Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda is property of Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto, all rights reserved. I am in no way affiliated with these companies, or any legal proceedings concerning The Legend of Zelda. This story has been written purely out of enjoyment, and is not intended to make a profit, steal ideas, or offend anybody, though all original characters are my own property. Any similarities between my work and anyone else's is purely coincidental. "Going Under" lyrics are property of Evanescence, all rights reserved.
o
"Tainted Wisdom" - Part Three: Souls of the Forgotten Realm
By The Last Princess of Hyrule
o
Now I will tell you what I've done for you,
Fifty-thousand tears I've cried . . .
o
"Goddesses damn you, Taekorra!" I shouted profusely. We were spinning at a sickening rate, flying where I had no idea. The only thoughts in my mind were how much I hated traveling through time and wished this would all stop.
Then, the moment that crossed my mind, it came true. Everything suddenly froze and we hung in nothing for a full second. Then, we were yanked down and I slammed brutally into something very solid, knocking the wind out of me.
I lay stunned for a moment, staring up at an evil red sky. It took my mind a minute to realize that this was quite unordinary. With a loud groan, I pushed myself up and looked around.
Taekorra was sitting a few feet in front of me, rubbing his head with a pained look on his face. To my left, Link was helping Malon to her feet. I stood.
"Where are we?" Malon asked.
Everyone looked at Taekorra expectantly. He pushed himself up and looked around. "Wherever we are, it certainly isn't where I wanted us to be."
"We're not twenty years in the past?" Link asked.
"We could be," Taekorra replied with a noncommittal shrug. "But I don't think this is Hyrule."
"Where then?"
"I have no idea."
"Well, we can't stand around here all day," the hero said. "Let's go."
"Where?"
"To find a town." Link started off heading where I guessed was east. It was hard to tell without a noticeable sun.
"Do you think there will even be any?" Taekorra hurried after. Malon and I followed.
Link didn't answer.
o
Screaming, deceiving, and bleeding for you,
And you still won't hear me . . .
o
After hours of walking, there was still no sign of anything. My legs were very sore and it took all the energy I had just to take the next step, only to realize I had to take another. Malon complained incessantly about her pain until Link picked her up and began to carry her, which quieted her. The trip was almost enjoyable after that until she spoke again.
"I'm hungry," the farm girl stated to no one in particular.
I rolled my eyes. Taekorra sighed again.
Link gave her an understanding look. "I'm sorry, dear. I wish I had something for you to eat."
"Are we almost there?"
"I'm not sure."
"Where are we?" she asked again.
"I don't know."
"How are we going to get home?"
"I don't know."
"I miss Dad."
"So do I."
I sighed and tuned them out. There was only so much of the two I could listen to. Instead, I occupied myself by counting how many things were different in this world from Hyrule. The sky was red, for one. I looked around. The grass we walked on was a dead lavender color.
Taekorra noticed my interest in something and walked up beside me. "What are you looking for, Sheik?"
"Nothing," I answered. "Just looking around."
"Do you know where we are?"
I shook my head. We were walking parallel to a river and following the direction the water flowed.
"Have you ever seen green water like this before?" Taekorra asked, trying to make conversation.
"No." I studied the river hard. It looked almost familiar to me, the way it joined with a few little streams on the other bank.
"I did once," he went on. "There was a strange pool in the Lost Woods that I stumbled upon one day. It was as still as glass and as green as the trees overhead."
We walked past a spindly gray tree, its sharp dead branches clawing at the bloody sky. Not too far ahead were a few more.
"When I touched it, the pool turned silver and ripples started rolling across it without even a breath of wind."
A thick grove of dead trees loomed ahead of us. I stopped when I saw them.
Taekorra noticed my absence. "Sheik?"
My hands began to tremble. "This is the Dark World."
o
Going under . . .
Don't want your hand this time—
o
"The Dark World?" Taekorra repeated. "How can you be sure?"
"It's a perfect mirror of Hyrule, we just don't recognize it because everything is different colors," I explained. "But, if we were in Hyrule, we would be about to enter the Kokiri forest just ahead."
Link set Malon down and crossed his arms. He had been raised in the forest and I doubted he enjoyed seeing it like this, even if this was a parallel image.
"Why are we going this way?" he asked.
