Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

The Legend of Zelda : Twisted Destiny	By : Gamesplayers Category: Zelda > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 5872 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda nor any of its characters, and I make no profit out of this story. Not at all.

Chapter List
- 1-The Legend of Zelda : Twisted Destiny
- 2-I
- 3-II
- 4-III
- 5-IV
- 6-V
- 7-VI
- 8-VII
- 9-VIII
- 10-IX
- 11-X
- 12-XI
- 13-XII
- 14-XIII
- 15-XIV
- 16-XV
- 17-XVI
- 18-XVII
- 19-XVIII
- 20-Showdown
- 21-Breakdown
- 19
- 20
- 21
XIX
Showdown

Link was in good shape, even more when it was about running for long periods of time. He never got breathless at the top of a staircase. But that special staircase was meant to make him have an attack before reaching the top. Even Sheik seemed to find it long to climb. Nami, who flew, kept her comments to herself, though she was smirking.
Seriously. They had been climbing stairs for the past ten minutes and they couldn’t even see the top of it yet. Ganondorf must have had flying abilities. That, or the room on top of these staircase was abandoned and he took a stroll there only when important duels had to be held.
But judging by the castle’s interior, it wasn’t the lord’s home as they thought before: there were no commodities that a home should normally hold. There were no kitchen, no dining room, no bathroom and no bedroom. Just a few round rooms with doors and that damn staircase.
So Link had decided that this wasn’t Ganondorf’s ‘home’, but his kind of sparring hall. Probably where he trained his minions. With the stairs.
“So… What happens if… I have… An attack… Before the duel?”
“Ganondorf will surely rape Zelda and take over Hyrule for good. And pee on your body.” Replied Sheik, not tired at all.
Link chuckled. Sometimes, he was sure that Sheik wasn’t human.
And the top wasn’t there yet.
He started to slowdown and eventually, stopped to catch his breath. Sheik followed, and turned to look at his brother.
“Are you that tired?”
“My heart’s… Pounding in my… Head. Gimme a lil’ break.”
They couldn’t duel the Evil Lord if Link’s heart exploded, so Sheik waited patiently, keeping his eyes on the Hylian just to make sure he wasn’t dying.
It took about a minute before the Hero of Time had recovered enough to continue going up these stairs. With a nod of the head, he started to move again. Sheik followed closely behind.
“I’ll go find the top of the stairs, I’ll tell you if it’ll be long again.” Announced Nami before flying away.
In silence, both men waited for her to return as they continued their ascension. She came back a few moments later.
“Found it.” She announced. “You’ve done more than half of it.”
Link sighed heavily. “That’s not exactly… A good new…”
From the corner of his eyes, Sheik stared at his brother. He seemed in high spirits for now. It was starting to be rare, nowadays, for the Hylian to be this energetic, so the Sheikah decided that he was going to make sure he was in that set of mind when reaching the duel that was most likely going to kill him.
Of course, Sheik wouldn’t let Ganondorf kill Link. He’d have to murder the Sheikah before.
And following the silent track of their thoughts, the men finally reached the top of the staircases.
With somewhat of an immense sigh, Link let his back hit the wall behind him before he slid slowly to the ground. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm his racing heart. Sheik and Nami looked down at him and they waited in silence, both thinking that this might be the last image of him they would have... The outcomes of that final fight could not be predicted: Link was equipped; he had fought endless evils… But Ganondorf was, after all, far more powerful and intelligent than any of his minions…
Link looked up, finally. Sheik noted how pale his eyes were once again. He observed his features, that wrinkle that was starting to form when he smiled, or his boney jaws. He was still frail for a Hero. His shoulders weren’t these of a grown man, but the fragile one of a young man, nothing more than a boy…
And Ganondorf was a grown, over-large man with dark magical powers.
Link had nothing but his sword, and a shining star above his head that seemed to protect him from almost everything. Sometimes, Sheik wondered if that luck he had was from the parents he had never met, the triforce or just because he was born when the planets were aligned. But whatever it was, the Sheikah had always been grateful that it was there to help his brother.
And as the blond man was lost in thoughts, Link’s eyes couldn’t move from that enormous door right beside him. Once he’d cross that portal, he would be fighting his last fight: for Hyrule, for his comrades, for Tatl and the child. For his own life. And frankly, he did not believe he was able to do that. Ganondorf…
Link was about to fight the man he had considered a father.
His hands were shaking and wet. But he felt calm. So calm he was about to panic.
“Is it really time?” He whispered.
Sheik nodded, his heart heavy. “Yes. It’s time to fight for what you’ve always wanted: a better tomorrow for the folks of Hyrule.”
Link swallowed his saliva. Well, he tried, but his mouth was suddenly very dry.
Just as slowly as he had sat down, the Hero of Time got up. Nami remarked that his jaws were shaking lightly. If he were to lose his temper, and if it were to happen before the fight, he was sure to die.
In her fairy shape, she sat down on his shoulder and petted his cheek softly. He smiled.
And lifted his left hand on the door knob.
Behind, Sheik rested a firm hand on the young man’s shoulder, squeezing him with encouragement. “We’re right beside you, Link.”
“And we won’t let you down.” Concluded Nami.
Link sighed. He did not have the heart to thank them.
He was going to die.
He turned the knob and entered the room.
The Hero of Time, his fairy and the Sheikah who had guided him had arrived where the battle of Hyrule’s future would be held.
***
The room was so illuminated, it was shocking. They thought they would end up in the lair of the Devil himself, not some havre de paix filled with painted glass and a rather big organ. And that organ was now filling the room with music that was played with passion by Ganondorf himself.
He did not turn around to meet the trio that had entered his room. He did not need to.
Above his head, in a pink crystal, Zelda was hovering into her ragged, dirty and ripped dress. She did not look conscious as her eyes were closed and her body seemed limp, even if buried into a magic crystal as hard as iron. On her right hand, her triforce shone dimly.
Link’s eyes navigated from the painted windows to the crystallized princess, then down at the Lord of Evil’s back.
As if not minding at all that the Hero of Time, his ultimate antagonist, was standing behind him, Ganondorf’s finger wouldn’t let go of the ivory keys as the rhythm of the song he played invaded the space between the walls, the windows, and the ground. The organ shouted and shouted, as if screaming with all its might within a delightful symphony. Sheik and Link looked at each other, worried about what was about to happen, and sincerely confused about that scene.
And then, Ganondorf’s hand slid over the keys for his Grande Finale.
In the blink of an eye, he turned around to face the trio, grinning. Had he not been about to kill him, Link would have noticed that the Gerodu King was in a good mood.
“Did you like this piece? It’s an orchestrated version of a song from the Gerudo Valley. I composed it.”
