The great Dire Beast Ganon fell at last as Link stood panting before the corpse. He sheathed the Master Sword and ran over to Princess Zelda, who lay where she'd fallen after Ganon released his control over her mind. He helped her to her feet, and a loud bellow echoed around the vast throne room. He felt a massive shove and was suddenly in the centre of the vast Hyrule field, atop his Horse with Zelda. Link looked towards his shadow, towards Midna, for answers; but the small Twili Imp was nowhere to be found. He looked up at the massive pyramidal shield around the castle to see a pitched battle, a massive shadowy spider creature taking on Ganon's ultimate form. Midna had completely absorbed the fused shadows, sending Link and Zelda to a safe distance while she battled the false god. Things seemed dire for the imp, even in her new form, the light powers granted to Ganon by the Triforce of Power caused significant damage, blasting her through the very foundations of the castle with the very antithesis of her being.
A blinding light erupted within the pyramid, dissolving it and temporarily blinding all onlookers. Link and Zelda looked at each other, speechless, and silently prayed that the Twilight Princess had come out victorious. Their hopes were dashed, however, when Ganon rode down from the ruined castle atop his demonic steed, his personal Twili entourage in tow. The Bandit king hoisted an object above his head, Link's stomach dropped when it was completely visible. The helm of the fused shadows, drained of it's magic and colour, was raised triumphantly over Ganon's head as a trophy of Midna's death.
"Hero of Courage, are you truly this cowardly? To allow your companions to die in your place?" Ganon laughed and hurled the shadow, the lifeless artifact landed at Link's feet and crumbled into dust. Link felt the rage boil in his throat as Ganon turned his horse around. "Catch me if you can, hero of cowardice, the rest of Castle Town must burn."
A feral roar escaped Link's throat, more befitting of his wolf form than anything else, and he spurred his horse forward. Epona took off in a furious gallop across Hyrule Field, Link was going to take down Ganon, once and for all.
As he made his approach, Ganon's dark retinue veered off and turned to face him, charging with their shadowed swords drawn. The Ordonian pulled the master sword from it's sheath to meet them, bisecting the first rider at the midsection and removing the head of the second. The remaining three moved to attack from a range. Link swapped to his bow and fired off three rapid shots. Each passed directly through the riders as if they were ghosts, to no effect. Zelda moved forward on the back of the horse and spoke into his ear. "The ancient tales say that those chosen by the Triforce can call on the light spirits for aid against forces of evil. Keep after Ganon and hand me your bow, I'll take down the spellcasters."
Link acquiesced, and pushed Epona further. They were keeping pace with Ganon, but the Twili Retinue was catching up quickly, lobbing spells that seemed to come closer to their mark each time. Link saw a rider take aim, and knew that this spell wouldn't miss, he couldn't dodge and keep pace with Ganon. The green-clad knight felt oddly empty, knowing that he would fail, and that Zelda was simply sitting on the back of his horse with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, a bright golden arrow shot over Link's head and impaled the rider mid incantation, the golden shaft sprouting from his eye-socket. He saw Zelda in corner of his eye, the Princess was exuding a golden light, as was his bow, as she fired a neverending stream of arrows at the riders and the reinforcements that warped in. Link took care of any that came too close, lopping off limbs with ease as Zelda stopped any spellcasters or archers that got brave. No longer needing to dodge Ganon's minions, Link pushed Epona even faster, and soon they were upon Ganon. The gates of Castle Town loomed ahead, along with the deaths of many, should Ganon reach them. In a split-second decision, Link stood up on the saddle and leaped at the False God, knocking him off his steed and taking his horse out at the knees. Rising from the ground, the two warriors stood face to face, each furious at the other. Ganon raised an arm and the familiar shape of a Twilight Barrier formed around them, creating an arena neither could escape; the clear sky quickly shifted into a thunderstorm as rain began to hammer the two combatants. "Now, Link, I will finish what your ancestor prevented. I will kill the Hero of Courage, and all you stand for. All of Hyrule will belong to me!"
He drew the very sword meant to execute him, a blade of pure light, and stood at the ready. Link followed suit, and leapt into the offensive. Ganon blocked every blow, but did not attack, before knocking Link back against the forcefield with the hilt of his blade. Link moved in again, trying to keep Ganon off balance by staying to his left, making it harder for the right handed Gerudo to land a proper hit. The plan was working well until an invisible force flung him backwards into the barrier once more. Damnit! thought Link, tasting blood in his mouth, How can I beat him when he has all the advantages? He looked to the side and saw his mentor, the Hero's Shade, materialize just beyond the wall.
"Young Warrior, in ages past, in a future I prevented, Ganon destroyed Hyrule; and I brought him to his knees. All I have taught you so far was to prepare you for this outcome." The shade shifted, becoming less like a Stalfos, and more like an older version of Link himself. The green clothing had faded, and he wore a more battleworn face, but Link recognized the shade as family. "My grandson, you were born to do this. Remember what I taught you. Ganon is a powerful sorcerer, but we are much better swordsmen."
"Hah! Pathetic spirit!" Ganon spat, "you had to rewrite history itself to stop me, and even then, here I am, more powerful than before. This whelp stands no chance, Hyrule itself bends to my will!" On cue, the ground rose up around Link, threatening to crush him. Thinking quickly, he remembered the hidden skills of the shade. Great Spin! Link began rotating quickly and pulverized the rock around him, releasing him to the ground, gasping. Sensing weakness, Ganon charged. At the last moment, Link gripped the Master Sword and rose, striking Ganon and knocking him back. Mortal Draw! As Ganon began to rise, he funneled power into his blade and leaped at Ganon, Jump Strike! Ganon moved onto the offensive, unleashing a barrage of blows as link raised his shield, pushing him back, until he saw an opening and thrust forward with his shield and leaped over Ganon; laying two deep cuts into his head and a slash from behind on landing. Shield Bash and Helm Splitter!
