"Getting ready for the final push is all." Rickard Gavan said with a smirk as he walked through the entrance to Arbiter's Grounds Prison, the guards following close behind.
"I see, just need to bolster the ranks a bit?" one Guard asked.
"We need to ensure victory, we're at a crucial point in the formation of the Imperium right now, so we can't afford to lose." the Nobleman answered.
"Right, right, anyone in particular?" the Guard replied.
"All of them." Rickard answered.
"All?" the Guard repeated.
"Funny, I don't remember hearing an echo in here until just this second." Rickard retorted.
"I...I was just making sure...you want to release all of the Prisoners?" the guard asked.
"Yes indeed." the Nobleman said.
"For what purpose?" the Guard asked.
"Lord Halland of the Snowpeak Province has managed to build quite the resistance...and we've been spread pretty thin with our forces keeping an eye on Holodrum, Labrynna and Hyrule while fighting to take Termina, so we can't afford to divert anyone to that frozen wasteland to take care of the problem for us, understand?!" Rickard asked.
"Yes, yes! Of Course! We'll begin releasing them immediately." the Guard replied.
"Value the fact you still have your job! During the reorganizing a lot of people slipped through the cracks!" Rickard shouted as the man quickly walked away.
oOo
The battlefield went so quiet that for a moment one could hear a sword drop from far away...that was before all hell broke loose.
Thrakon and Ginthorne looked around as thick black clouds rolled in, blocking the entire sky as far as they could see, crimson bolts of lightning striking their forces while flaming meteors pierced through the cloud cover onto the Allied Forces below.
"You killed a Blood Knight, an astounding feat." Ganondorf said as he strode forward, hands clasped behind his back.
Thrakon and Ginthorne wasted no time in attacking, both charging forward.
Admiral Ginthorne roared as he brought his sword up, performing a downward slash, Ganondorf side-stepping it and telekinetically tossing Ginthorne away with a tilt of his head.
Thrakon flipped his sword upside down in his hand and tossed it at Ganondorf point first.
"A pitiful attempt." Ganondorf said, catching the blade with his bare hand and shattering it in his grip.
"I didn't need it for you!" Thrakon yelled, running forward and throwing a hook at Ganondorf, the Gerudo man easily dodging it before raising a hand and shooting a blast of dark energy into the Mercenary's chest. Thrakon immediately leapt back to his feet, eliciting a quirk of an eyebrow from Ganondorf.
"Fascinating, that should killed you." he said.
Suddenly Admiral Ginthorne charged in, wrapping both arms around Ganondorf. "I've got him!" Ginthorne yelled.
Thrakon darted forward, striking Ganondorf square in the face with such intensity the ground underneath them shook. Ginthorne being knocked away. The Former Mercenary threw numerous hooks and jabs, each making their mark before raising his leg and kicking Ganondorf into a contingent of his Soldiers nearby. He ran over to where Ganondorf lye, raising his fist and bringing it down towards Ganondorf's face.
The Demon King raised his arm and caught Thrakon's fist, levitating back to his feet. "You're strength is astounding, you must be Great Fairy's child I've heard so much about." he stated.
Thrakon roared as he threw another punch, clenching his teeth as Ganondorf intercepted it too. "My parentage is of no business to you." he snarled.
"In a former life you may have been able to harm me, but I am far beyond you, regardless of your heritage." Ganondorf said before shooting a blast of flame from his mouth before releasing the Mercenary.
Thrakon cried out as he flew backwards and hit the ground, a large burn mark on his chest plate.
Ganondorf walked after him, his smirk turning to an unamused frown as a large rock collided with his head.
"Take this!" Ginthorne yelled as Ganondorf turned, the Admiral grinning as his sword struck Ganondorf in the chest, his smile disappearing as it only managed to dent his armor.
"You're even more insignificant than him." Ganondorf said, nodding towards Thrakon.
Ginthorne responded with a roar as he raised his blade, bringing it down on Ganondorf's head.
"Enough!" the Demon King shouted, a lightning blast from his horns striking and traveling down the blade.
Ginthorne fell to one knee as the electricity coursed through him, struggling to stay upright.
Thrakon looked on as the battle waged around him, growing more one-sided by the minute as Ganondorf's storm took out more and more of their forces. The former Mercenary charged at the Demon King, making it almost within arm's reach before the stone beneath his feet turned to liquid, Thrakon sinking into it before it solidified. He attempted to break out, pulling one foot free before Ganondorf turned towards him, extending a fist in his direction, a blast of pure kinetic energy striking Thrakon and throwing him onto his back.
Ginthorne took advantage of the situation, grabbing Ganondorf by the leg as he stood, picking up the Demon King and tossing him a few meters away. "Tell me insignificant I am again." the Admiral said with a smile.
"Extremely." Ganondorf said as he teleported behind him.
"Huh?!" Ginthorne exclaimed, not having the chance to turn before Ganondorf placed a palm on his back, shooting an energy blast straight through him.
"Ginthorne!" Thrakon yelled as the Admiral looked down at the hole in his chest before falling over. The former Mercenary cried out as a green aura built around him. Suddenly he shot at Ganondorf, the Demon King attempting to hit him with a blasts of flame and energy, Thrakon blowing through them and punching Ganondorf in the jaw, Ganondorf stumbling back before Thrakon kicked him away.
Ganon growled as he raced back at Thrakon, dodging a jab before delivering a kick to his ribs and a left hook to the chest. The former Mercenary avoided another kick from Ganon before leaning in and elbowing him in the sternum.
"This isn't possible." Ganondorf growled as Thrakon shot two streams of green energy from his hands. The Demon King fought against them as they lifted in in to the air, Thrakon leaping over to him and bringing both hands down on his midsection, smashing him into the ground.