I hesitated. "It feels right."
"We're traveling off a feeling?" Link exclaimed. "So, you really have no idea where we're going?"
I didn't say anything, but fortunately, I didn't have to, for Taekorra fielded the question. "Do you have a better direction? If so, I for one would love to hear it."
Link glared at him, but was silent.
"That's what I thought." Taekorra scanned our group with a stern look on his face. There was a certain finality to his look that kept anyone from speaking up. "Let's go."
We walked on. As we came closer to the Dead Woods, the tugging I had sensed earlier began to strength. Before I saw the trees, that feeling hadn't even been worth paying attention to, much less accrediting its existence. It was hard to describe, but it reminded me of Impa, the way it kept nagging at my mind.
As we stepped into the forest, the feeling shattered and became voices, hundreds of whispering voices. "Zelda. . . ." they said. "Zelda. . . . "
(Shut up,) I willed.
"Zelda. . . ."
(Shut up!) I covered my ears, but the voices were never outside. They'd been in my head all along.
"Zelda. . . ."
It was evident that I couldn't hold them out, so I decided to try to talk to them instead. If they knew my name, they surely had some sentient thought. So, I cleared my mind and channeled exactly what I wanted to say in a single thread.
(Who are you?)
"She speaks. . . ." the voices said simultaneously. "She speaks to us. . . ."
(Who are you?) I repeated, more insistent.
"Souls. . . ."
(Souls?)
"Souls! Daft Hylian, what do you think?" the voices snapped. Apparently, I had offended them. "This is the Dark World, is it not . . .?"
(I'm sorry,) I said. (Why are you here?)
"We are trapped. . . ." they said.
(Where are you?)
"Here . . . in the Dead Woods. We are waiting for you. . . ."
(Waiting for me? Why?) Fear tickled the edges of my mind.
"You are going to free us. . . ."
o
—I'll save myself,
Maybe I'll wake up for once . . .
o
The distinct line between reality and insanity was beginning to blur as I listened to the voices. They grew louder as I went along. Obviously, they were leading me somewhere. The members of my group hadn't spoken since we entered the Dead Woods.
(How am I supposed to free you?) I asked. (I don't know anything about you.)
"You don't need to. . . ." the voices answered. "All you have to do is defeat the Evil King. . . ."
Evil King? Oh goddesses, no. There was no way in Hyrule I was going to face Ganondorf again just to free a bunch of annoying souls. I wouldn't face him again for anything. (I don't think I can do that,) I told the souls.
They replied angrily. "Fool! Are you or are you not the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom?"
(Not), I admitted without any guilt.
"Are," they argued. "You've only lost your prize. . . ."
(I already know that.) My patience was beginning to fade with my grip on reality. (What I don't know is where to find it.)
"That is why you are here. . . ."
I stopped. (Do you know where the Triforce is?) I asked eagerly.
"Here in the Dead Woods . . ." the souls replied. "With us. . . ."
Taekorra looked back at me. "Sheik? Something wrong?"
"The Triforce of Wisdom is here," I said.
Link and Malon stopped, hearing my words, and turned around.
"Where?" asked Taekorra.
"I don't know," I admitted. "Somewhere in the Dead Woods."
"How do you know it's here?" Link asked.
"The souls told me."
The three members of my group exchanged skeptical glances. I sighed. What other reaction should I have been expecting? Link hated me, Malon disdained me, Taekorra didn't trust me, and all three knew my horrible secret. It came as no surprise that they would think me crazy as well.
But, proud fool I was, I was determined to prove them wrong. "I can lead you to it," I said.
Bad move, I instantly knew.
"How?" Taekorra regarded me doubtfully. "You just said you didn't know where it was."
"I can find it."
The sorcerer shrugged. "Go ahead. No one else has had any better directions to take and they're all the same as far as I'm concerned."
I nodded and took the front of the group. If those souls were wrong about the Triforce, I was in for it.
o
Not tormented daily,
Defeated by you,
Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom,
I'm dying again . . .
o
(Souls?) I called.
"Follow us, Zelda. . . ."
(Where are we going?)
"North. . . ."
(No, where in the forest?)
"An empty place were no trees grow," they said. "A place covered in ash and bones. That is where we wait. . . ."
(The Triforce is there?)
