I really need to finish this up, lawl. I started this chapter in SEPTEMBER. It's high time this is posted. (It's been on Wattpad for a while now)

So, enjoy, everyone! - you guys are awesome! You all make my day even better with all your reviews! :D LOVE! 3

~Elsie

(I hated this chapter... -.-)

I had to force my way through the ranks of Gerudo to get to my rival turned nemesis. He watched me, clutching Relena's arm sadistically. Her arm was beginning to bruise, and I could see it – even from a distance. Several Gerudo were surrounding the Loftwing, and I figured that I could take them out easily. I stood a better chance of rescuing the Loftwing than Relena at this point, yet I felt if I did the Loftwing first, I'd be choosing her over Relena. Yet I couldn't let Crimson down. I was conflicted but forced myself to make up my mind quickly.

While heading for the Loftwing, several other Gerudo fighters intercepted me. I was able to take them out easily, and I ran straight for the Loftwing. The Gerudo guarding her were exceptional fighters. I didn't exit the fight unscathed; bruises covered my face, and a red, angry cut oozed blood on my right cheek. Yet the Gerudo lay dead at my feet anyways.

I untied the Loftwing, and she seemed to understand that I was helping her because she allowed me to touch her. She was badly hurt, and I had to get her back to her mate. I fought those that dared oppose me and gently smoothed her feathers soothingly. Crimson flew to us, and his mate nuzzled him carefully.

"Alright, friend," I sighed at their reunion. "You should take care of your mate."

His mate was barely able to fly, and her wing looked broken. She winced in pain but managed to get into the air. Crimson gave me a slight nod in acknowledgment.

I nodded back, fending off anyone that was trying to stop their escape. "If you ever need me, you know where to find me." Enviously watching them take off together, I fully immersed myself back into battle, welcoming all thoughts of finally finishing this once and for all.

Ren had sneaked off with Relena while I was releasing Crimson's mate, and a growl rose in the back of my throat. Forcing my way through the fray with my blade in hand, I killed anyone who opposed me on my way to my arch rival – my enemy.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Nabooru and Impa fighting back to back. I was looking for Relena. I needed to get her out of here; then, I had to fight Ganondorf. Trying to find her in the large swarm of people, I caught Zelda's eye. She looked horrified, her mouth agape and her eyes filled with terror. Her line of vision wasn't trained on me, however, but what was happening in front of her.

I whipped around to see what she was watching and felt bile rise up in the back of my throat. Ganondorf had her father in a chokehold, and he was slowly killing the Hyrulean king, depriving him of the oxygen needed for survival. A knife was pressed to Zelda's throat, and she was clearly panicking. Sheik was standing in the background, smoldering silently; I could feel his anger and rage. He felt helpless at that very moment because, for some reason, he was unable to slip into a shadow and was restricted by two Gerudo warriors.

Trying to spot the rest of Zelda's family, I could only see her father and Sheik, not Arvid and Katrin. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of something terrible – something I was not expecting nor wanting to see. The Castle was ablaze.

Both Zelda and Sheik were growing desperate. They strained against their captors as Ganondorf became what I can only consider to be a monster – he was literally draining the king of his life, slowly, painfully. Even I could feel the pain the king radiated, and it shocked me. I was physically in pain myself; catching sight of Zelda doubling over, I could tell she could feel it as well.

Stumbling forward, I made my way to where my "father" stood. He eyed me steadily, his voice stone cold, "I never should have given you mercy."

"Yes, you shouldn't have," I agreed, boldly meeting his blazing amber eyes. "You should have killed me when you had the chance because, now, I'm going to kill you."

Every second, Ganondorf tightened his grip around the king's neck, despite the cries and protests of Zelda and Sheik. With absolutely no sympathy in his hard eyes, Ganondorf finally snapped the king's neck while staring me down.

As soon as that happened, Zelda dropped to her knees, a magic shield flying up around her so no Gerudo could lay another hand on her. Sheik hissed and was able to slip into Zelda's shadow now that the Gerudo were distracted and whatever was holding him back was no longer affecting him. It was like there had been some dark magic that had been holding us in place, helpless.

A cry of anguish slipped from Zelda's pale lips as she broke in that moment.

That cry cued everything that was to occur next; I snapped into action, catching sight of Ren. I had to attempt to get rid of him first before I could deal with Ganondorf. Forcing my feet to move, I strode toward Ren, who stood in place, waiting to confront me. Keeping my eyes locked on him, I commanded him to let go of Relena, "Leave her be."

Ren's lips twisted into a nasty sneer, "Make me."

"I will." Stepping boldly forward, I felt my hand clutch my sword tighter, and the Triforce mark on my left hand began glowing brightly, burning and giving me comfort simultaneously. Waves of pain traveled through me; Zelda and I were sharing our agony.