"I don't care what you are! I'm done holding back!" Ganondorf called out, a crimson aura exploding out from behind him and enveloping his body as the Anteforce glowed brightly on his chest, the Triforce of Power in the middle.
Thrakon charged Ganondorf again, the Demon King teleporting directly in front of him and clasping a hand over his throat as he lifted him into the air. "You're just a man, a man with the blood of a Great Fairy and access to some of her power...that may give you resistance to my attacks, but how durable can you actually be?"
The former Mercenary pounded his fists down on Ganondorf's forearm, the Demon King channeling a jolt of electricity into his body before tossing him to the side. Ganon raced over to meet him, kicking Thrakon up into the air, teleporting above him and pounding him back towards the ground, reappearing below him and driving a knee into his stomach before grabbing him by his head and slinging a jab into his chest.
Thrakon hit the ground hard, barely being able to stagger to his feet, his eyes went wide as Ganondorf came back at him. Thrakon channeled his energy, raising an arm to defend himself. Ganondorf grabbed Thrakon's arm, tugging him forward and clamping a hand over his mouth.
"Don't try to repel me, boy, you have the blood of one Deity, I have the Power of Three." he growled before lifting Thrakon up over his head and smashing him into the ground below.
Ganondorf tensed as multiple arrows bounced off of him, turning to find a group of Soldiers running at him with swords drawn. "Begone!" he yelled as he extended an index finger and raised his arm and making a sweeping motion to the right, a wave of energy erupting from the ground, blasting the Soldiers away.
Thrakon turned away, reaching into his pocket and tossing a ball of his energy into the sky, the sphere bursting in a green flash.
oOo
"Sir! We just saw it! The signal you told us about!" an Archer called.
Ceryn ran from his position atop the wall and grabbed his pack, withdrawing an Ocarina and handwritten note from the Hero. "Hopefully I can still remember how to play one of these." he said before lifting the instrument to his mouth and setting the note from the Hero in front of him, a song transcribed onto it.
oOo
Thrakon staggered to his feet, tilting his head of to find Ganondorf directly in front of him, the Demon King grinning at him as he extended an arm, grasping him by the throat.
"I hope that you have realized how futile your fight has been, friend of the Hero." Ganondorf said.
With a sudden burst of wind, four bellows could be heard from the Swamps, the Mountains, the Ocean and Ikana Canyon, all fighting ceasing on the battle field, even Ganondorf's meteors and lightning ceasing.
"You've summoned the Gods of this land." Ganondorf growled. "So be it then, a fine test of my power this will be." he said. With one swift motion, Ganondorf tossed Thrakon away, splaying his fingers and hitting him dead center in the chest with a bolt of crimson electricity, the Former Mercenary falling to the ground motionless.
"Come if you're coming!" Ganondorf called out as he levitated into the sky, whirling around as the bellows grew near, the four Giants seemingly appearing from thin air around Clock Town.
"Demise, leave this land at once and you may be spared." they all called out in unison.
"You would just have me go back to Hyrule, have you no regard for what happens to the people there?" Ganon taunted.
"The Golden Goddesses protect Hyrule." they Giants answered.
"I've already killed one, the other two fled, the Hero and the Princess with them, surely you must know this." the Demon King said with a laugh.
The Giants shared concerned glances before converging on Ganondorf. "I have killed a Celestial Goddess and you four Primordial Gods think you're a match for me? What a farce!" Ganondorf said before racing at the nearest giant.
An enormous fist met him halfway, tossing him backwards, Ganondorf recovered in time to be swatted out of the sky by another hand. The Demon King roared in rage as he crashed into the ground, looking up to find a foot coming down onto him.
"I will not be made a fool of!" he called out as he shot a bolt of lightning into the giant, the colossal being crying out as Ganon teleported in front of it and slammed a dark energy infused fist into it's forehead, the behemoth falling to the ground.
The other three giants came in after him, Ganondorf teleporting out of the of two punches only to be grasped from behind by another. The Giant tensed it's grip, Ganondorf clenching his teeth as he felt his body being crushed. The Demon King turned his head as the Giant leveled it's hand with it.
"Try to behead me, will you?" he hissed.
The Giant's eyes went wide as an eye appeared between Ganondorf's horns, the Eye of Majora. Ganon tilted his head forward, a beam of energy shooting out of the eye and hitting the Giant in the center of the head
The Demon King reached a hand back as another of the Giants attempted to knock him out of the air, Ganondorf catching the massive fist with one hand. "You've gotten too ahead of yourselves...now you will pay the price." Ganondorf said with a grin before extending two of Majora's whips from his arms.
The Swamp Giant and the Ocean Giant both came at Ganon, fists raised only for the Demon King to extend both whips, wrapping them around the giants and binding them in place. The Canyon giant rose to it's feet, sprinting towards Ganondorf, the Demon King grinning as one of Mahlik's arms emerged from his chest, holding his Scythe aloft and driving it into the giant, causing it to cry out in pain as Ganon held it in place.
"Don't worry! I haven't forgotten about you!" Ganondorf called as the Mountain Giant stared at him. Ganondorf spun around quickly, tossing the three Giants at the remaining one, all four toppling to the ground before forcing themselves back to their feet. "I am not only the union of three Celestial Demon Gods, but I am the holder of the Anteforce and the Triforce of Power...and soon the entire Triforce." he growled as he raised his arms, the clouds swirling over the giants, red bolts of electricity striking the Giants, the Guardians of Termina attempting to fight their way out of it. "As Majora is part of me, I know the spell he used to imprison you, and this time you will not escape." Ganondorf said as chasms opened under the Giants, the Gods of Termina crying out as they fell in, the ground closing up around them.
