"Time for the main event."

Bato and Link watched as Nabooru made sure that the guards were properly in the shade before they went into the Spirit Temple. They said nothing but were despondent after the traumatic interrogation session. Bato didn't really do anything but broken a couple of fingers. The guards, apparently, didn't see it that way.

"There's just one problem." Nabooru walked over to Link and Bato. "When these guards don't check in, they'll find out something has happened to them and will send reinforcements out. Or, how do we know that we're not walking into a trap already?"

"True. I can go on ahead. If you start hearing noise, you'll know to come in with swords drawn."

Frowning, she voiced her displeasure. "We don't even know where Ganondorf is in that temple."

"Which is why I'll be exploring the entrance only. Once the coast is clear, then I'll come back, and we can all enter the temple proper." Link didn't like this idea more than Nabooru, but he didn't say anything. He had the experience, but he was just a kid. A group of Gerudo would easily overpower him. Sending Nabooru first would just be an unnecessary risk. Logic pointed to Bato, who started to go in.

"Right. Then, we'll just follow you in through after, won't we?" Bato stopped as Nabooru made that observation. "Might as well travel as a group than have them pick us off one at a time."

Link looked at him with pleading eyes. "You said you wouldn't do things that would put you at risk, remember?"

Bato sighed, acknowledging his promise. "Then, let's get on with it, then."

A series of chambers and corridors full of traps and dead ends. Treasures and artifacts from a bygone era, offering some sort of insight into the lives of the people who lived in those days. Chambers full of Greudo warriors, awaiting their king to revive from his stupor and lead them into conquest again. This was the Spirit Temple. Once used and now, ironically again, a hideout for Ganondorf's band of thieves. In the future, it would be used as a base of operations for the sinister sorceress sisters.

The first thing one would notice when entering the Spirit Temple would be the attacking pots. Most people would dodge, but Link stepped forward and shielded them both.

"Nice block, kid." Nabooru quipped. Giving off a small smile, they all continued on.

Walking around, the trio beheld two snake statues bearing writings of the Gerudo alphabet. A through M on the left and Q to Y, then circle back to M. At least, that is what was in the game. Here, however, the statues told a different tale.

We guard the gate

From the enemies of the kingdom

To the shadows of twilight

We guard the gate

Death through entropy

All life fades away

We remember, we celebrate, we mourn

Death through entropy

It was a strange, but oddly familiar feeling. As he walked through the entrance, something in the middle of the room caught his eye. His heart froze and his breath quickened. In front of him was a large, green man. What remained to be his upper armor was completely gone. What remained of his black armor, was in tatters. Scratch marks with various degrees of depth were all over. Sitting cross-legged and facing the wall, was the King of the Gerudo himself, Ganondorf.

A bell rang from deep within the temple. "What was that?" Bato whispered.

"The welcome bell," replied Nabooru dryly as she and Link prepared their weapons. Taking the hint, Bato summoned his bound sword. A door opened suddenly and a squad of Gerudo warriors rang through, spears raised and took a defensive position around the king. They were all wearing various colors, but the same type of uniform Avesa wore. The king didn't even acknowledge them.

"Spirits, I know I am unworthy. I am one that deserves no forgiveness, no mercy or eternal respite. However, I ask you to pass your judgement on to me once you have helped us. I beseech you, defend us from the enemies that swim in the sand. Inspire me or grant me the power to help my people."

It seemed that he was in his own little world as the leader of the Gerudo warriors stepped forward. "You will not see the king this day, traitor! Turn now and leave the man here!"

"You jest." Nabooru brandished her blade. Some warriors stepped back. "Like any of you are any match for me."

"One on one, perhaps. But it's seven against three." The warriors were preparing to strike. Nabooru looked at Bato, "do you want to deal with them?"

"That was more of an order than a question." He stepped forward, but then warriors looked around, seeing the ceiling shake and the ground rumble. Everyone almost lost their footing, except for Ganondorf who was slowly getting up. He turned to the trio. "Seems that we have company."

"My king, they are beneath you! Let us deal with them!"

"That's enough of that, captain." Ganondorf smiled grimly. "Boy," he acknowledged slightly. "Nabooru." Both of the addressed stood their weapons at the ready, focused on him and the warriors. But Ganondorf's eyes turned to Bato, "I wish we met in more hospitable circumstances, Bato. You should have accepted my earlier invitation."

