Malice

By: dontwaitupxx


Chapter Twenty-One


The storm came in suddenly from the west, with the rain pelting down on Link and Zelda, as they fruitlessly tried to stay dry under a shallow alcove somewhere along the Farosh Hills. Though, it was tough to tell where they were, as the sheets of rain came down so hard and so fast that it was tough to see around them for any landmark to confirm their whereabouts.

Up north, in Central Hyrule and Necluda, it had been snowing, the fine, wispy snowflakes creating a thin sheet of snow upon the land. The Faron region was not immune to the effects of winter; however, it was not cold enough for that rain to be turned into snow. While it was warmer in the Faron region than up north, it was not enough to stop Link and Zelda from cringing as the cold, frigid rain hit their extremities as they both held their Hylian Hoods closer to themselves.

They had discussed, albeit briefly, whether to just continue through the pouring rain to make it to the Zonai ruins. They knew full well that they did not have the luxury of simply waiting out the storm, and they knew that they could deal with the repercussions of their actions after all of this was said and done.

Should they have repercussions after this was all said and done.

Since their talk the night before, with Link opening up to her about Mipha and what he had seen underneath Hyrule Castle, Zelda had held him closer, grasped him longer, and kissed him gentler. Her hero was strong, and he and her and all of Hyrule knew that, but he was also just a man, and understandably would have a breaking point given the unfeasible tasks given to them by fate. They had each other, which was more than they had in the last one hundred years.

And as dark as it sounded, it would be over soon enough, anyways.

To their right, a flash of lightning struck the hills, closer than they would have liked, and Zelda jumped involuntarily, feeling Link's grip on her shoulder tighten as they huddled together to keep warm against the brisk chill. Zelda had to wonder how there was a thunderstorm even when it was so cold. It did not seem natural or possible.

But, she supposed, stranger things had happened in this day and age.

By the time the storm finally let up and they could continue their journey to the ruins, they had already lost a couple of hours on their journey. It was strange, the sense of urgency they had, and yet leniency they had with time. It was as though time did not exist, and was not even a factor in their journey. They knew they had to get to the ruins as soon as they could to stop Ganon, and yet they knew that the battle for Hyrule would not start until they faced him back at the castle.

Ganon was quite patient, they knew. He had waited ten thousand years to fight them again in the flesh. What was another two more hours to spare?

The ground was wet beneath their feet, the dirt turned to mud and sticking to their shoes. It slowed them down considerably, but yet again, it hardly mattered in the end. Their fight with Ganon would happen when it happened. It was a bizarre way to think of things.

As they approached the outskirts of the ancient Zonai ruins, Link's arm began to glow brighter and brighter. An unintended consequence of this, however, was that it acted as a sort of beacon for the monsters that inhabited the ruins. The Zonai ruins were infested with mostly Lizalfos with the occasion Moblin in residence. When fought one or two at a time, the monsters were easy to pick off, Zelda with her Sheikah bow and Link with the Master Sword, but from time to time, they would come across a pack of Lizalfo and Moblin, and were met with the occasional scratch or gash from a Lizal Tri-Boomerang or the claws of a Moblin.

The benefit of Link's glowing arm was that it acted as way to tell them if they were getting closer or farther away from the hub of the ancient Zonai magic. The hub was certainly in the center of the ruins, it was clear to see. As they stepped off the hills and into the Damel Forest, they followed the Dracozu River as Link's arm grew brighter and brighter. They found, as they dispatched the monsters along their path, that Link's magic grew exponentially stronger, as they made their way towards the hub. Link relied less on the Master Sword and more and more on his powers, using his telekinesis to fling numerous monsters back the way they came, or freezing the very river that the Lizalfos were swimming through to get to them.

Just before Dracozu Lake, Link and Zelda found what they were looking for. It was a large ruin; partially sunken into the swamp it was built upon. The entrance into the ruin had long since been caved in and lost to time, and yet it was something that did not matter. This was the hub of all the magic, where the most magic was concentrated when they had disappeared ten thousand years prior. By accessing the magic here, at the hub, then Link would be able to access it from anywhere across Hyrule, within the network of towers and ancient civilizations.

Time seemed to completely halt as they approached the ruin. Link's arm glowed brilliantly in the dark, mythical forest. Zelda stood slightly behind Link as he approached what looked to be the caved in entrance to the ancient Zonai ruin. Gingerly – apprehensively – he held out his arm towards the ruin, his fingers splayed as he slowly stepped towards the walls of the ruin.

By now, Link was only a few steps away from the ruins. He looked over his shoulder slightly, towards Zelda, with a small smile adorning his features. It was now or never. He turned back around and faced the ruin, and took the final few steps. His fingers touched the ancient Zonai ruins, his arm glowing magnificently, before everything went white.

