A/N: lol sorry guys. This story has been finished forever but I guess when I unpublished everything after a freak out I never put the last chapters back up. Oops.

Soon enough, the festivities were over. Link and Zelda were to set out for the third and final Goddess Spring in Hyrule: the Spring of Wisdom. The princess would finally make the trek up Mount Lanayru on her seventeenth birthday. All four Champions were to accompany them, as well. Everybody seemed to have faith in this trip; after all, the princess was wise beyond her years. It would make sense that this sacred place could be the key to awakening the dormant powers within her.

~

"Be sure to take the time to soothe your mount... That's the only way it will know how you truly feel... Your advice was quite helpful, thank you." She said to him, smiling. Zelda had been having troubles with her horse recently, and Link had known exactly what to say. He did not speak as much as others did, but his few words were always calming, helpful, or wise.

The two of them reached the horse statue, dismounting their steeds. The princess gazed solemnly at the sight ahead.

"See that mountain? That's Mount Lanayru... It takes its name from the Goddess of Wisdom." He studied the the princess, standing a few feet behind her. The setting sun bathed her in a warm orange glow; a sight he'd never grow tired of.

"Lanayru's decree is very specific; it says : 'No one is allowed, under the age of seventeen... For only the wise are permitted a place upon the mountain." She looked up into the horizon. "I've prayed at the Spring of Courage and at the Spring of Power, yet neither awoke anything inside me. But maybe up there... Perhaps the Spring of Wisdom, the final of the three, will be the one." She was full of hope and optimism, despite her fear, worries, and anguish. The princess was determined and nothing was going to stop her, no matter how much heartache her predetermined fate had caused her.

"To be honest, I have no real reason to think that will be the case. But there's always the chance that the next moment will change everything... Tomorrow... is my seventeenth birthday." She turned around to look at him once again. Her gaze pierced into his soul, her emerald eyes gleaming. Suddenly, all of his memories with her came surging through him, a sudden onslaught attacking him fiercely. He remembered the ceremony, her absentmindedness as she recited colorless, arid words. The struggles she faced internally to cope with her fate being entwined with his, the apathetic and troubled nature she seemingly had. He remembered the honor he felt the first time he sacrificed himself for her, without a second thought to his own well being. The day she finally apologized to him, her unkindness shattering into smithereens on the ground. From that day on, they had become friends despite their differences. Link recalled that she was the only person who could tear down the walls he had put up around him. She helped him in finding himself when he had been lost. As they grew close, his feelings grew stronger. Then, the day came when they finally admitted their true feelings, words that seemed long overdue, undeterred by their seemingly brief friendship. He felt the tears he had wiped away linger on his thumbs. He felt the delicate skin he had caressed in his hands. He reminisced at the thought of their night on Eventide, the pale moonlight washing over her. He even revisited the past night, the sadness and doubt she had expressed. He saw it all when he laid eyes on her.

Soon, though, he would lose all of that. The times they had spent together would be blown away by the strong winds of time and tragedy, far too quickly for him to reach out and grab them.

"So then I shall go... and make my way up the mountain." She finally spoke to him, a dubiety in her eyes that told him she was trying, but she was terrified. He looked to his feet, words evading him as a feeling of worry overtook him.

"Then let's continue on." He simply said. The princess frowned, but followed after him.

~

They reached the mountain by the next evening. Link had attempted to offer her a gift for her birthday, or at least make her day special in some way. The princess merely refused, becoming a remote and distant presence.

They met with the four other Champions, who all wished her luck. She thanked them quietly, not wasting much time speaking with them. She and her knight began the trudge up the freezing mountain. She hardly had anything to say that day; it seemed that her mind was elsewhere.

As the temperature began to drop, Link pulled his cloak out of his bag. The princess would surely freeze in only her white dress. He knew that she needed it more than him.

"Take this." He held it out to her. Zelda hesitantly accepted, but wrapped the garment around her shoulders.

"Thank you." She said quietly.

The two of them wasted no time reaching the spring, although the princess was in no rush to get there. She felt as if this were her final chance. If she felt nothing, then she really would be a failure. When they got to the statue in the water, she took off the cloak, tossing it into the snow. Link frowned.

Zelda waded into the water, her heart pounding.

"Please, Goddess Hylia, answer my prayers. I feel as if I've done everything I can. I have offered prayers at the two other springs in Hyrule. And now, with no time to waste, I have come here. All I ask is that you allow me to protect my people." Her voice wavered, "It doesn't matter what happens to me; I just wish to keep this kingdom safe. I have tried my best. Please, answer my prayers." She sighed. "At least tell me what more I can do.." As she fell into deeper thought, she prayed silently. She was unreadable now.

Link's concern grew; the water must have been frigid. Nevertheless, the princess remained deep in prayer. He wordlessly pleaded for her to stop; she was pushing herself too much again.

After a long period of time, she finally turned back to him. In her eyes, there was nothing but hopelessness. Even that only lasted for a moment. Her face showed only emptiness. He didn't dare speak to her as she passed by him. They began their descent, sure of the disappointment they would face when they reached the bottom.

