I do not own Zelda. If I did, I wouldn't be taking the time to write
stories for web sites, I would probably be basking in the sun near a giant
swimming pool while the beautiful afternoon crawled by and I did whatever
really rich people do.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
"After you deserted her, Shina decided to join me," sneered Antia. "I told her I would give her the pleasure of killing you."
The former hylian servant girl stepped forward. The spearhead gleamed in the sunlight that poured through a single tall window. "I'm sorry, my prince," she said as she walked forward. Though she hid it in a veil of determination, Zenk could see uncertainty in her emerald eyes.
"Do what's in your heart, Shina," he said gently. "If it is telling you to kill me, I cannot argue with that. But I feel that it is not."
Behind the slowly advancing hylian maid was Antia. "This is your final test, Shina," she whispered. "If you display your loyalty to me by killing him, I can always find a spot for a new captain in my army. Aside from that, there will be treasure aplenty."
Shina was now only an arms-length away from her former prince. Zenk drew in a breath slowly.
Suddenly, she winked at him. Whipping around, she knocked the closest guard to the ground and slew another. "You took my in, Queen Antia," she said, "but I couldn't kill my own prince."
"The ropes, cut the ropes!" roared Zenk.
But before Shina could even turn back around, the Gerudo Queen was upon her. Not even bothering to arm herself. Antia lunged at her. The hylian maiden flailed out with her spear, but Antia turned aside and caught the weapon, ripping it from Shina's grasp. Holding on to either end of the spear, the queen rammed it into her chin. Shina collapsed in a heap, blood dripping from her lip.
Antia turned on Zenk, her crystalline eyes blazing.
But a quiet voice stopped her. "Pray, sister, grant me one wish. I have a score to settle with this one. Let me deal with him."
Queen Antia looked over at Dak. She smiled maliciously. "He's all yours."
Dak drew his great battle blade. "You ruined everything," he growled. "But you won't have to worry about doing it again!"
Zenk felt the ropes loosen. Someone was untying him from behind! Desperately, he stalled the Gerudo warrior. "Some hero," he snorted sarcastically. "Slaying helpless captives requires tons of courage. Why don't you free me and give me my blade? Then we can settle the score."
Dak laughed. "You take me for a fool. Prepare to die!" He swung the sword high over his head.
Suddenly, the ropes fell from Zenk and he quickly rolled sideways. "Raker!" screamed Antia.
It was, indeed, the Desert General. He smiled grimly at Prince Zenk. "Haha, let's take it to 'em!" He threw himself at the Gerudo guards.
Dak lunged towards Zenk. The swift prince danced backwards, grabbing the hilt of the warrior's blade. Together the two wrestled in a deadly grapple for possession of the weapon. Suddenly, Raker was there, slashing madly at Dak. The quick warrior let go of his sword and leapt back with a snarl. He turned and fled, dragging Shina behind him. Antia had disappeared.
"Prince, go after them!" shouted Raker. Twenty-five Gerudo warriors pressed around the Desert General. Zenk looked back uncertainly. "NOW!" Raker's yell confirmed the prince's decision. Before the guards could reach him, he took off, following the trail of blood from the captive of Queen Antia and her brother.
With a mighty war cry, the Desert General leapt into the thick of the remaining Gerudo thieves. "Come, bitches, for death awaits you! SPIRITS OF SAAATAAAAAAN!"
Thus did Raker, General of the Desert, make his final stand.
* * *
Prince Zenk rushed through the winding halls and chambers of the abandoned Gerudo stronghold. He came to the end of one passageway that led him onto the rooftop of the fortress. Standing there were Queen Antia and her brother Dak. Shina lay unconscious nearby.
With a yell of fury at the sight of his father's killer, Zenk hurled himself at Antia, hefting Dak's war-blade. The swift Gerudo queen leapt to the right and pressed her scythe up against the throat of the hylian maiden.
"Hand my brother his weapon," she hissed. Zenk stopped dead in his tracks. "Do it or she dies."
The young prince growled, but then threw the sword to the ground. Zenk was especting Dak to laugh, mock him, or at least reclaim his blade.
