The sun rising from the hills marked the beginning of the fated, inevitable day. As Marth helped him strap his gleaming, midnight-blue armor on in the armory, Ike blankly gazed out a window and watched the sun fill the earth with its light. As time passed however, gray, moody clouds appeared and blocked the gold light. Yet, light continued to lit the entire world. It was a battle against light and darkness itself.
Ike was terribly anxious. This was the day that could drive the future directly down the right path, or curve it down a cliff! Whoever won the war determined the outcome. Letting Demise and his minions winning the war was not a favorable opinion! Hyrule needed to win, no matter what! They needed to win a better future for generations yet to come!
Link entered the armory. He was clad in his trademark, green tunic and cap, and armor plates that looked like it was made of gold.
"Are you guys ready?" he asked.
Marth adjusted his jet-black armor before saying, "I'm ready." He turned to Ike, who sat down in a chair. "How about you, Ike?"
Ike did not say anything.
"Ike? What's wrong?" Marth asked worriedly.
"So, the day has finally come." Ike only said as he dazedly looked out the window. "This might be the last time we will see the sun."
"Ike, we can do it." Marth encouraged with determination.
"If you think you can't do it, we already lost." Link added. "We need to have enough spirit in order to defeat Demise! If you think we can do it, we might be able to!"
Ike's lips curved in a small smile, indicating that his friends' reassuring words helped. "I think we can do it. I'm ready, let's go!"
The three left the armory and went to the entrance of Hyrule, were the entire army was waiting for them. Hylians of all heights, genders, and ages were garbed in navy-blue tunics and protective bronze helmets and mounted on pegasi. They were wielding weapons of their choice, such as swords, spears, bows, and axes. Several Hylians, who could use magic like Zelda, had magical light tomes in their possessions.
The Hylians were not the only tribes about to go into battle. In the air above them were the Angels, who were being led by Pit under their leader Palutena's orders. Garbed in white robes or tunics and bronze armor, they were either armed with magical bows or spears. A few Angels who knew magic wielded staves; they wanted to prevent as many deaths as possible.
"We are ready, Princess Zelda!" Link said to the Hylian Princess, who was mounted on a pure, white pegasus, when he and the two bluenettes arrived.
Zelda nodded. "If that is so... Men! Let's—"
"Wait!" Pit shouted in alarm, interrupting Zelda.
"What is it?" Zelda asked. "Do you see danger?"
Pit squinted his eyes at the forest. His sharp indigo eyes spotted many shadowy figures marching through the forest. What were they? Maybe Risen? But, he could not sense a dark, ominous feeling surrounding the area! It could be a thousand Pokemon! However, such an event never occurred!
"I'm not sure if it's danger!" Pit replied. "I think we should prepare to attack, just in case!"
"Yes. Men, prepare yourselves to attack!" Zelda ordered.
As the men raised their weapons, the figures lurking in the forests emerged. Led by Samus, Fox, and Falco, hundreds of men stepped out of the forest. The enormous herd was like a salad; it contained members from different tribes. They were armed with different weapons, which included laser guns, beam swords, hammers, tasers, and even trained Pokemon. The Hylians and Angels were stunned and bewildered, like if a bolt of lightning struck them. What was happening?! Where did they come from?! If they came from Hollow, then how did they discover the Surface?!
"What is this?!" Zelda asked in surprise, as her calm, deep-blue eyes widened.
Ike looked closer as the ginormous army of men. "Hey, they are from Hollow!" he exclaimed in jolt.
"Why are they here?!" Marth asked in amazement. "Are they here to aid us?"
Roy heard Marth's question. "Yes, they are!" he explained. "Samus, Fox, and Falco decided to go to Hollow and recruit some people for our army, since it is too small compared to Demise's!"
"That's great!" Link remarked with a large smile. "Judging by their weaponry, they have an advantage over ours! That means, we have the full advantage over Demise's army of Risen!"
"We might be able to beat Demise after all!" Marth said with a wide smile.
After hours of traveling through dense forests and rocky cliffs, the army, which had a mixture of Hylians, Angels, and Hollowians, finally arrived at the entrance to the Dragon's Table.
The Dragon's Table was an intimidating place. It was an ancient temple on a wasteland with a large staircase leading to the first room. There were statues of ferocious Earth Dragons. There were a few ruins of smaller temples. In the middle of the Dragon's Table was a tall, pointy tower. Clouds surrounded it.
