It began with a decisive battle that would change the tide of time.

As I had watched the Calamity Ganon's malice spill from its body, I had thought it was over. The Champions' spirits would finally be able to rest, and Hyrule would return to an era of peace. The burning embers floated through the air around me, darkness condensing overhead as it slowly collapsed into itself. As the last of the malice dispersed in the air, there was a brilliant light, and I felt myself being pulled away.

As the light faded, I found myself standing in the field outside of the castle, with Epona at my side.

For a moment I thought I'd done it – that I'd defeated him, once and for all.

But something wasn't right.

There was a hissing coming from somewhere, the draw of wind to something behind me, and I turned to find myself staring up into a tornado of dark malice and burning embers. It was morphing, spilling over itself as it condensed and began to take shape, and I staggered a pace back in horror.

It wasn't dead. It was regrouping.

As I stared at the abomination before me, I could hear Zelda's voice:

Ganon was born out of a dark past. He is a pure embodiment of the ancient evil that is reborn time and time again…but now he has given up on reincarnation and assumed his pure, enraged form. If set free upon our world, the destruction will be unlike anything ever seen before…

The beast planted a cloven hoof on the ground, shaking the earth. A second hoof followed, before the skull formed itself in a burst of red fire, and Epona whinnied in fright as the creature reared back its head, assuming shape as an enormous, primal boar covered in bright flames.

I entrust you with the Bow of Light - a powerful weapon in the face of evil.

In the air above me, a weapon materialized. It was a shining bow, golden and glowing as it drifted down to the earth between me and the dark beast. Zelda's voice continued, soft but strong.

Link…you may not yet be at a point where you have fully recovered your power, or all of your memories…but courage need not be remembered…for it is never forgotten.

She was right…I didn't remember much of my past life.

I only had vague memories of the other Champions:

The motherly warrior, Urbosa, who guided me when I was lost and kept me going with her blunt encouragement. My brother-in-arms, Daruk, with his joyful friendship and unfailing strength, a man who would protect those close to him no matter the odds. My rival-turned-friend, Revali, who always pushed me to go beyond myself, even if it wasn't his intention. My dearest childhood friend, Mipha, who was always there when I needed her most, be it healing my clumsy scrapes as a child or saving my life as I fought against the malice.

They were my dearest friends, and in a way, my family.

My only solace now was that when this was over and peace was returned, I would find them all waiting for me in Hylia's Garden.

Setting my jaw, I strode to Epona's side, set for a battle.

I had failed them all before.

I would not fail again.

I swing myself up into the saddle, kicking my heels into Epona's side, and we race for the Bow of Light as the beast before us roars his rage to the sky. As I get close, the beast turns to face me, flame gathering in its open maw. I rush to the bow, reaching out for it as I wheel Epona to the right, and the heat of the creature's breath crackles along my skin as it passes just beside us.

Upon touching the divine weapon, I feel a surge of power flow through my veins, hot and bright and pure as if I am touching a heavenly being.

No sooner do I have the weapon in my grip when I hear Zelda's voice again:

The energy covering Ganon's body is pure Malice. None of your attacks will get through as he is now. I will hold the Malice back as much as I can, but my power is waning. Attack any glowing points that you see.

As I circle to the creature's right I can see small spots where light is piercing through the Malice – where Zelda is breaking through the darkness for me - and I quickly take aim. My arrow barely connects before the light is gone again, but it is enough to have the beast bellowing in pain.

In that moment, I feel a rush of adrenaline.

It can be hurt.

I can do this, I can defeat him.

I ride in a wide circle around Ganon, lining up shot after shot as I look for the weaknesses in his armor, the missing scales where Zelda's light blazes through to show me the way. With each arrow that pierces his Malice, the beast seems to weaken, but it also seems to become more enraged, its swings gaining speed and power in its frenzy.

One of my shots seems to be the tipping point of the battle, however, because the dark beast begins to buck wildly, a light bursting through the Malice from atop his head as I hear Zelda call to me once more.

That's the very core of Ganon's being! Do what you must, Link!

