Section 10
Shielding Lives
The sword pierced the light with with the blackest, most pure form of evil magic. It sucked the light out of the air around it, and painful, blackish-purple waves of power radiated from it. Link then experienced a sharp, excruciating wave of blackness as something dark yanked itself out of him and flew to Ganondorf's sword. The sword flared even darker, its very radiation making Link and Zelda scream in pain. Then the darkness was gone. The room was lit properly by the torches, and Link looked at the Sword of Light's Bane. It looked the same as it had before save for a faint aura of darkness, but it had a different feel. Before it had been a piece of metal, now Link could feel it prescence so clearly he wouldn't known it was there from a mile away with his eyes closed. It now had a magical sort of half-life, like the Master Sword. Ganondorf hadn't been lying. This blade was for real.
"Feel the power, Link? It wont be long before you feel the power cut you in half! But before that, I will tell you how I escaped the Sage's pathetic seal. I admit I couldn't have done it myself...I had the help of a very powerful creature who wishes me to keep his name secret for now. That creature is powerful beyond reason...he helped me escape on the day that the seal is weakest, the anniversary of the day it was made exactly a year before. He helped me acquire new powers and freed me. That man...no, that monster's power rivals the power of the godesses themselves. I doubt they could kill him if they wanted to. But he is in another plane of existance now. All you have to worry about is me, Hero of Fools. Let's say we get started." Link was only too happy to draw his sword. Rage welled up in him almost uncontrollably. Ganondorf had killed Cosha, Chain and others...his stupid war was causing hundreds of deaths...and now he had had Zelda, the person Link cared about more than anyone, locked to a cold wall with her face bleeding. It was time to end everything that Ganondorf was. Link rushed at the huge Gerudo, yelling.
"I don't care if you have a new weapon, Ganondorf, I've had enough of you! Take this!" Link swung at the King powerfully, but Ganondorf jumped back to avoid it, laughing because Link had left himself wide open. He slashed downward with his huge sword. Link didn't have the time to move, and could only bring up his Hylian Shield. "Aaaahhh!" He screamed as the shield was shattered and the shock hit his arm so hard he was surprised it didn't shatter, too. He barely managed to roll out of the way before Ganondrof could stomp on him. I'll have to be fast to beat him, Link thought. Strong attacks will only allow him to attack me, and if that sword hits me...Ganondorf laughed quietly, and dashed at Link.
"Now that I don't need you or your sword's ledgendary power anymore, I will thoroughly enjoy this!" Ganondorf swung his huge sword at Link's chest, and the Hylian ducked under it. He came up quickly and cut at Ganon, but discovered he'd drawn his smaller Gerudo sword with his free hand and blocked with it. Crap, he can wield that enormous sword with one hand?! Link hoped he hadn't underestimated the Gerudo. Ganondorf's boot collided with his chest, hurling him back into the full-length mirror. It shattered as his body flew through it and he landed among the shards. They didn't cut him badly and he jumped to his feet. Ganondorf ran at Link again, and as he cut at him, Link jumped and put a hand on Ganondorf's head, flipping around behind him to give him a large slash on the back with the Master Sword. Growling in pain, Ganondorf turned around at a speed amazing for his size and socked Link in the jaw, sending him sprawling. "Come on, Link! You can beat him!" Zelda yelled, struggling against her bands a bit. Since she was hanging from her wrists, the hard metal was beginning to hurt. Link wiped some blood off his chin and stood up, facing Ganondorf. "Hahahah! Beat me, you say? What makes you so confident? You know the power I've gained. You know I've beat Link numerous times already. Besides, even if he did beat me, what would he do?" Ganondorf looked at Link. "He's too weak to kill me. Even if he held my life in his hands, his pathetic heart wouldn't let him destroy another man's life."
"Don't be so sure, Ganondorf," Link said uncertainly. What would he do? "Hheheheheh, so it's come to that...you really think you could kill me, eh? Just like those dragons, right?" Link glared at him.
"That was different." He hissed, gripping his sword's hilt. "Was it? Remember what I've told you, Link. Murder is unforgivable. You murdered them. Don't bother denying it. They had lives of their own, brought to a short end because of you! How many wild animals just trying to fill their bellies have you killed? You might as well give up this self-righteous bull." Ganon said. He grinned, seeing Link was affected by his words.
"Don't listen, Link! You're a good person, you were just trying to defend people, that's all! Only taking lives to save lives!" Zelda shouted. Ganondorf let her talk. It was only helping him.
"And who has the right to decide who lives and who dies? Are you trying to be a diety, Link? Tryin to make decisions as foolish as that? My policy is simple. If it gets in my way I kill it, and let it be sorted out in heaven. But you...you are trying to make heaven's decisions for it! Is that what you call 'right'?" "Shut up, Ganondorf! You don't have any idea of what's right!" Link yelled.
"Peace is right, do you agree? Don't you fight for peace, Link? Well if everyone would simply submit to me, there would be peace. Instead you all fight, losing your lives and following a senile old fool. My dream is one of peace. Everyone serves me, and there are no problems!" Link spat.
"Don't give me that. Peace, indeed! What you envision is slavery! As for me, I'd rather stand up and perhaps die than serve a monster like you." Link said.
"That's right, I am a monster. And you'll kill me like the rest, huh? Add me to the blood on your murderous hands?"
"Stop twisting the truth!" Link yelled, running at Ganondorf. But as he reached Ganondorf he stopped. Shoot, what if he's right? I don't like hurting people...what good will it do if I hurt him? Maybe I can't even do that. He's so powerful. Ganon took advantage of his brief pause, and drove his knee into Link's stomach, using black magic. Link slammed into the wall behind him, falling to the ground and groaning. The black magic had injured his insides, and he could already feel blood rising in his throat. A single blow had already slowed him down substantially. He suddenly realized this was a losing battle. "Link, don't stop fighting!" Zelda pleaded. "You can't let Ganondorf win! He doesn't want peace, he'll destroy Hyrule and kill anybody who doesn't want to serve him!" Ganondorf was finally getting irritated about her comments.
