Chapter 16 - Liberation

Nebulous clouds of vivid colors drifted in the endless sky, obscuring distant stars and floating islands alike. Ethereally peaceful, the mass was only disturbed when the top point of a golden triangle slowly rose through it.

With mists rolling across its gleaming surface, the Triforce halted its ascent after fully emerging within the Sacred Realm. Now afloat in the seeming void, the power binding its pieces together pulsed through the relic with a low hum, and all remained still for only a moment before it emitted a bright flash of light that set it into motion.

At once, the stars streaked across the sky, the clouds vanishing as the Triforce moved at an insurmountable speed. Leaving a golden trail of energy in its wake on a path to the Temple of Light, there was nothing that could stop it.

If a floating island stood in the way, the top triangle would flash red before the relic destroyed it. If the path was confusing, the bottom left lit blue, allowing the pieces to momentarily separate before leading them through at a breakneck pace.

And when numerous obstacles made the journey difficult? The bottom right took over in a green blaze, sending the Triforce spiraling through narrow passages and around massive mountains before emerging from a second nebula overlooking a vast but barren valley.

Standing in the distance upon a cliff was the Temple of Light, and atop it stood the magic pedestal where the sacred relic now approaching it was once laid to rest. With a crystalline composition resembling ice, what now rested on top of that pedestal was no relic, but a living person bound there ten years before.

Myriad.

Encased within a dome of swirling magics she'd reinforced using her own power, her prison appeared as naught but a dot of light at first. But the Triforce moved so swiftly that it quickly became much easier to see the cloaked woman floating within the barrier, her hood covering the upper half of her face.

Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf were all aware in turn, the Triforce hurtling them toward the pedestal with a strength that didn't seem possible—and yet it stopped after reaching its destination as if it hadn't been moving at all.

Just as in times past, the massive relic now loomed above the temple in clear view of the Sage of Light. With its golden triangles gleaming, the Triforce began rotating counterclockwise as if mounted on an axis, moving slowly at first until each third started turning as well, their colors changing from golden to red, blue, and green.

At the same time, a single light began shining at the center of the inverted triangle between them, growing brighter the faster it turned—and Link was well aware of what would happen next.

At long last, his mother was about to be freed of her prison, and all he could do, all Zelda could do, was watch. The Triforce's actions were being fueled by the shared desire to free Myriad, and though their enemy was helping them now, he would soon be hindering them.

At the thought, the light forming at the relic's core grew in strength and intensity as Myriad helplessly waited below. Just as Link and Zelda, she could do nothing to stop the Triforce from freeing her, which it soon did with a powerful burst of energy aimed at the barrier surrounding the Sage of Light.

What once had seemed like unbreakable binds now crumbled to dust in the face of such an undeniable force. One by one, the shackles broke, Myriad's arms and legs freed as the chains shattered. Around her, the barrier faded from sight, collapsing to leave the Sage of Light fully liberated.

At last, the blinding light given off by the unified Triforce ceased, allowing its possessors to view the freed Sage as she motionlessly drifted above the pedestal, meaning one thing.

Their shared wish had been granted.

With its task accomplished, the relic could no longer hold itself together. Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf's conflicting desires would cause it to lose unity, and surely enough, the three pieces began separating once more.

As this happened, Myriad fell to the surface of the pedestal, collapsing against it with bated breath. Somehow, the sensation of freedom seemed strange after spending so long in confinement, and she slowly flexed her fingers as if to test the waters. Finding them in working condition, she pushed her arms against the pedestal beneath her while the echo of the Triforce now separating filled her ears.

Slowly turning down on its side, the relic came to rest nearby and receded, granting a final shared wish—allowing its possessors the return of their own freedom.

As Myriad weakly worked her legs beneath her in an attempt to stand, the Triforce broke apart and shimmered from sight like smoke, leaving its possessors behind. Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf all phased into form upon the surface of what used to be a section of Hyrule Palace's roof, the color of their eyes returning to normal as they were freed from the binds of their common cause.