Bato narrowed his eyes, "was that when you sent that contingent of troops to ambush us? I mean, you did rectify it by sending a proper delegation afterward, but still, I'm a man! Not some common criminal."

"So says the man that summons a giant lizard to lay waste to all of my elite troops." The Gerudo started to walk slowly to him. The warriors made room for him to walk but dared not stop him.

"When I received the news, I could scarcely believe it. Your defeat of Uraka in combat was really impressive in itself."

"Is Uraka as good as everyone says?"

"She was my best swordswoman during the civil war and onwards. She had received countless commendations for her bravery and sacrifice. Imagine my displeasure when I also learned you tortured her. That is something that you will have you answer for." He said this last part, darkly.

"I didn't even torture her! Would it blunt your wrath to know that whole battle for me was just a blur and I don't even remember doing that?"

"So, you say, farmer."

"What's going on here, Ganondorf!" Nabooru interjected, not taking kindly of being ignored. "Why did you keep yourself locked in here? You thought you could just disappear after a year of strife and war?! Was sending that molduga monster you're doing, as well?"

The Gerudo man's eyebrow rose. "Molduga?"

"The name of the sand creature?" Bato offered, "The thing that looks like a giant lizard, but moves in sand like water?"

"Is that what they're called? How would you know that?"

Bato didn't want to answer that question. "I have my secrets, you have yours."

"Fine, keep your secrets." All of them stared at each other, not knowing what the other was thinking. The flames of the torches flickering, and a small tremor was felt by all. This tremor made Ganondorf feel uneasy. It showed on his face. "If you're here, then that means you've defeated it. How?"

"The molduga has a soft underbelly. It's also sensitive to sounds. You throw a bomb or explosive onto the ground to lure it. It'll go for it every time and jump out. The bomb blows up in its mouth, and it'll be stunned. That's when you smack it at its belly. Do these two or three times, and you should be able to do it."

The captain whispered to Ganondorf, "My king, that monster wasn't the one we faced down."

Scoffing, Ganondorf turned his back towards Bato. "It's simple when you have an army at your beck and call. Only my elite troops and some battalions stayed with me after the Battle of Hyrule Field. When I returned, Nabooru had already killed Koume and Kotake."

"I hardly regret that at all!" Nabooru snapped at him.

He ignored her, "I vowed vengeance that day. I wanted blood, feel their terror, cause them torment."

"But?" Bato asked.

He gave a grieving sigh and looked around his warriors. "But that changed in the coming months. My access to my magic has been broken. I haven't been able to tame a single beast in the past four months. All of that rage and hatred I felt for the rebels disappeared. I had lost my appetite for war and the cruelty that inflicts both sides." The warriors looked at him, confused and fearful. Each of them was looking to one another for comfort but were found wanting.

Jaw dropping slightly, Bato picked it up again. "If you've lost the appetite for inflicting pain upon others, then why protract this war?"

"Of course!" he said, laughing. "Throw away the precious lives that the troops have given me!"

Nabooru stared at her former king. "So, the reason for continuing this war was not to waste the lives of those already fallen? You didn't see them as cannon fodder?"

Ganondorf barked out a laugh, "They've given me their all, and I've asked only for time! We were the pinnacle of power! Hyrule was about to be rightfully ours! Everything was ready!"

"Yet a boy in green caught wind of your plans and thwarted even before they began." Bato looked at Link as he felt sick when he said this. This was the first time he ever heard Ganondorf lament.

He stamped his foot, angrily. "My people! My children! The prosperity for my kingdom! My life's work!" He pointed at Link with his sword, "that boy undid it all!"

Softly sighing, Bato put his hand briefly on the boy without looking at him. Link touched it briefly. Bato continued to walk towards the bitter man. "Would you believe that the reason he did that was because he was ordained to do so?" Now everyone's attention was on the farmer, whose bold claim made everyone question his sanity.

Ganondorf was still on his tirade, "Yes! The Goddesses! They've sent him to stop me! Ruin me and my people!" He laughed again, "they destroyed us."

"Rather," Bato said quietly, "the game was rigged from the start." He walked across towards the man who would destroy an entire kingdom to ensure his survival. Warriors pointed their spears at him, fierce were their faces.