But, instead, the Gerudo warrior turned on his sister. "We had a deal, Queen. You told me you wouldn't kill the maid." Prince Zenk then realized- Dak was in love with Shina.
The menacing expression on the queen's face was enough to make Foralin back down. Suddenly, she smiled dangerously, and Zenk had a horrible feeling that she had thought up a gruesome new scheme. Without warning, she whipped out a long dagger and plunged it into Shina's stomach.
Both Dak and Zenk cried out. The prince seized the Gerudo's sword from the ground and charged the queen, but Dak stood his ground, trembling visibly.
Antia turned tail and ran, leaping off the rooftop and landing nimbly. Zenk started after, but suddenly, he was knocked to the ground by a strike from the queen's brother. Zenk looked up at Dak. He looked different, almost darker. His cold eyes were filled with crimson mist, and he clenched his fists tightly.
"Shiiiiinaaaaaaaa!" he bellowed. He reared up above Zenk, looming before the prince like a wraith out of a nightmare.
Suddenly, a black blur sped out of nowhere and smashed into Dak. "Take the sword and avenge your father!"
Prince Zenk did not hesitate. He had not recognized the voice, but there was something about it that made him immediately obey. He snatched Dak's fallen sword and leapt from the roof into his fate.
* * *
Prince Zenk rushed through the winding halls and chambers of the abandoned Gerudo stronghold. He came to the end of one passageway, which led him onto the rooftop of the fortress.
Standing there were Queen Antia and her brother Dak. Shina lay unconscious nearby.
With a yell of fury at the sight of his father's killer, Zenk hurled himself at Antia, hefting Dak's war-blade. The swift Gerudo queen leapt to the right and pressed her scythe up against the throat of the hylian maiden.
"Hand my brother his weapon," she hissed. Zenk stopped dead in his tracks. "Do it or she dies." The young prince growled, but then threw the sword to the ground. He was expecting Dak to laugh, mock him, or at least reclaim his weapon.
But instead, the Gerudo warrior turned on his sister. "We had a deal, Queen. You told me you would not kill the maid."
Prince Zenk then realized-Dak was in love with Shina.
The menacing expression on the queen's face was enough to make Foralin back down. Suddenly, she smiled dangerously and Zenk had a horrible feeling that she had thought up a new gruesome scheme. Without warning, she whipped out a long dagger and plunged it into Shina's stomach.
Both Dak and Zenk cried out. The prince seized the warrior's sword from the ground and charged Antia, but Dak stood his ground, trembling visibly, head bowed. Antia turned and fled, leaping off the roof and landing nimbly. Zenk started after, but he was knocked to the ground by a strike from the queen's brother.
Zenk looked up at Dak. He looked different, almost darker. His cold eyes were filled with crimson mist and he clenched his fists tightly.
"Shiiiinaaaaaaaa!" he bellowed. He reared up above Zenk, looming before the prince like a wraith out of a nightmare.
Suddenly, a black blur sped out of nowhere and smashed into Dak. "Take the sword and avenge your father!"
Prince Zenk did not hesitate. Though he had not recognized the voice, there was something about it that made him immediately obey. He snatched Dak's fallen sword and leapt from the roof and into his fate.
* * *
Hyrule Field stuck a gruesome sight. Leen the Goddess of Death had kept only thirty Gerudos alive. Arfan's three hundred others had been mercilessly slain. Their carcasses scattered the blood-red grass, some crushed by goron fists, some struck with hylian arrow shafts and blades, and others merely lay untouched in their eternal sleep, a result of Leen's tremendous power.
A score of goron survivors and seventy hylians set about the monstrous task of burying their fallen comrades.
"Who would have thought that pretty young maiden was in truth a goddess?" commented Atron Doren.
Lord Darronn grunted. "I never had the pleasure of meeting Leen, though Aridwyn mentioned her to me once or twice."
Inside, both of them were struggling against themselves. The goddess had warned them about meddling with fate, but they felt cheap abandoning Prince Zenk when he needed help the most.
* * *
"The final confrontation," said Antia. "We finally get to meet, face to face, in a fight to the death."