The knight noticed his princess shaking, her teeth chattering. She was trying to hide it, but the chill was brutal. He held out his cloak, but she refused it once more.

"I deserve this." those were the only three words she spoke on their trip down.

~

They approached the other Champions, seeing four looks of anticipation. Zelda looked to the ground. Finally, Daruk spoke up.

"Well? Don't keep us in suspense. How'd everything go up there on the mountain?" Too weak for words, she merely sighed and shook her head. A terrible feeling washed over her as she saw the four others look away in disappointment. Everybody took a moment to process the news, hitting each of them like a huge wave crashing down.

"So you didn't feel anything? No power at all?" The Rito Champion inquired, still hoping for something.

"I'm sorry, no." The princess responded meekly. Urbosa sensed her grief, but she knew that it wasn't over yet. She knew the princess was stronger than this.

"Then let's move on. You've done all you could. Feeling sorry for yourself won't be of any help. After all, it's not like your last shot was up there on Mount Lanayru. Anything could finally spark the power to seal Ganon away. We just have to keep looking for that... thing." Her words were meant to console Zelda, and deep down somewhere, they did. But at the current moment, she truly felt like she had failed.

"That's kind of you, thank you." Then, in attempt to comfort the princess, champion Mipha spoke up shyly.

"If I may... I thought you... Well, I'm not sure how to put this into words... I'm actually quite embarrassed to say it. But I was thinking about what I do when I'm healing. You know, what usually goes through my mind... It helps when I think-- when I think about--"

She was interrupted by a loud thundering, as if something massive was breaking free from under the earth. Alarmed, everybody turned around to see what had just happened. In just an instant, the peaceful nature of the warm, sunny day was gone. The ground shook violently underneath them.

Revali took to the skies to get a better vantage point of the situation while the rest waited nervously. He gasped, beholding the monstrosity that enshrouded Hyrule Castle. A large, black cloud was in the sky, bright red lightning striking the earth below it. A menacing black and red fog of some sorts surrounded the castle.

And the beast... It circled the area, wreaking havoc as it went. It let out a monstrous roar as deadly bolts of lightning rained down from the sky. It was absolutely horrifying; a form of pure evil.

Revali descended, and stood with the rest of them. There, the four champions and two chosen heroes stood there ground, staring at the disaster in front of them.

"It's here." Urbosa stated.

"This is it, then..." Daruk added.

"Are you sure?" Mipha asked hesitantly.

"Positive." Revali replied, sure of himself.

"It's awake." Zelda gasped. She felt the whole entire world crumble around her at that moment. Her people needed her now, and she wasn't ready. All of that time she had spent training, and now power. Now, she had nothing. It was over. "...Ganon." She breathed heavily, hoping that this was some sort of nightmare that she'd just wake up from. Please, please no! She silently pleaded, trying to process what was happening. She could only stare at the turmoil that lay ahead. All my fault...

"Let's stop wasting time! We're gonna need everything we got to take that thing down! Now Champions! To your Divine Beasts!" Daruk bellowed, ready to fight for his land. "Show that swirling swine who's boss! Link will need to meet Ganon dead on when we attack! This needs to be a unified assault! Little guy! You get to Hyrule Castle!" Link nodded, ready to face his destiny and truly fill the shoes of the hero. "You can count on us for support. But it's up to you to pound Ganon into oblivion!" The Goron's words filled them all with the courage and confidence they'd need.

Except Zelda. She stared straight ahead still, mind spiraling and unable to steady itself. She had already made up her mind, though. She knew what she had to do. Urbosa placed her hand on the princess's shoulder, ready to take the fragile girl to safety.

"Come. We should go. We need to get you someplace safe." It took a moment, but the princess found her words.

"No." She broke away from the Gerudo's gentle touch. "I'm not a child anymore! I may not be much use on the battlefield, but there must... there must be something I can do to help!" There was no changing her mind. The others stood there for a moment, dumbfounded. Link panicked. He could not have the princess risking herself. That was his job; it always had been. He struggled again, millions of words swimming under his surface. Then he burst out.

"No! You can't risk it! I won't have you do this!" He cried. The others looked at him, shocked by his sudden concern and volume. Zelda shook her head.

"If I can't fulfill my destiny, I am going to do whatever I can to save my people! I'm coming with you, Link!" His face fell, but he knew he still had no choice but to obey her. She saw his expression harden, and he decided that it was time for him to step up. He would protect the princess with his life. Just as he was meant to do.

"Then let's hurry. Champions, go!" He called. Zelda looked at him, but he was staring at the castle with an intensity and fierceness that she had never seen on the face of the gentle boy. He took her arm and led her to the castle, not daring to look back. They quickly covered ground.

"Link! I just you to know that.. that I have watched you throughout your journey. You possess astounding courage and strength and I have no doubt in my mind that you will prevail." She said to him, but he ignored her. He was too focused on the castle.

The sight was petrifying, and the beast only became more horrifying.

The princess and her knight looked on, ready to face their final battle.

~

A/N: y i k e s.