Link was thrown off-balance from that seemingly friendly Ganondorf. He thought he’d be welcomed with a trap. An attack. A blow. Something evil and dangerous.
Ganondorf tilted his head to the side lightly, the leather of his armor creaked and the noise seemed to feel the room in which the last echoes of the organ were now dying. “The fairy got your tongue, son?”
Link couldn’t take his eyes off of Ganondorf’s golden irises.
Sheik clenched his fists as he glared at the enemy. The Evil Lord ignored him.
“Are you even going to put up a fight, or are you going to let me crush you with your own blade?” Said the Gerodu King as he looked, with amusement, at the frozen Hylian before him.
“Snap out of it, Link!” Whispered Nami as she slapped his cheek with her tiny hand.
Link blinked, finally. His expression changed from pure fear to the purest form of pain and hurt he had expressed so far, and as a flow of emotions he had held for too long started to explode. After all, he was standing before the only man he had trusted as a ‘father’. He clenched his fists, tightened his jaws before slowly opening his mouth.
“Why…?” Whispered the Hero of time as his knuckles grew white.
Ganondorf laughed. It seemed that every sound that escaped his enormous body was making the tower shake. As his eyes penetrated Link’s with their golden intensity and hatred, the Gerudo King lifted his right hand slowly, showing the top of it to the Hylian he was preparing himself to kill.
“For this.”
On the top of his leather-covered, very large hand, a triforce materialized itself. The upper part of it started shining violently. As to answer the unheard call of the Goddesses, Zelda’s and Link’s triforces started to shine just as brightly. For a moment, the room was bathed in the most magical and golden aura that had been seen within the borders of the Holy kingdom of Hyrule, motherland of the hidden and sacred Golden Land.
“But what does it brings you?!” Called Link.
“Power.” Answered Ganondorf before getting up with his seat. “The power to take what I’ve come to gather.” He cracked his fingers. “And right now, only one specific obstacle is in my way to reach my very goal.” He pointed his right index directly at Link’s face. “And it’s you.”
At the top of his finger, a ball of electricity appeared and the second later, he was releasing it.
Link gasped, the ball was coming right at him.
Eyes wide open, he stood still. In slow-motion, he saw the greenish-yellow ball of Death getting closer. He heard the sound of his breathing and felt his heart pounding in his head. But he did not move, stuck between the shock of receiving no explanations, the understanding of the meaningless of his life for that man that had been family to him, and the inevitability of his in-coming death.
The ball grew closer, so close Link could feel its power and heat on the tip of his nose and chin.
He blinked.
And when he opened his eyes again, he was also snapping back to reality as Sheik’s voice echoed into the room. He had taken the magic ball right into his chest. He collapsed at the Hylian’s feet a second later.
Link looked down.
Sheik did not move at all.
Ganondorf laughed. “How beautiful to die for the one you love!” He clapped, grinning widely, maniacally.
“Link! Snap out of it and fight!” It was Nami’s voice as she screamed at the top of her tiny lungs.
But Link could do nothing but shake his head, very slowy, as he stared down at his feet. “Sh…Sheik?”
No answer.
“SHEIK!”
Link got down to his knees and shook the Sheikah. Sheik was...
“Link, watch out!”
With a growl of hatred, the Hero of Time raised to his feet just in time to repel the magic ball coming at him with a skilled –or lucky- twist of the wrist. Ganondorf looked surprised as he dodged his own attack that was coming back at him.
Master Sword pointed at the Evil Lord, Link glared at his enemy with all the hate that he could find within himself, revealing his teeth as he growled. “YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!”
Ganondorf laughed. “We shall see. Son.”
With a click of his fingers, the organ disappeared. So did Zelda and her crystallized prison. Between the Gerudo King’s hands, a massive ball of dark magic was formed before dropping it to the ground, at his feet.
Link ran towards the nearest wall, hoping to flee the attack, rage switching to fear.
The evil waves did not touch him, but most of the floor collapsed to reveal a platform in the middle of the room, on which Ganondorf was now standing, as well as a damaged passage circling the room and following the walls. And that was where Link stood.
So between the Lord of Evil and the Hero of Time was a gap that leaded to a very dark room in which Link did not wanted to end up. He could see, in the darkness, the shadow of some spikes that were awaiting to impale him.
Readying his shield and sword, Link waited for the next attack. Beside him, Nami also readied herself. From the corner of her eyes, she saw that Sheik hadn’t moved and his body was dangerously close to the dark pit.
Glaring deadly at Link, Ganondorf started to create another ball of almighty magic. Adrenaline and hate rushing through his veins, Link prepared his wrist for a monumental match of baseball.
But Ganondorf had another idea.
He brought his hands above his head to form an even bigger ball of dark energy. It seemed to swallow the room’s brightness as the light was sucked into that ball and the shadows started to dance around the Hero of Time.
“Link, be caref-“
Ganondorf released his attack with a deep growl.
Too many little balls of deadly electricity were launched at Link.
Nami gasped as she was hit by one and threw onto the wall, losing consciousness instantly.
Screaming, Link swung his sword in a circle-motion, turning on himself at the same time. His spin attack, combined with his shield, hit the balls that would have been, otherwise, sure to hit the Hero of Time. Around him, an army of magic missiles hit the wall, carbonizing it.
Link immobilized himself, glared at Ganondorf.
Surprised by the Hero’s sudden counter-attack, the Gerudo King was now shaking drastically and groaning as his body was hit by the countless balls of his own magic that Link had sent back.
Seeing this as an opportunity to strike, Link threw the Master Sword at his feet before taking his bow.
He wasn’t a wonderful swordsman, but he was one hell of an archer. And he rarely missed.
He readied his arrow, caressed the feather at the end unconsciously. It was a ritual he needed to accomplish before each arrow could be shot. Almost delicately, his wrist snapped away and his fingers let go of the arrow. The string was released.
Ganondorf lifted his eyes on Link. He smirked.
The arrow reached him just in time for the Dark Lord to catch it with his large hand and snap it in two. Glaring at Link, he laughed darkly before getting back up.
“Did you really believe that it would be this easy, Link?”
The Hylian growled, Ganondorf smirked.
With a flick of the wrist, another energy ball was being made, and Link was picking his sword back up. The missile left the Gerudo King’s hand and the Hero of Time ran off to not receive the blow.
Link kept running, and Ganondorf kept firing behind him… Until he had a better idea. A moment later, an energy ball was colliding with the ground right before Link’s feet. A scream of surprise and fear escaped the Hylian’s lips as he ran straight into the hole, and fell in it.
