react, I remove my bow from my shoulder and draw a Light Arrow, stepping back as I draw the arrow back—dazzling golden light pulsating around the arrowhead. The Demon King's eyes widen as he goes to block the attack, but it's too late. Releasing the string, the Light Arrow sails into his open wound on his chest, piercing his skin and inflecting his body with holy light.

He does his best to hide the agony to no avail, collapsing to his knees with a strangled scream. Slinging my bow over my shoulder, I draw the Master Sword once more and step towards him, staring him down as he shakily meets my firm gaze. He fights the light enough to vaguely attempt to raise his sword arm, though it's simple to disarm him.

"You may not have bled enough to balance the scales of all you have killed, but with you eradicated from his land, my land shall rejoice and return to one of peace once more," I tell him stonily. "This is the end of your story, Demise. One that shall never be repeated again."

Both Hylia and Zelda are in control as I drive the Master Sword through his cold, black, withered heart.

He stares at me as the light fades from his eyes, then his head falls limply against his chest.

I release a shallow breath as all becomes silent around me, not quite believing what has happened. The thunder in the distant grows quiet until even it dies out, nothing but a gentle rain washing over us as Fi appears beside me. I'm frozen in place until I tug the blade free from Demise's chest, causing him to slump against the ground with nothing else to hold him up any longer—onyx blood spilling out from underneath him.

Blood trickles out of his mouth, and the rain finally touches his form; covering his body like a shroud.

I lower my head, my eyes growing warm as I turn away from his corpse.

It's over… it's finally over…

"Mistress," Fi says from beside me as a light breeze ruffles my bloody hair. I don't look up at her as she adds, "I apologise for not conducting a further analysis of the Demon King during your battle; however, I can confirm that he has been successfully eradicated."

My heart skips a beat as I wave off her apology, my breath hitching when I realise something.

Did I save him?

"And…" I breathe, my voice cracking slightly. "And… Link?"

She says nothing for a long time, to which I glance up at her with concern. She still observes Demise silently for a moment before finally replying, "Despite the fall of the Demon King, the Soul of the newest Bearer remains trapped within his form. I am unable to calculate why, however…"

Her words fade away as my gut twists violently, a familiar ripple of darkness appearing in the back of my awareness—similar to the one that I felt before Ghirahim attacked us all in the Sealed Temple. The sun still ceases to shine as the ripple grows stronger, sending me sick to my stomach as I realise just exactly what is going on.

Her analysis was influenced by the darkness, obscuring her judgement.

This isn't over.

It was never done to begin with.

A low grumble shakes the earth beneath my feet, and so I instinctively draw the Master Sword and take out my Harp. I whirl around in panic as the shadows around the courtyard begin to shift and claw their way to a spot behind me. Demise's body is engulfed by them, and his once limp body begins to stiffen. As the shadows recede, the Demon King raises his head and his eyes meet mine; sparkling with mirth as he draws himself up to his full height.

"N-No…" I rasp. "No!"

"My hatred never perishes, Hylia," he rasps, using his sword to help him onto his feet. "This is not the end of my story… but rather the end of yours!"

I stagger backwards, terror flooding into my system as my quaking hands tighten around the Master Sword and my Harp. I swallow thickly as his form looms dauntingly over my small frame, my resolve quivering underneath his power as he grins at me; blood stained teeth shining in the dazzling lightning that crackles between the storm clouds.

Dread fills my gut with rocks as I raise the Master Sword defensively, too terrified to speak. Fi floats beside me, prepared to defend me at all costs, but the Demon King is too fast and strong even for her—with a wave of his hand, dark lightning strikes the spirit of the blade and forces her to retreat into the Master Sword, rendering me alone once more.

My breathing picks up.

"You luck has finally run dry," he remarks, eyes glittering with victory. "By feeding off the boy's Soul, I can finally end this and claim the Ultimate Power once and for all. You fought admirably, but this world deserves a new God—one far stronger and superior to you!"

He surges forwards, hair and eyes alight with fiery malice as his scales pulsate and drip with blood. I try and hold back against his attacks, yet his revitalised strength effortlessly overpowers my own, and within moments the Master Sword falls from my gasp; and with it my only form of protection.

Snatching me high into the air by the neck, I choke and claw at his constantly tightening grip with tears running down my face. The thought of failing to end this sends wave after wave of grief and terror through my frail body, my body twitching from lack of air as I weakly fight to break free.

But it's useless.

All I can do is hang there limply as the Demon King tortures me in his own unique way.

A strangled cry rips free from my chapped lips as he slowly drags his serrated blade across me chest, matching the wound he received from the Minuere spell. Grinning at his work, I squeeze my eyes shut as streams of blood trail down my chest and onto my legs; its warmth the only thing I feel before the next attack arrives so quickly.

My vocal cords are too damaged for me to scream as he mirrors his other fatal wound onto my body, running his sword through my heart.

Everything falls silent again.

