Chapter 31: Confronting Evil Incarnate
After a few minutes of reprieve, the group found their strenght and ascended the tower. They expected another string of treacherous obstacles. But, surprisingly, only stairs and hallways stood in their path. It wasn't too long before the trail was littered with Heartless. For the first time in his life, Sora was ecstatic to see them, and immediately lunged straight into battle with his friends.
Once again, Link's assets proved invaluable to the group. No matter how many waves they faced, the numbers would dwindle faster than a frightened school of fish. They seemed unstoppable – it was imperative they didn't lose that mindset, because Ganondorf would not easily crumble.
Their journey eventually let them to a narrow stairway. Next to the stairs were stained glass windows colored purple and blue. A faint light managed to pass through the glass, emanating a cold blue on the walls. It was dreary. Probably the way Ganondorf preferred it. Before climbing, the group waited to see if any more Heartless would appear. None did. Even they knew their efforts would be in vain.
"Okay," Luigi said. "That wasn't so bad."
"See, Luigi? Even you've gotta admit that you missed the Heartless," Sora said.
Luigi frowned. "I refuse to let those words reach my voice box."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound organ music bellowing throughout the hall.
"How patronizing," Link said, clenching his fist, struggling to keep those rampant emotions from storming his cocoon. "He mocks our arrival by partaking in menial activities. Thinks we aren't a threat."
"You can tell?" Sora asked.
"Why would he start playing the organ at this exact moment?" Link said.
"Maybe he bored," Yoshi said. He looked unhappy. "Me be bored too if there no kitchen."
"You kidding?" Luigi said. "He probably had a laughing fit coming up with those traps for us."
Sora stretched his arms, eager to go on the offense. "Either way, we're going to prove him wrong. We've made it this far! No way we're going to stop now!"
"Yes!" Link said, embracing Sora's positive energy. "We have strength in numbers – not just us, but the six sages."
"Don't forget Zelda," Sora said. "She might be captured, but you know she's showing her support."
Link nodded. "Yeah. You're right." He faced the stairs. It had been all leading to this moment. Every person he met on his journey crossed his mind's eyes like a beautiful collage – they smiled at him, expressing their utter joy of being alive. But, if they failed, that collage would be torn to pieces from Ganondorf's hands.
He glanced at his friends – they been a massive support. Not just Sora and his crew, but Navi, too. Especially Navi. She was his motivator – a parental figure that he looked to for guidance. Regardless of the outcome, he was grateful for every person that impacted his life.
Link faced the stairs and took a deep breath. "Time to end this. Let's go."
The throne room was massive. Large red and yellow stained-glass windows produced an intimidating glow that made the room appear as if it was covered in a fog. A chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling. In each corner of the ceiling were giant metal claws that would frighten a stranger brave enough to set foot in the king's domain.
Ganondorf stroked each note on the organ, letting the vociferous melody glissade into his ear canal. It was relaxing. He became a prisoner to the melody, following the rhythm. For a moment it made him forget about the bothersome task he had to accomplish. Hovering above him was Princess Zelda, trapped within the crystal.
She had regained consciousness, but was plagued by worry. Link was in danger. She was aware that Ganondorf had set many traps for him and his companions. But she tried her hardest to not lose faith. Even when they met as children, Zelda sensed a heroic determination in him. He never gave up despite the odds.
But why was she worried, then? Was it that she could sense Ganondorf's unfathomable power from this close? It was overwhelming. She found it difficult to breath. Zelda was terrified for Link. Could the hero of legend really overcome the titanic strength of the evil king? Her hand tingled; the faded Trifoce image appeared. She could feel her heart explode into an intense drum solo.
Ganondorf experienced the same tingling sensation. "Do not threat, my princess. Soon, Link and his companions will fall into death's cold arms. They will be spared the eternal torment that'll be cast upon this land. And to think, it's because he went along with your asinine plan that he's going to perish."
Tears of remorse swelled in her eyes. She never expected this whole ordeal to escalate. Lives have been hurt; fear had enveloped her peaceful kingdom. But worse of all, Link could possibly die because of her irrational decisions. But before she could weep, a dark portal appeared behind Ganondorf; Bowser and his son exited it. Zelda shrieked in fear. Who were these hideous creatures, she thought.
Sensing their presence, Ganondorf let out a soft groan, and stopped playing the organ.
"Sup, tall, tan and gruesome?" Bowser said.
"Ooh, an organ!" Jr. said, staring at it in wonder. "Can I try it, mister?"
Bowser placed a large hand on his son's shoulder. "Now, Jr. What I have told you?"
"Oh, right," Jr. said with a devilish grin. "Being polite is for sissies!"
He hurried over to the organ and started slamming on the keys, producing a nervous disorder of noise.
"Get your claws off, you little imp!" Ganondorf knocked him away from the organ. Jr. stuck his tongue out in response. The king's temper started trembling faster than a harp string. "Why? Why are you being discommodious now? This is the moment of my destiny. The Triforce pieces are within my grasp. Your timing is ill-conceived."
"Relax," Bowser said in an assuring tone. "This won't take long. Wanna start by congratulating you on capturing the princess. Never thought we'd find a common ground. We should start our own kidnapping convention."
He noticed Ganondorf's scowl growling longer.
"Anyway, that's one less hassle," Bowser said. "But I have one itsy, bitsy, tiny question for you?" Then, he unleashed an impatient roar. "Where's the keyhole!?"
"Alas, my search has proved futile." Ganondorf glared at his palm. "But that will be irrelevant once I've obtained the Triforce. This world will become mine to control."
"Yeah, yeah," Bowser said in a disinterested tone. "Just hurry up and take that forest boy you keep yammering on about down."
"It might take a bit longer than I anticipated," Ganondorf said, somewhat irked. "The Keyblade wielder is assisting the hero."
Bowser groaned. "That kid! Why is he always putting a dent in our plans? It's like he knows where to go when there's trouble!"
"For someone who claimed that he'd useful," Ganondorf said, jeering, "he sure is giving you a lot of grief."