"Game?" He responded suspiciously. The tremor returned, stronger this time. "I don't have time for this. The worms are after the Spirit Temple! I cannot allow them to destroy it!"

Bato looked around. Still, Link and Nabooru were ready to strike, but it didn't look like the warriors were going for any sneak attacks. "You were trying to gain an audience with the spirits, is that right?"

"Yes. I saw them briefly that one time. I have made every attempt to contact them. For them to help us. Seems that they're just as useless as those goddesses!"

"Maybe because you don't have the proper way of talking to them?" Bato stepped forward. "May I?" Nabooru looked at Link, who was mouthing at her, 'what the heck is he doing?' She shrugged, not knowing herself.

Anger flared within Ganondorf and it showed. "I've been seeking an audience with them for weeks! What makes you think that you'll do any better?!"

Bato smiled in response. "Indulge me."

The king looked at him. Both his tenacity and temerity were shocking to him. Never had he ever encountered such a soul. He took a step to the side, "go on," he said mockingly, "why not? Be my guest." Bato walked past him, towards the apex of the room. Warriors trained their spears towards him. Nabooru and Link could only watch on, helpless, as he was effectively in the lion's den.

That didn't stop Bato from making a snide remark, though. "It would also help if you didn't act like a complete asshole."

"Asshole?" He wondered what that meant. At once, the warriors raised their blades. "Put those things away!" He commanded.

"But my King, he insulted you! I know it!"

"Regardless, he knows how to contact the spirits. I say again: stand down." He looked fiercely at the captain, "or do you question my judgement?"

The captain looked at him for a moment before making a movement with her hand. At once, the warriors stood at attention with their spears. "No, sire."

"Good." He continued to look at Bato, still doubting the completion of the task.

Ignoring him, Bato focused his energies on the temple. Like the forest, the Spirit Temple was a conduit for an aspect of life. In this case, living lighting. As Ganondorf watched with skeptical eyes, Bato remembered that he didn't have any special words or phrases to summon them outright. All he asked was anyone brave enough to speak with him. He had a feeling that the same trick wouldn't work, so a proper amount of deference had to be shown. "Children of the Lighting, I call upon thee from the land of the dead. We seek your counsel, your guidance, and strength. Show yourself to us, now!"

Nothing happened. Ganondorf snorted, but then stood silent as a single yellow orb phased into existence. Then another. More and more started to blanket the temple floor. Nabooru and Link had orbs right next to them. It shocked them a little, but they said nothing. The number of orbs wasn't as abundant as the forest. Soon, a brighter orb materialized in front of Bato. "You can see us. You can hear us."

"Yes, I can."

"Can he see us, now?" The orb referred to Ganondorf, who was looking baffled by what he was witnessing.

"I think so, yes."

"Our apologies, Gerudo King." The orb said, sadly. "The first time you witnessed one of us was after your conversation with this man."

"It was?" He thought about it for a moment. "I suppose, it was."

"This man can manifest spirits and speaks with us. It is because of his personal connection to the goddesses."

Ganondorf scoffed at that, "yet another slave to the goddesses. Let him be rewarded as my people have."

"That's enough." Bato, exasperated by this constant pity party, had to put his foot down. "You can be angry as much as you want later." He turned to the spirit, "do you know what's happening?"

"Before their deaths, the two sorceresses opened up a gate that transcends time and space. They were hoping to find a monster that they can bind and fight for them."

"A lot of good that did them." Ganondorf looked at Bato with murderous intent.

"Before summoning a particular beast, they were killed. The gate was left open for any creature who is at the right place, at the right time, to wander in."

"Can the gate be closed?"

The spirit bobbed, as if to say yes. "The gate's power is running out. Soon, it will disappear completely. We spirits are barring the way for any other creatures to get through. That is why there is so little of us, here now."

"But, there are creatures that have appeared already."

"Yes," the spirit, whispered, "those are the ones that slipped through before we spirits barred the way. They are the ones that need to be killed. You've already dealt with one. The Gerudo King dealt with many more. But the real threat still exists within the sands. If left alone, it would gradually claim the entire desert for its own. All would be consumed by its insatiable appetite."

"Do you know what kind of monster it is?" Bato asked, hopefully. With silence being the answer, he gave out a sigh. "Should've guessed. Where is this beast now?"