"Shut your mouth, Princess, or I'll shut it for you. Permanently!" He growled, running to Link and lifting both swords over his head. Link rolled between his legs as the swords came crashing down, but as he tried to get up the shaking of the ground made him fall again. Sheesh, just hitting the ground with his sword makes it quake! How can I defeat that...I'm just a Hylian...Link brushed the thought from his head. He's only playing with my mind! This is how I lost before, I can't let him twist the truth and dishearten me. I've gotta beat him, Hyrule's at stake! As the shaking stopped Link jumped up, calling the power of the Platinum Gauntlets and punching Ganondorf's side. "I'm not going to listen to you Ganondorf, so just be quiet and fight!" Ganon grunted and stumbled back, nearly falling from the strong punch. Link was amazed it hadn't done more damage. He could lift tons with the Platinum Gauntlets, and they hadn't even broken a rib! Ganon launched himself at Link and punched his side extremely hard with evil magic, likely attacking that area for the sole reason of proving he was stronger. Link did what Cyphas had taught him, but the punch still sent him flying, to land roughly below Zelda. "Ugh..." Link held his side and got up slowly. It hurt so much he couldn't tell if anything was broken or not. He felt a thin line of blood slide from the corner of his mouth.
"You have to up the pace if you want to survive, Link!" Ganondorf said, running to him and attempting to cut him with the huge sword. Link ducked under that attack, coming up inside Ganon's sword arc, too close to be hit, cutting his side with the Master Sword. Ganondorf yelling in pain and irritation, shoving Link backwards and attacking with his smaller sword. Link dodged and struck at Ganon, who simply parried the strike and slashed at him again with the big sword this time. Link rolled to the side and the sword hit the wall, making a large cut in the stone right under Zelda's feet. Link backed away, hoping to draw Ganondorf away from Zelda. Instead, Ganondorf stayed next to her, smiling down at Link in triumph. He reached over and put a hand on her neck, making her scream in fear. No...not again...I can't let him kill her...He took a step closer to Ganondorf, who gestured to the Princess. "If you want her to die, by all means, keep moving!" Link froze.
"Whatever you do, don't give him the triforce, Link!" Zelda said. Ganon stared at her murderously.
"Don't you dare hurt her, you jerk..." Link warned, raising his sword. Ganon's grin widened.
"I've found your weakness, haven't I?" He taunted. "I won't hurt her, Link. All you have to do is give me your triforce, heh heh. I'm waiting." Link knew he couldn't do that..."Fine then!" Predictably, the cold-hearted Gerudo King began to throttle the Princess. Link burned with rage. This man was truly desparate. Would he stop at nothing? "LET HER GO!!!" Link screamed, but had no way of making him do it. If he got any closer, he'd kill her for sure. If he got out his bow, he'd still kill her for sure. Ganondorf grinned, seeing the torture his actions were putting Link through. Link looked angry yet hopeless and pain filled his eyes as Zelda choked. Ganondorf glanced at Zelda, enjoying the sight of her pretty face screwed up in pain. When he looked back at Link, he got a sword in the face. I was foolish to look away, Ganondorf thought as the sword put a large cut in the side of his face. I shouldn't underestimate his rage...The Evil King's wound burned with light magic and he backed up, putting a hand over it. Zelda coughed and shook her head, gasping.
"You little fool...Yaaah!" Ganondrof swung at Link with the large sword, in a quick swipe that was all too quick for how big it was. Link tried to jump back, but the tip of the sword caught him across the chest, giving him a long, dangerously deep laceration and hurling him backwards. Link didn't think it was possible that a sword could hurt him more than the Sword of Darkness. Now he knew better. He screamed in pain, the black magic infecting his body. He called up the light magic of the Master Sword, which mercifully cancelled out the evil magic. The big slash still wasn't healed though, and Link staggered to his feet. He dimly noted the soaking warmth covering his chest, pouring down to drip on the floor. He looked where Ganondorf had been, and saw nothing.
"Link, behind you!" Zelda screamed just before Ganondorf's huge foot hit the back of his head. He flew forward and skidded to a stop on the cold, hard stone. The blow to the back of his head made him dizzy for a moment and he got up as fast as he could, but Ganondorf was in his face again (he had sheathed his swords), grabbing him by the collar and throwing him into the wall. Link's body made a few cracks form the force it hit the wall with, and he fell to the ground. "Come on, Link!" Zelda yelled, becomming very worried. Link had let Ganondorf gain the upper hand, and the King wasn't about to not take advantage of it. His confident gait showed his confidence in winning the battle as he walked up to Link. "Any last words, brat?" He asked as Link got to his feet, leaning against the wall for support. Without waiting for an answer, Ganondorf grabbed his neck and lifted him off his feet, his back against the wall. He the took Link's left wrist and shocked it with dark magic to make him drop his sword. Then, he laughed. "Hhahahaah! You are so WEAK! How did I ever lose to you?" Link's breath came in small, short gasps. Ganondorf painfully tightened his grip. "Your very breathing irritates me."
"Link! No, stop this!" Zelda pleaded, struggling a bit. Link coughed, fighting for breath.