With Myriad now on her hands and knees before them, her hood obscuring most of her face, Link was the first to respond. No matter his regrets over the course of action he'd been forced to take to free her, there was nothing stopping him from rushing to her side anymore, and so he did.

Dropping to his knees next to her, he almost grabbed her shoulders, but stopped himself at the last moment. She was obviously weakened from her long imprisonment, and so he opted instead to lean one hand against the pedestal and gently place the other against her back, his face a mask of concern.

"Mo … mother?"

Only her mouth and chin were visible, but Myriad didn't respond, not verbally anyway. Instead, as he watched her and wondered if this could be real, the sensation of something brushing over his fingers drew his attention. Looking down at his hand, he realized his mother had covered his fingers with hers, and the simple touch drew a shuddered breath from his lips.

"It's okay," he rasped, reaching over to help her sit back with the words, "I'm here now."

As Link drew Myriad back to cradle her against his side, Zelda watched the scene unfolding with glistening eyes. The sight of her friend finally reunited with his long lost mother was so touching she didn't notice the shadow behind her until it was too late.

Letting a gasp, she felt a barrier abruptly forming around her, tendrils of dark magic winding together to keep her subdued. The sound of her distress drew Link's immediate attention, and he looked up to see Ganondorf with his hand hovering above Zelda's head, his dark power pulsing down over her.

As his barrier formed, he turned a sinister smirk at Link and related, "What a touching reunion. It's honestly a shame it has to end so soon, and quite sad, really. Now that I have two to hang over your head instead of just one, overcoming you will be all too easy."

Link sneered, ready to engage his nemesis in what would be their final fight—but he never got the chance to move. Instead, Myriad's form vanished from his arms in a sparkling light, and neither Link or Ganondorf had any clue where she'd gone.

Of them both, Link was the first to find out, witnessing his mother silently reappearing at the King of Evil's left side. The flash of light her appearance caused drew his attention as well, but it was too late. Just as Ganondorf turned his head, an unseen force of power knocked him across the pedestal and away from Zelda to land with a heavy thud.

As he slid to a stop, Myriad lifted her hand against the barrier of darkness containing the Princess, shattering it with a bright burst of light from her palm.

Instantly, Zelda exhaled and turned to thank Myriad, but the words never came out. Instead, Myriad gently urged her out of the way, evidently intent on facing Ganondorf herself—and she never took a single step.

Link stared between them as this happened, his mother's hooded face leaving them with no way of knowing what she might be thinking as Ganondorf finally worked his way back to his feet.

Turning an irritated but surprised look on Myriad, he suddenly recalled what she'd told him the single time she'd ever responded through the Stones. After relating how she'd surprised him, the Sage of Light had advised him to keep it in mind for future engagements.

She evidently meant it.

Still, he remained undaunted by her trickery, straightening his shoulders as he turned to face her fully and inquired, "You're not going to be difficult now, are you, Myriad? Or do I need to contain you a second time?"

"I was always difficult with your father, Ganondorf, so why should I show you any leniency?" came Myriad's plain response, her voice as clear and strong as Link and Zelda had ever heard it, proving she'd been feigning weakness all along.

She also wasn't done taunting their foe, thoughtfully qualifying, "Then again, Dragmire was much more practiced at getting under my skin whereas you've proven to be nothing more than a spoiled brat, a pale imitation of the original it wouldn't take half as much thought to fool."

At the same time, Link and Zelda turned their gazes from Myriad to Ganondorf to see how he might respond, and if Myriad's words had angered him, it was difficult to say how much. Though his yellow eyes burned, he almost seemed amused, and they could only guess he found the chance to engage her appealing.

Just as Link had the thought, Ganondorf quickly lifted his arm, sending an orb of darkness in his mother's direction to make good on his threat of containing her a second time. Gasping, Link nearly rushed forward to protect her, but stopped after only two steps when Myriad protected herself.

Without the use of a weapon, the Sage lifted her arm against the orb with a bright flash of light sending it back to Ganondorf. With little time to react, the Evil King returned the favor, sneering as he knocked his projectile toward her once again—and each hit had the orb changing colors from light to dark.