Shock slams into me like a stone wall, so much so that I barely feel the agony after a few moments, everything around me numb and cold as I hit the ground; time seemingly slowing down as I open my eyes sluggishly, lips parting at the sight of the blade sticking out from my chest, blood pouring out from the wound. Darkness immediately gnaws at my vision as Demise rips his weapon free from me, my mind beginning to lose all function.

Hylia…

I pray for her to save me, but there's nothing she can do; she said so in the Ancient Cistern.

"My Sisters have only permitted me to physically interfere in this world one time, and I would like to save it for when your Master arrives."

I failed…

I lost…

I…

Everything goes white.

Then his face appears in my mind's eye.

Link…

He's smiling at me, holding his hand out to me.

Father stands behind him, Mother too.

Are they proud? Do they forgive me?

"It's over," their eyes seem to say. "It's over now…"

All my pain and fears fade away.

It's over.

I reach out and take his hand.

It's over…

~Interlude~

Time was meaningless as he spent more time in this strange world.

The people he danced with had long since faded away, as if the last remnants of his spirit were going away with them. He felt nothing as they left him behind, still having no clue whatsoever who they truly were. What was more, he wasn't sure how much time had passed since he was left alone with the beautiful woman, though it didn't matter to him anymore. He stood before her, studying her as she played a peculiar song on her instrument—one that glowed in the non-existent sunlight.

"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the Goddess… unite earth and sky… bring light to the land…"

Something inside of him was begging to be set free—a dam of memories blocked but still desperate to remind him of who he was.

But then that something was snuffed out, and he was stoic once more.

The woman's voice soon softened as she plucked the last string, the final note reflecting around the courtyard. Moments later, she turned to him with a soft smile, however someone stood in her place for a fraction of a second. For that tiny moment, a young girl dressed in pink spun around giddily—her bright and warm. She said something to him, yet her words never reached him.

Then he blinked and the older woman returned, observing him pensively.

She reached out to him tenderly, cupping his cheek with watery eyes. "Remember," she whispered. "Try… try to remember…"

His breathing quickened as he tried his best to do as she wanted, flashes of that same girl appearing before him between rapid blinks. Every time she appeared, she was smiling or laughing at him, her eyes twinkling with joy as various moments from her life—their lives—appeared and disappeared without warning. Sometimes she wore that same pink dress from the first time he saw her, other times she wore simpler clothes.

No matter how many times he saw her, he couldn't piece anything together.

But what he did know was that her smile was like the sun, perhaps even brighter, and he wanted to feel its warmth upon him again and again.

She soon began to replace the woman in front of him for longer, his mind a whirl of confusion as her smile seemed to dim. She soon began to wear a white dress similar to that of the singing woman's, and with it she appeared with more scars and less sparkle in her eyes. Every time he reached out to her; every time she would disappear—only to flash before him moments later bloodier than the last time he saw her.

It broke his heart—something which must have shown on his face, for the woman's complexion lit up with momentary hope.

He was broken out of his thoughts violently when something screamed.

Rather someone.

He tore free of the apparitions of the young girl to find the woman collapsed against the floor, her arms barely holding herself up as she grew weaker by the moment. Her garments were soaked red with blood, breath coming out in short ragged gasps as she desperately clung onto life.

But, despite her best efforts, it was hopeless.

He couldn't do a thing as she wailed one final time before fading away in a burst of light.

Then he was completely alone.

Blinking a few times in confusion, he tried his best to comprehend all that had happened, though all he could think about was the woman's pain and the girl that suddenly plagued his mind.

Shallow breathing filled the courtyard without warning, and his stomach dropped when he turned to its source.

The same girl he'd seen so much of in such a short space of time lay on the ground, blood spilling out from her chest and stomach just like it had done with the other woman—dirt and dried blood matting her now dull blonde hair and marring her features. She did not smile, she did not react to her pain, simply caught his eyes and watched him with parted lips—blood trickling out from the side of her mouth. Recognition shone in her dull eyes, and for a while they simply stared at each other, frozen to their spots.

"Is it over?" That's what her eyes seemed to ask.

He wasn't sure what that meant, but he tried to reassure her as much as he could—smiling softly as he held his hand out to her.

Her parted lips twisted into a tiny smile as she gingerly reached out to take his hand.

Their fingers brushed, and everything came flooding back to him.

The soldiers, the woman, the family—he knew who they were now.

The singing woman—he knew who she was.

Everything that brought him to this place, everything that he had gone through to save his life and the lives of so many others—he remembered it all.

And the girl before him—he finally knew who she was.

"Zelda…"

Tears trailed down her cheeks as he lifted her onto her feet and held her close; for that moment, everything felt better.

And then that moment ended.

A burning pain tore free from his heart, forcing him to clutch at it in vain. Even as he held the girl he loved close, nothing could keep him from the agony wracking his body just as it had done with the singing woman. Something was wrong, and he knew exactly what it was.

The Demon King had won.

But then he looked into her eyes and the pain went away.

It's over…

The two held each other close, and as his memories began to fail him again, he danced with the girl until he no longer recognised her; smoothing her hair back as they swayed back and forth in this ethereal place until he felt nothing.