"Oh, how inconsiderate of me. You can't even properly watch him die from this angle." Ganondorf, once again tightening his hold on Link, walked over to Zelda and held Link up in front of her. "There, that better? You know the routine. Give me your triforce." Zelda shook her head, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Let him go, you heartless beast..." She said quietly, staring into Link's pained eyes as he slowly strangled. Link was suffocating, his lips taking on a bluish tint. His sight was darknening, and Ganondorf's grip on his neck was now so tight he couldn't even feel it anymore. For a while he tried not to look like he was in too much pain because it hurt the Princess, but couldn't keep it up long and started to choke and stuggle. He suddenly looked at Zelda with meaning in his eyes, then looked behind him. He wants me to do something, Zelda thought. But what? I can't even reach out and touch him! He looked at her, then behind him, then down. He was gesturing, asking...His eyes looked tired. They began to close as he choked. Oh no! What does he want? He can't even reach for a weapon or Ganon will kill him...that's it, he needs a distraction so Ganondorf won't see him! Zelda focused her eyes behind Ganondorf. "No, don't." She said, as if talking to someone there. Ganondorf gave her a skeptical glare. He wasn't falling for it. "Taig, stop! He'll only kill you if you do that! NO!" She shouted, and Ganondorf, falling for it and thinking Taig was about to attack him, looked behind him. This gave Link the perfect chance to pull out his dagger and cut Ganondorf's arm with it, which he did. Ganondorf yelled in pain as the knife cut his arm deeply, and he dropped Link, who fell to his knees. The Hylian held his aching neck, couging and breathing heavily. "I'll kill you for that, Zelda..." Ganondorf said, reaching for her. Link wasn't about to let that happen. He stood up, between the King and Princess, and drove his left fist into Ganondorf's gut as hard as he possibly could. The King flew back a few feet, falling over and holding his stomach. He got into a sitting position, gasping. "You...bratty...kid..." Link took the opportunity to say thanks to Zelda, run over to his sword and retireve it, then run at Ganondorf. His wounds bled in protest, but he ignorred them, focusing on his enemy. Ganon jumped to his feet, and as Link hacked at him he jumped into the air. Link had aimed for the King's chest, but only managed to get his shins, cutting them. Ganondorf flew up a few more feet and then came crashing down, his purple-magic covered boots slamming into Link, sending him sprawling. In his pain he had dropped his sword, and as the King of Evil reached him he wrapped his hand in the Hylians's collar, lifting him off the ground and punching his face repeatedly. How was I foolish enough to think I could beat Ganondorf? Dumb, dumb, dumb! He beat me twice and he's kicking my butt again! This time there's nothing to stop him from finishing me. Link thought, pain distorting his vision. Ganondorf, having a ball, continued to punch him until Link kicked his chin rather hard, and the King let go. Link landed on his feet but then fell backwards with a soft moan, his head aching and blood covering the side of his face. After a moment Link managed to stand, which only made Ganondorf smile evilly. He grabbed Link's shoulder and drew a concealed dagger, burying it to the hilt in Link's side. Zelda and Link both screamed. Ganon yanked the dagger out, blood covering it and his hand. Link fell to his knees, clutching his new wound and breathing raggedly. Blood trickled thickly from his mouth.
"Blast it, Link." Zelda said quietly, crying as she watched Ganondorf grab Link's neck and shove him against the wall again. "Fight back...he's going to kill you..." The Gerudo then began joyfully socking Link in the gut over and over again, each time harder then the last. It went on for a minute or two, until Zelda couldn't take it anymore. "Stop it, Ganondorf! Stop it, stop it!!!" She screamed and Ganondorf paused, looking over at her.
"It will take more than your words to make me stop, Princess. I may not even stop if you offer me the triforce at this point. I'm having far too much fun!" He let go of Link, who crumpled to the stone floor, choking on his own blood. He coughed violently a few times as Ganondorf dragged him to his feet. "Not going to beg for your life, Link? You seem to be in a great deal of pain." Link could hardly talk.
"Yeah right..." He coughed, getting some blood on Ganondorf. "I'd never...stoop so low...you murdering lunatic..." Ganon frowned.
"Well, how dissappointing. I was hoping you'd beg on your knees, just like you did before I killed your brother!" Ganondorf said loudly. Link, still on his feet only because of Ganondorf's hold on his collar, punched the King's chest. He was so weak that Ganon barely felt it. "Hahahaha! Is that all you have left? You're not as much fun when you can't struggle anymore." Ganondorf let go of his collar and jumped back, round-kicking his head wickedly hard before he could fall. Link hurled into the wall, his head making a dent in it and getting stuck. Zelda screamed, knowing such a blow would surely be lethal...His body lay limp for a moment, his head hidden from view in the stone. Then his arms lifted, trying to pull his head free. "Oh my gosh...he's still alive...impossible! I just drove his friggin' head into the wall! The brat!" Ganondorf walked over and grabbed the front of Link's tunic, yanking him out of the wall. Link blinked up at him blearily, his face covered in blood. "Are you immortal or something, kid! Nobody could survive that!" Link grunted weakly as Ganondorf punched his face, making him fall to the ground roughly. He coughed, stretched out on the red carpet, which was becooming redder each passing second with his blood. "Well, you are a triforce holder, so I suppose it's normal that you'd survive what most humans cannot. But now it's over. You won't survive this!" Ganondorf kicked his side to make him flip onto his back and put his large foot on Link's lower chest, pushing downward. Before he did too much damage, he looked at Zelda, who was weeping openly. "You can still stop this, Zelda. I'd love to kill him, but if you give me the Triforce of Wisdom willingly, and I learn every way you've used it...I will let him go. I'll leave him alone. Heck, I might even help him out." He grinned wolfishly.
"You're l-lying..." Zelda said. Ganondorf shrugged. "Believe what you want to, Princess. As for me, I'm going to enjoy this." He stomped downward with his boot, and Link doubled up, grabbing the King's large ankle and screaming. If his ribs weren't already all broken, they had to be now, as he spit blood and yelled. "Don't you love him, Zelda?! Then save his life!" Ganondorf said, pushing harder with his heel and exulting in Link's pained screams. He loved the feel of his hated enemy's bones breaking under his boot. He cackled loudly. "How many times has he saved you, princess? Do it for him!"
"OKAY!" Zelda finally yelled, her face practically soaked with tears. "Leave him alone, and I'll give it to you!" Ganondorf smiled widely, taking his foot off the Hero of Time's bloody stomach.
"No..." Link muttered weakly, blood gurgling in his throat. "Zelda....don't...." Ganondorf turned around to kick him.
"Ganondorf! Leave him alone!" Zelda screamed. Ganondorf sighed irritably.
"Have it your way," He said, walking over to her. "Now give me what should have been mine form the very beginning!" Sobbing, Zelda said a few words and a soft golden glow surrounded her. A tiny golden triangle came out of her body, hovering before Ganondorf, who snatched it out of the air. The Triforce of Wisdom. Ganondorf had wanted it for years, and now his evil dream had come true. He laughed triumphantly. "Hhahahahahahahaa! Thank you very much, you little pest!" He growled, slapping her face. The triangle dissappeared instatly, and on the back of Ganondorf's right hand, the Triforce of Wisdom lit up. Ganondorf laughed as he could feel his mind learning new abilities, gaining more magic power than he ever thought he'd get. "Now only one triforce remains..." Ganondorf said, walking slowly towards Link's broken, gasping from. "And you're not about to give it to me willingly, are you?" He asked Link, not expecting an answer, not needing one. Zelda screamed in protest.
