Aha! I'm back again, and got the chapter out much quicker, probabaly because this is they very last one... :sniff: I know... it's been a good ride eh?I would've had two more chapters but I figured why drag it out, so I hope you enjoy this nonetheless! You all have been great and loyal reviewers Thank You! Though I do wish I had gotten the chapters out faster, I probably would have more reviews right? Well thanks to those who followed along even though I was really, really slow.

Comanderlink: Especially you! thanks for putting up with my long updates, greatly appreciated.

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Natalie: Well here it is! Enjoy

Chapter 9: Courage of Many

Smash! Malon had a surprised look on her face watching as the guard went down. 'Did I really do that?' she was asking herself as she untied Zelda and checked her over to see if she was alright.

Zelda was battered but managed to bring herself to her feet while slightly leaning on Malon for support. She knew Link was holding back for her and getting hurt in the process, she had one thing to say.

"Link! You have to give it everything you've got! Don't worry about me! Give him exactly what he deserves!!"

Link looked over to see the guard was unconscious and Zelda untied and unhurt. He smiled and looked over at his enemy.

"People like you don't deserve this land." He said performing another attack.

Tef'La deflected the move. "You well accomplish nothing..."

"People who... tempt with fate and the lives of others!"

"You will fail..."

"You will die!!"

Link attacked with such ferocity and courage Tef'La had much difficulty blocking and keeping up with him.

Malon was jumping up and down in excitement. "Go Link, GO!!"

Tef'La growled. "You... are becoming quite a nuisance... accept your doom!"

They continued like this for a while, Tef'La barely staying out of harms way and Link's attacks becoming more and more lethal. It seemed decided when Link caused two more slash marks to be inflicted, this time with one on his face and one on the arm which held his deadly blade.

"You're finished Argryos... you might as well stay that way..." Link said and turned his back.

Zelda looked up at this moment, her eyes filled with hope for his victory, but realization that he had made a fatal mistake.

"NO!" she screamed. "No, Link!! Watch OUT!!!"

The warning had come too late as Tef'La had already thrust his sword deep into Link's backside.

"You were too... overconfident, Hero of Time... I thought you knew to never turn your back on your enemy..."

Link barely realized what was going on until his vision focused on the blade protruding from his stomach. He never remembered being in so much pain as he was now in.

"LINK!!!" Zelda screamed again as she watched the man she had grown to love so much in such a short time collapse on the floor.

Tef'La had picked himself up and erected a magical force around him and Taira. He quickly began chanting in ancient Hyrulian, he sure that nothing would be able to stop him now.

Zelda was still in shock, she stood there, rigid not knowing what she could possibly do from this point on.

Malon however, had recovered much earlier than Zelda. She knew they couldn't accept this, so she set herself on snapping Zelda out of her horrific trance.

"Zelda... hello? Are you alright?"

"No... it's over... it's doomed..."

"It isn't doomed yet Zelda! It is if you give up, though..."

"He's dead... isn't he...?"

"You don't know that! He could be..." Malon sighed, what if she was just kidding herself? She looked over again at his still body, what if he really was...?

Link groaned, he had shut his eyes tightly due to the large amount of pain he was in. He was remembering his other near-death experience and how making the assumption he was dead only proved he had given up too easily. This wasn't over yet... using was little strength he had left he lifted himself from the temple floor.

Zelda's eyes widened as she snapped out of her trance. Malon too, could not believe what she was seeing. Tef'La had failed again in snuffing the life out of this individual.

Without a thought, Zelda ran over to him, tears of joy forming in her eyes.

"Link...?"

He gave her a small grin in reassurance. "Zelda... help me...get up... remember, we can not give up, we can do this."

Zelda understood and pulled him up with all the strength she could muster. Not knowing her tears had fallen upon the sword hilt in the process.

A newfound courage burned within both Link and Zelda at that moment. Link, despite his extreme pain held onto Zelda as they both walked towards the forcefield.

Tef'La had just about finished his incantations when he saw them both. "You're too late! Nothing you can do will alter the inevitable!"

Link slightly pushed Zelda's arm away and with one swift move pulled the sword out. He now remembered how to stop this horror once and for all...