Relena's face had become ashen, losing its typical bronze color, and her normally alert amber eyes looked as though they were glazed over. Tiny cuts covered her face and arms, and a large, angry, red scar ran along her cheek. She tried pulling away from Ren, yet she was too weak. There was nothing she could do with her limited strength.

Rolling his eyes, Ren responded cockily, "I'd like to see you try."

As the Master Sword glinted in the sunlight and clashed down on Ren's saber, I knew right then that I didn't care if I died in that moment – all I had to do was save Zelda and Relena. They were more important to me than life itself. So, when the blood began gushing from the wounds on my body even more, I paid them no heed and met Ren in battle.

Zelda's heart-wrenching cries shook the area, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Ganondorf attempt to bring a sword down on her. He was foolish – her shield would be nothing against him. His try didn't hurt her, but it did bring her back to reality. She stood quickly and shakily to her feet, readying her shield once more. This time, it was just a shimmering mass around her because she was exhausted – she didn't have enough energy; she wouldn't be able to sustain it.

I was torn – I had to deal with Ren and Ganondorf? Of course, I did – but at the same time? There was no way I'd be able to protect both Relena and Zelda. I needed help.

"Sheik – you gotta either take Ren on or distract Ganondorf," I told him. "I'd prefer the second one, to be honest, because I have a score to settle with Ren and I'd love to not deal with Ganondorf at this particular moment, but..."

"Say no more, Link," Sheik responded simply, traveling through the shadows to Ren. Then, he slipped out of the shadows to confront one of my worst enemies.

I muttered under my breath as I attempted to run to Zelda, "Zel, I'm coming for you now."

"Link – I can't..." Zelda wasn't able to finish her sentence. She was slumped over, still holding up her force-field, her entire body quivering while she was on her knees.

From deep within me, I summoned... something. All I knew was that I had to save her; one moment I was a decent ways away from her and Ganondorf, and the next I was right beside her and in front of Ganondorf.

It took me only a second to jump to my feet, blocking Ganondorf from laying another downward strike on Zelda's shuddering form. She was sobbing, the tears streaming down her face; her shield was about to fall, I could tell.

I knew Ganondorf wouldn't give me time to try to talk to her so I communicated to her through our mental link. "Zel – you gotta snap out of it, please! There'll be time for sorrow later, but right now, we have to save ourselves – our friends."

Zelda merely responded by shedding more tears.

"All my love for you is now gone," Ganondorf stated matter-of-factly, his voice cold and icy, literally sending shivers down my spine.

Although I tried reassuring myself that I didn't care... the truth was... I did care – I cared a lot. It felt as though someone had taken my heart and was wringing it out like a dishrag. Because of this, I also felt ashamed of my feelings. I was stupid for even thinking that he ever loved me. He may have loved me before, but he didn't love me anymore. Like he said, all his love for me was gone, destroyed, and ruined.

I shook my head slightly, clearing my head, "I know," was all I could force myself to say. My blade was still locked with Ganondorf's so I waited for an opportunity – for anything.

But... I knew that I was weary – I had already been through hell and back just to try to have a chance at rescuing Zelda, but now that I was here? I was tired, exhausted, and ready to give up. Ganondorf had the upper hand at this point. It was hopeless for me to even try to soldier on. I had to give up. I had to get Zelda out of here and give up. I'd literally die rescuing Zelda... But even so, I would be happy just dying with Zelda. We could give up together, and it wouldn't be really giving up. We'd just be handing the torch over to the next Link and Zelda.

So, I simply knelt down besides Zelda, bringing my blade up to counter Ganondorf's attack one last time. Zelda's arms snaked their way around my waist as though she knew what I was about to do. It was as though time froze – one moment we were all moving, and the next moment, we weren't.

I heard shouting but closed my ears to them so I could focus on ending this horror. My hands clutched the hilt of the Master Sword as Ganondorf struck his blade down, trying to knock the two of us backward. His movements were calculated and precise, nicking my cheek and drawing some blood, but he was tired too.

"What are we, Ganondorf? Children?" I mocked, masking my exhaustion.

He was like a child – prodding me with a sword instead of a stick. He merely continued his penetrating glare, this time directing it toward Zelda.

Her shield had long since been dropped, but she muttered a few words under her breath; as she did so, Ganondorf's sword began quivering in his hands.

The King of Thieves stared at her for one moment before responding by muttering some words of his own, his sword responding to those words as well. Although my blade was locked once more with Ganondorf's, his eyes were locked with Zelda's.

My mind was swirling with different thoughts, about what it would be like to die, about what would happened if I were to die, about what would happen if Zelda and I were to win. And that was when I gently placed an arm around Zelda's waist, still holding my sword and pulling her up so that we were both standing.

She never broke eye contact with Ganondorf, looking bold in that moment.

The man who was once my beloved father spoke in his gravelly tones, and these words, too, cut straight to my heart, "I lust for your blood, Hero of Time."