"Ganondorf, you said-"
"You remember what I said?!" Ganondorf yelled, cutting her off. "I said I'd leave him alone. I have left him alone for the last few moments. I said I'd help him out. Death will certainly be a great release from the pain he's feeling. I said I'd let him go, and go he will...STRAIT TO HELL!" Ganondorf ripped the Sword of Evil's Bane out of its scabbard, lifting it above his head, preparing to cut Link right in half as he put a boot on the Hylian's neck to hold him still. He started to laugh maniacally. "Hahahahaha....hahahahahahaha! HAH HAH HAHAHAHAHAAA! AAAHHHHHHH!"
"I know a way not to break the barrier, but to get around it," Llance explained. "The Sage of Light's magic alone or combined with the rest of the Sage's magic will not break the barrier. If the Sage of Time were here you could do it, but she's not so we must be content with a teleportation spell. Chain's light magic will be sufficient to get two people to the other side, one being himself."
"That will have to do, then." Darunia said. "But if he alone goes, how can we seal Ganondorf?"
"That is possible, even with Chain by himself." Impa spoke up, and everyone turned to her. "The Sages of Light and Time will be there, the two most powerful Sages. All we have to do is send our power with Chain, and if Ganondorf is properly wounded by the Master Sword, we can seal him. It wont be like last time, though. Since only two Sages will be there, we can't imprison him in the Sacred Realm. All we can do is put a seal on him that will banish him from this plane of existance, or this demension. He will be free somewhere else, but he will never return to Hyrule."
"Wow, I didn't know you knew so much about demensions, Impa!" Chain exclaimed. "So they really exist?"
"They do, indeed. Zelda has seen it." The Sheikah said. "We can Seal Ganondorf out of this world forever, but in case Link needs your help, Chain, we should send a weapon along with our power."
"An arrow!" Naburoo suggested. "To pierce his wicked heart!" Impa nodded approvingly. "So first we make a powerful aorrw for Chain to shoot, then send our power with him as he goes in?" Saria asked. Impas nodded again. The Sage of Shadow had a spare bow and arrow, and handed them to Chain. First, she put stealthy silence and swiftness into the arrow. Ruto added a poisonous liquid from a deep-water fish, and Darunia made the tip extra hard and sharp. Nabooru and Saria blessed the arrow to have true aim, adjusting the feathers for perfection. Cirokaal added ice, Taig added fire, and Chian put some of his own light magic into it. All the magics combined made it shine with a whitish-rainbow light, and Chian put it in his quiver. "So, who's going with me?" Chain asked. "I will! I am the strongest being here!" Cirokaal exclaimed. The Sages nodded. Together, they could defeat a dragon like Cirokaal; but one their own, none were as strong as the Royal Dragon. Llance didn't argue, he wasn't as strong as Cirokaal either. With Llance's directions, Chain created a portal with his magic that led to the other side of the barrier. As he stepped inside and Cirokaal moved to follow, something Ganondorf had said came back to Taig. Flashback Taig roared in anger.
"You'd better get out of here, Ganondorf!" He yelled. "If you pick on me, my mom will come whether King Daphnes sends her or not!"
"Hhahahahaha! Your mother? I could defeat Sahoriel easily!" The dark King said haughtily.
"You're bluffing!" Link yelled. "She's way more powerful than you!"
"That's the point, you fool! A creature with so much extra power has excess magic. It would be very easy to use her power against her in my own manipulative ways. The more power, the better!" Taig growled and glared at Ganondorf, but Link could see that the King's words had actually frightened him a bit.End
Taig realized the thing Ganondorf had said about his mother was true for his father, as well. His father had so much extra magic Ganondorf could use it against him, creating one or more huge shade-dragons. That would only make the siduation inside the castle worse, if possible. Taig didn't want his father to die, so he did something he knew he would probably regret later. Before anyone could move to stop him he jumped in front of his dad, into the portal.
"So what's the birght idea?" Feelock asked Raykel, who's griffon was hovering next to him. The cries and blood of war made the air thick with misery. The fighting was as brutal as ever. "Well," Raykel began, "You know how Ganondorf and his minions have been able to make shades, creatures out of black magic? Sahoriel has light magic, but doesn't know as much about the shades as you since you watched Ganon make them, right?" Feelock nodded. "So go and tell her how Ganondorf made the shades, and perhaps she can make creatures out of light!" "Say, that isn't a bad idea," Feelock said approvingly. "We'll try it." Feelock flew to Sahoriel and Raykel returned to Cyphas, who was fighting alongside Saroe and Coflix on her griffon, the three of them taking on a rather large demondragon. Raykel helped them, and after a few close calls and powerful spells (which only hit thier target because of Cyphas and Raykel's distracting the beast) the demondragon was defeated. Raykel looked around. Despite the army's efforts, they still weren't doing any better than the dragons. If things continued this way, they and the demondragons would annihilate eachother, rendering useless anything the Sages and Hero of Time were doing to defeat Ganondorf. Then he heard a cry of gladness and looked upward to where Feelock and Sahoriel were. He saw a dragon made of pure shining magic gliding gracefully over the field. It struck out at a demondragon and killed it with lightening swiftness. It was a success! Sahoriel, smiling broadly at Raykel, began to make more.
Ganondorf screamed in agony as a swift, sharp, shining arrow plunged into his left breast. His hands released the hilt of his upraised sword, which dropped with a loud clang behind him. He screamed again, the arrow spreading fire, ice and light all over his body. He felt poison seeping into his veins and staggered backwards, falling against the wall and holding the wooden shaft. Whoever had shot the arrow had just ruined the happiest part of Ganondorf's sad existance. The enraged King glared up at the one who'd shot it. It was Chain, riding on Taig's back (Ganondorf quickly cursed the fact that Taig was there instead of one of his parents. If a Royal Dragon had come, he could've created many shades). The Dragonlord! How can that brat possibly be alive? I fed him to my blasted dragon! The Evil King slumped against the wall, slowly beginning to pull the arrow out.
"Oh my gosh, Link!" Chain yelled, seeing the limp, bleeding form on the ground that was his brother. "Say something, buddy!" Taig yelled, running to Link. Link managed to move his head a bit, looking up at Taig and Chain. A tear rolled down his pallid, bloody cheek.
"Chain...you're alive..." He whispered, trying to swallow and choking.