Prince Zenk raised Dak's sword. He was nervous. He had seen the queen battle and was not eager to go against her. Furious at himself, the prince cleared his doubts. 'You've been dreaming of this day ever since she murdered Father,' he scolded himself. 'Now act like a prince and fight!'
Antia, however, was smiling. "Let's dance."
They leapt at each other, cold hate upon both faces. Zenk fought like a madman, hacking and slashing away. Antia kept her cool, blocking each blow with her scythe and launching her own without warning. For a full hour, Queen and Prince kept up the bout tirelessly. They were dangerously close to the rocky edge of Gerudo Valley.
Zenk was wounded in the left shoulder and the right thigh, but oblivious he pressed his mortal enemy.
Antia struck, dodged, and leapt around him until she rendered him to the ground. She swept her scythe towards him, but swiftly Zenk lashed out and sliced clean through the wooden stave of Antia's weapon. The queen snarled and grabbed hold of the ends of each half. Whirling them madly, she lunged at Zenk.
The quick prince dodged to the right, but it was too late. The blade slashed him down the side. Immediately, blood gushed from the wound. Desperatly fighting the dizziness, he stayed on his feet.
Antia laughed shrilly. Throwing herself upon him, she shoved one of the scythes into Zenk's shoulder and laid him low with the butt of the other.
The prince's sight was beginning to become hazy, his eyes glazing over. Suddenly, the blurred images blended together and formed the face of Sonefor. "Fight it, my son!" he called.
With a mighty yell, Zenk rolled to the side just as Antia's scythe stuck the ground where he had been not a moment before. He leapt to his feet and struck.
Queen Antia's eyes blazed, a look of dawning horror appearing on her face. Gasping for air, she slid against him. The two stood, on the edge of the great Gerudo Valley, unable to move, mortal enemies resting against one another.
Zenk's clouded eyes focused on the queen. "Father," he murmured.
Sudden strength flowed into his battle at the thought of Sonefor's death, and he struck again. Once, twice, thrice! Antia's cries of pain split the still air.
"My job is done," whispered Zenk. "I can sleep."
Then, using every last ounce of strength left in him, he heaved the shuddering body of the Gerudo queen from the ledge and fell heavily to the rocky ground.
* * *
"Get up, Prince. Awake!"
Obediently, he opened his eyes. Before him kneeled a magnificent goddess. "Am I. in heaven?" he asked.
The goddess smiled. "No, little one. It is not your time."
Surveying his surroundings, he discovered he was still in Gerudo Valley. Memories came rushing back to the young prince. "What happened?" he demanded. "I should be dead!"
"As I said before, it is not time yet for you to return to your father."
"Who are you?"
The goddess bowed elegantly. "It is I, Leen. I am the Goddess of Death. You are correct, Prince. You should be dead from all of the wounds Queen Antia inflicted upon you. However, you cannot die. Not yet. There is one final task you must complete before I grant you eternal rest, so I have merely delayed your ascension."
Prince Zenk took his feet slowly. He felt as if someone else were using his mouth. "What is the task, Your Highness?"
Leen stood as well. "When I return to heaven, a piece of the legendary Triforce will be left behind, containing a portion of my power. No mortal should be able to harness it. Even I cannot foresee what the consequences would be if it fell into the hands of an earthly being in the midst of war."
She sighed. "Entire races would most likely be destroyed. That cannot happen; even the descendants of Gerudos such as Queen Antia and General Raker have major parts to play in the future of Hyrule if it is to achieve ultimate peace. You must take the Triforce of Death as far away as possible and bury it!"
"It will be as you say, my lady. You speak of the descendant of Antia-does this mean she has a child?"
"Indeed, Prince. In fact, it was General Raker himself who sired the young boy."
"Antia and Raker? I thought they were mortal enemies!" Zenk did not hide his surprise.
"They were not always. It is the queen's own fault that she failed-she played General Raker false and in the end it was he who changed the outcome."
"I see," said Zenk. "But why must you leave us so quickly?"