"Perhaps. . . ."
I sighed and trudged on. The souls were absolutely no help. I had no trouble following their voices, but they never gave me a moment's peace. Each one wanted me to hear their fate until the once synchronized voices became a loud thunder of chaos.
(Shut up, all of you!) I finally shouted in frustration. The noise stopped and, for a moment, I thought I'd won. Unfortunately, a moment later, my sight went dead and I was consumed by vision.
I entered a room to find the window had been opened, the heavy crimson draperies fluttering in the strong breeze. It must have been that silly new maid, I thought to myself, a small smile on my face. I pulled the frames and they closed with a delicate click.
I sat on the bed and pulled my long black hair into three groups, braiding them for the night. I was halfway down my back when I heard the creaking of the old wooden door leading in. I looked back, expecting to see one of the servants, yet there was no one. When I turned around I found myself face to face with what looked like a terrible shadow, but it was a man with shining black eyes. I barely had time to scream when he—
"Stop!" I shouted. "Stop it!"
"Stop what?" Taekorra walked up to me and tapped my shoulder. "Sheik, what is it?"
I opened my eyes and looked at him. "It was . . . never mind." I stepped past him and walked on.
But Taekorra caught up and traveled at my side. "Is it the souls?"
I thought I heard a hint of mockery in his voice. "It's nothing. Leave me alone."
"If it were nothing, you wouldn't have called out."
"It's just my memory again," I lied. "Go away."
"We're going the same way, Sheik," Taekorra said. "And you really should learn to lie better. It was far too obvious."
I sighed. "Stop bothering me."
"Tell me what's wrong."
"No."
"Then I'm not leaving."
I clenched my fists at my sides. He could be horribly annoying when he wanted to be. "You wouldn't believe me if I did."
"Try me." Taekorra smirked.
I looked him in the eye and said, "The souls were talking to me again."
Taekorra shrugged. "I figured as much. What were they saying?"
"One was showing me a vision."
"Of what?"
I hesitated. "I don't know."
Taekorra didn't reply.
"I knew you wouldn't believe me," I said, unable to keep the hurt out of my voice.
"You're a real pessimist, Sheik. Of course I believe you. Why shouldn't I?" Taekorra gave me a serious look.
I opened my mouth to speak, but the souls cut me off. "Quiet, Hylian, you've arrived. . . ."
o
I'm going under,
Drowning in you . . .
o
The skeleton trees stopped abruptly at the edge of a dead gray clearing. It looked as forbidding as the souls had described. Piles of fine colorless ash lined the side of the trees to my right.
Ashes . . . I walked over to it and touched the powder with the tip of my finger. The dust was soft, I found as I scooped up a handful. The movement blew the grains off and away. I looked down at the pile and spotted something sharp sticking out. I dusted off my hands and grabbed it. The object was hard, a clean white against the ash.
Bones . . . I looked around and saw many more pieces of bone sticking up. This was a graveyard, I realized. (What is all this?) I asked the souls.
"Us. . . ."
I dropped the bone and stumbled back. (How . . . ?)
"We were all taken to the Dark World by the King of Evil during the Imprisoning War. We threatened his power, so he tortured us, one by one, then banished us to this Din-forsaken realm of death. . . ."
(How did you die?)
"We were dead when we arrived. . . ."
"Link, what is all this?" Malon clutched her husband fearfully.
"I don't know."
I ignored them and focused my attention on the souls. (Where is the Triforce?)
"Buried in the ashes. . . ." came a singing reply. "Buried in the ashes. . . ."
(What?)
"Long dead, long dead, and now you lie buried in the ashes. You stole everything from me, but I won't let you win. This fire burning in me sears my soul, and you will feel it too. You're long dead, oh long dead, and buried in the ashes. . . ."
(Long dead . . . ) I repeated. (Long dead . . . )
"'And buried in the ashes.'"
I was surprised to hear Taekorra speak the last line of the song. He clutched his tall black staff tightly between his hands and his face was contorted in concentration.
"Taekorra . . .?" I started. "Can you hear the souls?"
"'This fire burning in me sears my soul, and you will fell it too,'" he repeated. "These are the souls?"
I nodded without a word.
"Buried in the ashes, buried in the ashes. . . ." the voices sang. "You took me, but I'll bury you, bury you in the ashes. . . ."
