Ganondorf did not connect with flesh or bone, but only with another blade, a blade he had only read about in books. A blade that made him cringe. This common knight that protected the king held the Master Sword. Ganondorf instinctively backed away. He turned to Zelda and growled, "What is the meaning of this?"
She shook her head with an expression of disbelief. "I knew nothing of this. I swear." Her words were frighteningly sincere.
Ganondorf turned back to the knight and the king was behind him, struggling to his feet. "Link is the descendant of the hero that helped the Goddess Hylia defeat the demon. I never told her because I did not want her to have anything to hide."
"That's the first intelligent thing you have done since I met you," Ganondorf remarked, mocking the King of Hyrule.
"Link, make sure he can never harm the royal family or Hyrule ever again," The king commanded, and the knight posed to attack.
Link lunged, his weapon out, and Ganondorf barely avoided it. He was occupied though. Would Zelda not defend him? Would she just stand by and potentially let him die at the mercy of the Master Sword? What could have possibly been stopping her from protecting him, the man she had been willing to marry only minutes ago?
Zelda stood out of the way of Link and Ganondorf as they fought. She could see how equally they were matched, which is why it would take the aid of the power of the goddess to finish the fight. Which side should she choose? Ganondorf had been nothing but kind to her but he showed no hesitation in killing her father! She had known Link for a long time and always suspected that he was from the bloodline of the hero, but her father had kept that secret well. Link had leapt into battle honorably and she admired him for that. Her father was stubborn and if he had just been more open minded the whole situation could have been avoided. She thought back to the way her stomach churned and her senses faded when Ganondorf called upon and concentrated his power. It was true that she cared for him deeply, that there was kindness in him, but in the end she knew her father was right and she foolishly avoided the truth. No matter how much light she found in him, the darkness would always return. She turned her back to the battle and took her side by her father. Despite her emotions running wild, she knew to trust in her wisdom, and she understood that her place was with her father, to protect her people.
"Father," Zelda said, her eyes on the floor, ashamed of all the trouble she had caused.
"Yes, my daughter?" He said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I am sorry. I will help you fight against him, but you must promise me one thing."
"Chin up, sweetheart. Anything you want, just name it," He said, proud to have her on his side again.
"The Gerudo. Will you welcome them into the kingdom once their king is gone?" She asked, looking up to him with tears in her eyes.
"I know this is difficult. You have your mother's heart, so big and warm, to care for a man that does not deserve it," He said affectionately, then paused. "Yes. I will allow the Gerudo into the kingdom."
Ganondorf found rage inside and while pressing his blade against the Master Sword, he gripped Link's arm and tossed him against the wall across the hallway. He looked to Zelda, seeing her stand by her father. He could see the hurt in her eyes, that she made the decision with difficulty, but that did not change the hate that suddenly overflowed like a volcano from his heart. He glared at her. "Koume and Kotake were right all along." Admitting it tasted like bile. How could he have been so foolish to believe that he was anything but a monster, a demon like the prophecy told. "That means there is only one thing left, and then Zelda, I will make you mine." He disappeared.
Zelda immediately turned and ran for her chambers, tears flowing freely but silently down her cheeks. How could she have been so foolish to fall in love with such a wicked man, when all he cared about was power? She rushed up three flights of stairs and did not stop until she burst into her room to see the long stemmed, white flower, wilting in midair over her dresser. She had broken his heart, and he hers. She feared what he would do next. Unfortunately, it was her duty to insure he did not succeed. She needed to fix the mistake she made.
The villagers near where Ganondorf appeared ran frightened, pulling their children close. He knew where the Triforce was hidden and that was his next target. After Demise was destroyed by the hero, the Triforce was once again protected by the Temple of Hylia, which had been renamed the Temple of Time after the hero's travels to stop the demon from the distant past. He marched westward toward the looming temple. With the Master Sword already free, all he needed was to enter the Sacred Realm where the sages protected the Triforce and take it for his own personal desires.
He was confident in his head start that he could reach the temple before Link, but he was cautious. Without the aid of the Triforce, with his and Zelda's powers combined, he would be defeated. Ganondorf swore that if he were to fall he would not die without a fight.
Zelda ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Perhaps there was still a chance she could talk Ganondorf out of his brash actions, but in her gut she knew there was only one option. She and Link would have to destroy him to prevent the demon from rearing his ugly head again. She struggled to run faster. Link was already ahead of her. He had removed his heavy plate armor and was left with a tunic and chainmail, allowing him to run faster. It was clear he also understood that the only way to prevent the demon from appearing was to stop Ganondorf from taking the Triforce.
The Gerudo King stood in the temple, void of people, but filled with statues and relics of a forgotten time. Maybe that was really why it was called the Temple of Time, he mused, because being there was like being transported back in time. The door that sealed away the key to the sacred realm was wide open and Ganondorf eagerly approached. He was only half way there when he heard Link and Zelda's footsteps rushing toward him. He spun and tossed a wave of dark energy at them. It came so fast they had no time to catch their breath from the far run. Link was fastest to react and tore out his shield. He pulled Zelda to the floor with him, where they crouched and were entirely protected by the Hylian Shield. Link braced for the impact and it took all of his might to stop from being blown back by Ganondorf's power.
