Chapter 8: The Death of Ganondorf

The Evil Realm. The realm that was once a sacred place before Ganondorf's tainted heart entered it. A dark crimson sky silhouetted a jagged mountain range; its tallest and largest peeks spitting out lava and quaking roars. The land was dead and barren; much like the fate Termina was suffering. The land crawled with faceless, shapeless forms; tortured and tormented souls of Hylians and demons alike. They thirsted for blood and hungered for flesh, all starving since they were all edible to each other as a rock was to a human. There as one that served as food, one that was not like they. It cowered in a heap on the ground, a holy light keeping the demons at bay. The light showed no signs of faltering, but still they waited.

Ganondorf lay on the ground, his body trembling from fear and instability. He had no idea how long it had been since he had tasted food of any kind or quenched his thirst with any fluid. His saliva did him little good, but he even had little of that. His strange colored skin clung tightly to his bones, his physical power disappearing long ago. His deep burgundy hair was slightly becoming a dusty gray and was beginning to fall out due to his rapidly failing health. The only thing that was keeping him alive was the power of his Triforce piece. It could not allow its carrier to die unless the situation was dire. To the piece, it was in no dire situation and so Ganondorf kept on living.

Ganondorf lifted his dying amber eyes. Thousands of pairs of golden eyes stared back from the shifting, dark, shapeless mass of bodies and claws that surrounded him, his piece keeping them away. The former Gerudo King lowered his head back to the ground and closed his eyes. He had no idea how long those monsters had been waiting, but they never left, nor slept; just watched. A sudden high-pitched screech of pain caused Ganondorf to snap open his eyes and use what remained of his strength to sit up.

Quite a distance from him, flailing bodies of demons flew through the air like they were being knocked aside by something. Ganondorf could not tell what was happening from his angle on the ground and soon the demons in front of him started to stir and break a path; a shadowed figure walking towards him, radiating with power. The symbol of the Triforce on the back of the Gerudo's hand began to shine and burn, like it did when another carrier was closing in, causing him to wince in pain. He clutched his hand, but the burning just got worse. Ganondorf looked up long enough to see a bit more of the figure that was approaching him. It was of a young man that wore a steel breast plate, steel armored boots, pants, and a cape. That was all he could see with his failing eyes. As the man got closer, the worse the burning in the Gerudo's hand became and he lowered his eyes. Eventually, the man's boots scuffed to a stop in front of the Gerudo man, who looked up and saw the man clearly, but still didn't know who it was.

"Ganondorf," the man said with a cold smirk and a tone to match. "How long has it been? Seventeen years I believe."

"Link?" Ganondorf asked, slightly in shock. "Is that that you?"

"The one and only," Link answered in a slightly arrogant way, accompanied with a mock, shallow bow. "I'm surprised to see that you've lasted this long in this hell hole, however, that means nothing to me. You see, you've got something I need."

"I have nothing on me!"

"Oh, but you do," Link reached down and grabbed Ganondorf's weak and boney hand, holding it so he could crush it in one squeeze, "and it's right here."

Ganondorf looked at Link's strong fingers clamped around his hand, feeling slight malevolent pressure on his skin; their Triforce Symbols blazing.

"You can't take it," he whispered from the pain coursing in his hand.

Link looked as if he was trying not to laugh.

"Why can't I, old man?" the Hylian asked; harshness easily detected in his tone. "You are in no position to be telling me what I can and cannot do. I can see that the Triforce Piece of Power is the only thing holding you together. You are no longer fit for it and so it needs a new master."

"I will not surrender it to you! You're not the same Link as before."

"I was never any different." Link's face went dark. "You're just one of the many reasons my life was taken from me, but I don't really care anymore. In fact, I should probably thank you, but don't worry; you won't be the only Triforce carrier to die."

Ganondorf blinked at Link's words, not knowing what to make of them, and then Link began squeezing Ganondorf's hand ever so slowly; snapping each bone as slowly as humanly possible. Ganondorf felt his throat freeze up with the pain, too weak to produce no more than a ragged croak. Link's smile got more devilish every time one of Ganondorf's hand bones gave in to the steadily growing pressure. That was the longest time of the Gerudo's life; listening to his fingers snap apart. After every bone was crushed, Link repositioned his palm over the back of Ganondorf's hand and squeezed some more, harder and more violent than the first time. The former Gerudo King felt the burning sensation seep away from his broken hand and watched in pain, and horror, as the top triangle of Link's symbol began to glow as bright as the bottom right one. Link then dropped Ganondorf's lifeless arm while still smiling his devilish smile, but looked slightly satisfied.

"Your work for me is done," the Hylian said, flexing the fingers of his right hand, as if to rid it of stiffness. "Now you're free to rot away, from my life, and from history itself."

Ganondorf still found himself unable to speak.

"At a loss for words I see. The thought that a mere child from you past is going to kill you scare you? My, my. You must be weak then."

The roar of a Jaguar sent the surrounding demons into hysterics, yet they did not flee. Off in the distance, a familiar glowing shape snaked its way though the sky in Link's and Ganondorf's direction.

