AN: Gah! I bow down and beg for mercy! I really didn't mean to leave this for so long! I'm on half term break now, so I finally have time to work on this. This is the final chapter, so I hope everything has been answered, explained and I really want to thank everyone who has supported me through this! Thank you so much, because if it weren't for you reviewers, this may not have turned out so well. Although this is the last chapter, an epilogue is to follow, so here it is, the long-awaited penultimate update!
Chapter 14 - Unification of the Crests
Zelda's POV:
It was another time, and another place. I was a passenger in my own body, neither able to move or think freely. The sun was shining, and there were petals being thrown into the wind from somewhere. It almost looked like there was a blizzard in the warm summer morning, substituting the clouds that had fled from the skies. My hand was closed tightly around another, but before I could look to see who stood beside me, the bright sunshine diminished into a dim candlelight.
I found myself lying in a lonely, grand chamber. I sat up and looked at my surroundings, shivering in the stale, seemingly circular arena. A faint glow was somewhere across the other side, the only light that crept into this windowless place. A ghostly frost emanated from the floor and I pulled my arms close around me, feeling both the freezing chill and something else lost inside my chest. I felt empty with the loss of my Triforce. Not being able to stop myself my thoughts started to form a continuous stream of nonsense. Such babbling, incoherent reasoning. It frightened me; I wanted it to stop. My hands flung themselves against the side of my head, trying to stop the invisible voices from entering my ears. But when I moved, someone spoke from the darkness.
"What ails you, princess?"
I jumped at the loud echo and froze in my place. My eyes watched stupidly as the figure revealed itself, stepping into the hazy light, the golden torch moving closer. I couldn't bring myself to speak. No words formed in my mouth.
"It seems you have learnt how to be silent, dear princess. I congratulate you on your achievement," the deep voice said mockingly. Heavy footsteps came closer but I still couldn't see the intruder's face, although his voice was all too recognisable. In the faint light I could see his shadow and frame illuminated in the dark slightly with midnight hues and shades. Ganondorf loomed in front of me.
"Tell me, do you think your hero will come to save you?" he continued.
"Of course he will," I said trying to sound unafraid, but my words came as an unstable and fearful whisper.
"You don't sound very confident, princess. Where is your famous fiery determination?" I glared at him, my hands scrunching into fists. Ganondorf laughed. "The princess who survived the Dark Ages, you, the woman that hid from me for seven years, now cowers before me like the pathetic whelp you really are!" Ganondorf's face grew out of the black air, his breath choking my throat. I stumbled backward, retreating with a growing guilt that I was fulfilling his words. "You are nothing," he spat, "without your Triforce." Ganondorf snarled, lunging out with his hand, forcing me to look at him.
His invading fingers curled around the side of my face, while the other held down my arm. His harsh gaze stared at me for several seconds, each one seeming to last a minute, as if he expected me to say something. Neither of us spoke, silent in the stillness of the dark room. Nothing moved except the golden light on his hand. But as I looked at him, the expression on his grim face changed ever so slowly. The man's eyes softened and the claw-like hold on my face loosened very slightly. If it were at all possible, there was something almost gentle about him, as if the monster held no threat of danger at all.
Doors opened, sounding ever so far away, as if deep in the distance. Ganondorf's face grimaced, his perpetual frown setting deep in his features, every shred of delicate tenderness gone. His rough hand clutched my arm again and he dragged me up from the flagstones across the room. Light poured in from outside, bouncing from wall to wall and the immense tower was lit. The tall column stretched high up above us, perhaps touching the heavens, for I couldn't even see the very top. A network of spider-web beams criss-crossed from side to side, but my sight was torn back to the ground as Ganondorf pushed me down in front of him. Two small figures that stood at the door were cloaked in shadow, but one held a sword. A happy, relieved breath escaped me, but Ganondorf's rage drowned it from hearing.
"Give us back the Triforce!" the unarmed one cried.
"Foolish children! How valiant of you to throw away your lives! Let's see how you fare against a true enemy. Then I will know whether you'll be worthy of staining my swords with your blood."
