"Easy boy." She hushed as the horse stomped its feet nervously. There was always some sort of atmosphere that made horses nervous; at least the younger less experienced ones. She cupped her hand across her forehead to shield the sun from her eyes as she looked across the desert towards the temple.

Luda's father's funeral was the day before. The whole village was there and even people from town came to say their farewells. Renado was a much loved man by everyone. It was absolutely horrible what happened.

But now she finally understood what was happening to Link. Rusl had severely censored the story to her. All he said was that Link was sick, he never told her he was dangerous. He never told her that he was turning into a killer.

Luda had told her the story through her tears. Most of what she said was hard to understand but she got the main idea. There was no way Link was going through this alone, she didn't care how dangerous he was. She didn't care if she died herself, as long as Link was ok in the end.

She nudged the horse gently and started across the desert towards the temple.

What happened?

Rusl's eyes fluttered up and he groaned as his head throbbed.

What happened?

He sat up carefully and slowly and looked around.

"…Link?" Rusl got to his feet, setting a hand against a tree for balance as he looked around. He was totally alone.

Link's bag laid on the ground, along with everything else.

Fear rippled through Rusl as he realized what happened. Had the medicine not work? Did Ganondorf take over Link?

Did Ganondorf take over Link for good?

Rusl ran out of the trees into the open field, looking around. He knew where he was, it would only take 20 minutes or so to get back to Ordon and get his horse.

But a lot could happen in 20 minutes.

"Your majesty, there has been a problem."

"What is it?"

"Link has managed to get through our blockades."

The princess sighed, leaning forward and burying her face into her hands for a moment.

"How could this happen?"

"I'm sorry. His horse was going to fast, there was nothing we could do to stop him."

"Did you even pursue him?!"

"We tried! But he disappeared into the trees."

The princess sighed. The stress of the last year was going to give her gray hairs at the age of 19.

"We have an idea of where he may be headed…"

"Where?"

"The desert."

Her head rose.

"…Gerudo Desert?" The man nodded. Her eyebrows burrowed.

"Get the men out there immediately. Find him. NOW!"

From the distance he stood, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to point him out. The sun was blazing behind him as it began it's decent into the earth. The heat of the sun would be magnified through his black cloak but he didn't feel it. He didn't feel anything anymore and the reason to that was simple.

He wasn't even supposed to be here. But the black magic that Ganondorf called upon had also pulled him from his eternal sleep.

There really wasn't much he could do, however. Link was already too far involved to be saved. She had warned him to stay away as well, to not intervene unless there was no choice. He trusted his friend but he still had his doubts. All he could really do is watch from a distance and hope that the boy will continue the right path and not give up hope.

If such a thing did happen, he would have to intervene anyway which would most likely mean more deaths would occur in the battle.

He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched a figure in the distance, a tiny dot really, but he knew who it was as it made its way across the sands towards the temple.

"Saria…" He whispered. "I really hope you're right about this…"

Sweat beaded his forehead as he stepped into the temple. Ironically, the sun was always hotter when it was setting, that or it certainly felt like it with how it lit the sky up in blazing red.

But he was here. Finally.

"Sages." He called calmly, knowing he needn't shout.

Sure enough, all sages appeared around him.

"You have returned." One chimed.

"Have you brought the dagger shards?" Another asked. Link nodded once.

"I have." He slowly and carefully pulled out the sharp pieces of metal and held them out in open hands.

The sages all exchanged unseen expressions. Link scanned his eyes over them.

Finally, one sage floated forward and brought it's hand down on top of Link's, stopping it just a couple inches above. Even than, Link could feel the coolness flow off of his hand. A soothing coolness that seemed to relax his body and lower his once hot temperature. The beads of sweat on his forehead seemed to melt away as if they never existed before.

His body went numb and he could no longer feel anything. The sage lifted its head and looked at him as a bright white light shone from their hands. The dagger was being fused together.

The end was coming. Link knew it and so did he.

No! No no no!! Not now! Not when I'm so close!!

Link reached for the dagger, fighting hard against the other force that rested inside him. Ganondorf, who too understood what was coming, was fighting now to gain control, to stop what was coming. Link clenched his teeth.

"Give…me…the…dagger!" He strained to say to the sage that now held the pieced together dagger. Now that it was all together it was obvious that the dagger was brilliantly crafted. Engravings etched down the blade beautifully and the hilt was a dark red like the sun at set.

Not that Link really cared what the dagger looked at the time.

The sage stared at him for a long time, his expression unseen yet it was obvious what he was thinking. He took a step back.

"No! Dagger! .. now!!" Link tried to shout, reaching for it. "I … must … stop him!"

Link suddenly lunged at the sage who disappeared before he even touched him. Link fell flat on the ground, shivering in pain as the eternal battle began. The other sages cried out but also were pushed away, unwillingly, as if some unknown force was keeping them back.

The dagger laid just a few feet from Link's foot. He pushed himself up onto his knees and turned around slowly, reaching for the dagger. He has only to plunge it into him and this would all be over.

All his suffering. All his pain. All the evil in this land. Hyrule would be safe.

Link fell forward and his hand enclosed around the dagger's blade. It cut into him with ease as if his skin was cloth. The pain of the cut was nothing compared to everything else. Link grasped onto it tightly and pulled it towards him. He sat up on his legs and grabbed the dagger by the hilt.

He was so close, so close.

He turned the dagger and positioned it towards his heart for the final blow. He had to make it quick and prayed that it would be over quickly.

Suddenly the left hand left the hilt of the dagger and grasped onto the right hand's wrist. It pushed at the right hand as it tried to pull the dagger in. His arms started to shake with the strain as he fought against him. Link let out a cry of both pain and dispair. He didn't want this to last any longer! He wanted it to be over!

Suddenly Link bent his head back and a roar of laughter split from his lips. All strain on the hands disappeared as he slowly lowered them. His laughter echoed slightly. Finally he settled down and slowly got to his feet, dagger still in hand. He grinned and looked around triumphantly.

"I've won."