The following evening, Link was alerted by Zelda and Fira's auras outside his room. It seemed that the guards actually trusted Link's word that he wouldn't run, resulting in a guard Pokémon's altered patrol route passing by his room at night instead of guards being present around the clock. On one of the occasions where the Pokémon had already passed, Zelda made her move.

   In seconds, the lock clicked, and the four met up in the hall. From there, it was relatively easy to reach the gardens, thanks to a passage Zelda had discovered. The Overseers had hidden themselves away in a far corner of the gardens that hadn't been affected by the Holders' clash, a place the guards avoided until the great Swords departed. It wasn't like they could force the Swords to leave; no guard wanted to risk upsetting guardians appointed by the goddesses.

   Link breathed in deeply as he ran through the gardens. There was nothing like the nighttime air, especially during autumn and spring when it had a crisp edge. The full moon lit the small group's path, down stone paths and across carefully-tended grass. Their destination was a small copse of trees in the back of the gardens. A gazebo sat in a clearing in the copse's center, where the four Overseers were waiting... along with somebody else.

   "Ganondorf?" Link questioned with a concerned frown. The Gerudo turned his head to look at Link. It had been the first time Link had seen Ganondorf since the clash, and he looked no better than he had then. While his injuries had been treated, evidence of sleep deprivation was easy to see on his face, and grief had defiled his once-intimidating presence.

   "If you're curious, that Overseer, Keldo, requested I come here," Ganondorf said, his voice a tired gravel. "There won't be any consequences for leaving your room if they summoned you as well."

   "They had, don't worry," Zelda said. "I wouldn't let him out of the room unless it was for something like this."

   Ganondorf nodded, pursing his lips in a way that could almost be interpreted as a smile. "You're not bad, Holder of Wisdom," he said. Link resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but he had to say something.

   "Not like I'd run anyways. I know I halfta deal with what I've done." There were no words from Ganondorf following Link's comment, but Link could sense the slight approval. He didn't care whether he had gotten it or not, but it was nice to not have stifling hostility now. What it had taken to achieve it...

   Keldeo spoke up, smiling. I only asked you 'cause you were the Holder of Power before, right? he asked, and Ganondorf nodded. This is somethin' all the Holders need to hear before we go.

   It still surprises me that you were willing to give up such power, Virizion said. You held the power of gods in the palm of your hand, and yet you gave it away. Even if you loved him, surely a Holder would want to use their powers to protect their loved ones, not gift it for them to use.

   "I still see His Ma—Daemos as the true Holder of Power, not me," Ganondorf said solemnly. "I do want it back in case I need to utilize it during my reign, but if it would result in me being taken over by whatever had controlled Daemos, it's not worth it."

   "So once you all leave, you'll seal yourselves in your temples, and the Triforce of Power can never be accessed again," Zelda said before wincing. "I'd hate to point this out, but the Goddesses' seals have been known to fail or break prematurely."

   Terrakion huffed aloud, more humored than upset. Interesting that someone blessed by the goddesses would speak badly of them, he said with a dry chuckle.

   You don't halfta worry 'bout that. Unless somebody else knows the Z-moves, then our temples will remain both sealed and standing unless Hylia herself undoes the seal, Keldeo said.

   "Z-moves?" Zelda questioned before Link could.

   They could be seen as dances of power, originating from the world of Pokémon, Virizion said. What better lock could there be than one that hadn't originated in this world?

   That confirmed what Daemos had said, then. "So what Daemos said was right, all of ya were from another world," Link said.

   The Swords silently shared looks, a quiet falling over the clearing. Then Cobalion answered. We are the last of the original Pokémon who were summoned by the previous Holder of Power due to our initial sealing, he said. In our world, we had all traveled with a Trainer of our own, a hero in his own right. It was because of him that we recognized the previous Holders as heroes and offered our assistance to them.

   It's in a Pokémon's nature to wanna work with people, Keldeo said. Even the completely wild Pokémon that were brought here could be befriended with a little work. He glanced at Luce. It seems that's the case with your Lucario. Link managed a small smile; he was definitely right about that.

   "There is an irony in this that is almost sickening," Ganondorf scoffed. "How were you all accepted to the point that you seemed to always be part of Hyrule, and yet us Gerudo cannot do the same?"

   We are not entirely sure ourselves, Cobalion said. But I believe it is because we brought hope to the kingdom. We came at a time where Hyrule was apparently teetering on the edge of ruin yet again, and our assistance to the people of this kingdom gave them that hope that the state of things would improve.

   Keldeo smiled brightly, nodding. As childish as it sounds, we all worked together to set things right. And as long as we keep doin' that, any problems will be worked out one way or another.

   But the night draws short, and we need to address why we called you here, Cobalion said. For a moment, we would allow Power to reform for the purpose of calling on the Triforce again. Surely there is another wish you all desire?

   Link stared at Cobalion, brows slightly knitting together in thought. A wish...

   You all have to agree on the wish, Terrakion rumbled. If you don't agree, it will not come true, and we won't give you another chance.

