CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Red Lions and I quickly got to work on restoring the Master Sword to its full capacity, as Ganondorf had alluded to. I ventured through the Earth Temple with Medli, sent by her relative, Laruto, to continue their family heritage. I eared a Mirror Shield while there and used it to defeat the giant monster, Jalhalla.

From there, it was off to the mystical Wind Temple, with Makar, the Korok, sent by his relative, the fiddle playing Fado. I got a Hookshot there, as well as a face to face battle with the giant worm monster, Molgera. With both Medli and Makar, I used the Wind Waker to help them conduct songs on their respective instruments. Even though the journeys through the two dungeons were difficult, Makar and Medli both added strength to the Master Sword, finally bringing it to full power.

The King of Red Lions and I were just leaving the Wind Temple when we saw an amazing thing. Out of the sea came pieces of the Triforce. We watched in awe as the eight pieces formed together into one, shining bright.

"The Triforce of Courage," I breathed.

Closer and closer it came until it shrunk progressively finally becoming very small. It then etched itself onto the back of my hand.

"Red Lions?" I exclaimed, "What happened?"

He chuckled. I'm not sure what that chuckle meant, but I could tell that it was good in intent.

"You, Link, are the possessor of the Triforce of Courage," explained the King of Red Lions, "through your quest, you have proven extreme bravery, and now...you are now the true hero. But not the Hero of Time, no. You, my boy, are the Hero of the Winds."

"The Hero of the Winds," I said, liking the way it came off my tongue. "Me. I'm the Hero of the Winds."

"It is time, now, to head back to Hyrule and put Ganondorf to rest."

I nodded a determined nod. "Let's do it."

Into the Hyrule portal in the Tower of Eternity we cruised, me, ready for the biggest moment of my life.

* * *

I dashed into the castle, simply to find it in complete ruin.

"Zelda!" I called.

"You're too late now, boy."

I turned around. Far up, I could see Ganondorf, somewhat shrouded behind a lace curtain, holding an unconscious Princess Zelda.

"What have you done to her?" I demanded.

"Don't you worry about her, boy," Ganondorf advised, "worry about your safety. If I were in such a position, I would." He chuckled.

"Things don't have to go like this, Ganondorf!" I yelled.

"Oh, but they do," Ganondorf replied, "Now that the three holders of the Triforce are together in this room, well they can form and I'll get my wish-to take over the Great Sea and bring darkness to the world."

My hand's Triforce began to glow.

"It's you and your friends that caused this flood to submerge Hyrule like this," said Ganondorf. "IT'S YOUR FAULT!!!"

In a swift move, Ganondorf knocked me across the floor and into a wall. The Master Sword spun away from me. I could barely move.

The Triforce of Courage from my hand, the Triforce of Wisdom on Zelda's hand, and the Triforce of Power on Ganondorf's hand all emitted a strong light. They all combined into one.

"Yes!" screamed Ganondorf, "Yes! Yes!!!"

He walked toward it. "Oh great Triforce! Rise Hyrule to the surface and GIVE IT TO ME!!!!!!!!!"

He was just about to touch it for his wish to come true. But suddenly, out of nowhere, appeared the King of Hyrule. Touching his hand of the Triforce, he looked at Zelda and me, laying weak on the ground, made his wish: "Oh great Triforce, I desire... A future! Give these children a future of hope! Erase the Hyrule of the past! Give these children a future of glory!"

The forces holding the waters around Hyrule were broken, and the castle went under the waves of the sea.

"No!" Ganondorf cried.

Slowly, I began coming to.

Ganondorf turned and glared at me. "You...you will pay."

And at that moment, Zelda came, dragging along the Master Sword.

"Might need this," she whispered.

"Just might."

She winked.

And I did too.

"This, Ganondorf," I said holding the Master Sword high, "is for my sister and grandmother, the inhabitants of the Great Sea and most of all...my father."