"What came over Dak, Prince, was something we call the Ancient Gerudo Bloodlust. Because Queen Antia killed Shina, whom Dak loved, it seized him and took control of him. The Bloodlust made him exceedingly powerful- powerful enough to face a goddess. Dak drained much of my power. Therefor I must leave Hyrule to regain my strength alongside my fellow gods."
"Dak, what happened to him?"
"He was strong, but not as strong as the Goddess of Death," replied Leen quietly. "He received only what he deserved. I sent him to the gates of hell."
Zenk turned away. "And Antia?"
"If you'll remember, you ran her through and knocked her from the cliff face."
"Then she is dead?"
"She will be."
They were quiet for a time.
"Why must I be the one to complete this task?" Zenk asked finally. "Why me?"
The goddess put a hand on his shoulder. "Do not argue with fate, Zenk." She paused. "There is something else as well. You must carry on your family line. Aridwyn is loyal and dependable-marry her and you shall sire a son. Your descendants, a wise king and his young daughter will be the ones to end the Great Wars."
She continued. "Complete these tasks, Prince, and you shall rest forever beside your father. In exactly one season from now, my magic will wear off and you shall die. You must have buried the Triforce before then. Do you understand?"
He nodded silently.
"Then I must leave you," said Leen. "Good luck, Prince."
Zenk watched her rise into the cool sky until her ascent was shrouded in a dark cloud. A bright ray of light struck the ground before him. Slowly bending down, the hylian prince picked up the small yellow triangle and bowed his head.
* * *
Half dead, Queen Antia had washed up into the shallows of Lake Hylia. The fall would have killed anyone else, but she clung to one last thread of life.
Her form was mangeled-though most of the blood had washed away in the river, large wounds ran across her body. Her tattered clothing was ripped and torn, the wet folds flapping gently in the wind, one glove swept away in the current along with her shoulder pads. She was soaked to the bone, her tanned skin gleaming in the afternoon sun.
Through half-closed eyes, she spotted about a dozen figures lined up along the beach. "Help. me," she croaked. They waded out to her. "Zo.zoras?"
Without a word, Ankor took hold of Antia and shoved her gently out into the depths, where she was helpless against the cool waves that carried her down to a watery grave.
THE END
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
"After you deserted her, Shina decided to join me," sneered Antia. "I told her I would give her the pleasure of killing you."
The former hylian servant girl stepped forward. The spearhead gleamed in the sunlight that poured through a single tall window. "I'm sorry, my prince," she said as she walked forward. Though she hid it in a veil of determination, Zenk could see uncertainty in her emerald eyes.
"Do what's in your heart, Shina," he said gently. "If it is telling you to kill me, I cannot argue with that. But I feel that it is not."
Behind the slowly advancing hylian maid was Antia. "This is your final test, Shina," she whispered. "If you display your loyalty to me by killing him, I can always find a spot for a new captain in my army. Aside from that, there will be treasure aplenty."
Shina was now only an arms-length away from her former prince. Zenk drew in a breath slowly.
Suddenly, she winked at him. Whipping around, she knocked the closest guard to the ground and slew another. "You took my in, Queen Antia," she said, "but I couldn't kill my own prince."
"The ropes, cut the ropes!" roared Zenk.
But before Shina could even turn back around, the Gerudo Queen was upon her. Not even bothering to arm herself. Antia lunged at her. The hylian maiden flailed out with her spear, but Antia turned aside and caught the weapon, ripping it from Shina's grasp. Holding on to either end of the spear, the queen rammed it into her chin. Shina collapsed in a heap, blood dripping from her lip.
Antia turned on Zenk, her crystalline eyes blazing.
But a quiet voice stopped her. "Pray, sister, grant me one wish. I have a score to settle with this one. Let me deal with him."
Queen Antia looked over at Dak. She smiled maliciously. "He's all yours."
Dak drew his great battle blade. "You ruined everything," he growled. "But you won't have to worry about doing it again!"
Zenk felt the ropes loosen. Someone was untying him from behind! Desperately, he stalled the Gerudo warrior. "Some hero," he snorted sarcastically. "Slaying helpless captives requires tons of courage. Why don't you free me and give me my blade? Then we can settle the score."
