Ganondorf

The bodies of the decomposing monsters cloud the air around Ganondorf. Ganon's, Vaati's, they just kept coming and coming without end. It got to the point neither army was fighting each other but targeting him solely. For a moment, he thought the fight would mean his end as well.

Then it came, the Triforce of Power. He didn't question it, he immediately called forth its power and unleashed hell on the monsters. It took much out of him, but now that the coast is clear, he climbs back to Riju. Ignoring his own injuries, he pulls himself up to the rooftop and lies down to catch his breath. He catches a glimpse of his right hand, Din's blessing on it dimly.

What caused Vaati to split it. Ganon hasn't moved, not to his knowledge. One of Ganon's goons might've attacked, but they wouldn't dare, right? Unless it was a trick, somehow deceiving the Wind Mage. Vaati split it and possibly rewarded Zelda and Link their parts. Using the Triforce, he revitalizes himself, then rises up to his waist and turns to Riju. A quick moment later, he's on his feet, sword in hand as his sword points toward the red-robed wizard holding his cousin like a hostage. Memory begins to spin back to an earlier time in the area, right before the Battle of Mido. "You."

Agahnim chuckles. "I thought you wouldn't remember me. How was it fighting my creation? Using the residue magic around my master, I created the beast you fought. I didn't think you'd survive, though. And now we meet again, with your family back in my hands."

"Let her go."

"Give me the Triforce of Power."

Ganondorf groans then look to Riju. For some reason, his cousin is healed. Did Agahnim heal her? How nice of him. But what draws his attention is her hanging arm, with her fingers rubbing against each other. Knowing what comes next, Ganondorf lowers his blade. "Keep her for a moment longer."

"What do you mean-GAHHHHH!" Agahnim's body becomes a conduit of electricity as Riju's power courses through him. Dropping the Sage Gerudo Chief, she rolls over to Ganondorf. Reaching for her sword, she holds it skyward and electrifies it, then with lightning speed, she zips over and impales Agahnim. The Dark Wizard releases a guttural scream as his insides are ravaged by lightning until he can scream no more. His body slumps as Riju removes her sword, purple smoke exiting the wound as he falls off the roof.

"Sav'orq." Riju turns around, twirling her blade in her sword hand as she faces Ganondorf. "That was the real him, I hope. Detected some true sense of spirit."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm." She kneels down, surrounding herself in an orange aura. Ganondorf bets she's using her mind-reading and mind-altering abilities. "While he was healing me, I did manage to get a read on it. Vaati's weakened now after being tricked by the real Agahnim, then multiplied himself. As for these monsters, it seems we're the only target. For now, I'll try to gain control of the monsters. Make them fight each other."

Ganondorf sits down beside Riju, sending his power into Riju to help boost her strength. "How much time for all these beasts?"

"Not too long, they're weak-minded but in huge numbers and varying mental strength. You should go help the others."

"And leave you behind? No chance. I'm not leaving the Gerudo Queen behind. Not my queen."

Riju looks to Ganondorf, confused. "What do you… Me?"

Ganondorf nods. "Riju, my father is right. We have a destiny together, a destiny that extends beyond this war. You love me still, I know it, and despite my feelings for Midna, I still feel the same for you. Whether it is right or wrong, it is what good rulers do. We do what's best for the people, not ourselves, and what's best for the Gerudo is us. And before you say anything, I talked to Midna back at the Realm of Twilight. We came to such an agreement...she's pretty much the one who brought it up, now that she has a realm to rule."

Riju's breaths are heavy, due to the exhaustive nature of her task, Ganondorf reasons to himself. "Ganondorf...forget our people for once… Forget me for once… What is it you want?"

"To avenge my people, that's all I ever wanted."

"No...after the war."

"I… I never gave much thought about that before I returned to Mido. Wherever the wind took me, I guess."

"Midna is in that picture. You know it." Riju grunts, but Ganondorf ignores it as she continues speaking. "Our parents had their idea for our fates, but the goal at the end of the day was to regain the pride our people had. That is what they saw in us...but only one of us has to achieve it. You...must achieve it, Ganondorf."

Turning back to Riju, he notices a thick trail of red at her abdomen. That's the same wound Koume inflicted and Agahnim "healed". "Riju… You're bleeding! Take this potion!"

She snaps her head at him. "No. I'm almost finished."