"The beast moves within the sand. It gathers more of itself with each passing day. It is more active at night. The tremors you have felt during the day are the creatures moving deeper into the sand. Once night arrives, then it will reveal itself within the Haunted Wasteland and lay waste to the Spirit Temple. But first, it must feed. Travelling around from one plane to another has taken its energy away. It'll go for the largest concentration of people nearby."

Nabooru whispered, "The Desert Town. No." It seemed that Ganondorf shared the same mind, for he went pale.

"When finished feeding, it will destroy the temple. Without the temple, the portal will suck the energy around every living thing, eventually destroying this plane."

"So," Ganondorf stepped up, "to be clear. Your kind is sealing the gate, in which no otherworldly beasts will enter. That is why you have kept silent for so long?"

"You believed out of desperation. This would have summoned us eventually. It would have been too late. You are fortunate to find this man of destiny. The one that will change the land for good or ill. Perhaps, your fate as well. If he hasn't already."

"What do you mean by this, spirit?" He fiercely glared at it. "I am taking my destiny!"

Bato had to bite his tongue, to prevent himself from laughing. "Perhaps you should ask the man, yourself, Gerudo King. As for you, man of destiny." It glowed a little and started to fade, "time is running out. Seek the Great Fairy in the Desert Colossus. She will grant you power to aid you."

"Understood." At once, the orbs disappeared, with a crackle of lighting. Bato turned to the Gerudo King and the surrounding warriors. "Now what?"

Ganondorf was confused and displeased. Weeks of fruitless devotion and a man was able to do it instantaneously. "You tell me, Hylian. Will you help my people?"

"Yes."

Shocked, Ganondorf didn't expect this response. "So quickly? You have nothing to gain from this."

"Maybe peace in the region and an end to the civil war?" He motioned to Nabooru, who put down her weapon. "Perhaps the fact that you're not the warmongering despot that everyone has painted you as, and are actually capable of redemption?"

He laughed wickedly at that, "I am pass redemption. I killed thousands, destroyed homes and families! I've even pitted my people against one another! My life is nothing but a sick joke to the goddesses!"

"Then, have the last laugh," Bato replied. "Show them that in all people, there is a chance of redemption."

"You gotta be kidding me!" Link rushed in with his sword before Nabooru had an opportunity to stop him. The warriors formed a defensive line.

"Wait." Ganondorf raised his hand. "Let him through."

Uneasy, the captain didn't want to defy her master again. Jerking her head towards the side, the line split into two. Link walked over towards them, slowly, looking at Ganondorf the entire time. "I can stop you from doing all the bad things in this world!"

"I can see it in your eyes, boy, just like before." The man grinned. "There's hatred for me in them. But I wonder, what did I ever do to you apart from knock you on the ground?"

Before Link could answer, Bato did it for him. "You must know of the boy who travelled through time. This is him. He bore witness that was brought forth with your selfish wish. A land full of carnage and destruction." Bato stepped between the two of them and turned towards Ganondorf, "you took everything from him, yet you don't even know who he is."

"This is he, then." Ganondorf regarded the boy, who still looked at him with those hate filled eyes. "I heard from my spies. That's how you were able to warn the king. Tell me, boy. Is what the farmer says is true? Is the land that I rule full of carnage and destruction?"

"Yes," Link said, tensely. "It is. It's a horrible place because a horrible man made it that way!"

"Indeed, I am horrible. I've done horrible and terrible things for the sake of my people. But I've always said that haven't I, Nabooru?"

She walked towards them, the warriors eying her but not reacting. "You were noble once. Your mothers were the ones that corrupted you, Ganondorf."

"My mothers?" Ganondorf thought for a moment, "maybe they're the reason I wielded dark powers in the first place. With their deaths, the connection I had to the lost magic might've been severed. They've always held grand aspirations for me and the Gerudo. Now that I think about it, was it ever about the people? Or did they wish to control the Gerudo through me?"

Link snapped at this point, "what does it matter?! All I know is that you were able to get into the Sacred Realm, steal the Triforce and destroy Hyrule. All of those innocent people killed! Towns and villages destroyed! Monsters roaming the world, eating everything that moved!"

