I got this chapter up way earlier than last time! *smiles proudly. Anyway, this is a chapter that you can't skip. Can't! It contains vital information to the story. I'm not accusing you all of skipping chapters, but I just wanted to make sure you read this one.
So, enough with my blabbering. If you enjoyed, then review!
Chapter 12: Ganondorf
"And now, all of Hyrule depends on you to restore the balance. Go to the fields, Divine Ones. We will watch over you…" they said as they faded from sight.
Midna, Zant, and Zelda told Ralis and Link what the twilight rulers had told them. Link's shoulders slumped, and Ralis shook his head miserably. "And I thought being the Divine Beast was responsibility enough. Now, I'm one of the five Heroes that'll make the difference between peace and havoc... Destiny seems to pick on me the most," Link mourned. But if I hadn't been chosen by the Goddess of Courage, Farore... I would've never met Midna, Zant, Ralis, Darbus, anyone I've met on my journey... or Zelda, he thought.
Ralis sighed in agreement, "Ah, yes, if only we had less of a title. There would be less of a burden on our shoulders, and we would be less tense for the upcoming war."
Midna laughed, a sound no one had heard nearly enough during the gloomy time. "Cheer up; consider this battle to be an obstacle to glory and fame!"
Zelda smiled. "Before that happens, we have to meet with our warriors if we are to win this battle."
"But my dear," said a familiar ominous voice, "your victory shall never happen."
Link whirled around to see a tall, bulky figure in the shadows. The same figure that he had encountered so many, many times before. The figure that, when seen, evoked fear in everyone. Including – no, especially – Link.
He felt the same old unease rise within him. The familiarity of it frightened him. Why, if he was truly chosen by Farore, was he acting so cowardly? Why was this fear tugging him to the entrance of the cave? Why was the presence of this one person making his heart beat faster?
Well, for Ganondorf, not Zelda. Zelda was a completely different case... He realized that infatuation and fear were very similar in ways more than one.
I am only human, he answered himself firmly.
But why are Midna, Zant, and Zelda showing no fear when you are supposed to be the brave one? a whiny voice in his mind asked him. Sure, Ralis isn't. His face is pale, but his life was always surrounded in fear, and it has stuck to his personality.
They are afraid as well, he snarled back at it. They... just don't want to show weakness.
Sure, sure... the voice smirked.
Link grasped the hilt of his sword but not exposing the blade to the open, ready for any treachery that Ganondorf would show. He would not show hostility unless Ganondorf demonstrated it first. "There will be enough bloodshed, Link. Not yet, my old enemy," Ganondorf said in a mild tone, as if they were talking over a cup of tea.
"Oh, that's good enough for me," Link said in an annoyed tone.
Ganondorf laughed hollowly and stepped into the light, and everyone in the room stiffened.
He looked exactly the same as he was when they last met; the flaming red hair, the muscular build, the dark skin. But his appearance was not the reason that everyone had reacted that way. Ganondorf was radiating with energy so strong that everyone in the room could feel the energy, like the heat of a blazing fire.
How did Ganondorf attain such power? Link hid his incredulity behind a blank mask. He has had only three years to regain his power, yet he is stronger than ever. His very energy thrums through the air around him!
"Ganondorf," Midna snarled with frightening contempt. "How have you managed to survive? Link eliminated you. You died. Now, unless you wish to experience a fight with the Chosen Heroes, tell us what vile things you have done to reach your current state."
Ganondorf looked at her, confused, then smug. "Chosen Heroes?" he laughed. "How could that be? I slaughtered the Twili that were the Heroes while I was gaining power in the Twilight Realm. I find it hard to believe that my servant, the one who gave his full allegiance to me" – Zant cringed – "is one of the Five Heroes. And the Twilight Princess? I think not," he laughed mockingly.
"That isn't so," Zelda said firmly. "The Twilight Monarchs themselves have confirmed it. You have killed the wrong ones, then."
Midna murmured, "Don't reveal anything more, Zelda."
Ganondorf's eyebrows pulled together in a frown. "Is that so? Well, I suppose I was off by one generation then..." he said, grinning malevolently at Midna.
The Twilight Princess's eyes widened. "No... So that's why... Mother and Father..." she whispered. Her depression suddenly turned into a wild storm of anger. "So it was you who killed my parents!" she screamed at Ganondorf, taking dangerous steps toward the Gerudo.
Ganondorf only found the situation comical and laughed grimly.