"But you're going to-"

"I know!" Her aura begins to flicker, tears stream from her eyes, but her resolve to shape the battlefield doesn't. "Ganondorf… The pride and future of the Gerudo are on that damn mountain. Defeat him, for all of us." The aura flickers out, disappearing for good as Riju collapses in Ganondorf's arms. Ganondorf holds her tight as she struggles to breathe. "It...is done…"

"I… They'll fight each other?"

"Yes, while ignoring you completely. But still leaves us to….deal with Ganon, Agahnim, and the Imperials. But I have no doubts...you all can win." Warm heat transfers from the palm of Riju to Ganondorf as Riju closes her eyes but begins to chant the familiar words of the Requiem of Spirit. Once the transfer is done, Riju opens her eyes and stares up at Ganondorf, weakly caressing his face. "Sav'orq, King Dragmire."

As Riju's last breaths become still, Ganondorf lowers her on the roof. Letting his tears fall and his anger boil over, he releases a scream filled with pain, suffering, and hate towards the heavens.

Ralph

The King of Labrynna and the other four sages watch the monsters resume fighting one another, ignoring the humans completely. At the same time, they all felt the presence of Riju fade and the rise of a new Sage of Spirit. The last three minutes, from the moment the Imperials turned on them to now have been quite the rollercoaster.

Sighing, Ralph turns away and looks to the western side of the city. Closer to them is Zelda, hovering in the sky in a dark cage. Link must be fighting someone strong nearby...Ralph decides not to intervene. To the far west is Ganondorf, alone. Riju's fall must be taking a toll on him, and if he might suspect, his sister is the killer. Who else would cause Ganondorf such turmoil? Looking to Midna, he considers sending her to the Gerudo, but if she had wanted to go, she would've. Not his business, not now. What matters now is their survival.

"Vaati seems to be wounded," Ravio says as he walks beside Ralph. "One of Ganon's sidekicks must've got to him somehow."

"We still have Twinrova and Veran to look out for," Hilda reports, "plus this Agahnim and Dark, whichever one is not engaged with Link and Zelda."

"Ralph," he hears Oren call. Turning around, he faces the Sage of Water, the woman staring at her trident. "I have a plan."

"What is it?"

"We need to reduce these numbers of monsters while we can. I suggest using the river. By this time, Mipha and the other Zoras should be at the riverbank. We'll conjure a huge as a wave we can make and wash it over the city. If that is successful, our own force can get here and fight with the advantage."

Ralph nods. "Okay. Go now, warp out the city to be safe, and do what you can. And seriously...be careful, Oren." Oren smiles and warps away from the group. With that business done, Ralph faces the distant Midna, who looks quietly to the south. "Midna?"

"The longer we fight like this, the quicker we'll die. Oren's plan is the only way out of this, but it will take some time for her to unleash such a spell." She only turns her head to the rest but keeps her eyes away. "You want to fight Veran?"

Ralph folds his arms, looking to his feet. "Yes, I was going to challenge her now since we're no longer distracted. But this is my fight and mine al-"

"No," Midna interjects, turning around fully. "No more of my friends are going to die today. Besides, she's out of our league by ourselves, but together, the four of us can beat her."

"But-"

"No buts," Hilda says sternly as she brandishes her staff. The weapon she only uses in serious situations. Beside her, Ravio puts on a brave face. They're serious...and Ralph would be a fool to deny them. Sighing, he smiles at Midna, at which she scoffs. "Oh, shut up. I don't care about you one lick."

"Deny-much, Midna." Ralph frowns at the weird way he just spoke. He meant to say "Deny all you want, but you care about me very much, Midna," yet only the beginning and end was said, as much to his knowledge. He looks to Midna, who stares above him in shock and horror. Turning around, he joins Ravio, Midna, and Hilda looking at the floating Oracle of Ages, Nayru. Or, the true being she is, the Imperial Queen and Sorceress of Darkness, Veran. She chuckles as she lowers herself to their level, holding a red rod in her right hand and points it at the group of four. Ralph growls as he instantly recognizes it. "The Rod of Seasons. You took it from Din."

"What an astute observation, my king," Veran says in Nayru's voice. "Poor Din, dying all alone, with the face of her sister impaling her being the last thing she remembers. It is so...entertaining. You will die the same, Ambi, the face of the one you love being the last thing you see. Your friends are not exempt either." She turns to the west, her smile growing. "Poor Link struggles to fight, his princess trapped with no way out, and Ganondorf suffers in agony over his pathetic weaknesses to protect those he loves. They will join the four of you soon-"

Bang! Ralph draws the Seed Shooter that came inside the bag of Magic Seeds and fires one at Veran. Having no clue she was being attacked, she's unguarded as the seed impacts her chest. Veran grunts as she's forced to kneel and begins to fizzle between her own body and Nayru's. Ralph sighs in relief, while Veran and Nayru aren't separating, the seeds are affecting the possession. A few more shots and Nayru will be free.