Nothing whatsoever.

~Zelda~

I blearily open my eyes, flinching at the barrage of light that greets me. It takes me a while to adjust to the light, and I can't escape the feeling of numbness all over my body when I try and move. I lie against smooth, cold stone, my thoughts still cloudy as I attempt to clear my vision. Wiggling my fingers, I force myself into movement; and what I find is nothing like what I expected to.

I'm no longer outside of the Fortress, the memories of the battle against Demise a blur of red as I figure out what happened. I clutch my head as I sit upright, burning pain bouncing around my skull. Glancing around, I realise that I'm seated atop an altar made of white stone outlined with gold. From above, soft sunlight seeps in through the small circular opening in the ceiling.

My lips part in confusion and awe as I scan the rest of the circular room, heavy drapes around the chamber blotting out the rest of the light. Pillars outline the room, decorated with carvings of the Triforce and other strange symbols that I don't recognise—Hylia's presence too far away for her to offer any aid.

Then it hits me.

I can't feel her at all.

What happened?

I shake the thought away, noticing that my clothes are different as well—the garments are longer, sheer fabric bubbling over the edges of the altar as I run my hands over the various layers. The dress is simple enough, but why I'm wearing it and where I am are still questions that linger in my mind as my hair falls over my shoulder; never truly realising how long it had become over the course of the Goddess's Mission.

A chill makes me shudder as I breathe, "I'm dreaming…"

"Oh, Child of Light, I can assure you that you are not dreaming."

I gasp and snap my head towards the source of the voice, swinging my bare feet over the edge of the altar as the curtains surrounding me suddenly fall to the ground before fading away, revealing high arches between the pillars and an endless land of greenery beyond—a dense fog lingering over the treetops that stretch on forever. I watch on in awe, only turning away when a figure steps into view.

Her piercing violet eyes are the first thing I see, shining in the honey glow of the sun. She's far taller than me, maybe the same height as Impa, the lacy garments that adorn her perfectly highlighting her figure—rose gold thread embroidery decorating the hems. Her high collar is decorated with many feathers that frame her neck and face, contrasting against her pale skin.

An amethyst attached to her belt shimmers in the light, her skirts and talisman reaching her ankles and barely brush the floor. The woman's white boots click against the ground as she makes her way towards me, white hair partially masking her features as she observes me with a tiny smile as I stare at her in awe at her beauty and confusion at the situation.

"I…"

"Welcome to my Domain, my dear," she greets when I trail off, offering me a slight bow. "Although I wish the circumstances of our meeting were different, I am nonetheless honoured to be in your presence."

Different circumstances?

A moment passes—then the truth slams into me and knocks the air out of my lungs.

"My hatred never perishes, Hylia. This is not the end of my story… but rather the end of yours!"

Demise…

It all comes back to me—the Discidium, the Minuere spell, the battle, the blood, the tears, the fear.

His blade sliding through my heart.

"I…" I whisper hoarsely. "I'm…"

The woman steps closer to me as my breathing quickens, resting her hand on my arm. "You fought valiantly, however your efforts were ultimately in vain."

And I wasted Hylia's powers back in the Ancient Cistern…

There's no more hope of saving Link, the Triforce is left defenceless, the shield around Skyloft will have collapsed—I truly failed.

I swallow thickly and choke on a sob, realising that's why I can no longer feel her, before I meet the woman's eyes evenly. "It's all my fault…"

"Do not speak so forlornly, for all is not yet lost," she murmurs soothingly, to which I raise an eyebrow at her. "Come, there is much to discuss."

She gestures towards the edge of the room, and I follow her down the steps and lean against the arches when we get there, staring out at the beautiful forest before me. "Who are you?" I ask her after a moment of silence. "Where are we?"

"I am known as the Guardian of Time, tasked by the Goddesses to secretly watch over the flow of time and protect the Triforce from those who seek to use it for evil designs. While I am unable to interfere, I warn the Goddesses of the future and allow them to take matters into their own hands if they so wish," she explains without looking down at me, simply studying the landscape. "As for where you are, we stand in my Domain—a place far from mortal eyes where time does not pass. The role of the Guardian of Time is a solitary one, but a fulfilling one nonetheless."

I tilt my head. "But why aren't you mentioned in any folklore or legends?"

"If any knew of my existence, many would seek the only defence between the mortal realm and the Triforce. Knowledge of my existence would bring calamity," she tells me, and so we fall into a pregnant silence.

To live such a lonely life, no matter how fulfilling it may seem, sounds awful. I think back to the test of the Triforce when I met with the Goddesses, and how I almost fell into that fate to protect Link from further pain. The Guardian mustn't have had any loved ones that she left behind for this destiny, so for her it must be a simple life devoted to the Goddesses—I would have left so many behind, and still would, but it would have been so painful to watch them live on without me.

I sigh deeply, something that she picks up on.

"Hylia's Mission has left scars in you that will take years to heal," she observes quietly.

