Here we are. The end. The last chapter. It's really been quite an experience writing this. Thank you all so much for sticking with it.

Also, this is our biggest RRRP ever! Thank you all so much for the support!

RRRP:

ChangelingRin (FF): You probably mentioned something about Nierak, given how I asked for some feedback on him specifically. (He was the replacement Water Temple boss and the only one that actually made me laugh out loud.) Regarding this chapter, I don't think Demise went down too easily. His phase takes up a solid third of the chapter, and it still kind of makes sense that he'd be significantly weaker than during Skyward Sword; he's already been defeated once and spent centuries(?) sealed inside of the Master Sword, where he technically still is. It's only through Ganondorf's defeat that Demise is able to get a sliver of his power out into the physical plane. I get that that wasn't explained in the story, but there's the explanation that I'm going with. Not quite sure what you mean by 'whiplash-y', either.

That was not the last chapter, we've still got an epilogue. Don't worry about it!

Anon (FF): I prefer my Megalovania with beats 2 and 4 swapped, thank you very much. And Demise isn't totally unforeshadowed… chapter 7? Right?

OlafTheDestroyer (FF): Why thank you! I do agree that battle scenes are my forte; they generally have a certain frenzied pace that keeps the reader entertained while reading.

Demise is not dead. Like what I said with Changeling, it's really a sliver of his consciousness that escaped into the mortal plane. He's nowhere near as powerful as in Skyward Sword, and he just goes back to being sealed in the Master Sword, hence the transparency I allude to in the last chapter.

S3731997 (FF): We've still got an epilogue!

Cupsy (AO3:) Uh… no, that didn't happen. Hi there, though!

ARSLOTHES (FF): Thanks, and here it is!

Epilogue: The Final Moments

"Peace has returned to Hyrule," said Zelda. Link couldn't figure out where they were standing, as they appeared to be floating somewhere high above the clouds. Demise was gone, finally, and he became more aware of his aches and wounds as the adrenaline coursing through Link's veins slowly began to fade. It was over, at last. He could return home and live out his days in peace, preferably with Malon and Ivan at his side. "Thanks to you, Ganondorf has been sealed within the Evil Realm."

"I couldn't have done any of it without you and the Sages," Link tried to refute.

"Maybe, but you were the one who brought the Sages together in the first place," Zelda asserted. "It is by your deeds, in the end, that peace will once again reign in this world… for a time."

Link blinked. "Come again?" This was eerily familiar to last time… and he didn't like it.

Zelda, evidently, ignored him. "All the tragedy that has befallen Hyrule was my doing… I was so young, and I couldn't comprehend the consequences of trying to control the Sacred Realm. I dragged you into it, too… Now it is time for me to make up for my mistakes…"

"Zelda… what are you saying?"

"You must lay the Master Sword to rest and close the Door of Time. However, by doing this, the road between times will be shut."

Goddesses, no. No, no, no. He refused to do this again. He would go to any length to prevent having to save Hyrule a third time.

She put a gloved hand to her mouth as she eyed Link's Stalfos hand. "Link, give me the Ocarina of Time. As a Sage, I can return you to your original time with it."

"D… do I have to?" Link said, glancing at his hand which held the Ocarina. He never remembered procuring it.

"Don't you want your childhood back? That I stole from you?"

There was silence for some time, stretching somewhere between a heartbeat and an eternity.

"... No…" Link declared, cementing the decision he made seemingly epochs prior. "I don't."

"Then- wait, what?" the princess stammered, clearly taken aback.

"Zelda, I don't want to go back. I made a promise to these people that I'd return once Ganondorf was slain. And I intend to keep that promise. Let me have this, Zelda... please."

"Link… it would be prudent to return to your time," Zelda stated. "Preventing Ganondorf's rise to power is the most efficient way to ensure the safety of the Hylian people. Look at what's happened due to his reign.

"I understand that you don't want this, but… it's for the best that you go back to your childhood."

"Zelda… no," Link choked as tears began to well up in his eyes. "Don't you understand what we've done? We just fought and destroyed Demise! Going back would resurrect the literal manifestation of malice and hatred!"

"Actually, you didn't slay Demise," Ivan corrected tiredly. "You merely sealed it within the Master Sword itself and separated it from its Hatred incarnation. In that way, you only stopped the Hatred incarnations from reappearing for a time. Ganondorf himself is still affected by Demise's energy, but to a lesser degree."

"My point stands!" Link argued. "Look, you can't just erase history. These people deserve to have their suffering validated, just like I do. Like… we do. To go back would be to obliterate their lives! Our lives! My life! We- I can't bring myself to do that!"

"Link, you're being selfish," Zelda said, each word fashioned out of ice. "The people deserve unfettered happiness, and the best way to do that is to prevent Ganondorf's rise to power in the first place."

"Aren't I allowed to be selfish for once in my life?!" the Hero screamed, tears finally falling down his face. "I've done nothing- nothing- but put my life on the line, not to mention my sanity. Don't I deserve to reap the fruits of my labors?"

