In the deep recesses of the Sacred Realm, far beneath the tallest ghostly mountain peak, a great rumble began to shake the ground. Within the rock, the powers of fate were stirring from their long sleep.
The goddesses' chamber, hidden from sight in a cave formed of bone, contained three crystal coffins. Inside were glowing figures, the creators of Hyrule.
Farore awoke first. Her bright green eyes opened to show her a sight she had hoped never to see. The coffin around her cracked loudly, then shattered.
She sat up, brushing the tiny crystal shards from her naked body and looking about the dark chamber. The jagged white walls glowed green, red and blue in the light of the cavern's occupants. Her sisters slept on.
She recalled her dreams of Hyrule, and of the great war. She knew of the battle for the future of both realms, still felt the echoes of the fight, but could not understand why she had been pulled away.
Why am I awake? she asked the walls.
Farore waited, but they did not answer.
The walls were carved from the very skeleton of the mountain, the Sacred Realm's mirror of Death Mountain. The mountain had long volunteered its body for the protection of the goddesses.
Concerned, Farore stood and walked weakly to a wall. She pressed her glowing hand against it.
With a gasp, she pulled back, recoiling a few steps. The mountain was dead.
No... she held a hand to her mouth, Have the Sages failed?
She turned. Behind her, Din and Nayru were still resting peacefully within their crystal sanctuaries. Surely, then, the course of fate had not been interrupted.
A sharp pang in her chest caused Farore to cry out, and she grasped at the spot as she sank to her knees. Her bright green glow weakened as the pain became worse.
She held a hand in the air, and a small white circle materialized.
Show me the source of this pain, she ordered it.
Within the tiny window, the face of the Hero appeared, screaming in rage. He rushed forward and the Master Sword clanged off an enemy blade.
Farore shook her head slightly, confused. They had chosen the Hero wisely. He could not be defeated any combatant except...
The young man was flung aside as the enemy's blow rattled off his shield. A dark laughter could be heard as the Gerudo king pursued the Hero.
The window disappeared as Farore's hand fell to the ground. She knelt for a moment, shocked.
Her visions never lied, but this one could not be true. The goddesses had ensured the Hero's victory, had planned so carefully and made so many sacrifices... and yet the pain in her chest grew deeper.
She struggled to stand, eyes and hands filling with energy.
Awaken, sisters, she commanded.
The twin coffins broke simultaneously, each one splintering into fragments and revealing a brighter glow from within. Din and Nayru sat up slowly, looking at themselves, each other, and finally at Farore.
Nayru stood up at once, seeing Farore was in pain.
Sister! she cried, What has happened?
Can you not feel it? Farore stepped closer, crystal cracking beneath her feet.
Nayru moved to Farore's side, supporting her.
The Hero... Farore grasped Nayru's blue shoulder with as much strength as she could muster.
Nayru shivered as she saw Farore's vision.
Another burst of pain caused Farore to fall to the ground, screaming. Nayru followed her sister, cradling Farore against her body. Din leapt across the room and knelt beside them.
But sister, it cannot be, Nayru was saying frantically, fate follows our command!
Din looked up at her, savage face glowing with red fire, No longer, it would seem. We must move ahead with our second plan.
No! Farore yelled at her, still clutching her chest.
Din, we cannot... Nayru began, trailing off as her hand moved slowly to her heart.
It is too late, Din said heavily, I feel it as well.
The Hero...
Will---
Fail.
The arrow was thrown aside by Ganondorf's magic, but the distraction allowed Link to pull his shield from his back and shove his arm through the straps.
He brought the Master Sword down over Ganondorf's head. The Gerudo parried the blow easily with his own dark blade. The discordant noise echoed as the two men moved apart.
There was a pause as the opponents took measure of each other. Ganondorf smiled at Link and adjusted his grip on his sword.
"No tricks, kid," he called.
Link nodded, taking the opportunity to drop his travel bag beside the hostage villagers. The little girl he had saved grasped the bag with her tiny hand and pulled it toward her.
"So you know," Navi clutched his shirt, balancing on his shoulder, "this is the dumbest decision you have ever made."
"Thanks," Link muttered, pushing gold hair from his eyes.
The smoke wafted across the village center, obscuring the distance between Link and his adversary. He heard Ganondorf chuckle.
"Move!" Navi said quickly.
Link ran forward, shield aloft. A glint of metal just in front of him and faint footfalls gave his enemy's positon away. He blocked Ganondorf's oncoming blow and dodged to his left, skidding to a stop on the first of the central stairs. The air was still grey.
Ganondorf charged after him. Their swords crossed, the black sword striking the legendary blade with a ferocious clang. Ganondorf was suddenly inches from Link's face.
"You're not fast enough," the king barked.
Link struggled to hold the Master Sword against Ganondorf's uphill advantage. His arms shook with the effort. He stepped down another stair.
"Hasn't your little Sheikah friend taught you anything?"
Ganondorf swung his sword hard to the left, the metal shrieking as Link was knocked back. He stumbled backwards down the steps. He landed on his back, crying out as his spine made contact with the stone stairway.
