Dragon Goddess

I'm picking up from where I left off. So, Jaina's still lying on the drum, and Link's attacking Bongo Bongo with Navi guiding him. Oh, and just to remind you, I don't have any rights to Legend of Zelda or WarCraft. I think LoZ belongs almost completely to Nintendo, while WarCraft is the creation of Blizzard Entertainment. Um, also, "Jaina" isn't her real name… I think I already explained that… Wow, this is long… I'm gonna make it even longer by doing this!

Jaina's vision grew blurry. She could vaguely make out the shapes of Link and Bongo Bongo, and could identify the ever-present glow of Navi. The fairy had only just informed Link of Bongo Bongo's three weaknesses: his two hands and his one eye. Jaina watched and listened to the ensuing battle. She could tell when Link disabled the phantom's hands by the groan it made before attacking. She could see the glow of its eye with each charge.

At one point, Bongo Bongo took hold of Link and threw him into a wall. Jaina cringed, knowing she couldn't help her young charge. The fight moved around her; she couldn't tell which direction the sounds were coming from.

I feel as… helpless… as I did… back then…

-"Good luck… gentlemen…"

I left Grom to die… and Thrall to be the one… to carry the burden… But I know… that foul Pit Lord Mannaroth… is dead… thanks to Hellscream's… noble sacrifice… Once Link slays Bongo Bongo… I won't have to worry… about my brother and our Temple…

Jaina blinked. Bongo Bongo's glowing red eye was just inches away from her. Link was standing between the phantom and the Goddess, his sword stabbed right through the eye. Bongo Bongo howled and withdrew. It rose up, writhing in the final throes of death, before disintegrating into a pile of dark blue dust.

"Jaina," Link prompted, out of breath. "Jaina, Bongo Bongo is dead now. Look- another Sage has awakened. There's a portal- see?" He gestured at the glowing blue circle. "Can you get to the portal on your own?"

"She will in a moment." Noxtar silently descended into the chamber. He landed lightly beside his sister. "This was not a fight you should have attempted on your own. You know that." He flapped his broad wings. The dust he kicked up swirled around Jaina, restoring her energy. "There now. Get up and go. Meet our new Sage. I will remain here and clean up the mess. That's the least I can do."

Jaina slowly got to her paws, slipping a little from stiffness in her legs. She blinked at her brother. "Thank you Noxtar. Don't wear yourself down. Once all of this is over, I will help take care of all this. Come Link, Navi- come welcome the new Sage."

The trio (no, Noxtar stayed behind) passed through the portal to the Sages' Realm. Before them stood Impa, clutching a dark violet Medallion. She looked at Link. "The boy with the noble Zelda's Ocarina… As I expected, you have come. I am Impa, one of the Sheikah. I am Princess Zelda's caretaker, and I am also the Sage who guards the Shadow Temple. We Sheikah have served the royalty of Hyrule from generation to generation as attendants. However… On that day seven years ago, Ganondorf suddenly attacked… and Hyrule Castle surrendered after a short time. Ganondorf's target was one of the keys to the Sacred Realm… the hidden treasure of the Royal Family… the Ocarina of Time! My duty bound me to take Zelda out of Ganondorf's reach. When last I saw you, as we made our escape from the castle, you were just a lad…

"Now I see that you have become a fine hero… There's nothing to worry about… The Princess is safe now. Soon, you'll meet Princess Zelda face-to-face, and she will explain everything… That is when we, the six Wise Ones, will seal up the Evil King and return peace to Hyrule. I have to stay here… You go to Princess Zelda's side and protect her on my behalf. Now I put my power, which should be helpful to you, into this Medallion!"

The Sheikah woman tossed the Medallion to Link. The teen caught it and held it tightly, determination flaring in his eyes. As she vanished in a flash of light, she sent out a final request to Link. "Please look out for the Princess!"

Rauru appeared before Link, his wizened eyes clear and powerful. "Link, the hero! Finally, all of us, the six Sages, have been awakened! The time for the final showdown with the King of Evil has come! Before that, though, you should meet the one who is waiting for you… The one who is waiting for you at the Temple of Time…." The Sage raised his arms and vanished.