"All my life I have stayed with them! Even though my parents were always busy and had little time for me, they still fought for me to stay with them! And I defended them from those that opposed them, however lightly the insults may have been. And one day they are found dead in the throne room, their bodies decaying already!" Midna's eyes were completely red with rage now, not only her always crimson pupils.
The other four jumped forward and restrained Midna from approaching Ganondorf any further. Ganondorf only found Midna's fury to be a source of amusement. Midna tried to shake them off while she shouted more.
"So it was you who began all of this! When my parents were found dead, the Council immediately took action to find another ruler. I was the ideal person to take the throne, as I was well educated in the ways of royalty. But Zant was as well, and his parents were close to my parents, so it was either him or me that would become the next prince or princess. Then the Council announced that I was chosen, and in Zant's fit of jealousy and rage, you decided to feed off his anger and use him for your own gain!" Midna was literally shaking in anger now, and Zant was cringing in guilt. Link had never seen either of them so distressed.
"Well, I curse you Ganondorf! I curse you for all eternity!" she yelled. "I swear by the Goddesses of this world, and mine, that I will avenge my parents' death! You will die by my hand!"
A long silence followed Midna's outburst. Each person kept their hold on Midna in fear that she might do something reckless. Then, Ganondorf spoke.
"Do you still wish to know how I revived, before you so rudely interrupted me?"
Midna bristled at this, but Zant answered before she could say anything, "Tell us then."
"As a spirit, I tapped into dreams of various magicians throughout Hyrule. Not every spirit can enter the dreams of the living... and it exacted a large toll from my energy as well to do this. In my spirit form, I was weak and useless. Without waking them, I ordered them to cast a spell that allowed me to regain power from darkness. And from this power, I created a body. My power continues to grow and grow; even now I feel the magicians' spell drawing power from the shadows that surround all of us as we speak."
Midna interrupted, "Impossible. How can you draw strength from shadows? Light would create more energy than shadows, as light is truly energy from the sun."
"Ah, but that is where you are wrong, Midna... I couldn't draw power from light. Why? Because I had rebelled against it. I was banished from the light. I couldn't touch it. The light would weaken me instead of empower me. But since I was banished into the darkness, I could draw power from that."
"It doesn't make any sense," Midna scowled. "Logic wouldn't allow it.
"Who cares? If the cause has succeeded, why would we bother with the logic of it?" Ganondorf smirked. Midna did not answer.
"So, I ask you this: do you truly believe that you, the pathetic Heroes, will be able to defeat me, the Dark Lord? I have drawn strength from shadows for two and a half years, all from a spell that magicians performed without even knowing. You five haven't been active for that time! Do you really think you can hope to defeat me? If you say no, I will have you serve me, and I guarantee that we will conquer Hyrule."
"Do you really expect us to surrender?" Zelda said in disbelief. "I believe I speak for everyone when I say: we will never fall for that. Do not attempt to confuse us with your wretched words."
Ganondorf shook his head sadly. "That is an unwise decision..." He smiled. "No matter. You will be crushed easily."
"Don't be so sure, Ganondorf. The last time you said that, I believe I cast you down," Link said more calmly than he felt.
The Dark Lord's face darkened as he said, "You are the one who shouldn't be so sure, Divine Beast. Even if you win with your so-called warriors, you shall never defeat me permanently, because if you wish to kill me once and for all, you will have to give up the thing most precious to you... and for you as well, Zant. The next time we meet, I fear that it shall be in the heat of battle." With those cryptic words, Ganondorf disappeared from sight.
"What do you think he meant by 'the thing most precious' to me?" Link asked the others worriedly.
Zant shook his head. "There is no way of knowing what that madman means until the time comes. We might as well go to the fields before..." he trailed off, knowing full well that it was obvious what would happen to the Mirrored Lands.
Midna was still seething with anger. "I'll kill that bastard if it's the last thing I do," she muttered through clenched teeth. She swore more foul oaths in her native tongue.
Zant grasped her by the shoulders. Midna winced, as Zant was holding her with the massive hands of Darbus. "Midna, snap out of it. Do you want your people to see you like this? If you thought you were hideous as an imp – and you weren't – you should see yourself now. Your eyes are completely red! You look like you would crush someone to bits, maybe even a Twili. Restore it to that yellow I knew," Zant said gently but firmly.
Midna growled, "I will crush someone to bits. I'll slaughter that scoundrel if it's the last thing I do!"
Zant put more strength on his grip on her. "Midna!"