"Oh gosh, Link...look at you! Gosh..." Chain muttered, near tears himself as he put a hand over his mouth. Link looked like he wouldn't make it. Chain wanted to hug his brother, but was afraid it would do more damage. He really wished he had spent more time learning healing spells! Taig moaned in worry and sorrow as he looked at Link.
"SAGE OF LIGHT!" Ganondorf roared, standing up. He had pulled the arrow out, blood pouring from the wound. It had hit him right where his heart was! How can he still be alive? Chain wondered. Ganondorf laughed.
"There is only one weapon capable of injuring me badly," Ganondorf said. Chain looked behind him and to the right, where the Master Sword was laying. "And the only one who can wield it is dying. YOU ARE A FOOL!" Chian and Taig were suddenly filled with an instense fear as the King of Evil, who had just stood right up and laughed after recieving a mortal blow, stomped toward them.
"S-shoot, now what? I can't seal him if he's not wounded by the Master Sword, and Link...well, look at him!" Chain said, still on Taig's back as the dragon backed up. "I hear ya, man. W-what do we do?" Taig asked worriedly, his voice shaking.
"Taig, Chain! Set me free, I can help!" The two turned to find Zelda chained to the wall. However, they were not close enough to her to get to her before Ganondorf got to them. The King dashed over to the two, wrapping his huge arms around Taig's neck and lifting him over his shoulder, slamming the young dragon into the ground. Chain went flying off him, landing a few feet away. Taig jumped up and tried to get out of Ganondorf's reach, but the huge man took hold of the dragon's horn and shocked him with the blackest, most evil magic, then hurled him into the wall next to Zelda with a loud crash. The dragon slumped to the floor, unconscious. "Taig! Aw crud," Chain growled, getting to his feet and trying to chant a spell. Ganondorf let out a short, quick laugh and gripped his throat, not letting him finish.
"Fool...did you really think you could meddle with destiny? It is my fate to rule this land, and you're not going to stop me, Dragonlord!" Chain kicked at Ganonodorf and stuggled, but nothing he did worked. Ganondorf dragged Chain along as he strode towards Zelda and Taig, powering up his free fist with an alarmingly large amount of black power. "Since I hate Link the most out of all of you, I'll make him watch you all die before I kill him. I'll end this now, I've got a country to conquer!" Link raised his head a bit, worry and anger rising inside him as Ganondorf neared his friends. Chain was coughing and pulling on his Ganon's wrist in desparation. Taig was unmoving. Zelda was staring into his eyes, her pretty blues filled with sorrow and fear. He's going to kill them all, Link thought. He's going to murder them right before my eyes. Then he'll kill me. Then he'll have all three triforces. Then he'll cover all of Hyrule in a second black age, destroying the innocent and ruling in evil...I CAN'T LET HIM DO THIS! I'm the one the goddesses chose...Even if I have no strength left, I have to try something! I've gotta fight until the bloody end!! Link didn't have the magical strength or concentration to make a light arrow at the moment, so he did the next thing he could think of. Defying the excruciating pain that filled his body with every move Link made, he got to his feet. He ignorred the blood leaking from his mouth and every cut he had, ignorred the squishy feeling in his gut as he ran over and threw himself in front of Ganondorf.
"NO!" Was all he said, his shaking body the only thing between Ganondorf and his targets.
"Link, you would use what's left of your own life to shield theirs...Well, fine." The King said quietly. "If you wish to be thier shield, you will shatter!"
Section 11
The Bloody End
Not even hesitating a moment, Ganondorf concentrated the black power on his fist into a ball, throwing it at Link. Chain struggled wildly and tried to stop him from throwing it, but his efforts were futile. The black mass of power hit Link full-force. A bright explosion resulted, making all who's eyes were open shut them and avert their faces. Ganondorf was blown back a few feet, and Zelda gasped as the force of the blast hit her.
"Liiiink!" She yelled, trying to see him through the fading brightness. Her eyes widened in shock, Link was still standing! His body had a strange light glow spread over it, the triforce on the arc of his left hand glowing brightly. Two beautiful white, feathery wings had somehow grown on his back, but he didn't notice them. He was glaring at Ganondorf.
"What in the name of shades..." Ganondrof grumbled, lowering his arm from over his eyes as the light dimmed to a standable level. "What?! Link! No! This is not possible..." He was enraged to see Link standing, feeling that something greatly satisfying had been denied him: the sight of the boy's corpse. Chian would have been overjoyed to see Link alive, but he couldn't see much at all as his sight darkened and his arms lowered to his sides slowly.
"Let Chain go," Link said, standing to his full height. Through the whitish-green aura Ganondorf could see that Link still had all his wounds. They just didn't seem to be hurting him. Suddenly Link was right next to him. What the? I didn't even see him move! And whats with the wings? I did not read of this in my books...Ganondorf thought, frowning. Despite his doubt of Link's strength (glowing or not, he was still bleeding all over the floor) Ganondorf could feel that this strange new power was not to be trifled with. "Too late." Link gripped the arm that was holding Chain in the air, roughly twisting it. Letting out a short yell, Ganondorf was forced to drop Chian. He pulled his arm out of Link's grip, staring at him incredulously.
"Chain, are you okay?" Link asked his half-throttled brother, who was flat on the ground, gasping and coughing. After a moment he lifted his head and looked at Link.
"Yeah, I'll be alright." His voice sounded hoarse, making Link flinch. "Link, you're glowing again...like when you fought Dark Link...but you have wings!"
"It is the Triforce of Courage," Zelda spoke up. "Link is finally using it's true power." She watched in awe.
"Well then, so this is the power of the Triforce of Courage? Making your body glow in the dark and growing some cute feathery wings? I'll show you true power." The triforces of Wisdom and Power began to flash erratically on Ganondorf's hand. Link watched grimly as a purplish-black haze surrounded Ganondorf.