"Shut up!" Bowser said, snarling in anger.
Ganondorf thought over their predicament for a moment. From what he gathered, Sora and his friends always seemed to be reinforcements for each world; they'd arrive, meet a new friend, and, together, vanquish the individual that brought animosity upon their home. Not even the Heartless could break their teamwork.
But he soon thought of an idea. What they needed to do was weaken the soul that bound the group together: Sora and his Keyblade.
"Why not explain the situation to that boy, Riku?" Ganondorf said. "Doing so may prove useful to our—"
They heard the door open, and turned see the group run in, weapons drawn, ready to rip the dark heart out of the castle's body. But they were surprised by the appearance of Bowser and his son. Luigi's stomach spun around a wheel of apprehension. It felt like forever since the two crossed paths. But why did this encounter feel different? Was it the appalling revelation they learned about him from Leon? Or, was it the fact that Mario wasn't there?
Either way, he wouldn't be intimated; he had the support of his friends – powerful individuals that would serve as an unbreakable shield against oppression.
"Who are they?" Link asked. "Some of Ganondorf's minions?"
"No," Luigi said. "But with their IQ, they wouldn't be out of place in his brigade."
Bowser smirked, somewhat impressed. "Well, well! Seems like Mr. Green-Stache is peeking out from behind big brother's curtain. Afraid I got some bad news for you and that overgrown donkey – your princess is definitely in another castle."
"Then Bowser better take us to her!" Yoshi said with a fierce growl. "Or Yoshi going to bite your tail off! Me think Koopas' tails are the most tender parts!"
Bowser laughed. "Please, like that scares me."
"You never stop do you!" Jr. said, furious. "Everyone would be happy if you just let us live in peace with her!"
Luigi glowered at Bowser. "Tell me: how tangled is your son's mind in this web of lies you made for him? Soon to be just as delusional as his old man, right?"
"Better watch what you say about my son," Bowser said with an enraged snort. "Anyone who badmouths him will know the feeling of losing his skin."
Luigi reeled back in fear. "But he does have your eyes at least."
Yoshi just shook his head from the immediate flip of Luigi's coward switch. So this was Bowser, Sora thought. He didn't seem any different from the likes of K. Rool and Ridley – pitiful creatures who tried hurting people to fuel their own agenda. Sora felt the rancid taste of Bowser's odious aura pinch his tongue like a livid crab.
Sora's body shook from a shower of anger and resentment. Bowser's the one manipulating his best friend. He was the source of their misery.
"Hey, what about my friend Riku!?" Sora asked. "What'd you do to him!?"
"None of your beeswax, kid," Bowser said in a mocking tone. That just added kerosene to Sora's wavering temper. He stretched his arms into the air. "Welp, time to hit that old portal of everlasting darkness. You kids have fun with desert boy now."
Bowser created said portal; he and Jr. were gone before another word was spoken. Sora lowered his head, discouraged. He wanted to fight Bowser now – to save Riku from the endless broadcast of deceit traveling through his mind. But, while Bowser held the Star Rod, Sora's efforts would be ineffective. It wasn't fair, he thought. He hated feeling helpless.
Link focused his gaze on Ganondorf. "Whoever those two were, they're not my concern. Hand over Zelda! This doesn't have to end in bloodshed."
"Not a chance," Ganondorf said. "Why should I submit to a child of the forest? Besides, she is far more valuable than you know. Aside from possessing the Triforce of Wisdom, she's a princess – one of seven who somehow hold the key to opening the door."
Sora's eyes blinked as if stumbling over a pillar of déjà vu. He remembered something about a door opening. Didn't someone make a vague mention of it in a dream? He scoured through the archives of his mind, only to find a mess of disjointed images. Dreams are mostly a gateway to explore one's psyche, but something told him that there was a connection.
"Open…." Yoshi said, just as puzzled as the others.
"….the door?" Luigi finished.
Ganondorf walked towards the group. "But you simpletons will not live long to see what lies beyond it. It is time for you and Princess Zelda to return what is rightfully mine!"
He unleashed a wave of purple energy. Everyone was paralyzed from its relentless power. No matter what they did, the group couldn't even move an inch. Ganondorf especially enjoyed watching Link fall to his knees, as if begging for mercy. Link tried pushing against the energy, but felt like cylinder blocks were resting on his back.
"Link…I can't help you," Navi said, trying to reach him. But alas: she too was restrained by the chains of Ganondorf's malice. "The darkness is too powerful for me to handle."
"That's it, boy," Ganondorf said with a triumphant expression. "Kneel before your new monarch. You were never a hero. The scared sword only picked you as its expendable wielder. All you did was blindly follow the orders of some princess and her sages. You were used as a pawn. And that's all you ever will be."
Link closed his eyes; the words started chipping away at his spirit. Was Ganondorf right? Zelda had instructed him throughout the whole quest: from childhood, to her time as Sheik. The reason he left home in the first place was because his deceased father figure, the Great Deku Tree, told him to seek out Zelda. He believed that Link had potential to stop Ganondorf's plans.
That was the word: potential. Maybe he didn't have the strength. He just blindly believed what people thought were right; and look at Hyrule now. His confidence devolved into a pessimistic larva. Nothing seemed to matter anymore; his feelings were numb. But, a question rose to challenge his state of mind:
Why did he decide to fight? Any other child from his home would've decline the daunting task. But not him. He wouldn't let injustice spread like wildfire throughout Hyrule. Then, Link remembered the faces of the people he helped; he could've easily ignored their pleas, but that went against his integrity.
Every choice was of his own volition.
Ganondorf wouldn't destroy his self-esteem, for its strength was even greater than the Master Sword. Link pushed himself against the darkness, feeling reinvigorated, and started rising to his feet.
"Come on, Link!" Sora said in encouragement. "Show him what the Hero of Time can do!"
A balloon of concern started expanding in Ganondorf's stomach. How was he fighting against his power? He unleashed more of it, hoping to stop Link's forthcoming rampage. But the Hero of Time continued trudging through the dark storm.
