Hello everyone! Since you all bombarded me with reviews after the last chapter, I hurried up and finished the last chapter in my story. Here it is, my friends, the last chapter in The Heroine!

Death

'So her part of the Triforce was the only thing that kept her alive. When it left her, so did her life force. She did not survive the battle with Ganondorf.'

Zelda was sitting on the side of the white bed, bathing the pale forehead of Link with water. They were in one of the towers of the castle, far over the kingdom. The source of light was two glassless windows, and through them the morning sunlight shone. The light rested peacefully upon Link, causing her pale face to lit up.

A shadow broke the light. The cause of the shadow, Sheik, was sitting in the window, looking out, silent. He hadn't said much since Link's collapse. With great effort Zelda had managed to regain Link's pulse. But it was faint, and both Zelda and Sheik knew she would survive for long. Not bearing to look at the dying girl, Sheik turned his deep red-eyed gaze towards the castle grounds, far down from where he was sitting. There was a growing crowd outside the gates of the castle, consisting of Hylians, Zoras, angels and even Gerudos. All of them waiting for the Heroine to show herself. Tearing his gaze away from the crowd, he let them wander up towards the east. There the mountains now stood grey and silent, reminding of what horrible time had passed behind their great walls of stone.

Suddenly a movement in the sky caught Sheik's attention. Amon suddenly appeared from the clouds, soaring down to land on a branch, not far from the Sheikah. He flapped his wings, snapping with his beak, his icy blue eyes meeting Sheik's sad ones. Sheik gave a slight frown as the falcon's eyes seemed full of hope, against all odds.

As the view outside only dampened his spirit, Sheik flipped his legs over the windowsill, sitting to face Zelda and Link. The princess usually proud posture seemed depressed, where she sat by the girl. Her back was turned to Sheik, her shoulders hanging, as she gently rested her hand upon Link's cheek. Her long golden hair was draped back into a loose bun, revealing her slender neck. A tear suddenly found its way down her slightly pink cheek, and finally fell down upon her dark blue dress. She looked up at Sheik, her expression filled with grief.

'She is fading.'

Sheik's eyes widened. 'No,' he breathed, standing up, striding over to the side of the bed, where he reached for Link's hand. Tears pressed behind his eyes as it was cold as ice. Slowly he sank down to the bed, letting his other hand gently caress the Heroine's cheek.

Behind him Zelda had risen, standing at the door. During the little time she had known Link, she had come to love her. Now they were being robbed of her, and it wasn't fair. She was young, full of life…

Clutching her eyes shut, she let the tears stream down her face. Then, quietly, she left the room, leaving Sheik and Link alone.

'It should not end like this,' Sheik whispered, watching as Link's breathing became more faint. As a Sheikah, the race who lived side by side with the spirits, Sheik had never questioned the ways of the Goddesses. Until now.

She did not deserve to die. 'I wish…' his voice broke, and he could not finish the sentence. 'I wish I could have saved you…'

Bending over, he placed a kiss on her lips, but the cold sensation brought more sorrow to him than ever. Resting his forehead upon hers he suddenly felt her last breath escape her lips. Mustering his strength, he sat up, his tear-filled eyes resting upon the dead girl.

Link was no more.

---

The doors to the castle slowly opened, and as Zelda stepped out into the light cheers erupted from the awaiting crowd. The princess' heart sunk as she watched the people, joy on their faces. They did not yet know. What would they say?

Sighing heavily, she walked into the crowd, into all the happy faces. Unknowing happy faces.

'Your highness,' a voice said Zelda turned her head towards Galad, the angel who ruled the City of Angels.

'Congratulations to your victory over darkness,' he said, giving a slight bow with his head.

'Thank you, my lord,' Zelda replied, letting one of the slightest sighs escape her lips. It was not my victory…

The angel regarded her, noticing her troubled mood.

'…They say hope is the last to leave a man. Do you still have yours?'

Zelda looked at him with wondrous eyes. Did he know?

'In my heart… I believe she will be alright,' he said, his eyes filled with something wise.

Tears sprang to Zelda's eyes. 'Then…,' she realized with sadness, 'I have no hope.' Link was already dead.

The angel turned his eyes to the doors of the castle, and as Zelda's gaze followed his, she saw Sheik exiting the castle. The angel rose an eyebrow.

'You should', he said, then giving a bow and disappearing into the crowd. With the knowing words of the angel in her head, Zelda walked over to the Sheikah, who's eyes were red from crying.

Together they walked over to the backside of the castle, to a small field were both Epone and Tzadek were grazing calmly.

