Fall of a King
That was it.
That flashed through Link's mind, as his fur withdrew into his skin. He could feel every bit of the transformation. Now, he might never have to change again...
The massive form of the Shadow Beast- Ganon, lay in the throne room floor; a large, glowing scar in the middle of his gut. Now, all that was left was the massive bulk of Ganon's dead body.
Link and Midna, the Twilight Princess, who was cursed in the form of an imp by Zant; they stood there, staring at the bulk of the Shadow Beast.
Then Link, as well as Midna saw it. A golden light was building in Midna's body. Glowing brighter, forcing them to shield their eyes with their hand. When they were able to see again, they saw that the light had left Midna's body, and was floating through the air, towards the unconcious form of the Princess Zelda.
She rose from her seat, quickly scanning the battle field. She noticed the rips and cuts in Links tunic as well as the rusted chainmail beneath. She took note of the deep red strips beneath the armor, where Link was cut multiple times. She noted the bulk in the middle of the throne room. Zelda's eyes finally came to rest upon Midna.
"I..." Midna began.
"No words are nessessary, Midna; Princess of the Twilight Realm," Zelda interrupted, her voice was soft. "Though it were only a brief period, our hearts and souls were as one. I felt your pain. I felt your sorrow. I felt your hatred. I felt your love. And I know you have suffered far more than any other for this victory."
Zelda reached out and gently wiped the tears from Midna's face. A tear rolled down Zelda's left cheek. "I'm afraid your curse is far beyond my power to break. But I promise that I will do everything within my power to help you."
Almost instantaneously, a large flame burst to life and was feeding on Ganon's body. The flames spiraled upward into a face. Ganondorf's face. The face was laughing maniacally.
Link drew his sword and ran after the face.
No, Midna thought, He's too strong! He'll kill you, Link!
Link saw it coming. He knew why she had summoned the Fused Shadows. Realizing instantaneously what Midna planned to do, he leaped for her. Screaming her name, he tried to reach for her, tried to disrupt her concentration. He was only a few feet away. He should have been able to reach her.
His feet had left the floor. He was flying through the air. Everything seemed to be moving in slow-motion. She turned to him. She smiled, sadly. A smile so sad, that it made Link feel as if his heart was being torn from his chest. Then his body broke apart.
Link found himself lying on the ground, in the grass. He searched around to find his location, quickly.
Link turned back to the castle, to see it colapsing. He saw the midnight black horse amidst the dust and smoke from the towering castle. Upon the sattle was the man who had caused all the pain and suffering, that Link had borne witness to. Ganondorf had continued his human form; his pitch-black plate armor, pierced in the center, where a glowing white scar was un-noticeable; and completely inter-twined plates over his arms and legs.
The fire-breathing horse reared up on its hind legs, and let out a loud whinney that sounded more like a demon's laugh; and Ganondorf held one hand up, and Link could see the dark silhouetted shape against the sunset. It was Midna's Mask.
"No..." Link breathed.
It couldn't have been more painful, if he'd been stabbed. He had never seen Midna without her mask.
Ganondorf crushed the object in his bare hand, proving how strong he was; and he dropped it. It crumbled even more as it fell to the ground. Link's eyes followed it to the ground.
Ganondorf waved his arm, and four figures appeared. With a cry of victory, Ganondorf drew his sword and charged.
Link was still watching the broken mask, as the thundering hoofbeats passed by. He turned to Ganondorf whose face was twisted in maniacal glee.
Link's pain instantly bursted into rage. This man. He had just taken the life of his best friend; and was yet to take more. He remembered what he had once said to Midna. I love adventures as much as you do. But I wish it was without the bloodshed and killing.
This man lived for blood. For death and torture of innocent lives. It wouldn't be over until he was dead. Link reached for the Master Sword; gripping it so tight, that it turned his knuckles white.
One more time, he thought. I won't let your death be meaningless, Midna. I'm going to slaughter that son of a bitch.
The ghosts reached him first. With a massive spinning swing with the Master Sword, Link cleaved the first two in half. Then, he swiftly put the Master Sword in reverse-grip, and viciously stabbed backwards into the third ghost's crotch; the blade if enchanting light piercing its necro-flesh very easily. Then he met the fourth head-on; using the Master Sword to vertically slice through the ghost; cutting it completely in half, from its head to its vulnerables.
He turned to face Ganondorf. The dark man was near. Then everything suddenly froze. A soft hand took Link's shoulder. "Follow me."
Link turned to see Zelda. And with a blinding flash, a shortbow and golden arrows, known as the Light Arrows suddenly appeared. The bow was carved from scortched black wood, and was overlaid with golden designs and spirals.
Zelda bowed, and said, "Lend me your strenght and courage for just a little longer..." Then she held her hand out.
Link took her hand and said, "I will do everything I can to protect you, and the rest of Hyrule, and kill the bastard, while doing so."
Then they snapped back into reality. And Ganondorf was charging them once more. Link met his charge, riding on Epona. Their blades clashed with a shower of sparks. The collision left Links sword arm numb.
This isn't working, he thought. Have to find a way to get him off his horse, so I can fight him with an advantage.
While one can fight from horseback, they would not be capable of such moves as Link can do. Not without chopping up their horse, anyway.