Catching the updraft from a nearby fire – where the dark beast's attack has scorched the very earth - I ride up above the beast and take aim at what appears to be a giant yellow slitted eye, glowing in the center of the beast's head. I pull back the string of my bow as an arrow of light forms in my grip, the tip pointed at the center of the pupil. Before the fletching can slip from my fingers, however, a deep, grating voice echoes through my head, chilling me to my very core.

FOOLISH BOY!

Before I can react, the beast strikes me from below, its foul, flaming breath curling up around my body and charring my glider to ash in my grip. My shot goes wide as I fall, the arrow blinking off into the distance like a falling star as the air rushes past me and I hear the beast laugh.

It is the last thing I hear as I hit the ground with splintering force, and my world plunges violently into black.

….nk

..et..p..i..l

Get up Link!

GET UP!

I slowly blink my eyes open, the ghostly green visage of Mipha's kind face swimming in my vision.

"Am I dead?" I rasp, my voice barely a whisper.

"No," Mipha says, her voice carrying a distinct hint of relief despite the tense, rushed tone. "I used everything I had just to keep you alive while the others held Ganon off."

I slowly raise my head, looking around until I spot the other Champion's spirits distracting Ganon.

Daruk is rolling around, shouting taunts at Ganon and calling him names, and Urbosa is summoning lightning bolts to annoy the creature as Revali wheels in circles around the beast's head, drawing its gaze.

For a moment, I dare to hope that there is still a chance, that I can resume the fight, and I struggle to my feet with Mipha hovering at my side, helping to steady me.

I look around for the Bow of Light, shifting my weight as I brace myself to rejoin the fight, but when I finally spot the divine weapon, my heart falls.

There in the dirt, the light fading from its gilded surface, the Bow of Light lies broken in two.

The best chance we had to defeat Ganon…gone.

Mipha notices my expression fall in despair, and cups her hands gently around my face, drawing my gaze back to her.

"All is not lost, Link. We still have you, and you have us, as well as the Master Sword. There is yet hope."

I take a step back from her and draw the sword from my back, looking over the worn blade as it pulses a brilliant blue.

The Master Sword – created to seal away darkness. Perhaps all is not yet lost, after all.

The sword's glow alerts Ganon to my awakening, and I direct my attention to the beast as it wheels to face me, the other Champions forgotten. There is no time to move as the beast opens its mouth, flame licking over its jaw as it screams. Ganon charges, and out of pure instinct I raise the sword to block, shifting to put myself between the creature and Mipha.

I close my eyes and brace myself for the flames, the full heat of its rage as it tramples toward me, cloven hoofs tearing up chunks of earth.

But Ganon doesn't make it close enough to strike.

There is a tremendous crash and I open my eyes to find Daruk standing between me and the beast, using the full force of his protection to hold it back as its hooves gouge trenches into the ground, struggling to surge forward.

"Go on, little guy, we believe in you! Finish the fight!" Daruk says, smiling back at me through the strain. "Urbosa, think you can shock that beast for long enough to let Link get close?"

Urbosa steps up beside me a heartbeat later, her arms crossed as she looks over the beast in contempt.

"I can try, but it will take a bit to focus that much lightning. My powers have dwindled since becoming a spirit, you know."

Urbosa moves her hands before her, artfully concentrating the brunt of her attack to one location in hopes of stunning the beast. "Mipha you should get out of here as well," Urbosa orders, and Mipha nods, fading away in a little burst of light.

"The faster you set it up, the better," Daruk says through gritted teeth, shooting a glance back at us. "I don't know how much longer I can hold this beast back."

At the very edges, I can see his protection beginning to fracture and give way beneath the assault.

"Revali!" Urbosa yells. "Get Link up high, so he can strike from above."

"Since when did I become the carrier pigeon for the group?" Revali gripes as he swoops to the ground.

"Daruk and I are busy at the moment. Just get him out of here, otherwise you'll be getting this lightning bolt instead of the beast!" Urbosa demands.

"All right, all right," Revali grumbles as he clasps his talons around my shoulders and begins to hoist.

"Link, it should nearly be ready," Urbosa calls as I am carried into the air.

Above the giant flaming boar a swirling storm cloud has formed, lightning crackling dangerously between the clouds as it laces itself tighter.

"Watch for the opening. I have a feeling I will not have a chance to do this again," Urbosa shouts as I am whisked away. "You can do this, kid!"