"Link, watch out! He's using both triforce to transform, like last time! But he's using the Triforce of Power and his black magic to pervert Wisdom! This beast will be a whole lot tougher than the old GANON..." Zelda said, twisting uncomfortably. As the blackness around Ganondorf grew in size and thickness, Link jumped over to where the Master Sword was laying. He had jumped over twenty feet in one bound! The wings were quite useful for jumping, but Link knew they weren't big enough to make him actually fly for long. But he didn't need to. The new power he felt coursing through his body allowed him amazing speed and agility, as well as an unfathomable amount of light magic. He picked up the sword, which glowed brightly at his touch. He then turned back to the fourty-foot tall mass of blackness Ganondorf was in as it began to dissapate. Before it was gone, Ganondorf stepped out of it, and Link could see that the blackness wasn't the only thing fourty feet tall. He's enormous! But even if he's got two triforces and is about five times bigger than last time, I have to stop him. There's no other option, Link knew. Ganondorf had turned into a towering, beastly monster. His nose was still upturned in a rather pig-like way, but the rest of his head resembled a dragon's. He had greenish-black scales covering his whole body, and his only clothes were two wrist coverings and a Gerudo loincloth. His spikey arms held two very large swords (that appeared from nowhere, just like last time) and his muscular legs ended in claws rather than hooves. His entire spine was covered with spikes, and he had two torn-up-looking feathery black wings on his back that were far too small for flying. Link could see all his huge, razor sharp teeth as he leaned his head back and roared, slicing at the air in a very rageful way with his swords. The roar was a perfect cue for Link, who jumped at the wall next to him and sprung off of it, leaping all the way up to GANON's ugly head. He cut the beast across the face, the wound glowing with light and burning the creature. The pig-dragon swung at Link as he jumped off his head, landing behind him. Link landed right next to the beast's weak spot, his tail, and cut at it. "GRRRRAAAAHHHHH!" GANON roared in pain, and turning around as quick as his bulk would allow and attempting to cut Link with a downward strike. However, he was far too slow and Link jumped out of the way, grinning.
"Looks like you traded all your speed for some useless extra power!" He called, jumping off another wall and cutting Ganon's shins. The monster hissed in irritation and made a grab for him, which of course missed. "What, can't you even talk? What a boar!" Link said as the beast tried to step on him, and he rolled out of the way, cutting GANON's toe. "Come on, slowpoke! I thought it would be hard to beat you with your new triforce!" The pig-dragon roared and twisted in fury as Link rebouded around the room, giving him cuts everywhere. He nearly hit Link twice, but his rage only grew as he missed again and again. Finally Link began to get tired of inflicting minor wounds, and plunged the blade into GANON's side. GANON tried to swat him, but he pulled his blade out quickly and jumped over to GANON's shoulder, re-inserting the blade there. The beast roared and as Link tried to yank the blade out it got caught between two thick, armor-like scales. After a second he freed the blade but by then GANON's stroke nearly had him. Link jumped off the shoulder and GANON's wrist hit him, sending him tumbling backwards in the air. As he righted himself and landed on the wall, GANON threw a huge sword at Link, which hit the wall a few inches from Link's head. He gasped and moved away from the blade, and since he was beginning to fall he opened his wings and jumped at GANON. This time GANON was ready, opening his wide mouth and spewing flames at Link. The flames covered the Hylian and he fell out of the air, hitting the ground with a thud. The fire didn't hurt, but Link could see it had burnt him a bit and obviously stopped his flying jump. GANON once again tried to step on Link, but he moved and jumped upward, drving the Master Sword into the Evil King's chest.
"AAAAAAhhhhhh!" The beast screeched, hurting Link's sensitive ears. As he pulled his blade out and tried to get away, GANON reached down and snatched him out of the air.
"Not good!" Link said, twisting to get free, but one of his wings was trapped, and he was no match for GANON's muscles. "Crud! I shouldn't have taunted him so much..." The Hylian grimaced as GANON began to crush him. It didn't hurt, but it was getting really hard to breathe.
"Oh no, Link! Put him down, you monster!" Chain yelled, but couldn't do much since all his power was focused on the sealing spell he would soon cast if he got the chance. His brother's free wing flapped madly and he struggled violently as GANON raised him over his open mouth. "Yikes!" Link yelled, looking into GANON's deep throat. "Aw, man...you have some stinky breath!" Growling, GANON released Link into his mouth, bitting down. Link twisted out of the gaping jaw, but the only way out made him fly right into GANON's hand again. GANON grabbed at Link and succeeded in getting a leg, and threw him into a nearby wall. After the impact Link fell to the ground, extremely glad he couldn't feel pain because if he could, that would have really hurt. It was time to finish the fight before he got any more blows like that, or he might lose his power. Link launched himself strait at GANON's face.
No! This foolish little brat is going to kill me! I've gotta get rid of him, now! GANON opened his mouth and breathed fire once again, but this time it was lethal black fire. And this time Link had the prescence of mind to remember how to counter it. He drove his blade through the center of the fire, making it explode in GANON's face. Then he flew through the smoke, slamming his sword into GANON's forehead. The beast froze, his red eyes piercing into Link's. Then his voice exploded in a display of his agony, screaming madly.
"Yes! You did it, Link! Now make him detransform by hitting the triforces!" Zelda yelled, and her melodic voice was berely heard over GANON's screams of pain. Link pulled his blade out and leapt back, careful of GANON's wildly swinging arms. As he jumped to GANON's right hand and put a slash across the arc of it, an arm hit him, sending him crashing into the ceiling. GANON collapsed, his body shrinking. Link's body put cracks in the ceiling as it hit it, and he collapsed as well, falling to the ground. "Link!" Zelda yelled, but smiled a bit when Link stood up. The Hylian strode slowly over to Ganondorf, who had shrunk instantly back into himself. Ganondorf coughed some blood and looked weakly up at Link as he reached him. The Gerudo put a hand over the hole in his chest and flinched when he felt the Master Sword on his neck. His vision was fading, but even now the Evil King would survive if left alone. One last strike was all that sepparated him from death.
"Give Zelda her triforce back, and free her." Link commanded. Ganon grimaced in hatred and anger, a soft golden glow surrounding him. A tiny golden triangle levitated out of his body, dissappearing in a blue flash and returning to Zelda. The metal bands on her wrists and legs opened, and she dropped to the ground. Ganondorf looked at Link's body through the white aura surrounding him and smiled grimly. The Hylian's blood was spilling onto the floor around him. "What are you smiling for, pig? You're at my mercy."
"Look at yourself...you pathetic boy....as soon as that light fades, you'll die too. I haven't lost." Link glared into Ganondorf's lunatic yellow and blood red eyes.
