-Kill m-me… please…
Zelda stared in shock as Ganondorf's bloodied face turned toward her. It had been hours since he was there, lying on his back, the Master Sword sticking out of his chest. And he was still alive.
-K-kill me… please…
The pain had to be unbearable for the Dark King to beg. His hand weakly reached for her, but she was standing well out of his reach.
-Zelda…f- finish… me…
She couldn't decide if she wanted him to endure the pain until the end or if she wanted to put him out of his misery. As a bearer of the Triforce, she had to be merciful and generous, even with her enemy. But as a human… as a human she wanted him to suffer like her people had, she wanted him to suffer like anyone had never suffered. Yet…
-P-please… he murmured, his voice growing weaker and weaker. If our positions w-were… reversed I… would show… you no less m-mercy…
He lied, and they both knew it. He once again turned his gaze toward the sky, his eyes wide open but unseeing, blinded by the pain. She hesitantly stepped forward. One step, two steps… she finally kneeled next to her agonizing enemy. She firmly seized the sword's handle and pulled it out of his body. She almost threw up as the sickening sound of metal ripping flesh was heard in the silence of the night. Ganondorf's mouth opened in a quiet scream, too weak to utter a single sound. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, panting. It was just as if his body refused to let what remained of his soul go, and wanted to keep it inside its fleshy prison for eternity. Zelda placed the sword near her, ignoring the black blood that dripped on the ground. She took a deep breath and placed her hand over Ganondorf's chest. It soon started to glow with a beautiful golden gleam.
-Yes… u-use your magic… he whispered.
He closed his eyes and his labored breathing seemed to ease.
-Take m-my life…
His entire body relaxed as the pain slowly vanished. The moon appeared, perfectly round and white, from behind the clouds.
-End my… torment…
His eyes swung open when he realized what she was doing. He suddenly sat and surrounded her throat with a single hand. Yet, it was too late.
-NO! he screamed.
He stood, still holding her. He lifted her a few inches above the ground. She did not struggle, didn't even try to loosen his grip on her throat.
-You cured me! He yelled. Why did you save my life?
She only smiled weakly as Ganondorf's grip slowly squeezed the life out of her.
-WHY DID YOU SAVE MY LIFE? The Dark Lord yelled.
As Zelda felt the last sparks of life leave her body, she could find enough strength to whisper a single word. She murmured, so low that even Ganondorf could barely hear her:
-Because…
/
Zelda turned her gaze toward the sky, her eyes wide open but unseeing. She heard Ganondorf's horse' hooves clatter into the distance. So this was how it felt to die? See the skies darken, and hear the world go quiet?
As this thought crossed her mind, she saw a beautiful white light begin to shine just above her. Was it the goddesses welcoming her into their kingdom? Or was it only the moon's glow, rendered blurry by the veil that covered her eyes? Either way, she was ready. She closed her eyes and felt her soul slip away.
I am ready.