Ganondorf looked at him as if he were mad, then to Bato. "Was this you were alluding to when you said that I would be consumed by power?"

"Power corrupts, after all. It's how you use it that matters."

He turned to the boy. "Then, indeed, if you speak true, then I have betrayed all of my beliefs and ideals. The land was to be shared, not hoarded. Everyone working towards a common ideal of peace." He closed his eyes. "If I have taken everything from you, then it's only fair that you take my life in exchange."

"No!" The warriors pointed their spears again, but Ganondorf silenced them. "I have dishonored my people, my ideals, my heritage. If my death is what will balance justice on all accounts, then so be it. I embrace death. But only after my people and lands are safe. Can you wait until then?"

Link stood there, shocked. Then, he looked at Bato who was watching him carefully. Sheathing his sword, Link screamed at Ganondorf very loudly, "I HATE YOU!" He marched past Nabooru and out of the temple.

Bato looked at Nabooru, "you think we can put a pause on this civil war until after the worms are gone?"

Sighing, Nabooru nodded, "if Ganondorf does anything to our people, then I'm holding you and all of Hyrule responsible!"

"He won't do anything stupid." He turned to the Gerudo King, gravely. "Won't you?"

"No. The time of conquest has ended. We have bigger things to hunt." Ganondorf turned to the captain. "Summon everyone. I wish to speak with them before I accompany them."

"Yes, my king!" The captain saluted and the entire squad mobilized. "Then, we'll meet near the edge of the Desert Colossus." Bato walked towards the entrance. Nabooru looked at Ganondorf for a while before following suit.

Bato and Nabooru walked outside and into the Desert Colossus. She turned to him and slapped him hard across the face.

He rubbed his cheek, "okay, okay, I'm gonna to go with 'ow.'"

"What in the blazing sands were you thinking?!" She screamed out at him. "Going up against him like that! Who do you think you are?!"

"Okay, it was incredibly stupid and reckless. But you have to admit this has gone a lot farther than either you or Felia ever dared!"

"He could have killed you twice over if he wanted to!" She looked despondent for a second, then looked away, "but he didn't. He looked exactly like back then. Back when, he had simpler and just ideals. Where he didn't crave power but rather the people."

"Do you think the Twinrova theory was proven? That they were the ones pulling the strings, and he was just along for the ride?"

"Ganondorf has always been proud of his power. Even before being corrupted by those sorceresses. They used that trait against him." She smiled grimly, "I'm glad I killed them."

"Well, congratulate yourself after we're done killing the worms." He looked around and saw Link, in the distance, at the oasis. "I'll take Link along with me to the Great Fairy."

Nabooru shook her head, "No. After that little outburst of his, I want to check up on him."

He looked at her, "divide and conquer, then?"

"I'll meet you at the oasis." Nodding, Bato left for the Great Fairy. Nabooru turned towards the oasis, hesitant about what he would find within the young boy.

Bato walked towards the Great Fairy Fountain. The sun was beginning to set, and the air was becoming colder. Soon, they would have to face the monster that was causing this strife. Among the palm trees and dried bushes, was a boulder. Holding his hand up, like before, he cast a fireball to blow up the rock. As it crumbled into dust, he thought, "why didn't I just use fireballs to draw the molduga away? Oh well, hindsight's 20/20, I suppose." Taking a deep breath, he went in.

The same layout of the Great Fairy Fountain at the Castle was present here. Walking over towards the Triforce symbol, he took out his fairy ocarina. Playing 'Zelda's Lullaby' he waited for the Great Fairy to appear. A flash of light and the giant woman revealed herself, just like her sister before. She looked at Bato, intrigued. "You are the man my sister spoke of. The man of destiny."

"I seek your aid, Great Fairy. The desert is being overrun by desert worms. The spirits say you can give us a power that can help."

"Do you have the power to commune with spirits?"

He nodded, "I do."

"Then, I will grant you a new power that allows you to be able to use their power as their own." She blew pink sparkles on him; a golden light enveloped his being. It only took a moment as the glowing subsided. "Any spirit that you've created a pact with, regardless of elemental affinity, will allow you to use their ability, so long as you have the magical energy to do so."

He bowed, "my thanks."

"There something that you should know. The Kokiri Emerald. The Goron Ruby and the Zora Sapphire. These Spiritual Stones you know. But there was a fourth one that was created if one of the stones was destroyed."