"Ganondorf…your tongue speaks in nothing but lies," Link said. "Everything I did…was because I care about this world. I care about the people I've met. The path I've set for myself is my own!"
The Master Sword unleashed an ethereal glow that vanquished the darkness. Ganondorf started backing away in fear. He never experienced such a strong emotion; it had a tight hold on his body. It was pathetic. But the panic grew stronger. Link was not a trained warrior; he was a forest child that had been separated from society for years. How could he be a threat?
Link felt movement return to his legs. "The moment I met you, I knew you were up to no good. YOU'RE the one caused all this damage! I'm not going to ignore the feelings in my heart to let injustice wreak havoc upon this land!"
Link swung his blade, but Ganondorf leaped back just in time. He landed, still aghast from this development. Perhaps he had underestimated Link's strength. Maybe there was truth to his title as the Hero of Time. But he would not be deterred; the Trifoce was so close to his grasp. He waited too long for this moment.
Sora hurried over to Link, giving him a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Nice going! Knew you could do it!"
"Yeah," Luigi said. "This guy's nothing but talk."
"All talk!?" Ganondorf asked in a furious, booming voice. "How dare you let those fifthly words penetrate my ears. You want me to show you my full power?"
Luigi gulped. "Well, I would settle on a small, bite sized sample."
"Too late!" Ganondorf said. "Thou shall regret making a mockery of me!"
He raised his arm, which sent Zelda soaring into the ceiling, where she vanished moments later. The organ behind him disappeared next. With a sinister smirk, the king held out his hand, and summoned his sword.
"Welcome to the end of your existence!"
The group ran straight for him. Ganondorf slammed his fist into the ground, releasing a shock wave that knocked the four back a great distance. Just that punch alone made their bodies tremble from his power. But their minds were unaffected. Their focus was on winning.
Ganondorf watched in amusement as the group scrambled to their feet. "Let's even the odds a little."
He conjured an astral image of himself, which appeared right at his side. The duplicate took on a solid form, pulled back its face, and revealed a skeletal mask with horns. It forwent Ganondorf's cape and sword; instead, it wielded a staff with a sharp edge. The duplicate fired a ball of energy at the group, who rolled left to doge it.
With incredible speeds, it flew over to Sora and tried stabbing him. The boy titled his torso, pointed the Keyblade straight up, and caught the sharp edge. After pushing the staff away, Sora used his free hand to launch a fire spell. The duplicated deflected it with the staff. Then, it tried trusting the sharp end at Sora's face.
Sora brought the Keyblade in close to deflect the edge. He then tried countering by thrusting towards the duplicate's chest. It held the staff at a diagonal angle to catch the attack. The duplicate heard footsteps growing louder from behind. Glancing over its shoulder, the duplicate saw Yoshi, and hit him in the face with the dull end of the staff.
It heard footsteps from the other side, and saw Luigi prepared to swing his hammer. The duplicated ducked under the attack, spun around, and tripped him with the staff. It prepared to bring the staff straight down on a defenseless Luigi when Sora caught the strike with his Keyblade.
Sora noticed Link in corner of his vision running to help. "We got this guy! Take care of Ganondorf!"
Link nodded. He turned to confront the king, eager to let their blades collide. This moment had played in his head for years, knowing that the inevitable showdown would ensue. Link tightened the grip on his sword and shield; with all tools and knowledge he possessed, Link would vanquish the virus that plagued Hyrule once and for all.
Link delivered a complete three sixty spin with his blade, but Ganondorf stepped backwards to avoid it. He put up his shield to block an incoming thrust from the king. Link swung his blade inward; Ganondorf held his at a diagonal angle to catch the strike. Then, he repositioned his blade, and swung for Link's neck.
Link swung in from the other direction, deflecting the blade. Ganondorf then kicked Link in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards. But he was quick to regain his footing. Link gasped upon seeing the king prepare a dark ball of energy in his hand. It crackled wildly, growing stronger and deadlier.
Ganondorf launched the attack, and Link deflected the attack back with his blade. Using his cape, Ganondorf manage to rebound it, too. Trying to catch the king off guard, he knocked it back again. And this time, Ganondorf used his sword to send it straight for Link at blinding speeds. Unable to deflect it again, Link rolled to the left, loaded a light arrow, and fired it at Ganondorf, who jerked his head right to avoid it.
The king launched another energy attack; unfortunately, Link did not have enough time to deflect it with the Master Sword, so he blocked it with the shield instead. Ganondorf ran in with a horizontal swing, and Link ducked underneath it. Then, Link tried an upward slash, which was immediately countered by a downward strike from the king.
Ganondorf spun around, and, with a fierce swing, knocked Link's shield out of his hand. It slid across the ground like a sled on ice. The king thrusted his blade towards Link's foot, and he lifted it up. But it was a ruse, as Ganondorf smacked him across the face with his arm. Slightly dazed, all he could do was defend from the king's barrage of strikes. Despite Link's intense training, the foundation of Ganondorf's strength would not collapse.
Ganondorf kicked him in the side of ribcage; and then followed up with an uppercut to the chin, knocking the young hero backwards. Link gritted his teeth from the intense pain; he ignored it. A mantra of words shouted for him to keep fighting. Ganondorf prepared another ball of energy. Link sheathed the Master Sword, drew his hookshot, and fired it at the ceiling right above the king. As he launched the attack, Link reeled himself onto the ceiling (avoiding the blast), and threw bombs straight down at the king.
Ganondorf leaped backwards, just in time to watch the bombs explore in his face. Link drew the Master Sword again, swung himself forward, and brought the blade straight down, only for Ganondorf to catch it with his own sword. He pushed Link to the side, grabbed his shoulder, turned him around, and delivered a strong elbow to the stomach. Link flew backwards, but he caught himself before landing face first on the ground.
He clutched his stomach; the pain grew stronger. But the voices yelled louder – some of them belonged to his loved ones. He refused to disregard their pleas; it would be a betrayal to, not only them, but himself. After catching his breath, Link stood up, prepared to continue this battle until only one heart was left beating.
