Ocarina of Time Chapter 57

 

Chapter 57

The Demon King

Link watched Zelda's lifeless body slide to the floor, his scream reverberating throughout the otherwise silent room, his throat raw. He froze, halting his charge, unable to breathe.

The Sages looked on in shock. Saria rose a hand to her mouth, her face pale. Rauru gripped Impa's shoulder as though keeping her from charging, while Darunia and Nabooru also stopped in their tracks, the former with murder in his eyes. Ruto's mouth was agape, her eyes wide. The silence seemed a palpable thing, swallowing the sounds of the raging storm that buffeted the tower.

A heartbeat passed and then another. Link stood frozen in uncomprehending horror, the sight of that knife sliding across Zelda's throat forever carved into his memory. His mind screamed, trying to deny the truth, but it was no use.

Zelda was dead.

No, Link thought numbly. She can't be...

He wanted to believe that Zelda would get up. She wasn't dead, just unconscious. Just... he could heal her, couldn't he? Just like she had healed him.

"That wound was fatal, and you know it," Courage told him, anger brimming in the being's every word.

Link knew it was true. Zelda would never get up. She was gone, her blood pooling on the stone, a crimson stain soaking into her once pristine dress. Link knew what would happen if the bearer of Wisdom died. He knew the chaos it would bring. Even when he had raced to save her in the desert, not knowing who she was, Link had told himself that Wisdom's bearer couldn't die. Zelda was too important; Hyrule needed her. He needed her.

Yet, even as he thought this, Link knew nothing could change the inevitable truth lying before him.

She was gone.

The flow of time is always cruel. Zelda's words echoed in his mind.

"Now is not the time to grieve, chosen of Farore," Courage told him, not unkindly. "Now is the time to fight and avenge the fallen."

After Courage, Nohansen was the first to speak, drawing Link's attention. He was staring at Ganondorf, hatred clear in his eyes, burning like a hot flame. "You bastard," he spat. "You had what you wanted!"

Ganondorf ignored Nohansen. Instead, his attention was directed at someone else. Link was still too numb and shocked to realize who that someone was.

Him.

"LINK!" Navi's scream tore Link away from his spiralling despair, and he was instantly aware of Courage warning him of the danger.

Lightning flashed from Ganondorf's outstretched hand. Realizing the danger, Link reacted instantly, raising his shield. Light exploded onto the sturdy frame with a thunderous bang, the impact throwing Link off his feet. He hit the ground, the Master Sword clattering against stone, landing a few feet away.  Someone grabbed him beneath one arm and hauled him to his feet.

Rauru.

Before Link could speak, a raging roar shook the room. Darunia charged straight towards Ganondorf, his hammer raised. Nabooru joined him, ready to jump in the moment the Goron's hammer struck. Recovered from their previous horror, they attacked Ganondorf with renewed fury.

"Goddesses, preserve us all," Rauru whispered. "There must still be a way."

"There will be if I have anything to say about it," Link said, almost with a snarl.

Darunia's hammer came crashing towards the usurper king. Ganondorf didn't even flinch. He rose his hand, molten light exploding in front of him. There was a dreadful crack like crisp thunder, and Darunia was sent staggering backward into the table, which crumbled beneath his weight.

"Darunia!" Link yelled. Fearing for the Goron, Link struggled free of Rauru's grip, barely managing to avoid knocking the man over.

"Link, wait-" Rauru yelled.

Impa remained standing beside Rauru and said something Link didn't hear. Ganondorf's attention shifted towards Nabooru just as she reached him.

"No!" Link shouted. He scraped the Master Sword off the ground and dashed forward as quickly as his feet allowed, raising the sword high.

Another flash of light pulsated through the room as Ganondorf sent Nabooru backward. Her scimitars hit the floor with a clang, and she fell hard against the silvery shield fastened behind her.

Ganondorf strode towards Nabooru as she rolled onto her back. She cursed as the Gerudo King loomed over her, standing tall.

"Hello, husband," she said with feigned warmth, her eyes wary. "Did you miss me?"

"So," Ganondorf said coolly, eyes narrowed. "The traitor returns."

"If you really want to know what a traitor looks like, try using a mirror," Nabooru said crisply, unbuckling her silver shield, "Or you could simply use mine."

