All rights go to Nintendo. The author does not claim ownership of anything other than the plot of the following story.
Cowardice
Prologue
'The hero and beast locked in eternal battle...' - From the Book of Mudora
The hero is dying. He knows this as fact. There is little to be done of it. Each cycle is different. A fitting end for such a lack-luster hero, he supposes. Death by impaling.
His partner sticks from his chest. The Blade of Evil's Bane seems almost regretful, in that regard.
The eternal foe grins widely, gloved paw grasping the hilt of the blade. Even through the glove, the golden shine of the triforce mocks the hero.
Strength is fleeting. The hero knows this as fact. The princess is dead. The hero is dying. The beast lives.
All this was for naught.
All this madness over the divine birthmark...
All this soul-jarring horror...
It breaks the mind...
It breaks the soul...
It breaks the spirit...
The hero is weary. On the brink of death, memories of past lives return. They all end similarly: with someone impaled on the Blade of Evil's Bane.
The hero snaps.
Horror, madness, spirit... all forgotten in the rage.
The blade tears out of his chest. The hero's left hand on its hilt, bare skin on leather. His birthmark shines brilliantly...
But not for long. It shines brilliantly until the sword leaves the hand of its master. It shines until the hand of the beast is on the ground.
And the hero falls.
'And the three divine powers departed from the land of their creators.' - From the Book of Mudora
End Chapter.