"We are finally here..." Ike said as the army approached the Dragon's Table.
"Are you guys ready for this?" Marth asked.
"Yes." Link calmly answered with confidence. "No matter what happens, we are in this together."
The three took their partners' hands and tightly clutched them, swearing their loyalty and allegiance.
A feeling of uneasiness surrounded the area as Demise, Ghirahim, and their Risen army went out of the temple to greet their opponents. Preparing for battle, the members of Zelda's army unsheathed their weapons and carefully watched the undead warriors' actions.
"Princess Zelda, I never thought that you kept your world!" Demise remarked. "I thought that you and your pathetic kingdom would quickly flee."
"My kingdom never flees from danger." Zelda sternly replied, not feeling insulted. "We fight the source of our dangers, such as you and your Risen!"
"My death equals your victory." Demise stated. "Reach me, if you can."
The Demon King then turned to the Risen, who were itching to begin the battle.
"You may attack." he ordered. As soon as the words were said, the Risen instantly hurried down the stairs, towards Zelda's army. Knowing that his undead minions would do the dirty work, he and Ghirahim turned and went back into the Dragon's Table.
"Go, go!" Zelda yelled at her men before turning to Ike, Marth, and Link. "I want you three to enter the Dragon's Table and defeat Demise. His defeat will spend the end of the war!"
"Yes, Princess!" Link replied. "Ike! Marth! Follow me! Before careful!"
Following Link, Ike and Marth hurried through the battlefield. Whenever a Risen got too close to them, they quickly slashed them with their swords. Yells and hisses erupted thought he bloody battlefield. The Hylian Mages' light tomes violently contrasted with the Risen Mages' dark tombs. Arrows shot up at the sky in attempt to shoot down those who were mounted on pegasi. Holy, green-blue lights surrounded the wounded as priests struggled to save lives.
After invading attacks and defending themselves, Link, Ike, and Marth finally dashed up the stair's steps and enter the temple. The interior of the Dragon's Table was spooky and a bit intimidating. Large piers supported the towering ceiling. Torches, which lit the room, waved ghostly at the visitors. The floor's colorful tiles created a strange pattern. The room was strangely freezing cold.
At the end of the room was an altar. It had two, tall candlelights next to it. Ike assumed that it was where Medeus was going to feed on Prince Marth's Spirit. He jumped when he noticed Marth trembling uncontrollably in fear. Being the Incarnation himself, the smaller bluenette must've sensed its ominous purpose.
Standing in front of the altar was Demise and Ghirahim.
"Welcome to the Dragon's Table." Demise greeted when the three teens entered the room. He noticed Marth, who pointed his sword at him in defense. "You must be the Incarnation of Prince Marth's Spirit. Are you here to sacrifice your soul for the destruction of the world?"
"No." Marth sternly answered, his eyes narrowing into a glare. "I'm here to help my friends defeat you!"
Demise then looked at Link, who carefully watched him. "Hero, do you think you can defeat me?"
"Yes, with the guidance of my friends!" Link answered.
Finally, Demise's glowing eyes met Ike's gaze. "The Incarnation of Prince Ike's Spirit.. Why are you fighting along them? They are your enemies!"
"Look, I don't remember any intentions to hurt Marth and Link." Ike explained sternly. "I only remember the moments that occurred during my lifetime, not during my other lives!"
Ghirahim stepped up and stood by Demise's side. "Shall I aid you?"
"Yes." Demise held up his hand and Ghirahim mysteriously vanished into pitch-black diamonds. In a swirl of darkness, a large, ridged sword appeared in Demise's hand. "Hero and the Princes, enjoy the pain and terror you are about to experience as I send you into the depth of death!"
As Demise began to head towards the three heroes, Ike, Marth, and Link began to quickly form a plan. This was it! One slip-up and everything was over! They could not fail, or the world would crumble with them!
"Here's the plan!" Link quickly explained. "I'll try to attack him behind! Ike and Marth, distract him! But don't let him get Marth! Understand?"
"Yes." Ike and Marth said together.
As he backed Ike and Marth against a wall, Demise did not notice Link sneaking swiftly away. The Demon King's attention was completely on Ike and Marth. He was willing to do anything to get Marth in his hands. However... Demise stared down at Ike, who was protectively standing in front of Marth, preparing to defend himself and his best friend. He needed to take down the loyal guard dog.
