*Alas my readers, all good things must come to an end. This is the final chapter of Link's Legacy. I'm glad that I was able to write a sequel to After Twilight and so many of you liked this one as much as the first one. It was my pleasure to write this for you and I'm flattered and honored that so many enjoyed it. I will not be making a third story with this storyline. But who knows if there will be another Legend of Zelda fan fiction; I have not gotten that far yet. I hope you enjoy the final chapter; leave reviews and tell me what you think!*

Chapter 12: The Final Battle

At last; our family was reunited and whole again. Some things have changed during the length of this quest; Relena and I had gone from best friends in the world to significant others, my parents no longer treated us like children, and my skills have far exceeded my age level. I had my father to thank for that; like father like son I suppose. There was no time to lose now. The four of us raced for the entrance to the temple. It was a long way back to Faron Woods and who knows what the castle looked like now.

Mom and Dad raced ahead of Relena and me, through the Sacred Grove. We got lost for a moment but Dad turned us back around and led us out to the bottomless canyon once again. Dad told us that before it was named the Sacred Grove, those woods were known as the Lost Woods. When Relena asked him why it was called that, he told her how easily it was to take the wrong turn and get yourself stuck in an eternal loop. And when you died, you became a puppet for Skull Kid to use. Instead of answering questions about Skull Kid and the Lost Woods, Dad led us back to North Faron Woods.

We arrived back at the miasma and Dad and I knew what to do. Dad pulled out the rock and the two of us touched it, transforming into wolves once again.

"Link, I thought you said you didn't have anything left from the Twilight Realm?" Mom asked him, folding her arms angrily on her chest. Dad's head lowered along with his ears and he let out a whimper. "We're going to talk about this after we save the kingdom." Mom said. I looked over at Relena; she was already coming over to me to get on my back. She petted my furry head and kissed the top of it before she seated herself on my back. With our ladies on our backs, Dad and I made it to the top of the trees to avoid the miasma. Once we reached safety, we wasted no time transforming back to our human forms and racing through the dark cave back to Coro's home.

Our horses were right where we left them. Autumn and Relena raced ahead towards the castle with Rain and I and Epona with Mom and Dad close behind. The four of us raced back to South Hyrule Field and I noticed the mushroom cloud of black smoke rising from the castle grew larger than before. Every time I looked upon Castle Town in this state of chaos, pain, and suffrage, I had to choke the bile in my throat and swallow my anger. This was it; the final stand, there was no turning back now. The horses halted just before the palace steps. From this point on, the four of us would have to travel on foot to the castle's doors.

The town was completely deserted; no sign of life anywhere. It was like a wasteland after a terrible forest fire but no matter how many times I blinked my eyes, it wouldn't go away. Dad pushed us forward but we still weren't moving fast enough. He full on sprinted up the stairs and burst through the front gates and the courtyard.

Mom tripped halfway through the run, but Dad didn't slow down; he didn't even notice. "Link wait!" Mom called.

I picked Mom up and she dusted herself off. "You okay Mom?"

"Yes Landon. I'm alright." Dad opened the front doors and finally turned around to see us coming up the walkway. He took one look at Mom's dirty dress and he knew he ran her into the dirt.

"Zelda honey, what happened? Are you okay?" He pulled her up the stairs and held her hands.

"Yes my love, I'm fine. I know you're in a hurry and I'm only slowing you down."

"That's not true. I didn't mean to leave you behind like that." He kissed her hands and caressed her fingers.

"I don't mean to interrupt this disgustingly romantic scene but Dad, Mom, evil overlord in the castle remember? Townspeople waiting in Kakriko to return to their homes."

"You're right. If we're all ready, let's get to the throne room."

"What makes you think he'll be there?" I asked.

"You don't know him like I do Landon." Relena said, looking at me with grief and regret in her eyes. "He'll be there."

"Um what was that?" Mom asked.

"Zelda, now isn't the time for that. We'll explain everything later." I bet Relena was thankful for the shift in focus. We made it through the castle, only glancing at our bedrooms and the ruin they were in for a moment as we raced to the royal throne room. Like Relena and Dad predicted, there sat the same man I met in the Lakebed Temple, the same man who held Relena by the neck in his powerful grip, the same man who tried to burn our home to the ground the townspeople in the process.

"So, we meet again." I said.

"If it isn't the little prince. I honestly thought you would die in that miserable underwater death trap. You've exceeded my expectations and believe me that's not a compliment." He said with malice and disgust.

"Why are doing this to my son?" Dad asked.

"Oh Your Majesty, how modest you are indeed. I'm not after your son for sport. You don't know me but I know you." Demetrius said.

"How do you know me?"

"Think about it "Your Majesty". Remember Ganondorf?" He asked. Fear slipped across my father and my mother's faces, then understanding, then anger.

"What do you know of him?"