Zelda gasped softly, although it was no surprise to either of us. She placed a hand on my bicep, twisting her body so she was slightly behind me. It shocked me that Ganondorf hadn't made a formal move to destroy me, and I supposed that maybe, deep down, he loved me... just a little... or maybe he was allowing a bit of humanity to shine through. For that, I hoped.

I couldn't tell when he would strike, though, and I knew he was getting impatient – the hungry look in his eyes told me that much. There would not be much time left before he struck either me or Zelda; I had to get Zelda away from him.

"No, Link – We're a team – we stick together," Zelda's voice echoed in my head.

I kept my frustration from seeping into my mental conversation with Zelda, "Zelda – please. I need you to be safe. We can't allow your Triforce piece to be taken from you as well."

Zelda began backing away, her bow and quiver slung over her shoulder, "Link – if something happens to you, then my Triforce piece is as good as gone too – Be careful... Please?"

"Promise," I said absently, no longer thinking about Zelda but completely zoning in on what I'd have to do in order to defeat Ganondorf. "Ganondorf." Even I was surprised at the hard tone at which I had addressed my former father. But it didn't matter to me. I didn't love him anymore, and I didn't know if I ever had. And the truth was, I wanted to defeat him – did that mean that I was evil? Was I as much of a monster as he was?

"Link," Ganondorf responded. "And yet again, I let the good in me get the best of me," he snarled. "I should have ended you and your Princess long ago, yet something always held me back – but no more. I shall end you and your line today, once and for –"

I cut him off by swinging my sword at his unprotected abdomen.

Unfortunately, he anticipated my movement and was able to block without even glancing in my direction or pausing in his speech, "– all. You chose that Princess over me. You chose her. I was never intending to have to kill you, Link – You were supposed to be heir to my throne, and instead... You chose her." His tones got deathly silent, scaring me just a bit. "And because you chose her, you also chose death."

Startled by his words, I was caught off-guard when he took a swipe at my feet so I stumbled backward clumsily, my eyes never leaving his. "Why are you doing this, Ganondorf?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer, but I needed to buy us some time.

"I crave power," Ganondorf responded, "and my Triforce piece isn't enough. I'm a greedy man, Link, and I will end you today – no more inner rebukes from my conscience. I am now one with my complete intent to kill you. But whom should I kill first?" he pondered sadistically, slashing downward at me.

I blocked it, barely, completely remaining on the defense – I had to regain my strength.

"Should I kill the Princess in front of your very eyes? Should I relish in the feeling of watching you break because of her death?" the King of Thieves questioned. I no longer knew the man standing before me, raising his blade against his adopted son, the boy he raised for years.

Shuddering at the thought of Zelda dying with nothing I could do to stop it, I suddenly struck at him, bringing my blade to connect to with Ganondorf's arm, slicing into his unprotected flesh... Yet my attack did nothing, not even drawing blood.

"You'll never be able to defeat me, Link," the man before me said. "I'm too strong – this time won't be like the times of old. I will defeat you, and you will never be able to stop me."

I swayed on my feet, suddenly losing the burst of energy I had gained. Groaning to myself, I struggled to counter all of the Gerudo's attacks, but I couldn't do it. I was too weak, and my left arm wasn't as strong as it used to be. "I will stop you, Ganondorf. That's how things always work – you know that. Trying to change the cycle is like trying to stop the sun from rising in the morning and setting at night."

He just laughed cruelly, as though I'd said something foolish. "Listen, boy. I've prepared for this moment for ages... You won't take this away from me."

Strangled cries and the clanging of swords reached my ear, yet I couldn't tear my eyes away from Ganondorf – "I'm not a boy – and I will defeat you." That would be the last thing I said to the scum. With a new resolution – to avenge everyone that was hurting now – I brought my sword up to the beast's exposed chest.

I was sweaty, bloody, and bruised, yet I knew that I had more energy to give from deep within me and that it would have to be enough. The sword tore through the skin of his chest, and he gave an angry roar, filled with agony and pain. I dragged it down, immune to the grotesque sight. It had to be done. That was what I had to force myself to believe because I felt like a monster in that moment.

No pity could be found in me in that moment, and I plunged my sword deeper into his chest, finally dropping to my knees as his body fell, void of any life.

It was over.

Ganondorf was dead.

Yet I felt empty.

And just because Ganondorf was now dead did not mean that the fighting stopped. I heard a piercing cry in the distance and saw Marine drop to her knees, slumped over a body.

This was a nightmare, and, pulling my sword out of the beast's body, I immediately began running to my friend, forcing my broken body to move. "Marine!" my hoarse voice yelled.

"Aqua!" Marine screamed to the sky, holding the body of her dead twin sister.

And then I saw Cove – although he wasn't comforting Marine like I thought he would be. He was standing above them, a bloodied sword in his hands, poised and ready.

"No..." I whispered.

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