The Twilight Princess gasped at the added strength. "Zant, if you want me to calm down, you have to–" Midna began to protest.
"If you want me to let go, you have to calm down," Zant cut her off.
Midna's heavy breathing prevented silence from entering the cave room. Her eyes grew steadily yellower, and as they did, Zant lessened his grip on her. Soon enough, Zant withdrew his hands, and Midna sighed with gratitude. "I really looked violent, didn't I?"
"Yes," Ralis exhaled in relief. "It looked like you were going to go on a murdering rampage."
Link held back a laugh at Ralis's obvious relief. "Shall we meet with our warriors? It would be rude to keep them waiting."
Zelda grinned, "It wouldn't be as rude as Midna was."
Midna smiled as she raised her hand, and the Heroes dissolved into a cloud of twilight that headed toward the direction of the Hyrule Fields.
The twilight squares rained down heavily onto the Hyrule Fields, placing the Five Heroes just metres away from the assembled group of Twili. When Link's feet touched the damp grass, he heard shouts from the Twili, such as, "The Five Heroes have arrived!" or, "Princess, you must help us!"
The Hylians were also off to one side, sitting miserably around a calm campfire, then jumping to their feet when the Heroes appeared. They banged their swords against their shields as they beheld their beloved Princess and Great Hero.
Midna stepped forward to greet her people with sheer joy. Link felt her love for her people as she called out, "People of the Twilight Realm!"
Silence came from the gathered Twili.
"Our chances of winning may be slim, but I assure you, we will fight until the end! We will win back the peace that the goddesses granted! We will emerge victorious!"
A thundering roar erupted from the mouths of the Twili. Link felt hope – yes, actual hope – as he realized that the heart of these people surpassed even the giant population of the opposing war force. It is the spirit and determination of these courageous people that compels them to win back the kingdoms.
Zelda also spoke to her people with an encouraging speech.
The two Princesses went toward their races, each of them asking the people questions. He, Ralis, and Zant sat to the side. Ralis felt lonely, Link sensed; nearly his entire race was against him in this battle.
As for Zant, he was being avoided by the others of his race, because no one was deceived by his possessed body; everyone knew the legend Kamtor had been given, and because of this, they mistrusted him.
For Link.... well, Link knew that he wanted to relax. But Ralis brought up the subject of the upcoming war again. Link almost resented him for that, but he knew they had to plan for the battle, lest they would fall at the hand of Ganondorf's force.
"We need more warriors." Ralis's comment was simple yet true, and the other two knew it.
"Yes, but how are we to obtain these warriors? They won't come from the sky," Link said.
"Yes, Ralis, I would like to know your plan," Zant smiled.
"How do you know I have a plan?" Ralis said suspiciously.
"It was a mere hunch."
"Well, I believe I have a way..." Ralis's face began to brighten as he excitedly told the two others his plan.
Zant frowned when Ralis finished. "It would work if we could guarantee anything. Sadly, we cannot."
Link, however, thought differently. "It will probably work. Nolva is unsure of which side he is to go to. He is charismatic; I could tell that from the argument you held with him." Link could've sworn Ralis was turning a brighter colour. "And if we manage to pull this off and get the Zoras onto our side... we will have a much easier chance of winning."
The Princesses soon came to join them. They sat and Ralis told them his plan. They both beamed and thought it was a brilliant idea. And after this, they told what they had learned from their inquiries to everyone else. "First, we must tell you that they knew that we were the Chosen Heroes because one of the Twili, with their new ability, was able to find out what was happening. Therefore, we did not have to explain what had happened. I believe Zelda had it easier today; the Twili were not pleased with Kamtor's decision to stay behind. After all, Kamtor was the high priest," Midna said.
Link asked, "What of our battle plan?"
"We decided to make us the commanders of the forces. After all, we are the Heroes, and being led by us will motivate them," Midna said confidently.
"When Ralis's plan succeeds–" Zelda began.
"If the plan succeeds," corrected Ralis.
Zelda smiled. "If the plan succeeds, we will put you and Nolva in charge of the Zoras. And Zant and Midna will command the Twili, leaving Link and I to take the Hylians. We plan to storm Hyrule Castle Town from the East, South, and West Entrances, which will confuse the residents and take them by surprise," she announced. "That is our plan. But first, we must send Link, Ralis, and Midna on their mission."
So, there you have it. Remember, this chapter is one of the more important ones. Review, if you want more chapters!
