Translated to English by MissQuestions-LaAmazingNabo.

We are near the end, it is only three chapters left (one chapter, the epilogue and a bonus chapter).

Thank you for your favorites, follows and reviews, I appreciate them a lot. I don't have a beta reader for this story, so if you find mistakes, please, contact me.

See you in two weeks!

The Legend of Zelda series and its characters are property of Nintendo.

Chapter 13
The sacred sword and the chosen hero

The king had sent for his daughter to his study, alone, the following day of returning from lake Hylia. Link had no idea what they had talked about, only that Zelda was strangely happy ever since. She hummed with frequency and, each time their eyes met, a big smile formed on her lips. When she returned to her room after talking with her father, she had hugged Link effusively, but didn't want to tell him why that was.

Since then, Link was very curious to know what was happening, a curiosity that he couldn't sate due to his wolf form. From the way she was looking at him, he was completely certain that it had something to do with him. How he hated being a wolf and not knowing what was going on.

Three days had passed since they had returned from seeing Lanayru. Link, Zelda, Impa and the king were gathered in his study. Gustav was updating them about everything regarding the conflict with the Desert People. The confrontation was more intense each time, but nothing was known about Ganondorf; he had vanished from the face of earth. The king had sent men to look for him, but they hadn't been successful.

For obvious reasons, Link kept himself at bay, observing them, when he felt it. His stomach turned and he began hearing a loud buzzing in his ears, as well as feeling a huge pressure on his chest. He saw Zelda insistently scratch her right hand. There was no doubt, he was there.

Suddenly, the study's door opened loudly and a guard entered hastily.

"What's the matter?" the king asked, alarmed.

"An attack, your Majesty!" the guard said. "A group of unidentified people are attacking the southern area of the city. By their looks and clothing, they seem to be women. They are brown skinned and all of them have red hair."

"Gerudo!" Impa exclaimed. "They are Ganondorf's tribe. They are strong and very cunning."

"Finish them immediately," the king ordered. "Don't let the fight extend throughout the city."

"Yes, your Majesty!"

After a military salute, the guard hastily left the room.

Things were looking bad, very bad, Link knew. He started to bark insistently, he had to inform them that that man was also there. Zelda was the first to turn towards him.

"What's wrong, Link?" she asked, crouching at his side and placing her right hand on his back.

He barked again, but couldn't manage to communicate what he wanted. He shook her hand off and touched it with his muzzle. He had to make her understand that she had to pay attention to her hand, to the itchiness she was feeling. As he insistently pushed her hand with his muzzle, Zelda subconsciously scratched the back of her hand again. It was then that she seemed to realize.

"It's Ganondorf," Link barked once. "He's here," he barked again.

Zelda looked at her father, worried. Gustav also seemed to understand what Link was trying to tell them, his countenance hardened.

"Impa, take Zelda to the secret chamber," the king ordered. "I'll organize the castle's defense myself."

"Yes, Majesty," Impa replied with military rigidness.

They quickly left the king's study. Before they could head towards their hiding spot, they passed by Zelda's room so that she could grab her light bow. Once the weapon was in the princess's possession, Impa guided them through the castle's hallways towards the throne room, which was completely deserted.

"What are we doing here?" Zelda asked.

"I will lead you to a secret passageway," Impa informed. "Only his Majesty and I know of it, you will be safe there."

Impa headed towards the wall behind the throne, removed the huge tapestry that covered it and touched one of the stones that formed it. The stone sunk, but nothing happened. She touched another one, also sinking it, then another and then one more, all in a very specific order. A snap and the sound of something heavy moving was heard. The slab beneath the royal throne began to move towards the right, leaving a big hole on the ground to be seen.

"Quick, get in," Impa hurried.

They entered through the open gap, which lead to a stair that went down several meters underground. When they got there, they turned around, Impa wasn't following them.

"Impa…" Zelda said worriedly.

"I'll go help the king," her nursemaid said. "You will be fine down here. Take care of her, Link."

