Chapter Sixteen: The Legend of Zelda

"Where do you think you're going!?"

"He's not thinking of leaving is he?"

"Don't be stupid."

Link shook his head. The three voices did not drum easily on his aching temples. The stench of split blood was a commodity of the battle scarred landscape. Hylian soldiers hefted the heavy corpses of monsters in stacks across the field, some slowly charred black inside tall towers of swaying fire. The heat caused sweat to spill into Link's eyes, but he did not lift his hand to wipe his brow, for his fingers were astutely fixated on another task. With the torn fabric of his leggings, he wrapped a crude bandage around his damaged leg. He might be doing more harm than good with the dirty wrappings, but at least it would keep the bleeding at bay. Unfortunately, he did not have time to tend to the wound properly. Princess Zelda was waiting for him, and hopefully she waited alive somewhere behind the blazing desert horizon.

"Where. Are. You. Going!? I demand you answer me!"

Marth's hand was at his throat and he shook the blonde swordsman roughly. Link pushed his arm away and used it as a prop to help him to his feet.

"They took Princess Zelda…I have to—save her…"

"If they have kidnapped the Princess, then I'm coming too!" Marth yelled, flailing his sword.

"No," Link rapped out and leaned against Epona for support, "I have to go. You don't have the power to defeat Twinrova."

"And you do?" Marth spat.

Link adjusted the round shield on his right arm. The strapping had become tight since his body had grown, but he wouldn't discard it for anything. It had protected him thus far after all.

"Yes." Link gripped onto Epona's saddle and with a painful effort, pulled his body over her back.

Marth would not give up. "You are the Captain of this army! How dare you abandon your duty to your soldiers?!"

"My duty to the Princess takes precedence over any other!" Link shouted back, "would you rather I stay here and clean up the mess while she gets tortured in the desert!? You're going to be the King of Hyrule! How can you leave? Your place is here."

"Do not make the mistake that you are the only one who cares—"

"The princess is my duty. I have always protected her, and I will do so until the goddesses see fit to kill me! Don't get in my way."

Marth studied him. His dark stare leaked over every line drawn in Link's face. "So you're going to take care of this then?" he said seething.

"Yes."

"What if you fail?"

Link's gaze did not falter. His heart began to beat a little faster as he took the reins in his calloused fingers.

"I won't."

The back of his left hand burned with the words. He carried his courage close to his chest now, will and determination pulsating through his veins. He would rescue Princess Zelda. He would defeat Twinrova. He would end this war.

Nabooru's sandals scrapped along the brittle of the Spirit Temple rooftop. Pools of blood stuck the silk of her clothes to her skin like glue. An ache heaved in her lungs whenever she breathed, it had taken a lot to get back here. She glanced at the witches who were huddled together beside the golden alter, a third column had been erected to match the other pair, and a woman, with white skin as pale as the phantoms lay across it. Her arms were crossed in a sacrificial way, and remained completely still. Nabooru approached the alter and sneered down at the sleeping woman.

"Is she dead?" She asked one of the witches. (She couldn't tell which.)

"No not yet, but her life is beginning to drain away…"

"Soon it will be complete."

"And this will be over?" Nabooru guessed, "we'll finally be free?"

"Oh yes…" the witches cooed in unison, "the Great Ganondorf shall live, and wreak his vengeance upon the land of green…and our people will be glorified in a new golden age…"

Nabooru only nodded. This part of the plan frightened her, but great was her hatred toward her oppressors, and so she forced herself to swallow it.

"But one more thing must be accomplished before that time."

"What!?" Nabooru shouted, "how long are you going to delay!? It's always been one more thing, one more item of business, one more person to kill! And you don't tell me what for!?"

Her blade was an extension of her arm, which pointed a long and deadly finger between the witches' eyes.

"Did you manage to kill the Sheikah?" Koume asked, her pinpoint pupil rotating away from her weapon and up to her eyes.

"Humph. You mean that manly-looking woman with the red eyes?" Her arm lowered, "of course I did. I decapitated her."

"Very good." Koume praised, her voice swimming thick in some kind of poison, "then we are getting near the end."

"Only one more traitor to go!" Kotake squealed, "oh let me have her Koume!"

