A/N: Alright, this chapter is more like what your used to in terms of length. Reviews have been great as always, and I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to write what you think of my fic. Anyways, on with the story!

Chapter 9: The War of Time

Time. It is continually given and renewed each day, can never be saved up like money in a bank, and once you have used it, you cannot get in back. The flow of time has always had these laws to govern it, and thus time has always had order. When the laws are broken however, chaos will govern, and a world without time will plague the world and all who inhabit it.

"A world, with me as its King, for all eternity."

In Hyrule Castle's throne room, a dark and evil laugh broke the silence, as the Great King of Evil waited for his nemesis to arrive.

"Yes," Ganondorf thought, "The last piece to the puzzle, for my glorious plan." He started laughing again, a dark and ominous laugh that made every living thing near the castle to flee in terror.

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Erandur and Link walked to the throne room at the escort of Othae. When the Twili army showed up out of nowhere, many people started to panic and draw there weapons. There were no casualties in the initial confusion, but the shock factor had yet to wear off.

"Are you certain we can trust them," Othae whispered.

"Of course I'm sure," Link whispered back, "I've dealt with their kind. They want to help."

"Whatever you say Link," Othae said, doubt clearing showing on his features. When they finally got to the throne room door, Othae didn't even bother to knock. As the doors swung open, the Boss looked angry at the sudden intrusion on her privacy.

"Othae!" she shouted, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Link has returned," Othae stated, trying to be polite as possible for barging in on her, "And he has brought along a guest."

"A guest?" she questioned, still angry, "I don't have time for this!" Erandur and Link then emerged from behind Othae.

"Greetings, Princess of Light," Erandur said humbly, "I have come to negotiate peace between our two sides."

The Princess gasped, suddenly realizing what the strange man was. "Your one of them," she said, a hint of fear rising in her voice.

"Yes, I am a twili," Erandur said, "But I think you'll find that we can put aside our differences and squabbles right now, for a much greater threat approaches." She looked at him, a puzzled expression on her face.

"I cannot go into details, but an army of great power is approaching here, and it is coming fast."

"How could you possibly know that?" she questioned.

"I have many strange powers," Erandur said, "For instance, right now your thinking this is a dream. Well it's not, and it's very real." The Princess looked confused, and then finally sensed Erandur was telling the truth.

"We have our peace then," she said calmly.

"Huh?" Erandur said, slightly baffled.

"If you honestly thought that I would fight a peace treaty that would help our cause, then I'm afraid you have much to learn about humans."

Erandur smiled. "It seems I do. Forgive me."

"No need to apologize. We still have much to learn about you as well."

Erandur nodded his head. "If you'd excuse me and Link now, we have to leave."

"Wait," she said, "Aren't you staying to help with the army?"

"I am, but Link will not. Besides, you'll find that even without me, our soliders are very powerful." She looked into space, concerned.

"But where is Link going to be then?" Erandur and Link were both walking out the way they came when Erandur shouted back,

"To cut of the head!"

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Zelda could hear the nervous shuffle of feet before her as she addressed Hyrule's army.

"Hylian… Goron… Zora… It doesn't matter what race we are. We all fight for the same cause," she said as she paced in front of the mass of soliders, "We must fight for our homeland, to protect it from these invaders, these thieves, these murderers! We must drive back this dark and growing force, because we are all that stand in it's way from controlling Hyrule. Rise in arms to protect your families and the citizens of Hyrule!"

She could feel that the speech was having an effect on everyone present in the ranks, and it was having a growing effect on her, increasing her boldness and confidence with each word she spoke. "Fight, because it was doesn't take a hero to save us all! Fight, because a unified Hyrule is stronger than any force evil can muster! Fight, because we WILL win!"

A thunderous wave of cheers erupted from the force in front of Zelda, motivated by their Princess's words. "March to battle!" she exclaimed.

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On a mountain crevice stood an old acquaintance of Zelda. He heard every word she spoke, and her speech had a great effect on him too…

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As Zelda rode on horseback, leading Hyrule's Army, she hoped that she had picked the right spot to meet the forces of shadow. Her generals told her that the army would march through the mountains in an attempt to surprise and flank her forces using the mountains strategic location. She found it ironic that the battle that would determine the future of Hyrule would be on the same spot that Link and Ganondorf fought three years ago. "Let us hope it is a good omen," she thought as she rode onwards into the sun set horizon.

