The large wooden door creaked open slowly. Inside the temple, Link was greeted with the sight of the three story tall silver marble walls, which reached higher than any structure. The teleportation platform with the crest of the Temple of Light stood in the middle of the tiled floors. Past the teleportation pad, a long red carpet with golden frills led to the coal black and silver altar. Past that, two slanted stairs led to a large blue door with the symbol of time carved into it. This was known as the Door of Time. A godly hum echoed through the halls. The song the walls sang was none other than the “Song of Time.”
“Avon, I want you to come out and see this…” Link said. Avon appeared from under Link’s hat, and he sat on his shoulder.
“What’s up?” Avon asked.
Link placed all three of the precious stones that he collected into the holes that were in the altar. The stones all began to resonate, each one glowing a specific color. They also began to rattle, much to the point where they levitated above the altar. The hum of the gods slowly faded, and the eerie hum of the stones overpowered every sound. Link pulled out his Ocarina of Time, and played the “Song of Time.” The Humming intensified with the echoing notes of the song. A crest appeared above the Door of Time, a crest of the Triforce. It glowed an intense gold. When the crest reached it’s maximum luminosity, the Door of Time began to rattle open.
“Wow…So that’s what was going to happen…” Avon said. Link walked into the newly opened chamber. Inside, a lone light shone from a skylight. It focused on the only object of interest in the room. In the center of the large Triforce symbol on the ground, in the center of the missing piece of the Triforce, lay the weapon that saved the entire world only years previous. The Master Sword waited for someone to pull it from it’s holy spot.
Link reached out his hand and grasped the hilt. When his hand made contact, and intense wind radiated from the weapon, along with a powerful blue light. Link closed his eyes and separated the sword from the pedestal. The blue light began to collect around the sword, and formed a blue and gold scabbard around the weapon. Link held the weapon in the air as waves of intense energy settled into the sword.
“Link…is all that the power of that sword?” Avon asked.
“Yes, this is the power of the Sword of Evil’s Bane!” Link said. He lowered the sword as the winds settled. He unsheathed the sword and placed it on his back. Link then swung the sword a few times in the air, regaining the feel for his sword.
“I knew that that weapon would have immense energy, but that was incredible!” Link heard someone declare. Link turned to the voice. He drew a long breath, as he realized who the voice belonged to. Donovan had arrived, along with Alana.
“I didn’t know that you wanted to rush to your death…” Link said.
“If I was doing that, I wouldn’t have brought Alana. I merely came to see how you were doing,” Donovan said.
“You knew what I was planning?” Link asked. He took a few steps towards Donovan.
“Of course. It was obvious. Getting the weapon that defeated Lord Ganondorf to defeat me seemed like an obvious choice,” Donovan said.
“Is that why you’re goons have been looking for me?” Link accused.
“No, they came after you of their own free will. I didn’t need them for now, so I allowed them time to explore Hyrule. I can’t control them if they want to shorten their lives,” Donovan replied calmly.
“So you would allow your servants to die?!” Link yelled.
“Their lives are their concerns. If they get themselves killed, I’ll mourn, but the fault will not lie on me,” Donovan said.
“How sadistic…” Link growled.
“Not really…because in some sense, I’m allowing them more freedom that what they’ve had in their entire lives,” Donovan said.
“Freedom…at the cost of others,” Link said.
“You’re talking about the tavern?” Donovan asked, slightly puzzled.
“Of course.”
“I can say that I did not wish to send all those Hylians to their deaths. It would have done me fine to just pull the Kitapos out of their…but I wanted to allow them some breathing time,” Donovan explained.
“Breathing time?”
“Yes…the Kitapos have grown a bloodlust. It’s becoming harder and harder to control them without killing them. If I didn’t, they could have revolted…and that would spell disaster for Hyrule,” Donovan said.
“So you’re saying that you’re some kind of hero?” Link asked.
“No, not in the slightest. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve done many things that I’m not proud of. I’ve sent many to their untimely deaths. I feel remorse for those that die at my hands to fulfill my purpose, but I know that my purpose is just, and must be finished,” Donovan said.
“Becoming a god is just?! It’s an idealistic fairy tale!” Link yelled.
“No, the god motion is just a motivation for my Kitapos. I have a different use for the Dark Triforce,” Donovan said.
“A different use?”
“Yes…there is something that I need to take back…even if I have to tear apart the world to do it,” Donovan said. Donovan turned to Alana and removed the cloak he was wearing. He handed it to her. She hugged it to her chest and stared at her leader.
“Link, have you ever heard of the Tower of Babel?” Donovan asked.
“What is that?” Link asked.