Link didn't need to be asked, he would protect Zelda with his life if he needed to. He barked once. Impa moved from the entrance, but then peeked through it again with an oil lantern in hand. She handed it over to Zelda and moved again. After a few moments, they saw how the opening closed, leaving them shut in there.

Darkness reigned with the exception of the faint light of the lantern Zelda was carrying. They turned around and saw a large passage way in front of them. They walked through that dark hallway, slowly and carefully. In not one moment did they find a bifurcation, so there was only one road possible, that turned so much that they didn't know where they were heading. After what felt like an eternity, they began to see a light at the end of the passage after turning around a corner.

They hurried. They came out to a large circular room with vaulted ceiling, illuminated by a large white light orb. Hanging on the walls, they saw different types of shields, many of them ancient versions of the Hylian Shield. Zelda was in awe of such discovery, those were perfectly conserved relics of the past.

But Link didn't even see those shields, his gaze was fixed on another object. In the same center of the room, driven to the ground, was a sword. Its blade shone, reflecting the orb's light, and engraved in it was the Triforce's symbol. He approached that sword, as if he were hypnotized by it, he wanted to touch it, wield it, but in his current state it was impossible. He heard a surprised exclamation by his side, Zelda had also seen it.

"By the goddesses!" Zelda said, amazed. "The Master Sword! It's been here all this time."

She went towards it and placed her hands over the handle. She closed her fingers around the pommel and tugged at it, trying to draw it. Her face reddened from the effort, but couldn't manage to move one inch of it.

"It was expected," she said, releasing it. "It's the sword of the hero of legend, only he can draw and wield it."

They heard a loud clang from afar. Both kept still, in silence. Link felt that pressure on his chest again, he was here. They started to hear footsteps approaching them, followed by a cackle. Soon they saw a man walking through the passage way. He was a tall and broad man, with olive skin, hair red as blood and yellow eyes, dressed in black armor, from which a crimson cape hung, and he carried a sword, also black. Link snarled, he knew who he was, he knew him, he could never forget those eyes. Ganondorf.

That man's laughter echoed throughout the room, it was deep and brimmed with evil. His yellow eyes fixed over Zelda and a smile full of arrogance and satisfaction adorned his face.

"Greetings, your Highness," he said with his deep and low voice, making a theatrical bow. "It is an honor for me to finally meet you."

Even though his words were cordial and polite, his tone didn't reflect any kind of respect.

"How did you get here?" Zelda asked, backing a few steps.

"My companion has guided me to you, your Highness."

Ganondorf showed the back of his hand, the Triforce's mark. He walked towards her, slowly but with firm steps. Link stepped in between the two and snarled fiercely at the man. Ganondorf halted and arched an eyebrow.

"Cute pet," he said without losing that arrogant smile. "But I don't think it will help you much."

With a great leap, Link lunged at him with his mouth open, showing his pointed teeth, ready to bite. Ganondorf covered himself with his arm and Link closed his jaw over it. Unfortunately, he couldn't sink his teeth on the flesh, it was protected by an armbrace. With a rough jerk, Ganondorf forced Link to release him and sent him flying far. He felt how his back crashed against the driven sword, he was lucky it had been against the flat part of the blade.

"Link!" Zelda exclaimed, scared.

Zelda tried to run towards him, but Ganondorf's hand closed tightly around her wrist and tugged at her.

"Oh, the Master Sword!" Ganondorf said surprised. "Who would have thought such weapon would be here."

Link tried to get up. He felt a sharp pain in the back because of the hit. He raised his head and saw Zelda struggle against that man, trying to get free of his grip. He was furious, with that man and with himself for not being able to do anything to help her, not in this form.

"Link…"

He heard a voice in his head, calling him, a voice that he knew well— the voice of the spirit Faron.

"Link," Faron said again. "The moment has come, Link. Rise as who you are and reclaim what is yours."