With a click of his fingers, the dark sorcerer and I vanished from the tower, leaving behind a disjointed fiend with an ethereal presence. The essence of its black body oozed from the skin's barrier, but I smiled sadly, overcome with grief and joy. Tetra had come with another, but her companion was not the one I longed to for. In an unknown realm of my heart I feared that Link had been defeated just as Ganondorf predicted, and I remembered with a chilling clarity the moment before I lost consciousness, that Ganondorf had whispered in my ear, "Gohma will destroy your beloved! "
Link's POV:
The sky was running further and further away, sinking in the fathomless pit that rose up like deep red mountains on either side. Caught in Gohma's razor edged pincer, I struggled, twisted and pushed away from the warm, damp circle that engulfed my waist. But nothing came to any difference, even when I felt as though I'd slipped away a little. A ring of liquid ran down around me no matter how much I moved.
I swung my sword at the jointed segments of the plated skin as Gohma flailed its body in violent jerks as it clawed for an edge to cling upon. Its eye darted in every direction, almost as if it were in a dream. But it was awake, the wind doing nothing to help slow us down toward our death, and the smooth mountainside offering no support either.
The only thought I held was to be free of Gohma's grasp. I hadn't yet thought of what I would do next if I succeeded. If Gohma held onto me, I would surely perish along with it, but on the other hand I would also probably not live to see the next sunrise if I was thrown free.
The bottom of the gorge was rising nearer by the second. I needed to do something now. Hitting the immediate option of plated armour proved to be ineffective. The only other choice was to hit something else, and then hope. I looked as frantically as Gohma's was, and then it struck me. The eye!
Raising my sword back, I hoped that all those days of endless target practise would pay off. Its shaking head was thrashing from side to side. There was no room left for error. Timing had to be perfect. Concentration had to be perfect. Nothing else could distract me. If this didn't work, I would die. I aimed, and threw my only weapon down at the falling beast. I watched anxiously, feeling my heart pound loudly against the confinement of my bones, as if it wanted to break free from my body already. I couldn't give up hope yet. My waist seemed to become damper, and it stung with the pain of a thousand swords. I cried out; Gohma stopped turning; my sword kept slicing through the air.
The slick entry into the eye was unheard. Had it missed? Was I going to die?
Gohma wailed and erupted in a fit of noise, flinging its pincers up and down. The razors around me loosened and I was sent flying into the air, soaring like a bird. The sky grew closer, the red mountain walls shrinking from its attempt to siege the heavens. Whether it was chance or whether my sword had blinded the monster, I knew I wasn't falling anymore.
I slammed into the cliff face, ready to scramble for footholds. I slipped and scraped against the rocky wall, slowing down. A ledge fell under my hands, and I hung to it, steadying myself against the rocks. Without moving too much, I craned my head downward into the dingy darkness below. A sickening cracking thunder rolled out beneath me, followed by a thick, undisturbed silence. The landing must have cracked every layer that lined Gohma's body, and I drove away the thought of the present sight on the crevasse floor.
I had landed on one of the pinnacles, atop which stood the ruined archways. Heaving myself up, I gradually climbed up to the grassy mounds that lined the long past roadway and pulled myself over onto the dusty ground, lying still for a few moments, allowing the torrents of wind to cease running across my face. Even though I was firmly on the ground, it still felt as though I was falling. When I was sure of the calm air settling against my skin, I stood up.
Down on the ground was the hookshot, teetering dangerously near the edge. I seized it quickly, thanking Tetra and Link silently for throwing it back across. They must have gone on ahead, so that meant the path wasn't blocked. Firing the projectile, I landed safely in the niche that led through to the now torn-apart entrance of Ganon's Tower. The volcanic chamber was in a very different state, but a pile of rocks, broken away from the surrounding walls had stacked up high enough to become clear of the lava. Dropping myself down carefully, I walked across the new bridge. A rope had been let down on the other side, Link's grappling hook enclosing the old wooden post. Checking it was still secure, I scaled the central rock and ran across the only bridge still in tact.