Link, Navi, and Jaina found themselves standing outside the Temple of Time. Jaina immediately padded into the worn-down building and looked around. "This is just pitiful. Look at this place! What have they done to my beautiful Temple?" She shook her head. "If this… Is this really my fate? Is this what I will see? No, only in this future…" She closed her eye and whistled the Song of Time. The crumbling structure slowly repaired itself until the marble floor and walls gleamed as though they were made of stars. Jaina sighed, content. "Aah, that's better…"

Link stood motionless in front of the Pedestal of Time, Navi standing on his shoulder. Jaina looked over at the two. Her eye widened slightly. Aah…

Sheik stood atop the pedestal, looking down at Link and Navi. His fingers were held just above the stings of his lyre, as if he had been interrupted mid-chord. His red eyes were somewhat clouded. Not a word was spoken, until Jaina broke the silence with a loud, taunting comment.

"Ze-elda, you got some 'splainin' to do-o!" (Note: This is an I Love Lucy reference: "Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!")

Sheik looked down. "I guess so…"

(Yeah, I'm skipping the whole transformation sequence thing here. Besides, it just takes away from -my- story anyway, so why put in a side-clip I can't work with? Just like the Spirit Temple. I decided I didn't want to have to deal with that… Jaina doesn't like Gerudo Valley. It reminds her of something/one…)

"Take these Light Arrows," Zelda instructed urgently, pressing a number of the Arrows into Link's hands. "They're Ganondorf's only known weakness! You must keep them with you, at all times! Do you understand?"

Before Link could respond, the whole interior of the Temple suddenly grew pitch-black. Jaina sprung straight up with a startled yelp. Her leap caused her to hit the back of her head on the threshold, scrambling her brain signals so she didn't realize Ganondorf kidnapped Zelda. (Yeah, she does that sometimes… -.-' ) When she came to her senses Link and Navi were rushing out the door to rescue Zelda. Jaina scrambled after them, slipping on the freshly-waxed floor tiles. (XD) "Hey! Wait for me!"

She skidded to a halt (almost flattening Link in the process) when she saw an ominous tower looming where Hyrule Castle should have been. Her jaw dropped. "I could've sworn I left it right here! Hey, does anyone know where my castle went?"

Link and Navi both shook their heads and sweat-dropped. Link held out the six Medallions granted to him by the Sages. A glimmering bridge of energy connected the edge of the lava pit surrounding the tower to the structure's gate. Link and Navi rushed through the gate and into the tower. (I'm gonna use a bit of the manga sequence and skip the barriers. What? I don't wanna!) Jaina bounded after them, overtaking and stopping in front of them.

"Link, wait! Before we go on, there's something I have to tell you!"

Link crossed his arms impatiently. "Get on with it. We're in a bit of a rush here."

"Uh-huh, yeah, whatever. That's not-! Listen, I think it's only fair to tell you I've been lying about my identity. My name isn't Jaina. It's Anaria Jainase Getripulis Proudmoore. So you can call me Anaria from now on."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"It's how I'm going to protect you from now on!" Anaria roared. "Now, draw your sword! An enemy approaches!"

Sure enough, two angry Dinalfos leaped over Anaria's back and landed in front of Link. Anaria hissed and grabbed one of the reptilian beasts in her powerful jaws. She shook her head several times before chomping down hard, biting the monster clean in half. Meanwhile, Link was facing off against the other. A few strong blows, and the Dinalfos lay dead.

"You two go on ahead," Anaria ordered. "I'll meet you half-way to restore you. I've got something else that needs my attention outside the tower." She slammed through the wall and took flight.

Link and Navi fought their way up the tower, facing off against Stalfos, Beamos, Iron Knuckles, and Wolfos- among other enemies- along the way. Anaria climbed her way up the outside of the tower, dispatching flying enemies that threatened her charge's ascent.

This reminds me of… No! I can't lose my focus!

At the half-way point, just as Anaria said, the trio regrouped. "You've gotten so much better at swordplay, my green-clad young battle-companion. Speaking of companions, I ran into this old fella outside." A large horned owl (Hint: Think Kaepora.) flew into the room and perched on Anaria's shoulder. The Goddess held herself proudly. "This is my owl. There are many like him, but this one's mine." The owl hooted.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a monstrous, very pissed-off Moblin (Anaria refers to them as "Ganonites," remember) stomped into the room and pointed his spear at Link. It grunted and charged at the injured teen, roaring viciously. Link couldn't react.

