Dark's POV
The sun rises slowly over Hyrule Field, casting a golden hue across the landscape. A gentle breeze rustles through the grass, as the resistance army marches onward to meet Ganondorf and his dark forces in open battle. We traveled throughout the night after receiving his response yesterday agreeing to the exchange. Now today, we stand on the brink of destiny, a battle to determine the fate of Hyrule.
As we approach the open field, I can see Ganondorf enclosed by his knights, Amara, Ralph, and Gormac. Zelda, hands in chains, stands just behind them, her eyes glimmering with a hidden resolve. On either side of the group is the rest of Ganondorf's forces, I count several moblins, darknuts and Gerudo warriors interspersed with the lesser monsters - bokoblins and stalfos.
Our army is similar in size, composed of warriors, archers and armed farmers and artisans. Link is cloaked and hidden somewhere behind me, waiting for the right moment to reveal himself.
I stand at Rusl's side, playing my part.
The tension in the air is palpable as the two sides approach each other, the distance between them closing with each step. Ganondorf's eyes flicker with a sinister glow as he surveys our forces. He raises his hand, signaling his army to halt.
"Bring forth the prisoners," Ganondorf commands, his voice booming across the field. Two Bokoblins push Zelda forward roughly, and she stumbles, keeping her head low.
We move forward, closing the distance. Every step feels like a countdown to the inevitable clash. Ganondorf's gaze locks onto me, a mixture of suspicion and contempt flickering in his eyes. He thinks he still controls me. He couldn't be more wrong.
"Ah, Dark," He sneers, his lips curling into a malevolent smile. "How the mighty have fallen."
Rusl nods, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "Enough talk, release the princess."
That's Zelda's cue. Her eyes meet mine, bright with determination.
Ganondorf motions for Ralph to walk forward and meet me.
Ralph grips my arm tightly, his handsome face marred by his scowl. "One of our strongest, reduced to a bargaining chip. Enjoy your last moments of freedom, Dark. I bet the boss has a special punishment lined up just for you."
Then, it happens.
In a flash of blue light, Zelda vanishes only to reappear, free of her chains, at Rusl's side. Ganondorf's eyes widen in shock and fury.
"Now!" Rusl shouts, drawing his sword.
Chaos erupts. Ganondorf roars, his minions charging forward to meet our army.
In that same moment, I twist free from Ralph's grasp, my other hand already reaching for my weapon.
He stumbles for his sword, but it's too late. My blade slices through the air, catching him in the side. He stumbles back, clutching the wound.
I step forward, this time my sword finding its mark across his chest. Blood sprays, painting the ground in crimson. He gasps, a gurgling sound as he tries to speak, but I don't let him. With a final, powerful thrust, I drive my blade through his heart.
I hear Ganondorf roar, "Traitor!"
He knows now. He sees the truth in my actions.
I join the fray to my right, my heart pounding with adrenaline as I slice through a stalfos.
From his hidden position, Link emerges, the Master Sword gleaming in the early light. He charges forward, heading towards Ganondorf.
The battlefield erupts into chaos. The clash of steel against steel and the cries of battle fill the air.
"Dark!" shouts Link, already engaged with multiple foes. I start to make my way toward him, cutting down enemies as I go.
Amara, who is still standing close to Ganondorf, suddenly makes her move. She draws her daggers and strikes. She manages a thin slice on his right arm, before he dodges out of range. Relentlessly, she drives forward, aiming for his heart.
He catches her wrist with ease. "Another traitor," he hisses, driving his sword through her chest. She collapses to the ground, lifeless.
"Amara!" I shout, my voice drowned out by the din of battle. Rage fuels my movements as I continue to fight my way to Link's side.
Around us, the battle rages on. I see Gormac taken down by a group of resistance fighters, their combined efforts overwhelming him. The field is a chaotic mix of magic and swords, each side fighting with everything they have.
Ganondorf's eyes lock onto mine panicked, as his last loyal knight is taken down. I feel the dark magic he bestowed upon me stirring within. He is trying to command me, to bend my will to his.
I feel the pull, the darkness threatening to consume me. But I resist. With every ounce of strength, I push back.
"Fight for me! Kill them all!" Ganondorf's voice echoes in my mind, a sinister command.
"No," I grit out, refusing to yield. "I won't serve you."
I watch as Link finally reaches Ganondorf, the Master Sword bloody, but himself unharmed. There are still several lines of monsters between us, but I continue to make my way forward, cutting them down.
Link and Ganondorf clash with a thunderous roar, their swords sending shockwaves across the armies.
A Darknut crashes into me, and I dodge its heavy swing. I dispatch it with a quick strike to its exposed neck, but as it falls, more take its place.
—
Link's POV
Across from me, Ganondorf looms, a titan of malevolence, his eyes blazing with an unholy light. "This is where it ends, Hero. I won't make the same mistake twice, this time I will make sure you are dead!" he rumbles.
I step forward, my triforce glowing with courage. "Your reign of terror ends here. We will stop you."
He laughs "You think you can defeat me? I am the King of Darkness. I am eternal!"
With a roar, he summons a wave of dark energy, hurling it towards us. I raise my shield, deflecting the brunt of the attack, but the force of it sends us staggering backward.
I charge forward, the Master Sword glowing with a fierce light. Our blades clash, the sound of steel ringing through the air. Ganondorf is powerful, his strikes fueled by dark magic, but I fight with everything I have, each swing of my sword driven by the determination to protect Hyrule and those I love.