Gohma's tile had now lit up, the door opening as I pushed it. Link and Tetra couldn't be far in front then, for Gohma died not that long ago. I ran as fast as I could through the corridors, up the stairways until I reached another circular chamber. The door opposite had just shut with a low rumble, sending dust billowing away in clouds. Pot fragments were scattered around the sides of the grey stone room, lying stationary along with a discarded black sword. There must have been a battle. I opened the door and saw both the children ascend another stairway, reminding me all too well of a day that I had never wanted to forget. The only things missing were the stained glass windows and the haunting organ music coming from the very top room, where Ganon was awaiting our arrival.
"Tetra! Link!" I called.
Both the children stopped dead in their tracks, each turning their head at the same time. "You're alive!"
Followed closely by Link, Tetra ran down the steps, her eyes wet with brimming tears. "You're alive, you're alive," she whispered over and over again as she came running into my chest. A shock wave of pain flew through my stomach on contact, and I suddenly realised that the wet ring I had felt earlier was my own blood where Gohma's pincers had grabbed me.
"You're hurt!" she exclaimed, immediately bending down and tearing a length of her royal skirts to wrap around the wound.
Link silently approached me, holding out his Master Sword. "You deserve this better than I do. I want you to have my Triforce half too."
Cringing as Tetra attempted to stop the bleeding, I pushed the sword back into Link's hands. "This is your destiny. I have already interfered enough. But I think we might be able to use the Triforce halves to our advantage. Please allow me to accept your half."
Link gladly handed me the small fragments and at once they melted into my hand as the other had done. At once I felt a new revival of bravery and courage. Without waiting for Tetra to finish tying the final knot, I stood up from where I had knelt to greet the children and began climbing the stairway. Tetra and Link followed me, a new smile gleaming on their faces.
Zelda's POV:
From the briefly illuminated tower, I was brought to a blinding sky of moving water gliding over some kind of invisible barrier. The wind blew so furiously I had to stand in a certain direction so a cloud of blonde waves that clung to my face wouldn't blind me further. Ganondorf stood beside me, looking pensive and lost in his thoughts.
From up here I could see Hyrule Castle, a failed piece of architecture in comparison to this great and proud tower, and all the vast plains of Hyrule that I had always looked upon from the windows of my own Hyrule Castle. I almost felt that I was back in my own time, a small girl again, marvelling for the first time when my father told me that one day, this land would be mine. But as I looked at it, I didn't see the lush, plentiful green fields that I had gazed upon as a child, but the barren and rotting wastelands that were only just beginning to be reborn into their former selves.
"There's no use trying to find a way to escape, princess," he said.
"Why didn't you just face them?" I said ignoring him.
"Why should I bother when a minion can do the job just as well. To think a boy can do the same job better is absurd."
"Wasn't it a 'weak child' that thwarted your plans of finding me?" I retorted.
"It was 'weak children' that led me to attaining the Triforce of Power!" he said with a booming volume. I was silent. "If I took your Triforce that easily, just imagine how simple it is to steal it from - "
A small patter of footsteps interrupted Ganondorf. Tetra and the other rose up and stood boldly before their opponent. My heart leapt when I saw the green clothes, his infamous green cap and the golden hair that fell into his face, but he was just a boy. Yet in his small hands was the Master Sword. There was still a chance.
Ganondorf stepped forward. "Let me tell you something before you die, boy. My country lay within a vast desert. When the sun rose into the sky, a burning wind punished my land, searing the world. And when the moon climbed into the dark of night, a frigid gale pierced our homes. No matter when it came, the wind carried the same thing: Death.
"But the winds that blew across the green fields of Hyrule brought something other than suffering and ruin. I coveted that wind, I suppose." He turned his head and looked out over the land below.
"It can only be called fate, that here, I would again gather the three with the crests…That I should lay my hand on that which grants the wishes of the beholder…That when power, wisdom and courage come together, the goddesses would have no choice but to come down. The power of the gods, the Triforce! He who touches it will have whatever he desires granted! Already the crest of wisdom is mine. All that remains…"
His head took a violent turn toward the boy, his eyes glaring and his teeth grinning. "Link!" Tetra screamed as he lunged toward him, picking up the child from the floor and sending the Master Sword flying from his hand. Ganondorf dealt blow after blow to the boy's face, throwing him to the ground. The sword scraped along the floor, and I ran to pick it up, before Ganondorf could seize it.
