Chapter seven: The Final Battle


Link held his sword up high, as though it were a signal. He stared straight ahead, galloping. Sheik had once again gotten onto Epona behind Link, and was holding her dagger ready. She didn’t even try to talk to Link. The elf was staring at the woods that were drawing closer, his mind was set on one thing: Kill Ganon.
Malon rode beside them, her bloody sword held high, like Link’s. She looked at him, proud that she knew somebody so honorable.
They reached the forest, and went in, yet they were forced to get into a big line because the entrance was so narrow. They crossed the bridge, and burst into the Kokiri Clearing, where Link and Zelda had just been a couple hours before. The monsters howled in fear as the army charged inside and began chopping. Link swung his blade down and cut off a Lizalos head. They stabbed and sliced, and bashed and lunged, the monster force in the Kokiri Clearing vanishing rapidly.
Once all the monsters were gone, Link pointed to the surrounding forest and shouted “FORTH! FORTH AND TAKE BACK THE REST! FREE THE PRISONERS! FREE THE KOKIRI! FREE THE GERUDOS! FREE THEM ALL!”
The army galloped into the forest. Malon followed, but as she did, she looked back at Link and Sheik, who had remained behind. Malon’s eyes shone with sympathy, before she rode into the forest, disappearing from sight.
Link worried for her, hoping he would see her again.
Then he turned back.
“He is here,” Link said quietly, “I sense him. He is nearby.”
He jumped off of Epona, and she galloped over to the fenced area where Link used to practice with his little wooden sword.
Link’s grip on the Master Sword tightened. He held his shield up high, and looked around.
Suddenly, with a shattering BOOM! That made Zelda and Link jump, the Know-it-all brother’s house blew sky high, and a terrible blood curdling bellow followed.
Ganon, his face twisted in rage and fury, rose from the smoking wreckage. Terrible hatred flowed from his firey red eyes. His teeth were gritted in a snarl, and he had his sword out and ready.
Link looked at him, ready for anything.
Ganon flew at Link so fast, that he didn’t have time to get his shield up. Ganon slammed him into the side of Saria’s house, which shattered, and sent the two sprawling onto the floor. Link swung the Master Sword, and it cut Ganon’s hand so deep, it nearly cut it in half. He bellowed angrily, and seized Link, then threw him back out of the hole he had just made. He landed by Sheik, who dashed to him, and put her hand under him.
“Are you okay?!” she said worriedly.
“Fine,” Link lied, getting up. “He is so dead.”
Ganon flew out of the hole, and flew once again at Link. This time, he was ready. He rolled to the side, and Ganon slammed into the ground, sending dirt up everywhere.
“SHEIK! FIND COVER!”
Sheik dashed away. Ganon started after her, but Link dove in front of him, and swung the Master Sword at him. Ganon blocked it, and once again, they began the fiercest sword duel that Link had ever expirienced. He slashed out viciously at Ganon’s head. He blocked it, and stabbed lethally at Link’s heart. Link dodged it, then swung at Ganon’s side. Ganon blocked easily, then swung his blade so hard vertically at Link’s head, that when Link blocked it, his sword flew from his hands. Ganon swung again, and Link dove away just in time. He dashed for his blade, and Ganon flew after him, seething with evil rage. Link seized his blade, and flung himself face down. Ganon flew over him, and once again hit the ground very hard indeed. Link jumped for him, and stabbed out. Ganon rolled to the side, and took advantage of Link’s temporary open defenses. He drew upon his black magic and threw a purple ball of energy into Link’s stomach, which knocked Link into the air, and winded him. He landed heavily on the ground, gasping in pain. He spat blood from his mouth.
Ganon was on his feet, and charged. Link got up, blood dripping from his lips, and dashed too.
The two archenemies collided, and engaged in a firey dance, their sword fight now reaching such a high level of ferocity, that the air around them turned hot when they passed. They fought from one end of the Clearing to the other, until finally, Ganon slammed a hand into Link’s stomach, which sent the elf sprawling to the ground 20 feet away. Ganon sheathed his sword, and flew out of the Kokiri Clearing.
Link got slowly to his feet, hocking up blood all the while. Sheik ran from behind Link’s house, turning into Zelda. She dashed to him, and hugged him tightly. He wiped his mouth clean, and they kissed.
“We need to return to the present,” Link said, “he has been defeated in this time, and now we must finish it.”
“We have to make sure that everybody is freed,” Zelda said.
At that moment, a crowd of kids garbed in green dashed from the surroundings. The Kokiri. They had been freed. They were closely followed by Link’s army, and they were bloody, their armor was scratched, and they were dirtier than belief, but they were all alive and well, including, to Link’s delight, and Zelda’s, Malon. Link dashed to her and hugged her tightly.
“Where are the Gerudo’s?” he asked her once they were done.
“They took their own way back to the Gerudo Fortress,” Malon said, “apparently they know an alternate route from the woods.”
Saria ran to Link, and Link got to his knees. They hugged each other.
“It is good to see you well,” Link said with a smile.
She saw the hole in her house after this, and yelled in protest, then mumbled something about going to get wood to fix it, and walked off.
“We did it, Link,” Zelda said, “we freed them. We beat him.”