Heart pounding and persuaded he was about to die, Link grabbed with shaking hands his hookshot. Precious friend of his. Almost blindly, he aimed at the ceiling and hoped there would be something in which the hook could stick.
But no. Link wasn’t that lucky.
***
Standing on his platform, Ganondorf watched with amusement as Link’s hook reached the ceiling, hit it with a cling, then returned down with its master. A clashing noise followed and then… The silence.
Apparently, the Hero of Time had crashed into the room below and got rid of himself, alone, in that almost theatrical fall.
Below was the armory. Badly managed and filled with spears of all sorts, all pointing towards the sky. Swords were laying all around, as well as pots and bottles. It was a messed up room in which the Dark Knights took their weapons and armor. And they never cleaned up. A murderous mess.
Ganondorf joined his hands together and looked at his triforce. It was a shame he wouldn’t have the opportunity to strangle his little Hylian with his bare hands.
He walked to the side of the platform and looked down. The room was too dark for him to see anything, but he remarked how the shelves could make a suitable ladder for any light creature. He disliked mice or goblins. He’d have to take care of these later.
Well, he hadn’t planned the fight to be this easy. Ganondorf looked up. What now? Killing Zelda or forcing her into a wedding to create an alliance between Hyrule and the Gerudos? Or he could rape her. Then kill her. That almost seemed like a suitable plan.
Oh, and he had to clean up a few corpses from his fortress before anything else… He disliked blood, for it smelled quite badly when it started to coagulate, dry and rot.
Cling.
Ganondorf’s lightly pointed ears reacted as the small, metallic noise echoed behind him. He looked above his shoulder.
And turned around, gasping.
Bleeding from a large cut on his cheek and right arm, a growl escaped Link’s mouth as he jumped towards Ganondorf, Master Sword held with both hands above his head.
Ganondorf raised his arm.
The sword cut through it, burning the flesh as the shining blade of Evil’s Bane pursued its way to the dark man’s face and chest. The razor-sharp edge cut a nice line onto the king’s skin, from his right eye to his chin. Ganondorf screamed in agony as his flesh burnt at the contact of the weapon, and as his now severed arm fell to the ground.
Quick, and filled with anger, Link brought the bloody sword towards him to give another blow. In a piercing attack, the now red-soaked holy weapon shone dimly as it plunged into Ganondorf’s abdomen.
With a chocked growl of pain, the Gerudo King rested his last hand on the blade, where it connected with his armor and skin. It burnt. Everything that touched the Master Sword burnt. And it smelled like over-cooked meat and blood as the flames of the weapon symbolized the hatred that Link felt towards that man.
Knees connecting with the ground, Ganondorf looked up at Link one last time.
Panting, the Hero of Time glared dangerously at the man at his feet.
“You deceived me!” He finally shouted. “You knew who I was all along, didn’t you!?”
Ganondorf did not answer.
“Answer me!” Link twisted the Master Sword into the Dark Lord’s abdomen and Ganondorf screamed loudly.
“I did! I did!”
A shiver ran through Link’s spine as he allowed himself to blink and look away, hurt.
“I’ve trusted you…”
“And I have… Abused you.” Ganondorf half-chuckled. “But if you were to… k-kill everyone who has abused you… In this quest… You’d be killing the whole kingdom…”
“Fuck you.”
Link pulled the Master Sword out of Ganondorf’s body as the Gerudo let a last, muffled cry of agony escape his throat. Blood followed the path of the blade as it burnt for the second time the flesh on its way.
As Link turned around, jaws tightly shut, Ganondorf’s lifeless body fell to the ground behind him.
Link jumped to reach the passage leading to the door. It was a risky jump, but he didn’t care now. Not anymore. He walked, feeling empty, towards the body of Nami. He kneeled and took her into his hands, poked her lightly. She did not seem to react.
Softly, he installed her into his pocket, then he walked to Sheik.
He kneeled down beside him and took the Sheikah into his arms. He was still numb and limp. Link buried his face into his neck as he held him tightly.
He wanted to cry, but he could not find the strength. Instead, he concentrated on the Sheikah’s perfume that he knew so well.
The castle shook lightly. But the Hero of Time didn’t care. He could just die there and now with Sheik, Nami and Ganondorf. Hyrule was saved now, wasn’t it?
Zelda could take back her land. The people could live happily ever after. Have children, raise them, be happy, laugh and smile for eternity. Link had done his part. He was free.
Free to carry the burden of murder, deception, loss and the traumatizing memories of all this Hell that he has gone through as the magnificent Hero of Time.
He had the right to be the broken man he deserved to be.
***
Zelda’s crystal re-appeared on the northern side of the room. It reached the ground and disappeared almost softly as she opened her eyes. She shone softly, as if light was coming out of herself; as if she was creating light.
Into her ragged dress, she walked towards Link and Sheik. Shining like the sun, her triforce boosting the powers of the light within her. She was smiling softly, welcoming.
The tower was shaking more and more and it was about to collapse. They had to get out.
She walked into the room as pieces of concrete from the ceiling fell. Link and Sheik’s body were covered in white dust as the room was slowly being destroyed around them.
She walked besides Ganondorf’s corpse without looking at him.
And when she reached Link, she rested her hand on his shoulder. He jumped in surprise and looked up. He seemed to be lost in thoughts elsewhere.
Zelda kneeled beside him. She took his face between her hands and kissed his forehead, then his lips, before looking at him, smiling.
“I know what you feel, but it’s not a reason to waste your life.”
He opened his mouth to speak, she rested a soft finger against his lips. She glowed with light. She looked like a ghost, something mystical. Her triforce was active.
“You are wrong, they are not dead. Only deeply asleep. Let me show you.” She smiled at the Hero again.
She let go of him and looked into the Hylian’s pocket. She took out the fairy’s body and held it in one hand, while she rested her other hand on Sheik’s head. Eyes closed, Zelda repeated a formula as the triforce shone brightly.
It seemed as if all the light that was surrounding her left her body to be transferred to the two beings beside her. Even the triforce on her hand shone less as she did so. Zelda closed her eyes and let her head fall back…
And when she was back to normal, human colours, she fell, almost softly. Link caught her.
She opened her eyes again, looked confused, then sat up.
At the same time, Nami’s wings twitched and Sheik’s chest started to heave.
Speechless, Link was still on the ground, dusty and bloody from the cuts on his face and arm. No emotions crossed his face as he witnessed the power of the triforce.
Sheik sat up, slowly. He spat blood on the ground before wiping his mouth. Nami, flew up a few inches above the ground. They both looked at Link and Zelda.
“What… Happened?” Asked Sheik as he rubbed his forehead.
Zelda turned to look at Link. She visibly did not understand why she was sitting on the ground, in the Hylian’s arms and why the ground was shaking.