"Now, time to end this." Ganondorf said as he extended both arms, the glowing image of the Anteforce with the Triforce of Power in the center appearing over Clock Town, casting a blood red glow over the entire field. "I gave you a chance to be spared, live out the remainder of your days until I destroyed this world, but you let your pride get the better of you." Ganondorf said before clenching his fists.
Inside Clock Town Ceryn looked up, the Guards and Soldiers around him attempting to run.
"Damn." he whispered as the blast of energy struck the City, erasing it completely and leaving a flaming crater where it once stood.
oOo
The group looked around in wonder as they strode through the rose gardens, full of statues of fairies and surrounded by ornate metal fencing.
"This is quite impressive." Zelda said as she set her eyes on the Temple, a dome resting atop series of asymmetrical and uneven halls, two other wings of the building going off to both sides and around the back.
"The Temple of Souls, my home and the last great thing my people ever built." Cia answered.
"Before Majora?" Link asked.
"Before the war with the Garo." the Happy Mask Salesman chimed in.
"Well, the war was instigated by Majora, so you're both right." Cia said.
Vashara leaned towards Ralo, nudging him in the side. "Think we can trust her?" she asked.
"We'll have to see." Ralo said, Marin sighing behind them.
"Fret not, there's no suspicion cast on us." the False Farore said quietly, placing a hand on Marin's shoulder before walking ahead with a devious grin.
"Before we go on." Cia began, stopping the group before the doors. "I'd just like to say that the western wing is off limits, it's in a state of...disrepair, aside from that, it's an honor to host all of you, Din and Farore especially." she said before placing her hand on to the doors, causing them to open by themselves.
"You flatter us." Farore replied.
"You're sure Ganondorf won't find us here?" Din asked.
"The Temple of Souls is technically part of Termina, but it's in a constant state of temporal flux, you never know 'when' it's going to be...unless you're me...or my son." Cia said, gesturing towards Erris, the Prince giving a begrudging wave as the group turned towards him.
"Looks, interesting." Link remarked as they made their way inside, the East wing looking regal and well maintained, the west dark, the walls black and filled with enormous holes, a swirling violet energy being visible through them.
"Don't get too close to those gaps in the walls, if you fall in you may end up on the other side of the house...or you may just fall between dimensions, in which case retrieving you would really be a hassle." the Sorceress explained.
"Noted." Edward, stepping closer to the center of the room.
"Down to business, though, you all know why we're here." Cia said.
"To resurrect Nayru." Din said forcefully.
"The process will take time, and we'll need Hylia's essence too." Farore said, glancing at Zelda.
"I'll do whatever I can." Zelda replied.
"I'm coming too." Link said. "I hold the Triforce of Courage, it could help." he said.
"Very well, let's get going. The sooner the better." Din replied, turning towards Cia.
"The rest of you can feel free to stay here or get situated elsewhere." the Sorceress said before teleporting away with Din, Farore, Zelda and Link.
Elgon turned towards the Happy Mask Salesman, looking him up and down. "You look like you haven't aged a day." he said.
"Gaepora my friend, you have gotten quite old." Abin joked.
"I always liked your sense of humor...except for when it was turned on me." Elgon said with a grin.
"It looks like we've both failed at our God-given duties." Abin said, dropping his overly joyous persona.
"I try not to think about that." Elgon answered.
"To revisit your losses and find the victories within is the only way to move passed what's happened." Abin answered.
"That's something I'd never imagine hearing from you...but you're meaning is not lost on me...even though I lost my role as Hero after Hylia's death, I gained the title of Light Sage and was given gift of being Hylia's father when she was reborn as Zelda." Elgon said, looking at where the Princess formerly stood.
"You seem, discontented." Abin stated.
"I always assumed we'd be closer, I know she's been reborn many times, but I was the first father she had, yet we barely ever speak, the most active our relationship has been was during the age when Link was the Hero of Time, and that was only because we needed to coordinate our efforts so I could prepare the Sages when it was time to seal Ganondorf away." Elgon said.
"The Princess has family in her current lives she needs to focus on." Abin said, gesturing towards Daltus and Audrik. "Besides, who do you think makes sure you're a Sage and someone Zelda can work closely with in all of her incarnations."
"You think Zelda is responsible for that?" Elgon asked.
"I know it, I see a great many things." Abin replied.
Elgon smiled slightly, closing his eyes and tilting his head forward, recalling his days raising Zelda in Skyloft. "You always know what to say, Abin."
"I should, I've given much thought about what I'd say to you if we were to meet again." Abin answered.
"As good as it is to see you again, we do have to talk about Majora." Elgon said.
"After the Hero defeated him, he was trapped in the Dark World, but Ganondorf somehow summoned him." Abin answered.
"I know that much, he used me as Majora's host body until he was ready to merge with him." Elgon said.
"My apologies, no matter how many, will not suffice." Abin said. "Majora has hurt and killed many people, destroying even more lives in the process, all because I couldn't hold onto his mask." Abin said.
"If what the old stories say are true, it was stolen from you, was it not?" Elgon asked.
"Yes, but the Mask should have been useless, Majora dormant inside of it." Abin answered.
"...Why wasn't it?" Elgon asked.
"After spending years alone in the wastes of what once was such a densely populated land, madness started to take hold. I found myself losing my grip on reality to the point that I knew that if I needed someone to talk to..." Abin trailed off.
"You could talk to Majora." Elgon replied.