(Where is the Triforce?) I asked.
"Buried in the ashes. . . ."
(Where?)
"Buried in the ashes. . . ."
(Damn it, tell me!)
"Buried in the ashes. . . ."
My heart leapt and I felt a jolt of power scream through me. I looked around and felt the source deep within the piles of ash. I dropped to my knees and began to dig through the powder with two hands, shoving it carelessly away. A dazzling blue light shown under the gray.
What a fool I was. They had been telling me all along.
"It's—" Malon started.
Link's eyes grew wide.
"—The Triforce of Wisdom. . . ." Taekorra's voice was all awe.
I drew the gleaming relic from the dust. (Buried in the ashes.)
"Buried in the ashes. . . ." the souls echoed.
o
I'm falling forever,
I've got to break through,
I'm going under . . .
o
The next thing I knew, Link, Malon, Taekorra, and I were standing in front of the altar. I blinked and looked at my right hand. The Triforce of Wisdom had absorbed into my skin, the way it had when the Triforce was first split. The resonating energy it gave off gave me a feeling of apprehension, remembering what had happened the last time I held it.
Malon looked around in confusion. "What happened?" she asked in confusion, a dumbfounded look on her face. "Are we home?"
"I think so," Link answered. "This looks like the Temple of Time. . . ."
"It is," I assured him.
Link gave me a skeptical look. I ignored it.
"So, now what do we do?" He crossed his arms and leaned back against the altar.
"Sheik must tap into the Triforce of Wisdom and control its power." Taekorra looked over at me.
I shook my head. "I don't think I can do that."
"Wait," said Malon. "I thought Princess Zelda was the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom. What does Sheik have to do with that?"
We looked over the farm girl as if she'd said something stupid, which she had. Malon blushed a vivid crimson and Link whispered something in her ear.
Her eyes lit up. "He is?"
I sighed.
Link nodded.
"Oh. . . ." Malon's face was all amazement at the revelation. "Okay. Then why can't she—he—Sheik control its power?"
Everyone turned expectantly to me. I felt blood rising to my cheeks. "I don't know how."
Taekorra smiled, the way he did whenever he knew something no one else did. "You can focus your telepathy, correct?"
"Yes," I answered.
"You can send to any object you want, real or inanimate, correct?"
"Yes."
"Send to the Triforce."
I stared blankly at him. "What?"
"Treat the Triforce as if it were a real being," he explained. "I have studied the legends of the Triforce for a very long time and I have substantial evidence to believe that the Triforce is not an object, but a sentient being."
"'A sentient being?'" I repeated.
"Yes, Sheik." Taekorra was beginning to become frustrated with my lack of comprehension. "Treat it like you did the souls in the Dark World. Can you do that?"
I nodded uncertainly. "I'll give it a try. . . ."
o
Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies,
So I don't know what's real and what's not . . .
o
I took a deep breath. (Triforce . . . ?) No, that was a stupid way to address it. (Great Triforce of Wisdom, I beseech thee. Grant me the opportunity to consol with you.)
A soft whisper, cool and vivid, filled my mind. "Princess Zelda of Hyrule . . . at last . . ."
(Great relic, I request a favor.)
"Oh . . .? What is this favor . . .?"
(I wish to bring the last two Triforce pieces to me. To do that, I would borrow your power and create a force of attraction that would draw them directly to the Holder of the Triforce of Wisdom.)
"Why shouldst I grant thee use of my vast power . . .? Thou has once already proven thou ist not a fitting Holder . . ."
(With all do respect, Dear Triforce, but why then did you return to me?)
"For there ist always hope, even whence one ist thought near lost . . . Thou, Zelda of Hyrule, knowst the wrongdoing of thy actions and willeth the confidence to right them . . . I believe thy heart ist truly pure, beneath the fear hard wrought upon it, twisting its fair innocence . . ."
(Then . . . will you help me?)
"Assured, Zelda of Hyrule, that I shalt do . . . but if the benevolence within thy heart is altered, I shall be forced to remit upon thee a horror which maketh any earthly fears appear comical . . ."
(I understand.) I pledged. If this didn't work, I knew I would kill myself anyway.
"That, Princess Zelda of Hyrule, ist something I wouldst make unachievable . . ."