"Be my guest sister…"

The movement was quick. So quick, Nabooru did not see the decrepit woman twitch. Her heart felt cold and suddenly she was staring into the evil snicker twisting around the witch's mouth, a demonic glaze smearing the bloodshot whites of her horrible eyes. Red dripped down Kotake's nose, her blood. She couldn't breathe; she chanced a glance down, and at that moment so much pain ruptured in her body. A jagged spear of ice was pushed in between her breasts, and she was quickly loosing the feeling of the blood leaking down her bare stomach.

"Now all the traitors have been executed for their crimes…" Kotake whispered, "you were perhaps the biggest one…You were loyal in the beginning, but you changed, didn't you? Did you get scared? Was the glory of the Triforce of Power too much for you to handle? You are not worthy of the blood you hold…so I think it fitting that we spill it all…"

"Oh stop that, Kotake," Koume flapped her boney hand, "she can no longer hear you."

Nabooru's corpse thumped to the ground once Kotake withdrew her weapon from her flesh. She swirled her finger around in the pool of blood that started to escape from her body, and blistered and slithering tongue licked it off her nail.

"Heh—heh! The taste of vengeance is sweet…"

The Gerudo sisters lifted their heads together as footsteps echoed off the descending cavern. The dropping rays of the sleepy sun reflected bright as orange fire off the silver surface of a round shield. The Hero of Time emerged from the mouth of the stairwell, and brandished his sword, rage shuttering in every breath he took. He quickly analyzed his surroundings, taking notes about the environment and his eyes faltered once he saw what remained of Nabooru sprawled across the floor.

"You killed her?"

Koume and Kotake laughed. "She was a traitor!"

The anger on Link's face darkened. "What have you done to Princess Zelda?"

"Can't see for yourself?" Kotake stretched her arm to the alter, and smiled darkly as his intake of breath ceased, "she's not dead yet….maybe you'll have time to save her…"

"But that's unlikely!"

Link's fingers flexed on the hilt of his trusted blade and crossed his chest with it, letting the silver sparkle in the fading light. "I highly disagree."

The sisters reared back with a hissing gasp. "The Blade of Evil's Bane!"

"How did you get it?"

"We destroyed that Temple!"

"No….you failed," Link crouched as his arm pulled the Master Sword behind him, "I'm going to end this….once…and for all. Whatever you're planning, it stops here."

"Eehhe. Such confidence!" Kotake cried, "why don't we play with him for a little bit Koume? We still need his blood after all."

"Yes!" Koume agreed, "and I think we should give Lord Ganondorf a generous offer!"

The mention of the name wrought Link with panic. "Ganondorf!?"

"Oh you'll soon see!" Kotake screamed.

"Or not!" Koume screeched and her fire flew from her hand, blistering the air as it rushed Link. The heat pounded into his shield and shot upwards as it bounced off the surface. Link momentarily lost his footing, the last injury Nabooru had given him still throbbed sharply. But his determination to live had always been enough to see him through. He quickly regained his balance, digging a fierce glare of hatred in the dilapidated retinas of his enemy. Kotake came for him next. Her boney fingers spread wide; her nails were the teeth of some bloodthirsty mouth foaming with a chilly mist. Link was ready. He dodged as she swiped her claw. The Master Sword cut down on its target with significant force, severing Kotake's limb from her shoulder.

The witch let out a howl worthy of hell and tumbled over her broom, painting a crimson streak with her blood across the sandy rooftop. Koume echoed her screams and the Mirror Sheild faithfully caught her next breath of fire. Her yellow eyes bulged with frustrated rage.

"How annoying! You wouldn't be so tough without that thing!"

Link crouched without answering. He yearned to charge, to unleash the fury steaming inside of him, fueling his blood with adrenalin, but his right leg was still a burden. He felt his hand prickle with the danger of melting onto the shield strap as he raised it once again to deflect Koume's attacks, which were now being unleashed without any thought of accuracy or restraint. This needed to end quickly. He unhinged the boomerange from his belt and sent it barreling through the thick of the flames. A loud crack broke the witch's offense as Link's weapon impacted her skull. Her black robes fluttered around her as she fell hard into the sandstone. Link struggled with his breathing and the steel of his blade scratched the pavement as he made his way to the fallen body. With a swell of hatred, he shoved his foot brutally into the bridge of her large nose, arousing more cracking and squeals of pain.

