Twice a Hero, Once a Legend
Chapter 1: In Haste's Folley
Link climbed the final stairs of Hyrule castle, ready as he could be to face Calamity Ganon. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, gripped the royal claymore tightly and stepped into the chamber where he and the others had been crowned champions by king Rhoma. The feeling of malice that permeated the entire castle grew with each step, the beast was near but, as link searched he could not find it. He saw the massive size of the beast shortly after waking from the shrine of resurrection. There was no way a monster of that size could be anywhere else. Link didn't have to wait very long as light shown from an egg like sac that hung from the ceiling.
"Link…" Zelda's voice called out. "Link…I'm sorry…but my power isn't strong enough…I can't hold him…"
Link flipped back as a guardian laser ripped through the sac and tore across the room, leaving a scorching trail etched into the stone. He shielded his eyes from the dust and rubble as the sac hissed as steam spread through the cuts before breaking and dropping the physical mass of malice that was Calamity Ganon. The stone floor cracked under the weight of the beast sending both the hero of Hyrule and its scourge to a sealed off room for their final battle. Link opened his paraglider and coasted down taking in the full view of Ganon's form. It seemed as if it had absorbed the body of a guardian near his back while several arms protruded from his back wielding different ancient weapons, some of which he hadn't seen before. As Link landed just to the side of the great beast it turned its near skull like face, amass with crimson hair to stare down Link before unleashing a mighty roar that echoed throughout the land.
"Now my moment has finally come. Brace yourself, Ganon, for the sting of my revenge!" Revali's spirit proclaimed.
"This will be our final opportunity. We will not fail!" Mipha's spirit decreed.
"Let's go, little guy! Now! Open up wide, Ganon!" Daruk's spirit shouted.
"A hundred years in the making…Hold on princess. Our moment has arrived!" Urbosa's spirit announced with a snap of her fingers.
As the spirits of the champions gave their final war cry the divine beasts fired their weapons. From the four corners of the land the weapons collided in the room above the final showdown.
Ganon stared down Link, seething hatred towards the hero of legend as a familiar bright blue light show above them. It craned its head to look at the unknow source, only for the combined might of the four ancient Divine Beasts to crash down upon it. Link watched as the beast howled in pain, similar to the blights that had been purged from each Divine Beast. The blast tore off chunks of the gelatinous malice that made up most Calamity Ganon's form. As the blast finally subsided the beast roared again and glared at Link. At first the beast was going to toy with the would-be hero but now? Now he was going to die.
The beast lunged forward at Link swinging wildly with its red ancient axe like the ones the more powerful guardians would use. Link danced between the wild swings trying his best to find a chance to land a hit but Ganon was relentless. Link jumped over one of the swings and landed on the solid head of the axe. Taking his opportunity, he plunged the royal claymore deep into the malice of Ganon's body the beast howled out in pain but recovered quickly, swatting Link away. Link watched in horror as the claymore sunk into Ganon's body and out of sight. He readied another weapon, a very strongly enhanced guardian axe and charged the beast.
Another laser fired from Ganon, and another shield shattered after the reflection. Link took out his last weapon with labored breaths one of the Yiga clan's blades. It was his last hope, in his rush to save the princess and all of Hyrule he was unable to find the sword that seals the darkness, and he was regretting it. Ganon skittered along the walls of the area, a gurgled chuckle echoed throughout as it charged another laser outside of Link's striking distance. The last thing Link saw was a flash of bright blue light from Ganon's laser.
Pain racked through Link for only a moment as he was incinerated. As he opened his eyes he was in a room he had not seen before. Several windows lined the room but each showed a different scene. One showed a wolf running through a canyon with a small demon-like creature on its back, another showed a Goron chasing down a massive goat. Link looked around in confusion before an unfamiliar voice pulled his attention elsewhere.
"I wondered when I would get to meet the Hero of Hyrule." A radiant female's voice spoke. As she did the images in the windows vanished and white light flooded the room. "Valiant hero of Hyrule, who twice gave his life fighting Ganon. I am the goddess Hylia. Here you will be judged and sent either to my Gardens or to the very depths that spawned Ganon, though I doubt you have much to fear."
"P-please" Link whimpered.
"I'm sorry?" Hylia asked. Most mortals that came through her domain began begging for redemption if the feared they would go to the depths, was the hero perhaps guilty of some darkness even she was un aware of?
"Send me back. Please!" Link begged as tears welled up in his eyes. "I already failed them once I cannot fail again!"
"Great hero I-" Hylia spoke.
"Please anywhere, anytime, anyplace!" Link shouted as he bowed his head to the floor no longer able to hold back his tears. "Revali, Daruk, Urbosa, Zelda...Mipha. I cannot fail them again! Please Great goddess Hylia, send me back so that I can avenge my fallen friends and loved ones! Please I beg of you!"
To say Hylia wasn't moved by Links desperate plea would be a lie, there was only one problem. "Hero, if this is your wish I will grant it but be it known. This will be the only chance you have, as well as I cannot send you back to that arena. You will be sent back to a moment in time before Calamity Ganon's resurrection. Any ties you made during your journey will not be waiting for you. Only you will retain your memories and there is a chance that being sent that far back will drive you mad. Are you sure this is what-"
"Yes." Link stated.
As he lifted his head to meet her gaze, Hylia saw no hesitation in his eyes. To this hero, no price was too great to save those that he cherished. With a sigh Hylia smiled softly to the boy. "Very well then, I suppose our meeting must be postponed. Good luck to you Hero, May luck be on your side this time." She said and with a dismissive wave the window behind Link shattered outwards, pulling him through before it reformed.
Link snapped back to reality staring out at a massive body of water he nearly started to panic when a familiar voice caught his attention.
"Link? Are you alright?"
He knew that voice and tears started to well in his eyes once more as he slowly turned towards her. There sitting next to him was none other than the Zora princess, Mipha. "If you are still in pain show me where it hurts and I'll AHH!" Mipha gasped as Link pulled her into a tight hug and started sobbing
"Mipha, you're here, it worked." Link chocked out between his heavy sobs.
Mipha gently wrapped her arms around the young hero with a soft smile. "Do not worry Link, I am not going anywhere."