"I ventured into the Mask, awoke Majora and began speaking to him, it began innocently, with him asking me who I was and where we were, soon enough he'd built a a small world for us to converse, a grassy meadow with the sun shining over head, a single tree under which we'd speak to each other." Abin explained.
"And you found his true form easy to talk to?" Elgon said.
"No...he appeared to me as a young boy...to be more precise, a younger version of myself to make me feel comfortable." Abin said. "What a fool I was."
"He created a beautiful landscape in order to lure you in." Elgon stated.
Abin nodded in response. "He created four more young versions of myself to interact with...sometimes I thought I had genuinely befriended one of the most powerful Demons in creation, but he was using my mental state against me, trying to make me trust him so I'd let him into my mind. I remember when he tried to make his move, the other versions of me revealed their true faces, monstrous beasts they were." Abin explained.
"The boss monster's Link faced in Termina, I assume." Elgon responded.
"That they were, they were easily able to surround me, Majora now looking as if he were wearing the Mask the Fierce Deity trapped him in. I remember how he slowly marched towards me, calling me a fool and saying he was going to take my body and return to the world once again."
"Excuse my...difficulty." Elgon began. "But if this is true, how is it we're speaking right now, how is it Majora didn't possess you right then and there?"
"I utilized a spell that forcibly drew my spirit back to my body, it's kind of a...reverse exorcism, if you will, but after that I hid the Mask away in a separate section of my pack, Majora pretending to go dormant until the Skull Kid stole his mask in the Lost Woods all of those centuries ago." Abin answered.
"One thing I've learned is that, no matter the case, Demons always find a way to come back, this isn't your fault, Majora would have freed himself regardless." Elgon said.
"I know, but I can't help but wonder if we'd be in the situation we're in right now if I hadn't done that." Abin responded.
"More than likely, Ganondorf has been planning this for a very long time, it was going to happen no matter what." Elgon said with a grimace.
"One thing is for sure, when all of you confront Ganondorf, I will be there with the Mask, ready to reseal my 'old friend'." Abin said, a determined look taking over his features.
oOo
Naora and Kyra watched as Saria did her best to get the Kokiri settled into a large room in the Southern wing of the Temple of Souls.
"I know it's not like home, but, this will have to do for now." Saria said.
"What do you think is happening to the other Zoras?" Kyra asked.
"They're probably doing just fine." Naora said with a grin, trying to protect the young Zora girl from the truth.
"What about your people?" Kyra asked.
"They're fine right now, you just saw them, didn't you?" the Gerudo woman asked.
"I mean the ones that are here...and your mother." Kyra said.
"They don't have anything to complain about, being here is safer than being out there...and my mother...as long as her physical health stays the same she'll have a decent amount of time ahead of her." Naora explained.
"I'm sorry, Naora." Kyra said, gripping the older woman's hand. "I wish I could see my mother again."
"You will, I'll take you back to her someday, I promise." Naora said, the image of Shilara shoving a hand through Laorik's chest flashing through her head.
"How are you two doing?" Saria asked as she exited the room, looking visibly fatigued.
"By the looks of it, better than you." Naora said.
Saria sighed, looking back into the chamber. "They've never left Kokiri Forest before, so you can imagine how terrified they are...plus, they're just children, they always have been and will always be children...if we can get back to Kokiri Forest that is." Saria said.
"Are you mad at them?" Kyra asked.
"No...not mad...just...worn out." Saria began. "I've left Kokiri Forest many times, sometimes because I was a Sage, others because we needed supplies from the outside world, so I matured, mentally and physically." Saria said, glancing at her reflection in a window, instead of the childlike form she was in during the Age of the Hero of Time, she now resembled a young teenager around the age of fourteen. "I do so much for them, I've given up my youth for their wellbeing and yet it seems like they don't care."
"They just keep asking you for more, right?" Naora asked.
"Yes, there's that and then there's the fact that because they're eternally children, their minds never seem to mature, their always preoccupied with playing games and they're scared of everything, sometimes I think it would be best if we ventured out into the world, aged together and just joined the Hylians." Saria said, her optimistic attitude failing her.
"At the moment at least, they have good reason to be scared." Naora commented.
"I know, but it's always like this. At least when we appeared the same age they looked to me as a leader, but now that I appear older than them it seems they view me as a mother." Saria said before drawing in long sigh. "Don't misconstrue my words, I do love my brothers and sisters, but this exodus from our home has been extremely taxing for all of us, especially since we don't know if the Great Deku Tree is even still alive."
"You should sleep, I can watch out and take care of any issues that may occur while you do so." Naora said.
"You'd do that for me?" Saria asked.
"Of course." Naora said with a nod.
"Saria walked into the room and took a place on the floor, finally finding rest for the first time in weeks.
oOo
Princess Kayala sat near the door to the room she had taken for herself, done fretting about her dress, she just stared at the wall in front of her, the past few months she had experienced things she would have never imagined, ranging from an attack by a Hylian Knight to a Demon attacking and taking over the city she had found refuge in when Gamelon had been taken.
"You want to go home, don't you?" a voice asked.
Princess Kayala whirled around to find Erris standing behind her, the Prince raising an eyebrow as she stood up opposite him.
"Stay away from me." she said, taking a step back.
"Listen, I know we got off on the wrong foot." Erris began.
"And by that you mean attacking the Summer Festival, ordering the invasion of my country and trapping me in this nightmare?" she hissed.
"To be fair, Ganondorf ordered the taking of Gamelon, I just lent him my forces...and Volga." the Prince said.
"Everyone seems to forgive you because you're a Sage and whatnot...but not me." the Gamelonian Princess said.
"Just listen to me, I want to repent for what I've done, that's why I helped take back your country and that's why I'm here." Erris argued.