Link raised the sword above his head, and envisioned the power that would leave his arms as he brought it down, cutting the demon's head from its neck, but that vision did not come true. Instead he felt a numbing cold course over his skin. Ice crept up his body like the scurrying legs of spiders, forcing his arms down, helplessly bound to his knees.

"You stupid—STUPID boy!"Kotake screeched, crawling toward her sister. Her only arm was outstretched, weaving the threads of ice around Link's body, "you have gotten in our way for the last time!"

"Do it Kotake!" Koume wailed, her voice distorted by her broken nose, "do it now!!"

"Yes…yes…" The witch hoisted herself to her wrinkled legs by tugging on the fabric of Link's tunic. Her touch was disgusting. Vomit churned in his throat. Her breath was sticky as her giant bloodshot eyes turned up to him, her smile a horrible gash in the hideous face, "before Ganon can be….the blood of the Hero…."

"Take it from his heart!" Koume screamed.

A dagger flashed. It ripped the cloth of his tunic from his chest. Link cried out as blood trickled down his stomach and arms. Kotake fled from him and cuddled with her sister at the altar, staring greedily at Princess Zelda's still and rigid sleep. Koume seized the dagger, and dipped Link's blood in the basin of the third pillar, resurrecting a dark fire from the gold plating. Princess Zelda gave a visible start, and her hands dropped, hanging limply over the sides of the altar.

"Heehee…now all three flames have been lit. Once again, the Great King of Evil shall be born into this world!"

"With every passing minute, your precious Princess grows weaker, and our Great King grows stronger!"

The slowly setting sun vanished. The moon did not rise to take its place. The airbrush strokes of orchid in the sky were blotted out as black, oily ink oozed across vast space. A violet light parted smoky clouds bubbling overhead and lit up the ground mere feet away from those atop the desert temple. The bottom opened in great jaws of sparking energy and the wind howled with lament. Link watched horrorstruck as the color visibly drained away from Zelda's cheeks and some horrible creature stirred in that pit of dark magic. The witches cackled together in victory, throaty screeches akin to insects.

No. This isn't over.

Link closed his eyes. He fought against the pain, against the cold threatening to gloss over his heart in death. Tiny hints of fire licked up his arms, his back, and legs. The gift of the goddess Din freed him from his icy bonds and the Master Sword vibrated in his hands with a tantrum. His scream egged him on, his feet pumped in a run, and he cleaved one witch with a powerful swing of his sword. The body fell in two halves. Koume turned and shrieked as she beheld the fate of her sister.

With another blast of fire she knocked Link back, his sword clattered beside him. Koume hastily scooped up the blood of her sister in a tiny vile she produced from her sleeves.

"That was a nasty thing to do!" she screamed, "but we're not finished yet, not so long as one of us survives! And I doubt you'll be doing any of that!"

The witch snatched up her broomstick and took to the air. "I let the Great Ganon take care of you and Hyrule. There's nothing to stop him now. Our work is finally finished!"

She flew high into the flogging storm. Her laughs died in the drumming rain and whips of lightning. Link paid her no mind. He rushed to Zelda's side, falling against the side of her bed. His eyesight was beginning to blur. His heart felt like it had rusted over. He wouldn't be able to breathe soon.

"Z-Zelda…" he gripped her hand. It was freezing.

A roar pierced the unnatural night. Ahead Link saw a monstrous silhouette wriggle and twist from its bed in the ground. A strike of lightning lit up pig like features, and hollow, stark white eyes. Link now realized his nightmares. With his last stand, he knew what he must do. Once again, that blue hilt sat snuggly in his palm, but it did not twitter encouragingly this time. That was okay. Link knew he only had one strike in him left, his surroundings were becoming more obscure, darker, and all feeling was beginning to leave him.

Well then, let's make this one count.

He flipped the sword in his hand and pushed his aching feet forward. He stared down the beast with unwavering courage. His presence seemed to calm it down a bit. The burly arms lowered from clawing the sky, the unfocused white eyes knew him, and the ugly mouth bared teeth in a ghastly smile. The roaring lowered to an evil purr. A taunt.

"Not today Ganon…" Link whispered, putting all his effort into his voice, "you're going to have to wait a little longer…."

