THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
The Balanced Heart
By Henry
CHAPTER ONE: One and the Same
Ganondorf looked down at what he now held in his left hand, unused to so much light shining from a single blade. As his adversary approached, and he raised the weapon to defend himself, the King of the Gerudo couldn't help but note how light the weapon was, moving with an easy grace. The sword wielded by the boy in the green tunic –by comparison- already showed signs of wear.
Yet, despite his apparent advantage, Ganondorf was still troubled. Even a mind as arrogant as his was not indifferent to pattern recognition. How many times had he fought this same battle, with a boy playing the part of hero? How many times had he underestimated the youth that rose to challenge him?
How many times had this mere boy defeated him?
Yet now… now that would never happen again.
I know you are not invincible, Ganondorf thought as their blades clashed once more. I know you're made of flesh and blood.
He recalled the first time he'd seen that green tunic, when a boy from the Kokiri Forest dared to challenge him and interfere with his hunt for the Ocarina of Time, and by extension, the Triforce. Gandondorf struck him down effortlessly.
You are just a boy.
And yet, that boy returned and defeated him, denying Ganondorf his dream of completing the Triforce and establishing his rule over Hyrule once and forever. After being sealed away for decades… centuries, he'd returned-
-only to find another boy, dressed in that same green tunic, wielding the blade of evil's bane and vanquishing the Evil King once again. Ganondorf's physical form was damaged, but the Triforce of Power would not let him die. Not so long as there was enough of him to put back together.
I am a god.
When sealing had failed, when execution had failed, the sages tried a combination of the two, condemning him to a world separate from Hyrule, where he could only manipulate, until a method of return was established. Using a usurper king as his pawn, Ganondorf returned to the land he coveted, only to be struck down once more by the boy and his sword.
It was, to some degree understandable. The boy possessed the Triforce of Courage and he'd been aided by Princess Zelda, who possessed the Triforce of Wisdom. As he mused on that, Ganondorf attempted a more subtle approach, taking possession of a benevolent wizard to subjugate Hyrule, even as he remained drifting listlessly, imprisoned in the Dark World. With more magical power than ever, he still fell to the blade of evil's bane.
It was never you who defeated me, Ganondorf pointed out, shoving his adversary to the floor and narrowly missing the finishing blow.
One final time, Ganondorf attempted to subjugate Hyrule, but again the boy rose to challenge him, dressed like all his predecessors. One final time Ganondorf was defeated, and this time slain, torn apart to a point where even the Triforce of Power could not revive him. He was still alive, but unable to resume his shape and regain his strength.
In that state of defeat, his followers hatched a plan to revive him, and allied with the ancient occultists once known as the Dark Interlopers. Together, they used their dark magic to create a copy of the boy, to battle him.
The blade of evil's bane would only respond to Ganondorf himself. It slumbered in the sacred grove, and the boy faced his doppelganger without it. He fell, unable to fight the darkness forever.
It was always the sword. Never you.
The followers returned to Ganondorf and sprinkled the boy's blood upon his remains. Combined with their magic, and the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf returned, born anew.
And born more powerful than ever, with the essence of his adversary now running through his veins. Ganondorf felt it immediately, and upon his return looked at his hand. Alongside the Triforce of Power, the Triforce of Courage had burned into his flesh. It was incomplete, it had never truly been his' to hold, but as its former host had been used to recreate him, Ganondorf now held a portion of its power.
The sword…
His followers celebrated his return. All save the doppelganger, who was capable only of destruction. It was just a construct, just a tool- but one Ganondorf had not made. He could not simply dismiss the doppelganger nor did he wish to destroy it, so he left it to its own motions, to destroy further. The Dark Interlopers raised no objection, and joined the Evil King's minions in spreading word of his return.
Ganondorf, however, did not take time to celebrate. He ran to what had once been the Temple of Time, now overrun by a dense, dark forest, where he knew his prize would await him. When he saw the cool steel and the powerful hilt, embedded in that pedestal, Ganondorf knew he could not waste the opportunity.
The one thing that had ever defeated him. The only thing that had denied him his dreams lay before him, itself the key to reuniting the Triforce and granting him dominion over Hyrule once and for all. He hesitated for a moment, not knowing if the blade would repel him… or even destroy him all over again!
He had to know. And if he was right, he would never know fear again.
Ganondorf grasped the hilt and lifted the Master Sword from its resting place. It shined brightly, its power unleashed in his hand, and the two symbols of the Triforce burning ever brighter. At last, Ganondorf held the greatest weapon in Hyrule, and the only thing he had ever truly feared.
And now he held it as easily as his adversary had, and when a new boy rose to challenge him, he did so without the blade of evil's bane. Ganondorf knew from the very beginning no other sword could defeat him, and as the battle dragged on, the boy knew it too.
The Princess Zelda, newly awoken from a lengthy slumber, watched from the sidelines. She had dreamed of this battle while in her cursed sleep, but never saw its outcome. She believed in Link, as her ancestors had before her, and believed peace would be restored to Hyrule with just this battle.
This boy had saved her from her sleep, and defended Hyrule from the threat of evil, as his predecessor had. He was the rightful successor to the Hero of Time, now bearing that mantle and the famed green tunic, and had accepted his destiny with humility and grace. He had proven to Zelda that he was like no one else in Hyrule. He was their hope for the future.
And when he missed a crucial strike, Ganondorf drove the Master Sword through Link's torso. He could not speak in reaction, as his mouth quickly filled with blood. He dropped his sword and shield, and as Ganondorf drew his weapon away, Link fell to the floor, the Evil King standing triumphantly over him.
Zelda had seen many brave men fall before Ganondorf, but she had never expected to see him defeat Link. It had never happened. It had always been the Hero of Time's destiny to slay the Evil King.
Yet now, as she saw him roll, blood falling from his chest and tears rolling down his eyes, as she saw him pleading with her to flee and save herself, she knew why she had not forseen the end. If she had ever seen it at all, it was a nightmare like none she could bear.
Zelda fled, her own eyes now shining with tears, for the death of her hero… her beloved.
Ganondorf stepped towards Link as he struggled to hold onto his lie, examining him without emotion. He would not betray his happiness, his satisfaction. Not until he knew for certain.
Ganondorf struck once more with the Master Sword and Link moved no more.
And there, standing in the grand hall of Hyrule Castle, with his greatest enemy vanquished, Ganondorf raised the Master Sword high, and sent out his power, blasting through the castle roof and inviting the denizens of darkness to swarm over the land, and consolidate his reign.
He would need to pursue the Princess and be rid of her, to insure the people's loyalty, but there would be time to pursue her after he'd taken the time to savor his victory. And without her hero to save her, Ganondorf would find her, and without the forefather to sire new life, another hero would never be born. He would stamp out all resistance, and with the only weapon that could harm him now in his hand, his rule would be absolute; his reign of terror would be everlasting.
He laughed, overwhelmed by joy, as darkness enshrouded the castle and extended over the land, inviting more of his minions to him, and bringing the land of Hyrule into the kingdom he sought. He would revive those who loyally served him and fell at the hands of the hero, and send envoy to all the monstrous and exiled. With an army of creatures all would fear, and the power of the Triforce in his hand…
…and of course, the Master Sword…
Evil and evil's bane… one and the same.
He laughed once more as the Evil King assumed his throne, the body of his adversary still on the castle floor.