With a derisive snort, Ganondorf rose his sword again and Link threw himself between the pair, knocking aside a blade meant for Nabooru. The Gerudo king snarled. Throwing his weight into his thrust, he rushed towards Link. Shield met blade with a screech of tormented steel. Link stumbled, and Ganondorf took this opportunity to slam a boot into his leg.

Unable to jump back in time, Link hissed in pain as the boot struck. Almost he fell, but he recovered in time to see Ganondorf's sword sweeping in for the kill. Link rose the Master Sword in answer, sword scraping upon sword, and he found himself stepping back, fending off strike after strike from the profane black blade.

Nearby, Impa was shouting something, but Link didn't hear. Pushing back yet another blow, he saw Nabooru drop to the ground, motioning for him to do the same.

"Link, watch out!" Navi shouted. A flicker of light cut through the air. Link dropped to one knee, shield held aloft, expecting a sword stroke to come crashing down, but Ganondorf's blade never came.

Cords of white flames twisted towards Ganondorf, catching his attention. They coiled, tendrils swirling over one another in a dazzling display of magic. Impa was pointing her staff towards the demon king, the white flames bursting from its tip. Rauru, Ruto, and Saria were gathered around her, a faint aura enveloping them as they channelled magic, adding to Impa's power.

Link knew the four of them wouldn't be enough. Nabooru ran to join them, but before she could, Ganondorf answered their challenge, his palm outstretched, eldritch fire blossoming from his gauntlet. Hot violet tendrils of purple fire slammed into Impa's spell.

Just as Link stood poised to charge, the streams of magic between Ganondorf and Impa pulsed an angry red, then exploded with a thunderous bang. The air rippled, and Link heard a tinkering smash. A shock wave of raw power thundered outward from the explosion. Glass burst from window frames and fell in a crescendo of noise.

Link was knocked to the ground, light searing his vision. His head and shoulder exploded in blazing agony, and it took a moment to process what had happened.

Ganondorf and the Sages were on the ground. Link's first thoughts were of Saria, but she was already getting to her feet, dazed but unharmed.

Nabooru, Ruto, and Rauru seemed disorientated, but otherwise unharmed. Darunia was still standing, looking a little stunned. He turned to Impa with a startled exclamation, and then he stiffened.

Oh no...

Impa lay unmoving, the broken fragments of her staff shattered upon the floor.

No! He hadn't been fast enough.

Darunia, unfazed by his earlier failure, lunged towards Ganondorf, who was already standing and turning to face his attacker. Nothing in the fallen Gerudo's stance suggested he was injured.

"Darunia, wait!" Link yelled, rushing forward to help Darunia.

"I'm not letting you fight this welp alone," Darunia bellowed. His hammer swept down, missing Ganondorf by a hairsbreadth as the man stepped aside. Darunia snarled while purple flames blossomed once again from the Gerudo's outstretched hand.

"Darunia, watch out!" Navi yelled as Link echoed her cry, but it was too late.

Tendrils of molten fire crashed straight into Darunia's side, hissing as they seared through flesh.

"Darunia!" Link's scream was muffled by Darunia's agonized roar.

Link threw himself forward, blade thrust towards Ganondorf's chest. Ganondorf turned and tilted his head while Darunia doubled over, one hand clutching his blackened side. Eldritch light rose from Ganondorf's hand, this time aimed straight at Link. Knowing what was coming, Link stepped to one side. A heartbeat later, a ball of lighting arced past him, the spell's blistering heat washing over him an instant later.

Nabooru intercepted the spell. Link saw her upraised shield and leaped away. Ganondorf's spell slammed off Nabooru's mirror shield. It rebounded off the shield's silvery surface and flew straight towards its caster.

Ganondorf's eyes widened before he quickly leapt to one side.

Nabooru cursed. "You never knew when to give up, did you?" she spat.

Ganondorf ignored her, Link's sword clamouring against his own as the youth went on the offensive. At least, that was what Link had intended, but in reality, Ganondorf's skill far outmatched his own. Ganondorf fended off Link's barrage of sword strokes with casual ease. slapping the Master Sword aside. Link gasped, spinning to bash the sword away as it came within inches of skewering him.

Damn it. His blinded side was really not helping. If only he'd had longer to train. If only he...

