Chapter 41: The Hall of the Demon King
Guest Reviews:
James Birdsong (Guest): Thank you!
Dracofighter (Guest): Final battle time! Yay! Thank you!
The silence was stark in the absence of the clash and roar of battle that had rung in Link's ears mere moments before. His lone pair of footsteps thudded woodenly against the uneven rootlike ground, thick dark clouds of some evil miasma stirring up as he passed. He held the Master Sword ready, its light and the glow of his secret stone banishing the darkness around him.
He paused as the corridor ended, on the threshold of a massive circular room that looked very much like the inside of a tree, with the pulsating Gloom roots winding along the walls and floor.
The Demon King is there. Ganondorf.
Link closed his eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath as his heart pounded hard.
He had been almost evenly matched against the phantom within the Great Deku Tree. Just how much stronger was Ganondorf himself? Especially considering how handily he had defeated the sages of the past. And Link had seen multiple times that Ganondorf was every bit as cunning as he was cruel and powerful. An intelligent foe – most unlike the Calamity, which had either mindlessly wandered around in a circle or gobbled up every bit of ancient Sheikah tech it came across.
Link was afraid. Ganondorf had already separated him from the other sages. The Demon King had nearly killed him twice already. And this time… the stakes are far higher if I lose.
He let out a slow, calming breath.
The fact that Ganondorf separated me from everyone else proves Riju's point. He's weaker – he doesn't want to face all of us at once. I still may not be enough to stop him… but it is my duty to try.
His thoughts turned to Rauru – the first King of Hyrule, the prior Sage of Light. A man who acted with great poise, calm even in the midst of battle, who devoted all he was to the protection of his people. Whose mantle Link had vowed to uphold.
He squared his shoulders and walked into the Demon King's chamber. I will fight for the protection of Hyrule – for the protection of my people. My friends. That is what a king must do.
Link's gaze was drawn at once to a gnarled, twisted altar made of the Gloom roots and studded with thorns in the center of the room. Sacs of pulsating crimson magic, like fungus, oozed steadily up through the spiraling roots, into a jagged throne at the top. The mummified corpse of Ganondorf sat calmly on the throne without reacting to Link's arrival. Link shifted to a defensive stance, reaching inward for his light magic without yet releasing it. Wait. Wait and see what he does. This is not a battle to charge blindly forward into.
"How disappointing," the corpse rasped, Gloom surging a bright crimson through the altar of roots. "This world should be shrouded in darkness, not bathed in insufferable light. All these weak, peace-loving cowards running rampant…"
Link's brow furrowed as he heard a slight hissing of magic behind him, and out of the corner of his eye he could see a red film closing him off from the corridor beyond.
"And here you are," Ganondorf continued, a sneer in his voice. "The mightiest warrior Hyrule has to offer – a man I have defeated twice before already. It would have been more… satisfying, to overcome a worthy foe."
Golden eyes flared to life in the Demon King's shrunken skull, and at once his secret stone began to shine brightly. With a grinding and creaking of ancient joints, the Demon King raised a withered hand, gathering up crimson tendrils together to form an orb in his palm. Link tightened his grip on the Master Sword, watchful, waiting, ready to shield himself the instant the attack flew from the Demon King's fist –
And instead Ganondorf thrust the magic into the ground at his feet. A torrent of blood-red magic engulfed him entirely, raging and roaring in a terrible inferno, and Link narrowed his eyes against the fierce wave of heat that wafted over him from the blaze.
When the flames cleared, Ganondorf stood at the top of the altar revitalized, the very picture of the mighty Gerudo King he had been in the past. Withered flesh was replaced with rippling muscle beneath eerie green skin, a Gerudo tattoo emblazoned across his shoulder. Instead of ancient rags, he wore a dark, regal robe with brightly-colored designs along the inside, and ornate golden jewelry across his chest, shoulders, arms, and ankles, evidence of his kingly status. His face was stern and powerful, no longer gaunt and deathly. He walked forward, towards the edge of the altar, and even with feet clad only in light wrappings Link could hear their heavy impact.