"You're here because that Demon everyone's so afraid of turned on you." Kayala said.
"Well yes, there is that, but that's not the primary reason." Erris answered.
"Just get to the point! What do you want from me?" The Princess asked.
"It's like I said, I want to make up for the things I've done...would you like to go home?" the Labrynnian Prince asked.
Kayala looked around before hesitantly locking eyes with the Prince. "More than anything." she answered.
"Then let me take you back." Erris said, extending his arm towards the wall and flexing his hand, a small violet portal opening in front of the wall.
"You can do this on your own, now?" the Princess asked.
"I could before, but controlling it was difficult...this place amplifies my abilities and helps me control them." Erris answered as he focused on the mental image of Gamelon, the Castle appearing on the other side.
"Home." Kayala breathed as she stood up.
"After you." Erris said.
"Thank you." Princess Kayala said softly, carefully walking through the portal, Erris following behind her.
Emerging on the other side, the two found themselves on the sunlit shores of Princess Kayala's homeland, the Castle of Gamelon a short ways away.
"This place looks different when there aren't armies crowded around it." the Prince commented.
Princess Kayala didn't take notice of his statement as she ran ahead, dashing through the sand towards her home.
"Hey...wait!" Erris called as he ran after her.
As the two came close to the Castle's grounds, two arrows flew passed Kayala, embedding themselves in the ground right in front of Erris.
"Oh what is this now?" he groaned.
"Stop right there! You've gone far enough." an archer called from atop the Castle's wall.
"But...it's me, Princess Kayala!" the Princess shouted.
The Castle's front doors opened slowly, a familiar face greeting the two.
"I know you are." Sir Gabriel said with a grin.
"Sir Gabriel!" the Princess exclaimed, running forward and embracing the man.
"It's good to have you back, Princess, we feared the worst." Gabriel explained.
"Escaping Hyrule wasn't easy." Kayala said with a slight grin.
"You'll have to tell us all about it." Sir Gabriel replied.
"AHEM!" Erris growled, eyes locked on Gabriel. "Can I safely move now without the threat of having an arrow shot at me?"
"You mean for us to let you go after you were caught pursuing the Princess?" the Knight accused.
"Gabriel, no, it's not like that, I'm only here because of him." Kayala said.
"Yeah, I'm on your side now, remember? We fought together right over there." Erris said, nodding his head towards the east side of the Castle.
"Very well." Gabriel said, turning to the archers. "At ease!" he called, the archers relaxing. "What news from Hyrule do you bring?"
"Ganondorf is in charge now, in case you haven't heard." Erris said, stepping around the arrows at his feet.
"Forgive me if I don't understand, how did you lose with the armies of Hyrule, Termina and all able-bodied warriors from both lands behind you?" Sir Gabriel asked. "Surely losing Gamelon's forces couldn't have set you back that badly."
"Our Demonic friend has a few new abilities, such as raising the dead and making an army out of them." the Prince answered, noticing the look of unease on Gabriel's face at this statement.
"The White Armored Soldiers that he put under his control, did they play a part in the battle?" Gabriel asked.
"Of course, it was easy to tell they were viewed as more expendable by the others, why do you ask?" Erris replied.
"When Ganondorf took their homeland not all of them were there, Merchants and Naval Vessels were away while this happened, so they escaped the fate the others of their kind were subjected to." Sir Gabriel explained.
"And you know this how?" Erris questioned.
"Because they're here...and they want to help you."
oOo
"I never thought this could happen." Din said as she looked upon Nayru's body, the Cerulean-haired Goddess lying on the table before them, her skin having turned pale.
"She only got to live among us for a split second, I wish I could have saved her." Zelda replied.
"We can bring her back, can't we?" Link asked, looking down at the sigil Cia had placed on the floor, Din and Farore standing in two circles on one side while Link and Zelda stood in two circles on the other.
"I may be the Queen of the Dead, but my knowledge only pertains to the spirits of mortals." Cia said as she glanced at Nayru's body.
"You haven't said much." Din said as she turned to Farore, the other Goddess looking at her warily.
"I'm just grieving over the loss of our Sister, I've always been the most caring of the four of us." Farore answered.
"The four?" Cia asked.
"I'm counting our little Sister Hylia of course." Farore said, smiling at Zelda.
"It's best we get this started, I don't know how much longer I can preserve her body." Cia said.
"Very well, let's begin." Zelda replied.
Din and Farore crossed their arms and placed both hands over one another, their respective auras of green and red flaring around them.
Zelda raised her hand, balling it into a fist and placing her other hand over her wrist, Link doing the same, their parts of the Triforce glowing brilliantly as their Golden auras rose around them.
Cia recited an incantation before bringing the tip of her staff down on the Sigil's edge, the circle glowing brightly, the essences of the two Goddesses and the energy from Link and Zelda's respective parts of the Triforce being drawn into the middle where Nayru lye.
"It's working." Link observed as Nayru began to levitate, her eyes opening as her fingers began to twitch.
Suddenly she arched her back, letting out a cry of pain before falling back onto the slab beneath her.
"Wait, something's gone wrong!" Zelda called out.
Nayru lay on the table, her body seizing as she began to cough a black liquid from her mouth, the same material streaming from her eyes as they turned black.
"What the hell is going on?! Make this stop!" Din shouted at Cia.
"I...I can't move." Cia said, finding herself locked in place.
"Me either...what is this?" Link growled as he fought against whatever it was that held him.
"If you can't stop it, what makes you think she can?" Farore said as she turned away from Din.
"...Sister?" Din breathed.