Ike's guard dropped when he spotted Link behind Demise, preparing to strike. However, this also gave Demise a chance to attack. Using his sword, he charged some dark magic and swung his sword, causing a beam of darkness to hit Ike. With a pained grunt, Ike was sent flying in the air. The stone-hard wall was what broke his flight.
"Ike!" Marth screamed in shock. Without thinking, he hurried towards his best friend, who was lying on the ground motionlessly. Marth panicky shook the still body. "Are you ok?! Say something!"
Link stopped in his path; he noticed Demise watching the two bluenettes. Strangely, he did not attack them. What was happening? Link nervously stood back and watched. This did not look back.
"Prince Ike, remember who you are." Demise spoke with a wicked smile.
Marth blinked awkwardly. He gasped when he noticed Ike slowly regain his consciousness. "Ike! You're ok!"
"Stay back!" Ike immediately said, shoving Marth away. He tightly clutched his indigo locks as the same, devious voice began to echo into his ears.
"Prince Ike, the Prince's Spirit!" he heard the voice hiss. "He's right there! Just grab him and your dream will finally come true!"
"What's wrong?" Marth asked, coming dangerously closer to Ike. He set a gentle hand on his shoulder. A suspicion reached his mind. "Wait, it's the voice, right?"
"Yes, it is! Run away!" Ike shouted, as he tried to ignore the voice. Despite his efforts, the voice finally drilled into his consciousness and began to hypnotize him.
Marth began to quickly shake Ike, trying to snap him out of the spell. "Ike, snap out of it! C'mon! Don't you know the difference between who you were and who you ARE?!"
"Get... Prince's Spirit..." Ike mumbled.
Link hurried towards the two and looked at Ike directly in his eyes. "Ike, we are right here! We are your friends, not your enemies!"
"Remember who you really are!" Marth shrieked as he watched Ike's cobalt eyes fade into a lusterless gray.
"This is quite entertaining." Demise thought to himself. "Too bad it has to end..." Demise rose his sword above Link, preparing to strike him down.
Marth noticed Demise slowly rising his sword. "Link! Look out!" he exclaimed, just as when Ike suddenly grabbed him, threw him over his shoulder, and carried him away towards the altar. Marth dropped his sword in the progress; the best he could do to resist was struggling against Ike's tight grip.
"Farewell, Hero." Demise snarled as Link turned around and gasped in shock. As Demise's sword plunged at him, Link set his thin sword in front of him, preparing to defend himself.
All of a sudden, a beam of gold light struck Demise on the back. With an angry, pained yell, Demise turned around and faced the source of the projectile. Link's azure eyes widened in shock as he gasped. He could not believe who fired the magical projectile at Demise.
It was Ike!
"Ike!" Link exclaimed, as Ike carefully set Marth on the floor.
"How?!" Demise roared in fury, denying that his plan failed. "You were hypnotized! I saw it in your eyes!"
Ike scoffed as the lively sparkle returned to his eyes. "Yes, I was hypnotized." he explained with a mischievous, tricky grin. "But, I didn't completely fall for it. Why? My friends' words kept me alive!"
"Grrgh..." Demise growled. "Although I failed to have you under my command," He pointed his sword at Marth. "I will still capture the Prince's Spirit!"
"Marth! Now!" Ike yelled as his piece of the Triforce of Power began to shine.
"Yes!" Marth replied, getting the hint on what to do. His Triforce of Power shone as light began to charge in his hands.
"What is happening?" Demise asked himself in confusion.
Demise was greeted with blinding light shining in his eyes. He yelled in pain, as the light was unbearable for him and he could not see. Unfortunately for the Demon King, who dreaded every tiny flicker of light, it was the last thing he saw.
"Link, now!" Ike shouted.
With a war cry, Link lunged at Demise and stabbed him directly in the back. His steel sword impaled him like a knife in butter; its blade protruded out of his chest. Link breathed in and out loudly as he shakily released his sword and landed on the ground with a soft thud.
Demise dropped his sword, which landed on the ground with a clang and mysteriously shattered into pieces. He fell to his knees and clutched his heart as he felt life slowly drain out of him. With a defeated groan, Demise collapsed onto the floor motionlessly.
"It's... It's over." Ike managed to say, looking at the defeated Demon.
Author's Notes: Here's the second-to-last chapter, or chapter 18! One more chapter and this story is finally completed! Hopefully, the battle scene isn't too boring; I'm never good with fighting scenes.
I don't really know what do say and ask about this chapter, so give me a review if you want to!