"Stop thinking like that and focus," Courage scolded him. "You can defeat him."

Ganondorf's eyes were alight with fire. Link didn't let his gaze slip as he struggled to parry Ganondorf's jabs. To Link's left, Darunia retrieved his hammer, his face tight and limbs shaking. Link knew with grim certainty that Darunia would not be able to wield that hammer much longer. The Goron seemed to realize this, pausing to shout something to Nabooru, who in turn yelled for the other Sages to run. That was when Link heard the doors leading into the central chamber slam shut.

They were trapped.

"Bah!" Darunia yelled. "You think that door is going to keep me locked in here?"

Something crashed into the doors on the tower's interior side with a loud bang. Link didn't need to turn around to know what it was, nor did he let it distract him. He threw his weight into Ganondorf, trying to knock the bigger man off balance.

Ganondorf's blade slid towards Link's exposed side, but with a twist of his stance, Link let his shield meet the stroke. Throwing his weight into his shield arm, Link slammed forward, forcing Ganondorf backward.

Luring Ganondorf into a circle, Link risked a glance at the Sages. Rauru and Ruto were helping Impa to her feet, but she waved off their offers of aid, one hand grasping her staff. That was when Link noticed her hand was blackened. Burned. That meant two of the Sages were injured, and Zelda...

Her body lay upon the cold ground amidst the chaotic scene and hot anger surged through Link. He hadn't come this far and certainly hadn't fought through hell and back only to die here. He would not, could not, let this man win. Even with Zelda gone, Link had to defeat Ganondorf. He saw Saria, clutching a glimmering emerald she had withdrawn from her coat's pocket.

The Kokiri Emerald.

The same stone Ganondorf tried stealing all those years ago. It was the Great Deku Tree's final blessing, the object he had died to protect. Died all because of the man standing in front of Link. Link had no idea why Saria had it, but the sight of it stirred something deep within him.

"You promised to protect those who could not protect themselves, just as I once did," Courage whispered in Link's mind. "ail now, and you break that promise. The Kokiri will die. Hyrule, no, the world will crumble."

"I won't fail!" Link thought back. "Not now."

"Good. That is more like it."

Pushing forwards, Link grunted as Ganondorf's blade met his own, pain jolting up his arm. Link gritted his teeth, stepping backward and circling. The erratic movements seemed to annoy the Gerudo King, and each blow seemed more forceful than the last.

The balcony doors now stood behind Ganondorf. Link tried circling around, forcing Ganondorf towards them.

Unfortunately for him, Ganondorf chose that moment to backflip. He landed gracefully on his feet and sent a blast of purple fire gushing straight towards Link's face.

Link skidded to a halt, bringing his shield up. The flames crashed into the stout frame, and the inferno's intense heat washed over Link. To Link's horror, the shield's surface was becoming liquid, bubbling and twisting. He gasped, staggering backward. His shield was melting! Link pulled his arm free of the shield's straps and tossed the smouldering wreckage to one side. His forearm blazed with pain, the skin under his gauntlet now red and blistered.

Link quickly recovered his stance, and seeing his dilemma, Nabooru attacked. She spun, her scimitar arcing down, cutting across Ganondorf's chest plate. Nabooru might as well have been striking a boulder, for not even a scratch marred the armour. Ganondorf snarled as she twisted again, her sword aimed at his neck. He flicked the blade aside with casual ease, and for an instant, Nabooru was left wide-open. She stepped back, and with a loud screech, sword met shield in a spray of sparks.  Link charged in to help her.

Ganondorf's sword swept towards her again, but she back flipped, leaping out of reach. Before Nabooru could attack again, the man unleashed another arc of lightning. Link swept in towards his flank, but by then Ganondorf was aware of his approach. Nabooru raised her shield, barely avoiding the crackling ball of lightning. It bounced off her shield and flew straight towards Ganondorf. Moving quickly, Ganondorf knocked Link aside and rose his hand. The air shimmered, a ghostly apparition resembling a smoky shield appearing in front of the Gerudo. The lightning rebounded off its translucent surface, hurtling back towards Nabooru.

Nabooru's eyes went wide. She held up her shield, and to Link's surprise, she dashed towards Ganondorf's attack, not giving him time to counter her manoeuvre. Link was able to distract Ganondorf for just a moment with a jab to the man's chest, and then he leaped back to avoid the spell that crashed into the Gerudo king. Ganondorf went flying across the room, landing against the stone with a painful crunch.