Ganondorf became annoyed by Link's persistence. It was like dealing with a mosquito – an inconvenience that would eventually be crushed before his giant hand. Link, summoning all his strength, charged towards the king again.
Meanwhile, the duplicate knocked Luigi onto the floor and twirled its staff, preparing to launch an energy ball akin to Ganondorf's. Yoshi noticed Link's shield nearby. He hurried over, grabbed it, leaped in front of Luigi as the attack came towards him, and absorbed the energy into the shield. The shield regurgitated a steady stream of light at the duplicate; it screamed in agony.
Link and Ganondorf turned to witness the duplicate quiver from being bathed in the light's venomous rays. The king's frustration hissed like steam, growing louder by the second. These meddlers were almost as aggravating as Link himself.
Sora took advantage to situation by throwing the Keyblade straight into the duplicate's stomach. Next, he charged a fire spell, leaped into the air, and blasted it straight into the duplicate's face. It drifted to the floor from the massive damage. But the duplicate was able to make a quick recovery, and started twirling its staff again.
"Use the shield, Yoshi!" Link said.
Ganondorf pushed him aside in fury, and shouted to his duplicate, "Don't do it again, you buffoon!"
But his words did not reach in time, for it launched the attack. Yoshi caught it, and released another powerful burst upon the duplicate. Its body writhed from the stinging pain. Luigi hurried over and hit it in the stomach with his hammer. He started to pursue it, but heard grunting in his ears. Looking to his left, he saw Link and Ganondorf duel – the Hero of Time was struggling to overtake the king.
"Sora, go help Link!" Luigi said. "We can finish this guy!"
Nodding in compliance, Sora raced towards the other battle. Link finally heard the pleas from his body. Even he wasn't sure if he had to endurance to continue; fatigue had him restrained within a metal cage of spikes. He was in pain. However, he remained obstinate, refusing to quit until his last breath fluttered into the wind.
Growing impatient, Ganondorf ran straight for Link, sword held high. He sensed that Link's strength had declined. One focused strike would end this conflict forever; the light of hope would suffocate from dark fumes, and fate into oblivion.
"I'll tell the princess how valiantly you fought!" Ganondorf said, unable to contain his excitement for victory. Before his should strike, Sora came in and blocked it with the Keyblade. His emotions turned to rage with the turn of a key. "Meddlesome brat!"
"Now, Link!" Sora said.
Regaining his strength, Link slashed Ganondorf across the stomach. The evil king hollered in pain as the holy blade's righteous edge pierced through his wicked skin. It was excruciating; he felt like his insides were incinerated. Sora tried to strike with the Keyblade, but Ganondorf leaped away before the attack could connect.
Gannondorf was stunned by their resilience; they should've been on the ground as a pile of broken spirits, unable to clench onto hope anymore. He was growing furious. For years he had waited for this moment – to breath in the air of Hyrule's goddesses. Now, a band of insignificant outsiders were undoing everything he had worked towards.
Trying to compose himself, Ganondorf said, "It doesn't matter how many of you there are. You'll soon hear death's call lull you into an eternal slumber."
Sora and Link eyed each other. Through their many battles, they had gained a mutual respect for another. Link admired Sora's endless enthusiasm. And Sora was inspired by Link's courage. Ganondorf might be their strongest opponent yet, but they knew that their teamwork would overcome him.
"We'll see about that," Link said in confidence. "Can you survive the power of both the Master Sword and the Keyblade?"
"A meaningless question isn't going delay your demise!" Ganondorf said with a fierce shout.
Ganondorf vanished and reappeared in front of Link, holding his leg high in the air. He tried slamming his heel onto Link's head, but the Hero of Time leaped backwards to avoid it. Then, the king fired an energy ball at Sora, who caught it with the Keyblade. The energy started sliding his feet backwards. Sora gritted his teeth; it was like trying push against a boulder.
Through perseverance, Sora finally deflected the ball. Link swung at Ganondorf, and he caught the attack with his blade. Then, he pushed him off to the right, turned around, and deflected an incoming attack from Sora. Ganondorf swung his blade towards the boy; he parried it. He ducked underneath Link's next attack and countered with a punch to the stomach.
Ganondorf looked over his shoulder to see Sora swinging the Keyblade downward. He spun backwards to dodge the attack. Then, Ganondorf lunged forward with a rising strike, and Sora leaned his chest back to avoid it. The boy tried a thrust, but Ganondrf slammed his blade down to deflect it.
Taking his free hand, Ganondorf unleashed a burst of powerful wind that made Sora tumble onto the ground.
Sora pointed the tip of the Keyblade at the king's feet. "Freeze!"
Ganondorf soon found his foot encased in a block of ice. No matter how hard he struggled, the block refused to release its icy grip. Link launched his hookshot for the king's face, but he caught the chain. Displaying superhuman strength, Ganondorf reeled Link towards him, and kneed the hero in the stomach; he doubled over in pain.
Ganondorf turned back to see Sora charging his spiral attack. As the energy dispersed from the Keyblade, the king held his blade close, and deflected every single shot. Despite their combined efforts, they could not lay harm to Ganondorf. He seemed invincible.
But then Link recalled when he fought through the purple wave – the image of Ganondorf's petrified expression was chiseled on a stone slate in his mind. He, too, was nothing more than a man – flesh and blood that succumbs to its own limits. Link took out a mouse-like object, set it on the ground, and it slid straight for Ganondorf.
The king hurried to set himself free, but he didn't have time. He covered himself with his cape as the mouse exploded at his feet. Although he was freed from the ice, he took minor damage from the blast. Sora and Link hurried over and thrusted their blades at him. The king brought his blade straight up to catch both.
Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Ganondorf leaped back towards a wall. Link's eyes lit up upon being struck by an idea. He fired a light arrow once again. As expected, Ganondorf dodged it, but upon hitting the wall, the arrow discharged a bright flash, which blinded him. Opening his eyes, he saw two blurry figures running straight for him.