"Oh nothing much. He was only my father."

"Your father?!" Dad asked in disbelief.

"That's not possible." Mom said.

"I'm afraid it is." He was enjoying this; every moment of it.

"So what does your father have to do with this?" Dad asked. "What part does he have in all of this?"

"I love this part; this is the part where I tell you everything about my life's past, and then we get to the fight and you think you'll defeat me. But not this time; this time I will avenge my father. You see, years ago, before you were born Landon, you killed my father in cold blood. You may not have known this, but I witnessed the whole thing from the sidelines. You two," he pointed to Mom and Dad, "are the reason my father is not ruling this kingdom with me at his side. It is your fault he vanished from this world. I'm simply returning the favor."

"So you plan to kill me then." Dad concluded.

"Oh no Link. That would be far too easy on you. No, I want you to suffer. I want you to writhe in agony for the rest of your pathetic life. An eye for an eye."

"You plan to kill my son?"

"Precisely."

"Over my dead body." Dad unsheathed his sword and took his battle stance.

Demetrius laughed in his face. "Oh please. That is not near as threatening as it was before you went soft and started a "family." He spat the word, like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "Relena, take care of him for me and be a dear." He ordered her.

"What is he talking about Relena?" Mom asked her.

"Oh boy. You didn't tell your wife about the traitor in your midst? And I thought I was good at keeping secrets." He laughed even harder. He took one look at Relena and finally noticed my hand around hers. "What are you waiting for Relena? Didn't you hear what I said? I said take care of Link. Now!"

"No!" She said.

"What did you say to me?"

"You heard me Demetrius. I said no."

"How dare you defy me." He lost the amused mood and replaced it with rage.

"I'm through with you Demetrius. I want nothing to do with you anymore; I told you that a long time ago and I mean it now more than ever."

"You've gone soft on me you little ingrate."

"No Demetrius. I found something with the royal family that I will never have with you and it's a thousand times better than any riches or power you could ever offer me."

"And what is that?"

She squeezed my hand and looked lovingly into my eyes before fixing her gaze on Demetrius again. "Love."

"You're pathetic. This is what I get for taking you in and giving you food and shelter? I should've killed you when I had the chance."

"You mean you killed her parents?" I asked.

"Oh my the little prince has finally spoken. Yes boy, of course I killed her parents. I needed a prodigy to do my bidding for me. I needed someone who could get into the castle undetected. So yes, I killed your parents, created an orphan and picked you up off the streets."

"You…" Relena was growing furious. "You're the one who killed my parents? You miserable…"

"Ah ah ah," He scolded, locking Relena in a death grip, lifting her off the floor without touching her, "watch your mouth young lady."

"Let her go!" I shouted, unsheathing my sword as well. "Your fight is with me."

He sighed but let her go; Relena crashed to the floor and coughed, trying to get her breath back. "Weren't you listening boy? I'm only interested in killing you to get revenge on your father. This has nothing to do with you, you're just a pawn."

"If you threaten the woman I love, then your fight is with me too." I snarled. I took the battle stance alongside of my father; the power between us was emanating all over the room and the raw energy gave me the confidence that Dad and I would win this fight.

"Touching." Demetrius said with heavy sarcasm. "Touching really, but I'm afraid, the time for idle chat is over. I will defeat you both, take Zelda's crown, kill Relena, and take over this whole kingdom like my poor late father was too weak to do."

"I'll never let you kill Relena." I growled at him. "Not while I'm alive."

Demetrius laughed in my face. "Fortunately for me, that won't be much longer." Dad and I charged towards Demetrius, we fanned out on either side of him so as to ambush him. He saw right through our plan and disappeared in a cloud of smoke, only to reappear in front of Relena. My rage clouded my judgment and I tried to attack him from behind. He heard my approach and shoved me backward, my sword nearly landing me in the right shoulder.

"Landon!" Dad yelled. He took a turn charging at Demetrius, however, he managed to land a solid blow on his side. Demetrius cried out in pain and knocked Relena off of her feet. Mom rushed to her side and they ran to safety. Demetrius put up a barrier, trapping all five of us in the throne room with no way out. Mom and Relena cowered just before the secret door Relena and I discovered as kids and waited for the moment Demetrius would be distracted enough to slip through undetected.

I dusted myself off in plenty of time to dodge a blow from Demetrius's sword. He let out an enraged grunt as he desperately sought to land a blow on either of us. Dad tried to defend me but Demetrius landed a blow with the hilt of his sword into Dad's gut and forcibly shoved him across the room. Mom and Relena crowded around him.

"Link! Link! Are you okay?" Mom asked him, holding his head in her lap.

Dad coughed. "Yeah, I'm fine." But he couldn't get up, he couldn't move. Demetrius had placed another immovable curse on him with the hilt of his sword.

"Looks like, "Daddy" is out of commission." Demetrius smiled.