"Yes you have. And now I'll....And now..." Link couldn't say the words he'd been planning to say. He couldn't say, 'I'll kill you'. His features softened. "What am I doing..? Even if you're a monster...even if you've killed so many...you're still a person, and you can still decide to quit. I can't take that choice from you...I can't kill you and doom you to the fate you've built for yourself." Link dropped the Master Sword in horror. What was he turning into, some kind of murderer?
"Don't be -cough- pathetic," Ganondorf muttered. "If you don't kill me, I'll get more powerful and -cough- kill you."
"You're wrong about that," Chain spoke up, walking over to the two. "You'll never see Hyrule again, Ganondorf!" Chain began to weave his spell, and a white light enveloped Ganondorf. "Zelda, I need your power, too!" Chain shouted, and Zelda quickly sent some of her sage powers to the boy. Ganondorf glared at Link through the light, his red eyes narrowing in loathing. "This isn't over! Curse Zelda! Curse the Sage of Light! Curse Hyrule! CURSE YOU, LINK!!!" He screamed, then his voice faded from Hyrule forever in a bright flash. Chain collapsed, the mental power required for the spell weakening him. Link knew Chain would be alright though, as the light around himself began to fade as well. He started to walk towards Zelda (who was staring in wonder at the place Ganon had last been) but didn't make it quite there before the light around him vanished along with his wings and invulnerability. He fell to the ground with a groan as his strength left him, and Zelda screamed, running to him.
"Oh no...please no..." Zelda moaned, kneeling next to Link. She turned him over gently as he coughed blood and a pool began to form around him. She hadn't realized how hurt he was through all that light, but now that she saw the extent of his injuries, she realized she may not have been able to save him even if she could cast spells. "Say something, Link!" Tears came to her eyes instantly, streaming down to fall apon the dying Hero of Time. After all that he'd done, all that he'd saved, and all that he survived...evil had finally gotten him.
"Zelda...hi there," He muttered hoarsely, cracking a bloody smile. This only made her cry more.
"Oh Link, how can you smile like that? You're....you're..." "Going to die?" Link coughed and Zelda sobbed. "Yeah, I know." His voice was barely loud enough to understand. "But it was...worth it. I think...I had a good life. A life spent in the defense of others is a life spent well...."
"What!" Zelda yelled, her shining blue eyes filled with a palpable sorrow. "Link, don't you ever think about yourself? You spent your whole life giving up luxuries and sacrificing everything!" Her voice shook. "Every bit of evil existance in Hyrule was always conspiring to kill you, to make you suffer, to deprive you of everything you want! Break you down and destroy everything you are! And now that it is finally successful..." She lowered to a whisper. "All you can say is that you had a good life...Don't leave me! Don't you dare leave me like this!" Not even thinking about Link's blood soaking her, Zelda hugged him and cried on his chest. "I'm afraid...I don't have a choice." Link said, his blood gurgling in his throat and his chest trembling with every shallow breath. "But there's something...I need to tell you...before I...go." Zelda opened her wet eyes, sitting up and cradling Link's head. "I wanna say sorry...that I never showed you my feelings, Zelda." He said, choking and turning his head to spit blood.
"What do you mean?" She asked, voice cracking. There was so much blood she had a hard time believing it was all his.
"Well...I'm going to be really honest...I love you, Zelda." He said, staring into her eyes as he swallowed thickly. "I...always have. I just didn't think I was good enough....a commoner, you know...I didn't think...you'd take me." Zelda sobbed, hugging him again.
"Link, you are anything but common! You're the most noble person in this country, far more so than any stupid royalty! You thought I wouldn't take you? I love you, you...you silly boy!" She yelled, her histerical voice muffled by Link's tunic.
"You...do?" He asked, his half closed deep blue eyes looking into hers again as she raised her head to look at him. Her tears had mixed with the blood on her face from hugging him. While one hand held Link's head, the other held his hand.
"Of course. How could I not? Link...." Her tears fell on his face. "You are beautiful. Wonderful. Brave. Silly. Funny. Strong. Kind....A hero. And even though you never listen to my warnings and you frustrate me until my head's ready to explode... you are everything I love, packed into one little Hylian." She smiled. "I'll always love you." Link raised a shaking hand and placed it on the side of her soft, wet face.
"Same here, Zel." She leaned down and they kissed, and just for a moment, Link thought he had died and gone to heaven. All of the happy, pleasurable things he had done in his life felt like nothing compared to the bliss of expressing his feelings for Zelda. He had been consumed with love for her ever since they met, and it had burned him like a flame every time he had suppressed it, wanting Zelda to marry someone who deserved her. But now he knew the truth, all she had ever wanted was him, and all he had ever wanted was her. It fit. It was heaven. Then, heaven dissappeared with a wave of pain as everything was enveloped in blackness. Link went limp, his hand dropping from Zelda's face. His body lowered to the ground, amongst the pool of his blood.
"No..." Zelda whispered, hugging his still form and shaking with sadness. "No...LIIIIIINK!" She buried her head in his chest, screaming. "No, NO! Why do you have to go now?! Why? Why does he have to go, dieties?! He did your work all his life, and now you let him die like this! BLAST YOU!" Her stength spent from crying and screaming, Zelda sighed and rested her head on Link. She was unaware of the fact that as she leaned on him, her body shimmered with a bluish light, her triforce glowing softly. Taig was slowly beginning to waken, and he thought he was still dreaming as he saw Zelda glow brightly and trancelucent, feathery wings spread open from her back. Then the glowing and wings were gone, and Taig came fully awake, sitting up. Chain awoke as well, rubbing his throbbing head. Slowly, dread rising within their chests, they walked to Zelda; still sobbing over Link's unmoving body.
Impa gasped in surprise as suddenly the blackish-purple barrier over the castle faded. All of the Sages had been sitting by, trying hard to see what was going on inside with their power and failing. Llance and Cirokaal couldn't do anything either, but everyone jumped to their feet as the barrier dissappeared. A few minutes ago they had felt a strange dark shock which worried them greatly, but their hope returned as they saw someone coming out of the castle. Anticipation and gladdness filled them as they saw Taig, Chain and Zelda coming, but their smiles quickly faded and thier hope died stillborn as they saw the saddened looks on the three friends's faces, the trail of blood following Taig, and the limp figure on his back. Everyone was silent as Taig walked up to them, and they saw the Hero of Time, dead. Their mouths fell open in disbelief, their minds not accepting what they saw. Llance was the only one who didn't react that way, instead walking over to Taig and putting a hand on Link's cold face. He closed his eyes and his hand remained there a few moments, then his eyes opened and he spoke.