(Yes, great relic.)
Then, my body began to feel warm. The heat began in the center of my chest, my heart, and spread in all directions. It fed even the tips of my fingers. This warmth could only be the divine power of the Triforce.
I was awed with the strength I felt. I was sure I could conquer the world if I wanted. "This is merely a taste of my power, but I shalt not allow thou more . . . This ist all thee shalt need to completeth thy task . . ."
(Thank you . . . )
I could tell the others were staring at me, but my eyes were closed and I gave them no heed. Cupping my hands together, I focused on a single thought, bringing the Triforces to me. It took no words for me to create the law, no complicated gestures, and no special relics. Only the most powerful magic could do something without supportive items.
(Great Triforce of Courage . . . ) I called. (Return to me . . . )
There was a tremendous hum of power, responding to my summon.
(Return to me . . . )
"Cometh, Princess Zelda of Hyrule . . . Holder of the Triforce of Wisdom . . . Cometh I shalt . . . Cometh . . ."
(Relic of Power . . . ) I averted my concentration from the Triforce of Courage to the Triforce of Power. (Return to me . . . )
I expected it not to hesitate at all, but with it under Ganondorf's control, I should have known better. "Never . . . Thou Princess Zelda of Hyrule ist not master of the Triforce's power . . ."
o
Always confusing the thoughts in my head,
So I can't trust myself anymore,
I'm dying again . . .
o
It must have been wrong, I decided and tried again. (Great Triforce of Power . . . ) My summon was more insistent this time. (Return to me . . . )
"No . . ."
(Return to me . . . )
"I do not answer to the Holder of the Triforce of Wisdom . . . only to the Goddess Din . . . Din doth not call, I doth not cometh . . . Realize this, Zelda of Hyrule . . ."
(Return to me . . . )
"Never . . ."
(Return . . . Return . . . )
"I shalt not . . ."
I sighed and hung my head. My entire body ached from the strain of so much telepathy. I was barely able to comprehend the voices speaking to me.
"Sheik?"
It was Taekorra. I opened my eyes, hardly able to focus on him.
"Holder of the Triforce of Wisdom . . ."
Unfortunately, before I could say a word to him, the Triforce of Wisdom spoke to me. "Princess Zelda of Hyrule . . ."
(Great relic . . . ) I acknowledged that I was listening. (I cannot do it . . . )
"Rest and thou shalt try again . . ." the relic told me. The way it spoke gave me the fleeting sense that something was not right. For some reason, I couldn't believe that this was the same Triforce as before. "Thou wilst succeed, as I hath promised . . . Sleep now . . ."
(No . . . ) I tried to argue. (Please no . . . )
"I knowst thy fears and thou shalt fear more if thy wish to disobey . . ."
(No . . . ) I said once more, but the Triforce forced me into sleep, the same way Taekorra had only a day before. The memories returned, as I expected they would. '"Only one thing missing," he said his eyes flickered to the Triforce of Courage. He placed two fingers on his right hand. The Triforce of Power sparked and glowed on it. I felt a tingling in my right hand as the Triforce of Wisdom flashed into view.
'"Just as I thought," he said, staring at my gleaming hand, "You do hold the Triforce of Wisdom." I stood up. There was something in his words; something in the way he said them that made my skin grow cold. He was looking at me again, flaming orange eyes shining in the firelight.'
"Let me free!" I knew I screamed in reality, but the spell the Triforce had placed upon me was too strong. I was pulled into my mind again. 'He took a step forward. I stepped back. "Scared, Princess?" he laughed, taking two more steps. I felt my blood boil. Scared? After seven years of living in fear of discovery? Of watching my every move to keep myself safe? Of risking my life to help that so-called hero just so he could betray me! I know longer knew that kind of fear. But the fear I felt now was different. No longer for my physical safety but on a darker scale. Fear of what might come next.'
Taekorra heard my scream. Somewhere deep within his cold, distant heart, something came to life. "You're torturing her!" he shouted, though he did not even know who my adversary was. "Come out and fight!"
"Sleep, Princess . . ." I heard the voice for sleep. "Sleep well, Princess, for you will need it soon, won't you?"