"Not as much as your daddy at least." I replied.

Demetrius didn't like that. "Alright boy, I've been taking it easy on you thus far. However, I am growing rather bored of this fight. It's time to show you the true power of the son of Ganondorf can really do!" An orb of energy raced around the palm of his hand, morphing together to form a baseball-sized orb. He didn't aim it at me however, he went for Relena. "Let's start with your little girlfriend and my disobedient servant!" He launched the ball at her. I didn't think; I ran right to her and blocked it from hitting her. As if I was halting Rain from running over me, I stuck out my hand to stop the energy ball.

"Landon no!" Relena and Mom shouted.

"Landon," Dad tried to get out. "Run!" And then, something amazing happened; I caught the energy ball in my hand as if I was playing catch with Demetrius.

"That's not possible." He scoffed.

I smiled. "Fortunately for me, it looks like you'll have to stick to your inferior swordsman skills." I threw the energy ball back at him, hitting him in the chest. He staggered back, in severe pain, all the while clutching his chest.

"How…dare…you." He said. "To think you're superior to me. You're insignificant, you're nothing."

"And you're wrong." I charged him once more and plunged my sword into his chest right where I hit him with his own energy ball. He let out one last painful cry, blood curdling from his mouth and around my blade. I plunged the sword deeper.

"You…cannot…defeat me. I…am…Deme…tri…us." He breathed his last breath and fell to the floor at my feet. I turned to face my parents and Relena; lifted himself off the floor at last and looked at me beaming with pride. I sheathed my sword, after pulling it from Demetrius's chest, and tucked my shield off to the side. Relena ran over to me and I to her, meeting her halfway in the middle of the room. I pulled her into my arms and cradled her head into my shoulder.

"Oh Landon, I'm so happy you're safe." She said.

"What about you, are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine." She smiled at me, with all the love she had to give. "Landon, you did it. I'm free." I pulled her in for that first kiss with no hesitation, only love. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and threw herself into the kiss with full ferocity. It was the most memorable moment of my life; I defeated my greatest enemy, won the heart of the girl I loved, and brought our kingdom back.

I broke the kiss and the two of us ran to my parents. I first hugged my mother, whom had been crying since the moment Relena and I embraced. "Landon, I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you Mother. Are you hurt anywhere?"

She giggled. "No Landon, I'm fine." Relena pulled herself out of Dad's hug and hugged Mom. I went over to Dad.

"Are you okay Dad?"

"Nothing I haven't felt before Son." He smiled at me. "Landon." He didn't say anything more, he only pulled me in for the tightest father and son hug he had ever given me. He whispered in my ear, "Amazing job Landon. I've never been more proud of you."

I pulled out of the hug. "Thank you Father." The girls joined us for a group hug.

"I've got to know one thing," Relena said after we finished our hugging. "How did you stop that energy ball?"

"Yes that does strike me as odd." Mom said.

"I thought at first that you used your shield, like I taught you, but when I looked again, you caught it like it was an insignificant ball."

"I..I can't explain it." I said. "I just knew that I wanted to protect Relena and you with all of my being and I didn't think. I just…acted."

"Landon, look at your hand." Relena pointed. "It's…glowing." I lowered my hand for the four of us to see; I couldn't believe my eyes. A Triforce was forming on my hand but two of the triangles were glowing yellow just like the back of each right hand of Mom and Dad. The third triangle was glowing green.

"Does this mean a new Triforce has been created?" Dad asked.

"I believe that the Goddesses have decided to bless our son." Mom walked over to Dad and wrapped her arm around his waist. ". Landon's Triforce is the product of being born from those who have been given the Triforce of Wisdom and Courage. And there's only one thing that sparks from wisdom and courage; and that is the power of honesty."

"Landon's Triforce shall be named, the Triforce of Honesty." Dad finished, pulling my mom into his embrace and kissing her a thousand times on her face. Relena and I let them rejoice for a moment, so that we may have our own moment. Relena pulled my face to hers and pressed her lips against mine, kissing me once more. No kiss would ever be more passionate than our first kiss, but every kiss from now until the end of time will always be filled with our true love. When I pulled from her to take a breath, I gazed over the balcony; the fires had subsided at last, leaving only ash in its place.

"Mother, Father, the townspeople, we have to bring them back." I said.

They stopped and looked out the balcony as well. They exchanged looks of concern. One by the one, the four of us left the castle and found our horses at the South Gate. Mom finally found Maybelle, who was safe and sound from the fire. We mounted our horses and were off. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, we were free to walk our horses to Kakariko Village. The rebuild of Castle Town would take a very long time and a lot of hands. The sun shone bright over that Kakariko day, the village in control once more. We scanned for the townspeople but the first person we saw was Talo.

"They're here! Everyone! They're here! It's the King! It's the King!" He shouted over and over again.