He soared high above Hyrule, watching in awe as the land once again, lit up with brilliant lights dotting the landscape. Only this time, it wasn't of the Ancient Sheikah's doing: no, it was the Zonai's. Across the land, ancient pillars that had been dormant for the last ten thousand years lit up in a magnificently bright green. Ruins that had not been noticed in a few millennia burst from the ground, their ancient text and magic illuminating brightly across the land once again. From three corners of the country, the Lomei Labyrinths shined brightly like beacons on the horizon.

And from the very center of the country, beneath Hyrule Castle, the ancient Zonai city shined the most striking of them all. Link watched, then, as the ancient Zonai magic swirled with the deep magenta of Ganon's malice. He watched as the two ancient forces fought for dominance, the glowing green magic swirling and cleansing - the malice oozing and burning.

It was a standstill: the malice had finally met its match, but the battle hadn't even started yet. All it would take would be one push from either side: one person to shift the scale to go either one way or the other.

Link was then transported to a plane of nothingness, and everything was silent. Everywhere around him was endless, vast white. Patting down his chest, he felt corporeal, yet he knew without a doubt he was in a dimension of the world that was certainly not Hyrule. He took a few steps forward, his feet echoing distantly throughout the endless expanse. Where was he to go? What was he to do? Beside him, his right arm did not glow in the same way that it had before. Yet, there was a sense of understanding, of knowing and control. He felt an expertise regarding his newly acquired magic he had not felt before.

He took a few more steps forward, before he stopped abruptly, feeling the weight of a pair of eyes on the back of his head. Carefully, and slowly, Link turned around, and was met with the very same Zonai warriors from ten thousand years ago that he had seen in his vision deep beneath Hyrule Castle.

The first of the warriors stepped forward, bending forward in a short, abrupt bow, "Hero of Hyrule," the warrior began, "Chosen by the Blade of Evil's Bane: the time has come for you to end what we could only temporarily hold off ten thousand years ago. The time has come for you, courageous one, to put an end to this embodiment of hatred incarnate once and for all."

Link nodded, his faced steeled, as he prepared himself to face his fate.

"Ten thousand years ago," the warrior continued, "Our plans were thwarted by the Demon King, and we were unsuccessful in our defeat of Ganon with the Princess and Hero of your past life. However, in Ganon's resurrection, the demon still grows weak. If we act with haste, there may be a way to completely eradicate the threat at large while still preserving yours and the Princess's lives."

Both his and Zelda's lives? Would that be possible? Link had been adamant that no matter what the cost, Zelda was to live. However, this was with the promise that he would not survive the battle. But if there was a way…

"There's a catch, isn't there?" Link asked, taking an involuntary step backwards in the endless plane, "How would that be possible?"

"In freezing the Demon King in a ten thousand year stasis," the warrior explained, "his soul grew weak as it still struggled to sustain itself, while still creating the Calamity; a product of hatred and malice. As such, Ganon is far weaker and far slower than he had been back in his prime ten thousand years ago. Since our failure to yourself and the Princess, we have been working feverishly to create a new spell: one that would transport Ganon not even into the future, but into another universe entirely."

"How is that possible?" Link asked.

"We Zonai have many secrets," the warrior said as an answer, "However, there could be… complications, if you would."

Ah, there was the catch, "What sort of complications?"

"This spell has been something that we of the Zonai Tribe have been cultivating for the past ten thousand years. It is an advanced skill, and one that cannot be taken too lightly. In the hands of an inexperienced spell caster, the spell may very well destroy him."

"So you're saying this spell has the potential of killing me the second I learn it," Link asked, "What makes you think that I come anywhere close to being able to learn this advanced spell?"

"It is the only way," the warrior responded, "and you are our best hope. Down in the catacombs beneath Hyrule Castle, when you first obtained the powers of the Zonai, your body accepted the magic unyieldingly. It was absorbed in a way we Zonai had not seen since the height of our civilization. You are the Hero of Hyrule, Farosh's chosen champion: if anyone in your world has the ability to harness this power, it is you."

"Isn't there a way for us to completely eradicate Ganon, without sending him to another universe? Isn't there a way for us to destroy him without casting him off as another world's problem?"

"I'm afraid there isn't," the warrior said, "This has been something that, we too, have been thinking of and cultivating for the last ten thousand years. However, Ganon's power is much too old and ancient. It is a power that is backed by a curse of an age long past, and it is not one that can simply be destroyed. Therefore, we have developed a workaround, and found a way for him to be displaced from this world entirely."

Link nodded briefly, "I understand."