Ganondorf was able to block Sora's attack, but Link slashed him right across the hip. He winced, clutching his side from the pain. Sora then slashed him in the back, continuing the onslaught of pain traversing his nervous system.
Just as Link thought: nothing more than a man.
Meanwhile, Luigi position himself behind the duplicate, and knocked him forward with the hammer. As it stumbled forward, the duplicate's chin was greeted by an uppercut from Yoshi's shield. The dinosaur spun around like a tornado, delivering a barrage of shield strikes to its face. For the finishing touch, he rammed his head straight into its chest; the duplicate stumbled onto the ground.
Luigi rammed his fist straight into the duplicate's chest with his fire punch. A shockwave made the ground shake from the powerful attack. The two watched as the duplicate stood up, battered, unable to fight anymore. Its body parts started disintegrating into nothingness. The duplicate squirmed in dismay as it fought to keep its life from drifting into the heavens like decaying leaves.
But soon, it faded out of existence, never to bring harm again.
Ganondrof was astonished; his breathing was hard. Every muscle ached from overexertion. How were these two fighting on equal footing? No one compared to him. Sure, Link and Sora were tired, too, but, together, they had strength of one vigorous person.
"He won't last much longer," Sora said, breathless.
"No…this…can't…can't…be…happening," Ganondorf said, lowering his head in anger. "I'm the rightful ruler of this world. I will not let some tripe claim victory over me!" He felt the darkness closing around his heart. But he pulled it back open like fragile curtains through sheer force of will. His animosity for everything pure and decent made the darkness cower in the corner. "I will not let the darkness take me. My power far exceeds it. For I am darkness itself!"
He floated into the air, outstretched his arms, and started charging a massive ball of energy. The air started circulating throughout the room in a frantic motion. It was so powerful that it pushed against Sora and Link, making them slide backwards.
"Any ideas before we all go kaput?" Sora asked.
Link tried his light arrow again. It disintegrated upon contact with the pulsating time bomb. A strain of sweat slide down the side of his face. "I'm pretty sure none of my tools could penetrate its mass." He prepared his sword. "There's only thing to do."
"Send it back at him?" Sora asked. He was somewhat hesitant. It was a huge risk. But Link had earned his trust. He'd follow Link into more elaborate dungeons, following his every advice. With a smile, he said, "Sure. I'm game."
They stood shoulder's length apart from each other, holding their blades like baseball bats, and brandishing courage in their souls. Ganondorf laughed in jubilation as his attack near completion.
Link turned to Sora with a sincere expression. "If we don't end up surviving this, I just want to say—"
"Gonna stop you right there," Sora said in a firm tone. "We're won this already."
Link was taken aback by his blunt declaration. "You're that confident, huh?"
"Ever since we first fought together, no one has been able to touch us," Sora said. "Whenever we battle, I feel like there's nothing we can't do. I've met a lot of people on this journey, but you're one of the strongest I've ever had the privilege of working with."
Link smiled. "Thanks. You, too, Sora. You're unlike any other person I've ever met. And I'm glad we're facing him together."
"How touching," Ganondorf said in a mocking tone. "But your disgustingly sweet words won't save you from this!"
He threw the ball at them. Sora and Link felt the pressure push their skin inward; they were like clay about to be crushed by a giant fist of pure fury. But they wouldn't be afraid. They caught the ball, using every ounce of strength to it back at the king. But it refused to budge. Their their knees start to bend from its colossal mass. Ganondorf's prideful laughing rung in their ears, only driving their desire to succeed further.
Sora grunted. "Shut…up….already!"
Sora's arms started to wobble from the strain. It seemed hopeless, despite their effort. Maybe he was wrong to give Link false hope. Hyrule would soon hear that laugh before being drowned in a pool of darkness. Just like his island. And he'd never be able to reconcile with Riku – a pang of regret he would carry into the next life.
But, then, he and Link felt hands on their backs. They turned to see Luigi and Yoshi had arrived to help.
"Guys!" Sora said, with a sudden second wind of confidence.
With their combined efforts, they managed to send the ball right back at Ganondorf. Time became lethargic as he watched the energy fly right into his face. No amount of conjectures could ever explain how four nobodies overtook him. Upon collision, the king's screams of anguish echoed throughout the room.
After a massive explosion, Ganondorf landed on the ground, numb, unable to even think. Sora and Link noticed their weapons engulfed in a beautiful white light. It was time to finish the job. They both struck at the king from each side, with one powerful strike.
Ganondorf shouted again, no longer able to fight against the intense pain. He kneeled over, catching his breath; it was loud and booming, pulsating through the group's ears.
The king clutched his chest. "The Great Evil King Ganondorf…beaten by these fools? Impossible."
He coughed green blood on the spotless floor. Everything was fading. Any feeling in his body was almost gone. He knew they were watching him, satisfied by their accomplishment.
But he refused to let them keep their victory.
Mustering every bit of strength, Ganondorf stood up and screamed at the top of his lungs. The entire ceiling started to collapse; broken glass rained down on the four.
"Get down!" Luigi said.
Everyone dove onto their stomachs. Yoshi used his shield to cover him and Luigi. Meanwhile, Sora and Link pressed their faces against the floor, hearing glass shatter all around them; it didn't cease.
And neither did Ganondrof's agonizing screams.
Aggressive bells rang in Sora's ears from the constant noise. But, as the clappers inside started decreasing their speed, he could hear the world around him again. It was calm. Only the wind howled in his ears with a reassuring voice. In fact, the wind brushed through his hair like a gentle comb. As he and the others looked up, they noticed the elegant ceiling was gone, replaced by the familiar foreboding sky.
Seems the throne room had gained a nice sunroof, Sora thought. But there was no time to relax yet. Ganondorf was still standing; both his arms were outstretched. He looked at the dark sky. Everyone scrambled to their feet, feeling the ceiling's glass remains slide off their bodies. For a moment, the king was idle. Was he planning a surprise attack, or did they really finish the job? Sora's knee juddered from the nerves pricking at him like needles.