That voice . . . I recognized a familiar sneer in that voice. I was sure it was Ganondorf, undoubtedly sure.
o
I'm going under,
Drowning in you . . .
o
"Ganondorf!" I shouted, still trapped away from reality. 'He laughed again, almost maniacally. My torrid blood quickly turned to ice. His intentions were becoming clearer to me with each minute. My heart knew what was going to happen, but my mind willed it not to be true. I could feel myself begin to shake and prayed he didn't notice. Ganondorf came closer until he was right in front of me.
'I could feel his breath on my face. My fear welled up in my breast. There was no one here to protect me from him; no one to pull him away. But I couldn't give in so easily. I must be strong.'
"I know it's you!" I yelled. My mind was fighting the spell. He must have tapped into the power of his Triforce to do this to me. There was no way anything but the divine relic could hold me back like this.
However, for all my fighting, I could not break away. '"You'll never give in will you?" I heard footsteps and swiveled around to see Ganondorf advancing on me slowly. "If I cannot bend you to my will, than I shall be forced to break you." There was no one here to protect me from him, but I was not going to give in.
'I would not be beaten by him! At least, that was what I told myself, repeating it in my mind like a mantra. But my body convulsed under his gaze. "What are you going to do to me?" I asked, voice dripping with fear. "Whatever it takes."'
"It takes nothing!" I screamed. "It takes nothing, goddesses . . . it—takes—nothing!"
Suddenly my eyes snapped open and I was out of the dream. Taekorra was standing at ready in the center of the temple. Link had drawn his sword and stood in front of Malon protectively. I was sprawled on the marble floor at the foot of the altar.
"Show yourself, Ganondorf!" Taekorra was shouting, waving his staff around menacingly. "Do you hide behind your power? Will you not fight me?"
A sharp, cold wind shot through the temple. I leapt to my feet. Standing in the midst of the temple doors was my glowering adversary. My heart jumped and beat faster. My blood swirled in my veins and fear began to bite my sanity once more. I screamed when he looked into my eyes.
"Princess Zelda, alive," he said, seeing instantly past my disguise to what was within. "The former Hero of Time and his wife." He regarded Link with a smile. Link narrowed his eyes. "And my lack-loyal Taekorra. Isn't this nice?"
He walked inside slowly. "I was beginning to wonder what happened to you," Ganondorf went on. "Are you no longer my servant?"
"I am beholden to no one," Taekorra said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that." A small smile crept up at the corners of his mouth. "You're beholden to the princess, I sense." The smile widened, baring his teeth. "You love her . . . don't you?"
Taekorra was speechless. "I . .." His response was hesitant. He looked from me, to Ganondorf, to Link and Malon, and back to me. I could see the longing and confusion in his features. "I . . . I am beholden to no one."
o
I'm falling forever,
I've got to break through . . .
o
Ganondorf laughed. "Well, that's good to know. You won't mind then if I take her away, would you?"
Again, the sorcerer didn't answer right away. "Ye—" He stopped and looked at me, meeting my eyes. He saw in them only a shadow of the fear that gripped my body just then, but that was enough to set his decision. "No."
Ganondorf's smile froze. "No?"
"That's what I said." Taekorra adjusted his grip on the staff. "You can't have her."
The King of Evil recovered himself quickly. "So there are feelings there you won't admit."
"She doesn't deserve to suffer at your hands any longer," Taekorra said. "She's been tortured enough since I brought her back, and she doesn't deserve any more."
Ganondorf looked at me again. I didn't move. "I don't think she believes its torture. I think she likes it."
My eyes grew wide and I could not keep the memory from coming. 'Gently, he pulled me to my feet. My skin felt warm. I looked up at him and before I knew what I was doing, I kissed him. My mind was screaming that it was foul but it wasn't. Being kissed when you want to be is pleasant. Not to my surprise, he kissed me back. It felt so wonderful, to be with a man. Oh, such pleasure must never have been known before now. I couldn't get enough, loving every minute. Somewhere in the back of my mind, my old conscious yelled at the wrongness of this act, and with him most of all, but I ignored it. My body swelled as I felt that pleasant, glorious feeling from last night. So wonderful, so great. I never wanted it to end.'
"No!" I screamed. My fingers grabbed the cloth around my, the one around my head, and wrenched them off. They were choking me, smothering my thoughts. "No!"