"There. How does it feel to be hit with your own magic tricks?" Nabooru yelled.

Link stepped forward, ready to strike again. The Gerudo king didn't stir.

"Link, wait!" Nabooru caught his attention, and Link turned to face her. She was holding out her shield, offering it to him.

"Take this, kid," Nabooru said. "Use it to get close enough."

Link opened his mouth to protest, knowing Nabooru would be vulnerable, but her fierce eyes told him she wouldn't allow him to refuse.

"You and I both know what needs to be done," Nabooru said quietly, still holding the shield out.

Link accepted her shield with a grateful nod. "Keep him distracted for me," he said. "If anything happens-" he glanced at Navi, who hovered close to him with an unreadable expression, "Keep the others safe."

Nabooru looked like she wanted to say more, but she hesitated before nodding. "I will consider myself oath-sworn."

"Link, be careful," Navi whispered.

Without another word, Link and Nabooru both turned towards Ganondorf. As one, they cautiously strode toward the downed Gerudo king. Realising that nobody was buying his 'playing dead' trick, he stirred, picking himself up slowly as though badly injured. Link wasn't fooled. Ganondorf took only a moment to realise this and quickly gave up the pretence.

Link approached, caution in his every move. He did not want to be thrown across the room like a rag doll for the umpteenth time. He assumed a defensive stance as Ganondorf regained his feet, and despite not being entirely surprised that the former Gerudo king was unscathed, Link still felt a cold sense of dismay.

"Let him come to you," Courage said.

Link tightened his sword grip. If he could just get Ganondorf to channel that purple fire again, maybe he could knock it back and damage his armor. It was either that or he'd end up destroying his second shield. Distantly, he heard the doors crash open, giving the Sages a way out.

At least they can escape, he thought.

As expected, Ganondorf charged. Link met the challenge. The Master Sword hummed,  light flaring from the gem within the sacred blade's hilt, and with a resounding scream of metal, the two blades met, one blocking the other's path. At the same time, a barrier shimmered into existence behind Link, appearing a mere foot from Nabooru. She smacked into it and was thrown violently off her feet, and Navi nearly likewise crashed into it.

I'm cut off, Link thought.

"Link!" she cried out.

Somewhere beyond the barrier, six ribbons of light blossomed into existence, and Navi fled as they crashed into the wall of sorcery. The semi-transparent wall rippled but held constant, both combatants too intent on killing each other to notice the disturbance.

Link rolled, trying to get clear of Ganondorf's reach. He leapt up, slashing at an opening. He charged forward, ramming his shield straight into the Gerudo, sending him stumbling. Link surged forward, sword slashing, but Ganondorf quickly recovered, falling onto his back and raising a gauntleted hand.

A blast of magic forced Link to dash to one side and a ball of crackling energy shot past him. It was enough to blind him, the light like daggers slamming into his skull. He almost staggered, and by the time Link blinked away the spots in his eye, Ganondorf. Behind the demon king, thin webs of lines akin to spidery cracks wove their way across Ganondorf's magical barrier, and Link almost groaned. The others hadn't fled.

Why didn't you flee? he thought. They were trying to save him, but Link knew that their chances were limited. For now, he fought alone.

Through the open doorway, he could still see people and monsters fighting outside, but was given no chance to determine if it was Toru's company or another band of soldiers that was under attack Some of the fighting spilled into the chamber, forcing Darunia to break ranks and send the Blin and Stalfos scurrying back the way they'd come, Rauru joined him, withdrawing a mace from under his robes. Navi was nowhere to be seen.

Link noticed this only briefly, but it was enough to spur him on, to fuel his desperate need to end this fight. For some reason, Ganondorf was studying Link, waiting for him.

"A shame you had not come earlier," he said, stepping back as Link came at him,  blade sweeping towards the man's chest. "I planned for Zelda to watch you suffer and beg for mercy." With a mock regret, he added, "I should have been more gentle with her. A pity."

"I will not beg," Link growled, refusing to validate the man's words.

"You will," Ganondorf replied. "Your friends, the mighty Sages, cannot help you now."