A beam of light flies into Ganondorf's shoulder, and he staggers. I look over my shoulder to see Princess Zelda holding a bow infused with pure, light magic.
With a snarl, he pulls the arrow out, and summons a vortex of darkness that starts to swirl around him.
With a battle cry, I charge, the Master Sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. I aim for Ganondorf's heart, but the dark lord is faster, sidestepping and swinging his own massive blade. The clash of steel echoes, a symphony of war and destiny. We fight with a ferocity born of desperation and resolve. My movements are fluid, a dance of grace and power, but he matches me blow for blow, his strength seemingly endless. Every strike I land is met with a counter that sends shockwaves through my body. Sweat pours down my face, my muscles screaming in protest. I can feel my strength waning, the relentless assault of Ganondorf taking its toll. But I can't stop, not now, not when so much is at stake. A sudden, searing pain explodes in my side as Ganondorf's blade finds its mark. I stagger, my vision blurring, but I force myself to remain upright, to keep fighting.
I swing the Master Sword with all my remaining strength, but my movements are sluggish, my body betraying me. I spot an opening, a moment of vulnerability in his stance. With a burst of adrenaline, I plunge the Master Sword into his abdomen, twisting the blade. Ganondorf roars in agony, blood pouring from the wound as he stumbles back, clutching his side. "You will pay for that!" he snarls, eyes blazing with fury. But I can see the pain etched on his face, the weakening in his movements. He lashes out in a final, desperate attempt to end me. I try to dodge, but I'm just not quick enough to avoid his blade as it slices through the air. The sword connects, and I feel the cold steel bite into my neck.
I fall to my knees, the Master Sword slipping from my grasp. Blood pours from the wound, and my hands press into my neck trying to staunch the bleeding. My thoughts turn to my friends, to Dark, to the land I have sworn to protect. I have given everything. As Ganondorf raises his sword for the final blow, I can only watch in horror, as the blade comes down with terrifying speed, severing my head from my body in a single, brutal stroke. The world tilts, and everything goes black.
—
Dark's POV
I am three strides away from him, paralyzed, as I watch my worst nightmare unfold.
"No!" I fell to my knees, a guttural cry of agony erupting from my soul as I saw Ganondorf raise the gleaming, wicked blade high above Link's head. Time seemed to slow, the seconds stretching into an eternity of horror.
Link's face was serene, a final, brave smile offered to me, a silent goodbye that shattered my heart into a million pieces. The blade descended with sickening finality, the sound of steel slicing through flesh echoing in my ears.
My grief morphed into a fierce, consuming rage, my vision narrowing to a single, burning focus: revenge.
The world had lost its color, its meaning. Link had been my anchor, my reason to fight, to strive for a better world. And now, all that remained was emptiness, a hollow void where my heart had once been.
My eyes remain fixed on Ganondorf, who is gloating over his victory.
"You really thought you could protect him, didn't you?" Ganondorf sneered, his eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. "You, a pathetic shadow, believing you could defy me and save your precious Link. How naive."
I struggled to my feet, my entire being shaking with fury.
"Look at you," he continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "What will you do now? Seek revenge? Pathetic. You can't bring him back, and you can't defeat me. You'll only end up as another casualty, another forgotten soul."
His laughter echoed through the desolate battlefield, a sound that grated against my very soul. But beneath his taunts, I found my resolve hardening. Link's sacrifice would not be in vain. I would channel my pain, my rage, into a force strong enough to bring Ganondorf to his knees.
"Come, then, Let's end this farce." he sneers, raising his blood stained sword. But I can see he's injured, the wound from Link's strike still bleeding heavily.
I'm already moving, my body driven by pure adrenaline and fury. I sprint towards Link's fallen form, my eyes never leaving Ganondorf. With a swift, desperate motion, I seize the Master Sword, its hilt still warm from Link's grip. Pain shot through my arm like wildfire, the blade's purity searing my flesh. My skin blistered and cracked, blood seeping from the raw wounds, but I didn't let go. I couldn't. This was the only way.
Ganondorf sneers, but his eyes show fear. "You think you can defeat me, boy?" he snarls, trying to mask his pain.
I don't answer. With a roar of pure rage, I launch myself at him. He raises his blade, but his movements are sluggish, his strength drained. I drive the Master Sword forward with all my might, aiming straight for his heart.
Ganondorf's eyes widened in shock as the holy sword cleaved through his armor, plunging deep into his heart. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, with a blinding flash, the dark energy surrounding him shattered, dissipating into nothingness.
I stood there, panting, my vision swimming as the pain finally overwhelmed me. Ganondorf fell to his knees, his expression of disbelief forever fixed, before collapsing into the dust.
I drop the Master Sword, my hands bloody and burnt, and staggered forward, falling beside Link's still form. The battlefield was quiet now, the battle over, but the victory felt hollow without him by my side.
"Link... no..." I whisper, my voice breaking. I cradle his head in my arms, tears streaming down my face.
As I look at his face, memories flood back—our dream of a peaceful life together, a cottage by the river, wildflowers blooming in the fields. We had planned to leave this life behind, to find solace in each other's company, to live.
But that dream is shattered, replaced by this grim reality. I can't imagine a life without him. The thought of facing the future alone is unbearable. I pick up the Master Sword, focusing on the pain in my hands instead of my heart.
With a heavy heart and tears blurring my vision, I take one last look at him, our dream of our home by the river filling my mind, and I drive the blade into my own chest. The pain is brief, and as darkness closes in, I find peace knowing that we'll be together again in another lifetime.