"Regardless," Ganondorf continued grimly, his voice no longer a rattling rasp but rather just as deep as his stature would imply – a voice that demanded obeisance. "I will reshape this world as it was meant to be. I will crush any opposition – I will rule. That is what a king must do."
He leapt down from the altar, sending a tremor through the ground, and straightened up to his full height – possibly nine feet at least, Link thought, his heart stuttering. A single blow from this man will kill me. I do not have the mass to take any damage from him.
"Do not look away," Ganondorf growled, gripping the sheath of the long katana at his side in his left hand. The sword he drew forth in his right was black as midnight, with a wickedly sharp blade that glinted crimson. Its ornate golden hilt fit perfectly in his massive hand as he gripped it with well-practiced ease, even eagerness. "You witness a king's revival… and the birth of his new world!"
The battle began.
Link waited for Ganondorf to come to him. The Demon King's approach was slow, leisurely, as if he were merely taking a casual stroll through his palace – more accurately, Link thought, as if he were still stalling for time.
When at last his attack came, it was lightning-fast, but Link was prepared – he dodged easily out of the way, and flashed the Master Sword up to block Ganondorf's follow-up attack. Link's heart jolted as his arm was twisted fiercely to the side as Ganondorf countered his block, and a spike of panic surged through his veins in the face of his enemy's sheer, overwhelming strength.
Damnit! Blocking's not an option.
Link jogged backwards, holding the Master Sword defensively in both hands and flexing his arm – strained, but not badly, something he would recover from in a matter of moments. Don't do that again.
Ganondorf followed him, still at his infuriatingly slow pace, his feet thudding solidly against the ground. Link's heart raced, adrenaline surging through his blood. Ganondorf attacked again, slashing his sword forward – this time Link quickened his mind, activating his power over time as his secret stone flashed brightly. He ducked beneath Ganondorf's sword and thrust the Master Sword forward, stabbing upwards towards his enemy's chest. But the instant his blade pierced flesh, Ganondorf dodged sideways. Time resumed its normal flow, and Link swallowed thickly, glancing at the shallow wound he'd inflicted dripping crimson down the Demon King's abdomen.
"Light and time magic, eh?" Ganondorf chuckled, entirely unfazed by his injury. "A cheap trick to grant you greater speed. One that your dear companion did not figure out. A pity – it would have made her a far more interesting foe."
Link ignored the dig, the comments about Zelda, as Ganondorf attacked again. Link dodged, used his magic to slow time once more, and this time Ganondorf was ready – he leapt backwards, out of the way, and the Master Sword missed entirely.
But the next time Ganondorf lunged, Link didn't activate his stone. Ganondorf, expecting him to slow time again, leapt sideways to escape a blow that never came. Link activated his powers in the instant before Ganondorf's feet touched the ground again, charging towards the Demon King and stabbing his blade forward. A successful slice across Ganondorf's side – and as Ganondorf's feet landed solidly, he twisted, swinging his blade out to knock Link away. Link stumbled backwards from the force of the blow, his hands tingling unpleasantly on the Master Sword's hilt.
"Is that all?" Ganondorf sneered. "How about this?" He conjured a writhing orb of crimson magic in his left hand, wound his arm back to throw, and hurtled it in Link's direction. At once Link lifted his arms at an angle, still maintaining his grip on the Master Sword, and a shield of light appeared in front of him, dispelling the evil magic.
We're evenly matched. There's nothing he can do that I can't counter – and nothing I can do that he can't counter.
This is more a battle of stamina than of skill. Whoever flags first will win.
The battle continued, a dance of swords and magic, an endless back and forth. Between exchanges Link's thoughts turned to the chunk of luminous stone in his pocket; he longed to take it out, to see what its status was. A battle of stamina would not end favorably for Hyrule, regardless of whether Link or Ganondorf won their duel.
When night falls, he will be at his most powerful. When night falls, the attack on Lookout Landing begins.
When night falls, so will Hyrule.
