Author's note: I'm not very good at fighting scenes (at least I think I'm not. Others have different opinions about my writing when it comes to certain scenes), but here you go anyway! Thanks to Llwynog the Bard, Moon Princess016, and SailorZeldaTheLightAlchemist for the reviews!
To answer SailorZeldaTheLightAlchemist's question/review: I'm completely canceling out Majora's Mask and all of that. For the single purpose of this story, Ocarina of Time is not supposed to have a happy ending. Zelda sent Link back in time seven years, and he is back to his kid-self next to the Master Sword, like you see at the end of the game. Navi doesn't leave, because she senses something's wrong, so she and Link go out to the Castle Town to investigate and they find themselves in the midst of the attack of Ganondorf. They see Zelda and Impa hurrying to escape. Link and Navi join Impa and Zelda in the escape, but little do they know the door to the Sacred Realm is still open. And...
You know what, spontaneous decision: I'm making a one-shot of this. Hopefully soon.
In the meantime, here's chapter nine. Enjoy and tell me what you think!
Chapter Nine
Rinku bolted out of bed, grabbing the Master Sword. He ran to Zelda's room, but found it empty, the window wide open.
"Rinku?" Emiko walked up behind him, a worried look on her face. She gasped when she saw the empty room. Rinku gripped the Master Sword harder, and turned back to his room, where he pulled on his shirt of chain mail, as well as his green tunic, his leather bracers, and his boots. Navi watched him solemnly.
"Don't forget the Ocarina," she said, floating over to the flute. Rinku nodded and picked it up, slipping into the pouch hanging off his belt before strapping the Master Sword over his shoulder. He picked up his shield and hung it over the sheath.
"Let's go, Navi," the young Hero said. He and the fairy left the room.
"What are you going to do?" Otto asked. Rinku stopped to face his mother and his father.
"I'm going to put an end to this," Rinku replied.
Otto looked ready to stop him, but Emiko spoke first. "Be safe, Rinku," she said simply. Rinku nodded and hurried down the stairs and out the door, where he came face to face with Nabooru. The Spirit Sage seemed worried and desperate.
"You better come see this," she said breathlessly. She motioned in the general direction of Dresdem, and Rinku realized the town was on fire. Lightning split the sky, and thunder rolled through the air. "Ganondorf caused it," Nabooru continued. "He's there. He's got-"
"Zelda," Rinku finished. Nabooru nodded. Without another word, Rinku started off, Navi following him. Nabooru watched him go.
"Goddesses be with thee, Hero," the Sage said. With a flash of orange light, she was gone.
Thunder continued to rumble over the still-dry land when Rinku reached the village. People were running from burning buildings, herding each other to a safer place. Rinku pulled the Ocarina out and played a song Zelda had taught him called the Song of Storms. Rain poured down from the heavens, drenching the town and quenching the fires. Then the young Hero swapped the Ocarina for the Master Sword and the shield and marched forward thought the town.
In the middle of the marketplace, where the burnt stands smoldered in the rain, Ganondorf stood waiting, but he wasn't watching the direction Rinku was coming from. The hero had a moment to study his opponent before his eyes landed on Zelda. The Princess' eye were closed. She was trapped in a diamond-shaped cage, leaning against the side.
Then, as if reacting to Rinku's presence, she opened her eyes groggily, looking without seeing, before she noticed him. Their eyes met.
Ganondorf turned. "Ah, you came much faster than I thought you would," the villain stated. Rinku glared at him. "Do you like this little present here?" He spread his arms in gesture to the burning buildings surrounding them.
"What kind of sick monster are you?" Rinku demanded. "How many people will you kill to get to one man?"
"As many as needed," Ganondorf replied. He gestured with one hand and another building exploded into flames. People ran screaming from it. Rinku tightened his grip on the Master Sword. "But first, before we get to the fight you so dearly want," Ganondorf said nonchalantly, "I shall tell you a story, if you want numbers of the people I killed to get to this moment.
"I was a young man in the desert many years ago. A king of the Gerudo, the first male in a century. I was beginning to conquer the lands just outside the desert, starting my reign over the green lands of Hyrule. One day, after taking a town, I found an interesting document, a prophecy. This prophecy would later be known to predict the coming of the Hero of Time. But when I read it, I saw not one, but two Heroes prophesied. That's the thing about history: it tends to leave out the less important figure while the more important ones are given all the credit. The Hero of Time would be awaited, while his successor, the Hero of the Ocarina, would be left in the shadows.
"The prophecy stated that both these Heroes would defeat the King of Evil. I had already been given that name by many who I conquered, so I knew I was involved. I needed to put an end to the prophecy to ensure my survival
"I wasn't sure how I knew, but I knew when the Hero of Time was born. I found him and his family, and, in the middle of the night, I set fire to their house. The Hero's mother, though burned and grieving, fled to the Lost Woods with her son, and I followed her. I knew she died, but I didn't know what happened to her son. I figured he was dead as well. Once you enter the Lost Woods, you don't come out.