I hum. "My Mission has hurt me, but it was for the good of my people—even if I ultimately failed." I pause for a moment, then blink at what she said. "Why do you call it "Hylia's Mission" when I'm the Goddess Reborn?"

Her lips tug up into a small smile, as if this was the conversation that she wished to discuss with me. "Well, my dear, are you the White Goddess reborn as a mortal, or are you Zelda?"

The words make me falter for a moment.

"W-Well," I stammer. "I'm Hylia reborn as a mortal to save this land from those who seek to assail it. Zelda was merely a vessel to be used."

"Can you not simply be both?"

I blink, "W-What?"

"The Goddess chose to abandon her divine form and assume the form of a mortal to stand beside her Champion and eradicate the Demon King, however before the Goddess's Mission began you spent many happy years as Zelda, did you not?" She turns her gaze down to me, expression unchanging as we begin to circle the edge of the chamber. I avert her eyes. "Ever since the newest Bearer was brought to the Surface, you have struggled to come to terms with who you are."

I stop and clasp my arms. "I am who I need to be, that's all."

"And what about after?" I'm too stunned to reply, so I merely look away. "Recall what the priestess gave you before you battled with the Demon Lord and his Master; is all truly lost?"

Doing as she asks, I cast my mind back to when all really did seem lost, mere moments after Ghirahim had left carnage behind through the Gate of Time. Impaz appears in my mind's eye, passing me a glass bottle with an orb of light inside. "This is a fairy—they have the ability to heal the heavily injured, and some say they can bring back the dead. In the face of this battle, I feel that it would be safer in your hands."

My eyes widen.

"The legends…" I breathe, unable to process the memory

The Guardian smiles at me. "Yes, the legends that she spoke of are true—fate guided the priestess to uncover this one final piece of hope so that you could fulfil your destiny."

My lips part and my eyes grow warm. "I… I still have a chance?" She simply nods, and it takes all of my strength to keep myself from crying with joy—Link, Skyloft, everyone I care about still have a chance at surviving this after all. "I need to go back. I have to stop Demise before he reaches the Triforce!"

I begin walking alongside the Guardian again, still reeling from the news as she continues, "Now I shall ask you once more: who will you be after the Goddess's Mission comes to an end? No one expects you to be anything, and so the choice is yours."

I think about my response for a while before replying, "The people will still need someone to support them—they'll still need Hylia so I…"

The Guardian holds her hand up, effectively silencing me as she halts in front of one of the large archways. "There is something that you must understand," she tells me. "In your eyes I see the Goddess, but in your heart, I see Zelda. They have both been inside of you as you grew up; they both shaped you into the person you are today long before you knew of the spirit within you. After all that you have been through, you have tried to keep control of these two, but perhaps you can live as you were before the world told you who you should be."

"I-I don't understand…."

She nods empathetically, "You don't now, but you will. Just remember this: you are not simply the Goddess, nor are you simply Zelda. You are a Child of Light—a maiden chosen by the Goddess to return the light to this land—and so they are both a part of you."

I lower my head and think about her words. Ever since I took on the role of the Goddess for the Wing Ceremony—an ironic event in hindsight—and the Goddess's Mission began, I've been struggling to understand what my role has been on the path I walked down. Ever since I learnt about my true identity after we returned from Lanayru, I've tried to suppress Hylia or Zelda depending on what I've been going through. For so long, just like Link, I just accepted that Zelda was a mere vessel which soon became a hinderance in the Goddess's Mission because of her emotional attachments.

But without her I would never have come so far, never would have been so determined to save the ones I loved.

And even though Hylia's powers have been laying dormant within me for my entire life—laying there when I took my first steps, said my first words, had my first kiss, fought my first battle—without her I would never have had the strength to protect those who I loved. She guided me without removing my will and taking over this body, and for that everything finally makes sense now.

They're both a part of what makes me who I am and who I've always been—the Child of Light.

And with both of them, I'll end the Goddess's Mission once and for all.

"I finally understand," I say, my voice strong. "It all makes sense now…"

"Good," the Guardian replies, and with a wave of her hand a set of winding, cracked stone steps appear—leading us out from them chamber and towards trees that grow high above the rest of the greenery beneath us. "Now there is something that you must do."

We make our way up the steps in unison, golden orbs of light darting around us whilst steady streams of light drip off the leaves and illuminate the cracks between the bark in the large tree trunks. It's a truly beautiful sight, and the Guardian of Time smiles at my expression. At the top of the steps is a platform with the same light from the trees bubbling up from the middle of the platform and gushing off the sides; fragments of light gently floating in the air.

With another wave of her arm, a strange portal appears above the water as well as a few steps of light leading up to it. The portal is similar to the Gate of Time, however is filled with strange symbols that I can't understand. When I question the woman beside me, she clarifies.

"This is the Gate of Souls," she says, "It is a doorway which, unlike the Gate of Time, allows one to travel to any period of time. This is what shall return you to your time and is where we must part."

"P-Part?" I breathe quietly.