Then, the great king collapsed onto the ground, producing a loud THUD that echoed throughout the sky. It was a promising image, but the group stayed alert.
Finally, after waiting, Sora asked, "Think he's gone?"
"Yeah," Link said; seven years of relief pressed against his shoulders. "I think so."
Sora exhaled. His entire body was numb from exhaustion. Ganondorf was, without a doubt, one of their toughest opponents. At moments, defeating him seemed like nothing more than a fairytale – a happy ending one would write for themselves. But here they were, standing triumphant before the evil king. The unrelenting smog of hatred that concealed the town had dispersed
Sora was proud of himself and his friends; they had subjugated the kingdom from perpetual torment. Sora gave a victorious, albeit tired, laugh as he said, "We did it!"
"Sora!" Yoshi said.
He turned to see Luigi and Yoshi rush him with a massive hug. They celebrated with the same relieved laughter. Link felt like his entire body had expanded from joy; it was over. He thought that Hyrule would never find peace. Link wanted to collapse onto the ground; to watch the dark clouds move outward like curtains, revealing the bright blue sky.
Link listened to their laughter; he never wanted that sound to end. Overjoyed, Sora turned to Link and showed him the palm of his hand. "Up top!"
"Um, yes," Link said, confused by the boy's strange gesture, "that is a hand."
"No, no, no," Sora said. "This is a high five. People give it to each other for doing something awesome. Try it!"
Despite how strange Sora's custom sounded, Link didn't see a problem with following through. As his palm met with Sora's, a satisfying tingle radiated throughout his body. "Wow. That felt good. Can I high five everyone else?"
"Go for it!" Yoshi said in enthusiasm.
He high fived Yoshi next. Excitement boiled in his stomach. This made their victory more rewarding. Link gave Luigi a high five next, this time with his opposite hand. Which was snug within his iron gauntlet.
Luigi felt a different tingle; it was from the outcry of his pain receptors. "Yeow!"
"Oh, dear!" Link said in worried, guilty tone. "I forgot to take the gauntlet off. I'm so sorry!"
Luigi rotated his wrist, reducing the pain. "Forget about it. A couple of broken bones has never not hurt anybody."
"And me thought my grammar was bad," Yoshi said.
After Luigi took a moment to recover, he, along with the others, glanced at Ganondorf's lifeless body. To think, this person caused so much grief for everyone. Link never wished death upon anyone, but seeing the king's corpse made him feel free from suffering – that he could enjoy life again. Escaping the nightmares of one past was impossible, but that's what they were now – nothing but dreams that could never harm anyone again.
It was time to build a better tomorrow. And Link would be there to watch it flourish.
As he continued staring at Ganondorf, he noticed two objects right by the king's hip. "What are those?"
Sora noticed them, too. One of the objects looked familiar. Taking cautious steps, he approached the deceased king and picked up the items. The first one was the Star Spirit, Skolar. Safe and sound, Sora thought. Then, he glanced at the second object, which was a piece of paper; something was inscribed upon it with black ink.
Sora's eyes widened in surprise upon reading its contents. "You guys! Look what I found! It's one of Ansem's reports!"
But he noticed Luigi wasn't too thrilled by this revelation. In fact, he looked rather peeved. His eyes darted towards Link. Realizing the mistake, Sora covered his mouth.
"Oops," Sora said, feeling awkward. "Uh, pretend you didn't hear that!"
"No worries," Link said with a chuckle. "It's none of my business."
Relieve, Sora placed both items in his pockets. He never thought they'd find an Ansem Report. Then again, Leon did say Bowser had most of them. It wasn't too outlandish of a coincidence. Still, this one report was the first step to unraveling the mystery of the Heartless. Hidden beneath the thin multilayers of dark cloth was a pulsating core containing the answers to their problems.
But that didn't matter to Link – his own problems had drifted into an enteral slumber with Ganondorf, never to awake again.
"Link!" Navi said, starting up at the sky in excitement. "Look!"
Everyone glanced up to see a floating pink crystal illuminating the dreary sky. Within its exterior was Princess Zelda, glancing around, confused, and frightened by the damage done to the castle. She looked down to see Link and her friends were safe. Next to them was Ganondorf's lifeless body.
A skeptical iron claw wrapped itself around her waist. Did they really put an end to Ganondorf's tyranny? After so many years of hiding in fear, it was understandable why hesitation was strapped to her shoulder. She thought this was a dream. But as she descended towards the ground, she saw the smiling faces on everyone. The mental anguish she had experienced for so long was alleviated.
She felt weak – not from the crystal, but from experiencing peace of mind for the first time in forever. The crystal shattered, and she fell towards the ground, only to be caught by Link.
"Easy!" Link said. "I've got you."
Upon regaining her focus, she gazed into his blue eyes. "You're….you're alive."
"Yes," Link said. "And Ganondorf is no more."
Tears started to swell in Zelda's eyes, carrying the heavy burden of the past; it shrunk to miniscule proportions. No one had to live in fear anymore. Her people were safe. And it was because she put her faith in a boy from the forest. The two embraced each other, never letting go. They felt weightless; the stress of their existence didn't matter now.
They could finally be happy.
Sora and his friends smiled, basking in their warmth. They were proud of themselves for helping the two achieve a lifetime of harmony.
"I…I…haven't felt such relief in so long," Zelda said, overwhelmed from the feeling of bliss. But them, there was a pang of guilt in her chest. "I'm sorry for everything I put you through."
"There's no need to apologize," Link said, understanding. "Much like you, I too wanted to bring peace to Hyrule. It took us a long time, but I think, in the end, every moment of my journey was worth it."
The two pulled away and stared into each other's eye. Zelda saw a sincere orb of light circle around his irises. He did whatever it took to save his home. No other person displayed an insurable amount of courage. She knew choosing him for this undertaking resulted in the best outcome.
Zelda smiled. "Yes, you're right. I thank thee for your sacrifices." She turned to Sora's group. "And to you three as well for assisting the hero on his journey."