“I…” Link could not find anything intelligible to say. So he went straight to the point “Ganondorf is dead.”
“You did it.” Said the princess as she straightened herself. “I knew you could.” She stared at him.
But the tower shook violently and the painted glass shattered for good. It broke the visual contact between Link and Zelda.
“The castle is collapsing.” Pointed Sheik. “Let’s get out of here, we’ll have plenty enough of time to discuss what happened when we’ll be in safety.” He got up. “And after a good bath.”
Link and Zelda also raised to their feet as Nami flew up.
Link wanted to hug Sheik and Nami as if his life depended on it and kiss back Zelda with passion for what she had just done… But he couldn’t. Instead, he nodded coldly before opening the door.
He felt suddenly empty and dry. As if he had become a shell of himself.
***
“Do you think Ganondorf is dead?” Asked Tatl as the group reached a safe zone from which they could look at the tower as it collapsed.
“I do hope so.” Whispered Erk as he rubbed his forehead.
“We’ll know soon enough.” Replied Olwen as he crossed his arms over his chest, staring at the dark, broken castle.
Behind, Isca stared at Tatl’s back and figure… It was hard not to notice her pregnancy, and even harder not to concentrate on the fact that he was sure not to be the father.
What was going to happen to her if... The Hero wasn’t coming back?
Isca still loved Tatl, with all his heart. And he knew that he could forgive her for cheating on him, for betraying him. It was that bastard’s fault after all; he had charmed her like any other woman.
And even if Tatl was an incredible person, she was still a woman.
***
Sticky with sweat, blood and rain, the adrenaline was pushing Link as he ran for his life. The tower was collapsing around them at an alarming rate. Zelda had torn her dress up to her knees so she’d be able to run with more ease. Before Link, Sheik was leading the way with Nami. The Sheikah was killing the occasional, disoriented monsters with a few needles without stopping to run.
They had no time, really.
And no time to look around.
A stone. About the size of Zelda’s hand fell down from the tower. No one saw it coming until Link received it right on his left shoulder. A groan of pain mixed up with a scream of surprise escaped his mouth as he lost his balance and felt on his butt. Zelda gasped and hurried to him.
“Are you okay!?”
He groaned, holding his shoulder, and nodded. Slowly, he moved his arm to make sure it was still in its socket.
“Y-yes… My chainmail… I think that’s what took the blow.”
Zelda nodded as she grabbed his other arm. “Hurry, we have to get out of here.” She helped him to his feet and they started running again.
But Link’s shoulder kept hurting. It wasn’t broken, but something wasn’t exactly right in there.
But he had no time.
They ran even when their bodies weren’t able to run anymore, even when their lungs were burning and their legs shaking. They could not stop or they were dead for sure. And Link had, frankly, no intention to die at that moment.
He had defeated Ganondorf. Sheik and Nami were back from their slumber and he had the feeling that the others were okay as well. A stupid tower was not about to kill him.
And all he could think about was that he’d be free once outside. Free to do whatever he wanted.
Free to leave Hyrule.
There was an aggressive earthquake and Sheik looked up at the top of the tower. He gasped loudly.
“It’s falling! Hurry up!”
Zelda looked up. She whimpered as she ran. Tears filled her eyes… No, not so close…
Link grabbed her hand. She looked at him. He pulled her roughly to him as he increased his speed. He looked confident.
They would survive. Zelda was now sure as she felt her Hero’s assurance.
And as the tower collapsed behind them and an impressive cloud of grey dust rose around them, the small heroic group made its way to where the sage’s rainbow, glass bridge had once been. But of course, it was broken by now.
In the grey dust, Link and Zelda could not see Sheik and Nami. So they slowed down to catch their breath. Zelda covered her face with her skirt -exposing herself- so she wouldn’t breathe the dust. Link covered his mouth and nose with his free hand. The princess got closer to him, pressing his arms against her body.
He did not realize it.
Slowly regaining the ability to breath, they waited for the dust to fade away.
Zelda replaced what remained of her dress, and let go of Link, as Sheik and Nami appeared before them. Reunited, finally.
Around them, there was nothing but the debris of Ganondorf’s fortress. In the middle of all of this mess was a big pile of rocks, and the major part of the fallen tower. Another portion of it was now into the pit of lava, underneath the flying platform on which they stood.
“It’s over… It’s finally over…” Whispered Zelda as she brought her hand to her mouth, eyes watering.
Link stared at the pile of debris.
Behind, Sheik chuckled followed the Hylian’s stare.
Nami sat on the Hero of Time’s shoulder. She patted his cheek again. He did not feel it as he stared at the pile of rubbles. Something like a very bad feeling was making its way up his spine, making the hair on his neck stand up.
“Link?” Zelda called his name.
He did not answer. She grabbed his wrist. He freed his hand from her grip as he unsheathed the Master Sword. Zelda took a step back, getting closer to Sheik.
“What’s wrong?” Asked the Sheikah, voice dark as he knew, in fact, what was wrong…
Link raised his right hand, index in the air, as if saying “gimme a moment”.
And the rubbles shook, a stone fell.
“No…” Whispered Zelda.
“I’m going.” Announced Link.
Sword in hand, shield ready, the Hero of Time approached the rubbles in the middle of the platform. From the other’s point of view, Link looked fearless as he walked straight towards what seemed to be the impersonation of danger itself.
But what they didn’t see was how shaky he was, how difficult it was for his legs to carry him towards that pile of debris.
Heart beating into his head, Link stood in front of the remains of the tower. The stones and dust, mixed up together were impressive and high. It was hard to imagine that, somewhere in there, something could have… lived?
He took another step forward. A step too far, yet a necessary one. A shiver ran through his spine, but not just a shiver… it felt as if some cold, cold liquid had been poured right into his veins, paralyzing his mind and setting his heart on fire.
It was terror.
And that terror, he felt it within every muscle of his body as the rubbles shook. Somewhere behind, Zelda gasped and Sheik called his name. But he couldn’t move his legs. All Link could do was to stare as the stones seemed to fly away in slow-motion to reveal what he was terrorised to find: the remains of Ganondorf… still alive.
Body covered with blood, dust and burns, what used to be the King of the Gerudos was now hovering above the rubbles and the Hero of Time. His entire eyes were gold. Too gold. He raised his remaining hand, as each breath he took echoed within Link’s cranium, and the triforce of power shone brighter than the sun.
Ganondorf was so mad with Power that what was remaining of his mind wouldn’t let go. His body might have been dead… His greed was not.
In a scream not belonging to human lungs, the Evil Lord’s body moved in the air, projecting his head backwards as, from his hand and mouth, a ray of blinding, golden light started to envelop his corpse.
