I know this Chapter is long, but just bare with me on this. This is where we hit the climax.

P.S. For those who think Zelda is useless in this story, I hope you like what happens here, cause this one is all about her.

Pursuit of Knowledge

That night, they set up camp inside of the village. Link, of course, was sitting away from everyone else keeping watch. Luigi was sitting with Mario talking about what just happened, but Daisy was sitting as far away from everyone else as possible.

Zelda walked over to Daisy, "Are you okay?" she asked Daisy.

"Oh, uh...yeah..." she responded.

"Why did you do something so dangerous?"

"I thought that if she just killed me, then maybe she would feel better," she said looking down.

"Feel better?" Zelda was a little confused by that one.

"Well, a little before you and your brother came to save us, she and I had a conversation. She told me that she hated me, and that she wanted to get revenge for always trying to be the center of attention."

"What do you mean?"

"When we were kids, Peach was a lot different. She was quiet, even more shy than she is now, she wore her hair in pigtails, she had big glasses, and she always had her face in a book. That went on until high school, when I saw her I saw a completely different Peach. She had contact lenses, she had her hair out, she began wearing fancier clothes, and she opened up more to people. I thought she had just decided to come out of her shell, but in reality..." she stopped and looked down in sadness, "she was trying to be me."

"So you thought she was trying to hurt you?"

"Well, I thought that I had made her feel invisible, and that she was doing this to get attention. I thought maybe if she killed me then..."

"That's wrong!" Zelda said sternly.

"Huh?" Daisy was shocked to see Zelda showing this much emotion.

"Throwing your life away isn't going to change anything!"

"I just thought-"

"That's the thing, you didn't think! You just acted on your emotions, not thinking of the consequences! What about Luigi? He would be crushed!" as Zelda spoke, Daisy realized that she was right. She still felt that this was her fault, but maybe Zelda had a point.

"You're right Zelda, thank you," she said looking up smiling.

Zelda nodded with a small smile, and then walked off. "Um, Zelda?" Daisy called to her again, making Zelda stop, "If my death won't put an end to this, then is killing Peach the only way?"

"I don't know," Zelda said not turning around, "I want to know that too..." she said as she walked away.

The next morning, Mario, Luigi, and Daisy were talking together. "So, are you feeling better?" Luigi asked Daisy.

"Yeah Luigi, I'm fine now. I'm sorry about how I've been acting," Daisy said looking down.

"Let's you and me try to forget all of that, okay?" Luigi said. Daisy nodded with a smile, and then turned to Mario.

"So, what do you guys think about what Kamek and Kammy said before, well, you know?" she said trying to avoid mentioning their death.

"I do have that feeling. The feeling you get right before the final battle," Mario said looking at the ring.

"The time is almost here; do we save Peach, or kill her?" Luigi asked, more rhetorically than actually asking anyone.

"I hope we can save her," Daisy said, "I hate seeing my little cousin like this."

"We will save her, I promise! I will bring her back!" Mario said in a reassuring tone filled with confidence.

Link ran up to them with a worried expression, "Have you guys seen my sister?" he asked.

"Um, I spoke with her briefly last night, but that was it," Daisy said, "Why?"

"I went to check on her, but she wasn't in her tent. All I found was this," Link handed them a note. Mario took it and read it.

Dear Mario, Luigi, Link, and Daisy,

I know I said that we need to stay together as a group, but I have to know what's going on. Something has been bothering me about the Empress. She seems unsure of herself, almost doubtful of her abilities. I also took note about how she acted to Daisy's attempt to offer herself. She seemed angry that she would do that, and not the kind of anger you have for someone when you truly hate them. I also noted that she had a chance to kill all of us when we got to the graveyard, but she didn't take it, I want to know why.

I have a feeling that she's made her base in the capital city. By the time you read this I'll probably be either halfway there, or walking through the gates. Don't worry, I'm in my Sheik form just in case I run into trouble.

Remember brother, you have a responsibility as the gods' chosen knight. No matter what you mustn't strike in anger. Even if my plan doesn't work...