"Think nothing of it," Sora said, modest, as he placed both arms behind his head.
Zeda turned to Ganondorf, the source of their pain. Nothing in this world would ever make her forgive him for the atrocities he brought upon Hyrule. She was disgusted by his visage alone. And yet, she wondered why he was so unhappy. What drove him to share his suffering with others?
"Such a pitiful man," Zelda said with contempt. "He was delusional in thinking that his wicked heart could control the power of the gods."
But their moment of peace started to crumble before a powerful earthquake. It didn't stop. They could hear the castle's innards start to collapse from the unrelenting force. Everyone looked around, frantic, terrified by what they were experiencing. Link felt his heart punch through his chest, worried that Ganondorf was still alive.
"I take it that this is bad!" Sora said, as he and his friends tried maintaining their balance.
Zelda glanced at Ganondorf again, analyzing the situation. A small speck of resentment drifted within the king's listless body.
A startling realization dawned on her. "Everyone, listen! This tower is going to collapse! With his last breath, Ganondorf is trying to crush us in the ruins of the tower!"
"For one – FOR ONCE – can't we encounter a bad guy that losses gracefully!" Luigi said, beyond aggravated.
"You can contemplate that once we're free of this place!" Link said. "Let's move!"
They group ran to the exit, hurried down the stairs, and arrived in the area below the throne room. The earthquake grew stronger. Debris started to pour on their heads, as if the castle was crying tears of pain. But they ignored the combination of falling stones and rocks as they hurried towards the next door.
But they came to a halt upon hearing a loud banging noise. Ganondorf's body fell from the ceiling, landed on the ground, and was crushed beneath large structures of the castle.
Sora winced. "Man, what a way to go!"
They proceeded into an outside area, followed a trail of winding stairs, and arrived in another circular room. Before they could continue, the group heard Zelda shriek, and saw her encircled in a wall of fire. Heartless appeared in front of her. Sora gritted his teeth – they always had to be sharp rocks on their path. But, after facing Ganondorf, he surmised this would be a simple battle.
Yoshi held out the shield to Link. "Here. This yours."
"You hang onto it," Link said. "I have plenty of tools to work with."
Yoshi looked at the shield. He felt honored to be wielding one of the Hero of Time's weapons, and would use it to protect his friends. They fought their way through the familiar faces: Soldiers, Thieves, and Flying Heartless. The red Heartless threw a fireball at Yoshi, but the dinosaur caught it with his shield, and reflected the attack at a blue one, who screamed in pain.
Sora ran over and slashed the Heartless in half. He then launched his Blizzard spell at Yoshi's shield, and he performed the same maneuver on the fire one. With their combined efforts, the Heartless were defeated.
The fire around Zelda vanished. She wanted to exhale, but knew that time itself kept it restrained. "Thank you, my friends! We must hurry!"
They continued running down stairways, ignoring the rampant destruction around them. The only sound that matched the collapsing was their panting. More debris fell from the ceiling. Cracks started appearing in the floor. At one point they had to jump over a bridge that broke in half from a pillar.
The exit was in sight. They could see the bridge forged by the sages ahead. But then, it was destroyed by a giant boulder.
"Are you kidding me!?" Luigi asked, both panicked and enraged. "Whoever's been pulling these cruel jokes is a downright sadist now!"
They only had one option, and that was to brace for impact. Like earlier, everyone dove onto the ground and covered their faces. The dark heart that once provided life to the castle was slain, and thus, it could no longer exist; it started to collapse inward. Some pieces of the tower fell into the lava below, where they were devoured whole.
Luigi peeked up at one point to watch the destruction unfold. "It's like a train wreck! I can't look away."
"What's a train?" Zelda asked.
Sora glared at Luigi. "And you yell at me for spilling the beans!"
"These strangers have such strange dialect," Zelda said to Link in a whisper.
"Trust me," Link said, "I know."
The devastation didn't seem to stop. They just wanted it to be over – to finally bury this whole ordeal within the wreckage, where it would sleep along with Ganondorf. After what felt like an eternity, the commotion stopped. Sora heard his own breath. The earth no longer rattled his bones like jittering keys.
Everyone looked up to see the castle in ruin – a graveyard that housed Ganondorf and his malicious desires, where they were hopefully buried for all eternity. After the group stood up, Link and Zelda stared at the ruined castle for a long time. It was strange to experience tranquility again, like reuniting with an estranged relative. But they soon basked in the positive aura. It was wonderful.
"We've had to live under his tyranny for so long," Zelda said. "But no more. The battle is finally over."
Link inhaled the calm air. "I've waited forever to hear that." Turning to Sora's group, he said, "But we couldn't have done it without your help. I was right: you three are quite the heroes."
"Nah," Sora said. "Not as big as you. Especially the way you stood up to Ganondorf!" He turned to Zelda with a huge grin. "You should've seen his reaction! It was so good!"
Zelda chuckled. "Now I'm sorry I missed it." She wished to close the book to her story. But there was an open-ended statement in the epilogue that made her inquisitive. "One thing I did find puzzling, though. Ganondorf mentioned that he needed me to open a door of some kind."
"I wonder what he meant by that?" Sora asked, crossing his arms in thought. Again, his mind wandered back to the past. Where did he hear something about a door before? And how did it correlate to Zelda?
He remembered something else Ganondorf said – she was one of seven princesses needed for this door. The ladder in his mind grew hotter as he climbed it; didn't Diddy mention something about Dixie being called a princess? Was that the reason they took her? For every hole of reasoning he covered in the garden of his mind, a gopher of intrigue would open another one.
SLAM!
A loud noise blasted their ear drums. It reverberated throughout the vicinity. And the worst part was….it came from the middle of the destroyed castle, buried beneath the rubble. Link clutched the Master Swords hilt in frustration; he hoped that sound was an illusion. But everyone looked just as concerned, confirming he wasn't the only one who heard it.