It was also getting bigger, and not even Ganondorf understood why. Still, he was fully prepared to continue their engagement, and would have if Myriad's next hit hadn't sent the orb veering to his right.

Believing her aim was off, he smirked as it harmlessly sailed by, parting his lips to berate her for her clumsiness. Yet Myriad quickly vanished from sight before he had the chance only to reappear on the other side of the orb she'd just sent past him.

Looking back, Ganondorf watched as she hit it again, this time knocking it in another direction only to disappear behind it. Once more, she'd teleported to catch the orb before it could go too far, and though it never sailed in Ganondorf's immediate direction, she kept it flying around him, moving faster and faster as the projectile grew in strength and size with each hit.

Such quick movements left him working to keep his gaze on the orb for the moment she decided to send it to him. Yet even Zelda and Link had difficulty keeping up with the Sage of Light's movements—and her ploy was unexpected.

Rather than knocking the orb directly toward Ganondorf at a moment she felt he'd least expect it, her final hit had the projectile flying upwards into the air above him. In turn, she teleported to the same spot, and this time, Myriad allowed the orb to make impact with her body.

But instead of causing her harm, she absorbed it, using herself as a conduit to channel that energy and send it down in a powerful beam where Ganondorf stood.

Impacting him with much more force than the orb alone could've caused, pain as he'd never experienced tore through his body. His agonized wail served as proof, collapsing to his knees while Myriad reappeared at the same point where she'd first stood as if she hadn't moved a muscle.

With their foe writhing in agony, she related, "You wanted my response to the images you showed me of my son strung up in your barbs, and this is it. Pain equivalent to what you caused him, which is the only fitting response I could give you."

Her cold words had a look of shock on Link's face for two reasons. First, he hadn't known Ganondorf sent her images of his torment in Engleton, which was infuriating in itself. Second, and amusingly enough to take the sting out of his anger, he couldn't ignore the fact that for all intents and purposes, his mother had just given the King of Evil a much needed spanking.

And he couldn't be prouder. I always knew I'd enjoy having a mother around.

Sadly, for all of Myriad's skill at using her abilities to their utmost advantage, her power still didn't match up to Ganondorf's—a fact he was now eager to prove.

Pushing himself up with an enraged yell, he faced the Sage of Light while drawing up his arms to gather his dark power. At the same time, his Triforce emblem flashed in the air just as a beam of darkness shot forth in Myriad's direction.

Quickly throwing her own arms forward, light shot forth from her palms to meet the beam, an explosion occurring where the two steady streams of energy made impact halfway between them. As a result, the two opposing forces pushed at each other in a reverse tug of war, Ganondorf working to subdue Myriad while she fought to keep him at bay—a fight she was quickly losing.

Grunting with her effort of holding him off, his beam lengthened anyway, drawing closer by the second—and she wasn't surprised. Despite her power being opposite of Ganondorf's in nature, she alone couldn't stand against the Triforce of Power augmenting his abilities.

And she didn't have to.

Without hesitation, Link rushed forward, throwing himself into the beam of light his mother was projecting. Thanks to the power she'd gifted him with, her blast didn't injure him whatsoever, and he quickly lifted his shield against the edge of Ganondorf's dark beam, pushing against it.

At the same time, Zelda moved behind Myriad and clutched her shoulders, closing her eyes to provide support by adding her strength as the Seventh Sage.

As a result of their support, Myriad finally began gaining ground—and she also switched tactics. Rather than fighting off Ganondorf's power, she empowered her son as Link worked against the darkness where he stood engulfed in the light.

Slowly moving forward, he could feel his mother's power energizing him, providing a type of strength he knew would be beneficial in his fight. At the same time, his clothing and eyes turned white, the Master Sword gleaming brightly in readiness to do battle.

As he worked to draw just a little closer to their enemy, Ganondorf's voice could be heard taunting them.

"It's pointless to fight, Myriad!" Putting as much strength into his blast as he could, he added, "I will have your power inevitably, and I'll use it to destroy you and all you hold dear."

"Not if I have anything to say about it!"