"You remember, Zelda?" Ganondorf sneered, watching my silky blonde hair fall into view. I heard Taekorra gasp.
"I'm not like that!"
"Oh, I think you are."
"No!"
The King of Evil crossed his arms. "Don't lie to yourself, princess. You know exactly what you felt."
Hot tears fell from my ruby eyes. "I'm not like that . . ." I whispered. "I'm not . . ."
"Oh poor, confused little princess," Ganondorf taunted. "You're all alone in the world with no one to help you."
"I'm not like that . . ." I wept. "I'm not like that . . ."
"No hero to help you this time, princess," he walked slowly to me. I slid to the ground, landing with a thud on my knees. "No more loyal servants to con into saving you."
He began to circle me. I hid my face.
"But, why would you have loyal servants?" Ganondorf asked himself. "They probably all see right though you; the way I see though that pathetic disguise you wear."
"I'm not that way . . ."
"You are. Your mind lies to you and your heart is fool for a man who won't have anything to do with you." The heavy tapping of his boots counted time with the beats of my wretched heart. "Everything you think is a lie . . . just a lie you told yourself to hide the truth."
"No . . ."My voice was a whisper. "No . . ."
"Yes."
"No."
o
So go on and scream,
Scream at me,
I'm so far away . . .
o
Ganondorf stopped and turned to Taekorra, whose confident response had broken the haunting monologue. "Are you one to speak, Taekorra?"
"You're the liar."
"Ah, and you're the face of truth itself, aren't you?" Ganondorf smiled. "Have you told your princess love what you do in my service?"
Taekorra was silent. I looked up.
Ganondorf noticed and went on. "Oh, so you haven't. Well, princess, you'll be surprised to find that he made sure no one escaped me until I wanted them to. I didn't want you to go, so Taekorra brought you back for me."
"He did?"
"Yes, of course." Taekorra hung his head as the King of Evil spoke. "His job was to gain your trust and let you lead him to the Triforce of Wisdom. Everything worked perfectly."
A sham? Everything I had been through . . . was a lie?
"The world ist full of lies, Princess Zelda of Hyrule . . ."
I recognized the divine sound. (Great Triforce of Wisdom?)
"Thy heart ist pure, Zelda of Hyrule . . ."the relic said. "Thine heart hast power to purge what tainted evil hath wrought upon the Triforce . . ."
(How?) I asked. (What can I do?)
"Believe the lies . . ."
(What?)
"Remember . . ."
Suddenly, the song the souls of the Dark World sang leapt into my mind. "'Long dead, long dead, and now you lie buried in the ashes. You stole everything from me, but I won't let you win. This fire burning in me sears my soul, and you will feel it too. You're long dead, oh long dead, and buried in the ashes . . .'"
Fire . . .
"'Fire burning sears my soul . . .'"
Fire . . . Fire in my soul . . .
Then I knew. "Fire!" I leapt to my feet. "Ganondorf, feel the fire!"
He turned, a look of half amusement on his face. "Princess?"
"You created a world where death and destruction reign," I said. "Nothing pure can grow here, and that is why I cannot beat you with purity. I must fight fire with fire."
I could almost swear there was fear on his face as I closed my eyes, channeling all my energies at the Triforce of Courage, which resided, at the moment, in my left hand.
(Great Relic of Courage . . . ) I called.
"Princess of Hyrule . . ." It acknowledged me.
(Help me. Give me the strength to unite the Triforce once more. Give me the fire to win.)
"The fire to win . . ." It repeated. My mind was all fire. Orange flames leapt up before my eyes and I was burning, my body engulfed in fire.
"Fire burning sears my soul . . ." I sang. "Fire burns my soul . . . You feel it too, I promise you . . . and lie buried in the ashes . . ."
The flares leapt from my body in all directions, aimed toward fiery souls I could not quell. They felt the burn of the Triforce of Courage, and I felt a life fall.
"Princess of Hyrule . . ." a Powerful voice whispered through my mind.
(Triforce of Power.) I answered.
"Thou art not a goddess," It said. "Yet thou hold the Triforce whole . . ."
(The whole Triforce . . . ) I repeated. (The whole Triforce . . . )
o
I won't be broken again,
I've got to breathe,
I can't keep going under . . .
o