"Right!" Navi yelled in his ear.
He rolled to the right, hearing Ganondorf's blade dig into the rock just beside his head.
"Son of a bitch!" Link shouted, swinging his sword at the sound. He was rewarded by a roar of pain from Ganondorf.
Link heaved himself to his feet, leaning against one of the rock walls enclosing the stairway. Ganondorf was bent over, holding his left arm close to his body. Blood was dripping down his fingers.
Breathing heavily, Ganondorf looked up at Link. He wrapped his cape around his wounded arm and began to smile.
"What are you waiting for?!" Navi hissed.
Link simply watched the evil king, holding back.
"You wouldn't attack a wounded man?" the Gerudo asked, amused, "How honorable of you."
"I'm giving you a chance," Link said boldly, "Take your soldiers and leave. You and I can finish this another day."
"Nice bluff," Ganondorf straightened, holding his sword before him.
Link rushed forward, blade held low. As he reached Ganondorf, he swung his sword suddenly upward, forcing the king to block with his uninjured arm. The black metal gauntlet cracked beneath the Master Sword. A burst of purple energy exploded from Ganondorf's wrist, sending Link flying backward.
The Hero slammed into the rock wall, sliding down it. His head began to throb as he pushed weakly against the wall, trying to lift himself. His vision split into multiples, and the ground moved beneath him.
"Get up!" Navi was darting in front of him, "Get up, get up!"
An arrow flew past the fairy, and she ducked, hiding in Link's hair.
"Hold!" Ganondorf screamed at the Gerudos.
Link closed and opened his eyes rapidly, trying to regain his bearings. He closed his hand tightly, feeling a quick buzzing in his palm.
"No tricks, huh," he mumbled.
Ganondorf laughed, "Consider it a compliment. I wasn't expecting that."
Link shook his head, and instantly Ganondorf was right in front of him, holding him against the wall.
"I have to say, kid, I expected more fight than this."
Link smiled, then opened his palm.
Ganondorf looked down at the Hero's open hand, where a tiny glowing fireball sat.
Link pressed his hand hard against the ground, and the fireball exploded into a burning sphere. The shield pushed outward, knocking Ganondorf back.
As the spell burned out, Link forced himself to stand and readied his sword. On the ground, Ganondorf was pushing himself up to his knees. To Link's shock, the man began to laugh.
Ganondorf stood up, unscathed.
He darted to Link's right, up the central stairs. Link whirled, but his vision was still blurry. He held up his sword, guarding blindly.
Navi pulled his hair in the opposite direction.
He heard a soft noise to his left, and turned to block Ganondorf's attack. Their blades bounced apart with an almighty peal. Ganondorf snarled and backed away.
Link ducked to the right, but Ganondorf had disappeared. Link's hazy eyes could not find his enemy. He glanced up the stairs at the horrified villagers, and at the Gerudos, who looked confused. He turned in a quick circle, alone beneath Kakariko Village.
"What..." he asked the air.
"Link!" Navi screamed.
The Hero spun around in time to see the black sword curving upward toward him. He heard a grotesque, wet noise, and felt a sharp pain just beneath his ribcage. For a moment, he wondered why he could not move.
As a hollow feeling spread through his chest, he stared at Ganondorf, who smiled serenely over his wounded arm. His other arm was outstretched, holding the hilt of a black sword. The line of the blade ended at Link's tunic, where an oval of deep red was seeping into the surrounding green.
Link could barely hear Navi whimpering from his shoulder.
"Sorry, kid," Ganondorf said quietly.
The king pulled his hand back, and Link felt the metal of the sword moving through him and brushing against the skin of his back. The tip spread fiery pain through Link's body, and the hot metal burned the skin on his chest as it appeared, covered in blood.
He fell to the ground, sprawling sideways. The pain blinded him and threatened to tear him apart. His hand sought out the wound, but could not halt the surge of blood. The grass beneath him was wet and hot. He could hear Navi crying.
Above, the remains of the sun were blacked out by the outline of the King of Thieves.
Link's mind raced with thoughts, but a single voice told him he could not move. He would not get up. The burning in his chest was too strong. The sky began to grow darker, and the sunlight was shrinking.
A distant call sounded.
"Zelda..." he whispered back to it, choking on a hot liquid in the back of his throat.
"Now then..." Ganondorf held his hand over Link's body.
Yellow energy began to swirl around the Hero's left hand, where the triforce mark of courage burned a triangular hole in the leather of his gauntlet. Tiny beams of light rose from the mark and drifted to Ganondorf's waiting hand.
"No," Link clenched his fist weakly, and the magic flow stopped.
Zelda's voice reached him again.
"Sorry..." he murmured to her, blood spilling over his lips.
He could barely see the dark shape of a man who stood over him, straining his hand furiously in an attempt to absorb Link's power. Shadowy wisps of yellow floated through the air.
Link's vision finally went black and a faraway notion told him he was dying. Images of a little girl he had met long ago echoed through his mind. He saw her smile. Her face disappeared into the darkness.
He felt vaguely as if he were falling asleep.