"Do not fear. I will not kill you. I merely have need of the power that dwells within you," he said as he held the boy by the left arm.
For a moment, everything went completely silent. Only the wind dared to sing as the King of Evil searched the young Link's soul for the Triforce of Courage. Even though I was standing behind him, I felt his eyes open in anger as he dropped the boy to the floor.
"What is the meaning of this? How is it that you do not have the Triforce?" His eyes fixed on Tetra and he seized her arm. "I demand you to tell me where it is!"
"This 'weak child' you speak of, Ganondorf, is proving to be difficult," I said mockingly behind him, holding the Master Swords tightly in my two hands.
Growling, he turned around with a face of thunder, his eyes narrowed into a piercing stare. There was nothing gentle about the man now. 'That had been lost too long ago to his hatred,' I thought.
Behind him Tetra raised her hand to the sky and threw a fist full of brown Deku Seeds to the floor. Ganondorf retreated in anger and freed the girl from his grasp. Shielding my eyes, a bright flash came and finished in a matter of seconds. I smiled inwardly, remembering I had often used those as a disappearing act when under my disguise as Sheik. From high atop the treetops or from a concealing ledge I used to always find some pleasure in watching Link look around confused, sometimes searching hastily for a trace that I was still there.
"That's because the 'weak child' doesn't have the Triforce," a new voice said.
Immediately I brought my hand away, my ears scarcely believing the words they had just heard. That deep, soothing sound had been absent for so long I almost thought it had been long forgotten in my memory. But when my eyes revealed the plain truth, I shamed myself for ever doubting, for ever fearing that Link would fail. There he stood, tall and strong, brave and fearless against the sight of the howling man in-between us. I felt happy tears appear in awe over the triumphant smile that both of us returned.
"Link…" I whispered, but the wind carried it away.
"Curse you Link!" Ganondorf bellowed as he recovered his sight. Two long swords suddenly fell from his sleeves, and I was the only other with a weapon. "You shall not ruin the future of Hyrule!" But he did not move to strike Link down, but instead moved toward me.
"Zelda!" Link cried.
But I did not fear him. I too had been trained in combat however limited it may have been. The weight of the sword was not familiar though, and when I swung it I was pulled along with the motion and stumbled sideways, pushed faster from a gust of wind. Ganondorf easily parried the attack but the wind suddenly changed direction, and he arched his back and his eyes widened. In the boy's hand was a strange object I had never seen before but looked strangely reminiscent of a conductor's wand. Tetra had a bow in her hand and an arrow protruded from Ganondorf's back, the wind now having fallen away. The direction of the wand seemed to mimic the wind's direction, and an old memory stirred. Could this be the second heirloom of the royal family? Was this the Wind Waker?
But even if it was, now was not the time to be in a dreamland of childhood. I ran clear of the firing range toward the only person that had fought away the insanity of this nightmare world. I didn't look back, only forward, and Link held his arms wide as I reached him. Thrusting the hilt into his own hand, I collided with his chest, feeling the gentle warmth radiating from his body. That cold, icy touch had gone as he embraced me tightly, despite it being for the briefest of moments. I didn't care; the only thing that mattered was that we were finally together.
"You're here," I said.
"Sorry I'm late. I had to make a few detours." He pulled me away and set his hands on my shoulders. "Ye of little faith, you needn't have sent the sages out to look for me," he said smiling.
"I was worried." I hit him lightly as he stepped out in front of me.
Battle was imminent; both warriors ready to fight. Another faint memory begged to be recalled. Sword in hand, his back turned, ready to finish a battle already begun, only this one was resuming after seven years. Smiling again, he drew away and ran toward his nemesis, our fingers not wanting to be parted. Tetra stepped up beside me; her hand clasped mine as we both watched the cataclysmic battle, the fight that would determine Hyrule's future. A chance of rebirth hung in balance against the destruction of death and suffering.
"Link will win," she said. "I believe you now. He is the courageous man you told me about. He will win, I know it." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for doubting you and for the things I said. Link and I thought he had perished when Gohma and he fell into the gorge, but he survived! He saved us and was ready to die for us, just as he was ready to die for you."
