Startled and caught off guard, I'm flung to the ground. I pick myself up, teetering left and right as I try to find something to hold on to. Lightning explodes around me, thunder cackling as if laughing at the cruel joke it's playing, as I shield my eyes from the sudden downpour of rain. I know Hyrule is notorious for it's freak weather, but this is crazy! I hear the ground cracking, and hope desperately that the ground won't split near me, but the chaos is so bad I can't find my bearings enough to tell what's going on. I have to get somewhere safe...

Then it stops. The sky is still dark, and it's still pouring, but the lightning, thunder, and earthquake have stopped. I look up, glancing around and gathering my wits as I take in the chaos caused by the sudden storm. I catch a figure standing by the castle, the drawbridge knocked down from the harsh winds. The man doesn't seemed phased at all by the recent storm, almost as if he had anticipated it, or...

No.

No, it can't be.

He caused it.

It all clicks. He caused the storm, and as my eyes become more focused, I realize there's a lot more he can do than just cause storms. I have to stop him. He can't get to the Princess! I look around, desperately searching for my sword, finally spotting it and retrieving it off the ground. I take off running, still off balanced, but not caring how clumsy I look. I have to stop him. I barge over the drawbridge, hearing the shouts of the other soldiers behind me as I make it into the courtyard. Good, reinforcements. Suddenly, I hear a loud crash, and, spinning around, discover that the drawbridge has somehow managed to close itself. Crap. Guess I'm on my own. I keep running, hoping I can make it there on time. If anything happens, I won't be able to live with myself. I dash into the main hall, where the Princess is using the Tri Force to make a force field, currently keeping Ganondorf at bay, but not for long. He turns when the doors slam close behind me, almost chuckling to himself, obviously thinking I'm not a threat. He wouldn't believe how wrong he is.

"So one of the guards managed to make it in before I closed the drawbridge. Cute."

So he closed the drawbridge. Figures. I don't respond, just pull my sword out of my sheath and get into the ready stance. I'm not going down without a fight, though, most likely, I'm going down. Hopefully, it will buy the Princess enough time to escape.

"Putting up a fight? That's unexpected." He's not doing a very good job at hiding laughter. Oh, he is going to hurt so much when I'm through with him.

"Fine." He waves his hand, almost bored as he secures the Princess behind a wall of magic. Crap. Now what? I'm drawn back to him as he pulls out his sword, and all of a sudden, charges. I jump to the side, taken back and stumbling a bit, it suddenly dawning me I don't have a shield, or any armor for that matter. I've walked right into my own funeral. Halleluiah. I try to swing an attack from behind, but he sees it coming and blocks it. I see him building up magic in his sword. Magic attack. Crap. What do I do? I've never fought anyone with magic before. They don't prepare you for this in training. All of a sudden, a sphere of magic is hurtling towards me, and, out of instinct, I swing my sword at it, and, much to both his and my surprise, it bounces of my sword and goes back at him, hitting him squarely in the chest. Yes! Ralin, one, Ganondorf, zero.

He's generally annoyed by my move, but still not breaking a sweat. He looks at me, his aggravation glinting in his eyes, when all of a sudden, he sends a wall of magic flying at me. I roll to the side, but I'm late in my reflexes and it hits me in the leg. Ow. I attempt recovery, and though it still hurts I stand at the ready, not willing to show him it hurts. I can see the magic wall around the Princess fading, and know in a few minutes she should be able to escape. I just have to buy some more time...

I roll to the side, attempting to land a blow to his back, but he sees it coming again and parries it, landing a blow to my side instead. Ow. I'm bleeding now, but I can't let him see it hurts. I've got to change tactics, cause he can obviously see the back attack coming. I try a spin attack, but he just blocks it with his shield. Shield. I am regretting not having one of those. Fine, one last try...

I fake a back attack, rolling to the side, but as he goes to block me I roll to the other side and attack his unguarded front. I land a blow, sending him staggering backwards from the impact. I jump up, landing a blow to his head, then adding a spin attack for good measure. He really wasn't expecting this. He's totally unguarded at this point, and, seeing my opening, I land a finishing blow, ramming my sword through his stomach.

He slouches over, though still standing. Oh my gosh. I didn't... I couldn't have... I did. I think I actually did it. It sure doesn't look like he's breathing, I mean, how could he be. He's got a freaking sword through his stomach. My sword through his stomach. Oh my gosh. I finally register noise in the background, making out a few words the Princess is saying, but I'm not sure what she's talking about. Something about a sword, but my mind is occupied. Something isn't right. You don't normally die standing up. Unless...

All of a sudden, he's living, breathing, moving- definitely moving, and picking my up and hoisting me into the air by the collar of my tunic. No! Argh, I'm such an idiot! How could I have let my guard down? Ralin, one, Ganondorf, ∞. I see in my peripheral vision that the magic wall has run down. At least the Princess can escape. I've done my job, even if it means death.

Back to the situation. Can't breath. Check. Imminent death. Check. Ganondorf's deathly breath? Double check. His eyes are mocking me. Laughing. He was pretending to be dead. Jerk.

"Did you really think that that would work? Honestly? A pathetic blade like that could never stop the power of the Tri-Force! Pathetic. Though that is expected from a mere mortal." He's laughing out loud now. Suddenly, I see him wave his unoccupied hand, and a wave of magic blocks around the Princess again, who had managed to get across the room and grab a sword. No! I was so close!

"Any last requests?"

He had taken so much from me. My life, my brother...

"Yeah, one thing. Where. Is. My. Brother?"

He looks a little surprised, but replaces it with a smirk. "Most likely dead. I've lost track of all the people I've killed."

"You'd still be gloating if he was."

He studies me, then laughs. "I see it now. The resemblance is surprising. I'm shocked I didn't notice it before."

I hear the Princess take in a breath, and I know she sees it too. Suddenly, I'm hurling towards the floor, hearing a crack as my skull hits the floor. Vision growing fuzzy at the edges, I crawl backwards, but he catches up quickly and steps on my leg, twisting his foot as I hear the painful crack of my bone combine with my cry of pain. "Honestly, it's a sore subject. I can't find the twerp, and I need him so I can kill him."

"Sucks to be you."

His eyes glow dark, and he twists my broken leg more, releasing another cry of pain from myself. He's going to kill me. I hear him pull my sword out of his stomach. I hate irony. I close my eyes, waiting for the pain to connect with whatever area he decides to stab first, but nothing. Instead, I feel myself being lifted up by my right hand. What? I open my eyes to see him studying my hand carefully.

"Then again... You might prove useful." He drops me onto the floor, then turns to look at the Princess. Don't you dare... I push myself up onto one leg, ignoring how much my cuts and bruises are screaming at me to stay down. He turns to look at me. "But I can't have you getting in the way till then. So.."

He swings the hilt of my sword at me, and all goes black.