Anaria grinned darkly and threw a hand out to the side. "Fly, Bubo!" The owl flapped his powerful wings and lifted himself into the air. He shot like a missile at the rampaging monster. In a heartbeat, the Moblin's headless trunk crashed to the floor just feet from Link. The owl (apparently dubbed "Bubo" by Anaria) dropped the beast's head at Anaria's paws and returned to her shoulder. He hooted three times.

Navi punched a palm in recognition of the owl. "Bubo!" The owl hooted in response. Navi laughed. "By the Goddesses, I haven't seen you in millennia!" Again, the owl simply hooted.

Link silently tried to comprehend, but exhaustion and blood loss kept his mind from focusing properly. He settled for a swig of water from one of the many bottles he had collected on his journey and leaned against the wall. "Hey," he called. "Are we gonna just stand here all day and catch up, or are we gonna take down Ganondorf?"

Bubo hooted. Link sweat-dropped. "Old coot…"

"I happen to be very fluent in your language, Human," Bubo grumbled indignantly.

Link pretended to ignore the comment and instead stared at the glowing Triforce on the back of his left hand. "Sure, reminiscing is nice, but don't we have a job to do? Like, saving the world? Just putting an example out there for you."

Anaria sighed. "Way to kill the mood, Elfling…" She whistled the healing tune. "Bubo happens to be a very good friend of mine. It would be wise to show some respect every now and then, now, wouldn't it?" She sighed again. "But Link's right. Bubo, I have a favor to ask of you. If you're still loyal to the Alliance, I want you to take care of aerial enemies outside the tower. Think you can handle that?"

Bubo chirred. "I may be old, Archmage, but I'm not so decrepit I can't handle myself in combat. After all, I trained with the best." He took flight and soared outside.

Anaria stretched herself. "Let us be on our way."

…

"Z-Zelda…" Anaria was on the verge of tears. Zelda was trapped within a crystal prison. "Zelda… My granddaughter…" She snarled and glared at Ganondorf angrily. "Ganondorf, you BASTARD!" She lunged at the sorcerer. "I'LL KILL YOU FOR DOING THIS!"

Ganondorf smirked and fired a bolt of magic in Anaria's face. The dragon howled and recoiled. After watching the dragon writhe for a moment, Ganondorf spoke. "The Triforce parts are resonating… They are combining into one again… The two Triforce parts that I could not capture on that day seven years ago… I didn't expect they would be hidden within you two!" He laughed evilly. "And now, finally, all the Triforce parts have gathered here! These toys are too much for you! I command you to return them to me!" He glared at Link, presenting his own Triforce mark on his right hand. He blasted a vortex of dark energy at Link. The teen stood his ground. Navi was thrown back by the force.

"Link!" she cried. "Link! I can't help you! Because of the waves of darkness, I can't get close! I'm sorry, Link!"

Ganondorf laughed. "Since you won't hand it over like a good boy, I'll just have to take it from you by force!"

"OVER MY DEAD BODY!"

Anaria barreled into Ganondorf, temporarily disrupting his spell and allowing Link to land the first strike. Ganondorf roared and threw the dragon off of him. She slammed against the wall with a sickening crash. Ganondorf slammed his fist into the floor, breaking through the ceiling of the room below. He launched a bolt of magic at the stunned Goddess.

"I won't have that!" Link jumped in front of Anaria and took the blow. He cried out in pain but stood his ground.

"L-Link! What are you doing?"

"I won't let him hurt you any further. Let me take him on." He looked over his shoulder and winked. "Don't worry; I can handle myself. I've grown since then, remember?"

"Oh, Link…"

"Playing the hero again?" Ganondorf laughed. "Very well then. So be it. The Death Goddess will perish in the end anyway. Why deny her the opportunity to see all she holds dear crumble before her very eyes? Oops, I mean 'eye!' Hahahahaha!"

"Be quiet!" Link yelled.