And Link had spent the entire day in combat, whereas presumably Ganondorf had been lounging on his throne of Gloom and thorns. Link could feel the telltale waver in his limbs – not the numbing weakness of full fatigue, not yet, but getting close.
I will falter first. My strength will not last.
He tried being more aggressive, slowing time for a longer period. Yet somehow Ganondorf's reflexes remained quick enough to keep up with Link's onslaught, and the only result was wearing out Link's own energy faster. He didn't try that again, and used his time magic only to dodge Ganondorf's attacks.
"I tire of this game of cat and mouse," Ganondorf snarled. "Stand and fight! Are you really so afraid of me?"
Link felt a twinge of annoyance. "You haven't let up your guard this entire time," he growled. "You're just as frightened of me."
Ganondorf's lip curled in offense, but he wisely didn't attack more recklessly in the wake of Link's words.
More proof to my point. We're evenly matched, and he knows it.
The battle forged onward. It seemed Ganondorf was reluctant to use more of his magic than the orbs he shot in Link's direction – perhaps it tired him just as much as slowing time drained Link. Only the sound of their footsteps, Link's quick and Ganondorf's slow and heavy, and their breaths, growing increasingly heavy and strained, sounded through the chamber. The stink of sweat and Gloom hung heavily in the warm air. Ganondorf's chest glistened, and Link found himself blinking sweat from his eyes more and more frequently. The clatter of steel on steel was conspicuously absent, as Link avoided clashing blades with the Demon King as often as possible, wary of how easily Ganondorf could overpower him.
Then the sound of a thunderbolt crashed through the chamber, and Link's blood surged as he watched Ganondorf's head begin to turn. At once he quickened his mind and activated his powers over time. He lunged forward with gritted teeth, thrusting the Master Sword into Ganondorf's abdomen and angling upwards, forcing the blade deeper with both hands, pouring all of his strength into the blow –
Ganondorf leapt backwards with a pained grunt, blood dripping in a thick stream from the fresh wound in his torso. His gaze narrowed upon Link as the sages rushed into the chamber, their path cleared by Riju's lightning.
"We're with you, Link!" Tulin said firmly, flying up to Link's side as the others gathered around him.
"Let's take him down together," Sidon growled.
"Your numbers mean nothing," Ganondorf sneered. "And I am not even nearing the limits of my power!"
At a wave of his hand, four blood-red, Gloom ridden phantoms bubbled up from the ground, each perfect imitations of their master – one armed with a club, another with a bow, a third with a spear, and a fourth with a sword. Link swallowed as he recognized the parallels. One for each of the Sages.
Goddesses – and I'm barely a match for Ganondorf myself, and I'm the most experienced of us all!
"Stay close!" Link commanded. "Focus on dodging over blocking!" And the sages formed the protective circle they had used when fighting the Demon King's forces beyond the dark chamber. But unlike the bokoblins, which had attacked without thought or plan, Ganondorf and his phantoms advanced as one, just as united as the sages themselves.
The sages responded with their elemental attacks, utilizing the power of their secret stones – powers that Ganondorf's phantoms did not have. Burned, electrocuted, blown back by fierce gusts of wind and slipping on puddles of water, the phantoms struggled to overcome the sages as Link and Ganondorf continued as they had been, equally matched, unable to land decisive blows on each other.
And then the sages managed to start breaking the phantoms' formation, circumventing Ganondorf's plan. Yunobo could take any number of arrows to his solid, rocky form, all while gaining ground on the archer phantom. Tulin, with his bow, had far greater range than the phantom with a spear, and could strike it rapidly from further away. And Riju, with her speed and ferocity, danced circles around the phantom attempting to smash her with its slow, heavy club, as Sidon used his spear to land blows over and under the sword-wielding phantom's blade.
Bit by bit, the sages beat the phantoms down, dealing wounds that sprayed Gloom across the ground – Gloom that Link struggled to dissipate with his own light magic, dodging away from Ganondorf to keep his companions safe from its wicked influence. If they can get rid of the phantoms – if we can all face down Ganondorf together – !
