Their ragged breathing echoed in the silent chamber. The moonlight glistened off of their blades, only to be quickly dispelled by dark cloud cover. Tension rippled through the air as the thunder only intensified the mood. Link's bright blue eyes were set with determination. There was no backing out now. He hefted the Master Sword in his hand, swinging it threateningly at Ganondorf, who watched him with a smirk on his face.
"Now honestly, do you think a boy like you could defeat me? If there is even a slim chance of that happening I will crush that chance now!"
His amused expression suddenly turned serious as he charged toward Link, giant sword raised high. Link jumped to the side as Ganondorf's blade came bearing down upon him. It slammed the ground with such force the stones beneath it crumbled. With incredible speed with one for his size, Ganondorf whipped his blade from the floor and swung it around, aiming for Link's head. Link deftly dodged the blade again, shifting into a half crouched position, ready to spring.
"Ganondorf, your reign of terror ends here!" Link shouted, leaping forth.
He struck with the Master Sword, only to be parried by Ganondorf, who then laughed coldly.
"I think not."
Link struck again and again, and was parried each and every time. But Link could see his endless barrage was wearing Ganondorf down.
'Just a little more!' Link thought, keeping up his rapid strikes. He glanced over his shoulder for a mere second, only to reassure the imprisoned Zelda who lay helpless, trapped within the crystal prison Ganondorf has constructed for her. Then he heard Ganondorf's sharp intake of breath. It was now or never.
"KYYYAAAAAH!!"
Link swung his sword at the opening Ganondorf had failed to defend. In the same instant, the clouds outside finally unleashed their with a flash of lightning just outside the window, illuminating the epic seen for a split second. Illuminating the final blow, and the shadow by the window the stood to witness it.
Before Link could react, or even think, he was shoved backwards by some unknown source, interrupting his last blow. As he tumbled across the room, he noticed Ganondorf had been thrown backwards as well.
When the wall finally stopped him he looked up, dazed. A humanoid shadow of some sort hovered by the window. It was fuzzy, as if the edges were constantly moving and blurring, making it unidentifiable.
"Who…" Link began, but found it difficult to form the rest of his sentence.
The figure said nothing, only drifted nearer to the center of the room. It seemed to be lost in thought, as the small points of light that represented the eyes gazed in no particular direction.
Link suddenly felt a tugging sensation in his hand. It felt like something was pulsing against his skin, trying to get out. The pressure intensified from mild discomfort to agonizing pain. Link flinched violently and heard a gasp from somewhere across the room, as well as a soft whimper to his right. The shadowy figure now had a crescent moon shape across it's face; a grin. It was a grin of triumph and pure joy.
Link's vision turned red as the sudden sensation of something being ripped from his hand shot through his body. His body stiffened, then fell limp. He was still conscious, but barely. He also, though he no longer felt pain, felt empty inside. It was like a part of him had been torn away. He suddenly wanted to get out of this place. He wanted it very much. The shadow in the middle of the room suddenly billowed up and darted out the window, followed by a bright light.
A long time passed before Link started to think again. Once he shook himself out of his mental stupor, he sat up. Aside from the empty feeling, he actually felt fine, physically. The storm had quickly passed, leaving nothing but a dull gray light outside. Whether it was day or night, Link did not know.
"What was that?" he heard a whisper beside him.
He turned to look. Zelda sat, trembling in her crystal, staring at the place where the shadow had been.
"What was that?" she repeated.
Link shrugged, but she didn't acknowledge him.
Link's head whipped around when he heard a moan from across the room. Ganondorf sat up rubbing his head. He looked up at Link and growled, but said nothing. Link tightened his hand around the hilt of the Master Sword, which he was somehow still holding onto. Staggering to his feet, Link pointed his Master Sword at Ganondorf.
"I have no idea what just happened, but obviously it didn't affect us, so let's finish this, Ganondorf."
Link jumped when Ganondorf's expression went from slightly confused, to extremely aggravated. Back on his feet in less time than Link would have thought possible, Ganondorf returned the glare Link had given him.
"For once, you are correct."
Ganondorf brandished his sword, ready to resume the fight once more.
"I, for one, think you are both sadly mistaken."
Ganondorf and Link looked at each other for a moment, then, realizing that the other one had not spoken, turned to Zelda, whose expression had changed from terrified, to bewildered. She only shook her head.
"That…wasn't me…" she whispered.
A shaky finger pointed across the room. Warily, Link and Ganondorf turned their heads, not wanting to take their eyes of Zelda or each other.
When Link turned to see the source of the voice, her nearly dropped his Master Sword. Out of the corner of his eye, Link saw Ganondorf's similar reaction. Three women that radiated the essence of divinity stood at the other end of the room. At the head of the three was a dark skinned woman that greatly resembled the Gerudo tribe, with one small exception; her eyes were red rather than gold. She bore a look of unparalleled rage upon her face. The two other women behind her, both pale, one with blue hair, the other with green, wore much calmer demeanors. The pale woman with blue hair looked very calm and knowledgeable, while the green haired woman seemed curious and, strangely playful.
