OMG, fanfiction is being SO stupid. Just when I finish the chapter, it starts giving me trouble with logging in! God...technology...Anyway, here is THE most important chapter of the entire story! Unfortunately...the structure is pretty awful, and the build makes me want to puke. But whatever! I hope you guys like it :)

Chapter Fifty-Four: The Final Voice

Link's fingers tightened around the hilt of the Master Sword, and the entire world seemed to move out of focus for a moment.

"Put her down."

The words were tense and demanding coming from his mouth, but his throat felt as dry as the Gerudo Desert. Then, as if taunting the angered hero, the Source lifted her higher and laughed menacingly again. It knew that Link wouldn't move a single muscle as long as the princess was in his grasp. He remained as still as a statue, his eyes firmly set on Zelda in the Source's clawed hand.

Controlling you is really quite simple, isn't it? The Source mocked him inside of his mind. His eyes moved to the princess. I can make you do anything I want while barely doing a thing. One flick of my wrist, and I send you into agony. You Hylians are very vulnerable, I must say.

Link made sure to stay silent, even though on the inside, he was screaming. Anything besides Zelda at this point was irrelevant, and the cackling of the Source only made his blood boil even more. Though he tried to hide it, he was shaking like a small mouse hiding from a bloodthirsty cat. He was cornered; there was nothing he could do to win. If he surrendered...then he and Zelda would die. If he attempted to fight, the Source would instantly kill Zelda and proceed to dispose of Link. There was nothing for him to do. So he simply stood, scrutinizing the Source.

Without warning, two groups of Guardians flowed into the corridor, one from each side. Link didn't even flinch when two of them grabbed onto his arms, digging their armored claws into his chilled skin. He sucked in a quiet breath, barely audible, and the Guardians drew their swords.

I actually find it comical that you had the slightest hope of defeating me. Perhaps you underestimated my power? Or perhaps you're simply stupid.

Silent, ice-cold tears rolled down Link's numb cheeks. He was barely aware of their existence, though the pain inside of him was all too real. All around him, the Guardians shook with laughter, and Link's entire universe collapsed on itself. Everything for which he had been working ever since Ganondorf's defeat was evaporating...and he was being forced to watch. Power still coursed through him violently, but he knew that any attempt at escape was futile. There were too many Guardians, and Zelda's life was still dangling by a single thread that Link was holding. With each moment that passed, the Guardians strengthened their grips. He could feel the circulation in his arms trailing off, but he wouldn't dare open his mouth.

The Hero of Twilight...defeated? The Source shifted its position as it laughed, and the Guardians all joined in the merry taunting. Link didn't even blink as he attempted to seem unfazed. Who would have imagined?

Suddenly, the Source stretched out one of its free arms and pinned Link hastily against the wall. The move was rapid, and Link couldn't process what was happening until he found himself unable to breathe. Almost instantly he was struggling to keep his surroundings visible and think clearly. What he could see was the repulsive, snarling face of the Source as it rasped, inches from him.

Is this how you planned on dying? It whispered hauntingly. Or did you plan a more valiant way? Hyrule will forever be left in the mystery of the disappearance of the great Hero, and why his body was never found.

Link opened his mouth to gulp in air, but he found no relief. Suffocation was beginning to take its toll on him, and the Source only pushed him harder. It clenched its sharp teeth, and it became blurry in Link's droopy eyes.

And the princess...What will they think when their beloved princess never returns? They will mourn your deaths, I'm sure.

All of the blood drained from Link's face, leaving his complexion pale and ghostly as he slowly slipped into darkness. Yet when he closed his eyes to succumb to the inevitable death, he was taken aback by what he saw behind his dark eyelids. He saw Zelda's face, smiling at him, surrounded by an angelic glowing light. He heard her laugh in his ears, and for a moment, he could feel her lips brush against his. His entire body tingled in longing, and the slow beats of his heart became heavier. He couldn't die like this...he couldn't leave her. He had made a promise to her, and he was going to keep it.