"What was that!?" Zelda asked. She felt her spirits sink into the lava below. "Y-You don't think…"
"M-Maybe it was just rats," Luigi said, nervous. Everyone gave him incredulous looks. "Hey, they've been living in a castle. They're fat, spoiled rates, okay?" His panic grew. "I want it to be fat rats!"
Link sighed, feeling disheartened. The battle was supposed to be over. Well, he was going to make sure it was now. "I don't want to believe it, either. Sora, will you accompany me?"
"Sure." Sora turned to Luigi and Yoshi. "Keep an eye on the princess."
"You got it," Yoshi said with a salute. He handed Link his shield.
Link and Sora, along with Navi, took cautious steps towards the remains of the castle. As they did, Luigi mumbled, "Please let it be fat rats."
Link palms started to sweat. How was it possible for Ganondorf to escape death's inevitable grip? Was he…immortal? Everything he had done would've have been for naught. No. He's still flesh and blood. Not even the Triforce of Power could allude a mortal man from death's scent of decaying life.
He had to stay strong no matter what; everyone was counting on him to success. The two approached the middle, where a large chunk of the castle's structure were on top of each other like messy blocks. It was quiet. Link felt his head pound from nerves. Something didn't feel right. The air was still – perhaps cowering before the hatred that simmered beneath the structure.
Suddenly a ring of fire surrounded the entire area, trapping both Sora and Link inside. The others gasped in horror as the wall of flames prevented them from intervening. Link closed his eyes; he could sense the heat of Ganondorf's power. It was growing at an unstable rate. But he wouldn't surrender – not after everything he had been through. Having that temporary peace reminded him of what he was striving to achieve.
His eyes met with Sora's; the Keyblade wielder was just as determined to stop Ganondorf. He had no reason to, at this point. They found the Star Spirit and could just leave. But Sora never turned his back on a friend. Link's heroism had been such an inspiration to him; it reminded him that no challenge seemed impossible.
Together, they were going to do it again. With their weapons drawn, they faced the fallen structure. It exploded into pieces. Ganondorf flew into the air, furious. His loud panting echoed throughout the area. He no longer had pupils; they were empty voids that wiped out even a hint of humanity from existence.
Everything he worked for had crumbled into dust. And the source of his anger was directed at two children – a princess, and a boy from the forest. But it went beyond them ruining his plans. Something else about them filled him with unrelenting anger. He couldn't understand why; it was as if they had been a nuisance since the dawn of time.
Regardless, that question was irrelevant. He was a prisoner of his own rage. His heart succumbed to the darkness, and was infused by the Triforce of Power. He let out a powerful shout – bright energy discharged from his entire body. Sora and Link shielded their eyes from the light; they just managed to see the silhouette of a man within it.
A man that shapeshifted into a monster.
He grew larger – his clothes started to tear. Long green hair covered his entire body. His face took on the appearance of a vicious boar, complete with two large horns. Those two vacant orbs that were supposed to be his eyes never left. He landed on the ground, producing a powerful shockwave that made everyone stagger.
This beast wasn't just Ganondorf – he was the manifestation of his negative emotions. A creature fueled by malicious desires. To unleash its anguish upon the living world.
He was the embodiment of hatred – Ganon.
Link's throat tighten. He could taste Ganon's overwhelming power, and it made him want to choke. That horrible sensation is what everyone else would experience if they didn't silence this beast immediately. Ganon summoned two large swords. With a mighty roar, he swung one of them at Link, knocking the Master Sword out of his hand.
It landed next to Zelda and the others. Ganon prepared to attack Sora with a thrust. Link leaped in front of the boy, held out his shield, and caught the strike. However, it was strong enough to send them both flying towards the firewall. The others clamored in fear as their friends crashed onto the ground.
Sora winced from the jolting pain. It felt like a truck rammed into them. After a bit of struggling, he rose to his feet, and rubbed his shoulder from the pain. "A giant pig monster. Surprisingly not the strangest thing I've encountered in this world." He turned to Link. "You okay?"
"Last I checked," Link said, grunting as he hurried to his feet. "I'm still breathing. Think I can confirm that." His right hand felt light. He was missing something essential – the Master Sword. He gazed at his hand, and then turned to see it with the others. His stomach felt like stone. This was going to complicate matters.
"Don't worry," Luigi said as he picked up the Sword. "I'll throw it back!" But a barrier strengthened the wall of fire, preventing any physical objects from passing through. "You gotta be kidding me! Outsmarted by a giant monster that rolls around in the mud. How'd my downfall come to this?"
"It's okay!" Link said. "We'll figure it out!"
Zelda was terrified for her friend. "But only the scared blade can weaken the evil king!"
"I know." Link closed his eyes, composing his thoughts. She was right; the Master Sword had been an essential tool against Ganon and his minions. But a weapon was only as good as its wielder. "But it's not what kept me alive for so long. It's through my own wit and perseverance that I'm still standing here. I'll fight to the bitter end!"
He turned to see Ganon cut through a structure as if it were bread. The king might have an upsurge in power, but his rational mind was obstructed by a screen of infuriation – something that may give them the advantage. Through the fire, he saw Zelda fraught with doubt and anxiety. Her regrets emerged from within the flames; they refused to simmer.
Link gave an encouraging smile. "We can do this! I've got plenty of tools at my disposal. And I know Sora won't let me down!"
"I can feel all of the pressure," Sora said, chuckling. "Thankfully that doesn't bother me." He turned to face Ganon, Keyblade as his ready." I've got your back!"
"And I'll help, too!" Navi said in a courageous tone. She flew right next to Link. "I'll find his weakness!"
Zelda saw Link's heroic resolve push through the flames – even as a child it glowed brightly. And as time moved forward, it grew stronger. She believed in him since the beginning; there was no reason to lose faith now. Plus, they had new friends who were willing to fight by their side.
With a hopeful smile, the Princess of Hyrule said, "You're right. Ganondorf will not prevail against our combined strength. I believe in you!"
"Yeah!" Yoshi said in an encouraging tone. "Turn that piggy into a roast!"
Hyrule's fate was about to be decided.
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