A round of Dead Man's Volley began. The damage from the first bolt took effect after three exchanges. Ganondorf laughed. Link hissed from the pain. He held Ganondorf's attention and moved away from Anaria for another round. This time, Ganondorf faltered. Link took advantage of the blast and shot a Light Arrow at the sorcerer. He approached Ganondorf and slashed him several times with his sword before moving to a different spot on the crumbling floor. The sorcerer quickly got to his feet and instigated a third round. Again, Ganondorf faltered.

After another Light Arrow and some more slashing, Round Four began. Anaria had never seen such a long round of Dead Man's Volley. At least twelve exchanges were done before Ganondorf again fell victim to his own attack, a Light Arrow, and the Master Sword. The fifth round brought more pain on Link. The teen barely recovered in time to deflect another bolt. He was surprised when a volley of bolts surrounded him and burned his skin. He held out and fired another Light Arrow and slashed Ganondorf again. He didn't fall back when the sorcerer regained his footing, but rather stabbed him with a Light Arrow and proceeded to slash some more. This proved effective. Ganondorf slowly succumbed to his injuries.

"The Great Evil King Ganondorf… beaten by this kid?" The wicked sorcerer coughed up blood. The red liquid spattered the tiles and Link's clothes. "Link….!" He roared and used what remained of his power to weaken the tower's structural integrity. The building began to collapse. "If I am to be defeated… then I shall bury us all here….!"

"Link!" Zelda rushed to support the warrior before he collapsed. "Link, Ganondorf is trying to bring down the tower on our heads with his dying breath! We must hurry, before we end up buried as he intends!"

"Do you really think… that he is just going to up and die like that?" Anaria took hold of Zelda and Link. "No… I know him… his type… He is a powerful sorcerer, well-versed in Dark Magic… Let us get out of here… Navi is waiting at the base of the tower for us…" She spread her wings and soared down, avoiding falling pieces of rubble as she descended. She landed heavily and dropped to her knees. "This is as far as I can get you… I suggest you run now… Flee… Quickly now, before he gets up!"

Zelda stood beside Link after the two retreated a ways. "It's over… it's finally over…"

Navi circled over Link's head. "Link… I'm sorry I couldn't help you in the battle before!"

Link smiled. "Let's get out of here."

There was a sound behind Anaria. "… Too late…"

Link instinctively put himself between Zelda and the ruined tower. He slowly approached the rubble, sword drawn for safety. When he was a few feet from the rubble, a ring of fire ignited from the ground and surrounded him. Navi flew to his side. Ganondorf burst from the rubble, his face twisted in rage. He gasped for each breath. The Triforce on his hand glowed. A strange light surrounded him, and he underwent a horrid transformation. He metamorphosed into a hideous monster with cloven hooves, a long tail, ferocious tusks and fangs, and giant curved horns. Two long double-bladed swords materialized in his clawed hands. He roared and slashed at Link. The loud sound of metal hitting metal reverberated. The Master Sword clattered to the ground at Zelda's feet. The ring of fire erupted into an intense barrier of flames. Link was now defenseless.

Navi remained determinedly at Link's side. "There's no way he's going to hold me back again! This time, we fight together!"

Ganon howled and slashed at Link. The teen rolled between the monster's feet and grabbed hold of his tail. Ganon howled and whipped around, a blade slicing a deep gash into Link's side. He released Ganon and quickly fired two Light Arrows into the monster's tail.

Anaria's ears perked. "Link! Let me help you! Think 'Wolfos!'"

"Thanks!" Link hollered back. He fired two more Light Arrows at the tail.

Ganon hissed and slammed the flat edge of his blade into Link's face. The teen barely kept himself from falling into the flames. He dashed between the monster's legs again and stabbed three more Light Arrows into Ganon's tail.

Ganon hissed and fell forward. The wall of flame grew weak. Zelda took hold of the Master Sword's hilt and held it out. "Link! The Master Sword is here! Hurry up!"

Link took the sword from Zelda. "The world is right again." The reunion was short-lived. The flames grew again, forcing Link back into the ring with Ganon. He rushed at the stunned monster and slashed his tail. (You know, the more I think about it, the more Ganon sounds like a Saiyan at the full moon…) Ganon roared and stood up, circling in an attempt to reach Link. "Not today!" Link slashed the tail again. Blood sprayed his hands and face. He paid it no heed.