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Link and Erandur were back outside the rebel forces base. They looked at each other, faces grim as they knew what they both had to do.

"Erandur," Link said worried, "What exactly are you up against?"

"The same force that brought Hyrule to its knees 100 years ago exists today. They are creatures of death and shadow, and only live to serve the voice that commands them."

Link looked troubled. "Ganondorf's voice."

Erandur nodded. "Link;" he said concerned, "I want you to know that it's been a privilege to work with you the short time I've known you. I can only teleport you so far, I hope it is enough distance."

Link looked at him, a smile appearing on his features. "I'm sure it will be enough. Do not worry about me, I will come back alive."

"I didn't mean to imply that first part to show lack of faith in you Link," he said, smiling. "I worry for what will become of me."

Erandur then took something out of his pockets that looked very odd. "Take it," he said to Link. He gripped it in his hand and felt a slight pulse emanating from the strange device. Suddenly a portal opened up above Link. As Link looked up, he again felt the strange sensation of being warped through Twilight, as he went through the portal that had opened just above him.

"Good Luck… Hero of Twilight."

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Link appeared in front of the gates to Hyrule Castle, shaking off the effects of teleporting through Twilight. He looked around before he went through, only to see the deserted streets and ruin of Hyrule Castle town. He felt a lingering depression, as he remembered that it was really just a couple days ago that this place was so full of life and joy. He cursed that he had gotten careless on that day, and went through the gates leading to the courtyard. As Link entered the once beautiful garden, he gasped. It was now a withered wasteland, barren and devoid of life. There was no creature that stirred at all.

"How very odd," he thought. "Last time, Ganondorf sent out hordes of enemies to stop me."

Link walked up to the gate that lead into Hyrule Castle, and was again surprised to see that there was no lock or key needed to enter. Not one to ignore good fortune, Link entered the castle.

Back in the throne room of Hyrule Castle, Ganondorf felt a presence enter the gates of what was now his castle. "Yes," he thought maliciously, "Come on in, enjoy your stay. No traps await you hero, for I need you to die up here!"

As Link traversed through the Castle, he again couldn't shrug of the feeling of dread. It was the sense that your enemy was trying to lay some sort of trap on you, but you didn't know what he had in mind. However, Link couldn't ignore the time restrictions that were put upon him. Twilight still covered Hyrule, and the light crystals, recharged by Erandur, were going to run out sooner or later.

"And if Ganondorf catches me while I'm a wolf," Link thought, "I'm finished." Hurrying along the path that lay in front of him, he continued to make his way to the Great King of Evil.

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Erandur looked into the beautiful distance of Twilight, knowing that soon enough, Ganondorf's shadow army would attack them. He did not worry about his Twilight brethren as much as he though he would. For some reason, he felt a strange attachment and concern for the Humans. All of them were out on the front lines, willing to risk their lives to fight for what they believed in. Every available man was summoned and they did exactly as Erandur said, willing to go to great lengths to protect what mattered most to them.

"Such selflessness," he thought to himself.

"So, you see it too."

Erandur looked around confused. The voice did not come from anyone around him. And it was female.

"What?" the voice said again, clearly amused, "Do you not recognize your own mother's voice when you hear it?"

Suddenly Erandur was in a white abyss. He looked confused.

"How is this possible?" he said aloud, turning around. Midna stood in her true form; in the same plane of existence she had addressed Link in his dreams.

"Why isn't it possible?" she responded with a small smile, "On the contrary, anything is possible. Just look at yourself and your new abilities." Erandur sighed as he looked towards his mother, a question dancing around in his mind.

"Tell me mother… is it true? Is the one that is about to face Ganondorf really the Hero of Twilight?"

"Yes," she replied, "it is. He is the same man who saved the twilight years ago. Together, me and Link snapped the Twilight's hold on Hyrule and stopped the insane rule of a power hungry…"

"I've heard this before," Erandur said, cutting her off, "Rather, I'd want to know something you never told me before." He paused.

"Do you love him?"