Dak laughed. "You take me for a fool. Prepare to die!" He swung the sword high over his head.
Suddenly, the ropes fell from Zenk and he quickly rolled sideways. "Raker!" screamed Antia.
It was, indeed, the Desert General. He smiled grimly at Prince Zenk. "Haha, let's take it to 'em!" He threw himself at the Gerudo guards.
Dak lunged towards Zenk. The swift prince danced backwards, grabbing the hilt of the warrior's blade. Together the two wrestled in a deadly grapple for possession of the weapon. Suddenly, Raker was there, slashing madly at Dak. The quick warrior let go of his sword and leapt back with a snarl. He turned and fled, dragging Shina behind him. Antia had disappeared.
"Prince, go after them!" shouted Raker. Twenty-five Gerudo warriors pressed around the Desert General. Zenk looked back uncertainly. "NOW!" Raker's yell confirmed the prince's decision. Before the guards could reach him, he took off, following the trail of blood from the captive of Queen Antia and her brother.
With a mighty war cry, the Desert General leapt into the thick of the remaining Gerudo thieves. "Come, bitches, for death awaits you! SPIRITS OF SAAATAAAAAAN!"
Thus did Raker, General of the Desert, make his final stand.
* * *
Prince Zenk rushed through the winding halls and chambers of the abandoned Gerudo stronghold. He came to the end of one passageway that led him onto the rooftop of the fortress. Standing there were Queen Antia and her brother Dak. Shina lay unconscious nearby.
With a yell of fury at the sight of his father's killer, Zenk hurled himself at Antia, hefting Dak's war-blade. The swift Gerudo queen leapt to the right and pressed her scythe up against the throat of the hylian maiden.
"Hand my brother his weapon," she hissed. Zenk stopped dead in his tracks. "Do it or she dies."
The young prince growled, but then threw the sword to the ground. Zenk was especting Dak to laugh, mock him, or at least reclaim his blade.
But, instead, the Gerudo warrior turned on his sister. "We had a deal, Queen. You told me you wouldn't kill the maid." Prince Zenk then realized- Dak was in love with Shina.
The menacing expression on the queen's face was enough to make Foralin back down. Suddenly, she smiled dangerously, and Zenk had a horrible feeling that she had thought up a gruesome new scheme. Without warning, she whipped out a long dagger and plunged it into Shina's stomach.
Both Dak and Zenk cried out. The prince seized the Gerudo's sword from the ground and charged the queen, but Dak stood his ground, trembling visibly.
Antia turned tail and ran, leaping off the rooftop and landing nimbly. Zenk started after, but suddenly, he was knocked to the ground by a strike from the queen's brother. Zenk looked up at Dak. He looked different, almost darker. His cold eyes were filled with crimson mist, and he clenched his fists tightly.
"Shiiiiinaaaaaaaa!" he bellowed. He reared up above Zenk, looming before the prince like a wraith out of a nightmare.
Suddenly, a black blur sped out of nowhere and smashed into Dak. "Take the sword and avenge your father!"
Prince Zenk did not hesitate. He had not recognized the voice, but there was something about it that made him immediately obey. He snatched Dak's fallen sword and leapt from the roof into his fate.
* * *
Prince Zenk rushed through the winding halls and chambers of the abandoned Gerudo stronghold. He came to the end of one passageway, which led him onto the rooftop of the fortress.
Standing there were Queen Antia and her brother Dak. Shina lay unconscious nearby.
With a yell of fury at the sight of his father's killer, Zenk hurled himself at Antia, hefting Dak's war-blade. The swift Gerudo queen leapt to the right and pressed her scythe up against the throat of the hylian maiden.
"Hand my brother his weapon," she hissed. Zenk stopped dead in his tracks. "Do it or she dies." The young prince growled, but then threw the sword to the ground. He was expecting Dak to laugh, mock him, or at least reclaim his weapon.
But instead, the Gerudo warrior turned on his sister. "We had a deal, Queen. You told me you would not kill the maid."
Prince Zenk then realized-Dak was in love with Shina.
