I found out later that my question was irrelevant.
Eventually, I hauled myself up - difficult with legs shaking like a jellied dessert. The dais I stood upon was very similar to the one back at The Temple of Time. A tunnel to the south western corner could be seen, but the sheer drop below into darkness advised caution.
My levitation practises had been sparse to say the least. I had dabbled with the concept on the odd occasion, but between being kidnapped by the Gerudo and the Bongo Bongo fiasco, this wasn't shall we say, mastered? As I stepped out into thin air, the temptation to overthink and glance down overwhelmed me.
The theory was simple enough; accumulate enough magic to counter balance the force of gravity whilst gaining momentum to move in the direction I wanted to go. The wobbles and jerks were to be expected as I adjusted accordingly. It might not have been the smoothest ride across the abyss, but on the other side, I confess to a triumphant smirk. The possibilities of my powers were endless.
Outside, it was as if someone had shone a spotlight over a pleasant green hill bloomed to burst with a carpet of colourful flowers. The glade had poppies, daffodils, purple peonies and firefly like spores that drew my attention. Above, shooting tails of red, blue and green danced between twinkling stars. Enchanted, I began to make my way towards this picturesque scene and the shooting stars collided. The resulting glare of refracted light scattered rainbow beams over the hill.
I can safely say that the wonderment of seeing the Triforce is something that has never been matched. From the lush, green forest of the Kokiri, the crystal-clear waters of the Zora nor the crimson, shining rubies of the Gorons; those three golden triangles were the sun. Indeed, it was impossible not to believe they could grant power to those who dwelt in the vibrant light.
On my approach, my legs broke out into a run. A sudden, painful urgency to touch the Triforce had possessed me.
I have to keep my promise, my thoughts tumbled out. Then I'll finally be free.
My fingers strained, reaching out like talons lunging at their prize.
Yes, little magician, take it. The Interlopers will be reborn.
"Wait," I cried out. Clamping two firm hands either side of my temples, I swung in frantic arcs, memories of the dark sorcerers obliterated by light sliced into my brain. "What do you intend to do, Azamuku?"
Laughter.
"I knew you were using me somehow. Get out of my body."
As I looked down at my chest, a brown smoke began to form. Like a moth that peels away from its obsolete cocoon, a shape appeared. The separation left only cold, savage emptiness to occupy my core.
"Whatever is the matter, Ronri? Have you not enjoyed sharing?"
I had grown in many ways since our first encounter, but my 'teacher' held a mystifying quality that always caught me off guard. His easy smile hid the secrets of the world behind it. Knowledge, experience and a head start – everything I didn't have. But that didn't mean he had the right to play with me.
"My power is my own, not yours," I countered. "How did you survive anyway? I saw the Light Spirit and what they did."
"When I healed Carter, I tore out a part of my own soul and hid within you. This survival, however, is not sustainable as you can see."
I stared at him. The dark sorcerer did not look well. His frayed, white hair no longer held the illustrious sheen it once did. Back during the nightmare of the skull, he had seemed rejuvenated and strong. The skin on his face now sagged as if it wanted to slide right off his cheek bones.
"Are you going to continue to allow me to suffer like this?"
I began to rub my hands together. "Now just hold on, it isn't as simple as that. What of this awful business threatening my fiancé? I thought you wanted to resurrect your people and save them?"
But Azamuku only had eyes for the Triforce. The golden triangles spun around within the reflection of his cloudy, grey eyes. "Oh, is that what I said?" he replied, absently.
"Yes," I insisted. "You've been quite obnoxious."
He shrugged. "I have no excuse, only that I have suffered since that day. Failure weighing me down, the taste so bitter that I wanted to rip out my tongue." Azamuku's pathetic form continued to wilt and melt apart. "Perhaps you are just like them after all. You would rather see us obliterated from existence for the crime of welding magic. For being different."
"That isn't true."
"Your hesitation says otherwise. I saw you as a Hylian of compassion. Don't you want to change the fates of Carter, Kavia and Robbie?"
In that moment, I saw their three faces. Saw them laughing and eating with friends and family. Saw them watching the sunset in their respective lands. I had forgotten about them and my heart ached. Their sacrifices had shaped the whole direction of my life.
"Can I do that?" I whispered.
"Touch the Triforce and a world were all we have loved and lost shall live."
It sounded wonderful. To think, that the soldiers who had died in the Interloper War could be reunited with their loved ones. I could see my mother again… But words of father came to mind. He had told me, 'Easy choices can only make for a harder life overall.' It was too fantastical. I had been tricked before. I needed assurances.
"What of Yasei?"
This was non-negotiable.
Azamuku almost bowed towards me. "She will be safe in Hyrule of course."
"And what will you do with the Interlopers once they've returned?"
"Ronri." He tutted. "I no longer thirst for blood or petty revenge. I simply wish to travel the interdimensional realm and find a new home for my people. It will be this world's loss, but ultimately all I want is to live in peace."
"That is all?"
Azamuku sank to his knees. "From one magician to another, I speak the truth." He looked up at me. "Please, save us."
Children will often reach out and touch dangerous things, but a parent guides their hand away. I had no one to guide me now.
I took a few steps towards those shining, golden triangles. My hand hovered near the Triforce and that was when all hell broke loose.