She turned her back on Erandur. He sensed she was crying.

"Link… I have harbored feelings for since he showed his selflessness and kind nature upon me, even when I was undeserving of such treatment."

She paused. Erandur could tell it was difficult for her to talk about this subject.

"But I never told him. I never even kissed him. I just… couldn't… knowing that I had to destroy the mirror. Once our adventure was over, I knew we could never meet for the dangers to both worlds. It was the toughest thing I ever had to do."

Erandur saw a single, glowing tear drop to the ground. He couldn't bear to see her unhappy like this. And knowing that his mother always felt this way and could do nothing about it made him feel worse.

"Tell him then," he said, slightly surprised by his own boldness. "If you can communicate through this plane to me, you should be able to do the same for him, can you not?"

She turned to him, freely showing the tears that were in her amber eyes.

"But… I…"

"Mother," Erandur said with a heavy heart, "he will never move on without knowing how you felt. I've seen the way he reacts to your name. It kills him at the mere mention of it."

Silence then pervaded the white abyss. Then Erandur could feel the world outside him beginning to stir. The enemy was close.

"Farewell Mother," he said, "Remember my words well." With that, he disappeared leaving Midna alone in the white abyss.

"I will," she whispered, tears still gleaming her eyes.

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Link finally made it. He was at the throne room entrance that he and Midna had gone through many years ago to finally fight the evil that consumed the twilight. As he went through the big doors and headed up the stairs, he felt it. The presence of a horrible evil power that he had only felt one time before.

"Welcome to my castle… hero."

Sitting on the throne in the same position that Link saw him in the last time they fought was Ganondorf with a smug look on his face.

"You again," Link said, drawing his sword, "I expected nothing less." Ganondorf got up as he looked upon Link, a look of hate hidden behind a veil of darkness.

"It seems that I underestimated you the last time we met. Be sure that it will not happen again," he said, drawing his glowing blade of darkness. They stood there, staring down each other, neither one willing to make the first move.

"It's funny," Ganondorf said, "Funny that you and I seem to be the only one's in the world that will cross blades today." He paused, a dark grin spreading across his face. "When really… all of Hyrule is about to covered in chaos."

Link looked at him quizzically, knowing that he would go on without prompting him.

"The world has always been governed by time, hero. It is a mysterious thing, a thing one could never fully comprehend. But I… I have found out it's many secrets."

"When you killed me in Hyrule field 100 years ago, I didn't accept death. I refused to walk off into the afterlife." He paused again.

"That's when I found my army. Shadows of death and shades of lingering life, all on that plane, wanting entry back to the world of the living, but unable to get to it. I was just like them… except for one thing."

Ganondorf then lifted up his hand, revealing a revitalized triforce of power insignia on his hand. Link scowled.

"My triforce piece carried over with me into that place. With it, I took control of the shadow beings, and was able to get them to Hyrule under my control. However, you were still an obstacle in my way. I had to deal with you still." He started to laugh manically.

"So, I made it so one of my followers took you here, to where I could fight you again, except this time, without the aid of your precious princess."

"You bastard," Link said, "This whole mess is your fault! And I swear I'll still beat you, without Zelda!" Ganondorf started to laugh again.

"Oh dear, I afraid I wasn't clear. I meant the OTHER Princess… "

Link looked stunned, then angry. It seeped over him and he began to shake with fury.

"Zelda was important, and she still is for my plan to work, but she will be dealt with shortly...but taking her away was nothing compared to the damage I would deal to you by taking away Midna. Yes, your precious imp princess."

"Don't talk about her. Ever," Link said, seething with emotion.

"Or you'll do what?" Ganondorf said amused. "She is gone, and soon enough, with the forces of the shadows attacking Hyrule in past and future, time will be unraveled to the point of a timeless existence, with me it's ruler for eternity!"

"Your insane!" Link shouted.

"Insanely brilliant!" Ganon shouted as he his trademark energy ball went towards Link.

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As the two men in the future began their epic fight, Zelda and her forces charged at the shadow beings sent by Ganondorf to end Hyrule. At the same time, 100 years in the future, Erandur and the rebels began to fight the same army that had brought Hyrule to it's knees. The war of time had finally begun.