The strength came from nowhere. A few moments before, Link could barely lift his eyelids. He somehow managed to open his eyes, now glinting with a lust for the blood of this beast, and wiggled his fingers on the hilt of the Master Sword. As his lungs cried out for relief, he did the only thing that was left to do.

Link threw his sword as hard as he could in the direction of the Source. To his ultimate relief, the glowing blade embedded itself into the left shoulder of the beast. As soon as it made contact with its flesh, it cried out barbarically and released its grip on both Link and Zelda. For a few moments, he was unaware of all his surroundings as he coughed uncontrollably on his hands and knees. His elbows were shaking, and his entire body shuddered with each cough. Blood splattered down into the water: red blood...and green blood.

The high-pitched screaming of the monster made Link feel even dizzier, and his head just wouldn't stop spinning. Nevertheless, he dragged himself to his feet to face the wounded Source, and it clawed blindly for the sword in its skin. Its eyes were wide and bloodshot, and green liquid dripped from its open mouth and gaping gash. A bright white light spread through it, as if it were being infected itself, and it continued writhing horribly. Link recalled the words of Eldin in the spring: "...light is the key to defeating these creatures of darkness..." The Master Sword was powered by light itself. The Guardians were left disoriented and confused as their master fell apart before them. But Link knew better; this wasn't the end.

The Guardians suddenly leaped into action after recovering from their daze, and all at once they moved toward him. Link was defenseless, for his sword was still in the creature's shoulder. Instinctively, he groped inside of his knapsack for one of his weapons...any weapon he could use against the massive swordsmen. His shaking fingers fumbled hopelessly, and he couldn't grasp anything. The Guardians were getting closer...

They all froze, as if time itself had stopped. Their narrow red eyes look straight past him, and there were a few moments of silence while the Source struggled to catch its breath. Link turned around and gasped with the small amount of breath that he could muster. Princess Zelda was on her feet, unbalanced and wobbly. In her outstretched hands she held the Orb, and her Triforce was glowing as her fingers wrapped around the sphere weakly.

"Zelda!" His call was outside of his control.

Everything suddenly turned white for a few seconds. In the blindness, his keen ears made out the sounds of the eerie screams of resistance that the Guardians let out. They were being collectively sucked in, and though they pushed and shoved to get out of the Orb's grip, the light always managed to reach every single one. Link could make out what was happening from what he heard.

When the light died off, the only remains of the Guardians were their swords lying idle in the glistening, tainted water.

ZELDA POV

Her entire body was numb, and she could feel herself becoming weaker. In her trembling fingers, the Orb was glowing white with squiggling black lines pulsating rhythmically; the chains of the dungeon that would imprison these guardians and their Source. She could vaguely see their shadows entering the jail lying in her hands, and with each Guardian that was sucked in, her strength decreased. By the time the light died down, Zelda could barely stand, even with her piece of the Triforce of Power. The Orb shook momentarily, and she saw the image of the terrorized Guardians inside of the shimmering sphere, fleetingly.

She found herself staring straight at Link, whose face and tunic was splattered with blood. Worry glinted evidently in his eyes, but Zelda felt relief rush through her at the sight of his safety. She managed a tiny, reassuring smile as she lowered the Orb. He smiled back, and at that sight, Zelda's anxiety seemed to lessen only slightly.

Fools! The raspy voice of the Source shattered the hollow silence, and Zelda and Link snapped around to face it, balancing atop the walls. Its screaming became hoarse, and Zelda saw that it had removed the Master Sword from its shoulder and was grasping it, as if for dear life while the wound gushed green blood. She instinctively stumbled backwards. Then, the Source's bloodshot eyes fell on Zelda...and then on the Orb.

No! Not again!

Its words pierced Zelda's head as they hadn't before, and she struggled to stand straight through the horrid noises inside of her mind. Link was appearing to have the same reaction, and she found herself wishing that she were beside him. Perhaps if she moved stealthily—

Zelda's brain didn't have time to process what was happening. In a fiery rage, confused and unaware of its own actions, the Source lifted a clawed hand. In a swift blur, the back of its hand hit Zelda's face with a force she'd never felt before, and her fragile frame rushed through the air. The Orb flew accordingly out of her hands down the long corridor, and as she landed harshly, her head smashed against the ground and sent her mind into a blur. Link called her name. The pain was numbing, a fact for which she was somewhat grateful. She could barely see or hear anything.