"A fourth spiritual stone?" Now, this was some new lore for Bato.

"Known as the Greudo Topaz, its significance has been lost to the ages. Now it serves as a secret symbol of office for those who call themselves 'King of the Gerudo.' A rite of passage is initiated by the elders when a Greudo boy is born. At their coming of age, they are to venture into the Spirit Temple and retrieve this lost relic. This is done in secret and no one, save the elders, knows of its significance. Over time, the Topaz's meaning lost its significance. With the death of the elders, this secret has remained hidden until now. The Gerudo also refer to it as the Desert Eye."

"Where are you getting this information?" The Great Fairy pointed upwards, and Bato understood.

"Call upon my sister up on the mountain, should you require any more help."

"My thanks, Great Fairy." The Great Fairy disappeared, leaving Bato alone. Turning, he went towards the middle of the room. Playing 'Wind God's Aria', Fado appeared before him.

"Bato, my friend. What do you need of me?"

"We got trouble, Fado. Can you grant me a power that allows us to move fast? Like faster than the wind, fast?"

He smiled at him, "Of course. You can also bestow this power on another. Make note that as they use this power, your magical energy will be used too. So, be prudent."

The spirit held out his hand and a gentle wind enveloped him. When finished, Fado continued speaking, "think fast and you will go fast. As fast as you wish to go."

"Thanks, Fado." As he bowed and disappeared, Bato thought fast. Wind enveloped his feet. He walked and was able to go to a wall in a split second. Once again, he went to the other side of the room in the same manner. "Neat." With his newfound wind power, he dashed out of the room.

"Hello, Link! Wake up!"

Link was sleeping without a blanket, with his Kokiri clothes on. He ignored the annoying alarm bell.

"The Great Deku Tree wants to talk to you! Link, get up!"

Still feeling groggy, he just wanted to turn into himself and ignore whatever was yelling at him.

"Hey! Come 'on! Can Hyrule's destiny really depend on such a lazy boy?"

Link was looking over the oasis water. "Destiny," he muttered.

In the Temple of Light, in the chamber of sages, he was getting the rundown of what happened, and what it all meant. "The Temple of Light, situated in the very center of the Sacred Realm, is the last stronghold against Ganondorf's evil forces."

A man wearing priestly brown garbs with a bald head and a bushy beard. The Sage of Light, Rauru. "The Master Sword – the evil-destroying sword that you pulled out of the Pedestal of Time – was the final key to the Sacred Realm. Link…Don't be alarmed…Look at yourself…!

Navi made the first observation of a fully grown Link. "Look Link! You're big now! You've grown up! But he was shell shocked at what happened to him. It was still him, but in another body. He wanted to yell and scream but knew that would help him anyhow. He decided to just listen to what Rauru had to say.

"The Master Sword is a sacred blade which evil ones may never touch. Only one worthy of the title of 'Hero of Time' can pull it from the Pedestal of Time. However, you were too young to be the 'Hero of Time'. Therefore, your spirit has been sealed for seven years."

Link's heart dropped when he told him this. Seven long years? The world must have changed while he was gone! Most important, what happened to the forest and the children?

"And now that you are old enough, the time has come for you to awaken as the 'Hero of Time!'

Rauru looked at him, squarely in the eyes and asked him, "well, do you understand your destiny?"

"What kind of destiny is that? I don't even get it." Link mumbled as the air started to get cooler. The sun was setting, and the stars started to twinkle in the sky.

Link met Zelda again in the Temple of Time after collecting all the medallions. Revealing herself to be the Sheliah, Sheik, she explained why she did what she did all those years ago.

"I thought I should entrust the Ocarina to you… I thought that would be our last chance…In order to do this, I need your courage again. Please protect me while I do my part."

"It wasn't supposed to be this way. He was…I was…"

"Link." The boy didn't move as Nabooru moved towards him. "Link," she called his name a bit softer. "May I sit with you?"

The boy said and did nothing as she sat with him. The blowing hot winds started to cool down the sands that blew all over the desert. "Ganondorf wasn't the man you were expecting, was he?"

"No," the boy said quietly. "Where's Bato?"