   A flicker of excitement flashed through Zelda's aura. Surely, a wish of her own was coming true now. "Th-this is an incredible opportunity. We need a moment to think about this," she said, glancing at her companions. Her expression belied her excitement, firm and serious. "Yes?" Both Link and Ganondorf nodded.

   Your wish cannot affect the laws of nature, Cobalion said. The dead may not be revived, time may not be reversed or altered, history may not be rewritten, the nature of people and Pokémon may not be changed.

   Ganondorf's frown returned in an instant. "Then my wish cannot be granted," he said, shaking his head. "If Daemos or Rija cannot be brought back, my wish would be that Daemos' is granted, that he could help the people of Hyrule with their woes. He wanted to help them, whether it be to settle their civil disputes or simply ensure they have a fruitful harvest."

Wishing for prosperity's an option, Keldeo said. The Triforce of Courage was created by the goddess of nature, after all.

   "Then could we wish that Hyrule will prosper under the reign of the Gerudo?" Ganondorf asked. "It will earn the respect of the people, and it will be a sign that it was us who would have allowed the kingdom to thrive."

   "An' what if the next ruler after ya is Hylian?" Link said. "Hell, what if it's Zora, Rito, or even Goron? If the Gerudo could get onto the throne, and blood don't matter anymore, anyone could in the future. Might as well wish for prosperity itself in general."

   Ganondorf drew in a short, sharp breath, clenching his jaw as he crossed his arms. "But that isn't what Daemos..." He sighed. "That isn't what I want. I will uphold Daemos' memory by ruling as a peaceful king, but I will not allow his efforts to be forgotten."

   Zelda held a hand up, catching Link and Ganondorf's attention. "I... have a thought," she said. "We make the wish that Hyrule will prosper, but only unless an effort is made on all sides, from every race. From the simple Hylian farmer to the revered Gerudo general. We all have to come together and work for the wish to come true. If not, and things return to how they are now, we'll be back right where we started with no Triforce to help us."

   Cobalion nodded. That is possible. If Hylians and Gerudo till the fields together, their harvests shall be bountiful. If they harvest together and share in their crops, the fields will be guaranteed fruitful the following year. The Zora and Gerudo who fish together will find themselves with ladden nets, and the Goron who mine alongside the Gerudo will uncover many more precious gems than they would if they worked alone. It will be prosperity borne of symbiosis.

    "... As how a kingdom should function," Ganondorf said quietly, and deep in Link's mind, he recalled Daemos saying those very words.

   "If I could, I'd wish for Resa to come back, but 'course, that ain't possible. An' she'd probably be pissed that I brought her back 'stead of helpin' the kingdom, like she wanted to when she chose to be an Overseer." He nodded once, sharply. "If that's what ya think we should do, Zel, then I'll agree with it."

   Zelda smiled. "Thank you." She then looked up at Ganondorf. "And you?"

   Ganondorf didn't look at her; he was staring off into the distance, gazing at something perhaps only he could see. "You truly bear Wisdom for a good reason," he muttered. "A symbiosis is all we could hope for at this point."

   Very well. We will reform the pieces now, Cobalion said. With a nod to his siblings, the sacred markings on their faces glowed a radiant yellow. Link's marking reacted as well, sending needles into the back of his hand and heat rushing through his veins. The energy was then drawn from him, leaving him faint and dizzy, and Luce had to support him. Fira moved to Zelda's side as well, but it had been done. Everybody moved back as the three essences joined together, and the Triforce again emerged from the light.

   Link let out a small breath, in awe. With the looming dread of Daemos' intent no longer polluting the air, the Triforce was able to display its full majesty. Link found himself almost entranced by the glistening artifact, the light rippling across it like a light-speckled pool. A true treasure of the goddesses. "Will the Triforce break apart again after we make our wish?" he asked.

   Ones with the aspects of Power, Wisdom, and Courage in balance such as yourselves will result in it remaining stable. Still, we will break it ourselves. Courage and Wisdom will return to you again, and we will take Power before it returns to the original Holder, Virizion said. Now simply touch the Triforce, and speak your wish in your mind. Power exists in words, so make those words strong.

   Zelda nodded, affirming she had understood what Virizion said. "Then are we ready?" she asked, raising her hand. On a silent cue, the trio placed their hands on the artifact.

   Despite it appearing to be made of light, the Triforce was solid to the touch. At first there was cold, then soothing warmth, like touching the glass of a lantern when the flame had just been ignited. Link closed his eyes, letting the light draw him in as he made his wish. Words did indeed have power, but he didn't feel the need to shout them within his mind.

   Seconds later, Cobalion spoke. It has been done. Link opened his eyes, mildly surprised upon seeing that the Triforce was still formed. The circumstances of your wish will come into effect when the sun rises the next day. And now that you have made your wish... His horns glowed white, and with a single slash, he shattered the Triforce with a ringing splinter of broken glass. We will complete our mission.

   The rest of Link's strength returned when Courage again flooded him, and the same appeared to be true for Zelda. The last orb containing Power's essence was further broken by Cobalion, and the other Overseers stepped forwards to claim their piece. Their sacred markings pulsed again before dimming.