'…Have you told them yet?' Sheik asked, his eyes fixed on Epone, as the horse paced up to them, buffing his head softly at Sheik's shoulder.

'…No,' Zelda replied, extending her hand to pet Epone's soft white mane. Link shall never ride you again… 'I could not bear it.'

Then she finally gave up, letting the tears out, and she sobbed into Sheik's chest, as he held her, crying himself.

---

Meanwhile, in Link's room, the white, thin curtains danced as the wind grabbed hold of them. Link was lying on the bed, her hands placed over the sheet. Her green clothes still had traces from the fighting, which she were still wearing. Her Master Sword and shield had been recovered from the battle and was standing by the bed, leaning to it.

A sudden flicker of light danced over Link's skin, as if a breeze of mist soared over her, took shape of a white shadow and suddenly reappeared as Link by the bed.

She gasped and looked at herself, her hands and her legs, surprised to see herself again. Somehow, her soul had taken form beside her dead body. Looking over to the bed she gave a surprised gasp as she saw herself lying dead on the bed. She backed a few steps, afraid of what she was seeing.

'It is a bit shocking at first, isn't it?'

Link sucked in a lungful of air, giving a start. She recognized the voice, but as she spun around it was only Amon who was resting upon the window. He suddenly turned his head to Link.

'It wasn't really that great to see my body in the water too, you know.'

Link gave out a small cry as she saw the bird talk.

'Don't be afraid,' Amon said once again. Suddenly a light surrounded the bird, blinding Link. As the light disappeared, Link's eyes widened in surprise.

For before her, clad in a green tunic, white leggings, and white shirt under, legs proud with thin leather boots dangling from the window, sat her brother. Mil.

She stood handfallen, not knowing what to say.

'…Mil?' she finally croaked, her voice hoarse.

He smiled at her and ran a hand through his head, pulling away his blond hair that had fallen into his eyes.

'Sure, it's me. Well, it's my soul, just like you are in your soul now, but yes, I'm here.'

'But--How--What--When?'

He smiled and stood up, brushing some dirt off his tunic.

'Well, after I died, I was sent up to the Sages, and they offered me to help you. So I took the shape of Amon, and followed you on your journey. And I must tell you, I am very proud over what you have done.' He then frowned. 'Although you could've handled that panther better,' he grinned.

Link finally took the steps over to him, paused, and then they embraced in a hug.

'I thought I'd never see you again,' she said, a tear finding its way down her cheek.

'Well,' Mil said, 'I was destined to die,' he said softly, wiping away her tear with his thumb. He looked at her where she was, watching her cold body in the bed, looking uneasy. She turned her eyes to look out the window, her spirit sending a small flicker of light around her body.

He followed her gaze to Zelda and Sheik standing on a field with Epone and Tzadek. The Sheikah and Hylian embraced, both of them crying.

'You know,' Mil said beside her and she looked up, 'just because I was destined to die, doesn't mean you are.'

Link looked surprised at him.

'What do you mean?'

Mil looked out to the courtyard again.

'You still have your life to live, Link. You are only fifteen years old. You have those you love around you.'

'…Not everyone,' Link said, her voice faint.

'I will always be with you, Link, you know that.'

Link looked up at him.

'So what do you want?'

Link looked surprised.

'You mean I can choose between life and death?'

'You had the power of the Triforce, what is stronger than that?'

Link looked down at Sheik. Some things are stronger.

She looked up at her brother and smiled. He nodded.

---

'We have to tell them,' Sheik said, suddenly grasping the reality of the situation. Zelda looked up at him, then turning her eyes to the crowd, sighing. '…I can't do it. Not today.'

She had barely spoken those last words, when a guard suddenly burst out from the castle.

'The Hero! She has disappeared!'

Sheik and Zelda turned surprised around to the panting guard.

'What?' Zelda stepped forth.

'Come see for yourselves!'

Yet it proved that the guard was right, Link was not in her bed, it lay as if no one had ever touched it.

'Did someone take her? Where is she?' Sheik asked, his voice desperate.

'Find her!' Zelda demanded the guard who left the room.

'I'll see what I can do. Wait here,' Zelda said and left Sheik alone in the room. The Sheikah was still looking at the bed. Why would someone do this?

Walking over to the window, he sat down, burying his head in his hands.

'It is quite a sad story isn't it?'

Sheik froze as he heard the voice. That light voice, filled with innocence and courage… but it couldn't be…

But as she stood up and turned around to see what it was, he gave a start and fell backwards to the stonefloor, so surprised was he. It was!