"Yes! That's one of the reasons why- the main reason, actually- we're doing this in the first place!"

"But you're not! You- You're the one being selfish! You won't let me have this one fucking thing because it's not for you?! Because my choice doesn't align with yours? Because… because Goddesses forbid someone crosses you in your oh, so infinite wisdom?!"

"Link, give me the Ocarina of Time," Zelda said tersely, clearly on the last of her patience. And then she was reeling, stumbling across the vast expanse of sky and away from Link.

He never remembered deciding to punch her. He never remembered making a fist.

His vision practically hazed over red as raw fury coursed through his veins. He wouldn't go back. He wouldn't let her send him back. He couldn't. He'd… he didn't even know what he'd do, but it would be drastic. A hand drifted to the hilt of the Master Sword before Link shoved it back down. Going to that length would be… unwise. He could explain away that Ganondorf had killed her before he could save her, but the Sages would know, and that most certainly wouldn't work for very long. Besides, this Zelda was still important to him, regardless that she was making the same decision that had nearly destroyed him before- and definitely would now.

"Leetle man…" Ivan suddenly interjected. "Ivan knows this isn't the thing you want to hear, but… what about everyone else? Like Talon, and Ingo, and the soldier in the back alley? Do they… not deserve to live as well?"

"Ivan… don't tell me… you're siding with her," Link breathed, filled with horror and dread.

"Da," Ivan sighed. "Ivan does. Ivan knows… you don't want this, but Ivan thinks everyone deserves to be happy. Even you."

He took a pause to take a ragged breath.

"Ivan… They won't remember. They didn't remember," Link tried to argue, tears dripping off of his face in rivers. "They'll all just forget, and I'll have to do this a third time!"

"The sages and I should remember…" Zelda mused reluctantly. "Shouldn't we?"

"That's what you said last time, right before you forgot," Link spat, raising the tone of his voice even higher than before. "That's what they all said, and here we are! Doing the same shit over and over again and expecting something to fucking change!"

"Link!" Ivan castigated.

"And you! If we go back in time, I'll never see you again!" he screamed at Ivan. "You'll disappear, just like Navi did! I can't bear that! I'd… I'd…"

"In the event that the Printsessa and the Sages don't remember," the fairy promised, "Ivan will go to them all and explain what has happened before, uh…"

The rest of his words dissolved into incoherent mumbling as he dimmed even further. His light had been unusually faint over the last few days.

"Everyone thinks it would be for the best if you went back to your time… where you are supposed to be… the way you are supposed to be," Zelda whispered placatingly, trying to ease Link's sorrow. "It's the best we could do… for everyone in Hyrule. For you. Don't you want all the people you've met and connected with to be happy?"

Link paused, mulling it over. "Yes," he decided. "But they are happy. Their problems are solved, and this stretch of seven years has only allowed that joy to be fuller, because they know what it's like to lack it. Anyone will savor water more after a trip through the Gerudo Wastes. The same applies here… doesn't it?

"No matter what you say… no matter what you do… you will not have my pain."

The Princess looked at Link with an aura of remorse in her eyes. The backdrop of clouds and blue sky started to darken, like it was turning into night. "I was never planning on taking your pain," she said. "I never wanted you to have any pain to begin with… I just want you to be happy." She nodded at Ivan.

Before Link could process what was happening, his companion, the one constant he'd had throughout this psychotic rendition of his original quest, the one that had helped him work through his depression, the one that had laughed and cried for him this entire adventure, the one who was supposed to always stand by Link, had turned crimson and entered his mind, wresting control from the Hero of Time. Link could only look on in abject terror as his left arm moved against his will and planted the Ocarina of Time in Zelda's outstretched hand.

"Ivan is sorry," he heard Ivan say. "Ivan did not want it to come to this, but… if worst comes to worst, just tell people. They'll believe you. Ivan did. Malon did. Rusl did. They'll believe you again… and so will the princess, and the Sages too. Ivan can't say it will be easy; in truth, it will probably be very difficult to come to terms with. But… if you can find it within yourself to forgive us, it would be greatly appreciated."

There was an odd, hesitant pause. Like if Ivan was working up the nerve to say something, or simply needed to build his strength to force the last few sentences out.

"Now, this will be the last time Ivan will speak to you, so please listen to Ivan: You are the best partner Ivan could have asked for. Ivan wishes that we could have spent more time together, but circumstance prevents it. Ivan… will always… stand… by… you…"

"I'm sorry, Link… Goodbye…" Zelda murmured, pulling his Mind Hacked body into a light embrace.

The last thing he heard as he was pulled backwards in time was the lilting notes of Zelda's Lullaby as they echoed through the void. All his animosity that was building up inside of him dissipated, replaced only with regret and sorrow. He was really going back again. And he had no choice in the matter. All he could do was pray.

I'm evil.

Please don't kill me. This was the plan from the very beginning, so I didn't just come up with it on the fly and spring it on you all.

If it makes you feel any better, I lied about this being the last chapter.

NOOTTD: Nadie.