A/N: Well, I meant to inform you guys in the last chapter (sorry) but this is...the last chapter. It's also extremely short, but it's basically just recap, the very ending. And when you guys read through this, keep in mind that yes, I do know that Ganondorf doesn't die that easily. I felt lazy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers or Legend of Zelda.
CAVE OF THE ANCIENTS: Chapter Eight.
"Burst Rondo!"
Lina's offensive spell blasts Ganondorf off his feet, and he looks mildly surprised. "Your attacks are strong, but there's no wonder you don't have the Triforce of Wisdom, Little Red."
"Shut up, Ganondork!" Lina screeches, bounding off to the side and shooting yet another Fireball at him.
"You'll never get anywhere with an attack like that," the Gerudo King says, slapping her away, luckily with the flat of his blade. Even so, the redhead winces and struggles to get up.
Zelda blasts Ganondorf from the side with magic, and Lina is back on her feet. Her gaze travels to Zelgadis and fills with tears before she looks back at Ganondorf's advance and dodges once again.
"We'll never get anywhere if we continue like this," Ganondorf says arrogantly.
"Which is why I'm doing this. Zelda, cover me," Lina calls to the princess. Said princess shoots multiple attacks at Ganondorf, and when he spots Lina again she's blasting a major attack at him from the side, carrying both Link and Zelgadis in an air bubble.
"Dragon Slave!"
The castle falls completely to pieces, and Lina flees as fast as she can with the two men while Zelda uses Farore's Wind to follow them.
They can't believe it when he doesn't come back out of the castle and they return to see that he impaled himself on his own sword.
"There's no way it was that easy," Lina whispers. She steps towards Ganondorf and nudges him with her foot, then backs away. He doesn't stir.
Link stares on in silence, waiting for Ganondorf to wake up and kill someone else. He bites his lip and glances towards Zelgadis.
But Ganondorf still doesn't move, and Lina finally exclaims, "Was that really it? That's ridiculous! I expected some serious battle, like, something worthwhile, y'know? But really! I thought Ganondorf was supposed to be tough!"
"He is, Lina. Step back. I'll check," Zelda says, closing her eyes and pulling her blade from under her skirt. She holds it with both hands, gently, and closes her eyes. The sword plunges into the ground and the princess of Hyrule opens her eyes again.
"He really is dead." The princess flinches for a moment. "Wait! Zelgadis is still alive!"
"What?!" both Lina and Link cry, their gazes meeting for just a split second.
Zelda explains, "His life force is still there, but barely. And I know how to bring him back. Let's go."
After two hours of walking on foot, following Zelda, they reach the entrance to a shallow cave.
"This is it?" Lina asks, disappointed and worried.
"Wait for it."
They don't have to wait long, as soon a glow emits from the cavern and three floating spirits appear, simple wisps of blue fire. Lina stares at them in wonder as they expand into almost human forms.
The one in the center stands tall, and her cloak billows in a breeze that isn't there. Her feet are bare, and she wears a skirt that billows along with her cloak. Her hair is short, cut at the nape of her neck, and her eyes glow liquid gold despite the blue haze that coats the rest of her body. The other two look to be servants for who is obviously their ruler.
"You have called upon us," she states, her voice cold and carrying the regal air of royalty. "What is your need, Princess of Hyrule?"
Gesturing to Zelgadis, Zelda replies, "He is nearly dead. I wish for you to bring him back."
"What is your reason?"
"He was murdered by Ganondorf in protection of Link, the Hero of Time, and this woman, Lina Inverse, is his closest companion. Is that reason enough, O' Sage of Shadow?"
"Wait just one second," Lina says, glancing between them with a scowl on her face. "Who are you, and where are we?"
The misty figure cracks a smile. "You are in the Cave of the Ancients, Bearer of Courage. As for my name, I am Hilda. Once, I was of youth, but then chaos spread across our world and I met Zelda. I grew ill with a sickness that you very nearly suffered, aside from your high resistance to magical effects and tough immune system."
"Cave...of the Ancients? Who are the Ancients?" Link asks, ignoring Hilda's statement to Lina.
"They are the ones who created Hyrule and Lorule, so long ago. Together, yet alone, these two worlds thrived. All was brought to destruction when they met." This last sentence comes out as a hiss from the Lorulean princess, and Zelda lowers her gaze.
"But, Hilda," the other princess says hurriedly. "We don't have much time. Please, he fought for us when he didn't have to. Hilda, I'm begging you. Save his life, please."
She sighs. "Very well, Zelda."
A blue glow fills the area, and then Hilda and her servants are gone. But Zelgadis stirs, and the wound in his chest heals completely.
"Zelgadis!" Lina cries, hugging him tightly.
He gives her a lopsided smile of his own and replies, "Yeah, Lina, I love you too."
The redhead blushes and stammers, "W-wh-what are you t-t-talking ab-"
She is interrupted when Zelgadis' lips meet her own and Zelda covers Link's eyes. After this he smiles at her again and the cavern begins to glow a pale green.
"Our time together is up," Zelda says to the both of them. "We'll return to our world and you'll return to yours. Shall we visit sometime?"
"I'm looking forward to it!" Lina replies, giving the princess a one-armed hug and giving Link a sisterly kiss on the cheek before returning to Zelgadis.
The chimera waves a victory sign at them as, in a flash of light, they disappear.
"Link?" Zelda calls as she walks into the room, rocking a baby in her arms. "I received a letter from Lina. They're visiting soon. She told me that they have a surprise."
The green-clad Hylian turns to smile at his wife. "What else could they surprise us with? They've already told us about a wedding, a baby, and another piece of Shabranigdo vanquished. What else is there?"
The queen shrugs and allows her child to stick her pointer finger in his tiny mouth. She glances out the window and says, "They're here."
Two specks in the air approach from afar, and Link opens the door to the balcony. As they land, he notices that Lina, too, is rocking a child, though not as young as their own, and...
"No way," Link exclaims. "You really found a cure?"
Zelgadis' hair is now dark brown, and he has a pale complexion. "And you'll never guess how we did it."
"We're just about to have lunch. Care to join us?" Zelda offers as she places her child in a crib.
"Always," Lina replies cheerfully, and together they head to the dining room.