Ganondorf was once again spurring his horse, ready for another charge. Then, Link spotted a drop-off that he remembered had led to Kakariko Village. Ganondorf was upon him again; attacking with an overhead swing, missing Link by a few inches. Link kept going. Ganondorf spurred his horse around and gave chase.
Link pulled Epona's reigns to the left, as Ganondorf hurled a large ball of the Triforce of Power's energy at him. Then, Link quickly steered right, as Ganondorf hurled another ball of energy at them.
Almost there, he thought. Come on.
Finally, they were there. Epona leaped over the wall out into the darkness of night. A good fifteen feet down. A bolt of energy flew over there heads. When they finally hit the ground, Epona snorted loudly. The landing had hurt her but, thankfully, nothing was broken.
A second later, with a loud demon laugh, Ganondorf leaped over the wall, crushing Ebony, his demon horse, upon landing, for the light weight horse couldn't hold the heavily muscled man. Link dismounted. That horse wasn't getting back up. He drew the Master Sword, and slid his shield down on to his left arm.
"Nice," Ganondorf said, getting up from his landing. "Very nice. You might be the best enemy I have ever fought. Your kind never cease to amaze me, Link."
Thunder echoed across the field. Darkness rolling over the night sky.
"Ah, yes. Twilight," Ganondorf said. "A fitting time to end this, wouldn't you say, Link? Answer me this: What is it that you fight for?"
"Me? I fight for my value and I fight for my friends; and the rest of Hyrule, who are depending on me."
Zelda pulled the reigns, as Epona tried to move towards Link. "Easy, girl. He has to do this by himself."
Link suddenly started shouting. "I fight for a very precious friend of mine, who you murdered in cold blood!"
A smile flew across Ganondorf's face. "I have murdered many people. You should have seen my first rise to power. Oh, the mountains of bodies! The rivers of fresh blood! Killing Midna was just removing an obstacle in my way."
"You son of a bitch," Link said. "After all that's happened, you don't even feel regret for what you have done?"
"You want to talk history now? I grew up in a world sick with war. I grew up starving; watching my family and friends die so that I may live!" Ganondorf took a deep breath, that seemed to have a calming effect on his mood. "Now, time to make a deal. Hear me out before you say no. If you give me the Triforce now, I will let you live. You can go back to your normal life."
Link thought about it. He and his friends would be able to live out their lives in peace. Everything he had wanted. But...
But it wouldn't bring Midna back. "You want this?" Link said, holding up his right hand. "Come and take it."
Ganondorf's smile disappeared. "So be it."
He leaped. It was so sudden, that Link was barely able to lift his shield in time to block. Their swords collided with one another, a shower of sparks lighting the shadows around them. Link took several steps back. It was raining, which made footing a living Hell.
About four feet to Link's right, was the gorge that separated Kakariko and Death Mountain from the rest of Hyrule. Ganondorf lunged with a two-handed cleave that Link caught with the edge of the Master Sword. The block had forced them into a power-lock.
A power-lock is where to weapons of roughly equal durability are locked together at the hilt.
Link fought for his footing, as Ganondorf was forcing him closer to the gorge.
"Time to die, Link," Ganondorf said. "You are the last of your kind! I will make sure of it!"
Then Link slammed his knee into Ganondorf's crotch. That was all he needed. Link shield bashed the dark warrior in the face. Then, with a mighty swing, cleaved Ganondorf's head from his shoulders; showering Link in his blood. Then Ganondorf's headless body fell over the edge and down into the gorge, followed by a loud clanking sound. Then all was truely silent.
A bright golden glow encompassed Link and he could feel the warmth of the Triforce of Courage, as it was re-uniting with the Triforce of Power. The glow was so bright, that Zelda had to shield her eyes with her hand. After the lightshow, Link looked at his right hand, where the Triforce of Power and Courage was now visible.
Zelda walked up to Link. "It seems that Ganondorf is now truely dead."
"And you would know that how?" Link said.
"Because, you now have the Triforce of Power in your possession. The Triforce can only be given freely, or taken from the corpse of a piece bearer. And Ganondorf surely would not give it up freely."
Right then, Link saw it. "It's not possible." Then he ran up the hill.
At the top he saw her. Pale-blue smooth skin, fiery-red hair. She turned around, surprised. "Link!"
Link tried to say something, but he could not find words.
"Am I so beautiful, that you're at lost for words?"
"This... This is real?"
"Link..." Midna began, but suddenly found herself in Link's arms. She was at lost for words.
"I... I thought you were dead... I thought that foul demon had taken you from me..." Link said, sadly.
"Link..." Midna began, then stopped, when Zelda had reached them.
"It seems that Ganondorf is truely dead, now that your curse is broken," Zelda said.
"And I have you to thank for that," Midna said.
"Actually," Zelda replied, "You should be thanking Link for this. He killed Ganondorf, you know."
"Well..." Midna began, but Link had pulled her into his arms... again. They locked eyes for a moment. Then, their lips met for but a small moment. The kiss felt like Heaven to Midna, who had been longing to kiss Link and finally did.
When they finally parted, Link let go of Midna and she stepped away gracefully.
"Well..." Zelda said. "It has been a rough period of time. The Age of Darkness has finally ended."
A few hours later, Link and Midna had gone back to Ordon Village, Link's home, and Zelda had stayed with them for a little while.