NOT THE ORB.

The piercing voice came once again. The Source's voice had changed dramatically; it was even more haunting than before, and it made her ears ring. The Source dropped to the narrow floor of the corridor, ramming one of the walls and causing its entirety to crumble. Zelda's drooping eyes moved to her hand, and then for a split second, red glowed faintly while debris fell into the water around her.

No, she thought to herself. This is not the time.

Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, she managed to lift herself onto her hands and turn around. The Source was moving toward her at a breakneck pace, though its eyes were set on the Orb further past her.

"Link! The Orb!" she cried. Link was no longer visible behind the monstrous body of the Source. She prayed to the Goddesses that Link could hear her; for there was no way that she was going to be able to get to the vital weapon on time. And there was no way he was going to be able to, either...

Just as that thought entered her worried mind, she saw a metal chain shoot straight past her, with a speed ten times greater than that of the Source. At the end of the chain was a claw, and Zelda's eyes followed it intently. Within a few moments, the clawshot had grasped the Orb, and pulled it back. The Source was barely aware of what had happened, and Zelda let out a small sigh of respite as the Orb reclined. The monster, however, wasn't smart enough to see that it had passed him, and continued running...straight toward Zelda. She caught her breath anxiously as it swiftly drew closer, and then she closed her eyes and turned away in fear. She inwardly prepared herself for the collision.

"Hey! I have your Orb!" That beautiful voice rang through the air and persuaded Zelda to open her eyes. At the sound of Link's call, the Source skidded to a stop and turned around. She glimpsed Link, who was holding the Orb up above his head.

THE ORB MUST BE DESTROYED.

It began running once more; except this time, it was headed straight towards Link. Zelda saw a flicker of fear pass over his face, and then he retained the fierce expression of a warrior. The Master Sword was still in one of the Source's eight arms, and Zelda's heart skipped a beat when it reached out to grab the hero. As if he were rejuvenated with a new strength, he leaped gracefully to the side, and the Source ran straight past him. Balancing herself on a wall, Zelda stood up and took a deep breath. Link threw her an anxious glance as the creature they were fighting turned just before running into the wall at the end of the hallway.

"Link!" she called. He whirled around to face her, and then sprinted towards her. The Source was just beginning to rush towards them as well. "This is our chance!"

As soon as he reached her, before doing anything else, he took her into his arms. The embrace lasted only a moment, but Zelda took advantage of that second. She breathed in his familiar aroma and curled up against his chest as he held her tightly. She wanted this to last forever...yet she knew it couldn't. Then, as they pulled apart hastily, the image of the ring Link had given her appeared in her mind. Shockingly, she was able to keep the tears away as she looked into Link's eyes, seeing her own frightening reflection.

He stood by her side, and then they both put their hands on the Orb. Their Triforces glowed brightly, all three colors: blue for wisdom, green for courage, and red for power. Then a full, golden Triforce appeared on the white surface of the Orb, and Zelda felt adrenaline pulse through her. This was the moment she and Link had been waiting for, and the Source, oblivious in its rage, was rushing straight towards them.

"We used the light," Zelda sighed as the Orb began working its magic. "We used the Master Sword. We're using the Triforce...and now we're using the Orb. Everything is working as planned."

"Concentrate..." Link mumbled through gritted teeth. Then the light appeared from the Orb, though it was coming slowly. The Source slowed a bit, and its eyes widened. It was as if a strong wind was suddenly blowing through the labyrinth, and Zelda's hair was blown back in frenzy as she struggled to keep her balance. The Orb was shaking horribly, and they both found it difficult to keep a steady grip on it.

"Steady...Steady!" Link repeated, but Zelda could barely hear him over the heavy beating of her own heart.