Having not much place to run as the room we were in was surrounded by poisonous water, I began circling the place, Ganondorf jumping after me. He was moving too quickly for me to get a swipe in, and he blocked all of my attempts with a counteracting slash from his double blade.

"Keep him busy!" shouted Zelda. She had my arrows, and for some odd reason, they were drenched in light.

She shot one at me.

"Ahh!" I shouted, reflexively grabbing out my shield and holding it in front of me. The arrow bounced off my shield and off into oblivion.

"Zelda," I shouted, running form Ganondorf, "What was that fo..."

She winked again. This time, I caught her drift.

Fancily swiping away at me with his deadly double blade, Ganondorf was hot on my tracks. I somersaulted away and continued sprinting around the room.

Another arrow Zelda shot.

I held out my Mirror Shield and positioned it perfectly. It bounced off the shield and smashed into Ganondorf. He shrieked in surprise and kneeled, weakened on the floor. I moved in with a well-executed Parry Attack that struck his back.

Ganondorf, in extreme pain, fury and annoyance, gave Zelda a strong elbow, knocking her out as she fell to the floor.

"Die! Die! Die!" Ganondorf shouted as I continually blocked each of his swipes. Sweat poured off of me as I did my best not to get chopped up.

I aimed for his back as I flipped over his head, striking him with yet another Parry Attack.

The monster became so enraged that he began slashing at me like crazy. One of his blows swiped across my leg. Blood and sweat continued pouring off me as I lay on the floor wounded. Ganondorf tried a downward stab with his blade, which I rolled away from just in time, springing back on my feet.

Thankfully Ganondorf didn't notice Zelda, who was getting back on her feet, ready for another Light Arrow Shot.

ZOOM!

Out my shield went.

SWISH!

Again, the arrow struck Ganondorf.

"DO IT, LINK!!!!!" Zelda screamed.

I drew the Master Sword out and held it high.

"FOR MY FATHER!!!!"

I spun around Ganondorf and performed the most amazing flipping Parry Attack of my life. And

SWWISSSHHHSTAB!!!!

My feet were well placed on the horrible man's head, the Master Sword, stuck deep into his head.

I jumped away from him.

"Hy...rule...almost...mine..." Ganondorf uttered his last words before stone overtook his entire body. The statue tipped over and fell to the ground.

A rumbling came about as the water reached the top of the castle. Once it had risen, Zelda walked toward me and kissed me. My eyes widened. I didn't know...what...to...

She opened her eyes and looked into mine.

"Thank you." A tear stained her eye and dropped the ground. A light emitted from that exact spot and transformed her back into Tetra. The King of Hyrule appeared to the retransformed Tetra and me.

"Children, I...I am so proud, yet so sad."

"But why," I asked.

"You have slain Ganondorf, and that is wonderful, but..." the king sighed, "I just wish a better life could have been left for you children in Hyrule. It's gone now. I had been a part of Hyrule forever, but that's over."

He sighed. "Just look ahead toward you future," the King of Hyrule advised, "I don't know how much more there will be left over, but keep looking ahead."

"That's okay," Tetra said, "we have a boat, we can look for Hyrule."

The King smiled, "Yes, but Hyrule that will not be, it will be your country..."

And with that, the walls of water of water caved in and began floating us up to the surface of the ocean.

* * *

I don't remember very much after that, but I do remember waking up, laying in the King of Red Lions. If it hadn't been for the applause I probably would not have awakened.

I was back at Outset Island. Everyone I'd met and befriended on my quest was there, waving a cheering for me.

"Hero of the Winds, Hero of the Winds," they chanted.

I spotted Aryll and my grandmother. I couldn't help but smile and blow them each a kiss.

Tetra smiled and laughed from her high up position on her boat, compared to me, far down, my boat next to hers.

"So, Hero of the Winds," said Tetra, "where to next?"

I gripped the Wind Waker tight in my hands and looked up at her.

"Wherever the wind may take us."

-----THE END----