With a roar, Yunobo smashed his phantom against the side of the chamber, and it exploded into a thick, writhing cloud of crimson mist that faded to nothing as it drifted upwards.
"I'm coming, Link!" the Goron shouted out determinedly, tucking into a ball and charging towards the Demon King.
Yes! Link cheered inwardly, slowing time and attacking Ganondorf at the same time, so that he would be forced to choose who to dodge – he would not be able to escape both of them.
Ganondorf flipped out of the way of the Master Sword, only for Yunobo to crash into his side and send him stumbling. Link was ready, slowing time once more in the instant that the Demon King's balance was compromised. But he saw the wicked glint in Ganondorf's eyes, the slight twist of a cruel grin –
A thick wave of Gloom erupted from the Ganondorf's body. Link was thrown off of his feet and landed hard with a pained grunt, his skull knocking solidly against the ground. Wincing, shaking his head, he stumbled wearily back to his feet, drawing on his light magic to dispel the burn of Gloom from around himself. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes were drawn to a bright turquoise glow on the ground.
My chunk of luminous stone.
It was glowing brightly enough that his eyes stung in the thick, oppressive darkness of the Demon King's hall.
The other sages were not so fortunate. With tendrils of Gloom eagerly wrapping around them they fell back, their groans of pain and discomfort grating on Link's soul. Gritting his teeth, he raced around the chamber, light beaming from his hand and passing over his companions, an attempt to release them from Gloom's grasp.
Ganondorf remained in the center of the chamber. His secret stone began to glow, and with a wave of his hand another whirling vortex of crimson flame flared up from his feet and danced across his body, leaving in its wake the charred-looking flesh of the Demon King, Gloom blazing across his chest and burning ominously at the ends of his blackened robes. A thick mane of blood-red hair writhing like flames trailed out from his horned head, and animalistic golden eyes gleamed beneath his heavy brow.
"Enjoy these final moments," the Demon King laughed with a eerily resonating, distorted voice, easily stepping to the side of Riju's lightning. His gaze never left Link as he beckoned with clawed fingers. "I will be taking far more than your arm this time."
He thrust his blade into the ground and sent out another, thicker wave of Gloom radiating outwards. Link grunted as he blocked with his light magic, and his heart lurched as he noticed that this wave of Gloom hadn't attacked his companions – rather, it formed a twisting, billowing protective wall around the middle of the chamber, locking in Link and Ganondorf from the rest of the sages.
"Coward," Link spat.
Ganondorf merely chuckled, beckoning once again. "I'm merely evening the odds," he smirked. "Or wasn't five against one more cowardly?"
They engaged once more. After more draining uses of light magic and ongoing combat, Link realized anxiously that he was far closer to his limits now – he could feel his strength flagging, adrenaline struggling to sustain him as he sidestepped, juked, leapt, swung, and stabbed at the Demon King. He could hear, but tried not to pay much attention to, the voices of the sages beyond the wall of Gloom.
"Show the Demon King who's boss!" Yunobo cheered.
"You can do it, Link!" Tulin shouted.
"I believe in you, my friend!" Sidon's usually irrepressibly optimistic tones were underlaid with palpable worry.
"Take him down!" Riju exclaimed.
Their faith was encouraging. It fueled his courage, granting him the strength to continue the fight, even as the Master Sword began to feel heavy in his sweat-slicked hands.
"Just give up," Ganondorf smirked, seeming barely winded as Link heaved for breath, his hair hanging sweaty and lank in his face.
Never! Link waited for the Demon King's next attack and dodged, calling once more on the powers of his secret stone.
But it was a feint – the Demon King's left hand snaked forward once time resumed its natural flow, catching Link across the side and sending him flying with a breathless grunt, landing in a heap on the ground. Winded, his chest aching, Link surged quickly back to his feet, stumbling just a little.
Surely – surely he's not strong enough to crack a rib with his bare hands!
The ache in his chest didn't fade.