Ganon managed to land a blow on Link. Zelda screamed. Link steadied himself and returned to stalking Ganon's ("ever-so-pounceable," as Anaria would later claim) tail. Ganon landed another blow, eliciting another horrified scream from Zelda. Link began to lose his patience with the monster. He fired a Light Arrow into Ganon's face. The beast recoiled with a hiss.

"I'm getting sick of seeing your ugly face, Ganon!" Link's sudden burst of attitude deeply touched Anaria. The teen rolled between Ganon's legs and slashed his tail again. He alternated between Light Arrows in Ganon's face and the Master Sword at his tail. A few arrows and slashes later, Ganon's energy ran out. He lurched forward and dropped to the ground, his already-grotesque face twisted further in horrible agony.

Zelda used her Sagely power to paralyze Ganon with an intense beam of light fired from the palms of her hands. "I'm using my power to hold the Evil King! Use your sword and deliver the final blow!"

"Not so fast," Anaria interrupted. "Link, don't slash wildly. Stab that bull-boar right in the face for me!"

"With pleasure." Link poised the Master Sword above Ganon's face. "Hey, a little surgery could only help your ugly mug!" He slashed a few times before finally stabbing Ganon right in the middle of his wretched face. Link withdrew. Ganon reared up and began swinging his swords madly, slicing only the air.

Zelda collected herself. "Six Sages… Now! Ancient Creators of Hyrule! Now, open the sealed door and send the Evil Incarnation of Darkness into the void of the Evil Realm!"

The power of the Sages opened a portal between dimensions that slowly dragged the thrashing monstrosity into another realm.

"YOU… CURSE YOU… ZELDA! CURSE YOU… SAGES! CURSE YOU… Link! Someday… When this seal is broken… That is when I will exterminate your descendants! As long as the Triforce of Power is in my hand…"

"Thank you, Link…" Zelda said. "Thanks to you, Ganondorf has been sealed inside the Evil Realm! Thus, peace will once again reign in this world… for a time." She looked away, ashamed. "All the tragedy that has befallen Hyrule was my doing… I was so young… I could not comprehend the consequences of trying to control the Sacred Realm. I dragged you into it, too. Now it is time for me to make up for my mistakes…" She looked back at Link. "You must lay the Master Sword to rest and close the Door of Time… However, by doing this, the road between times will be closed…" She held out her hand. "Link, give the Ocarina to me… As a Sage, I can return you to your original time with it."

Link slowly placed the Ocarina of Time in Zelda's outstretched hand. She placed her other hand over his. "When peace returns to Hyrule… It will be time for us to say good-bye…" She slowly drew away. "Now, go home, Link. Regain your lost time! Home… where you are supposed to be… the way you are supposed to be…" She closed her eyes and played the Song of Time.

Link began to disappear, returning through time to before he met Zelda.

"Thank you… Link… Good-bye…"

EPIC CREDITS!

(Then Link returns to his own time as a child again…)

Jaina opened her eye and closed her mouth. "Welcome back, child. I'm glad you and Navi both made it back in… time…" She snickered quietly at the terrible pun. "You do realize where we are, right?"

"We're in the Temple of Time, aren't we?"

"Yes. And I suppose you realized how much bigger everything looks now. That's right, Link. Zelda sent you back seven years, back to reclaim the childhood you too soon had lost."

"And with that," Navi added, "I must take my leave… I suppose we'll meet again… Farewell, Link… My friend… I will never forget you!" The little fairy sadly flew out the window and disappeared into the sunlight.

Anaria nuzzled Link. "You will see each other again someday. Come. At this point, Ganondorf hasn't yet main an appearance. She does know about you. Let me take you to meet my granddaughter… My little Princess Zelda…"

OMG IT'S THE END! Wow, over eight pages! Okay, you know what? Screw the last two, this is my longest chapter yet! (Of course, most of it was my bold typing anyways, but still!) Yeah, it's late… I'm gonna post this and go to bed… Good night everyone!