Chapter 24: Power, Wisdom, and Courage
"We have to be sure about it, once we do it, there's no going back." Zelda said.
Revali and I nodded in understanding. Considering the circumstances, it was definitely time for desperate measures. We all stood side by side as we faced Ganon.
"Alright pig face!" Revali called out.
"You want the Triforce?" Zelda said.
"Come and get it." I challenged.
We put our hands up as 3 golden triangles floated out of them and into the air, forming the symbol that we had all come to recognize only a few feet below the ceiling in the massive room. I had to admit that to a degree I was awestruck when I saw it, I could almost feel the power emanating off from it. Ganon's face bent into a mad grin.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! At last! The Triforce is mine!"
"Yes, it appears so. But there's just one problem Ganon." Revali said.
Ganon's grin faded as Revali said this.
"It's pretty high up, you would have to have wings to get there. Link!?"
Guessing what Revali meant, I boosted myself into the air with Revali's Gale. The sacred triangle was a couple of yards at the ceiling of the room and descending gradually, I just had to reach it before Ganon could and hope I was worthy to touch it in case it broke.
"No!"
I looked for an instant to where he was standing to see him disappear. He could teleport!? Then he was there right next to me.
"Look out!" Zelda shrieked.
Reflexes kicking in, I pulled the Master Sword from my Back and hit him with an aerial spin attack that was followed by 3 ancient arrows that I imagine Revali fired as my left hand touched the artifact. I closed my eyes as I made my wish, I wanted Ganon sealed away, unable to hurt us or Hyrule. A pulse of Golden light knocked me to the ground in a somewhat painful landing. The Castle started to shake as the blade of the Master Sword started to glow the same gold as the Triforce. The Malice started to retreat from the ceilings as a visual essence was being absorbed into the sword. Ganon himself however, got back to his feet.
"You think you've won? No! My hatred never dies! I will break free! I will return!"
I stabbed the blade into his chest with a yell, eyes cutting into the demon king's.
"And I'll be waiting, Sword in hand. No matter what."
With a roar of rage, his body disintegrated and was absorbed into the sword. The castle stopped rumbling as the light of the early morning poured in the window and the Master Sword returned to its normal blue glow.
"Did.. did we win?" Revali asked.
I turned to see him with his Great Eagle Bow out standing next to Zelda, confirming who had fired the ancient arrows. I smiled.
"Yes Revali, we won. He's gone."
He's Gone. I couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"So…, what now?" Revali asked.
My second wind of strength suddenly faded, causing me to collapse to my knees with a wince, leaning on The Master Sword for support.
"Link!" They both cried.
They both got to my side at the same time and lifted me by my shoulders.
"Is he going to be ok?" Zelda asked.
"I imagine a few nights in Rito Village and some nice Salmon Meuniere will have him his feet in no time. If not, he can just sleep it off for another century."
I could tell he was joking with that last part.
"I'm fine, just a little bit…" I was so tired I didn't even know how to finish my sentence. "I need to sit down."
Revali and Zelda helped me to the floor. Revali stood over me after I had been released.
"I think you've had your fair share of adventures today, after we are done here, we are going straight home with no arguments."
I smiled. He reminded me of Mom.
"Whatever you say."
"Can you walk?" Zelda asked.
"Just give me a minute."
Revali turned to face the golden triangle symbol as it finished its decent and hovered in front of us.
"So this is the Triforce huh?" he asked.
"Apparently."
"What do we do with it?"
"Isn't it obvious? We have to protect it."
Zelda chimed in. "The easiest way would be to break it apart into its 3 separate pieces again and guard each piece."
"Before we do that, could I possibly make a wish or two?"
"I personally see no reason why not, as long as you don't wish for anything foolish." I said.
Revali walked forward to the glowing artifact, hand outstretched. Then withdrew it when he got close.
"No, I can't."
All traces of arrogance and joking was gone from his voice, which worried me. I slowly and shakily stood up.
"Why not?"
"There's no way I can get them both granted."
Seeing him like this was uncharacteristic. He wasn't just unsure, he was scared. I pushed myself to my feet.
"You have two wishes?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, what are they?"
He got close and told them to me in a whisper. His first wish was nothing new, I'm sure it was something that all three of us desired, as all of us wanted to see Mipha, Daruk, and Urbosa again and their gifts could also be useful in the restoring Hyrule to its former glory and beyond. But the next wish shocked me. I mean I know that Revali was not the same as he was 100 years ago, but had he enjoyed this adventure that much? After a moment of shock, I accepted both of his wishes with a nod.
"Zelda, we actually might need your help with this one."
I wasn't sure if it would do anything, but I wanted to make sure Revali's wishes would come true. After agreeing that we all wanted Revali's wishes to come true, the three of us touched the Triforce with this desire in mind.
Upon our touch, the Triforce glowed brighter and released 2 energy waves. The first, expanded far outside the castle, I imagine going to the divine beasts and restoring the bodies of some spirits that had been trapped for the past century before I freed them in my first quest to save Hyrule. The next wave pulse into Revali, Zelda, and I. Filling us with power and an understanding about exactly how Revali's 2nd wish had been granted. The Triforce then floated slightly higher into the air before splitting into its familiar 3 fragments, each of us receiving the piece we had guarded for the duration of this adventure. I looked to see the glow of my Triforce piece fade, once more putting the Triforce Symbol on the back of my hand. My expression was serious.
"Revali, you do understand what your second wish means don't you? Zelda and I are part of a never-ending cycle to be reborn whenever Hyrule needs us, and because you made your wish to continue to protect the Triforce alongside me, that means that you are part of that cycle. I can't guarantee how you'll be born or when, but your soul might have a hard time finding rest."
"It can't be that bad Link, besides the Triforce was the one who decided how the Wish was granted. The way I see it, it just means that I'll be alongside you every time you are reborn."
He put me in a headlock and gave my head feathers a started to give my head feathers a nooige as I protested in play.
"It just means that you're stuck with me Link, and not just in this age." I threw him off. And stood up, quickly meeting his gaze. He was smiling, as was I.
"Well then if you're ok with that, then who am I to argue? I look forward to fighting alongside you, Champion of the Rito"
"As do I, Hero of Hyrule."
We Grabbed each other's hands in a grasp of friendship and bond. After we had grasped each other's hands like this for a minute or two, we both pulled ourselves into a hug. If felt good to have family again, to have this big piece of my past and to a degree my identity outside of my calling still with me. He was still a rival, but he also was also my teacher, ally, and most importantly one of my best friends, if not my best friend besides maybe Zelda. He was still arrogant and a bit of a chatterbox, but also kind and willing to listen (in the right circumstances that is). Just as I remembered him during my childhood. And quite frankly, just how I wanted it to remain. I would say that I was proud to call him my brother and to have him as my brother, but I'm pretty sure by now that's obvious. We separated, and he patted me on the back.
"Let's go home Link."
With that all three of us took off from Hyrule Castle in the triangle formation of the Triforce we held, with Zelda next to me and Revali flying above us and in the middle as the sun rose, signaling the dawn of a new day and possibly a new Hyrule. Although… I knew this was not the end, not the true end anyways. While I knew this adventure was over, I knew that my story, and by extension our story, was far from it. For as long as there is an evil filled by hatred, there will be a Princess with the blood of the Goddess. And as long as there is a Princess, there will always be a hero ready to stand up to evil. And thanks to Revali's wish, as long as there is a Hero, there will always be a brother ready to fight by his side. This was my legend, this was our legend, The Legend of Zelda.