"In your own time, the Demon King is making his way into the present to claim the Triforce for his own," she tells me, ignoring my comment. Resting her hands on my shoulders, she presses her lips together before continuing firmly, "As you know, the Ultimate Power will split when the hand of darkness touches it—the Demon King shall claim the Triforce of Power and use the newest Bearer's spirit to claim the Triforce of Courage, but if you return to your time now…"

"I can reclaim the Triforce of Wisdom in time," I finish, to which she nods. Placing my hand on top of hers, I smile up at her. "I will protect the Triforce. You have my word. I can't thank you enough for all that you have done for me."

She chuckles lightly, pulling away and gesturing towards the Gate. "There is no need to thank me, Child of Light. I serve the Goddesses by living a solitary life, and so the honour of your company alone has been enough. Now," she adds after a moment, "It is time to part ways and end what began millennia before your time."

I nod firmly and turn to the Gate of Souls, making my way up the steps and breathing deeply. Once I go through, there's no turning back; either I end this now or die trying, yet this time truly would be the end. I shake my head free of the thoughts—now's not the time to be thinking of such things, now's the time for action.

I step into the Gate of Souls, and I can only imagine what awaits me on the other side.

I'm coming Link… hang on…

It's almost over now…

~Interlude~

It was almost over now.

After millennia of imprisonment and waiting for this day to arrive, it had all finally arrived—all that mattered now was the Ultimate Power that waited for him in the future.

The Demon King thought little of his victory over the Goddess. After all, in her divine form she couldn't destroyed him, and now she was a mere shell of her former self; it was simple enough to dispose of her. And yet, the moment where the light finally flickered out of her eyes was something that he would never forget—out of all the lives he had claimed, hers would be by far the one he would always remember.

As silence befell the grounds outside the Fortress, the Demon King slashed the air beside him and created a way back to the Temple of Hylia. His eyes glowed like embers as they landed upon the Master Sword nearby, lips twitching upward into a smirk as he thought of a way to positively crush the spirits of those who waited for their Goddess to return.

Raising his free arm, the sword fell to its bidding and rose with it; shadows consuming its light and with it the ability for the spirit within it to appear.

Snatching the Goddess up by her neck, he entered the portal without delay.

The coldness of the upcoming winter met his senses first, though he took no time to dwell on it before slamming the doors open with a swing of his hand, a cacophony of noise sounding as they collided with the walls. The back of the Gate of Time was before him, smugness coursing through him at the thought of the Goddess in his grip placing something so brilliant in such a common place.

Still, it took his Famulus long enough to acquire it.

Walking through this place stirred memories within him of a time when he burst free from the fissure in the ground not too far from here and began his reign of fire right in this very place; destroying all who dwelt here. Even though this place was soon returned to the Goddess and her people, he would never forget the faces of those who became the first casualties of war.

At the commotion of his entrance, those who cowered in the Temple of Hylia rushed to the top of the steps before him; eyes widening at his presence. He only recognised the Sheikah, though her and the other humans seemed to be easy enough work once he revealed his newly acquired prize. Behind them lay the corpse of their fallen brethren atop a simple altar, an altar which would soon gain another body.

They all readied their blades simultaneously, intriguing him—he was used to seeing more humans run away in terror rather than revolt against him.

"There is no hope left, mortals," the Demon King remarked with a chuckle, and it seemed that only the Sheikah could understand his words. "Do not allow yourself to indulge in such delusions of hope, for all has been crushed at my hand."

Swinging his arm, the Master Sword clattered on the ground beneath their feet; its edges dull and dirty.

Then he dumped the remnants of the Goddess before them, her body slumping against the steps and immediately bloodying the stone.

The female human screamed.

The Sheikah prayed.

The male humans stared at the corpse in shock.

Uncaring for the mortals until after he had claimed the Ultimate Power for himself, he merely spun away in a flourish and began to make his way towards the Gate of Time; nothing could stand in his way now.

Even the petty Sheikah, who screamed out a battle cry and charged him, fell to the ground when a flurry of dark sorcery forced her to the ground.

He would return for them once he joined the Gods.

Only then would he begin to rain down retribution upon this land for all that it had done to him.

Leaving behind the Temple of Hylia, the Demon King stepped through the Gate of Time and into the land of the future. There was very little different upon first inspection of the ruins around him, though it was within a matter of seconds that he sensed the presence of a grand power nearby.

He grinned, two sets of yellowed teeth shining in the midday sun.

The reign of the Goddess was over.

His reign was about to begin.

Tightening his grasp around the hilt of his weapon, he sent the doors before him flying open, hissing at the light that flooded in. With a flick of his wrist, dark storm clouds blotted out the sun and allowed him to walk on freely. The courtyard before him seemed quaint enough, memories of this chunk of land being sent into the heavens returning to him bitterly. The Statue of the Goddess still smiled on, a smile that he would soon wipe clean off.

But that would come in a moment, for his eyes soon spotted his desire.

The Ultimate Power gleaming as it floated in the hands of the Statue of the Goddess.