Gritting his teeth, Link waited as the Demon King attacked again, very well aware by now of his growing fatigue. His arms shook as he held the Master Sword aloft in both hands. The sages seemed to be discussing how to get past the Demon King's barrier of Gloom. Link paid them no mind, and this time when Riju's lightning struck, not even Ganondorf was startled by it – and the barrier remained standing.
It was well past nightfall by now. There was no light remaining in the world above. It was all Link could do to keep his mind honed in on the fight at hand, forcing his weary limbs to move with their usual speed even as his muscles begged for a rest. Sweat dripped down his face. His lungs heaved as he fought onwards.
"Pathetic," Ganondorf shook his head. "You're not going to win. You're wasting what little time you have left."
It's my duty to try. The encouraging calls of his friends rang in his head. Link dodged Ganondorf's next attack, swung out with the Master Sword, forced the Demon King to dodge. He must tire eventually!
Ganondorf conjured up an orb of writhing crimson magic, and fired in Link's direction. At once Link brought up his hands, groaning through gritted teeth at the strain now of calling forth his light shield. He dispelled it as soon as the attack was dissipated –
And then his body lurched forward, seemingly of its own accord. Link's light shield vanished, and he felt a flicker of surprise finding that Ganondorf was no longer looming in front of him.
Then the pain set in, and Link swallowed back a pained cry, glancing down at himself and finding Ganondorf's sword punching through his body from behind, entering beneath his ribcage in his back and angling downwards to burst through his stomach with a smear of blood on its tip.
With a cruel smirk Ganondorf twisted the blade sideways and Link screamed, his muscles seizing and his back arching at the feel of the sword slicing into him. His vision blurred, black and red flashing before his eyes. But – but Ganondorf was close, and for once his sword was occupied – gritting his teeth, Link thrust the Master Sword backwards with a pained cry, only for the Demon King to easily step away and yank his sword free. Link crumpled to his knees, fighting to breathe through the pain, feeling blood rapidly soaking through his tunic and undershirt.
"Took long enough," Ganondorf chuckled, shaking his head. "You've escaped my killing blow twice before, boy – not a third time." He raised his arms high above his head, and the wall of Gloom reached higher, keeping Link separate from the sages. They had all gone suddenly, horribly quiet, as Ganondorf waited with folded arms, watching for Link to die.
Link ground his teeth together, his mind whirling and racing, fighting against rising despair as he pressed his trembling left hand fiercely against his burning stomach, already tasting blood rising up in the back of his throat. That… that can't… have we… lost?
He felt a sudden electric tingle through his veins and groaned through his teeth, his spine stiffening. But it was followed almost immediately by a cool, soothing rush like water, and then the buffeting of a breeze, and a surge of fire. His eyes narrowed as he remembered his attack on Ganondorf's armies at Lookout Landing.
The sages… they're lending me their strength. Just – just as they did then.
Swallowing thickly, Link reached deep inside himself, finding the quiet calm glow of light magic. He lifted his trembling, bloodied hands at an angle, keeping hold of the Master Sword, watching Ganondorf carefully.
The Demon King laughed. "Your pathetic shield won't save you now," he gloated, shaking his head as if in pity.
Link inhaled as deeply as he could manage, then exhaled slowly. His secret stone flashed to life, and through it he drew on the powers of the other sages, channeling all of them together into a single orb of golden light, smaller than what he had used against the monster armies – he hoped no less devastating.
He saw the moment in which Ganondorf realized what he was about to do. Saw the Demon King's face twist into a feral snarl as he rushed forward to stop him, to thrust his blade decisively through Link's heart –
With a strained bellow, Link released the mighty beam of magic, striking Ganondorf squarely in the chest and bowling him over, where he lay, his chest smoking.
The Gloom wall receded, but it did not disappear entirely. Groaning, clutching his chest, Ganondorf staggered back to his feet, his breaths ragged and strained.
Link grit his teeth. Mustering the final reserves of his own strength, he pushed to his feet and lifted the Master Sword high. Crying out, he forced himself into a run. His vision flashed white. Holding a hand out to brace himself against Ganondorf's torso, he thrust the Master Sword into the Demon King's chest, burying it to the hilt. Then with a growl he yanked it back out, letting thick crimson blood spurt forth.