"I'm not a terrified little boy this time, Ganondorf," Link replied, trying to sound defiant despite the fact he was screaming internally. "I will kill you!"

"Can you now?" Ganondorf asked, his voice drawling. "Then, by all means, try. You are a fool to defy a god. I cannot be killed, even your dear princess knew this."

"Gods can die," Link replied, grunting as he deflected another thrust. "I've already killed one."

The thought of that mask with its glowing amber eyes threatened to distract him.

"Arrogant boy, if you believe that, then you are a fool," Ganondorf said. "The Triforce of Courage killed one, but you had little to do with it. Even with this pathetic rabble you call the Sages, I will still beat you."

That's where you're wrong, Link thought. "That pathetic rabble," he seethed through gritted teeth while deflecting another attack. "Is about to be your undoing."

"So, Zelda's hound has finally found some teeth?" Ganondorf said, amused. "Perhaps I will let you live long enough to watch me kill your friends, starting with that Kokiri girl. I could even make you murder her." There was a gleeful expression in those eyes. It was as though he wanted nothing more than to do just that.

No! Link remembered when he wasn't in control of his actions and almost killed Ruto in the Water Temple. I won't let that happen again.

Link fought down his anger, refusing to be goaded into doing something reckless.

Don't rise, he thought, ignoring the ire churning within him.

"Or perhaps," Ganondorf said, a nasty grin twisting his face. "Perhaps you can be the one who kills Zelda's child."

Link's stance almost slipped as the words shook him.

"What are you talking about?" Link demanded. "Zelda doesn't have a child!"

"You're right. She won't have a child when I find the little brat," Ganondorf said. "It's only a matter of time before I find her... Why, didn't she ever tell you? I discovered her little secret just before you came. I think at the end, that's what broke her; I convinced her I had murdered the child, and I wasn't gentle about it."

"LIAR!" Link roared, blood pounded in his ears and he felt a wave of revulsion. Ganondorf's words battered at his resolve, sending cracks rippling through it. His arms shook, and it took all his effort to keep the blade steady.

He was lying, wasn't he? Oh, Goddesses, Zelda... what had the man done to her?

"Don't rise," Courage warned. "Ganondorf is trying to bait you. Don't grant him that satisfaction."

"Why, you should have heard her. No! Not my Eliana, please, anything... just don't hurt her..." Ganondorf's voice dripped with mockery.

In that moment, Link felt something inside of him snap. It was then that he knew that Ganondorf Dragmire was gone far beyond any hope of redemption. He was truly the demon king. Some primeval part of him just wanted to let go of the Master Sword and beat Ganondorf bloody. He recognized that voice, and in his mind, he could see a red-eyed demon grinning with joy. He ignored it. Barely. If Impa had heard Ganondorf, she probably would have surrendered caution to the winds and died in her efforts to kill him.

Eliana... a memory stirred in Link's mind, an echo from his journey to the Desert Colossus.

"Eliana... Yes, Eliana is a good name," Sheik murmured.

Zelda. Not Sheik.

Zelda had been feverish and lost in a dream from which he could not make her stir. He considered the brief snippets of thoughts he'd heard from Zelda as he ascended the tower. She'd been pleading with Ganondorf not to hurt someone. Now he knew who that someone was.

Eliana... Oh, Goddesses. It was true.

Zelda had a daughter.

Ganondorf wasn't lying. Could this mean Ganondorf's minions were looking for her, even now? Did they intend to kill the child in a final bid to destroy the line of Nohansen?

"You're a monster!" Link seethed between breaths.

"Hmm... am I?" Ganondorf asked idly, gliding from one sword motion to another as he fended off Link's attacks. With Ganondorf's earlier words reverberating in his skull, it took all Link's self-control to keep himself from leaping into a savage frenzy. "All kings are monsters in the end, their thrones won through bloodshed."

Out of the corner of his eye, Link noticed the spidery web-like cracks in Ganondorf's barrier were spreading. He had to finish Ganondorf before that barrier broke. It might be stopping the Sages from coming to his aid, but it was also keeping Ganondorf from attacking them. Darunia had made short work of his attackers, leaving Rauru to contend with the one or two that slipped past him.

After another series of thrusts, Link feigned an attack, pushing close enough that Ganondorf rose his hand.