"Two years later, the second Hero was born, and, likewise, I hunted him and his family down. I killed his father two days before I found his house and set fire to it. The mother perished, but the son was saved. I knew not what happened to him, but I knew I was going to see him eventually.
"When the Hero of Time appeared and confronted me, I killed him. So much for that part of the prophecy. And now, here you stand, Hero of the Ocarina, ready to fulfill your part in this prophecy. If you can."
"I don't care about some crappy prophecy!" Rinku shouted. "I'm only here to save Zelda and get rid of you. You've caused too much trouble for ten years now, and it's about time this ends."
"Fine then," Ganondorf said. "Be that way." He lifted his hand up and an orb of sparking black magic formed over his hand. He shouted and released the magic at Rinku, who barely had anytime before he could raise his shield. The magic struck it, but it still hurt him. He could feel the arching magic coursing through his body painfully, and he fell to his knees, gritting his teeth against the pain.
"That's it? That's all you've got?" Ganondorf's voice was smug as he called up another orb of magic. "Pathetic. You're worse than Link!"
Rinku heard him throw the orb of magic. Remembering Nabooru's advice he jumped up, preforming a spin attack and launching the orb back at Ganondorf. The villain, as if expecting this, batted it back. For a few moments, this continued, with a dangerous orb of magic flying between them.
Until, that is, Ganondorf made a slip up. The orb hit him head on and he staggered backward. Rinku, stunned, hesitated before dashing forward. Ganondorf recovered quickly and swatted the young Hero down to the ground before driving his sword downward as well.
Rinku rolled out of the way just in time and glanced at Zelda. She was trying to tell him something, but her voice couldn't get through the diamond she was trapped in. But he understood from her gestures. He dashed toward her, ready to free her with a quick slash to the barrier.
"Oh, no, you don't!"
Another orb of magic hit Rinku in the back and he was sent sprawling on the ground once more, the Master Sword nearly flying from his grasp. Rinku pushed himself to his hands and knees. Ganondorf picked him up by his shirt collar, hoisting him off the ground and cutting off his air supply. "I won't let you free her."
"Who say's I'll listen to you?" Rinku gasped, lunging with the Master Sword toward Ganondorf's head. The villain dropped him just in time, and the sacred blade whipped through empty air. Rinku fell on his back and attempted to get up but Ganondorf stepped on his shield, pulling Rinku's arm in the wrong way. Rinku gasped in pain, yet he somehow managed to pull his arm from the straps on the shield and jumped to his feet. His arm ached at the shoulder and elbow now, and he knew he wouldn't be able to use it. His only defense was his sword.
He and Ganondorf traded blow after blow, and Rinku slowly racked up a number of cuts and minor wounds. Red blood began to stain the ground beneath the two fighters. Then the two backed off for a moment, eying the other to see what other weaknesses could be picked out.
With a wordless shout, Ganondorf charged, his sword held high. Rinku waited for the right moment, and swung with the Master Sword. The two swords were locked at the hilt, and both began to push against the other. The Triforce of Courage began to glow on Rinku's hand, lending strength and healing to its bearer.
And slowly, Rinku began to overpower Ganondorf.
The villain, seeing what was happening, kicked at Rinku, sweeping his feet out from under him. It was a cheap, dirty trick. Rinku hit the ground hard, and rolled once more to avoid Ganondorf's sword, this time, toward Zelda's cage. He stabbed at the magical barrier and cracks began to form across the surface until the magical barrier shattered, and the Princess, now free, pulled Rinku to his feet.
"Thank you," she said quickly. Rinku nodded and took a few steps forward toward Ganondorf, raising his blade. The villain was glaring at him with teeth bared.
"You think you're all high and mighty now that you've freed the Princess," he sneered. "Well, it's not over yet."
"I know that," Rinku said. "I'm not stupid you know, unlike you."
Ganondorf, enraged, charged again. Rinku met his sword once more, pushing with all his weight against the villain. He overpowered him and, with deadly accuracy, lunged with the Master Sword, impaling the villain. Everything but the rain that still poured from the sky seemed to pause in the instants before Rinku broke free and ripped the sword from Ganondorf. The young Hero took several steps back, waiting to see what would happen. He could feel Zelda's hand on his shoulder as she, too, waited and watched. Time slowed.
One second. Lightning flashed overhead, throwing the scene into a sharp relief.
Two seconds. Rain mingled with the blood from Rinku's various wounds, making rivers of red flow across his tunic. The Hero himself was shaking from the pain and the exertion of the fight.
Three seconds. Thunder began to rumble across the sky like drums, shaking the earth and those who stood upon it.
Four seconds. The Sages, who had been watching far off to the side, took several hopeful steps forward. Was it done? Was the torment of these ten years finally over?
Five seconds. Ganondorf's knees buckled, but he staggered. The Triforce on his hand began to glow sharply. His ember eyes glared at Rinku in an unfathomable anger.
And then he laughed. His laugh chilled all to the bone. Zelda knew what was happening. She pulled Rinku back, gripping his shoulder tightly.
With an inhuman yell, Ganondorf rose into the air, black and gold light surrounding him. Then his form changed. No longer was he a Gerudo.
"Ganon..." Zelda whispered.