You're dearest sister, Zelda

After Mario finished, Link ran into his tent and grabbed his sword and shield, "What are you doing?" Mario asked.

"I'm going after her!" he said as he walked off. Luigi ran in his way.

"We have to stay together!" he said to Link.

"Yeah, well tell that to my sister!" Link said pushing Luigi out of his way. He then cast Fafore's Wind and flew off to the city.

"Mario!" Luigi called.

"I know, I know! After him!" he shouted as all three of them ran after Link, on their way to the capital city.

Peach was sitting in what used to be Zelda's throne, just thinking to herself. She was really upset about Kamek and Kammy. She had really begun to like them, and saw them as not mere servants, but as friends, possibly her only true friends she had at the moment. She was now at a lose as to what to do, and her mental stability had weakened even more.

"Kamek... Kammy... What am I to do now?" she asked herself.

"Well, crying won't solve anything!" someone said next to Peach. She turned and saw herself sitting on the arm of the throne.

"But, I cared about them... They were my...friends..." she said looking down.

"Friends will only carry you so far. You have to stand on your own two feet. Kamek and Kammy didn't give their lives away so you could flake out. They got us this far, now we have to do the rest," the other Peach said. Peach looked at her and nodded. The other Peach looked up at the ceiling, "We have a guest," she said fading away.

"Huh?" Peach looked up and saw Sheik jump from one of the rafters landing a bit in front of her, "You're the ninja I see with Mario sometimes,"

"I believe that's my throne your sitting on," Sheik said standing straight up.

"Ha! Your throne?" Peach was shocked to hear Sheik say that, since she had no idea who Sheik really was.

"That's right," Sheik said, glowing a bit and turning into Zelda, "My throne," Zelda said, now standing where Sheik once was.

Peach rose an eyebrow after seeing that, "So, you're really Zelda? Princess of Hyrule?" she asked, "What was that transformation?"

"It's a spell that completely alters my form, my outfit, even my gender, to a more battle suited form," she explained actually walking towards Peach.

"I see, interesting, but let's get right to the point," Peach said getting up, "I believe you have something I want,"

"If you mean the Tri-Force of Wisdom, then yes, I have it. If you want it, then by all means, try to take it. But I warn you, this one won't be as easy to take as the Tri-Force of Power," Zelda said stopping in front of the stairs that went to her throne.

"Oh I know, I figured that the moment I set eyes on you. You truly understand what wisdom is," she said with an evil smile.

"Your right, I do. True wisdom isn't knowing everything, but understanding the fact that you don't know everything," Zelda explained.

"Something that many people have trouble admitting. But simply realizing that isn't enough. A truly wise person will spend their time trying to broaden their way of thinking, learning more things and understanding that there is always something new to learn," Peach added, showing that she understood too.

"One may even say that true wisdom is the pursuit of knowledge," Zelda said with a smile, Peach was the first person she met that truly understood the meaning of wisdom.

"Indeed," Peach said, smiling even more now. She now had a lot of respect for Zelda, realizing that they thought in the same way, "To think, if we had met on different terms, we might have become best friends," Peach stated.

"Perhaps, but that isn't why I came here, nor did I necessarily come here to fight," Zelda said, shocking Peach a bit.

"Oh, then why did you come?" Peach asked.

"Well, you could say that it was the pursuit of knowledge that brought me here. You see, after what happened yesterday I got to thinking about a few things. You had a chance to kill us, but you didn't. You could have killed Daisy easily since she gave herself to you, but you wouldn't. Kammy and Kamek died, and you cared. You've had so many chances to kill Mario and yet you never do."

"What's your point?" Peach said raising an eyebrow.

"I think you have another reason for acting out like this. Whatever that reason is, you're doing these things in order to achieve that."

"Oh, really? Then what's that reason?"

"You tell me," Zelda said raising an eyebrow with a challenging smile.

"Ha! You must be joking! What makes you think that I'll tell you my true motives?!"

"Oh, I know you won't tell me, but the heart... It never lies..." Zelda said putting her hands on her chest.

"Excuse me?" Peach was getting a little concerned now.

