Author's note: Wow, can't believe that it's almost over; just an epilogue left. Well, this was a fun journey, and I appreciate all that reviewed. I may do a sequel, what do you think? As always, please review!

Chapter XVI: Final Strike

Ganon 0 LP; Link 2700 LP, 4 cards; Midna 9000 LP, 4 cards

Smugness; that was the perfect word to describe Ganondorf right now. With his seemingly undefeatable monster, Hyrule seemed doomed. He wordlessly drew his card and declared "I could defeat you right now, but why rush? I like to savor my victories, so I'll let you try to win, and make your move."

Link sighed. What am I supposed to do? He's got an unbeatable monster and I've lost so much life that I can barely see Midna anymore. "Hey, Link!" That snapped Link out of his stupor and forced him to look at his love. She gave a thumbs up and told him "You can do this, now take him down like the her I know you are."

Link smiled and drew his card. He gasped this card just might do it! "Ganon, this is the end! I'll start by activating Pot of Greed so I can draw twice! Next I'll send the four shadow cards to the graveyard in order to summon Fused shadow Beast." All combatants watched as the familiar monster appeared in the middle of the battlefield.

Ganondorf roared in laughter for several minutes before finally responding "Didn't you learn from real life? My god form is superior to even the combined strength of the fused shadows! Just because we're in some card game doesn't mean that a battle between them will be any different! You've DOOMED yourself! Hahaha!"

Link smirked and declared "I'm not done! Next I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy the Nightmare Steelcage!" Midna gasped and glared at Link angrily. "Link have you completely LOST it? That cage was our only defense!" Link smiled and replied "Just watch, Princess. Next I activate De-Fusion, splitting my Soldier back into its original forms." Both Midna and Ganondorf watched, confused as the all-powerful monster split back into the King of the Swamp and the Black Luster Soldier.

"What tomfoolery are you planning? You just weakened your own field" the King of Evil shouted. "Link chuckled and replied "It's simple; the Fused Shadow Beast's special attack requires two sacrifices."

Both Midna and Ganon gasped; one in surprise and the other in horror. "You plan to activate the hidden powers of Obelisk?"

"Yes, to wipe you out Ganon!"

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Ganon yelled as the two monsters morphed into the Twilit Spear that the Beast then picked up, raising its ATK to then pointed his finger at Ganon and yelled "GO FUSED SHADOW BEAST, AND ELIMINATE THAT GOD ONCE AND FOR ALL!" The Beast raided its spear, and ejected a blast of Light and Shadow that decimated the God, along with Ganon. "NOOOOO!" Ganon yelled as he was hit by the magical attack.

"Your moments of glory are at an end, shadow thief!" an outside voice boomed. All 3 combatants turned around to find a young man with tri-colored hair and adorned in golden jewelry walking to the arena. "Now, with all of my power, I banish your remains! MIND CRUSH!"

Ganon yelled as his disintegrating corpse was shattered in a blast of dark purple magic that blew him into specs of dust. Link and Midna stared in awe of what just transpired. They were suddenly snapped back to reality when the mysterious figure spoke. "I apologize for what has transpired in both of your realms. Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Atem, and the shadow magic that Zant and Ganondorf unleashed originated from my kingdom in an alternate reality. You see, in my reality, 5000 years ago, monarchs played a game of great and terrible power, similar to your reality's War for The Triforce. These Yami No Games erupted into a war that could very well have destroyed all reality, for if one dimension goes they all go."

"So according to your history, your people created shadow magic that ended up threatening existence. But how did it stop, and how did Zant and Ganon get a hold of it?" Midna interrupted.

"I'm getting to that" Atem explained. "I then intervened, locking away the magic in 7 mystical items, as well as myself. Then, after several mystical battles that I fought with a partner of my own, all the Millenium Items were destroyed, the Shadow Magic was eradicated, and I returned to my slumber, at ease knowing that the great magic would never again harm mankind…or so I hoped. A number of your weeks ago, Zant found an entry into my reality and absorbed remains of the shadow magic that gathered near those that I had contact with, and once he was powerful enough, he revived his master and set off to conquer Hyrule and the Twilight. I had every intention of stopping him myself, but when I was able to traverse realities I found out that the two of you had already beaten him. And now, here we stand."

The duo stared in shock; here was an ancient king telling a story that rivaled their own adventures. It was then that Link spoke "If Zant found it, does that mean that others will find it too?"

Atem shook his head. "No, from now on I'll be keeping a close eye on my reality to ensure that this doesn't repeat, as history has a tendency to do. Now I must take my leave. May the gods grant you peace." With that, Atem dissipated in golden sparkles.

Link and Midna stood in shock. "I have a headache…" Link announced. Midna, despite her confusion, decided to go with the flow. Chuckling, she replied while putting her arm around him for support "Come on, Hero. Let's go rescue Zelda and see where the future takes us." Link smiled, put his arm around Midna, and they both walked forward as they approached their future.