Ganondorf's breath caught, and he stared in rage and fury at the sacred blade and her wielder. "No…" he groaned through clenched teeth. "I will yet rule this land! A mere mortal… will not stand in my way! You will not stop me!"
He kicked Link to the ground, where he lay in agony, his left arm wrapped desperately around his blood-soaked middle, his right still clinging to the Master Sword. No… no! How – how is he still standing?
Link's dismay turned rapidly to horror as Ganondorf grabbed the secret stone in his crown and yanked it free with a trail of crimson sparks. The Demon King doubled over, breathing heavily, pressing his free hand to the gaping wound in his chest for a moment.
"My body… my mind… everything!" Ganondorf roared, his voice strained with desperation that hinged on madness even as he drew himself back to his full height. "I'll sacrifice it all to destroy you, and cast this world into eternal night!"
The Gloom barrier at once dispelled, and the sages rushed forward. Link's heart hammered in his throat as he staggered back to his feet, reaching out as if to stop it, somehow –
And Ganondorf thrust his secret stone into his mouth.
A howl of anguish tore from his throat, crimson tendrils of Gloom bursting from his body and writhing around him, keeping the sages well back and painfully battering Link's body, searing through his tunic and mail. But the howl morphed into wild laughter, as a bright orb of crimson light swallowed him up. A massive dark shape burst forth, and Link shouted out as a colossal pair of jaws snapped around him, pinning him in the small gap between two massive fangs.
There was a sudden thunderous impact as the Demon Dragon collided with the roof of the chamber and burst through, twisting rapidly upwards through stone and Gloom-ridden wood. Link clung to the Master Sword with every ounce of strength he had left, fighting the rising tide of despair tightening around his soul.
He – he draconified! I'm – I'm going to die; it was all for nothing!
His hopes plummeted further as the Demon Dragon erupted into crisp, open air, the sky black and spattered with stars. He could see, far down below, the bright orange blaze of fires around – and seemingly in Lookout Landing.
Their battle goes just as poorly as mine. What… what hope do we have?
The Demon Dragon wound its way steadily higher and higher into the sky. Link closed his eyes, desperately searching for some fragment of hope.
I… I'm still alive. It's not an immediately fatal wound. And I still have the Master Sword – that has to count for something! And… and…
His eyes flashed open as Mineru's words returned to him, and his heart pounded hard in his chest.
"A dragon has three sets of limbs, as well as a beating heart," she had said. "There are spikes all down its back, and four of them – one for each pair of limbs, one for its heart – act as conduits for its power. Break down the spikes, and the dragon's secret stone will be revealed. Destroy the stone, and you destroy the dragon."
The Demon Dragon could be killed.
I'm still alive. As long as I'm alive, and I've got the Master Sword, there's hope!
Grinding his teeth together, he braced himself against the Demon Dragon's teeth and heaved with as much strength as he could muster, groaning at the searing flare of pain from the open wound through his body. Determined, he pushed again, his arms trembling from the effort, only for them to give out entirely and leave him slumped over against the dragon's great jaw.
Then a familiar roar echoed through the heavens, and Link's blood surged. He looked up in astonishment to see the Light Dragon streaking towards them, faster than he had ever seen her fly before. Her gaze was no longer empty and drifting, but fixed on the Demon Dragon – on Link, in its jaws.
The Demon Dragon roared a challenge, and the force of its bellow sent Link tumbling out of its jaws with a startled cry, and fighting the sharp burn in his side he fought to spread his arms and legs and stabilize his fall. The Light Dragon rocketed towards him, and the Demon Dragon snapped its jaws at her – she weaved easily to the side, racing downwards and catching Link on her soft brow.
He lay still for a moment, winded, and clung to her fur as she flew rapidly upwards again, the Demon Dragon following close behind and then overtaking them, twisting back around to face them and roaring again, cutting off their escape. The Light Dragon slowed her advance, waiting for the Demon Dragon to make another move, much as Link had done throughout his battle with Ganondorf.