Instinctively, Link closed his eyes.
And when he opened them, he became white.
In front of him, Ganondorf was transforming himself into some enormous creature that seemed to reach the sky with the top of his head. His head, face were disfigured to become the one of a monster with a muzzle and razor-sharp teeth. His shoulders were large and muscular enough for a man to stand on them. His arms kept humanoid shape, but became larger than Link himself as his nails transformed into murderous claws. His legs became those of a Minotaur as a long, bony tail grew at the base of his back.
To his hands, two immense short-sword of a golden colour appeared as Ganondorf opened empty, golden and round eyes on the world.
Thunder started to be heard and lightening be seen as the best and the Hero of Time faced, stared at each other.
A ray of lightening touched the ground behind Link. It started a fire that would keep Sheik and Zelda away, as it acted as a barricade between the arena and them.
Ganon cried, screamed, screeched like the monster he had become as fire raised around the new battlefield, following the trails of the dust and the wooden debris.
Link took a step back. Ganon raised his paw and sword.
The Hylian opened wide eyes and mouth as he looked up to meet the monster’s attack.
Ganondorf hissed, between his fangs, what seemed to be a chuckle.
And he brought his monstrous paw down on Link.
Panic. Distress. Lack of preparation or mere overflowing of emotions. Link saw the blow coming. He couldn’t dodge, he couldn’t move his legs. And instead of raising his shield, he raised his sword.
He saw his triforce shining brightly as the blade moved down on him, felt the evil sword make contact with the Master Sword, and the pummel leaving his closed fingers as if he hadn’t even tried to hold on it in the first place.
The holy weapon left him and flew off through the fire, towards Sheik and Zelda. They both dodged its sharp blade as they watched it describe an arc before planting itself in the ground, neatly.
“Link… The Master Sword!” Called Zelda, as she turned around to stare back at the arena.
Link hadn’t even looked at his sword as if had flown away from his hand. As his only capable weapon was torn from him. All he could do was shake, there, as he saw Ganon raising his paw and bringing it down on him again.
He didn’t hear Zelda as she screamed at the top of her lungs. He felt the strength of the monster, its slap that touched, covered his chest. Link felt his feet leave the ground.
He closed his eyes, had just enough time to think that he was done for and then, the impact arrived.
His back collided with an enormous rock, or a stone… Or a part of the fallen tower. With something rocky and sharp. Something that made his bones crack all through his body, as if he was shattering from the inside. What air he held in his lungs left him as the pain became over-bearing.
He opened his eyes, letting go of a muffled, chocked sigh of inexpressible pain as he saw red.
And his body fell to the ground below; his right shoulder hit the concrete first. His hip and forehead followed.
And he closed his eyes when everything became black.
***
Zelda clapped her hand over her mouth.
This couldn’t be. It… No.
Sheik, beside her, was paler than snow. They had seen the blow. They had seen Link flying and hitting a broken stone with so much strength that it was almost impossible for his bones not to be all completely shattered.
Ganondorf casted his stare down on Zelda and Sheik. The monster laughed, exposing its bloodthirsty teeth to the world.
Beside them, Nami flew off at an alarming speed to reach the broken Hero on the ground. She was not going to abandon him. Far above her little self and Link, Ganondorf wasn’t paying attention to them. That was good. She took a few seconds to inspect the fallen Hero… And what she saw wasn’t good: blood was dripping from his mouth and nose, as well as from his forehead… And she couldn’t look at the state of his body covered by his clothes and armor, but it wasn’t hard to guess…
He looked dead.
She swallowed her saliva and gazed back up at the beast. It was still not paying attention to her. She returned her eyes on the Hero.
Link couldn’t be dead.
She wouldn’t allow it.
***
Both hands on the pummel of the Master Sword, Sheik growled violently as he withdrawn the blade from the ground. It was heavy. Goddesses damn heavy.
“What are you d-doing?” Asked Zelda as she couldn’t find a purpose for her hands.
Sheik glared up at her. “I’m taking the damn sword to beat up that big fucker, isn’t that obvious?!”
Zelda took a step back. She had never seen Sheik being so edgy or… vulgar? No, he wasn’t vulgar. He was angry. Too angry.
With one last glare towards the Princess of Destiny, Sheik rushed through the flames and into the arena. Zelda’s eyes followed him, horrified. The Sheikah couldn’t fight Ganon without any blessing from the Goddesses or he would die for sure!
They couldn’t do anything!
And Link was down.
And Nami, even if linked to Farore in some way… She couldn’t stand up to that beast.
Think. Think. Think. THINK!
Eyes closed, she brought both hands to her face. She was shaking. The kingdom was doomed if they couldn’t switch the combat in their favour. And so far… A fairy, a Sheikah and a useless princess were no match against that giant monster.
Zelda opened her eyes, and let her hands fall from her face.
And she realized that she too had a triforce.
But even with that power into her… She was a magician of the light. She was able to heal minor to major wounds, some sickness. She could create strong magical barriers. But when it came to the offensive side, all she could do was power up some weapon with light and hope it would do damages.
The Master Sword couldn’t be powered up; it was already way more powerful than any damn anti-evil charm.
She was so useless!
Zelda looked up at the scene before her. Sheik was running around and keeping Ganon’s attention far from Link and Nami, which was good. But the Sheikah would get tired sooner or later…
And she was still there, thinking.
Let’s face it: we are going to die here. Better find yourself a heroic death than some damsel in distress one.
Zelda sighed, brought her lips into a very thin line before tearing a ribbon from her dress. She raised her hands and tied her hair in a ponytail.
The Princess of Destiny took a deep breath… And started running.
***
Nami was in her human shape, hovering lightly above the ground, before Link. She was going to shield him, no matter what would happen of her. She glared at the evil beast when their eyes met. Then, Sheik had arrived and started to steal the monster’s interest.
Now, the Sheikah was running around, swinging the Master Sword when he could to maintain the beast away.
And Nami was now down on her knees, trying to heal the Hero of Time. With some difficulty, she pushed him so he’d lay on his back. She had taken the liberty of putting his heavy equipment off of him. With shaking fingers, she searched for his pulse.
He had to be alive.
He had stopped bleeding furiously, which was a start.
But she could find no pulse. Against his neck, she dug her fingers into his skin. She was going to find a heartbeat. She had to. The damn kingdom needed her to find his pulse!
And suddenly… She felt it. And it wasn’t her own heart beating in her head, no. It was a very faint beating, hard to find, but still there.
Link was fighting to stay alive.
Nami sighed as her eyes watered.
If Link was still alive, she could do something.
The ultimate sacrifice of a fairy for the mission she served.