Link's retort came from beyond the edge of Ganondorf's beam just as he swung the Master Sword, deftly drawing it around at an arc in his enemy's direction. Though he wasn't yet close enough to land a blow on Ganondorf with the blade itself, the power he'd built within the weapon was released, traveling out in a wave that converted the dark energy projected by the King of Evil into light.

The result was akin to a misfire, causing an explosion the moment it made impact, and Ganondorf was thrown several meters backwards with a sharp yell of pain.

Landing on his back, he barely had the time to recover as Link rushed from the fading explosion and leaped into the air, the tip of the Master Sword pointing downward at the King of Evil. Still, he managed to roll out of the way at the last second, the crystalline surface of the pedestal rupturing against Link's blow.

Pushing himself up, Ganondorf drew his broadsword and instantly turned, a loud clash of metal sounding as Link issued another attack—and his movements were swifter thanks to his mother's efforts. With his clothing now white, his eyes glowed the same color as he finally engaged Ganondorf in what would be their final fight.

In the meantime, Zelda ensured Myriad was well—and she confirmed she was no worse for the wear—before the sound of the nearby engagement drew their attention. Looking up to spy Link battling Ganondorf, Zelda gasped and attempted to rush ahead in order to provide her support.

Yet a gentle hand landing upon her shoulder caused her to stop and look back to see Myriad's full face visible beneath the edge of her hood. Meeting her gaze with a pair of sapphire eyes identical to Link's, Zelda would've asked what was wrong, but a strange sensation overwhelmed her, one she didn't understand until Myriad spoke.

"No matter what happens, Your Highness, you must allow Link to finish this. Otherwise it will never end, and should he fall now, he'll need a new source of strength only you can provide."

By the time she was finished, recognition dawned on Zelda, who nodded in full understanding of what the Sage wished her to do. The gesture was one Myriad returned with no lack of determination in her eyes, an expression that mirrored Link's so closely it seemed uncanny.

It also provided Zelda a great deal of reassurance knowing she had two companions with such fierce resolve to win their fight—and the sound of swords clashing served as testament to Link's.

Turning around, she watched with Myriad as his blade met Ganondorf's with a vicious spark, and though the Master Sword was consistently glowing with power, his nemesis had enveloped his own weapon in dark tendrils of energy. As a result, he managed to push Link's sword aside, forcing him to step back in order to avoid a swipe to his torso.

Such attacks were relentless, each issuing their blows with as much aggression as the other gave—and there was no lack of enmity. Zelda's heart raced to watch their engagement, her pulse outmatched only by Myriad's, the two Sages unable to ignore the fact that they were witnessing a battle for everything they held dear.

Every blow Link dodged had their hearts threatening to stop beating, each strike he issued making them dizzy with hope. The intensity of emotion resulting from the battle left them completely unaware that their hands were tightly clenched together, neither able to move or even think—until Ganondorf got the upper hand.

Though he was normally slow to move, there were times when he could muster enough speed to throw his opponents off guard, and he used it to his advantage. As Link was turning to deliver a strike of the Master Sword, Ganondorf moved to meet it faster than he expected—and when his blade met Link's, the dark energy he'd gathered sent a shock against the weapon powerful enough to knock it out of Link's grasp.

Flying through the air in a spin, the tip embedded itself between the three triangles marking the broken platform nearby. Furthermore, the shock left Link momentarily stunned, shaking his head to clear it before Ganondorf could take advantage—too late.

Just as he looked up, a fist closed around his throat, his feet leaving the surface of the pedestal as he was lifted into the air. Grunting, he clawed at the fist keeping him aloft in a painful hold as the King of Evil regarded him with malice.

"No!"

Zelda's cry was punctuated by Ganondorf's low chuckle—and everything in her was urging her to intervene, even at the cost of her own life. Yet she hesitated when Myriad released her hand and quietly stepped forward as Ganondorf addressed the Sage of Light.

"Myriad, you know what you have to do if you wish to save him—for now at least. Possibly long enough to say goodbye."

Coming to a stop with the Master Sword resting only a few feet from where she stood, Myriad replied, "Yes, I know what you want, Ganondorf. So release him, and I'll grant what you seek."