"You might want to abort your plans... In your attempt to kill me you made fatal errors which will cost you everything..."

"The hero's blood..." Zelda said now knowing the answer as well.

"—and the tears of the future queen..." Link added.

"You will not succeed..."

Link reached behind himself and pulled out the sword despite the searing pain. He did not falter, and held the sword high, he was about to swing when he felt Zelda's delicate hands also grip the handle.

Together they sliced open the barrier which Tef'La had imprisoned himself in. Link, with his free had shoved Tef'La far into a wall with such force left an imprint of the malevolent man. Taira was still floating in mid-air when Zelda lightly removed her and held her closely.

Malon had been watching all of the in awe and was grateful it was finally over. She was about to walk over when she was blinded by a fierce white light. When it dissipated the three of them were gone. Malon couldn't believe they would vanish like that and leave her stuck there. She didn't have time to dwell on this though when she felt a rumble and all the walls began to shake and tremble.

"I've got to get the hell outta here!" she said and turned to leave but not before she took one last look at the man who almost eradicated Hyrule. He seemed quite dead as falling rocks finally obscured her vision and she was forced to escape the castle.

Link knew exactly where they were when he next opened his eyes. Zelda knew as well but she was afraid to look until she felt the soft touch of Link's hands upon her face.

"It's all right now..." he said soothingly. "It's over."

Zelda opened one eye and saw Link's kind face she also saw that his wound was healed as if it never happened, with the other she saw they were again in the presence of the Goddesses. She was no longer holding Taira but she saw that she was safe within their arms.

You have done well, our thanks to you for once again saving our lands.

Link and Zelda both bowed out of respect. "You're welcome." Zelda said.

You need not bow before us, you have earned our respect and gratitude. We are indebted to you both.

"What will become of Taira?" Zelda asked; a hint of worry in her voice.

Since it is yet too early for her to return to the land she will remain and be raised within our care.

Zelda's face fell at this and she felt a great deal of grief build up within her. "Oh..."

However, we have decided to reward you in thanks to your services, with the thing you most desire

The next thing both Link and Zelda saw caused them to not believe what they were seeing.

Taira floated down in her own golden light and landed in their arms.

We know she will be safe within your care, we thank you again.

With that they found themselves back in Hyrule right outside the castle walls.

Malon was standing there tapping her foot; her mood being a little bit on the angry side.

"Where the hell did you guys go?"

Four Years later... the city had been rebuilt and Zelda was approaching her coronation. Taira was growing into a happy healthy independent little girl and was always looking for some way to annoy her 'parents'.

Link and Zelda were laying together on the soft grassy Hyrulian fields. Zelda gazed lovingly into Link's deep blue eyes.

He stared back and lightly clasped her hand. "I guess things are going to calm down now..."

Zelda shook her head. "There's always time for another adventure."

"Ah, but you forget we're 'parents' now..."

"Sometimes it's nice to just... forget..." Zelda said and moved in for a kiss.

One kiss became two and more intense as they found themselves becoming closer.

Zelda pulled away for a second. "Why do I love you?" She asked.

Link caressed her face. "I don't know..." he answered.

"I think I do." She said. "The answer is in our hearts." She kissed him again.

Link never wanted this to end but he knew they didn't have long when his sensitive ears picked up the sound of small feet running towards them.

He pulled away and stroked her hair. "We better stop..."

Zelda heard it too after a while and broke out of the embrace and sat up. They soon saw a little blond head poke out from the nearest hilltop.

"Mommy! Daddy! I found something!"

"We're going to have to be more careful..." Link said grinning.

"What's that you were saying about things 'calming' down? Looks to me like they're about to get all the more interesting."

"Come on!" cried Taira as she toddled down the hill but almost ended up falling as Link dashed to catch her.

"You're right... It's never going to calm down is it?"

"Just wait and see..."

The End

A/N Wow... I made that so sweet I gave myself cavities... Sorry for it being so cliché... yeah that's probably the word for it. But I hope you enjoyed this story anyway! It was hard for me to write I admit but I never could have done it without your help! Thanks all... I might write another in the future but I don't know about right now, like Zelda said, just wait and see...