He felt like many other times that sensation of pain, as if his bones and muscles stretched or shrunk, changing, transforming and recovering their real form. The transformation process transpired as usual, but, as it was ending, something unusual happened. Link's body began to glow and the four soul pearls, which they were hanging on his neck, went inside his chest. He looked at his arms, trying to see what was happening. When the light faded, he was covered by some clothing he had never seen before. His hands and arms were covered by some brown leather gloves that left his fingers uncovered, he had boots, also of leather, a shirt and breeches of an ochre color and a green tunic. There was also something on his head, he patted it and noticed that there was a cap or something like that. He lowered his hand through the cap until he reached the tip, he took it and observed it, green just like the tunic.

"What…!" Ganondorf exclaimed.

Resting his right hand over his knee and his left on the sword, he stood up. As he touched the sword, he felt a current travel through his arm, once he moved his hand away, it disappeared.

"Who are you, brat?" Ganondorf asked, surprised.

"You have forgotten me already?" Link said with a grin. "Because I can assure you that I haven't, not a single day of my life."

The Desert King looked at him in a questioning manner. Link took the glove off his left hand and showed its back. Ganondorf seemed disconcerted at seeing it.

"You!" he exclaimed. "You're the boy from seven years ago, but how? I saw you fall over the precipice at the river, you should have died drowning— the current was too strong."

"You see that I survived," he replied, putting his glove on again.

"Since then I stopped feeling your Triforce fragment, I thought I would find a new bearer," he said, finding it strange. "What's more, I can't even feel it now that I have you before me."

Link's smile vanished and his countenance became cold. He looked at that man with fury. The moment had come at last, the moment he had been waiting for seven long years, the moment to make him pay for all the suffering he had caused.

"Link…"

He heard Zelda's voice calling him. Ganondorf still had her tightly gripped and she couldn't free herself from him. Link's fury increased.

"Your time has come, Ganondorf," Link said with a threatening voice. "I will avenge my parents and end this war."

Ganondorf's laughter resonated throughout the room again. He looked at Link with that arrogant smile and his eyes shone with mockery.

"And how do you intend to do so?" he asked with sarcasm. "I don't think you can do anything to me unarmed."

"Who said I was unarmed?"

Link rested his left hand over the Master Sword's pummel and he felt that current again. Ganondorf laughed again.

"You think you can pull that ancient relic out? Many have tried before you and none has managed. You think you can?"

"There's only one way to know it."

Link surrounded the handle with his left hand and pulled. A sharp whistle was heard and the blade of the sword went out with surprising ease. He'd seen Zelda try with little success, which is why he thought he would struggle more. When it came out without any kind of resistance, Link lost his balance for a moment. He made several moves with the sword, getting used to it; it was very light. He outstretched his arm towards the front, pointing at Ganondorf with it.

Zelda and Ganondorf were surprised, neither of them had expected him to really pull it out. Zelda felt how Ganondorf's grip loosened, so she took advantage of it to free herself and get away from him as much as she could. Seeing that, he tried to catch her again, but he couldn't, Link lunged at him, sword in hand, quickly. He was forced to draw his sword and block his enemy's attack with it.

Link attacked with force. He used everything he had leaned since he was a child. He was fast, faster than Ganondorf, but his opponent was very strong, his entire body emitted an enormous and dark power, Link could feel it. Holding the sword with both hands, Link gave a diagonal slash, from bottom to top, but Ganondorf blocked it with the protection of his left arm. Link clicked his tongue.

Zelda observed the fight from a prudent distance. The fight was even, even she could perceive it, but Ganondorf was gaining ground little by little, the protections on his arms gave him a huge advantage. She saw how Link dodged a stab to his heart by a hair, leaving him a small superficial cut on his arm. Things weren't looking good, link needed something to protect himself urgently. Zelda ran towards one of the shields that were hanging on the wall and grabbed a Hylian Shield.

"Link!" she yelled, calling his attention.

Link looked at her momentarily and understood what she was proposing. Zelda tossed him the shield, dragging it across the floor, which ended a couple of steps from the young man. Back-flipping as he dodged a slice directed at his chest, he stood by the shield and bent to take it. Ganondorf's sword fell at full speed, searching for his head, but managed to lift his shield on time to block it. With all the strength he possessed, Link pushed Ganondorf as he stood up again. Ganondorf was forced to step back and retreat a bit.

