Vaati was vanquished. Ganon was vanquished. And yet, there was a bittersweet taste in everyone's mouth.

Vio knelt beside the prone Shadow. Green, Red, Blue, and Princess Zelda were huddled close around them.

"Is...is there anything we can do?" Red spoke up plaintively.

"The mirror Vaati broke..." Shadow choked through a crooked smile. "...was the only thing around to keep me kicking. So, short of you pulling another Dark Mirror from your pocket...no."

Red looked down. Blue and Green exchanged awkward, furtive glances. Vio was silent, and Zelda's hands were curled into fists.

"But there are worse ways to go out." Shadow coughed. "Seems I was able to do one thing right, at least."

"Shadow, I'm so sorry..." Princess Zelda whispered. "If there was any way I could undo this, and undo the troubled life you had, I would. Truly."

Shadow nodded slowly as he frowned. "It doesn't matter anymore. You guys deserve a life out there. You're the real heroes, and more than anything I could be."

"It's not true!" Green blurted out. "We all would have been butchered by Vaati without your help. You're one of us, and always will be!"

Shadow was taken aback, but he forced his face back into his smile. "What a bleeding heart. But that's just what this kingdom needs. Although..." He trailed off for a moment. "I guess this isn't really goodbye forever." He raised his hand into the air, palm open. "When...it's your time..to go...I'll see you...on the other side..."

There was a sudden gasp, and Shadow's hand went limp. And then his entire body vanished without a trace.

"Shadow!"

The four heroes were taken aback. Princess Zelda lowered her head, bringing her hands together.

There was a moment of silence.

"Let's go home..."

"So, is this it?"

The four boys were back in the Four Sword Sanctuary. Everything was the same as it had been when they left; the gray-green walls, the eye insignias, and the empty pedestal. Princess Zelda, Captain Alphon, and Valensuela watched from a distance as the four young boys stared at the spot where Link had first pulled the Four Sword.

"So, will everything go back to normal?" Blue grumbled.

"Indeed." Vio held up his Four Sword. "Once we strike the pedestal, the sword will be one again. We will be one again."

Red was silent for a moment. Then he raised his head. "To tell the truth, guys...I'm not ready for things to be back to normal."

Blue raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Things have been crazy for the past while."

"But we've had some fun." Red looked at Blue, then Green, then Vio. "We've had some great adventures together."

"And we had each other." Vio looked thoughtfully at his reflection in his sword's blade.

Green looked at the pedestal. Then he turned back towards his audience.

"Princess Zelda...I understand what this sword means to Hyrule's history and the like. But...maybe..."

Zelda smiled. "Speak no further, Link...er, Green. I know what's on your mind." She shifted her head slightly.

"What about you, Blue?"

Blue hesitated, and then let out a good-natured scoff. "Do you even have to ask?"

"Vio?"

Vio nodded, a hint of a smirk forming on his face.

"And Red?"

"You bet!" Red exclaimed.

Green looked towards his father. "I know that this will be weird, but..."

Captain Alphon chuckled. "The gods blessed me with one strong, smart, and good-hearted lad. I'll be happy if they spare me a few more."

"Just one of you was able to free me from evil's grasp." Valensuela added. "Just imagine if Hyrule kept all four of you."

"It appears we've all come to the same conclusion." Zelda stood up a little straighter. "By royal decree, the Four Sword will not stay in this chamber. I entrust the blades that comprise it to you four. You will safeguard them, and make use of them to preserve Hyrule's current and future tranquility."

Green, Red, Blue, and Vio grinned in unison. They stepped away from the pedestal, each sheathing his sword.

"We'll do our best, Your Highness!"

And so concludes the legend of the heroes of the Four Sword...

Whoa! It's been a bit of over a year, and I've finally finished Mangaland: Four Swords. I've decided to end it with an eighteenth chapter, short and sweet. I'd like to thank all who read it. It was fun to revisit the manga and make something out of it myself. Full disclosure, this is far from what I'd call my magnum opus...but that being said, I'd say it really opened my eyes to the possibilities of what I can write and what I expect from myself in the future. And it's inspired me to keep on making stories!

Note: The ending of the manga aside, in the end I couldn't bear to keep Green, Blue, Red, and Vio seperate forever...so I changed the ending a bit lol.