I felt like one of those little people in a snow globe that had been shook up and down. The whizz of my jumbled senses fought to right themselves, as I tried to recollect why the Triforce was over there and I was well…over here.
"Thank the Goddesses we're not too late."
Oh dear, company already? I thought.
"No stop, Rauru. That's enough. He can't help himself. I'll make sure he doesn't break in again, I promise."
The number of white haired, moustached men I had met on my travels grew once more. This Rauru fellow had tufted eyebrows that reminded me of a horned owl.
"Young lady, I appreciate your warnings. You've been a great help, but he disturbed the barrier of light." The man's double chin wobbled as he spoke. "There is far too much at risk here, a slap on the wrist is hardly a deterrent. And you cannot say for certain what's in his heart either. Imagine what could happen to the world. What silly desires he might have."
"Silly desires?"My hands balled into fists. "Is it silly to resurrect a race of people unreasonably decimated by the Light Spirits?"
"It certainly is. That race of people would have brought an age of darkness to Hyrule. The Goddesses took action to preserve the balance of power." Rauru appeared to be pointing at me, except I couldn't see his hands, they were hidden under baggy orange sleeves. "Your meddling would have consequences you cannot begin to understand."
"Moron, what are you doing?"
"Darling, I didn't expect to see you here, heh." I laughed but at such a dark look from Yasei it died swiftly.
"Drugging your betrothed, really?"
Her browbeating made my shoulders sag. I should have known better than to trust Kusuri. His sleeping potions really are useless.
"You have brought evil to this sacred place," Rauru interjected. "Whether it be without ill intentions…" He turned to face what was left of Azamuku. "…I must cast it out and restore order here. For that is my duty as the Sage of Light after all."
"No, please, he's the last Interloper." I crawled along the floor towards the Triforce. "You can't just erase him from existence."
"Goodness Ronri, to think you still actually care. I'm touched indeed." Azamuku's smile was crooked. "As for bringing evil here, good sage, perhaps you would do well to mind your words."
"And what do you mean by that?" Rauru snapped back.
The dark sorcerer tossed his head. "For someone claiming to be a sage, I have to question your wisdom. Hyrule really will be in trouble with halfwit guardians such as you."
"You can mouth off all you like." The light sage patted the embroidered insignia of the Royal Family upon his chest. "I will stop you."
I had always found pompous boasting before battle rather unnecessary. But the enticing prospect of a magical duel made it almost worth it. As spheres of glowing white energy were conjured by one, familiar black and silver discs were formed by the other.
"What are you waiting for?" Azamuku roared. "Get the Triforce."
"Yes, right."
I took to my feet and stumbled once more. Back up the hill, the grass susurrated underfoot. I heard the fizzes and bangs of Rauru and Azamuku's magic echo behind me. Such intense energy bombardment had my stomach churning. I felt cold and hot at the same time.
Courage, now, I rallied myself.
Not far away, the golden triangles sparkled and gleamed. Reaching out, I stopped dead.
What should I ask for? The simplest request would be the rebirth of the Interlopers. But would that mean they would return as mere babes? I pondered. That was hardly what Azamuku meant. What about the salvation of all the dearly departed? Oh, but a sudden influx of the risen dead might be a bit much. My hand went back and forth. Goodness, this isn't as easy as I thought!
"No, you don't."
"Ooff!" Tackled to the ground and flipped over, the sudden weight on my front held me down. My skin pinched in uncomfortable places as I bucked and wriggled. "My dear, as much as I adore you, I'm getting rather tired of being man handled this way."
Yasei snarled, "Then stop doing stupid things."
"But my promise and –"
"Your promises are horse dung." Her knees dug into my hips as she straddled me.
"Not all of them," I sulked. "Can't you see? I'm doing this so we can live in peace."
"Betraying the King and calling back a bunch of dark sorcerers is not gonna bring peace to anyone. You told me to trust you, but how can I? You've gone mad."
"Steady on."
She shook her head. "I don't know how that bastard warped your mind, but I know in my gut this ain't right. It's changing you and not in a good way. You're scaring me."
"I'm scaring you?"
"Oh Ronri." She pawed at my chest. "Kilton'll be turning the place over for breakfast by now. Haven't left him alone this long since that ginger nutter kidnapped me. Let's just go back to the shop, hmm? We could have honey crepes. You told me about them, they sound nice."
"But Azamuku said I could bring them back. Carter, Kavia, Robbie, the soldiers - maybe even mother."
Yasei stroked long fingers through my hair. Her voice softened. "You can't bring people back from the dead. I might not know where they go, but once they're gone, they're gone. Messing around with life and death, I mean-"
"I could save them," I said.
"No, sweetheart." Her eyes glittered with tears. "Forget all this."
"I…"
The first whisps of purple smoke had been hidden by the dim light of our surroundings. With heightened emotions, however, this had become much clearer.
A horrific scream was torn from Yasei's throat as the dark triangle mark glowed on her arm. Heliotrope lightning stormed within those curly, brown locks and green eyes bled into red lifeless ones. I could only watch helplessly as the abominable transformation occurred.
"What's happening to her?" My cries reached Azamuku and Rauru who halted their duel.
The Light Sage's mouth dropped open.
The Dark Sorcerer frowned. "So that was it. Ganondorf, you truly are the evillest of men."