   Now we will take our leave, Terrakion said. Moments later, the Overseers began to dissolve into light, the forms they arrived to the castle in. May the goddess watch over you all. Then Terrakion was gone.

   It was nice to meet you, Holders! Keldeo exclaimed with a smile before the light swallowed him.

   May the light illuminate your paths, Virizion said, dipping her head. She was taken next.

   Now the only Overseer left was Cobalion, who acknowledged the two Holders and future king of Hyrule. Watch over Hyrule for all of us, he said sagely. And thanks to you, our mission is finally complete. We may finally rest peacefully now. Then he was gone.

   Zelda walked to the center of the gazebo where the Triforce floated moments before. "It's truly over now," she said. "We did it." She held her hands to her chest, bowing her head. "I hope you can hear this, Resa. Your mission has come to an end, you too can rest."

   "I'm sure she can," Link assured, putting a hand on Zelda's shoulder. She glanced back at him, giving him a small smile.

   "Yes, I can rest. Neither of you have to worry."

   Link froze, his entire going rigid as his heart skipped several beats. He questioned whether he was hearing things, but that was her voice, unmistakably so. Then the auras flooded his senses, so unforgettable.

   "It's me, Courage," she spoke with a slight laugh, "and I am not alone." He could already hear the shocked gasps of Zelda and Luce, and the choked exclamation of "Daemos!" from Ganondorf. Taking a breath, Link turned around.

   Standing outside the gazebo in the clearing, haloed by moonlight, were two people. Their bodies appeared to be made of blue light, flickering blue embers floating around them. One was Daemos, restored to his formal regality and wearing the largest smile Link had ever seen. The other, Link recognized from the archives. Long hair in loose curls, narrow eyes and sharp facial structure, and eyes that Link knew had been silver in life. It was Queen Aveil.

   "It's good to see you again, Courage, Wisdom," Queen Aveil, or rather Resa, said.

   "Resa?" Zelda squeaked, her hands clasped over her mouth as she breathed rapidly. Link hoped she wouldn't make herself pass out, but he could say the same for himself. His heart was pounding so quickly he thought it might burst.

  "Yes, it's me," the queen said. "We were waiting to reveal ourselves until your wish had been made. I offer my sincere apologies for what I did. I was just so desperate to reach my son in some way that I foolishly threw my form away." She smiled at Link. It was genuine and full of warmth, a remarkable sight. "After all, I had promised we would travel together, Courage."

   A painful pang struck Link's heart, and he shook his head rapidly. "Ya don't halfta say that! That was your choice to make, not mine."

   "And I appreciate you saying that," she said.

   Daemos looked over Ganondorf, nodding approvingly. "It seems that you have taken your first steps as Hyrule's next king," he said, his voice holding the same warmth as his mother's. "I already applaud you, my dear Dragmire."

   Embarrassment briefly overcame Ganondorf as he replied. "Sarqso. I'll do all I can to uphold your values. And I... I-I understand what you mean now." Link saw Ganondorf's gaze flit to meet his own in his peripherie. "Hopefully Rija can forgive me for pushing my blame and grief onto somebody else for so long."

   "And you have taken another step. You are going to be a fine ruler, I know it," Daemos said. He then looked at his mother. "But shall we be going? It's almost dawn."

   Ganondorf's face fell. "You're leaving already?" he asked. Tears were noticeably welling in his eyes.

   "We simply wished to bid you all farewell before passing on," the queen said. "We will give Rija our regards, as well as your mother, Courage."

   Link's throat closed up, and he nodded. "Th-thanks," he said sincerely. As much as he still wanted to speak to Resa, there was no fighting the dead.

   She laughed, smiling sheepishly. "There is no need to mourn for us. You will all join us eventually, though I hope that happens a long time from now. Until then, simply remember us," she said. "Sarqso for watching over my son, Ganondorf."

   Ganondorf bowed deeply. "O-of course, Your Majesty," he spoke through holding back tears.

   "And Link, Zelda... I give both of you a sincere sarqso for helping me awaken my true self again. I hope we meet again in the next life." Her form began to break down, splitting into azure embers that burned themselves out moments later.

   "Farewell, my dear Dragmire," Daemos said as he began to vanish as well. Everyone watched as the former rulers of Hyrule dissipated, departing for another world or plane of existence.

   With a thud, Ganondorf collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face. He roughly brought up an arm and cried into his sleeve, stifling his sobs. Arms wrapped around Link in seconds as Zelda hugged him tightly, crying as well. As Fira tried to soothe Zelda, both Link and Luce stared at the spot where the monarchs once stood. The last traces of their auras were burning away, and soon they were gone completely.

   As silence again fell over the clearing, Link finally felt his own tears welling. He held up a hand in a wave, even if Resa and Daemos were long gone by then. "See ya later, Resa," he whispered.

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This is something I do with all my stories when they come to a close, so I'll do it yet again here. Who were your favorite/least favorites characters and why? This helps me know which characters I did/don't do a good job writing, and it'll let me know what I can improve on in the future if I choose to write a character like that in another story. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I'll see you in the epilogue.