"Our time together ends here," Link said, taking a few steps back from the old Gerudo man. "So sorry you won't live to see me destroy the world of Hyrule." Link rose his right arm into the sky, palm extended upward. "Ciao."

As he said that last word, Volvagia's large taloned paw grasped onto Link's raised arm, pulled him up, and set him on its helmeted head as it zoomed by. Out of the corner of Ganondorf's eye, he saw a flash of light open a rift in the sky, the dragon flew through, and it closed behind the creature's glowing tail.

Sensing that the light barrier had vanished, the demons shrieked with delight. Their hunger would soon end. Ganondorf did not have any strength left to fight them off, more less move, as they closed in around him. He didn't even scream when they began ripping open what remained of his flesh on his weakened body.

Link was back in his quarters, sitting sideways in his favorite black chair. It was shaped like a throne with three large spikes on the top. The arms ended in dragon claws, each grasping a blood red orb. The back and seat were padded and a purple bird and red dragon, which were painted in the front on the bottom, were locked in eternal combat.

Link had removed his cape and tossed it onto the top of the chair and discarded his red sash to the floor. He lounged against an arm of the chair and held his right hand above his face, gazing at the two-third glowing symbol on the back. Already he felt his newly acquired power surging through his veins. He smirked and looked off to the side, running his fingers of his left hand through his golden hair.

"That was too easy. The white-haired boy could've easily done it." He put his hand down. "Like taking candy from a baby."

The Hylian's head snapped around when he heard the huge doors scrape across the floor; Lilith shyly peeking around the frame.

"Master," she said softly, "why did you kill him?"

"Who?"

"The Gerudo man," she replied. "Why?"

Link smiled his arrogant smile and motioned with his finger for her to approach him; slowly, she did.

"What is it to you?" he asked when she was close.

Lilith was silent for a few moments.

"He-he's a Gerudo…like myself," came her stuttered answer.

Link gave a short, soft, laugh.

"So quick are you Gerudos to abandon one another in times of dire danger, yet get angry at those who kill the stragglers." He looked at her through the corners of his deep blue eyes. "That man was a straggler. I now hold more power in one of my little fingers than he could ever dream of having. There's no room in this world for the weak."

He stood up, putting only a short distance between his body and hers. As quick as lightning, his right hand clamped itself onto the Gerudo's throat; Triforce symbol blazing with a soft electrical hum in the air.

"In one squeeze, I can shatter your vertebrae and force your windpipe into the broken bones. Quick? Perhaps. Painful? You won't feel anything like it ever again." He felt Lilith swallow under his hand. "Are you trying to tell me that you are weak, Lilith?"

"No, Master," she answered, fear clear in her eyes. "I would never do that to you."

Link gave a slight smile and removed his hand from her throat, a mild compression mark left behind. Lilith gently rubbed her neck, grateful that he had not squeezed. Her heart skipped several beats when Link grabbed her by the chin and turned her face towards his. The Gerudo's face flushed, despite the fact she didn't like him, but he was making her feel nervous. Link leaned over to kiss her, but his lips barely touched hers when a knock on the open door sounded and Reo peeked in; his own face flushing when seeing Lilith and Link standing as close as they were.

Link stepped away from Lilith and his cold eyes locked onto the Zora, sending shivers down Reo's spine.

"My Goddesses I'm sorry, Master," Reo said when he found his voice.

"Shut up," Link growled back.

Reo jumped slightly.

"It's just that I saw door open and I was wondering why-"

"I told you to shut up!"

Reo bit his lip and stayed silent.

Link walked several steps away, his back to both, putting his hands on his hips with an annoyed sigh.

"At least you knocked," he muttered. "I'll give you that much credit."

"Thank you, Master," Reo whispered, but bit his lip again when Link glared at him.

"You're damn lucky I haven't killed you yet," Link muttered under his breath.

Rep simply lowered his head, not making a sound. He lifted his head when Link began to speak again.

"Lilith. I want you to bring me Suto," he ordered. "I would like to talk to him."

"Yes, Master," Lilith said, giving a small bow and moving for the door; a wave of relief washing over her body.

"Reo will make sure you get there and back safely. Won't you, Reo?"

Reo nodded, not too sure if talking was the answer Link was aiming for. He somewhat relaxed when Link averted his eyes from him.

"C'mon, Reo," he heard Lilith whisper and felt her soft touch on his arm, urging him into the hallway. Slowly, he turned from the door, following the Gerudo down the hall; Link watching them leave with great interest.

"Did you hear what he said to me?" Reo asked when they were a safe distance away from Link's door. "He threatened to kill me!"

"Let it go, Reo," Lilith answered. "We'll get out of here soon enough." She paused. "Maybe we'll catch up with Sean."

"He is just a young boy. How far could he get?"

"From what I heard, he was found by someone Link absolutely hates and it seems he won't fight this person."

"That's good for Sean then. At least he'll be safe for the time being." Reo fell silent for a moment. "Why is Link going to waste his time with a young boy?"

"I don't know," came Lilith's answer, "and I think we shouldn't pry."

"I guess you're right," was the Zora's sighed reply.

They continued the rest of the way in silence and at the top of the stairs, Reo felt Lilith's fingers entwine with his own and she held his hand as they descended the steps.