“Eons ago, shortly after the creation of man, a dominant race known as humans walked this land. They lived in perfect harmony…no wars, violence, hatred, just pride. The Humans were proud that they could live as one huge family. They began to boast to the gods, declaring their unity. The Humans weren’t satisfied with words alone thought. They wanted to leave a mark that every one on every walk of life could see, something that could cut through the skies, into the endless heavens above. They began to work on a tower, one that would reach higher than any mountain. They named it the Tower of Babel.
“This was built in what is now the Gerudo Valley. All the population of this planet came to work on the Tower of Babel. The people who worked on different parts began to change from the Human race. The women who stayed at the bottom and cooked became darker. They eventually would become the Gerudo race. Many men and women swam from places, carrying supplies from forests to desert. They became so used to water that they formed fins, and even a dependency on water itself. This group became the Zoras. Another group walked great distances over land. They adapted to the rocky ground of the mountains, and evolved into the Goron race.
“The Tower neared completion. It had passed the clouds, and was beginning to reach into the blackness beyond. One day, though, a sole man reached his hand into the sky. Instead of touching nothing, his hand came into contact with something. When his hand touched this object, the entire sky burst in a sea of colors. The ground shook violently, and the waters crashed against the shores. The Tower began to sway, enough to where it crashed. The people working on the tower fell to every part of the world. Some fell into the seas north of Hyrule, and they became the Catalians. The strongest race of workers fell to what is now Palis, and became my race, the Palinons. The final race fell to the heartland of Hyrule. They became the Hylians…and the man who touched the sky became the King of Hyrule,” Donovan finished his story.
“Wow…” Link said.
“As you can see, a Hylian split apart the races of the world… and his bloodline continue…” Donovan said, “I believe that maybe if I try the same approach, I’ll reach the Dark Triforce.”
“Wait…that large training center…” Link started.
“Is the new Tower of Babel…” Donovan finished.
“But if a tower of it’s size collapsed…”
“Then the entire country of Hyrule could be killed in the initial blast, while thousands of miles of other countries would be destroyed by the shockwave,” Donovan said, “I’ve done the calculations. I know the price of my actions…”
“That’s sick!” Link yelled.
“No, it’s determination. I will do anything to get that one piece of my life back,” Donovan said.
“What about everyone else?” Link asked.
“Link, it’s a prime fact that history is destined to repeat itself. If my actions bring that on, then the fault will pass to fate. My action could help forward the progressions of the Goddesses Will,”: Donovan explained.
“The Goddesses Will?” Link asked.
“The will to create a greater, more powerful world after ridding the earth of it’s more primitive creatures,” Donovan justified. Alana then step to Donovan’s side and handed him a sword. The decorations on the blade were beautiful and finely crafted. It’s blade was slightly longer than that of the master sword, but Donovan held it calmly with one hand.
“Link, after hearing that, your desire to kill me has only increased, hasn’t it?” Donovan asked.
“Of course…I can’t let anybody destroy Hyrule…” Link said.
“You don’t want to fail again. I grow tired of talking now. Link, raise your sword,” Donovan commanded.
“Why?” Link asked.
“I wish to challenge you to a duel. I want to test your strength in these hallowed halls,” Donovan said. Link raised the Master sword, and begun to spin it a circle like he did against Drake.
“Zelda doesn’t want me to do this…but if I have a chance to end this, I must take it!” Link yelled. He then ran towards Donovan, his sword raised. As he neared, he could almost hear his sister crying for him to stop.
The moment their swords connected, a flash of light engulfed the temple. The sound of their thundering blades could be heard outside, in the seemingly untouched exterior of the temple. Link’s attack was blocked, but Donovan decided not to capitalize. Instead, he waited for Link to regain his composure, then threw a devastating attack to Link’s chest. Link parried the blow, and sung a fist at Donovan’s stomach. The attack connected, but Donovan merely flinched to the pain of the attack. Link tried punching Donovan again, but Donovan caught the fist and threw Link to the side. Link stood, and brushed himself off. He then leapt into the air to attack Donovan from the air. He came crashing down, only to meet Donovan’s parry. Link landed on his feet, but in his moment of confusion, Donovan kicked Link into the wall of the Temple. Link bounced off the wall onto the ground. He arched his back in a shock of pain, and slowly stood. He twisted his body to stretch, hearing a disgusting crack from his back. He then glared at Donovan. He tried to search for a weak point, but from Donovan’s defense, he couldn’t sense one. Suddenly, an idea came to mind.
Link tried leaping into the air again, but this time, he rose so high that he touched the ceiling of the temple. When he began his descent, energy collected around his blade. He neared his target, and as soon as he was ready, he swung his sword and blunt of his blade connected with Donovan’s back. Donovan fell to the ground in a lifeless heap.
“I’ve been forced to use this move a lot…Call to Arms,” Link said. He towered over the fallen Donovan, looking down at the crippled victim.