I smiled and held her hand with equal strength. "He shouldn't be ready to die just yet. There are many things I have yet to tell him." And I said no more, as swords clashed, arrows flew and cries screeched across the battlefield.
I looked on with a growing confidence, feeling the first battle resemble this one so clearly; the two images could be overlapped. Link and his counterpart moved and flowed as one body in battle, exacting twice the amount of damage dealt to either of them. Even when Ganon's sword struck them, I didn't cry and gasp in fear. I couldn't distract them from their task. The onslaught of sword and Light Arrow proved to be too much for Ganondorf to handle, trying to dodge one and defend from another. Even with the advantage of two swords, one always seemed to manoeuvre themselves behind the other, presenting an unblocked attack.
At last Ganondorf fell to his knees, and Link, upon meeting in motion with the boy, exchanged weapons, and as it would be written in history, the Hero of Winds leapt into the air and delivered the final blow. Ganondorf's bellowing scream echoed across the heavens as the clouds broke into a storm, the rain lashing down upon the defeated man.
"Ughnn…the wind…it's blowing," he said hoarsely as his head drooped to the floor.
Link took hold of Ganondorf's wrist and each triangle alight on their hands dimmed and in their proximity, an explosive beam of light raced up to the clouds, causing everyone to cover their eyes. The sky became clear again, and when we looked up, the heavens had broken apart and the three sacred triangles joined together and formed the holy Triforce. It descended down to the tower as if the sun was being lowered down to the earth. It was too awesome to look at directly and only when it reached us did the light appear to fade. Beneath the divine garment of golden light the Triforce became visible.
We all met in the centre. "What is it that you wish for?" I asked the children.
"You need the wish to return home," the younger Link said.
"As do you," the elder said.
"There is a another way we can go home. There is a portal linking to the upper world in the castle. You take the wish," Tetra said.
I knelt down and embraced her, saying only to her, "Thank you, Tetra. I promise we'll meet again, and when that time comes, you'll have both your parents with you." Before she could say anything I turned to the younger of the two Links and embraced him also. "May you become a strong hero."
Link then extended his hand to the boy, and they shook hands firmly. "Nice working with you. Here, this belongs to you," he said returning the bow. He smiled at Tetra and shook hands with her also. She looked away, slightly embarrassed, but returned his kind smile with one of her own.
"Well then, princess," he said turning to me. "What do you wish for?"
"I want to go home."
He took my hand and pressed it to the Triforce. "Say it again."
"I wish you and I could go home. Let the time streams will be sewn together once again and let nothing tear them apart. Let us go back in our own time!" I said louder. The sacred object glowed and a crystal like structure enclosed us. I waved to the friends that we would loose, but would no doubt see again, as I felt my body begin to leave this world of the future.
"Goodbye!" they both chanted together. Link and I replied in the same way, and then they were gone from sight, lost in a time that would never come to be.
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Link's POV:
Birds were singing outside in the sunshine, the curtains drawn and the room was lit with a dim light. I groaned as I sat up, rubbing my sore head as I rose form the floor. I must have fallen onto the floor while I was asleep. I sat against the edge of my bed, letting my head back against the soft comfort. My eyes scanned the room, falling upon the familiar objects of my basic quarters. Everything was as it was, except a strange smell of dirt and blood. Had I gone to sleep without bathing?
But a strange cloth was bound around my waist. The colours were of a surreal mix of pale pink and purple and as I unwound it from my waist it shimmered like light breaking through the clouds. Where had this come from?
Without thinking I got up and opened my door. A sudden urge to see Zelda kindled in my chest. My feet walked faster, eventually turning into a run, earning many confused stares from the servants and maids as I nearly sprinted down the hallways toward the Royal wing of the castle. As I neared, the number of onlookers dissipated, but not enough so I didn't collide with someone as I rounded a corner.
I apologised quickly and nearly kept running when I saw the unmistakable golden locks that fell down the woman's back. I caught her hand as she almost did the same, the mysterious material pressing in-between our hands.
"Zelda," I said.
"Link! I was just looking for you. I needed to - " Her voice trailed off as she looked at me holding the strange strip of material before her. "What's that?"
"I thought you might know."
"I do not." Both of us became silent, listening to nothing but the other breathing.