"Gah! What have you...oh, heh heh." As she regains control, Veran stands up in her true body, her red eyes flashing in amusement. "Not again." She thrusts her hand forward, emitting a series of blasts that make contact with the four sages. Ralph falls through a neighboring building, separate from Midna and the Loruleans. Determined and somewhat pissed, the king of Labrynna kicks himself up, grabs his sword, and leaps up in the air. Igniting his blade, he screams as he swings at Veran, only for her to disappear from sight. Next thing he knows is a pulsing heat on his back and beside his right ear. "Ralph, my dear. You cannot win." He shields himself just in the nick of time to protect himself from the point-blank attack that knocks him to the street. Not many monsters remain, thankfully.

He gets up and looks at Veran. He clicks his tongue. He thought he could get her before she started using Nayru's time abilities, but that plan went to shit pretty quickly. He looks to his left, seeing Ravio close by. The Lorulean knight is panicking, of course, but who isn't? With Veran's stolen time ability, she can attack without them knowing until its too late.

Yet she hasn't continued as of the last minute. Hilda and Midna must have engaged her. He can't let them fight his battle themselves. Reaching for the Seed Shooter and another Magic Seed, he immediately reloads the shooter. Then reaching for the Seed Shooter and another Magic Seed, he immediately reloads the shooter.

Wait, why he reload twice? Gah, Veran must have rewinded time. "Ravio, here." Ravio catches the Seed Shooter and the bag of Magic Seeds. but looks confused as Ralph continues to speak. "Listen to me. You are the smartest guy I know with these items. I don't know how to tell you what to do, but whatever you do, you must shoot Veran with these seeds. In case she does something, count fifteen seconds once you have aimed at her."
"What? What about you?"

"I'll keep her distracted with the girls. I'm depending on you! We all are! You got me?"

Ravio takes a breath and calms down. "Okay. But keep the Seed Shooter. She needs to know you still have it." Taking the shooter back, Ralph pats his friend on the back and runs after the three fighting women. As he comes close, he spots Hilda rolling on the ground. Coughing, she pushes herself up as Ralph comes up to her.

"Hilda, take a break."

She rejects the idea as she uses her staff to get up on her feet. "I'm not letting you fight alone, Ralph. I'm with Midna, you need us as we need you. Not on some power of friendship bullshit, but because she's too strong for one of us." She looks around Ralph, then heaves a sigh. "Where's Ravio?"

"Doing what he does best." Ralph's bright smile shuts down the retort Hilda was about to unleash. With a grunt, she faces forward to the battling Midna and Veran. Ralph does the same as he reignites his sword. "We keep her focused on the three of us, then hopefully Ravio follows through." Dashing forward, Ravio releases a burst of flame at Veran's back. Somehow the flames miss Veran (who went from being targeted by the flames to standing a few feet away in the blink of an eye) and barely misses Midna. DId Veran pause time long enough to move out the way? If so… Ralph grits his teeth as he slides beside Midna, Hilda right behind him. The powerful Twili princess nods to them, aware of the plan. Facing Veran, he says nothing as he leads the charge towards her. She swings the Rod of Seasons, creating a wind gust to prevent their movement. Yet they still move forward, fighting the gales that threaten to push them. Annoyed, Veran unleashes another blast attack, in which Hilda (with her powers amplified by evening-time) holds her staff forward, creating a barrier that protects them.

They continue to move forward.

Once the shield breaks, Midna unravels her hair and punches at Veran, the queen barely protecting herself in time. Splitting the large fist into two, Midna continuously begins to batter Veran's defenses, but as she does so, Ralph awaits for the use of her time powers. Why isn't she using those abilities?

"Nayru," he hears Hilda say.

"What?"

"Nayru must be fighting the possession. Come on!" Hilda holds her staff to the sky as her power soars around her. "Veran, you will let Nayru and Hyrule go free, so say I, Hilda of Lorule!" Hilda points the staff towards Veran, unleashing a black beam at the Sorceress of Darkness. She turns to Ralph. "Do it! Shoot her before she regains control!"

Veran grunts, but a moment later, she faces Ralph. "Ralph," she says in Nayru's voice. At first, it angers him she'd do it again, but then a single tear from Veran's eye slides down her face. That wasn't Veran, Ralph gasps in realization, that was truly Nayru! Raising the Seed Shooter, Ralph aims for Veran's head and fires. It flies true, yet time itself seems to slow down in anticipation of the shot.