As Revali lifts me above the beast, I ready my sword, bracing myself for the drop as soon as Urbosa's lightning strikes.

But she never gets the chance.

With a splintering crack that shakes the very air, Daruk's protection shatters, and in a heartbeat the beast strikes, breathing a cloud of flame and malice over the spirits of the two Champions before it.

In a second, they are both gone.

A wretched, tearing sensation hits me in the chest, knocking the breath from me and leaving me feeling hollowed out and raw.

I can no longer feel their presence.

Daruk and Urbosa are gone.

Permanently.

That horrible, grating voice echoes out again, laughing as the beast paws the charred ground, looking around for its next target.

I can feel Revali trembling where he holds me, the agony of losing the others sinking in as he strains to lift me higher above the beast.

"Make sure he feels the sting of…our revenge, Link," he pants, moving in closer.

The beast looks up as we approach, opening its mouth once more. I try to call out to Revali, to tell him to watch out, but with my additional weight he can't maneuver quickly enough to get out of the way of the incoming attack.

"You got this, Link. We are always behind you!" he shouts, grunting with effort as he swings me through the air, sending me plummeting toward the beast half a second before the flame burns his spirit from existence as well, sentencing him to the same fate as Daruk and Urbosa.

A cry of rage tears from my throat as I focus my attention down, the wind whipping in my eyes as I squint to see my target. I cannot fail here; I have already lost too much to give up now.

Above me the cloud that Urbosa had summoned is swirling more densely, faint thunder rumbling as it builds charge, even without the Champion to guide it.

The beast turns its attention to me as I fall, sword braced and ready to pierce the very heart of its malice. But the creature is not afraid.

In the air as I am, without a glider or any way to direct my fall, I am an easy target; and I can hear the gravely, booming laugh once more as the beast tips its head back and opens its mouth.

I can see the fire building, bubbling like lava over its tongue as it readies itself, the substance rolling dark and thick with mottled bursts of light where the flame licks through. As I continue to fall, I hear the soft echo of Mipha's voice, still at my side and willing me on.

"I always knew you were destined for greatness, Link. Ever since we were children, I knew."

"Mipha, go," I order her. There is no need for her spirit to die with me.

"I am sad that this will be our last moment together," she says softly, her spirit giving a little tug as she prepares to separate from me, and for a moment I think that maybe she will escape. Maybe she will get away.

As I fall closer, the creature rears back, and all I can do is pray that some little piece of me will make it through the flame to hit the beast. That my death will not be entirely in vain.

The creature bellows loud enough to shake the earth, sending the scalding malice up into the air in a plume, headed right for me. The crackling roar approaches, drowning out all else in an unbearable heat, but before it can touch me I hear a soft whisper echoing through my being.

"I just want you to know that….I always loved you."

Before I can even react, Mipha's spirit bursts into being in front of me, arms stretched wide as she shields me from Ganon's attack.

For one horrible, dragging second, everything seems to stop as I watch the flames hit her and curl around, licking at her spirit as it tears her very being to shreds before me. She turns her head a fraction, her big amber eyes shining in agony, and gives me a final little smile.

"I'm sorry, Link," she whispers.

And then she is gone.

As if she was never there at all.

The agony hits like nothing I've ever felt before, her loss tearing a fissure in my soul that feels like it will never be able to heal. I am empty. They are all gone.

Ganon has taken everything from me.

My scream of pain and rage is drowned out by the deafening crack of thunder overhead, and a bolt of lightning laces down blindingly to strike the boar, sending the beast into violent convulsions with a piercing squeal as I blink tears from my eyes to line my blade up with my target.

The malice parts for a moment, revealing a pulsing yellow center - the beast's very core - as I plummet towards it with the Master Sword held out before me. The slitted eye shimmers like water beneath me and I plunge into it without resistance, my sword tearing through the membrane like rice paper. I am engulfed in swirling malice a moment later as the beast lets out a bellow of pain, its body thrashing around me as I sink deeper and deeper into the heart of it, the Master Sword's blue glow the only light in the ever-increasing darkness.

I can feel myself falling deeper and deeper and deeper into the dark...

And then everything goes black.