***
Zelda, growling, slapped her skirt to kill the fire. No, she wasn’t as aerodynamic as a Sheikah.
She went left right away to find Nami and Link. The fairy had a faint smile on her lips and tears in her eyes as she took her finger off of the Hero’s neck. She looked up at Zelda.
“He’s alive. Barely, but he lives.”
Zelda sighed, bringing a hand to her heart.
“By the Goddesses, thank you…” She kneeled down beside him. “I can try to heal him.”
Behind, the monster growled loudly.
Nami shook her head. “I’ll take care of that. If you were to heal him, it would bring Ganon’s attention on both you and him. We don’t want that, do we?”
“Indeed…” She answered, reluctant.
To her right, something attracted Zelda’s attention: Link’s abandoned equipment. And more precisely, his bow… She got up, ran to it. She looked through all the other items to find his quiver which was, happily, filled with a good quantity of arrows. Quickly, Zelda equipped it and took the bow into her hands.
Impa had taught her a few things: one of these was to use a bow.
“Now, we’re talking.” She whispered, smirking, as the wooden arrows became filled with light.
She smiled and winked to Nami before running into combat.
Behind, the fairy laughed lightly. She’d never thought seeing Zelda in rag clothes, hair messed up and covered in dirt and dust, running around with a bow to fight the King of Evil himself.
Humans, they never ceased to amaze her.
She returned her attention to Link, her features grew grave as she stood up. Now was the time.
“Farore, Great Fairy, Great Deku Tree… Allow me to use my meaningless life to revive the Hero of Time.”
***
Thunder, lightning, rain and wind. Why every epic battle had to be accompanied by epic storms? It would have been easier with a clear sky and a bright sun. Easier to swing a sword that didn’t wanted to be swung.
Sheik was sweating as he ran around Ganondorf, dodging his attacks and swinging the Master Sword at him. They said that this damn sword chose her owner and that he only could use her. Sheik had found the meaning of this.
In Link’s hands, even if he wasn’t the best swordsman around, the blade looked light. In Sheik’s hands she weighted the equivalent of an elephant! The Sheikah wasn’t her master, and she showed her unhappiness, apparently.
Yet, Ganondorf was not trying to be hit by the weapon, even if it wasn’t in Link’s hands, which explained why the Sheikah was still standing and breathing.
He had kept the demon at distance, so far, but he was getting tired. Alone versus Ganondorf with a weapon he wasn’t used to hold… Yes, that proved to be difficult.
And now, Ganon was staring with his huge, demonic head, right at the Sheikah. He was going to attack, Sheik could feel it in his guts.
“Hey! Big pig! You haven’t finished with me!”
Sheik turned around.
Behind Ganon, Zelda was standing, legs apart, bow stretched into her hands and an arrow ready to be launched. Her weapon shone with light.
Ganondorf turned to face her, and even the beast that he had become seemed surprised.
“What? Not used to seeing a woman stand up to you?” She snickered and then, released the string.
The monster was probably too perplexed to see anything coming, for he didn’t react quickly enough before the arrow of light planted itself into his neck. Ganondorf roared as black blood erupted from his plea. He straightened his back as he let his head fall to let a guttural growl escape his throat. Behind, his tail hit the ground.
And it happened to be facing Sheik.
Without a second thought, the blond started running as quickly as his legs would allow him and with a mighty scream of war, he brought the heavy Master Sword above his head before slamming its sharp edge down.
The movement almost threw him off-balance. But as a skilled Sheikah, he had incredible stabilizing muscles.
Ganon’s growl of anger reached an unexpected high pitch as his tail was cut in two and his black, evil blood sprawled around the arena, and onto the Sheikah. Where his tail was now severed, the skin, muscles and bones were burning. The monster stood still a few seconds as the pain traveled up its spine.
Zelda clenched her fists victoriously as Sheik tried to clean his eyes from the blood he had received all over him. He wasn’t sure weither it was that fluid or the burnt flesh near him that smelled this horrible.
Ganon turned around, growling madly, to face the Sheikah. Nothing could hurt him like that damn Master Sword, and he was now angry.
But Sheik saw nothing coming as he wasn’t able to get rid of that viscous blood all over his face and hands.
With what remained of his tail, Ganon used it as a formidable whip. Sheik received the blow right on his chest, letting go of the Master Sword as the air was kicked out of him and as he flew off.
His shoulder hit the ground, then the rest of his body. He was still conscious and saw that nothing would stop his as he slid on the rough ground, all the way towards the edge of the platform. And suddenly, he remembered that lava was underneath.
By the feeling of pain going through his left arm, he was sure that it was broken. And he was sure that the edge was coming at an alarming speed.
Screaming, he pushed all his weight down on the ground, burning his skin as the friction ripped his suit and got to him soon enough.
And then, he saw the stone. Saw that he could stop his death if he could just reach it with his… left arm. A scream of agony escaped his throat; his eyes watered as he lifted his broken arm and closed his hand on the stone. The speed of his race on the ground forced him towards the stone and he crashed against it.
He moaned, then closed his eyes.
No, he wasn’t getting back up. Not for a while.
***
Zelda watched with wide eyes, holding her breath, as Sheik flew across the arena, hit the ground and slid to a certain death. She heard him scream as he stopped his fall and held onto a rough stone and saw him laying down, not getting back up.
She also saw the Master Sword as it went flying too and followed the same destiny as Sheik. However, the blade was now half into the emptiness and half on the platform…
If the Master Sword was to fall into the lava, Zelda did not even know if it would be possible to kill the beast.
Ganondorf –or what remained of him- chuckled as he turned towards the princess. Apparently, he too was aware that the holy weapon was on the point of disappearing from the surface of the Hyrule…
Zelda looked up, remembering suddenly that she was standing right before the monster, and became white as he plunged his dangerous stare into her eyes. She also realized that she was now the only standing person against him.
The beast took a step forwards. Zelda swallowed her saliva as she did the opposite. Another demonic chuckle escaped Ganon and suddenly, the princess was running for her dear life around the platform, screaming.
***
Link growled. He was feeling fine into his unconsciousness. He didn’t feel pain or distress anymore. Now, he slowly felt like he was awakening and… He didn’t remember why all his body felt so sore.
He smelled blood each time he took a breath in. His muscles weren’t sure they wanted to react. Yet, he frowned. And it was painful.
Even through his closed eyes, he saw some kind of… green aura? Something shiny, right beside him. In the real world.
His ears caught the noises of thunder and the rain as it hit the ground. And something more. Something like an immense, heavy something being dragged nearby. And in the distance, a woman screaming.
“Wake up, Link.”
Huh?
“Please… We need you.”
Seriously, couldn’t they let him sleep in peace, just once? He rarely slept in anyway.