"Cowards!" Ganondorf shouted, facing them but stepping back to close the distance between him and the doorway.
"Ganondorf!" Zelda yelled, standing from behind the protection of the shield. She walked hurriedly forward but maintained a safe distance. "You know taking the Triforce is going to release the demon inside you. His hatred will consume you."
"This is how it was meant to be, right princess?" Ganondorf mocked. "Hatred has already consumed me, and the last sliver of light within me has been snuffed out. You made your choice and so I have made mine. Let the demon come. It will save me the trouble of killing you and that pathetic hero of yours."
Link rushed forward, sword and shield at the ready, and lunged at Ganondorf. Using the full force of his forearm coated in thick dark energy, he threw Link back like a doll. He was headed to the floor, with his arm out to cushion his landing. Before he hit though, a golden light surrounded him, slowing his descent and he landed gently. If not for Zelda's intervention, Link would have broken his arm. Link looked back to Zelda, grateful, until he saw her reach for her head.
"You have fooled me for the last time," Ganondorf snarled, his hand out with his palm facing the princess. He clouded her mind with darkness, causing her unbearable suffering. "Feel my hate, princess. Taste my anger. With you incapacitated, this hero does not stand a chance!" Ganondorf gave one strong push against Zelda's will and she collapsed. Link rushed at Ganondorf and they fought, blade of darkness against Master Sword.
Link knew he needed just a few well aimed hits and the power of his blade would force Ganondorf to his knees. Those strikes seemed nearly impossible to make. Ganondorf covered his openings well, a result of his intense combat training. Link failed to stop his opponent from maneuvering his way to the room with the pedestal the Master Sword was pulled from.
Ganondorf would have dominated Link if not for the knowledge of the strength of the Master Sword. It's purity could tear through his darkness and one hit could send him writhing in excruciating pain. It was that fear that kept Ganondorf at a safe distance and Link alive for longer than necessary. With his superior combat experience, he led the battle, like one would lead a dance, to the next room. Within reach was the next door, the door that required only desire to open, only a prayer, and he would have all of his wishes made real.
Zelda's eyes fluttered open and she cringed at the light rushing inside the ceiling high windows of the temple. Her head throbbed and it took several moments to recollect what happened. Ganondorf had attacked her, but where were they now? She glimpsed their fight before they disappeared into the room of the Master Sword. What she noticed was the way Ganondorf evaded the sword. It was clear by his obvious avoidance of the blade that there was evil in his heart, hate in his dark sorcery, and all hope was lost for him. She pushed herself up through the blinding pain and stumbled toward the stone doorway. With her hands out and palms facing Ganondorf, she shot him with a beam of golden energy, which paralyzed him in his place.
Ganondorf noticed Zelda appear in the room when it was too late to avoid her attack. His corrupt sword disappeared and his body arched and twisted as the pain surged through his nerves. Link took advantage of the opportunity and slashed the helpless Gerudo King from one end of his torso to the other.
Zelda chanted and at the same time seethed from the pain in her skull. A portal in the wall that would have led to the Sacred Realm opened wide like a hungry mouth, waiting to be fed. She looked at Ganondorf one last time. He was collapsed on the floor at the feet of his enemy, holding his arm over his chest as if it would stop the bleeding and the searing pain from the blade of evil's bane. In his eyes, she could not see regret, nor mercy. He managed his final words, "I will return and I will have my revenge on your families. Live in fear of that day." It saddened Zelda that she would remember him that way, pathetic, a beast, and a victim of his own hate. Energy from within the portal reached out like angry arms, ripped him from the floor, and imprisoned him within the realm. As long as the sages survived, Ganondorf, and the demon, would remain trapped.
"Link! Return the Master Sword!" Zelda yelled, using the wall for support to stay on her feet.
Link rushed to pedestal in the center of the room and thrust the Master Sword in, sealing the Sacred Realm again. He turned to Zelda and caught her just before she collapsed. "Thank you," She whispered. He supported her on his shoulder and aided her back to the castle.
Once they arrived at the castle, Impa rushed to Zelda next and helped her to her chambers, where nurses and maids made sure that she was well and that she rested until her headaches disappeared. It was a few hours before Zelda was pain free. She woke to find her room finally empty, her independence returned, so she sat up on the edge of her bed. She reflected on the events, smiling at times and coming to tears at others. It had been quite a long road. She blamed herself for the trouble she caused, but could not blame herself for trying. Zelda looked at the dresser where the flower had levitated and thrived. It was nothing but ash now.
The very next day, as promised, the King of Hyrule extended his offer to the Gerudo to provide clothes, food, and homes. They were divided though. Some eagerly accepted and were ready to be part of a thriving community. Others that were loyal and devoted to Ganondorf refused. Even with Zelda's persuasion they stood firm, determined not to betray their king who would one day return to them. Zelda would not give up, for the kindness in Ganondorf that was once there, that still was, she would fight until all Gerudo prospered, and they were united as one.
Zelda did marry a suitor, a fine gentleman of wisdom and courage, to carry on the royal bloodline. As the guardian of the Goddess Hylia, and her best friend, Link remained in her charge, and also married to carry on the bloodline of the hero. They shared their story to their children so that one day, if Ganondorf did return, they would be prepared for battle.