Hot violet flames burst from Ganondorf's fingertips, aimed directly at Link. Anticipating this, Link rose his shield to block the currents of dark magic. As close as he was, Ganondorf didn't have time to counter. The spell ricocheted off the mirror shield, striking the usurper's chest. The man screamed, falling to his knees.

Link thrust his blade towards the fissure, intending to skewer the man through the heart. However, Ganondorf looked up and caught Link's sword in midair. Such a feat was normally impossible; an ordinary swordsman  would have been nursing a bloody stump, but not Ganondorf.

Link gaped in astonishment. An inhuman scream tore from the demon king's throat, wisps of smoke rising from his gauntlets. Link could smell the oily stench of burning flesh.

Ganondorf pushed Link, causing the youth to stumble backward. A second later, Ganondorf was on his feet, one gauntleted fist smashing into Link's right cheek- his blind side.

Bone cracked in a searing blaze of agony. Link's vision flashed red, and his shoulder struck hard against the stone floor, sending a jolt of agony running through his sword arm. He didn't remember dropping the Master Sword, but as he desperately tried to regain his stunned senses, he saw it lying just beyond his reach.

Something warm and wet trickled down his right cheek, and there was a coppery tang in his mouth. Blood. Cold droplets of water splashed on Link's face, mingling with the blood as the wind whipped his face.

Rain? Link thought dully.

"Get up! Do not forsake your destiny. Not now," Courage bade with increasing urgency. "Get up!"

Dimly aware of the pull that was the Triforce of Courage calling him to use it, Link was caught in a sickening daze. He was lying by the balcony doors, broken shards of glass at his feet. Amidst the howl of the wind, he could hear something.

"Get up now!"

"What?" Link groaned, trying to clear his head.

Footsteps crunching on shattered glass.

Wiping raindrops from his eye, Link looked up as Ganondorf loomed over him. Unable to get to his sword in time, Link tried to seize anything he could use as a weapon.

A dazzling blur of blue light shot at Ganondorf's face, causing the man to wince and step back. Navi had nearly struck him in the eye. She dove to attack again and Ganondorf went to grab her, but he was too slow. He swat at her next, snarling, and seeing the danger, Link felt a surge of anger, but before he could do anything, the Triforce of Courage poured into him unbidden, and suddenly a rippling wave of sorcery was rushing from his outstretched palm.

It wasn't aimed at Ganondorf, but rather at Navi, an invisible force slapping into her, knocking her out of harm's way. She spun, as if buffeted by a sudden gust of wind, and landed ungracefully on the stone some feet away.

Link felt utterly horrified that he'd just attacked Navi. He hadn't meant to. He wasn't even sure what had just happened.

The sorcery had left him momentarily drained, unable to move, but more than anything was the numbing sense of shock.

What was that?

Ganondorf glanced at the fairy's now distant light and then turned his attention back to Link, stepping towards the injured youth. Link snatched at a shard of glass, but before he could use it, one gauntleted hand grabbed hold of his throat. Link rose the glass shard, slashing it towards the man's face, but he was too slow. The Gerudo king slapped his hand away, and Link's only weapon was knocked away, leaving him to kick madly as Ganondorf hoisted him into the air. Link chocked and gagged. The Gerudo's grip tightened, those hateful eyes burning into his own with growing triumph. Link grabbed at Ganondorf's hands, trying to loosen the demon king's hold, but it was useless. He couldn't breathe.

Link felt the Triforce of Courage pour into him unbidden, its essence flowing through him like life itself. Only something felt wrong. It was like drinking tainted water, realizing only too late that it was fouled. Pain radiated out from Link's hand, and soon it felt as though his entire body was on fire. Link still clawed at Ganondorf's gauntlet, struggling to pry the man's fingers off him. Dark lines were forming along his peripheral vision. Then Ganondorf's grip suddenly slackened and Link slumped to the ground, wheezing, each gasping breath sending a spasm of pain through his throat. Link tried to draw Courage again but felt nothing. A dark pit of nothingness greeted him. There was no sense of the spirit within the Triforce shard or even the Triforce itself. It was simply gone.

No, Link thought, barely able to control his growing terror. 

He looked up, wondering why Ganondorf had dropped him.

Then he saw it. All three pieces of the Triforce glowed upon Ganondorf's gauntlet. Link had somehow given Courage to him. Ganondorf Dragmire had finally acquired all three shards of the Triforce.