The menacing expression on the queen's face was enough to make Foralin back down. Suddenly, she smiled dangerously and Zenk had a horrible feeling that she had thought up a new gruesome scheme. Without warning, she whipped out a long dagger and plunged it into Shina's stomach.
Both Dak and Zenk cried out. The prince seized the warrior's sword from the ground and charged Antia, but Dak stood his ground, trembling visibly, head bowed. Antia turned and fled, leaping off the roof and landing nimbly. Zenk started after, but he was knocked to the ground by a strike from the queen's brother.
Zenk looked up at Dak. He looked different, almost darker. His cold eyes were filled with crimson mist and he clenched his fists tightly.
"Shiiiinaaaaaaaa!" he bellowed. He reared up above Zenk, looming before the prince like a wraith out of a nightmare.
Suddenly, a black blur sped out of nowhere and smashed into Dak. "Take the sword and avenge your father!"
Prince Zenk did not hesitate. Though he had not recognized the voice, there was something about it that made him immediately obey. He snatched Dak's fallen sword and leapt from the roof and into his fate.
* * *
Hyrule Field stuck a gruesome sight. Leen the Goddess of Death had kept only thirty Gerudos alive. Arfan's three hundred others had been mercilessly slain. Their carcasses scattered the blood-red grass, some crushed by goron fists, some struck with hylian arrow shafts and blades, and others merely lay untouched in their eternal sleep, a result of Leen's tremendous power.
A score of goron survivors and seventy hylians set about the monstrous task of burying their fallen comrades.
"Who would have thought that pretty young maiden was in truth a goddess?" commented Atron Doren.
Lord Darronn grunted. "I never had the pleasure of meeting Leen, though Aridwyn mentioned her to me once or twice."
Inside, both of them were struggling against themselves. The goddess had warned them about meddling with fate, but they felt cheap abandoning Prince Zenk when he needed help the most.
* * *
"The final confrontation," said Antia. "We finally get to meet, face to face, in a fight to the death."
Prince Zenk raised Dak's sword. He was nervous. He had seen the queen battle and was not eager to go against her. Furious at himself, the prince cleared his doubts. 'You've been dreaming of this day ever since she murdered Father,' he scolded himself. 'Now act like a prince and fight!'
Antia, however, was smiling. "Let's dance."
They leapt at each other, cold hate upon both faces. Zenk fought like a madman, hacking and slashing away. Antia kept her cool, blocking each blow with her scythe and launching her own without warning. For a full hour, Queen and Prince kept up the bout tirelessly. They were dangerously close to the rocky edge of Gerudo Valley.
Zenk was wounded in the left shoulder and the right thigh, but oblivious he pressed his mortal enemy.
Antia struck, dodged, and leapt around him until she rendered him to the ground. She swept her scythe towards him, but swiftly Zenk lashed out and sliced clean through the wooden stave of Antia's weapon. The queen snarled and grabbed hold of the ends of each half. Whirling them madly, she lunged at Zenk.
The quick prince dodged to the right, but it was too late. The blade slashed him down the side. Immediately, blood gushed from the wound. Desperatly fighting the dizziness, he stayed on his feet.
Antia laughed shrilly. Throwing herself upon him, she shoved one of the scythes into Zenk's shoulder and laid him low with the butt of the other.
The prince's sight was beginning to become hazy, his eyes glazing over. Suddenly, the blurred images blended together and formed the face of Sonefor. "Fight it, my son!" he called.
With a mighty yell, Zenk rolled to the side just as Antia's scythe stuck the ground where he had been not a moment before. He leapt to his feet and struck.
Queen Antia's eyes blazed, a look of dawning horror appearing on her face. Gasping for air, she slid against him. The two stood, on the edge of the great Gerudo Valley, unable to move, mortal enemies resting against one another.
Zenk's clouded eyes focused on the queen. "Father," he murmured.
Sudden strength flowed into his battle at the thought of Sonefor's death, and he struck again. Once, twice, thrice! Antia's cries of pain split the still air.
"My job is done," whispered Zenk. "I can sleep."