"I am your Sister, just not the one you think I am." Farore said as she turned toward the group in the room, her eyes turning a deep black.
"Farore, what's happened to you?" Zelda asked.
"That's not Farore." Din said, feeling terror rise inside of her.
"It's Farore's body, but I am definitely not the 'Emerald Goddess of Courage'." the false Farore said with a laugh.
"The Great Darkness." Cia growled.
"Impressive, I didn't know anyone knew of my existence." Farore said, turning to Cia. "Or did my dear sister tell you of me?"
"Whatever you are, I suggest you leave Farore's body before I force you out." Link hissed.
"Ah, the Fierce Deity's mortal form...you were a threat back then but you're just plain annoying now. I've got something else in store for you, goodbye!" Farore said, teleporting Link away with a snap of her fingers. "Too bad I can't kill him myself, he fact he carries Farore's part of the Triforce prevents this body from being able to kill him...blood magic and such, shoul've cut the link between this body and that thing like you did with Ganondorf and yor part of the Triforce." Farore said, turning towards Din.
"Link!" Zelda cried out. "What have you done with him?!"
"Don't worry, he's safe for now." Farore answered.
"How are you here?" Din growled.
"When Demise conducted the ritual to bring you down here, the inclusion of the Anteforce corrupted it just enough to bring me along too...of course I'm not well versed in constructing a body for myself, so I had to borrow one." Farore said.
Din struggled against the false Farore's hold, the ground shaking with her efforts. "I should have destroyed you when I had the chance."
"How deluded you are...you never had the chance, that's why you imprisoned me...because you knew you couldn't kill me." the possessed Farore taunted. "Do you remember me, little Sister?" she said as she walked over to Zelda placing a hand on her face.
"Should I?" Zelda said, shoving Farore's hand away with a swift shake of her head.
"I see, you lost your memories of your time as Hylia...how tragic." Farore said. "You know, they might refer to me as the Great Darkness, or some kind of infection that ate away at the light you and our sisters were created from, but in actuality, I was the first creation of this universe, the first living being!" she exclaimed. "When the Sacred Light cast me off and tried to destroy me I came to be, so I could defend myself against you."
"You were trying to take over the Sacred Light, you wanted the universe to plunged into darkness." Din retorted.
"Do you remember when you I took a form to mimic yours?" the false Farore asked, teleporting over to Din and grasping her throat. "Do you remember my name?"
"You had no name." Din replied.
"My name is Semira, and now that I have returned I will plunge this universe into true darkness." Semira responded.
"Even if we can't stop you, Ganondorf will stand against you." Zelda said.
"Look at you...is that a threat? Or is my dearest little Sister trying to warn me?" Semira asked with a laugh. "If you weren't aware, Demise, Majora and Mahlik are my sons, in fact, they've already put the process in motion."
"Ganondorf wants to rule this world, not destroy it." Zelda countered.
"Ganondorf isn't himself anymore, so to speak." Semira said with a smirk, the smile fading as a massive blade pierced through her stomach. "It seems I let my guard down." she growled as she turned her head, Impa glaring at her.
Aren and Iren darted out of the shadows, tossing throwing knives at Semira, the Dark Goddess telekinetically catching them only for a chain with a spike on the end to wrap around her, binding her arms to the side, Trokon pulling her back as Ara lunged at her, stabbing a dagger through Semira's eye as she turned to look at them.
"We're people of the Shadow, you're powers don't work on us." Impa called out as she dodged to the side as Oren and Lemuria lunged towards the Goddess with their Great Swords.
Semira merely nodded her head forward, blasts of electricity shooting from her body and knocking away all of her assailants. "I forgot about you Sheikah pests." she said as she broke free of Trokon's chain and proceeded to pull the blades out of her body, the wounds, her eye included, healing instantly. "What did you not understand about the fact I'm a Goddess? You think dominion over darkness and shadow is my only power...think again?" she growled as she lifted a hand, clenching her fist, the Sheikah crying out in pain as electricity arced over their bodies.
"Stop this!" Zelda shouted.
"Stop? Oh no, I'm just getting started." Semira hissed.
oOo
Link found himself outside the Temple of Souls, deep within the Rose Gardens, much to his chagrin, he still was stuck in place, which meant Semira had something in store for him.
"It's hard to believe it's been so long, seems like only yesterday you left me behind." Marin said as she emerged from behind a rose bush.
"You? You're part of this?" Link asked, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead from the effort he put into moving.
"The fact you can't even remember is really the icing on the cake." Marin hissed.
"Listen, help me remember, we can talk about this." Link said.
"There's no talking this through!" Marin shouted, drawing her sword and stabbing into Link's shoulder, twisting it as she did so.
Link growled in pain, clenching his teeth and glaring at the woman. "What do you want from me?" he hissed through clenched teeth.
"I want you to remember, remember me, my father Tarin, the twins, Koholint Island, the Ghost you managed to befriend." Marin said.
It suddenly hit him like a wave, the memories flooding his mind all at once. It was different from when his memories of previous lives returned, these were memories of a dream, a large intricate fantasy...or so he thought. "But...you're not real...you...all of it...it was just a dream." Link breathed.
"Maybe to you, but it was real for the rest of us! The Wind Fish was one of the lower Gods, but he had enough power to create a small world full of people, bringing you into it only to save himself from the Demon that took a hold of his mind. I was so fascinated by you, your tales of the outside world and just who you were as a person...one might say that I loved you." Marin said, a tear coming to her eye. "But that wasn't good enough for you, even after you found out about the true nature of Koholint Island, that it would disappear after you woke the Wind Fish, you still went through with it...you couldn't leave well enough alone! We could have had a life, we could have lived on Koholint and lived our lives with everyone else, but no! You woke the Wind Fish and everyone vanished, they didn't die, they disappeared...erased from existence."