"Talo? Is that really you? You look so grown up." Dad asked him.

"Yeah, eight years will do that to you. I'm glad to see you're okay Link."

"Thank you Talo. Where's Malo by the way?"

"I'm over here Link." Malo came out of Malo Mart followed by a pretty girl I had seen before in Castle Town. "Good to see you too."

"Wow, you really grew up Malo. You're looking well boy."

"Wish I could say the same Link. You're age is showing by the way." Malo teased. "And you look grown up as well Landon."

"Thank you Malo." I thanked him. We stayed on the horses but the townspeople flooded out of the inn, Barnes Bomb Shop, and even the Sanctuary. They gathered around the four horses, spooking only Epona and Maybelle, who in their old age had become easier to frighten.

"Everyone please listen," Dad started. "The fires have subsided. If we're going to rebuild our town, we're going to have to work together. Please, follow the royal family, we'll lead you into Castle Town and get to work rebuilding." They parted ways for the horses to pass and followed us up the path and into West Hyrule Field. I could hear the faint sound of concern coming from the crowd behind us as they took in the remains of our dear home.

The gates creaked open and I couldn't recognize anything in the square. Everything was black and grey, even with the sun shining brightly, the town looked like a ghost town. "Alright everyone, meet in the great hall of the castle and wait for further instructions." Mom called out. After the meeting, everyone divided up on their respective groups and the reconstruction began.

Three months later, the town looked as good as new. However, on that day, white was all around. White flowers painted the streets under the feet of the townspeople; white roses hung in garlands from every window in town as well as the royal balcony. The town was buzzing with excitement. Telma came rushing out of the bar, followed by Ilia and Bromley and their daughter.

"It was so nice of you to spend some time with me again honey. I have been thinking of you often." Telma said.

"It was so nice to see you again as well Telma. Thank you so much for allowing us to get ready here."

"You're welcome honey." Telma took in a deep breath of the city air. "Can't you just feel the excitement in the air?"

Ilia nodded her agreement. "Today is a very important day."

"Important day honey? That doesn't even begin to cover it. It's not every day we have a royal wedding." Telma, Ilia, and Bromley watched as the people dashed to the square. "It looks like it's time." The people gathered in the square and gazed up to the balcony. I waited anxiously on the balcony next to my parents.

"Are you nervous son?" Dad asked me.

"No." I lied, adjusting my tie for the fifteenth time. Mom came over and fixed it for me; her hands were more stable.

"You look very handsome Landon." She said. Just then, Relena finally showed her face; she was a vision in white, one of the most beautiful creatures I had ever seen. Her sleeves were long but they were snug against her strong arms, her dress rested at her feet.

"You look beautiful my dear." Mom said, taking her elbow in hers.

"Thank you Zelda."

"Are you ready to begin?" Dad asked.

"Yes." I said.

"Yes." Relena agreed.

"People of Hyrule, loyal subjects, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Prince Landon and Relena. What started out as a beautiful friendship, has taken full bloom into a love filled with passion, courage, and honesty." Dad smiled at me. "Prince Landon, my son, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for the good and for the bad, for as long as you both shall live?"

I smiled into Relena's eyes and said, "I do."

"And do you Relena, take Prince Landon to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for the good and for the bad, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." She said.

"By the power vested in me, as King of Hyrule, I recognize this marriage and I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." Dad backed away so that I could sweep Relena off of her feet and bring her lips to mine. The crowd below us erupted into loud roars of happiness and congratulations. Relena and I laughed together after our kiss and I set her down on her feet, keeping a hold of her hand.

"Hyrule's citizens, I give you, Prince Landon and Princess Relena. Rejoice!" The crowd erupted once more, throwing rice and flowers into the air in an uncontrollable bliss. The four of us disappeared into the castle and readied ourselves to walk the streets of Castle Town to greet our people as newlyweds. But Dad stopped us and hugged the two of us.

"I'm so happy for you both." Dad said.

"Thank you Father." I said.

"You know Zelda, I think these kids will be just fine."

"So long as no more monsters attack the kingdom." She teased.

"Even so, these two are just like we were when we were young. No matter what they face, their love will remain strong and true." Dad hugged Mom and kissed her forehead.

"Besides Mom," Relena said with a new joy. "who would even dare to attack a royal family of this size?"

"I don't think we should worry about that now." I said, squeezing her hand for emphasis. "I just want to focus on my life with you and the future we have together."

"Landon's right." Dad said, "Worrying about the future won't change the outcome. No matter what, we'll always be together." And with that, the four of us opened the front doors to the castle and made our way into Castle Town. No day was ever more joyous than a royal wedding. And as Relena and I departed to spend our honeymoon in Zora's Domain, all I ever wanted to think about was Relena and the next years of our lives together. And from that moment on, everything was perfect.

The End