With a sinister smirk, Ganondorf regarded the cringe upon her choking son's face and retorted, "No, he's not going anywhere until that power is in my grasp, including the power you gave him at birth."

Hesitating, Myriad seemed to consider her options, yet her body soon began glowing white with the words, "Very well. My power is now yours."

Hearing this, Link struggled even harder, choking out, "Mother … no! Don't … give him … ."

Trailing as the fist clutching his throat tightened to cut off his air supply, Link found himself helpless as Ganondorf's laughter rang out. At the same time, he could feel his power being drained away as Myriad reclaimed what she'd once given him, causing his clothing and eyes to return to normal while the power his mother was about to grant their enemy culminated in the air above her.

Pulsing as it grew brighter, a sudden burst of light erupted from the sky moments before the energy slammed into Ganondorf, wiring over his body in a turbulent display. As a result, he dropped Link and stumbled several steps away, overwhelmed as the newly gained source of power began mingling with that which he already possessed.

By then, Link felt as if he might lose consciousness, hitting the surface of the pedestal with a sharp inhalation followed by a harsh cough. Struggling to breathe and work his way up at the same time, he quickly found his mother and Zelda by his side to offer help just as Ganondorf's laughter rang out.

The menacing sound drew the gazes of all three, a low whir of energy accompanying it as the King of Evil suddenly disappeared from sight. Still, his laughter continued to echo out around them just as the starry sky overhead turned dark with clouds emitting a low rumble of thunder.

Lightning forked just above, the winds picking up as a tremor passed through the pedestal from a quake far below. The cause of that quake was quick to reveal itself in the form of numerous spires made of jagged rock rising up from the ground to tower over the Temple of Light.

Still working to catch his breath, Link rasped, "What's happening?"

Punctuating his question was a loud explosion as the largest spire of all rose up behind the temple. With a peak that breached the dark clouds above, a continual vortex of turbulent winds carrying rocky debris rose up in a spiral around it.

As the three Hylians stared up at the shrouded top from so far below, Myriad answered her son's question.

"Ganondorf doesn't possess an assembled Triforce, but the power of this realm is enough to allow him to reshape it to suit his whims, meaning soon, this once sacred land will be transformed into a world of darkness."

During her explanation, Link finally managed to stand and turned his head back, eyes focused on the spire with fists clenching in the knowledge that the time had come. He either defeated Ganondorf now, or all would be lost.

And it wasn't going to be easy without the power his mother had granted him.

Yet, as if she'd read his thoughts on the matter, Myriad next related, "This will be your final confrontation with Ganondorf, and Princess Zelda has something for you that will make things a little less difficult."

Hearing this, Link looked back at Zelda just as she placed her hand upon his arm—and he didn't have to ask to know what she was doing. Instead, he could feel the same energy he'd lost being returned to him, and the only question was how she'd managed to provide it.

It was a question Zelda answered by stating as she empowered him, "Your mother gifted me with some of her power while you were fighting, and I can only assume it's the same amount she provided you from the start."

Threading her fingers together before her chest, Myriad qualified, "Just a bit more, actually. Enough to keep you safe from Ganondorf's own portion, but not enough to alert him that he's missing anything, at least until you should decide to use it against him."

Unable to help himself, Link smirked and asked his mother, "Tricking our enemies again?"

"Well," Myriad drew out with a sheepish smile, qualifying simply, "if it works."

The words transformed Link's smirk into a grin, and despite the dire situation, he found it hard to look away from his mother and put his focus on the tasks at hand rather than give her a long awaited hug. Though most of her face was obscured by her hood, her eyes were visible, and he could see the same emotion within them that he was feeling—pride, joyful sorrow, and a great deal of love.

Sadly, the situation wouldn't be ignored, and what came next caused them to forget all about a reunion.

With a violent rumble of thunder, lightning struck down all around them, igniting the distant valley. In turn, more rock spires began rising, proving things were only getting worse, and as Link had the thought, the clouds above them opened up with a large mass of dark magic swiftly flying down upon them.

And it fully engulfed Zelda.