The woman in red was the first to step up. She walked across the floor in quick, purposeful strides, yet with unmatched gracefulness. She marched right up to Ganondorf and looked him straight in the eye, driving all her fury into her glare. Link stared in wonder, and amusement, as he watched Ganondorf struggled to keep his fierce glare back.
"Ganondorf you…" the woman in red drew in a huge breathe, "ARE A FOOL!!" she screamed.
Ganondorf staggered back a step, startled by her action. The woman was now breathing hard, seething with rage. Link could feel the hatred pouring out of her, almost as if her emotions were being manifested physically. Quite simply, it hurt.
"I entrusted you with the Triforce of Power, not because I thought you would use it wisely or generously, but because I trusted you could hold onto it. I though you could do that at least until the hero of time took it back. BUT NO! I could have stopped you from taking it. I could have, I really could have, but I didn't."
Link wondered how long this was going to last.
"Listen-" Ganondorf began, but was cut off.
"No, you listen."
Obviously it wasn't over yet.
"Ganondorf, you know I am Din, the goddess of power. You know these are my sisters, Nayru and Farore, wisdom and courage. Now," she said, whirling around glare at Link and Zelda in turn, then returning her gaze to Ganondorf, "why you think we're here, interrupting the legendary battle between the prophesized Hero of Time and King of Evil?"
Ganondorf stood dumbstruck, unable to think of an answer.
"I will tell you why," she began again.
"Sister, I think you have said enough."
Link jumped and noticed for the first time that Farore was by his side. But it was Nayru whom had spoken. She stood by Zelda's side, and had freed her from her prison. Unnoticed in the uproar, the two other goddesses had drifted to stand by Link and Zelda.
"No I have not," Din grumbled.
"I think it's Nayru's turn to speak, Din."
Farore had spoken this time, and she had voice like that of a child. Link glanced at her and she smiled at him.
"Please forgive Din. Her words may be harsh, but she has good reason to be cross. We all do."
Nayru paused for a moment, then spoke very softly.
"The Triforce has been stolen."
Link jumped.
"What?" he yelled. "That can't be!"
Farore merely took Link's hand and held it up. He looked down at it, confused, the realized what she was trying to tell him. The mark of the Triforce was gone. Link clenched his fist. Maybe this was why he felt so empty?
"If the Triforce has been stolen, why don't you get it back?" growled Ganondorf, leaning over to look Din in the eyes.
"Because," she growled right back, "the Triforce is no longer within the borders of Hyrule. Whoever stole it high-tailed it out of here so fast, we had no time to confront them."
"What does that have to do with it?"
"It has everything to do with it!"
Din threw her arms up in the air with an exasperated look on her face. Link thought he heard her mumble 'men' under her breath.
"Don't tell me," Ganondorf sneered, "that the three mighty goddesses don't possess the power to reclaim the Triforce."
Din opened her mouth for another round of shouting, but Nayru cut her off.
"What Din is trying to say is, we cannot interfere with affairs outside of Hyrule. We created this land, and so we must watch over it eternally. That is why we are appointing you three as the retrievers of Hyrule's lost treasure."
"Us…three?"
Link pointed to himself, Zelda, and finally Ganondorf. Ganondorf and Link exchanged a glance.
"No!" The both shouted at the same time.
"You're asking me to work with Ganondorf?" Link whined.
"You're asking me to work with…this…this boy?" Ganondorf spat.
"Yes."
Link and Ganondorf looked at each other again, disgust plainly written on their faces.
"It's the only way," whispered Zelda. "We must each claim our own piece of the Triforce. Not one of us can take it whole."
Nayru beamed at Zelda.
"I knew there was a reason I chose you to be the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom."
"It's settled then," Din said matter-of-factly.
"What? No, nothing's settled!" said Ganondorf.
"You three will depart tomorrow."
"Listen, will you?"
"I don't know where you're going, but good luck!"
"Aaargh!" Ganondorf shouted in frustration as Din disappeared in a pillar of flames.
"Goodbye, Hero of Time. May your courage never fail you. We'll be watching you from the heavens." Farore whispered to Link.
Link turned to say something to her, but she was already gone along with Nayru.
"Where do you propose we start?" Zelda asked no one in particular.
Link looked down at his hand, then back at Ganondorf, who stood silently fuming, still staring at the spot where Din had been mere moments ago. He clenched his fist and vowed he would retrieve the Triforce and return to Hyrule to finished what had started, even if it meant working with Ganondorf.
"We start from the beginning," Link said, looking out the window into the grey sky.