"Link is not completely dead!" He announced, to the amazement and gladness of the surrounding creatures. But all of them knew that even together they didn't have the power to heal him... "There is a...strange magic covering him. It is as if the time within his body has stopped." This comment was met by confused stares. "Zelda is the Sage of Time..." Llance looked at her. "Only she could do this. The time in his body froze right before he died, so he is not dead yet." Zelda looked bewildered.
"But I can't cast spells for another twenty minutes!" She explained.
"That is true, but this is no learned spell, nor anything which took mana to cast. This is a strange magic...born of your love, your Sage of Time powers, and your Triforce of Wisdom combined. If you remove the spell, I can heal him." Zelda didn't really know how to remove the spell or how she had created it in the first place, but she willed it to be gone and the time in Link's body returned to normal. Llance quickly used the most powerful healing spell he knew, and Link's wounds began to close and heal. "It is a good thing Ganondorf used magical creatures from my country as generals," Llance said, reffering to the unicorn, albino keaton, moko, and lavakatt. "In addition to the stars, the magical creatures of my country give us Kaarineans power, and if they were not within twenty miles of me, I couldn't make a spell powerful enough to save him." Within a matter of moments, his body was whole. Everyone held their breaths, wondering if the spell had allowed him to live, healing him before he could die. They sighed in relief as his blue eyes twitched and opened slowly. "Huh? I was....dead..." Link sat up, looking around. He slid slowly off Taig's back, keeping a hand on the dragon to support himself. "Hi everybody," He said, grinning. "LINK!" Everyone but Zelda, Llance and Cirokaal ran to Link, surrounding him in a large sage-and-dragon group hug. He smiled, swaying a bit and laughing. "Okay okay, I need some room to breath here!" Everyone got off Link but Chain, and Link hugged him tightly. Finally they let go of eachother and Link ruffled Chain's short hair. "Thought I'd lost you. I guess I should've known it wouldn't be that easy." He said, smiling jokingly.
"Yeah...." Chain muttered, grinning crookedly. "Can't get rid of me without some effort! But as much as I'd like to tackle you, I think there's someone else who wants the pleasure of squeezing you right now," Chain said, gesturing towards Zelda. Everyone backed away and Link saw her standing there with her hands clasped over her chest, trying hard not to burst into tears again.
"Aw, Zel..." He walked up to her slowly and took her hand. "Don't cry." "Oh, Link!" Zelda threw herself on her love, hugging him and crying into his tunic. He embraced her as well and stroked her soft golden hair, the two standng there, clinging to eachother for several moments. Then Zelda let go and looked at the dusty ground, and Link put a hand on her face, wiping some tears away with his thumb and lifting it gently. He pressed his lips to hers, and the two enjoyed the bliss of the moment, oblivious of the staring eyes of the sages and dragons. Taig watched the deep, affectionate kissing for a moment, shuddering and thinking of Faraws.
"It's so beautiful," He said, wiping his eye. Then he snapped out of it. "All right, break it up, break it up!" The dragon said sternly, walking around and shooing everyone away. "Stop staring, ya bunch of google-eyed turkeys!"
Epilogue
Link sighed contentedly and leaned his head back on the cool stone behind him, eyes on the setting sun. He hugged Zelda closer to him as she slept. It was the second time she had fallen asleep on his lap while watching the sunset that week, and he didn't blame her. It had been two weeks since Ganondorf had been sealed out of Hyrule forever, and the place was starting to look bright again. With the help of Raykel's idea, the war over Hyrule castle had been won, the demondragons driven away or killed until none remained. Though many lives have been lost in that battle (and a week ago they had held a huge funeral for the dead soldiers and King), everyone was glad it was finally over. Raykel had been promoted to Royalty Bodyguard as well as two other soldiers, and those three along with the two King's Royal Bodyguards that hadn't died made up Zelda's bodyguard group. They, with Impa, followed her nearly everywhere she went when she wasn't in her room (or on the balcony with Link, as she was now). Sohran had been promoted to Captain of the Royal Guard, and Cyphas had enlisted in the Royal Guard (even thought she was a female, the law permitted her. It had permitted females since the days of Link's mother, but for some reason no women had joined since then other than Cyphas). Malon had indeed finally found her knight in shining armor, and began to spend more and more time with Chain as he helped her take care of the baby animals from Kaarinea and raise new horses. Speaking of Kaarinea, the Kaarinean people and Llance were grateful to Link for destroying Ganon (who would have undoubtedly decimated their small country), and the royalty of Kaariena along with Llance were planning to visit soon and thank Link formally. After the funeral had taken place all of the non-Hylian races had left the castle, returning to their own homes. Feelock and Tarisla had become the new foreign representatives of Catalin, and Taig was on his way to becomming King of Dragons someday with his developing relationship with Faraws. Hyrule Field was already springing some grass, and everyday Link, Zelda, Chain, Raykel and Cyphas went to help rebuild Castletown or Kakariko (which explained why the Princess was so tired). Many calwots, dragons and griffons also came over every day to help rebuild Hyrule. With all the help, the country would be rebuilt in a matter of months. After Ganon had been banished all the monsters also left, so Hyrule was now a peaceful and mostly safe place, even at night. Ganon's castles had been ripped down by dragons, and the Gerudos had retreated into their fortress, breaking off contact with everyone. No-one was sure if they would ever come out and be part of Hyrule again, or what decision Zelda would make regarding letting them do that. Link still worried about the powerful 'friend' Ganondorf had talked about, but right now he had other things to focus on... like the beautiful woman in his arms. He sighed again and kissed the top of her head, then rested his own on hers, drifting into a peaceful sleep.
Note by the author: DANG that was corney! I hope you corn-lovin people liked it, cuz it will make by brother puke. But anyways, I appreciate any and all feeback, flames (reasonable ones) and compliments alike. This story originally didn't have so much fluff in it, but I added some do to the request of one of my readers . lol I just hope it was action-packed enough to counter all the corny fluff! Thanks for reading! Talonclawfange