"And furthermore," the warrior continued, "Should you not choose to accept this spell from us, then all of Hyrule will be doomed anyways, and you will die alongside the Princess and all of your people as Ganon sweeps control over the land once and for all. There truly isn't another option. This is the only way."

"Very well, then," Link said, taking a step forward towards the Zonai warriors, "I accept, and I am willing and ready to learn this spell from you."

The warrior nodded once, before his tribe all spread out, encircling around Link within the endless plane. They held their hands close to their chests, their fingertips and thumbs pressing against each other with their hands in a diamond shape. They slowly circled Link as they stretched their arms outwards towards Link, and Link watched in amazement as both arms – not just the one – glowed a magnificent illuminating green, the magic swirling and billowing in waves.

Before long, the endless white plane was encased in that very same swirling green magic, surrounding Link from all sides. Link took in a large breath, bracing himself for what was yet to come. He had no idea what to make of it. Would it hurt? Would it be quick? Would he even realize that it had happened?

Had it already happened?

Alas, it had not, but on that thought, the Zonai warriors stopped circling Link and turned inwards to face him, their left arm outstretched with the hand splayed, while the right hand gently pressed against the center of their chest. Link looked down to see his right arm glowing brilliantly, in a way that he had never seen it glow.

He hoped that this was a good sign.

The warrior that he had conversed with then muttered something in a language that he did not understand, and the other warriors repeated the very same phrase. Then, in unison, all of the warriors took a step back with their right leg, bracing themselves, before stepping forward and pressing forward with their right hand, the magic cascading forwards and onwards, before Link was encased in the magic from all sides.

It was at this moment that Link understood.

It was simple, really; the spell they were sharing with them. Why hadn't they thought of it before? Now that he knew it, it was all really just second nature to him. This spell, along with the knowledge that came with it, solidified Link's understanding of the Zonai magic. No longer was he a novice when it came to understanding and controlling the magic. Now, the magic bent to his will, easy to facilitate and manipulate. It was a wonder they hadn't thought of this spell sooner.

Though, in retrospect, it had taken the Zonai warriors ten thousand years to create and perfect this art.

It was over as quickly as it had begun. The magic ceased its swirling around him, and the haziness went away to reveal the Zonai warriors all surrounding him still in the white, endless plane. Link looked around, in the eyes of each of the warriors, the question clear in his eyes.

"So… did it work?"

At this, the warriors all laughed, doubling over on themselves as Link stared at them. The first of them stood up first, stepping forward to place a hand on Link's shoulder.

"You absorbed that magic better than any warrior I had ever come across back in my life, and yet you still ask us if that worked?"

Link smiled, then, clapping the warrior on the back, "How will I know what to do when the time comes?"

"When the time comes, you'll know," the warrior said, "In all of your lives, when the time has come, you have always known what to do. That has been what has always made you the Hero. Trust in your Goddess, for she has given you this task for this very reason. She would not have given it to you if you could not do it."

"And the Princess," Link started, "Zelda… what of her? Where should she be during this attack on Ganon?"

"By your side, as she always has been," the Zonai warrior said, "You forget the way the Tri-Force works, don't you? So long as you and the Princess are always together, evil will never reign over Hyrule. It's how it always has been, and how it always will be. This attack on Ganon will not be as simple as walking to him and casting the spell. Ganon has been the definition of power since time immemorial. He will have his minions fighting along side him. However, he is still weak, and it is nothing that you and the Princess have not undertaken before."

"I understand," Link said, bowing his head to the warriors.

"Very good," the Zonai warrior bowed back, "Now, Hero of Hyrule, it is time that you head back to your land. Time is of the essence, and as you return to your world, you are to head straight away to the Hyrule Fields, where Ganon awaits your return. Be courageous and wise as you initiate this fight. Trust in yourself and in the Princess. The two of you were born for this, and you were born to win this fight. This has been ten thousand years in the making, and it will all start and end with the two of you."

"Thank you," Link whispered.

"No, thank you, Hero," the warrior said, "For finishing what we started ten thousand years ago: for putting an end one and for all to the Demon King's tyranny. For finishing what we could not. And now, we of the Zonai can finally rest, knowing that our legacy will live on. Farewell, Hero."

"Farewell," Link said, though he was already being transported back, back to Hyrule, back to the Zonai Ruins, back to the Princess.

It took much longer than he had anticipated, and by the time he came to, it was already dark in the ruins, the stars from the night sky shining down on him benevolently. Around him, the air was cold and murky. He was lying on his back, with a thin blanket from his bedroll placed over him. Not much farther away from him, Zelda had made camp, and a fire was roaring, with a soup roaring on the fire.

