"I'm sorry," Link said again, standing there like a lost child.

Ganondorf glowered up at him, and realization dawned on the man's craggy features. He took a deep breath, knowing what he had to do but not liking it. But it was the only thing that could bring back Zelda. And he had to change if he wanted to break the cycle.

Finally he said, "I forgive you. Don't ever pull that stunt again, but I forgive you. Now—give me the Master Sword!"

Link's eyes widened. "What?"

"Get over here and bring the Master Sword!" Ganondorf barked. "I need its energy and your help if I'm going to save her!" Carefully, he placed Zelda on the ground, kneeling over her.

"R-right!" Link picked up the sword and scrambled over to the royal couple. He glanced over the holy blade, as if debating within himself whether he really wanted to give it to his greatest foe, then sighed and handed it to Ganondorf.

"Thank you," the sorcerer grunted. He placed his left hand on the hilt. "Put your left hand here." He gestured to the other handhold on the hilt, which Link clung to, and their Triforces glowed. "Now, give me the Master Sword's power."

Link looked up at him. "But that'll drain it! It'll just be an ordinary sword!"

"Do you want to see her live or not? Will its power to me!"

The hero nodded. Closing his eyes, he bowed his head and concentrated. The Triforce symbol on his hand flared, as did Ganondorf's, and the Master Sword's blade shimmered with radiance. Ganondorf placed his other hand on Zelda's wound, and light began to pool beneath it.

As he siphoned more and more power from the sword, its light ebbed and finally died altogether. Beads of sweat rolled down Ganondorf's face as he exerted all of the sacred blade's energy into giving Zelda back her life force. His mouth was set in a grim line as he worked, his amber eyes scanning her for any signs of animation. Link watched silently, shock still smacked across his face.

Finally the last bits of light burbled away from the sorcerer's hand and into the princess. Ganondorf let go of the Master Sword, leaving Link to cling to it, and brushed the hair away from his fiancée's face. "It's got to work," he muttered. "Come on…"

Zelda's body jerked and she drew a sharp gasp. Her eyes sprang open and her chest started heaving. "What—"

"Oh, thank the Golden Goddesses!" Ganondorf picked her up and kissed her.

"What happened," she breathed, looking around at the crowds of dumbstruck people and a very bewildered-looking Link.

Ganondorf cradled her in his arms. "I—we brought you back." He nodded to Link before turning his attention back to the princess. "I'm so glad you're all right—I couldn't bear the thought of losing you again—"

"You worked together with him?" Zelda smiled. "You forgave him, didn't you?"

"Yes, he did," Link said with a nod, stepping forward. He looked rather embarrassed, but cleared his throat and sheathed the Master Sword at his side. "Your Highness—and—Your Majesty, I guess—I'm sorry. I've been atrocious." Shaking his head, he said, "I was so wrapped up in what I wanted to be, in claiming my piece of the legend… I was a fool. I won't trouble you two again." He turned to leave.

"Link," Zelda called. When he looked over his shoulder at her, she said, "Thank you… for your service through the years. You have done much to try to prove yourself a hero—and not just in this life. You are a part of the legend. Never forget that."

Ganondorf smirked. "Yes, she's right, as much as I hate to admit it."

"Where are you going to go?" Zelda asked the knight.

Link shook his head. "I don't know… I'd like to explore the lands beyond Hyrule, I think. Maybe one of them will need a hero." He moved to leave again, but paused. "By the way… congratulations on your marriage. I'm glad you two are so happy together." He smiled. "Really, I am. Congratulations, Zelda."

Something shifted—something indescribable, but tangible, like a thread in the universe untangling and smoothing out. Zelda flinched in surprise, as did Ganondorf and Link. Simultaneously, the three looked at the Triforces on their hands to find them glowing brightly.

"What was that…" Ganondorf murmured.

Link held his head. "I don't know… but it feels almost like some sort of dark cloud has lifted and let the light come through."

Zelda stared at her Triforce of Wisdom. "The curse is broken." She beamed up at the two men. "We're free!"

Ganondorf laughed. "I think you're right! Everything's been set right again!"

"The three Triforces are in harmony again…" Link looked at the back of his hand and the corner of his mouth turned up. "So this is the end, then. The end of a legend."

"I think it's the start of a better one," Zelda said.

"I hope so." Link adjusted the sword at his waist. "Well—I'm off. But if you two ever need me… I'm sure Hyrule could always use its hero."

"We'll be sure to give you a call," Ganondorf said.

The two watched him mount his horse and depart, and then Zelda leaned her head on Ganondorf's shoulder. "What do you think will happen now?" she asked him.

"If I were to hazard a guess… I think we might become Demise and Hylia again after these lives are over," he said. "No more reincarnation... and no more repeated deaths and sealings for me. That's going to be nice."

"I'm so glad," Zelda said, putting her arms around his neck. "Well—let's go enjoy the rest of our lives together. I think we've earned it."

"We most definitely have," Ganondorf said as he moved to carry her to the shrine. After a few steps, he stopped. "Do you need to change? I'm not sure a bloodstained wedding dress is appropriate attire."

"I am not going through getting another dress made," Zelda said.

"That's fair." Ganondorf kept walking.


Legends never die.

They only improve over time.

Sometimes it takes several tries to get the legend right.

But when you finally do, everything falls into place.