Link found himself at a loss for words, trying to avoid stammering as he formed a reply. "How...how are you here?"
"The Wind Fish wanted to give you a reward, he created me in the real world like I was some prize he could just hand over...I told you I wished I could be a Seagull so I could go anywhere and spread my song to people all over the world, so he gave me that at least...but it meant nothing." Marin explained. "I can't even describe the emotional state I was in after watching everything and everyone I had ever known and loved fade away into nothingness like they never even were...all because of you...all because you had to get back to your Princess Zelda. That was what you called me when you awoke on Koholint, you mistook me for her, at least I can put a face to the name now." Marin said as she reached into a pack she had strapped to her side.
"I...I am so sorry, I know that does nothing to fix it...but I...we can fix this." Link replied.
"There is no fixing this." Marin said as she retrieved a small silver object.
"You should have come to me, we could've talked about this! Found a way to bring Koholint back!" Link argued.
"The only reason my home, my family and my friends were gone is because you abandoned us!" Marin responded. "You're not a God, you couldn't restore Koholint, but Semira can!"
"The Dark Goddess promised to bring your home back...so you've been working for her all this time?" Link asked.
"Honestly I haven't, my being found and recruited by the Knights of Hytopia was just one huge coincidence, imagine how stunned I was when I heard that name Zelda and met her father. It wasn't until Semira arrived that she reached out to me, she sensed my hatred of you and knew I wouldn't back down from this." Marin explained.
"What does she need you for?" Link asked, a bad feeling growing inside of him.
"Because of the spell that links Farore's body to yours through the Triforce, she couldn't harm you, so she needed someone that would be willing to do so unconditionally, so here I am." Marin said, revealing the object she held was a silver ring with an inscription on the outside that predated old Hylian. "Hopefully this makes you understand how I felt when you took everything from me." Marin growled as she placed a the object over Link's hand.
"What are you...no!" Link shouted. "You don't understand what you're doing...don't do this!" Link called out.
Marin didn't even look up, instead keeping her eyes on the object as it pulled the Triforce of Courage from Link, the golden triangle hovering in the middle of the ring, a blue bubble of energy forming around it. "Semira made this just for you." she said, looking at the ring.
"You can't give that to her...she won't make good on her promise, you must know this." Link urged.
"I'll do whatever I have to get my home and my loved ones back, and if this is it, so be it." Marin said.
"If you give my part of the Triforce to her it will grow her power exponentially." Link said.
"I have it! I have taken his Triforce of Courage!" Marin called out, holding it aloft in it's prison.
oOo
"This means nothing, you were just the closest one to me so I freed you." Audrik whispered as he peered around the corner.
"Let's focus on rescuing the others right now, this is hardly a time for you to be throwing jabs at me." Daltus said to his son.
"Whenever you're ready." Audrik said.
"Now then." Daltus responded.
Cia locked eyes with Din as she struggled against Semira's spell, something catching her attention as she looked away. A small nut rolled across the floor, stopping at Semira's feet.
"Well Princess, it's time I take that little Triangle on your hand away. I'm afraid that even with my power, I'm in need of it." Semira said.
Suddenly the nut burst open, growing into a small tree in a matter of seconds, its trunk striking Semira in the chin and snapping her head back.
Audrik ran into the room, extending his hands, the shadows that held Zelda, Cia and Din in place flowing into him.
"So you have power over shadow t-" Semira observed, being cut off as she was telekinetically smashed into the wall behind her.
"Time for a fair fight, Sister." Din growled as she stood over her.
Semira shot a tendril of darkness at Din, the red-haired Goddess dodging to the side and extending a hand towards the Dark Goddess.
Semira cried out as her whole body was engulfed in flames.
"Release Farore and leave her body and the pain will stop!" Din shouted.
"Farore's already dead!" Semira screamed as she shot Din with a blast of dark energy, the flames that covered her dying as Din fell to one knee. "Today the universe will know who the most powerful of the Celestial Gods is." Semira said as she kicked Din into the far wall. Suddenly a blast of light enveloped her, Semira inhaling sharply as smoke poured from her skin.
"If you are darkness, then it is light that will burn you away!" Zelda called out.
"You're more Hylia in this life than you are Zelda." Semira growled as she shot a blast of flame from her mouth, Zelda leaping out of the way.
Semira breathed in deeply as she recovered from Zelda's light barrage, only to be hit from behind by repeated energy blasts.
"You'll pay dearly for what you've done!" Cia called out as she launched another blast at her.
Semira made to counter attack only for her attention to be called away as Din launched a stream of flame at her from the side and Zelda a blast of light from behind.
oOo
"Are you alright?" Audrik asked as he ran to Lemuria, helping her up.
"Better now that I know you're alright." she said with a small smile.
"Good to see you again, old friend." Daltus said as she helped Oren to his feet.
"Does this mean I am once again your Guardian?" the Sheikah man asked with a grin.
"I've learned my lesson to never leave home without you." Daltus said as he helped Impa up, the Sheikah woman turning towards the battle going on in the center of the room.
"Looks like that bitch is losing." Ara said with smile.
"I wouldn't count on it, it looks like she's hiding something." Aren replied.
"We should help them." Impa said.
"I'm afraid I have to disagree, with the level of power they're fighting at, we'd only get in the way." Trokon said.
oOo
Semira grit her teeth as she felt her power beginning to fade as she defended herself from the onslaught, it was only a matter of time before her defenses failed and she was brought down by sisters and the Sorceress.