NO! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED ONCE MORE!

The Source was no longer visible in the blinding white light, but its voice rang as clearly as crystal. Its screaming became screaming of agony and terror. She knew it was finally succumbing to the light of the Orb of Darkness's Plague. Then, everything seemed to move in slow motion to Zelda.

Silence...

Blindness...

Realization. Zelda's eyes finally made out the Master Sword flying through the light straight towards them. No... Straight towards Link. And the great Hero of Twilight, and the great hero of her dreams, didn't see it.

This is my time.

Zelda lifted her hands from the Orb and pushed him, stumbling into his place.

When she fell to her knees, she was surprised to find that everything was as clear as day. She was seeing better than she'd ever seen before, even as Sheik. Her senses were heightened to new levels.

Her eyes saw the blood dripping into the water.

Her ears heard the cries of both the dying Source and Link's anguish.

Her cheeks felt the warm tears.

Her heart felt the pain.

When she found herself tumbling into Link's arms, she still hadn't succumbed to darkness.

"Stay with me, Zelda, stay with me. Please...stay with me." There was desperation on his face and in his glassy eyes, and tears rolled down his cheeks in a flurry. He knelt on the ground, staring down at her lying in his arms. Zelda couldn't reply, but only smiled meekly.

"We did it, Zelda," he choked. "The Source is gone. It's over."

"We did it..." She closed her eyes for a moment, and her ears lingered on the sound of Link's heavy breathing. When she opened her eyes, everything was blurry.

"Now we can go back," he sobbed. "Now we can go back, and we can get married, and we can rule Hyrule together."

Zelda shook her head.

"It's funny," she whispered. "The Master Sword killed Ganondorf...and now it's killed me."

"No, no it hasn't," he swallowed. "Everything is going to be fine."

"The irony is quite bitter..."

"You can't leave me, Zelda," Link continued. "Stay with me. I love you...you promised."

She chuckled emptily.

"...You knew." Link stroked her tear-stained cheeks and brushed the matted strands of hair from her skin. His fingers felt warm against her icy skin. "You knew this would happen."

"Everything happens for a reason." She weakly raised her hand and put it on Link's face. Her eyelids began fluttering, and everything was slowly becoming dark. His body shook as he sobbed, and then, the vision in her dream reappeared before her. A strange, angelic green glow surrounded Link's frame.

"Please don't leave me," he pleaded, in the same voice she'd heard in her dream. Zelda felt as if she were in an out-of-body experience, and was watching these events unfurling rather than living them. There was no physical pain whatsoever; her cold body had long ago turned numb.

Link bent down and gently, so very gently, kissed her. At that point, Zelda's vision was completely hazy...except for Link. The surrounding setting was blurry, but his face was still perfectly clear. Pride filled her as she gazed at her hero, and when he moved his mouth, she couldn't hear anything he was saying. She didn't need to hear anything.

"I'm so lucky," she murmured. His fingers wiped her tears mechanically, and in the midst of her spinning pain, a smooth, silky voice appeared. It was more beautiful than anything Zelda had ever heard before, and it was the harmonious combination of three different voices. It spoke to her in a comforting, hushed tone.

"Chosen ones, you have done well." Link seemed to hear it as well. "The powers we gave you were used wisely...powerfully...and courageously. We now send you back to the surface...and we thank you."

The musical voice sent a wave of tranquility over her wounded body. She blinked once, slowly, and when she opened her eyes, they were in a shallow pool of water. Link still hadn't taken his eyes off of her. Serenity was taking over Zelda's every thought and feeling.

"I've always dreamed of hearing the voices of the goddesses."

The last thing she saw before everything turned white was Link's face. She read his lips: I love you.

Well, the Source is gone...but will Zelda survive? You'll have to find out in the next chapter! There's only one chapter left. That's right: ONE. Thank you everybody so much for giving me the support that drove me to keep writing this! This being my second fanfiction, it made me feel so welcome, and now I can barely get off of this beautiful web site! So thank you, I love you all very very much! :D