The blast was enough to knock Link and Myriad backwards, both working to recover as quickly as possible if only to find out what had become of the Princess—and she was thankfully still there. Yet the energy that had engulfed her was now solidifying around her body, tendrils of dark magic binding together to form an object Link found all too familiar.

A dark orb.

"Zelda!"

Rushing toward her with Ganondorf's laughter punctuating his urgent call, Link planted his palms against the orb, able to see Zelda's shocked face through the glassy surface. Yet she was fading from sight within a swirling cloud of darkness, and as it encompassed her image, Ganondorf's voice rang out.

"Just as Dragmire harnessed the Sage Essences from the temples, I'll regain them from the Seventh Sage, then keep her in captivity for the Triforce she wields after I've destroyed you, Hero of Legend."

Realizing Ganondorf intended to slowly drain Zelda's power as a Sage, Link balled his fist and repeatedly threw it into the surface of the orb, hoping his gauntlets might have some effect on breaking it. Still, deep down he knew it would take more than physical force to undo what Ganondorf had done, watching helplessly as the orb floated off of the ground and up to the shrouded peak of the largest spire, vanishing into the clouds.

Sneering up at them, he asked his mother, "Do you think that orb will break once Ganondorf is defeated?"

With no lack of confidence in her voice, Myriad responded, "I'm certain of it."

"Good," he returned, looking over to see the Master Sword still jutting from the platform in wait for him to take it up once more.

Doing so without hesitation, Link freed it with ease and qualified, "I have a hookshot, but I'm not sure how well climbing would work with that vortex swirling around the spire."

"Climbing?" Myriad inquired, then scoffed. "I've never needed to climb anywhere in this realm, and you won't need to do so either." With that said, she took her son's hand and instructed, "This way," before leading him to the opposing side of the pedestal.

At the edge, she stopped and released his hand to lift her own. Link wasn't certain why, but a light flashed in her palms and, without warning, one of the larger floating islands in the distance began moving toward them—and it didn't lack speed.

Within a few seconds, the island's edge came to an abrupt stop next to the pedestal, leaving but a small gap of space between them that would be easily crossed with a single step. It was questionable how Myriad had learned to control the floating objects in such a manner, but she'd spent the better part of two decades in the Sacred Realm, and Link wasn't going to question it now.

Instead, he immediately stepped onto the island and turned to face the rock spire where Ganondorf waited with Zelda. He also expected to see his mother joining him, but instead, Myriad remained upon the pedestal.

Giving her a questioning look, he parted his lips to inquire over whether she was coming, but Myriad spoke first, answering his unasked question.

"I can direct this island through the vortex and into the clouds from here, and it's best if I remain upon the pedestal in the meantime. I'd only be a distraction otherwise.

Exhaling a sigh, Link asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

As he spoke, the island began rising, and Myriad gifted him with a warm smile, reassuring, "I'll be fine, and no matter what happens, you mustn't worry for me, Link. Instead, focus on this last piece of simple advice for overcoming our enemy."

Remaining at the edge of the island as it raised ever higher, Link gazed down at his mother's shrinking visage and asked, "What's that?"

Calling above the din of the winds, Myriad's response came with no lack of conviction in her voice.

"Show him no mercy."

As her words echoed out, Link found a brief smile, knowing it wouldn't be necessary to even try heeding her advice. He had absolutely no plans to show Ganondorf lenience, turning his gaze up at the towering spire now drawing closer with no fear, and only one regret—not having the type of reunion with his mother he would've preferred.

Yet, by doing exactly as she'd instructed, he would soon have the chance to hug her and relate how happy he was to finally know her in person. Until then, he'd stop at nothing to free Zelda and put an end to Ganondorf's dark reign once and for all.

Below, Myriad watched the island carrying her son away for what would be the last time. With the Goddesses' blessing, she'd never have to let him go again, tears filling her eyes at the thought of what was now upon them as the island finally vanished into the clouds.

"Din, Nayru, Farore, please … ," she entreated, trailing with a shaky exhale of breath before continuing, "please smile on us now, and show her the way."