"I have it! I have taken his Triforce of Courage." she heard, Marin's voice calling out to her. "You've done well...now kill him." Semira replied telepathically.
oOo
Link grit his teeth as the object was teleported out of Marin's grasp.
"It's over, Hero." Marin growled. "I hope you regret it now, taking my entire world from me." she said as she readied her blade. "I'll make it quick, it's better than you deserve, but Semira will be leaving soon, so I shan't keep her waiting."
"You're going to regret this, when Semira betrays you this moment will come to your mind when she erases you along with everything else." Link growled.
"The bitter words of a broken man." Marin said as she held her sword up, readying herself to bring it down on Link's head when suddenly she cried out in pain and surprise, blood trickling from her mouth as she looked down, a blade piercing through her chest. "What the...?" she breathed before falling over.
Link looked on in disbelief, still standing rooted to the spot even as Semira's spell that kept held him was seemingly broken. "Oreck?"
oOo
Semira grinned deviously as the Triforce of Courage appeared in her hand.
"No! She has Link's Triforce!" Cia called out.
The Dark Goddess absorbed the object into her body, her power growing immediately. Semira thrust both her arms out, a telekinetic shockwave blowing everyone in the room onto their backs. She teleported over to Zelda, grabbing ahold of her throat. "Unfortunately I don't have to time to take your Triforce of Wisdom from you right now, so I'll just have to take you with me." Semira said as she opened a portal beside her, taking Zelda through it.
"No!" Daltus called out.
"Sister!" Audrik shouted.
Before anyone else could react both Royals had stood up and sprinted their way to the portal, entering it after Semira.
"Quickly! After them!" Impa said, the other Sheikah moving towards the portal, but it was too late, the doorway closing before they made it.
"No! Damn it! Impa said, pounding a fist into the floor.
"Can you open a portal to where they went?" Oren asked as he turned towards Cia.
"I can...but that wouldn't be what a good idea." Cia answered.
"What? Why not?!" Lemuria asked.
oOo
Ganondorf, in his Aghanim guise sat on his throne, holding court as the Nobles bustled about, fighting about who got to speak to him next.
"Look at him, he single-handedly won a war, fought four Gods and destroyed an entire city earlier today and here he is, all put together." Rickard Gavan said in disbelief.
"His might is truly admirable." Kanthos said.
"Y'know, sometimes you sound like you're in love with him" Rickard replied.
Kanthos turned and glared at the Noble before turning his attention to the center of the crowd below staring at the space right in front of Ganondorf's throne, a shocked expression taking over his features as his mouth fell agape.
"What? You realize I have a point?" Rickard asked.
"This power, I've never felt anything like it...so dark and malevolent...so immense." the Sorcerer breathed.
"What in the hell are you talking about?" Rickard asked, his attention being called back to the floor as he heard a commotion from the Nobles below, the crowd making every possible sound of alarm as they scattered, a portal opening in the middle of the room.
"This is impossible, Ganondorf raised a dampening field over the entire country, traveling through magical means is nearly impossible...hell...he's warded this place so strongly that it should be impossible to warp right in here." Rickard said shakily.
"Whatever's coming through that portal is strong...too strong." Kanthos said in disbelief.
"What is this?!" Ganondorf's voice boomed as he stood up, the magically generated lights in the room flickering and a gust blowing through the main hall as he did so, the Demon King gritting his teeth and narrowing his eyes as a woman emerged from the portal, he instantly recognized the body as belonging to Farore, but she was no longer the one who occupied it...he couldn't sense it before because she hid herself, but now she had come to the surface.
"My son, how good it is to see you again." Semira said as she emerged, Zelda still in her grip. "I brought a present for you." she added holding Zelda up. Suddenly she sensed something, turning around in time to see Daltus and Audrik exit the portal before it closed.
"Make it three."
oOo
That concludes chapter 53! In case I haven't made it clear before, we're getting pretty close to the end, the finale is almost at hand.
If you guessed that this new Marin was THE Marin from "Link's Awakening" congratulations! High fives for you!
Gerudospirit: I'm glad you're noticing the way Ganondorf has begun to split now that he's had two other Demons take up residence in his body (against their own will). I'd be willing to say that Kai has a role yet and Shilara's death was a turning point for him. I can't say that Daltus was based on King Rhaom, mostly because I haven't played Breath of the Wild yet, haha. I more just thought that it would be hard for someone who grew up being taught darkness was an evil element and that light and flame were Noble powers to learn that his own son and Prince of Hyrule was a darkness elemental, but his near death experience and separation from his family made Daltus realize that his children are more important than their powers. As for Link's dialogue, I always envisioned him being kind of a "smart ass" due to the way people respond to him in games, while we never actually see or hear what he says, when the game gives us an option to talk to someone, sometimes they seem just plain taken aback by whatever it is he said, the girl on the fishing boat in "Twilight Princess" being a prime example. I know I haven't developed Ganondorf's parents very well, but it's hard not to imagine what they've gone through all of these years, not just their worst fears about their son being realized, but their daughter going off and joining him too, I believe what keeps them together is more related to their need to repent for what they see as their sin by finding away to end their son's reign of terror, Naora is going to interact with them soon and kind of expand on the whole thing. Calling Marin evil is kind of a complicated thing, as you've seen in this chapter, she had her reasons, however dubious they may be. Thank you for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Ultimate blazer: It's hard for me to convey how much that means to me! Saying that this Legend of Zelda fic is one of the best you've ever read seriously made my day! Thank you so much for the kind words and thank you for contributing your review and your name to my list of followers and favorites!
Thank you to everyone who clicked follow and favorite on my profile and my story!
I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks for reading!
-Prometheus17