“Donovan, stand up!” Alana yelled. Donovan turned over to reveal a smile. Link gasped as Donovan stood calmly, as if nothing had ever happened. He brushed his shoulders off and stared excitedly to Link.
“You’re a formidable opponent!” Donovan declared with a laugh, “I want to see your Call to Arms again!”
Link flipped backwards, and leapt into the air once more. As he fell, Donovan did a somersault, and in the middle of his flip, kicked Link out of the air. Link struck the ground and bounced towards the altar. Link could feel several ribs crack, and he felt a finger in his left hand break. And intense pain shot through all of Link’s body as he attempted to stand. A look of agony crossed his face.
“Link! Can you still fight?!” Link heard Avon cry.
“Yes…I’m just a little shook up,” Link replied slowly.
“I see…I’m pretty sure that a few bones broke during that last exchange. I know that back has several bone injuries from that Call to Arms,” Donovan said.
“I think that I need to give it everything,” Link said.
“Ditto. Alana, I want you to leave this temple and wait outside. If I don’t come out in the next hour, then I’m dead,” Donovan said.
“Sir, why can’t I stay and watch?” Alana asked.
“Alana, I don’t want you to see what I’m about to become…” Alana’s eyes widened, and she slowly exited the temple. Donovan then turned to Link, but now his eyes had narrowed fiercely. Link’s had done the same. They rest their swords against each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. The entire temple grew silent, waiting to see what would happen next.
Donovan struck first. He swung his sword to Link’s stomach, missing my and inch. Link spun and used the momentum of his spin to throw Donovan’s guard. While Donovan was stunned, Link punched Donovan onto his pack. Link swung his sword while Donovan was down, but Donovan rolled to the side and swept-kicked Link. Link fell to the ground, but still swung at Donovan. The two rolled away from each other and stood, both breathing heavily. Donovan then charged towards Link, gathering a blue aura around his sword. Link put up a guard, but the impact of the attack still caused Link to skid backwards. Link, seeing that he was near the wall, he pushed himself against the wall, and sprung himself towards Donovan. The added momentum caused Donovan to jump to the side. When Link spun around to face Donovan, Donovan swung at Link’s head. The tip of the blade grazed Link’s forehead and cause a trickle of blood to fall down Link’s face. Donovan tried to attack Link’s chest, but Link punched the blunt of the blade downwards and slashed with his other hand to Donovan’s cheek. He cut a gash in Donovan’s cheek, which began to bleed as well. They both jumped backwards, and began staring each other down again.
“Link, the way you fight is incredible. Such polished moves…You would make an amazing Kitapo,” Donovan said.
“You don’t disappoint…” Link said. It was odd. Link felt like he was enjoying the battle.
“Link, there’s something important that you must know…and I will show it to you in this next exchange!” Donovan yelled. He ran towards Link, raising his sword. Link lowered his sword to block, but as soon as he did, it felt as though time had stopped.
“Link you chose to fight me with a sword that is made only to destroy evil…as chosen by the gods,” Donovan said. He brought his sword crashing down on Link. Link raised his blade to block, but when he did, he heard the sound of something shatter.
“The problem is that the God’s don’t think that my intentions are evil…” Donovan said. He backed away, allowing Link to see what happened. Link looked down to his hilt.
The Master Sword’s blade had shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Donovan then tried to attack Link as he contemplated what happened. Link could no longer block, so instead, he did the only thing he could. He struck Donovan’s face with the remains of the master sword, and one of Donovan’s feet connected with Link’s stomach. They both fell, and after a moment, they backed away from each other. They stood with an exhausted look on their faces.
“Link, that was the best battle I’ve had in a decade…You truly are the Hero of Time,” Donovan complemented.
“And you truly are the King of Palis…” Link muttered. He didn’t want to admit it, but Donovan was much better then he ever imagined.
“Link…I believe that you know the rules of my death…” Donovan said, “I know that you know that it would have been impossible to kill me in the battle.” Donovan said.
“Yes…I am not yet your Honor,” Link muttered.
“Correct. But I leave with a parting word,” Donovan turned, and opened the door to the temple. The temple flooded with light from the outside.
“You are now my Honor!” Donovan declared as he left the temple. He walked to Alana, who was waiting by the door. She placed her armed around his waist and they walked off together.
Link stood for a moment, then fell to one knee in exhaustion. He looked at the ground, feeling victory and defeat. He had became Donovan’s Honor, but he had done it at the cost of the Master Sword. Link rose to his feet and looked at the shards of the Master sword spread around the temple.
And as he stared upon the shards, he remembered what Donovan had said about the Goddess’s Will.
“If the Goddesses think that he’s right…then am I destined to die fighting him?” Link wondered.