He couldn't help but laugh at the pure irony of it all. Hylia once promised him that the Ultimate Power would be safe in a place that he could never achieve, and yet here he was with nothing else standing in his way. The Triforce glittered defencelessly, unable to do a thing as the Demon King knew exactly what he had to do.

With a battle cry, he sent forth a wave of dark energy that pierced the stomach of the Statue of the Goddess.

There was a beat of silence.

Then the Statue of the Goddess fell to the ground, chunks of stone flying everywhere as dust flew into the air.

Down fell the Goddess.

As the dust cleared, the Golden Power awaited his very presence. His grin only grew as he kicked the white rubble aside, reaching out for the Triforce with all his might. After so long of being shunned into the darkness to wait for his days of freedom, that moment finally stood metres away from him. The Goddess assured him that he would never reach the Triforce, nor that he would ever be able to defeat him or even return to this world—everything that she told him was wrong.

And how he revelled in that.

Reaching forwards, his hand brushed against the gold.

'What is thy—?'

The Essence of the Triforce, suddenly acutely aware of the being that stood before it, ended its sentence before it could finish it. Before another moment could pass, the Triforce separated into three distinctive pieces—something which the Demon King had prepared for long ago. Using his magic as well as the newest Bearer's spirit to draw both the Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Courage towards him, he grunted as waves of energy flooded into his system, laughing as he withstood it and stood tall with closed eyes.

And now that the Goddess was dead, all he did was wait for the Triforce of Wisdom to come to him.

There was another beat of silence.

But nothing happened.

Snapping his eyes open, he watched on in shock as the Triforce of Wisdom condensed itself into a sphere of light and travelled high above him to a place behind him.

His shock soon transformed into anger.

"Reveal yourself mortal!" He roared, eyes finding a figure concealed by shadows waiting for him in the open doorway leading into the Temple. "You have no right to that power! Relinquish it or be destroyed!"

The figure laughed as they waved their hand, the Triforce of Wisdom glowing on their hand as they whisked away the clouds; causing the Demon King to grunt in pain as the sun reappeared.

As the figure stepped out into the sunlight, a rare sensation of dread filled the Demon King's stomach.

"No… i-impossible…"

"I promised you that I would stop you," they said strongly. "Not even death can keep me away from breaking that promise."

The Goddess Reborn, the Master Sword in hand, stood before him with no sign of injury in sight—wings of light stretching high above her.

"You…"

"You owe this land thousands of years of blood, pain, and suffering," she resolved, lowering herself into a stance ready for battle. "It's time you paid that debt."

A moment of silence passed.

Then the two leapt at each other, and with it the entire world hung in the balance.

~Zelda~

"It is an honour that you returned to be struck down by my blade again, Goddess," Demise growls as our blades meet once more, spitting the title into my face as the two of us star one another down and lean in close. "To defy your fate to die once more—how admirable!"

With a grunt I shove him back and dodge out of the way of his next attack, and I can't help but grin back at him; only making his anger grow. With every battle that I have faced, my resolve to destroy the Demon King has grown; and meeting with the Guardian of Time has made everything clear to me. So now, as our swords clash and sparks fly, I've never felt so invigorated and desperate to end this once and for all.

"Don't you see?" I call back to him, flashing him a smile. "My fate is to eradicate you, and I won't stop until my destiny is fulfilled!"

He roars and takes a flying leap at me; however, I raise my hand and the Triforce of Wisdom glows; creating a golden shield to protect me from his attack. It fades as he takes a few steps away from me, allowing me to draw the Master Sword and feel comforted by its grip like the reunion of lost friends.

Thinking on the reunion of lost friends, a voice echoes around my mind.

"I bid you a warm welcome back to this land, Dominae," Fi's kind voice greets, making me smile as I stare the Demise down. "While the Demon King has grown immensely, you also are fuelled by a piece of the Triforce. He is still weak in his abdomen and so I recommend that you focus your attacks there."

I nod, eyes falling onto the scar left by the Minuere spell. His eyes glow with a hint of gold, much like Link's used to when the first Bearer was speaking through him, and I know that he's using the full extent of both Triforce pieces. But I can't let that stop me, and so as I dodge a flurry of attacks, I dodge around to his side and slash across his chest and cause him to howl in pain.

But as I go to jump out of the way from his counter, he sends me flying backwards into the ruins of the Statue of the Goddess with so much strength that I black out for a moment.

Grunting back into consciousness, I force myself back onto my feet, albeit unsteadily as the Demon King stalks towards me with golden fire in his eyes—his figure illuminated by a golden mist.

"You know nothing of the power I wield," he growls, his tone deeper than usual. I grit my teeth and ignore him, focusing my attention on standing upright as I steel myself to go back into the fray of battle. Balling his hand into a fist, the skies above us turn dark and stormy once again; a mere display of the power he's still adjusting to. "You have grown foolish enough to believe that you can defeat me. Once I wrench Wisdom from you, I shall crown myself God of this world and wear a crown of your bones, holy Hylia!"