Gingerly, Link lifted himself onto his elbows and sat up, looking over to his right to where his Princess was meticulously stirring the pot of soup. She hadn't yet noticed that he had come to. In this moment, Link chose just to admire the way that the Princess's brow was slightly scrunched as she seasoned the soup to her liking. He took this time to admire the way that the light of the flames danced off of her body in the shadows of the ruins. He took this time to admire the way that she was here, with him, and that from the word of the Zonai warriors, she would continue to be here, with him.

It took quite the weight off of his shoulders.

Link stretched his shoulders backwards, cracking his back, and it was that moment that Zelda looked up from her work at the fire to see her hero finally awake, after what had been hours of being gone to the world.

He had half expected her to run over and climb into his lap, but she surprised him when she stayed exactly where she was, letting a small smile adorn her face, "Were you able to access the hub of the Zonai magic while you were away?" Zelda asked, her eyes casting downwards to her soup.

"I was," Link replied, "and more than that, as well. I was able to speak with the Zonai tribe, in a plane of the world between this and the afterlife."

"Oh?" Zelda asked, her interest piqued as she looked up from the soup, inching towards him, "What happened there?"

"They taught me a spell," Link replied, "One that would remove Ganon from this world permanently. Their stasis spell had been used ten thousand years ago as a last ditch effort, and was not able to eradicate the threat completely – only postpone it. This way, Ganon gets sent with a one way ticket to another world that is not our own."

"Another world…" Zelda mused, "But then, wouldn't that just subject the other world to the wrath of Ganon? That world does not deserve to be afflicted by Ganon and his power hungry ways."

"Perhaps," Link agreed, "However, it's the only solution we have, and the only way to get rid of him completely. And who knows? Maybe Ganon will be sent to a world that is just as evil and malicious as him."

"A world as evil and malicious as him?" Zelda joked, "Oh, Ganon would just be at peace there, wouldn't he? He would be absolutely miserable!"

The two of them laughed and joked for the rest of the evening, enjoying their soup under the stars deep within the ancient Zonai ruins. By morning the two of them packed up their camp, and had begun their trek north, making their way north towards the Hyrule Fields and Hyrule Castle. Rather than make the trek through the Farosh Hills and up by Deya Village, the two opted for the safer, and more picturesque route by taking the Bridge of Hylia north.

They had once had plans to stop back in Kakariko Village prior to their final assault against Ganon, but they were well stocked with arrows and supplies, and there really was no time like the present. Though Ganon was patient, and had been waiting for ten thousand years, Link was not, and did not even want to wait one more day before casting this spell on the Demon King to send him far away from Hyrule for all eternity.

The way back was quiet: peaceful, almost. It held a sense of foreboding neither of the two could ignore and a sense of dread neither of the two wanted to acknowledge. It was bizarre, in a way, how serene the way back to Hyrule Castle was. If they just closed their eyes and listened to the sounds of the wild, they could very well believe that they were back in the wild, one hundred years prior, and that all of this had just been some horrible and malicious dream.

In a way, though, some dreams had the ability to come true.

The Bridge of Hylia was home to a few Lizalfos and not much else, which were easily dispatched. Despite the wear and tear over the years, and the very obvious damage from the Guardians from where they had tried to destroy the bridge, the Great Bridge was still magnificent in her own right. She had stood the test of time, surviving from dates all the way back to the era of Twilight. If she had survived the blasts of the Guardians, then the Bridge of Hylia would most certainly survive whatever collateral damage came from their fight against Ganon.

And oh: Zelda could not wait to restore the Great Bridge to her former glory.

They finally passed Lake Hylia and stepped into the outskirts of Central Hyrule. To their right was the Great Plateau, and to the left were the Dueling Peaks, still mighty in their own right. Just up ahead was Hyrule Castle, elevated atop the ancient Zonai city, the green swirling Zonai magic clashing violently with the oozing magenta malice.

Then, a sound rang all across Hyrule, like a warning gong. It sounded once, twice, then three times, and in that moment, they knew that it was meant for them. The ground around them shook, the world shivering with anticipation. They looked on ahead, and gasped at what they saw.

Up ahead, in the center of the plains where Hyrule Castle stood, a figure stepped out of the ancient Zonai ruins for the first time in over ten thousand years. They were still far away from the castle, and yet the figure was massive, and unmistakable. The last Link and Zelda had seen him, his flesh had been rotten, his bones protruding, his hair disintegrating. Now, however, he stood tall and mighty, his muscles flexing as he stood to his full height, and even from their distance, his golden eyes bore straight through them, bearing and intensity neither of the two had anticipated.

Ganon stepped onto the grass in the Hyrule Plains. As he stood, the grass around him turned a malicious magenta, seeping and burning. From there, the malice spread, covering every inch of grass in the Hyrule Plains and beyond, until all of the world was seeped in malice, oozing and burning.

Ganon was back.