It was his first full view of the creature, and it looked every bit as evil and imposing as Ganondorf himself. Its serpentine body was thick and long, far bigger than any of the other dragons. Its scales were black as obsidian, with a blood-red glow pulsing beneath them that matched the thick mane of hair blazing out behind a jagged, thorny crown of horns. Its tail looked like a firebrand, tapered and ablaze with crimson spikes.
Grunting, a hand on his side, Link pushed shakily to his knees, breathing hard. He winced at the crimson splatter against the Light Dragon's white fur and murmured a hoarse apology before tearing off several strips from the bottom of his scorched, tattered tunic. He wadded up one of the strips and held it painfully against the front side of his wound, binding it in place with another strip. Goddesses willing, that'll be enough to keep me from bleeding out.
"Alright," he murmured tiredly, stroking her brow with his left hand. "I'm as ready as I'll be. Can you get me up above him?"
One for each pair of limbs. One for its heart.
The Light Dragon streamed upwards, and Link lay flat against her head, holding tightly to her fur until she leveled out again. Then he leapt over the side of her head, angling his body down towards the pair of limbs furthest down the Demon Dragon's tail. I'll work my way up to the head!
The Light Dragon gave a short roar and streaked down below the Demon Dragon again, passing Link and sending currents of air pushing him closer to his destination. Then she began circling below the beast, as if to catch him again should he fall. His eyes prickled, his heart warm and full in the face of her devotion. Thank you.
He landed on the Demon Dragon's back, some distance from the first pair of legs. Tendrils of Gloom sprang up from its scales, wrapping around him, and he couldn't stifle a pained groan as it activated the trace amounts of corruption left in his blood. Gritting his teeth, a hand over the wound in his gut, he set out towards the nearest spike along the Demon Dragon's spine. With a fierce cry, he struck it with the Master Sword, and it shattered into tiny fragments, revealing a crater with a bulbous mass of crimson magic covered in eyes. Wrinkling his nose in disgust, Link punctured it with his blade, and at once it exploded, sending out a geyser of slick, wet Gloom that spattered over his body and threw him from the Demon Dragon's back.
Hissing in pain, Link spread out his arms, gaining control over his fall as the Light Dragon climbed towards him, dancing effortlessly through the sky and catching him on the tip of her nose before carrying him higher once more. The light magic emanating from her body at once eased the surging Gloom through his veins and the sting across his torso where it had splashed over him, but he couldn't suppress an agonizing cough bubbling up from his throat, and blood dripped from his lips. Wiping his mouth, he murmured a quiet thanks to the Light Dragon before leaping off once more, diving down to the next set of the Demon Dragon's limbs. Three to go!
But the Demon Dragon moved out of the way before he could land. The Light Dragon caught him quickly, bringing him back up for another attempt, and this time when he leaped, the Demon Dragon's jaws parted, and it sprayed out a thick wave of globular crimson orbs towards them. Link managed to glide past them, and prayed the Light Dragon did the same as she streaked down below him.
He dropped successfully onto the Demon Dragon's back, this time much closer to the spike he had been aiming for. Clutching his stomach he staggered towards it, destroying the spike with the Master Sword and piercing the disgusting mass within. Another fierce explosion of Gloom dislodged him, sending him once more tumbling head over heels through the sky until the Light Dragon caught him.
We can still do this – we will destroy him!
The Demon Dragon sprayed another volley of wicked-looking magic. Link successfully dived between them, landing next to the spike above the beast's final pair of limbs. He struck, and struck again, and a burst of Gloom crashed into him yet again. Link's vision clouded over; he regained consciousness what had to have been mere moments later on the Light Dragon's forehead, cleansed of Gloom but feeling unbearably cold and sick to his stomach. Glancing at the hasty bandage over his side, he wasn't particularly surprised to see it glistening already with fresh blood. He closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling as heavily as his battered body would allow.
I will not fall – this is something only I can do. We will finally stop him.
Opening his eyes, he leapt again off of the Light Dragon's brow, tucking his arms against his side and flying down towards the Demon Dragon's side, aiming for a spot between the first two sets of limbs. Surely that's where its heart is… Goddesses willing, I'm right.