Then, using every last ounce of strength left in him, he heaved the shuddering body of the Gerudo queen from the ledge and fell heavily to the rocky ground.
* * *
"Get up, Prince. Awake!"
Obediently, he opened his eyes. Before him kneeled a magnificent goddess. "Am I. in heaven?" he asked.
The goddess smiled. "No, little one. It is not your time."
Surveying his surroundings, he discovered he was still in Gerudo Valley. Memories came rushing back to the young prince. "What happened?" he demanded. "I should be dead!"
"As I said before, it is not time yet for you to return to your father."
"Who are you?"
The goddess bowed elegantly. "It is I, Leen. I am the Goddess of Death. You are correct, Prince. You should be dead from all of the wounds Queen Antia inflicted upon you. However, you cannot die. Not yet. There is one final task you must complete before I grant you eternal rest, so I have merely delayed your ascension."
Prince Zenk took his feet slowly. He felt as if someone else were using his mouth. "What is the task, Your Highness?"
Leen stood as well. "When I return to heaven, a piece of the legendary Triforce will be left behind, containing a portion of my power. No mortal should be able to harness it. Even I cannot foresee what the consequences would be if it fell into the hands of an earthly being in the midst of war."
She sighed. "Entire races would most likely be destroyed. That cannot happen; even the descendants of Gerudos such as Queen Antia and General Raker have major parts to play in the future of Hyrule if it is to achieve ultimate peace. You must take the Triforce of Death as far away as possible and bury it!"
"It will be as you say, my lady. You speak of the descendant of Antia-does this mean she has a child?"
"Indeed, Prince. In fact, it was General Raker himself who sired the young boy."
"Antia and Raker? I thought they were mortal enemies!" Zenk did not hide his surprise.
"They were not always. It is the queen's own fault that she failed-she played General Raker false and in the end it was he who changed the outcome."
"I see," said Zenk. "But why must you leave us so quickly?"
"What came over Dak, Prince, was something we call the Ancient Gerudo Bloodlust. Because Queen Antia killed Shina, whom Dak loved, it seized him and took control of him. The Bloodlust made him exceedingly powerful- powerful enough to face a goddess. Dak drained much of my power. Therefor I must leave Hyrule to regain my strength alongside my fellow gods."
"Dak, what happened to him?"
"He was strong, but not as strong as the Goddess of Death," replied Leen quietly. "He received only what he deserved. I sent him to the gates of hell."
Zenk turned away. "And Antia?"
"If you'll remember, you ran her through and knocked her from the cliff face."
"Then she is dead?"
"She will be."
They were quiet for a time.
"Why must I be the one to complete this task?" Zenk asked finally. "Why me?"
The goddess put a hand on his shoulder. "Do not argue with fate, Zenk." She paused. "There is something else as well. You must carry on your family line. Aridwyn is loyal and dependable-marry her and you shall sire a son. Your descendants, a wise king and his young daughter will be the ones to end the Great Wars."
She continued. "Complete these tasks, Prince, and you shall rest forever beside your father. In exactly one season from now, my magic will wear off and you shall die. You must have buried the Triforce before then. Do you understand?"
He nodded silently.
"Then I must leave you," said Leen. "Good luck, Prince."
Zenk watched her rise into the cool sky until her ascent was shrouded in a dark cloud. A bright ray of light struck the ground before him. Slowly bending down, the hylian prince picked up the small yellow triangle and bowed his head.
* * *
Half dead, Queen Antia had washed up into the shallows of Lake Hylia. The fall would have killed anyone else, but she clung to one last thread of life.
Her form was mangeled-though most of the blood had washed away in the river, large wounds ran across her body. Her tattered clothing was ripped and torn, the wet folds flapping gently in the wind, one glove swept away in the current along with her shoulder pads. She was soaked to the bone, her tanned skin gleaming in the afternoon sun.
Through half-closed eyes, she spotted about a dozen figures lined up along the beach. "Help. me," she croaked. They waded out to her. "Zo.zoras?"
Without a word, Ankor took hold of Antia and shoved her gently out into the depths, where she was helpless against the cool waves that carried her down to a watery grave.
THE END