No! Link thought. How could everything have gone so horribly wrong? He'd failed... He lay forgotten in a bloodied heap as Ganondorf lauded over his victory. How was this even possible? The spirit within the Triforce shard would've needed to go willingly, at least that's what Link presumed, and that didn't seem possible.

Ganondorf's eyes shone with triumph, and his laughter shook the room. "At last," he said. "This wretched relic is mine."

The light on Ganondorf's gauntlet faded. The man paused, his expression darkening. Then a bright light split the heavens, cutting through the storm. Link shielded his eye, trying to scramble back as he gasped for precious air.

When the dazzling light faded, three golden shards hovered just in front of Ganondorf. They formed three giant, shimmering triangles that shone with radiant light, locked together in the unmistakable shape of the Triforce. Link sensed the ethereal energy emanating from it, and a strange sense of peace swept over him, completely at odds with the tempest of emotions within him.

There, mere feet from the demon king, was the Triforce in all its entirety. The relic for which so many had died. A relic left by the Goddesses to protect the world from the Ancients, filled with their essence and power.

Link's vision was still fuzzy, but as he lay on the ground, his body badly bruised, he saw Navi dash to his side, appearing battered but otherwise unharmed.

"Link, you have to stop him!" she said, her voice desperate.

"Navi..." Link rasped. "I'm sorry, I didn't..."

"That doesn't matter,," Navi said in a voice that held no anger. "I know what you were trying to do, but you have to stop him! We can still stop him!"

As they watched, Ganondorf stepped towards the holy relic, oblivious to his surroundings. Link felt an intense heat radiating from the Triforce like a furnace. Around them, the raging storm seemed to still; lightning still flickered, but the rain and wind eased. With Courage gone, an empty void filled Link's being, as if Ganondorf had literally reached inside of him and torn away a piece of his soul. In some ways, it was worse than losing his eye. Despair seemed to pour into that void, threatening to overwhelm him, to pull him down into its dark depths.

"Link, do something!" Navi cried, almost despairingly. "Hurry!"

Link looked up, his head and body wracked with pain. Near him, he saw the Master Sword's glowing amber gem. It seemed to call to him, beckoning him to pick up his blade and finish the fight. He saw the Sages next, and their eyes met his.

He saw the horror in Saria's gaze, the pain of a lost hope, as if she were staring death itself in the face, unable to stray from its relentless reach. They were going to die, and Saria knew it.

No.

Driven by the desperate need to stop Ganondorf, Link got to his feet, ignoring the pain in his battered limbs. He wouldn't fail Saria. He wouldn't fail Zelda, Navi, or the others. He would stop Ganondorf, even at the cost of his own life.

Link scrambled to the Master Sword. The Sages were now rushing towards him, but before they had made it halfway, Link clutched the Master Sword tightly and assumed an unsteady stance, his breathing still coming in ragged gasps. The sword seemed so heavy...

Link turned to face his nemesis and what he saw nearly made his heart stop. Ganondorf stood before the Triforce, his face bright with a terrible glee. Ribbons of light were now flowing from the relic, each one drifting through the air like ribbons unfurling in the wind. One curled around Zelda's body, the other Link, and the third touched Ganondorf. Each thread of light wrapped around their target, and then they simply vanished.

Ganondorf rose a hand to touch the Triforce, but then he saw Link was on his feet. With an angry snarl, the demon king rose his hand, foul sorcery gathering around his gauntlet. The air crackled with energy, crackling around Ganondorf's fingertips. Still trying to regain his breath, Link knew that there was no stopping what was about to come his way.

Ganondorf's eyes turned from Link to see Navi's azure glow dart towards him.

Link opened his mouth to warn her away,  but it was too late.

Waves of coalescing sorcery spun towards the fairy, even as Link stepped forward. But it was too late...

And then Navi was simply gone. A ripple of magic smashing into her from an unseen source, blasting her away from the spell that would have surely killed her. She was flung away, thrown into the air, her wings buzzing madly as she fought to control her descent. She crashed into Fora, who had trying to reach her, and they both went down, Ganondorf's dark magic spiralling off into the distance, where it exploded with a concussive boom, the shockwave stirring motes of dust and ash into the air.