"Naru's Love..." Zelda said softly. A soft blue wave began to fly off of Zelda, engulfing the room.

"What is this? What are you-"

I hate myself...

"Huh?" Peach heard her voice. She then heard her voice continue to speak.

It's Bowser...

No!! Don't hurt me!!!

I'm so weak!!! Why don't I fight back?!!!

I'm tired of my life!!!

I want to be respected....

Look at me!!! LOOK AT ME!!!!!!!!

I can't keep running like this!!!

Help me!!!!!! Mario!!!!!!

I hate them all so much!!!!

All I want...is to be safe...

The only one I can trust is myself...

"Stop it!!!! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!" she shouted, ending the spell. Zelda looked at Peach, with a look of sadness, "What's with that look?!!" Peach said, getting really upset.

"Peach... I had no idea...all you had to endure... I am so sorry for your pain..." Zelda said walking up to Peach.

"What are you doing?! Stay away from me!!!" Peach shouted backing away from Zelda.

"I understand your situation, and I want to help you," Zelda said in a calm, understanding tone.

"I don't need help!!!"

"Yes, you do. You want to put an end to all of your pain, but this isn't the way to do it. And I think, deep down inside, you know that."

"Zelda..." Peach said, her red eyes actually changing back to deep blue for a second.

Zelda then did something unexpected, she hugged Peach, "You won't have to suffer anymore... Now, let's get you home, okay?" as Zelda spoke, the red in Peach's eyes was actually fading, and for a second, she was back to normal, until...

"Don't listen to her!!!" The other Peach appeared next to them, but only Peach could see her, "She's lying!!! She doesn't understand our pain!!! She just wants to stop us from taking over her kingdom, but in the end, things will go right back to the way they were before!!! Do you want that? Then you have to get her Tri-Force of Wisdom now!!!!" After hearing that, Peach's eyes turned red again, and the Empress returned.

"No... I don't need your help!!!!" she shouted actually pushing Zelda away onto the ground, "I'm perfectly fine with all of this, and I don't need anyone to 'save' me!"

Zelda got up and looked at Peach, wondering what happened, "Damn it, I almost had her! There are other forces at work here, I can sense it!" she said getting up.

"Now, I want that Tri-Force piece, and I'll get it, even if I have to kill you to get it!" Peach shouted raising her hand.

"Peach, you're making a big mistake!!!" Zelda tried to reason with her.

"Silence!!!" she then fired black flames at Zelda, who just covered her face from the attack. Even though she attacked Zelda, it was Sheik who jumped out onto the ceiling away from Peach. Peach continued to throw black flames at Sheik, who just jumped and dodged and flipped out of the way of all of the attacks.

Link had just run into the city, frantically looking for Zelda, "Where is she?! Zelda!! Zelda!!!" he then looked around and saw all of the villagers walking toward him, "Damn it! She got to them too?!" he then just pulled out his sword and shield and got ready to fight.

Peach had pulled out her sword and was slashing at Sheik who was just dodging and flipping out of the way. "We don't have to do this!" Sheik said.

"Your right! If you just surrendered then I wouldn't have to kill you!" Peach said continuing her attack.

Sheik jumped away from Peach, "Does the darkness already have to strong of a hold on her?" he said.

Peach then charged up her final attack, "I enjoyed our talk, but I'm putting a stop to this, right now!" she then fired a beam at Sheik, who was unable to dodge. Sheik just braced himself for whatever was coming, knowing that it was......

Link was still fighting the villagers, when suddenly his tattoo started glowing, "Huh?" the bottom right most left most triangle was glowing blue, showing that his greatest fear was coming true, "No... NO!!!!!!!" he shouted, falling to his knees crying in devastation. He knew, even without seeing the Tri-Force, he knew that Zelda, his twin sister, was just killed.

He then heard laughter from in front of him. He looked and saw Peach standing there, holding up her hand and showing her tattoo, which now had two triangles glowing.

"Two down, one to go," she said smiling evilly. Link just stared at her with sheer hatred. He planned on making her pay for this today...

With her life.......