"At the Great Fairy fountain. He'll meet us here." They were both silent. There were some rumblings happening underneath them, but none of them addressed it. Right now, was an opportunity to discuss what they had seen at the Spirit Temple. What bothered Link so much was the fact that Ganondorf had changed from the maniacal King of Evil to a tired warrior trying to protect his people.

"He wasn't supposed to be this way." Link continued to mumble aloud. "He was supposed to be evil."

"I hear you, Link. The Ganondorf that I've been fighting for over a year seems to have vanished. In its place is the Ganondorf that I lost all those years ago. Does it bother you that much?"

"Do you know who you are, Nabooru?" She turned, surprised to see Link looking at her, with uncertainty in his eyes.

"I do. I am Nabooru. I am the leader of the Gerudo. I am a warrior and one who is destined to become a Sage of Spirit. What about you?"

He turned away. "No."

"No? What do you mean, no?"

Link was silent again. It seemed he didn't want to talk about this particular issue. After a while, he started to speak again, but his voice was shaking. "When I became the Hero of Time, I had a purpose. To save the lands and defeat Ganondorf. But now that I warned the king and Ganondorf's plans are ruined, what else is there to do? I go out into the world, helping others, bringing peace, making everyone happy. But that doesn't mean that I know who I am." He looked at her again, pleading eyes this time. "Who am I, Nabooru? Who do I mean to people? What's my…" he went quiet again.

"Purpose," Nabooru finished. "For a man, without purpose, is nothing." That seemed to hit Link home as he dug his knees into his chest. Without hesitation, she went over and gave Link a hug. "That's what life is supposed to be. Finding out what your purpose is. Being a hero isn't your only purpose, you know. The lands need people like you and me, of course. But don't feel bad about trying to find your path in life. You'll have to be patient. It won't come easily, like your role as a hero. Look inside yourself, who else could I be?"

"I…don't –" But she put her finger on his lips. He blushed a little. "Don't answer that now. Take your time. Draw inspiration from others if you need to. But ultimately, you're going to find out the answer yourself." Just then, a figure approached them. Link's heart skipped a beat, but Nabooru remained steadfast. It was Ganondorf. He was sporting tradition Gerudo male wear. His sword by his hip and wearing sandals. Link looked at him, sadly. He regarded both of them, "purpose, huh. Guess we're both in the same boat, aren't we."

Link stood up, "we're nothing alike."

"I didn't say that. I said that we're both trying to figure out what our purpose is in life. You ruined my plans for Hyrule, and my people are in danger. But these things will pass. When this is over, I plan to hand myself over to Nabooru to atone for all the chaos I caused the people." Nabooru stood shocked by this declaration. "I told my people as such. They weren't too happy with me, but that hardly matters. Once the worms have been dealt with, we will see to our dead and make our way to the Desert Town…where we will offer up our unconditional surrender."

"Sands," Nabooru muttered. She walked towards him, "Ganondorf. My sire. You are returned."

"Too late, I'm afraid, Nabooru." He turned towards Link, "my offer to you, boy, still stands. Let us deal with this enemy together. Then, you'll get your wish."

"You think that killing you will make me feel any better? Get real." He walked off, towards the Great Fairy Fountain. Another figure was approaching them at a frightening speed. It was Bato. Link braced himself, but Bato stopped right in front of him. "Sup, boo?"

Link hugged him, tightly. Returning it, the two went into the oasis, where Ganondorf and Nabooru were waiting. He looked at Ganondorf and smiled, "traditional Gerudo wear. I like it."

"Maneuverability is needed in this battle. Besides, my armor was damaged," Ganondorf said, smoothly. "Did you get what you needed?"

"And then some," Bato said, nodding.

"Ganondorf says that after this battle is over, his force and he himself will surrender to us." She looked at him, sadly, "the civil war is effectively over."

"Thank fuck!" He smiled at that and looked at Link. The boy tried to force a smile.

Ganondorf whispered, "was that supposed to be a good thing?"

"I have no idea." All four of them were present now. The sun had disappeared, and the rumblings became violate as ever. Everyone was focused now on the approaching worms. "I have horses at the ready," Ganondorf pointed, and three horses were waiting nearby. "Like I said, maneuverability."

"Then, let's get it on." They ran towards the horses. Link was small, so he had to get up on Bato's horse in front. All of them turned to the Haunted Wasteland. "We ride."