"Not bad, kid," he said with an evil smile. "But the game ends here."

A ball of light formed over his right hand. The ball began to stain itself black until it seemed to be formed by complete darkness. He threw the ball towards Link, who covered himself with his shield, protecting himself from the attack. The force of that magical sphere pushed him back several steps, but he managed to stay on his feet and not fall.

Ganondorf attacked again, throwing several of those spheres in a consecutive manner. Link dodged them and stopped them one after the other, but one of them had so much force behind it that he couldn't help pulling back the arm with which he was holding his shield, leaving himself unprotected. Before he could have time to react, another sphere flew towards him at great speed, crashing against his chest. A large electric current traveled throughout his body, paralyzing him for a few instants and making him fall to his knees.

"Link!" he heard Zelda cry.

He looked up and saw the desert man lunge at him, giving a big vertical slice. He noticed that his body wasn't responding like he wanted it to, it was hard to move, but he forced himself to stand up and protect himself with the shield, but the attack had so much force behind it that his arm went numb for an instant and was forced to lean one of his knees on the ground. He stood up again, feeling how his body went back to normal. While he was still blocking his opponent's sword with his shield, Link gave a big horizontal slice, but Ganondorf was quick to move away and dodge the blade. They exchanged several more blows, neither yielding before the other's attacks.

She had to do something, Zelda was saying to herself. Despite the fight was fairly even again, she could feel that Ganondorf's power was growing. An aura as black as the night surrounded his sword, as if the darkest of shadows covered it. He seemed to be summoning a powerful and terrible power, a power that opposed everything holy, a demonic power.

She held her bow and took one of her arrows out of its quiver. The darker the being, the more effective were the light arrows, so it wouldn't be hard to harm that man greatly. She loaded the bow and aimed. It was a difficult, the target was constantly moving and Link was always next to him, she had to be very careful. She fired. The arrow passed right by Ganondorf, brushing his ear. Although it didn't fully hit him, it seemed it had affected him a bit, for his body gave a slight shudder, something that Link took advantage of to attack.

Ganondorf recovered quickly and managed to block the attack, barely. He looked at the princess with hatred and, with great force, tried to push Link aside to go at her. But he couldn't, Link didn't move from his spot, he wasn't going to allow him to lay a finger on Zelda.

The princess then shot again, but failed again. She loaded her bow once more and aimed. It was harder than before. Ganondorf had managed to place himself in a way that Link covered him almost completely, the only visible spot being his shoulder. She aimed at that spot, but hesitated, she was afraid of hitting Link instead. In that instant, she recalled his advice. She needed to calm herself. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, relaxing. She opened them and aimed again. Without hesitation, she fired. The arrow hit its target, piercing Ganondorf's unprotected shoulder.

That was the perfect moment, Ganondorf was paralyzed, a current of white light was traveling throughout his body, immobilizing him. Link grabbed the Master Sword with both hands and the blade started to glow. He gave a thrust, digging the sword on Ganondorf's chest, piercing the armor. Despite having being defeated, the man laughed, it was a chilling laughter.

"You think you will end me just with that, boy?" he said with a macabre smile, a string of blood trickling by his mouth. "As long as I possess the Triforce of Power, I am immortal."

He laughed again, but soon his laughter died. The mark of the back of his hand started to glow, the top triangle brighter than the rest, but that glow, little by little began to fade and the mark disappeared completely.

Link felt warmth on the back of his left hand. Still holding the sword with that hand, he partially removed his glove with his right. His mark was shining, the triangle that represented the Triforce of Courage even more than the rest, as usual, but, then, Power did also. Ganondorf's eyes widened in surprise, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"It seems like you are not as powerful as you think," said Link.

He held his sword with both hands again, ready to remove it. Ganondorf looked at him with fear.

"I always thought that I hated you," Link continued. "But now I realize that I only feel sorry for you. You live an empty and pathetic life, longing blindly for power. Now I see that you are weak, Ganondorf, for only the weak long for power."

He pulled the sword out. Ganondorf's body fell to the ground, lifeless, leaving a huge puddle of blood around him.