It's over.

I'm finished.

After months and months of beating the odds, cleansing the temples, killing the biggest, nastiest demons that roamed in them and running around in a corrupted Hell of a Hyrule, I had finally met my match.

And to a great ugly pig, no less.

Ganondorf's menacing form hovered over me, preparing to sink his claws or teeth or sword or any of his other multitude of weapons hilt-deep in my chest.

And the best part: I could hardly keep myself on my feet. My right arm hung limp and my side, nearly severed from my first encounter with his claws, my chest a similar story. I had burns and cuts all over my face from his magic, and I'd used my last healing potion so long ago I could not even feel the positive effects anymore.

…But he was weakened, too. I just needed one good hit and I could finish this, once and for all.

Not that I would get a chance. Weakened he may be, but even his weak spots were not all that weak to begin with.

Farore. I was done for.

The great pig's face twisted into a grimace that must have been what passed for a smile as he prepared to pounce, his ginormous teeth so close to my face I could smell his putrid breath.

Just before he could, a bright, golden light suddenly blinded me, sending the beast howling in pain.

"Link! I'm using…my-my powers to hold him! You…use your sword and…deliver the final blow!"

The light coming from her hands ceased as she toppled forward, clutching at her chest. She hit the ground face first.

"Zelda!"

It took all my willpower not to run to her. The power she must have used to make him hold still could very well have cost her life. I had to give her my last stamina potion, send Navi to her, something, anything to give me reassurance that she would be safe.

But I couldn't. She had just saved my life, given me a perfect opportunity to end this, and I wouldn't make her sacrifice in vain.

Drawing all my strength, I tightened my grip on my sword. Time slowed down as I ran at the trembling monster, waiting until the last moment and jumping high into the air.

My eyes locked with his beady ones for a moment. In that single, inconsequential second, I hoped to see something that would make him redeemable: remorse, guilt, repentance… but I saw nothing of the sort. Just an animalistic, eternal hatred that made my aim sure. He had killed so many people…ruined so many lives…and he had earned his end at the tip on my blade.

Time sped back up as I landed on his head, the Blade of Evil's Bane smashing through the gem on his forehead and burying itself hilt deep in his skull, right between the eyes.

I had defeated Ganondorf. It was over.

I fell from his lifeless body, gravity finally catching up from me as I landed on my bad arm, causing me to nearly white out from the pain. The adrenaline that had coursed through my body had left as quickly as it had come, and I could finally feel the full extent of my wounds.

I was dying.

There was no denying it: feeling this weightless, this serene with all of the injuries I had sustained made me realize that I was closer to death than I had ever been before. Perhaps gone beyond the point of return.

Through the white haze in my head I heard my princess calling to me. "No! Link! Oh, Goddesses, no!" A weight lifted off my chest, making me even lighter as I drifted. She was alright. "Link! Speak to me! Please!"

My eyelids fluttered, and beyond the film that clouded my eyes I could see an outline of her face, tears dripping down her cheeks. Her sapphire eyes bored into mine, begging for a response.

I tried to lift my hand to caress her cheek, wipe her tears away, console her in any way that I could, but it was futile. The only thing I succeeded in was sending more white-hot pain coursing through my veins. I gasped aloud, my body convulsing.

"…Zelda?" I moaned, still trying to reach out to her.

"Sages! Quickly! Help me!"

What did she need help with? I was happy. ecstatic even. The war with evil was over. We won. I could die here, now, knowing my purpose was fulfilled. But one thing still tugged at the edges of my mind. She needed to know. She needed to know that I loved her, and I fought and died for her. Everything was always for her.

"Zelda...," I started, weakly, "...there's something I need to tell you..."

"Save your energy, Link. Everything will work out fine, I promise." she told me. But I had to tell her. Nothing was going to stop me.

"Zelda...," I began again, "...Listen to me..." She opened her mouth to object again, but I silenced her with a fierce look. "Thank you for being there...for helping me…but my time here is over. I'm dying, Zelda, but I can die happy, knowing I served you... I saved Hyrule for you... I did all this, because I love you..."

"You're not going to die!" she snapped, ripping the hem from her dress and addressing my right arm. I winced, even the tenderest of touches causing pain. "I won't let you."

"I'm afraid he's right, Zelda."

The deep, gravelly voice of Darunia came from behind her, his eyes crinkled and remorseful. "We came too late."

"No! No we didn't!" she cried, her voice fierce. "He's going to be fine!"

"Zelda. There comes a time when you must learn to let go." said the stern voice of Impa, a strange gentleness lacing her voice. "The Sacred Realm will take him with open arms."

"You did the best you could." Ruto sighed, coming to stand by the rest. "We all did. But it's too late."

"It is not too late!" she shrieked at them, grabbing my pouch and frantically starting to rummage through my many weapons and items until she found what she was looking for. She jerked her hand out, the Ocarina of Time shimmering in her fingertips. "Goddess dammit! I can still save him!"

"What are you doing with the Ocarina?" I demanded, my voice completely unfamiliar, the weak and hoarse tone of death scaring me silly.

"Link…there's no time…I…"

She brought the instrument to her lips, a familiar, haunting melody filling the night. However, I couldn't place it immediately. My eyes were lulled shut by the soothing aria, and my breathing began to relax. The song reminded me of peaceful places: the roaring, crystal waters of Zora's Domain, the quiet chirping of crickets in the secret places of the Lost Woods, an unseen, eternal choir chanting the same melody over and over in the Temple of Time…

Time.

Time.

She was playing the Song of Time.

My eyes shot open as I came to this realization, trying to grab in the instrument out of her hands.

"What are you doing?"

Her tearful eyes met mine as she twisted out of my grasp, pausing in her playing. "I'm sending you home…where you're supposed to be…the way you're supposed to be…"

She could not be doing this. Why was she doing this? Did she not care for me as much as I loved her? Did my companionship and love mean that little to her? Now that my duty was done, she wanted to be rid of me? No. I would not let her! Not after everything I'd worked and sweat and bled for, all for her…

"Zelda! No!"

The world turns blue around me as I struggle to get up, the brilliant blue light blinding my vision, the whistle of the wind and an unplaced ringing filling my ears…

"I'm sorry…"

"…Zelda…"

Her voice was as faint as the evening wind as I heard her for the last time.

"Goodbye…"

A/N: Chapter three is almost completed. You didn't wait two weeks for this, I promise.