Wait… What was… Where was he when he fell asleep?
“Please…!”
Ganon!
***
Crying, Nami sighed as she was so relieved to see Link open his eyes. He looked confused; his stare wasn’t as sharp as usual… But he was there. Alive.
Nami clapped her hands together once as he focused on her… and blinked as he realized what was going on.
He sat down –with some difficulty- and tried to grab her hand. “Nami!” His fingers went through her, as if she was a mere ghost.
She was sobbing, hear tears floating in the air around like little pearls of magic.
“Nami! No, don’t do it!”
She shook her head. “This is my mission: to guide and help the Hero of Time through his quest for saving Hyrule.” Her voice was ghostly. She closed her eyes, her body become more and more like fog. “This is my ultimate sacrifice for you, Link. The ultimate sacrifice of a fairy. I am reviving you at the cost of my own life.” She was smiling. “Know that the beast has been hurt by Sheik and Zelda. Your work is almost done.” Nami opened her ghostly eyes. “Please… Tell Erk that… I loved him.”
“Nami, no!”
She raised her hands and flew up so Link couldn’t reach what remained of her aura. She stared down at him, at the pain in his eyes and the rage on his face. And she knew that Hyrule would be saved.
Somehow, thanks to her.
As a fairy, her mission was accomplished.
As a woman, she had discovered love.
As a person, she had met wonderful people, friends.
Closing her eyes, one last tear rolling down her cheek, she was ready to go back to the Great Deku Tree and to the Great Fairy.
***
On his knees, Link watched as Nami disappeared. He would never forget that look into her eyes as she faded away. That look of accomplishment… Of happiness and yet of sadness…
And it angered him to the highest point: she had given her life for him! Ganondorf would pay, and pay it with what remained of his disgusting life!
Quickly, he inspected himself: still injured, but standing. However, Nami was a fairy, not a magician or a Goddess, which meant that he had to be quick and careful, for his wounds weren’t healed. It felt as if he was on some kind of drug that kept most of the pain away and held what had been broken together for the time needed.
But he was able to fight, for the moment. And that was the important part. He didn’t care, in fact, if he was going to die after killing that monster.
All he wanted was to get rid of it. Violently.
Looking around, he saw Zelda as she ran around the arena, bow in her hand. Ganon was pursuing her, apparently liking the idea of making the princess tired before killing her.
Sick bastard.
But the good point of this was that he hadn’t paid any attention to Link for a while.
The Hylian looked around. His weapons lay scattered. She searched through them and couldn’t see the Master Sword. Where in the world was it?
He swiped the battlefield with his eyes, looking for it… But he spotted Sheik instead. Laying on the ground, bloodied and unmoving.
Zelda and the monster could wait.
He ran to the Sheikah, not once attracting the beast’s attention, or Zelda’s. From the corner of his eyes, he saw her shoot a shiny arrow at Ganon, and the creature looked pretty unhappy.
He kneeled down beside Sheik, rested a hand on the blond’s shoulder. “Sheik!”
The Sheikah moaned softly and cracked open an eye. The bandage on his face had fallen slightly, revealing the lower part of his face. His red eyes grew wider as he saw Link, and not his ghost. Thin, pale lips smiled to him. “So you’re… alive.” Relief, so much relief could be heard in these few words.
“Are you okay?”
Sheik chuckled. Or tried to. “I’m still alive… That’s the important part, isn’t... it?”
Link nodded, smiling sadly. “Don’t die on me, okay?”
“Look who’s… talking. Now, be a good boy and… kill that asshole. W-will you?” Asked Sheik, his stare somehow playful. He was glad to see his little brother still standing.
“Yes…” He squeezed the blond’s hand. “But I can’t find the sword…”
“It’s… Almost in the lava. To your right. Be quick.” Sheik closed his eyes. “And come and get me when… It’ll be o-over.”
Link nodded again. “I promise.”
Eyes closed, Sheik smiled as he felt the Hero running away. He wouldn’t wait for Link to come back before betting back up.
***
Zelda screamed at the top of her lungs as Ganon’s paw closed around her frail body. She dropped the bow as she was lifted from the ground and brought up at the monster’s face level. With his evil, empty golden eyes, he stared at her with hunger.
She kept screaming as she pushed against his fingers to be freed, but it was pretty useless. She felt like a vulnerable mushroom within his grip.
The monster growled in an almost reptilian way as he closed in to take a better look at the soaked, dirty princess. Zelda pushed her body as far from the creature’s muzzle as she could.
“You smell horrible!”
Turning her head to the side, she kept looking at Ganon from the corner of her eyes…
Until something caught her attention… Below.
Running to hide behind a pillar of fallen stones, was Link. Wielding the Master Sword, which glowed under the stormy sky.
The princess found it difficult not to gasp in joy. Instead, she smiled.
A breath of hope seemed to fill her lungs as she turned to look back at Ganon. His eyes were quite close to her. Her heart raced into her head as she had an idea. She had to act as a decoy.
Somehow seductively, Zelda kept smiling to the monster. With the tip of her finger, she caressed his hard, leathery skin. She tried hard not to shake.
“We could reconsider this, Ganondorf… No need to kill me. I might as well… Be of some use to you…”
The monster raised a red eyebrow, perplexed and not convinced at all.
“Seriously… I have no intentions to die. I might as well cooperate, what do you think?” With the hand that wasn’t busy touching that creature’s hand, she reached to find an arrow, against her back. “Hyrule and the Gerudos… Joined together under a great alliance… Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Ganon growled lowly.
Zelda laughed innocently, bringing the hand that was caressing him on her chest, clenching her fist to look more innocent. “Pretty please?”
And as the monster grew more and more perplex over the princess’ actions, her shaky fingers brought the arrow forward. “I see you have no intentions to collaborate with me. That’s a shame.” Zelda’s eyes became wider as she powered-up the piercing weapon with light. “Then you better DIE!” And with a warrior scream she planted –with all her strength- the arrow into the monster’s eye.
Instinctively, Ganon let go of Zelda, who fell towards the ground, shouting in fear, until she realized that she was capable of making a barrier around her. She curled up in her fall as the wind pushed her hair and skirt upwards, and casted a barrier to smooth her landing. She hit the ground, a second later.
***
Sheik had spotted a long, large piece of wood nearby that would help him walk. With the strength he could gather, he ignored the pain as much as he could and crawled, on his available arm, towards it. With a grunt at each movement he made, he finally reached the rod. Steadily, he helped himself with the rubbles and debris all around to get up.
Supporting his weight on the large stick, he, shakily, re-installed the mask on his lower face as he looked at the scene before him.