He struck the nearest spike, and though a piece chipped off, it didn't shatter as the others had. Muttering a curse, fighting Gloom with each step, he stumbled to the next spike up. This time it burst into pieces, revealing the final pulsing mass of eyeballs. Link burst it with a thrust of his blade, and managed to dodge the eruption of Gloom that followed, charging over the Demon Dragon's back towards the Light Dragon below.
At once the night sky turned a deep bloodred, and Link's stomach clenched at the sight of the blood moon rising in the sky. The Light Dragon caught him and carried him once more to the highest reaches of the sky, the blue and gold of her body shining even brighter in the blood moon's glow. Link spotted something glowing brightly between the Demon Dragon's eyes, trailing crimson sparks as it roared and raged beneath them.
Break down the spikes, and the dragon's secret stone will be revealed.
"There," Link grunted, pointing towards the Demon Dragon's head, and the Light Dragon turned towards it with a roar. But as she drew level with it, the crimson magic spewed from its maw struck her side and she let out a pained cry, the light across her body flickering. Link cringed, patting her head consolingly. "Never mind, never mind – just get me below him!"
She swooped downwards, arcing beneath the Demon Dragon's body, out of range of his magical attacks. Sucking in a harsh breath, Link reached up with his right arm glowing green and partially Fused himself into the base of the Demon Dragon's skull, Ascending upwards through it to its brow. His limbs seized up as Gloom writhed around his limbs and in through his blood, burning where it touched. As darkness and pain closed in around him, pressing in on all sides, he clawed his way upwards, straining to keep his focus on the Fuse spell until at last his head burst free, and he dragged himself out of the Demon Dragon's head with a half-sob of agony, a mere few feet away from the secret stone.
Link's breaths were ragged and strained, and he groaned through his bloodied teeth as he called on the power of his secret stone, keeping the Gloom at bay as he crawled towards the Demon Dragon's stone with the Master Sword in hand. Heaving himself unsteadily to his feet and bracing one hand against the stone, he smacked his blade against its shimmering surface – once, twice, three and then four times, spiderwebbing cracks appearing across its surface before at last bursting entirely, leaving a deep fissure going all the way through the stone.
The Demon Dragon shook itself again with a deafening roar, and Link crumpled to his knees, nearly falling off entirely. Mustering his strength, Link dragged himself back up to the center of the secret stone. He raised the Master Sword high in both hands, and plunged it through the fissure.
The Demon Dragon howled, twisting violently beneath him as beams of light burst forth from the center of the stone. Link clung to the Master Sword, hoping, praying it would be enough –
With a violent toss of its head the Demon Dragon dislodged the Master Sword, sending it and Link tumbling through the sky.
But the Light Dragon caught him faithfully on her head one last time, and Link pushed wearily to his knees with a trembling arm, watching the Demon Dragon above them in dread and anticipation as Gloom spurted from the four wounds Link had opened up along its back, and a blinding light engulfed its broken secret stone.
The Demon Dragon roared, and it seemed for a moment that it was falling from the sky. In perhaps a final act of defiance, it shook itself and began to fly upwards, high, higher than Link and the Light Dragon, crimson sparks and black wispy clouds of mist drifting away from its body as though it were dissolving. Even as it climbed, its limbs began to slow, its upward momentum decayed to a crawl, until at last it went entirely still.
Light erupted across its body, breaking holes in its back, belly, sides, and head, until it was engulfed entirely. With a sound like a thousand lightning bolts, the Demon Dragon exploded, sending a blinding flash of light across the sky.
When Link could see again, the sky was silent. The blood had faded from the clouds, and he could see the dim gray glow of dawn on the horizon. His heart pounded wearily in his chest, a great weight easing from his shoulders as he looked around, finding no trace of the Demon Dragon. Gazing down at the surface far below, he couldn't even see the fires of battle down around Lookout Landing.
We… we did it. We won. The Demon King… Ganondorf… is no more.