Link stood in the other window, leaning to the wall with her right shoulder, arms crossed, looking out at the mountains in the east.

'Absolutely heartbreaking,' she said. Then the sun suddenly broke free from under a sudden cloud and shone down, reflecting on her fair hair, as she turned around. She was looking at him with one eyebrow raised amused, a slight grin tugging on the corners of her mouth.

'Link…' Sheik started, 'but…I'

She jumped down the windowsill, kneeling beside him, as he fell silent. Instead he looked into her blue eyes, seeing that it was really true. She was really alive.

'For once the mysterious Sheikah don't have the answers,' she said softly. 'Well, neither do I.' Sheik sat up. 'I just know that I'm alive.'

She said no more, on account of Sheik suddenly cupped her face with his hands and kissed her.

---

Sheik never really knew what happened that day, and neither did Zelda as she entered the room and fainted by surprise. Though Link sometimes suspected that she knew more than she let on. After all, she was a Sage.

Link was not sure that is really was her brother she had met that day. Yet sometimes, she felt watched, but it was in a protective way, and when she spun around she thought she could see a small light hiding far away…

Epilouge - Good Bye

The wind caught the bottom of Zelda's dress, causing it to dance around her feet. A blowing horn could suddenly be heard as one of the Hylian guards raised it to his lips.

Link looked around; they were outside the castle, having a ceremony for her, for the saving of Hyrule. A deep red carpet had been rolled out and reached all the way down to the city from the doors of the castle. Zelda stood on the carpet, between two lines of guards with raised sword in an alley to praise the Heroine.

Sheik surveyed Link from where he was sitting upon Tzadek, by the angels in an honorable place, as thanks for his courage in the quest. Link was sitting upon Epone with her back to the doors of the castle, in the middle of the carpet.

She was wearing almost the same clothes as she always did, only that they were white. She had the Master Sword in its scabbard around her hip. Epone had a bridle of gold and a saddle of dark blue, almost a sapphire like color proud with a golden marking of the Triforce. The stallion's long white mane danced on his neck as he shook his head again, eager to do something. Link looked up and smiled as she met Sheik's gaze. He, too, wasn't that bad looking. His usual clothing of dark blue had been replaced with a navy blue and white one and Tzadek was beautiful with her long curly beige mane hanging from her light head.

'Link, please accept this as a token of the people of Hyrule's gratitude.' Zelda stepped forth and Link slid off Epone. Amon, who was still on her shoulder, flapped over to a branch nearby.

Zelda held up a medal shaped as a Triforce. Link accepted it with a nod and it was clanged to her chest. As her eyes met Zelda they both smiled.

Sheik also got a medal for his aid in the adventure.

The ceremony went on with music and jokes and soon they all moved inside the castle. As everyone had gone inside, Link stood left upon Epone. Sheik paced up to her with Tzadek.

'Are you coming?' he asked.

'Yes,' she said and smiled; 'I'll be right with you. You go inside.'

Sheik slid off Tzadek and a guard took care of her and he entered the castle, but before he looked at Link. The setting sun shone at her, the wind catching her plait and Epone's tail. She looked beautiful. With a happy sigh, Sheik entered the castle, the doors closing behind him. Link was now alone out on the courtyard.

She turned Epone to look out on the city and further away the field of Hyrule. Amon followed her gaze, where he was sitting and then they looked at each other, for a long moment.

The bird did not show it, but Link knew he was smiling.

Then he flapped his wings, lifted from the branch, flew past Link, soared high in the sky and vanished into the sun.

No one would ever see him again.

Link smiled and sighed. Then she turned Epone around and the Heroine returned to her loved ones.

Further away upon a hill were six orbs of light. They took shape as the Ancient Sages. In front of them was Mil, in his true form, looking out over the castle. Far down he could see Link sliding off Epone, turning him over to a guard.

'Well, your duty is done now, Mil,' Rauru said, the priest pacing up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

'Will you follow us?' Impa asked, standing beside him.

Mil smiled and nodded. It was all over now.

The Sages took from as the orbs again and soared away over the sky. Mil strayed and looked at the castle, watching Link as she entered it.

… Good luck, Link.

Then he also took shape as an orb and soared towards the sky and finally vanished.

I know you'll be just fine.

The End

Bye, folks!

... So I'll start posting the sequel some time this week, then? Heheh, yep, sure I have a sequel all ready. Well, aright, not finished, but well on its way. I'll upload the first chapter soon enough!!

Thanks a million everyone!

Love to y'all!!

//Loui