Ten seconds later, Nayru's spear is in Ralph's gut. Choking on the sudden pain and rise of blood, Ralph coughs as Nayru's face smiles in his. He turns around, seeing Midna and Hilda knocked to the side, cut down brutally. What...he surely fired the shot. "Looking for this?" Ralph turns back, Veran flashing the seed in his face. "Nayru did an admirable job trying to fight me long enough for you to shoot me, but she is just another weakling. Like these women. Like you and all your friends. To think anyone would ever stand beside you in a foolish fight against someone like me? Now here you've done it again, let your foolishness get people you care about killed, just like your mother. Just like your soldiers. Just like Din. Just like the rest of the world. Those lives are all on your hands and you lead them all to the slaughter. Much unlike your ancestor, but he too was a fool to stand against me. It must run in the line of Ambi. Now Nayru's face shall be the last memory you have before you die, my dear."

Ralph looks up to Veran but pushes aside all thoughts of her, instead only seeing Nayru. The kind, beautiful woman he loves, his dear Oracle of Ages, his beloved Queen of Labrynna. He raises a hand to her hair and strokes it while he leans his head forward. "Nayru… I'm so sorry. And Veran...you have lost." He quickly captures Nayru's lips, surprising Veran long enough for her to gasp a moment later. While Nayru's face stays in his hands, Ralph hears the thud of a body falling behind her.

Releasing her lips, Ralph looks to the side and sees the Sorceress of Darkness lying on the ground, weakened by the powers of the Magic Seeds and three arrows on her back. Feeling the spear being removed from his abdomen, a warm heat follows afterward, reversing the effects of the wound. Rising back up, he looks to the distance, seeing Ravio and a bow in his hand. How he made everything work doesn't matter to Ralph as he picks up his sword, covers it in flames, and holds it over Veran. He looks back, seeing Nayru, the real Nayru, tend to Hilda while Midna leans up and watches him. "You called me foolish for leading others." He turns back to Veran, frowning. "No. Only a fool such as I would try to do something myself, but I have fools behind me who will fight at my side. We're all fools, Veran, but we're the fools who will win this day." He looks to the west, sensing that the dark presence by Link and Zelda has faded. Link won, finally. "No matter what we're up against, this battle will be ours."

Veran chuckles. "You might have won this fight, but this battle is far from over. And as I said, you have lead more fools to the slaughter." She points up, shooting a blast into the sky. It explodes in the atmosphere like a firework, but the distraction is enough for Ralph to be pushed aside. As he regains his footing, he sees Ganondorf's younger sister and Ghirahim between him and Veran. Helped up, Veran chuckles as she points at the heroes. "The battle continues...at North Castle. If you all live, that is."

The trio vanishes, but the threat lingers in the air. Sighing, Ralph faces the others. Everyone except Nayru is beaten up and tired, yet they're alive for now. He chuckles as he sheathes his sword. "We are some lucky bastards." He walks to Nayru, hugging her happily with tears. "I told Farore I'll save you."

"I know, my love." Nayru smiles as she leans up and turns to the Loruleans and Midna. "Thank you all for helping Ralph do this."

Midna snorts. "No thanks to Ralph, just us. Especially Pissypants right here."

Ravio rubs his slugged shoulder. "Midna!"

"Anyway, I think it is time for us to regroup and call in reinforcements."

"To our favorite legends then." Hilda steps in the center and holds her staff a few inches above the ground. "Gather up." As everyone gets close, she taps the ground, performing a large teleportation spell that brings them from the east side of the city to Link and Zelda's position. As they appear, the five are greeted by the two they're expecting plus the presence of Ganondorf. Upon seeing him, Midna steps over, hugging him gently. Ralph turns to Zelda and Link, noticing the healing wounds on the hero...and the golden Triforces on their hands.

"Well, those are unexpected. Vaati gave them up?"

"Agahnim forced it somehow." Zelda looks around, noticing something wrong. "Oren?"

Ravio points north of the city. "She's at the riverbank with some plan to flush out the remaining forces of Ganon and Vaati. But she should…" Nine heads swivel to the east as blue light twinkles in the sky. They gasp as they realize it is a beam from the last Divine Beast, but Zelda and Ganondorf aren't strong enough at the moment to use themselves as shields.

"Guys! To me!" Everyone turns to see the returned Oren, pointing her trident to the sky. A dome of water surrounds the nine young adults as they gather and the destructive beam comes down on them...