"Link, would you like to accompany me in the gardens?" Zelda asked suddenly. "There is something other than that I need to discuss with you."
"Of course."
We stepped out into the newly dew-ridden grasses, the new morning sunlight smiling softly upon us as we walked alone through the hedges and statues. Zelda walked in front of me while I held back behind, looking down at the shining silk material that I held in my hands. Where had it come from? I remember having the strangest dream where I fought Ganon again. I remembered nothing else, but the feelings I had experienced still carried with me, and I was being to feel more inclined to speak to the beautiful woman I walked with. But if I spoke I feared that I wouldn't be able to control the words that would tumble out of my mouth.
We came to the courtyard where we had first met and sat on the steps. "Link, what did you do yesterday?"
It was an odd question, but no matter how hard I tried to answer the question, it felt like my dream had lasted for so long, I had completely forgotten what I had done the day before.
"Do you remember?" I asked, avoiding her question after failing the find the answer.
"Not at all. I don't remember a thing." There was another pause. "Did you…Did you have a dream last night?"
"Yes."
"Did you remember anything?" she asked looking at me, sounding strangely hopeful.
"No, I didn't."
Her face detracted back to her knees. "Oh," she said, the hope gone and replaced by a masked defeat. This was beginning to become extremely awkward, and even though the air clung to us with a warm embrace, Zelda shivered as she fidgeted with her hands. "There is all I wanted to say," she said getting up with an abrupt tremble in her voice.
"Zelda, wait!" I caught her arm and walked in front of her to prevent her from leaving. As I looked at her vulnerable, wide and wet eyes, I felt words choke my throat. I couldn't keep them in any longer. "You didn't let me finish. I didn't remember anything that happened, but…I'll never forget the feelings I felt while I was there, especially for you." She smiled. "I don't know what it was, or why I can't remember anything, but I'll always remember how much I wanted to see you; how I wanted to tell you that I love you."
Zelda ran into my embrace. "Link," she breathed. "I never want to feel the same torture again. Promise me you'll never leave, that you'll never leave Hyrule. I love you, so dearly, and I never want to let you go."
"I'm not going anywhere," I said kissing the top of her head.
She lifted herself away from me. "Promise me."
I leant down and kissed her, feeling nothing but sheer happiness and admiration for the woman in my arms. I remember too the torture too of having to leave her. Although I remembered nothing, the pain and longing in my heart had been all too prominent from having left her to search for Navi.
I knew it would come, that the chance would appear, but when the time came I realised that my life here was far more important than following the past. The past wasn't meant to be lost, for it was the basis for the future, but it shouldn't be forgotten either. Life was too important to throw away. What was past was past, and so it should be, left our memories. We should look forward to the future: to the happiness and challenges it brings us, and let those memories float on the winds breath as letters to those we want to reach. Remembering is a wonderful thing, even more so when there's someone to share them with, but sometimes, some things just shouldn't be remembered.
Waahhh! cries This is it! It's nearly the end! This is the last chapter ;; But there will be an epilogue, that should be up much sooner than this was. Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed! :D
Lunatic Pandora1: Hmm, looking back I see your point, although I'm not sure which Link you're referring to. But I was thinking more about Link having to keep his life because if he threw himself into a life-threatening situaution it would ruin the essence of him trying to live through this. Young Link may have seemed weak, but you try fighting on a wobbly bridgeway while trying not to get yourself thrown into lava XD. Plus I've already had far too many miraculous rescues and battles to do so again.
serenitythefaierikin: Well I hope this ending was satisfying enough :D Yeah, this is a very confusing story, especially if you haven't played all the Zelda games.
Hououza: I was looking forward to doing this part, as it's the most recent game that people have in their memories, and after including all the others I couldn't leave this one out!
Lady Kumiko: Hehe, no problem :D I feel though that when I do write fight scenes they tend ot get very boring, very quickly. But I'm glad that at least someone doesn't think so! I've never really fought before either. The only thing that can come close is the swimming I do, although that is hardly 'fighting'. I also did a little bit of judo when I was about eight, and that was a long time ago to have any real memory of fighting XD Anyway, hope this ending is satisfactory!
samqfurious: Thank you! I'm glad you like it :D