“Not yet,” Link said, “we need to defeat him in the present. He now has no army in the present. We must return to the present and kill him there.”
Link bid Malon farewell. The two hugged yet again. When they broke, Link stepped back, and all the Kokiri fell silent. Link hummed an ancient tune quietly, then took out the Ocarina. He played the Perlude of Light, and they warped away, to the Temple of Time.
When they arrived, Zelda took the Ocarina from Link, and played the tune that would take them back to the future.
When she was done, she handed it to Link, who pocketed it, and they wrapped their arms against each other again.
The wind howled around them again, and after about a minute, they found themselves back in the Temple of Time, but this time, it was not broken. It was fully made.
But after Link and Zelda noticed this, Link looked down, past the altar, and his blood froze.
Ganon stood there, but he was different. His blood red hair reached down to his waist now, his eyes were so red that they flashed in the light. He was broader and stronger and bigger, and had two swords now.
“Stay here,” Link said to Zelda, and walked from the Altar. She anxiously watched as Link drew the Master Sword, and walked into the middle of the Temple.
A deadly silence fell between the two.
“I have become more powerful than any living human,” Ganon said slowly, his voice deeper than usual, “even you.”
“Is that so?” Link said, “yet you do not deny that it is still possible for this blade to go through your eyes again.”
Ganon’s eyes flashed angrily. He growled, then roared, very loudly. Link did not move. He was not daunted.
“Fight me,” Link said quietly.
Ganon stared at him for a second.
“Come on.”
Ganon lunged, swinging his two swords extremely fast. Link was only just managing to block them. He caught many blows on his shield, but then fought back. They fought so hard, that the ground beneath them began to crack. This was the ultimate battle, and it was going to end the war that had started. Link battled hard, sweat running down his face, his grip on his sword tightening. They seemed to fight for hours, or maybe it was just minutes. Link did not know. He just kept at it, wanting to kill Ganon. Ganon smashed Link hard in the stomach, and he went flying back to the Altar. He got back up, breathing hard. He ran back at Ganon, trying to get the upper hand, but it did not work.
Ganon suddenly seized Link’s wrist in mid-swing, and threw him into the wall, smashing it. He seized Link’s throat, and began to squeeze. Link saw stars, and felt his air leave him.
This was it, he thought dully, as everything went fuzzy, and he dropped his sword, I lost.
Ganon’s face twisted with triumph, and he was about to chop Link’s skull in two, when suddenly, a soft whoooosh! And a thud echoed throughout the temple. Ganon screamed in pain, and released Link. Link gasped, and fell to the floor of the temple, catching his breath.
Ganon was doubled over, Zelda’s dagger sticking out of his back. He snatched at it, but could not reach it. He howled angrily.
Link stood, holding the Master Sword once more. The Temple of Time radiated with power, and then, all seemed to go silent, Link said, “for Hyrule,” and drove the Master Sword through Ganon’s head.
Silence.
Blood spurted from the wound. Ganon yelled, bellowed, screamed, writhed and twisted, slammed against the walls, and his eyes turned black with fear and anger.
Wind howled, suddenly, and Ganon opened his mouth in a soundless yell, then, finally, he was rent into pieces, blood splattering the floor. His insides hit the floor, and disintegrated. The black blood however, did not.
Link, breathing heavily, dropped the Master Sword, and fell to the floor, gasping.
Zelda ran to him, and helped him to his feet.
“It’s over, Link,” she said, half crying and half laughing with happiness, “you did it! It is over.”
Link, though winded, dirty, and aching all over, dully smiled. He stood with Zelda, his torn tunic from the battle now so dirty it no longer looked green, it looked black.
“Come, you must get rest,” Zelda said, and they slowly walked out of the Temple of Time, into the glorious sunrise.
* * *

Link lay in a soft bed, voices echoing in his ears, like annoying flies.
“Is he gonna be okay?”
“What in Nayru’s Love happened?”
“Zelda, is it all over?”
“Ganon has been defeated! Rejoice!”
Link’s eyes snapped open.
He was laying in the Healing room, surrounded by many people. Malon, Zelda, the King, Nabooru, Darunia, Impa, and, to his slight surprise, Princess Ruto.
Zelda bent down, and hugged Link.
“Good morning,” she said, “you slept through the day, and the night.”
Link sat up.
“Yes,” he said, “well, I was tired, you know...”
The King grinned happily, seeing he was okay. So did the others.
“Everything has returned to normal,” Malon said, “I am happy to say.”
“That’s good,” Link said, “what about the Kokiri?”
“They’re fine,” Zelda said, “Saria wanted to see you, but, she can’t leave the forest...”
Link lay back, smiling.
Things were back to normal, and his adventures were over for a time. He had once again saved Hyrule.
Zelda bent down again, and kissed him. He kissed her right back, until they broke apart.
“So it is done, then,” Darunia said, smiling, “our hero may finally rest!”
“For a time,” Link said, “but I know I will be called back to duty eventually. It may never end for me.”
Zelda smiled, as did the others.
“But for now, you will stay?” asked Ruto.
“Yes,” Link said, “I will stay with my friends. I love all of you.”
They all smiled, content, that finally, their hero could finally rest.