He saw Zelda, up in the monster’s hand, as she plunged an arrow of light into Ganon’s eye. He saw the princess fall, screaming, before she seemed to curl up in midair, and then, a white barrier formed itself around her before she landed. The magic shield disappeared, revealing the standing princess as she looked at the beast.
Ganon, bleeding furiously from his newly acquired plea, fell to his knees. The ground shook under Sheik’s feet, throwing him almost off-balance.
Zelda looked right; Sheik followed her stare.
And running as quickly as he could was Link, going towards the monster, sword drawn.
***
“Ok, take a deep breath.” He obeyed himself, and then growled. “Not working. And I’m talking to myself.” He sighed. “At least, he doesn’t know I’m there…”
Link risked looking at the monster, from behind his hideout. Zelda was apparently talking to the beast. “What the hell are you doing, Zel…” The Hero growled, impatient.
He ran a nervous hand through his soaked hair to push them away from his face. He felt as if some kind of drug was keeping the pain he should feel away. Maybe it was adrenaline, maybe it was Nami’s magic…
Yet, he had the distinct impression that right now, he should be down on his knees, crying in agony. He’d better hurry killing that big asshole.
From Link’s position, he could clearly see Zelda as she subtly brought her hand to her back and seized an arrow, that she quickly after stabbed Ganon’s eye with.
Then, it went fast into the Hero’s mind.
His heart sped up as he heard his own consciousness announce that it was time.
The ultimate opportunity he had been waiting for.
Zelda fell as he started running, approaching Ganon. The monster ignored the existence –newly acquired- of the Hero as he fell to his knees, swiping the arena with what remained of its tail. And Link hadn’t seen that coming, and he was too close.
The bony, burnt and sincerely disgusting end of his tail hit the Hylian right on the shoulder. Lips sealed not to scream and reveal himself, Link fell rather harshly on his back. The contact with the rough ground sent an echo of pain through his whole body as he opened wide, teary eyes to stare at the stormy sky for a second.
No time. Get up.
It hurt like hell. And he understood that the charm that was on him had been broken as he had been hit. Breathing was hurting; moving brought indescribable pain. Everything he did was bringing agony that he could not bear. Yet, he was getting back up, and quickly with that.
He felt nauseous, turned his head to the side, spat a mouthful of dense saliva mixed with bright, red blood. He was shaking. He wasn’t going to make it. His ribs hurt.
Link looked up at Ganon, muscles creaming, as the creature was on its knees, growling in agony. Blood dripped down the Hero’s slightly open mouth.
“If I’m going down… You’re going down too…”
The triforce on his left hand shone brightly as he activated its power and started running towards the monster.
Link had no magical powers, so his triforce couldn’t manifest itself by giving the Hylian some unheard and unbelievable powers, like it did for Zelda and Ganondorf. No, all the triforce could give him, was the physical and mental means to achieve his goals.
Courage.
And into the word ‘courage’, it it possible to find the word ‘rage’.
Screaming from the pain and the anger, the rage and the power going through his veins, Link ran as quickly as he could towards the beast. His blood dripped down as he did so, making a trail of splattered red, somewhat golden, drops behind him.
Ganon turned its head towards Link as he heard the Hylian’s scream of hate and vengeance. His single eye grew wide as the Hero of Time raised the Master Sword above his head.
Link jumped, brought the sword down.
Behind, Zelda hid her face in her hand.
The sword touched the top of the monster’s head. The Master Sword shone as it cut into the cranium, burning the tissues and bones on its way. Encountering a certain resistance, Link had to put all his weight down on his weapon to force it through the beast’s skull. Black blood splattered the Hero of Time as he kept pushing the sword through the tissues, growling dangerously as his somewhat golden blood kept running down his face and body.
A crack resonated within the dark day, and the smell of burnt monster flesh and bones filled the Hylian’s nostril.
And the sword went through, then hit the ground below with a loud thud. The strength that Link applied on his blow made the contact of the sword with the concrete so hard that it vibrated back through his arms and up to his shoulders. And he winced in pain, almost dropped his weapon, before pulling his sword back towards him.
As Ganon fell down, dead for sure, his tail swiped the arena one last time, destabilizing a large part of the fallen tower. It fell down and joined the ground on which the rest of the team was in a very loud noise that Link did not hear.
He stood, breathing very heavily as the rain and blood mixed onto his skin. With wide eyes, he stared at what remained of Ganon before him.
Slowly, the rain cleaned the Master Sword as dark blood and viscous tissues fell from the sharp blade.
He had done it.
He was the Hero of Time.
And he was free.
Drops of red, human blood started to crawl down his body.
***
Zelda took her hands away from her face as the tower hit the ground on the other side of the lava pit. She looked up at Link. He was standing still, breathing heavily but silently as he stared at Ganon’s remains. On his left hand, the triforce was losing its light.
She closed in to him, saw the blood dripping down his face with the rain. She rested a hand on his shoulder.
“You… Did it, Link…”
He did not answer. He seemed frozen there, standing still. As if Time itself had stopped for him.
Beside, Sheik finally arrived, helping himself walking with a large wooden rod. The Princess of Destiny turned to him and smiled largely. She clenched her fists in midair, shouting “we did it!”
Sheik chuckled bitterly, letting his stare fall on Link. “At what price?”
Zelda blinked. “What do you mean?” She looked around, not sure to understand what the Sheikah meant. They were all alive. Not exactly well but al- “Where’s Nami?”
Sheik didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at Zelda darkly.
By the harshness of his glare, she had her answer.
Zelda brought a hand to her lips. “Oh… No…”
Behind, the clashing noise of a sword hitting the ground alerted her. She turned around.
Link was on his knees, breathing heavily. He chocked before spitting blood. Below him, a pond of red, watery liquid was forming itself. A pond of his own blood. He looked up at her, eyes pale and clouded, his skin was white by the loss of blood.
“Am I… free, now?” He whispered before rolling his eyes and closing them. He fell into his own blood, unconscious.
Zelda rushed to him, kneeling and starting to apply what magic she could, cursing loudly as her eyes became watery. She called his name, screamed as the Hero’s blood soon covered her hands, arms and messed dress.
And at the same time, Olwen, Tatl, Isca and Erk arrived.
Sheik looked up. Tatl saw Link laying face down in a pool of reddened water as Zelda hysterically tried to help him. She screamed and ran towards them. Behind, Olwen hurried himself to the injured Sheikah as Isca stood on the bridge, staring down at the scene, hair in the wind.
The blond Shaikah glared up at him.
Erk, looked around, as he walked towards Sheik, which caught his attention.
The blond and the mage locked eyes.
“Where’s Nami?”
- 19
- 20
- 21
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Legend of Zelda : Twisted Destiny