We fly at one another again, the Triforce insignias on our hands shining brighter than ever as our blades clash and sparks fly. With the Guardian of Time's words and the Triforce of Wisdom lingering, my resolve grows and with it my confidence. As I stare down, I retort, "You seek to claim a land that was never yours to begin with! I will show you the punishment for such a crime!"

Demise forces me back and holds his arms out, releasing a yell as he tilts his head skyward. I go to attack him, only for a shield of light to protect him; fending me off as the sky above us open and heavy rain begins to fall, thunder grumbling in the near distance and lightning starting to flash.

My lips part when he raises his sword skyward and a bolt of lightning rains down, infusing his blade with electrical energy as if he has his own twisted version of a Skyward Strike.

"Mistress, should you come into contact with Demise's sword, you may be fatally wounded. Therefore, it is essential that you time your attacks very carefully," Fi warns from within the Master Sword. "However, I see no reason why you cannot make use of the lightning strikes in the same way."

Demise must see my face light up as the shield around him fades, for he chuckles and remarks, "You still feel hopeful of victory, Hylia? How incredibly foolish you are!"

"Zelda!"

Our heads turn to the source of the voice, my heart skipping a beat at the sign of Groose, Karane, Pipit, and Impaz rushing out from the Sealed Temple and ready to fight alongside me. The Demon King roars in anger as I take this moment to strike, though my slice to his side does little to actually harm him with the presence of two Triforce pieces dwelling inside him—it simply irritates him further.

I remember their petrified faces when I rose again from the ashes of defeat. I had risen from the depths of despair, and none of us hesitated when I had to leave them behind moments later—our tearful reunion only lasting a few sweet moments. Thankful that Demise had been too arrogant to attack them, I made my way back to the present and now grin as they work to keep him away from me as I formulate a plan.

With a simultaneous cry, the four of us (with Impaz waiting behind to use whatever spells she can muster) leap into action.

I remain at the forefront of the battle, keeping close to Demise so he can't use the power of the Triforce against us by creating more shields. He growls as we clash once more, forcing me back to keep the others away from us as they use his focus on me to their advantage. As I dart forward to protect Karane from an attack, the Demon King uses a burst of power to knock them back and return his attention to me once more.

"Did you really believe that mere mortals like yourselves could win a battle against a God?" Demise demands of me, taking in my form as I pant the air back into my body and wipe some sweat from my brow. "You never stood a chance!"

I grind my teeth as his shadowy presence become even stronger, causing a harsh icy flood of rain to pelt down on me, though it doesn't weaken my morale one bit as I snarl back, "You're no God, and you never will be!"

"So we shall see, holy Hylia!"

He rushes forwards to attack me, and so I brace myself for impact.

An impact that never comes.

Raising my head, I blink in surprise as a golden shield of my own protects me from the barrage of attacks from the Demon King.

"Do not be afraid, Sister," the twinkling voices of the Goddesses whisper out to me. "We shall always protect you…"

My face breaks into a grin as I nod firmly and remove my bow, passing it and a number of Light Arrows to Karane—the best archer out of us all—before the shield fades away and the fight resumes. With a cry I duck beneath the Demon King's attack and slice at his stomach once more, crying out when he returns the gesture before I can block the attack.

Skidding onto the ground, I breathe heavily, pain pounding through my body with every heartbeat.

I know what I must do.

"I need as much time as you can give me!" I call out to the others, to which they silently nod and begin to focus on attacking now that they're recovered; Groose yelling out orders as he and Pipit take the frontal offense whilst Karane fires arrows. Keeping in my crouched position, the priestess rests her hand delicately on my back as she realises what I'm about to do.

"Summon all of your strength, Zelda," she guides. Closing my eyes, I keep my attention on my breathing instead of the fight around me. Just like I had done to dispel the Demon Lord's curse on me when the attacked the Sealed Temple so barbarically, I go deep into my subconscious until I find the flickering flame of the Triforce of Wisdom within my spirit.

I reach out to it, the Goddesses helping me as my fingers brush against its glow.

I break out of my subconscious with a gasp, my surroundings returning to me so harshly that I almost fall over because of it. Impaz struggles to hold a shield of protection over me, the Triforce unable to do so as I interacted with it. As a thin layer of water covers the ground beneath me, I rise onto my feet and press for the priestess to retreat and rest.

In the reflection of the water, a golden light surrounds me.

I was born for this.

Knocking Groose and Pipit away into the rubble and blocking Karane's Light Arrow with a shield of light, the Demon King returns his attention to me. I simply watch on as he raises his blade and screams a battle yell as he begins to rush me; the world around me slowing down as I keep focusing on my breathing.

Nodding to the others, I start my plan.

Having his eyes only on me, Demise ignores the others and allows them to attack in unison—Pipit and Groose slashing at his back as Karane fires her penultimate Light Arrow, smiling as it sails into his neck and paralyses him for a few precious moments.

I raise my hand skyward, the Triforce of Wisdom shining like the sun as it calls for the others to join it.

They follow its wishes.

The Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Courage break free from its weakened wielder, combining with the Triforce of Courage and returning to its full self once more.

Demise slumps to his knees at the loss of power.

But I'm not done.

Raising the Master Sword skyward, a brilliant bolt of lightning imbues it with electrical energy, and so I break into a run towards the Demon King.

Using a pile of rubble from the remains of the hands from the Statue of the Goddess, I yell as I use the rubble to leap high into the air.

Far too late does the Demon King realise what I'm doing, dull eyes widening as he attempts to raise his blade towards me—but he's too weak to do so.

The faces of all who I fight for flash in my eyes, and I notice my stony glare that I give Demise in the reflection of his dark eyes. I bare my teeth as the Master Sword sings in glee, and the world comes to a halt.

The Master Sword is buried up to the hilt in the chest of the Demon King, sliding through his stomach wound and poking out at an angle out from his back.

Everything falls silent again, nothing but the sound of rain and grumbles of thunder shattering the peace.

Reality is completely lost between the Demon King and I stare at each other with parted lips and frozen gazes. Memories stir within me, memories from a time long past and memories from a recent time—all of them passing through my mind before they are lost to the silence too. but they merely brush against my dull thoughts before disappearing off into the abyss of my brain again.

I tug the Master Sword free as the Light Arrow's effects dull, shoulders rising and falling with each deep breath I take as I step away from him.

He roars in agony.

I simply watch on.

Demise stabs his blade into the ground, only for it to disappear in a burst of darkness and surround him.

"It is hard to believe," he rasps, "A mortal… such a paragon of your kind…"

"This is finally the end of your story, Demise," I reply stonily. "You shall never rise again."

He chuckles, his voice hoarse. "As you wish to believe…"

"It's the truth, and not even your poisonous words can change my mind," I snap, adjusting my grip on the Master Sword as I step closer to him; boring into his eyes as he meets my gaze with a bloody grin. "I, the Goddess Reborn, was charged to end the great apocalypse which threatened to destroy this land. It is time I fulfil that duty."

Demise says nothing, still smiling at me as if he's won.

His smile still lingers even after I plunge the Master Sword into his head.

The sacred blade is engulfed in sapphire flames, and so in seconds the Demon King's form begins to crumble away and reduces into nothing but a fog of darkness—grains of inky blackness hovering in the air as if frozen in place.

"Raise your blade, Mistress," Fi instructs. "His residual consciousness shall be absorbed into the Master Sword and sealed away for good."

A tense silence reigns free as I step into the fog of Demise's Soul, raising the Master Sword high. The sun, just poking through the dying storm clouds, gleams across the metal's bloody surface as the Master Sword's heavenly fire draws in the remnants of Demise's Soul. Both the Demon King and his excuse of a Famulus are taken in, and I barely have the strength to keep the sword up with one hand when his spirit attempts to resist.

My friends move forwards to help, but Fi holds them back. As the last few grains of Demise's Soul are incinerated and consumed by the Master Sword, each part of the Triforce dive into my body and I can't help but cry out as a wave of energy floods into my body—one far stronger than when I claimed the Triforce of Wisdom alone.

Sinking onto one knee, I squeeze my eyes shut and grunt through the pain.

I open my eyes once it passes and raise my hand, each part of the Triforce on my hand lit up.

It's over…

Before the last blot of darkness enters the Master Sword, a golden ball of light breaks free and soars high into the air before gently floating down to me. I lower the Master Sword and raise my free hand as I stand, my eyes welling up with tears—knowing exactly what this is.

It's strange how a Soul feels so much like a person when it's simply a physical manifestation of their strength and Life Force.

But when my fingers brush over Link's spirit, I feel nothing but his kind, warm presence.

I break into a smile, tears streaming down my face as I sheathe the Master Sword.

He's safe…

Then the spirit flickers slightly.

"W-What's—?"

The spirit flickers again, diminishing in size slightly.

"F-Fi!"

"The Inanis period is coming to a close, Mistress," she tells me, voice laced with concern. "You must return the newest Bearer's spirit to his body before it is completely depleted."

None of us hesitate.

I wipe away my tears as we race back towards the Sealed Temple, keeping the Soul close to my chest. Even with Demise gone and the world safe again, I can't rest until Link is safe—he's the reason I began this Mission in the first place, and I can't let him die.

You're not done yet Link… you're not done yet…

Author's Note: The Sun Rises (Okami) has never felt so amazing as it has when writing the very end of this chapter! Anyway, I have never been so pleased with a chapter like this. I was going to split it before the second Interlude, but I can't do that to myself or to you; and I thought that having the entire battle in one would be the best course with the story. Anyway, please drop a rate and review if you haven't already, and we'll see whether Zelda can return Link's Soul to his body before the Inanis period is over!

Happy holidays, wherever you do or don't celebrate!

And to MiniJen: you're not done yet.

*The spring in the part with Zelda and the Guardian of Time was based around one of the spring ideas in Twilight Princess in Hyrule Historia. It's so pretty!

~RandomButLoved~