"You will not have her," boomed a voice that was familiar to Link's ears, both powerful and menacing. Ganondorf spun back to the still shimmering glow of the Triforce. His attention was drawn to the figure who stood on the other side of the Triforce, his eyes burning with all the fury of the desert sun.

In some ways, for Link, it was like staring into a mirror and seeing a reflection of himself. The spectral being bore the physique of a seasoned warrior. He was tall, taller than any Hylian, his armour silver-grey. War paint decorating his forehead, adding to his terrifying visage as he stood before the demon king. By touching Link, Ganondorf had inadvertently come into contact with the entity, and now that same spirit stood before the demon king. Only Ganondorf and Link could see the form Courage bore, for the Sage's gave no hint they could see the apparition.

The spectre regarded Link with a subtle nod, and with that, Link summoned every last ounce of strength he could muster and charged. In that instant, the spirit vanished, and Link felt the familiar presence of his Shard surge through him.

Ganondorf seemed to realise what was happening, but by the time he turned to face his foe, it was too late. The Master Sword slipped through the fissure in his armor, meeting bone with a sickening crunch, punching straight into his twisted heart.

Ganondorf fell backward, bloody spittle flying from his mouth. Link's momentum slammed him into the balcony railing. A heartbeat later, they were both tumbling into open air.

Next Chapter

Reviews

SunPraiser31 chapter 58 . Apr 1, 2017 Oh god, Zelda has a daughter... damn. What he did to her... It's like Link thought, he's beyond saving. Whatever he went through to make him seek this path, he can't be called anything other than a demon now. I have no sympathy left for him. Why didn't the Triforce work for him, though? Is it because he's pure evil? It's probably because he's pure evil. Only three chapters left! I can't take this! Zelda has to come back somehow, right? Right?

Cyan Quartz chapter 58 . Mar 2, 2016 OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH! Final boss time!

just a sock chapter 58 . Feb 18, 2016 Why did I skip ahead... That doesn't even deserve a question mark... Why did I skip ahead... Everything was excellent with the exception of a few grammatical errors, but why did I skip ahead... I'm so mad at myself now... Really mad at myself... Now I have to cry...

Shaveza chapter 58 . Jan 26, 2016 I am still not sure I am recovered from my scream and flail of last chapter. I think I am just out of breath and full of question marks now. XD This is a very good chapter, by the way, I love how the fight is scripted. I can see it playing out clearly in my mind. Then you gave us a tiny bit of victory! Only be stolen in the next moment at the very last line.

TheHero136 chapter 58 . Jan 25, 2016 Wow. Beautiful fight. While I don't love you you left us all on such a cliffhanger, I understand it. This was a great chapter and I loved the imagery. I would only suggest that you do a little more setting description. Other than that, great job. Can't wait for chapter 59.

lalalei chapter 58 . Jan 25, 2016 He should've said his wish out loud XD This was AWESOME! The poor sages! Poor LinK! But it seems our hero's making a comeback! I bet I know what Link will wish for, too-like the ending to A Link to the Past, he'll wish for life! Including Zelda's :)

deadaccount525 chapter 58 . Jan 25, 2016 Uh, okay. So I've been on and off following this story for awhile, and there's something in particular I've noticed. Firstly-this is a good chapter. Don't get me wrong. You've captured the essence game just right for it to work. However, I've noticed something about your narrative. The flow of words in it are a bit jagged because you put commas in places they shouldn't be. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem...only if you hadn't been doing it for the longest, now. I don't mean any malice to you by what I've said, but I feel like this could have turned out a bit better if you took the time to re-read what you've written. See how your words flow. Combine different lengths of sentences. Be creative with your narrative, and you'll be surprised at how the amount of personal satisfaction and reader interest peaks. Personally that stood out to me the most but I see little faults in areas like grammar and punctuation...stay on top of those as well. They are just as important, never forget! Anyway, I'm done ranting your ears off! I'm interested to see where it'll go after this.

Lord Darth Yoda chapter 58 . Jan 25, 2016 This is actually a fight I wanna see someday, Ganondorf vs all the Sages and Link. Did you use the GameCube tech demo as some inspiration? Parts of this fight reminded me of that. The balcony fall was a bit too predictable, as soon as you reminded us it was there I figured someone was falling off it.