THREE
The Master Sword was broken by the hands of the hero, melted down in the searing flames, beaten, and reborn from suffering. He wielded it proudly in battle. Meanwhile, the Goddess was desperately trying to hold back an unspoken evil. The Demon King.
Wicked desire assaulted the surface, staining it the color of obsidian and crimson. The mountains, the plains, and all that flowed pure on the earth were ruthlessly scoured by fire. Hoards of monsters plagued the hero and his army, the people were beginning to lose hope in their Goddess.
Just when the humans believed the gods had abandoned them in their time of need, the Goddess sent her guardians to aid the humans in their fight. The Demon King's army advanced upon them, and the fight began. For seven days and seven nights, the Goddess's army fought valiantly against the demons. Vast numbers of humans were slaughtered. But, few though they were, the courageous people continued to fight. their resolve unwavering.
Link fell to his knees in front of the many graves of his friends. The had been fighting for a week, and already a third of his people were lying in the earth before him. Samuel was one of them. Some of the people in the graves were children. Some mothers and fathers who now left their children without a parent, or orphans. It was too much. Soon, they'd all be dead.
Link took deep breaths and tried to calm himself. This could be won. Hadn't he been taught as a child that good always wins over evil? He wouldn't let his people down.
He stood up and faced the direction of the Demon King's Army. The Demon King himself had joined the fight, causing earthquakes and thunderstorms, no one could go near him though, they hadn't seen him in person yet. He seemed to be fighting the Goddess, because on occasions, they could see flashes of white where the Demon King seemed to be, in the middle of a constant hurricane.
Link knew in his heart they were losing, even with the help of the Goddess's guardians. But they wouldn't give up.
His heart hurt to see the beautiful land he grew up on reduced to ash. The sky was stormy, as it had been for a long time. Everyone was calling it the end of the world, which Link had no doubt it was. He frowned. This had been the most beautiful land he'd ever seen, now it was a wasteland.
He stared at the Demon King's Army. He would make sure the Demon King was defeated, he would fight him himself. Darius would call him insane, but he didn't care, it would be him who fought the Demon King. He would pay for destroying so many lives and acres of land.
"Link?"
Link started at his name behind him. He turned to see, to his surprise, Hylia.
He fell to one knee and bowed his head. "Goddess."
"Please, Link, stand. I wish to see your face as I speak to you." She said quietly
Link stood. "You wish to speak to me?"
"Yes." She looked sadly out at her army. "I am doing my best to fight Demise, but I'm afraid I will not be able to defeat him without the help of the Master Sword."
Link unsheathed the sword. "Please, take it."
"No, Link. I can no longer wield the sword in battle. You have remade it for the use of heroes, not gods. The Master Sword will only respond to you now."
"Then how will you be able to defeat the Demon King?"
She then directed her gaze to the hurricane. "Demise will soon grow too weak to keep his shield up. When that happens, you humans will be able to come in contact with him. Link, I had hoped that I would not have to ask you this. You have had so many trials in your life already. But I need you to fight the Demon King. You are the land's only hope."
Link raised his eyebrows in surprise. Had the Goddess read his mind? "Your Grace, you don't even have to ask me. I would like nothing better than to fight the Demon King. "
She smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you so much, Link. You are a true hero." She frowned as she stared at the hurricane again. "And refer to him as Demise, he does not deserve the title of king."
Link softly touched her shoulder. "Goddess, frowns do not suit you." He smiled sweetly. "You're too beautiful for that."
She smiled back. "Thank you. And you are too handsome for brooding."
"I'll try not to from now on."
She stepped away from him and headed towards a ray of sunlight. Before she stepped into the light she turned back to Link and smiled. "I owe everything to you. You are a great man, never forget that. And Link, we are equals. Please, call me Hylia."
Link bowed. "As you wish, Hylia."
She smiled one last time and stepped into the light. When she did, she disappeared.
Link turned back to his comrades to inform them of his conversation with the Goddess. He ran down the hill with his thoughts full of Demise, death and Hylia's beauty.