"So, maybe you aren't just a whelp. Either way, I'll crush you eventually, I am immortal!" Ganon called out, trying his best to hide his wounds. Ganon's cockiness betrayed caution, and he adopted a style to match, only attacking when Link left an opening. Link waited for one too, feinting right into Ganon's blade before he quickly rolled to the left, outside of his reach, and layed deep into Ganon's back with his sword. Back Slice! Link finished with a swift kick to the small of his back that sent him sprawling to the ground. The wounded Gerudo rolled onto his back and coughed blood. "H-how, how is this possible!" he yelled, "I am the wielder of the Triforce of Power! The chosen of Din! I cannot be stopped!"
Even as he said this, Ganon exposed the one weak point on his body, the wound left by the sages long ago. Link leapt forward and plunged the Master Sword deep into it, staring into Ganon's face as it speared him. Finally, he spoke, his eyes cold with malice and vengeance.
"Finishing Blow."
The light left Ganon's eyes as he became still. Link retrieved the blade from his adversary's chest, and turned to look at the remains of Hyrule Castle. Zelda stood beside him and tried to comfort him, "I am sorry that Midna had to die. She will be forever remembered by the Royal Fami-" Zelda was cut off by a Twilight warp not far away. The new arrival was a female humanoid, but swathed in a black cloak that carried familiar markings. Link rushed towards her, but stopped dead when she turned to face him. Her skin was pale, her body long and lithe, but the red eyes, orange hair, and the mischievous expression was all the proof Link needed. This was Midna; Ganon's curse had been broken with his death, and returned her to full power.
She watched him gape at her for a minute before speaking, "What? Say something! Am I so beautiful that you have no words left?" Link grinned and embraced his returned companion. "I'll take that as a yes, hee hee!"
With the final defeat of Ganon, the lands of Hyrule had become peaceful once more, the Bulblin Raiders had made peace with the Hylians after the multiple defeats of their leader by Link, and were assisting the defence of Hyrule, for now. As such, the worst threats to travelers were kept at bay, and the trek to the Mirror of Twilight was uneventful. This lack of stimulation gave Link time to think for the first time since his Adventure had started, and now that it was done, what would he do?
I can't just go back to Ordon and be a goatherd for the rest of my life, and I've caused such an impact that I'd never live in peace again. I'd spend it all working for Zelda as a knight, at best. Everyone's trivial problems will be my own, for a government that I've never been a part of. Not to mention Midna, when she sacrificed herself to save me and Zelda, I was consumed by rage. Can I really leave her in the Twilight realm?
He continued with these thoughts the entire way, Zelda and Midna remaining just as quiet throughout the journey, not even speaking when they set up camp for the night, it was like a death march. As they passed through Hyrule, Link couldn't help but notice things he and Midna had fixed. Traders heading towards the Eldin Bridge they had fixed, Zora fishing in lake Hylia. Everywhere they had gone, they had brought peace, everywhere Twilight had consumed the land. He remembered Midna's weight on his back, advising him as he tore into shadow beasts with tooth and claw. He saw reminders of their deeds everywhere he looked, and realized that their time together would soon be at an end.
Before long, they had crossed the hot and oppressive Gerudo Desert, and the three of them stood before the Mirror of Twilight, the portal to Midna's realm reflected onto a massive onyx block in the centre of the room. Midna walked towards it and began to speak, "This is where I must say goodbye. Our worlds obviously cannot coexist, Zant has proven this without a doubt. On my way through, I will destroy the mirror, so this may never happen agai-"
"Midna! Wait!" Link yelled, surprising the two princesses, he had never spoken much. "Take me with you. You're the greatest friend I've ever had, and I really have nothing in this world. I'm an orphaned Hero without a world to save, at least let me protect you in the Twilight Realm." The normally mute Hero's eyes were pleading.
"Link... ar-are you sure?" Midna was speechless, she had always thought that their partnership only extended to the quest at hand, but with him at her side in the Twilight Realm...
"Absolutely. It's go with you, or be a goatherd in a backwater. I'd prefer to stay with the beautiful princess, even if it trapped me in wolf form." He stepped closer to the portal, next to Midna.
"Very well, my Twilight Knight," she smiled at him, "we'll have a whole new adventure together."
"Indeed, but first," he slowly took the Master Sword off of his back, almost reverently. "I assume you'll want this back, Princess Zelda?"
The Hylian Princess shook her head, "No, you've earned it. I'm sure it'll come in handy on your next grand adventure, and keep your original form in the Twilight realm. I'll also make sure your horse gets back to Ordon, I'm sure your friend Ilia will be pleased."
"Thank you, your majesty." Link said, bowing as he and Midna stepped into the portal.
A single tear escaped Midna's eyes, one of happiness. She gathered it on a finger and flicked it at the mirror, shattering it and locking them in their new home.
On the other side of the portal, Link came face to face with a throng of fully decursed Twili, cheering the return of their Twilight Princess. Midna raised her arms, and the crowd fell silent.
"As you all have no doubt realized, Zant and his false god have been defeated, allowing us to return to our peaceful existence. It was this Light Dweller, Link, that freed us, it is he that we must thank for our freedom. In return, he has asked to stay with us, in our beautiful land of eternal twilight!"
Roaring applause went up among the crowd, along with the chant. "Blue Eyed Beast! Blue Eyed Beast!"
Link looked to Midna and smiled. "Well Midna, let's give them what they want"
Even in her regular form, Midna's impish grin remained. "I think we should."
Link transformed into his wolf form and let out a howl that echoed throughout his new home, the Hylians of old knew the sound as the Song of Healing.