Silver steel burned red as Link concentrated every ounce of his strength, his power, his life into the magic that spun around the Master Sword. I'm sorry…Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Impa….Nabooru…Malon…Zelda…my son….I love you all…

Link stretched his arm back, and with another powerful scream he stabbed the beast right between the terrifying eyes that watched him. Light erupted from the impact and with a mighty swing of its head the beast threw Link, crashing his back into the trunks of the three pillars. One toppled into the other, and when each one met the ground it shattered into several pieces, which the wind carried off to far corners. The beast let out a final series of cries in anguish and eventually burst into identical fragments. The billowing black clouds receded, and released the sun. Warm rays played upon Zelda's face and her nose scrunched. Her eyes fluttered open and she rose carefully, rubbing her arms. She felt as if she had been encased in snow.

She gasped at the state of her surroundings. The Spirit Temple's rooftops were marred by several black patches which smelled burnt. Cracks fragmented the cement, and dark red spills flourished. Her breath halted when she realized she was not alone. A head lay back on the side of the golden altar she sat upon, a head covered in a green cap.

"Link!"

Zelda immediately swung her legs over the side and dropped beside him. Her eyes widened. Blood stained his clothes, covered his cheeks, spilled over every exposed portion of his skin. The glove covering his left arm had been torn away; a small golden light flickered from the top of his hand. Tears poured down her face, she did not even try to restrain them.

"Link….no…Link!" She grabbed his face. Her white gloves became darkened with the dirt, blood, and sweat from his cheeks. She tried to push some of the matted hair out of his eyes. "Link!"

One eye opened. The bright blue color was a striking contrast to the rest of the dirty hue that enveloped him.

"Zelda…" his voice was rough, coarse, it didn't sound like him, "I'm glad…you're okay…"

"What happened!?" she shrieked, "no—never mind. We need a doctor!"

"Zelda…it's alright…"He slid his hand over knee. He didn't have the strength to raise it any higher. "It's alright…."

"No it's not alright! Link you're—"

"I know…but it's okay. I think I've lived longer than anyone should anyway…"

"Don't say that!" Zelda's voice broke, her fingers trembled.

"It's okay…don't cry…."

She did anyway, and she couldn't stop. Link traced his hand over her dress, trying to be comforting, but it only made her feel worse. She didn't need the comfort. She was alive.

"Why—can't I ever do anything for you?" she sobbed, "you've given me so much, protected me, risked everything, and now—there's nothing I can do!"

"Don't say that…Zelda…you've given me everything….I would never have been happy if I hadn't met you."

She shook her head.

"Listen to me…"Link whispered, "you have to be strong now. This war is over…but there are worse things ahead…"

"What?"

"Our children….I know they're going to suffer…I can see it…my son…"

Zelda blinked. "Your son?"

"I know the baby's a boy…I—had a dream. Will you…watch out for him? And tell Malon I'm so sorry…" His eyes were wet, "but tell her I love her…"

Zelda nodded. "Of course I will, but Link—"

"Hush. Just please…"

Zelda swallowed. "Is there really nothing I can do for you?"

Link didn't answer for a moment. He leaned his body forward, resting his forehead on Zelda's shoulder. Even the warmth of her skin could not reach him now. "Will you please stay here with me? Please…because I—I don't want to die alone…"

Zelda held him tightly. Her tears soaked his neck.

"I love you…"

Link smiled. He was so tired, but his heart still managed to thump a little at the sound of those words. "I love…you too…"

He then fell quiet, still in Zelda's arms. Her sobs racked so hard against her ribs she thought she would break. This couldn't be…Link, the invincible hero that had preserved through so much…why did he have to quit now? How could he have been vanquished in such a way? It didn't make sense. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.

Today, Princess Zelda realized that she had never known silence, not real silence. Leaves surfed the air without disturbing anything. They discreetly broke away from the strong branches that clung to them overhead, leaving behind long gnarled fingers that reached for them, yearning for their return. The grass beneath her feet did not stir as the leaves gently nudged its head, feathers on birds' wings neglected to utter rhythmic flaps, they did not even sing their songs. The breeze smelt hollow, and tasted stale. Princess Zelda did not know what it was like to be still, absolutely still, until today.

She had never known loneliness or sorrow. Not until today, as she looked upon the red-headed woman kneeling in the freshly dug dirt, underneath the watchful tree, surrounded by erect, white stones baring countless, faceless names. Her father sat beside her, trying to be comforting by stroking her back. The other farmer stood not too far away from the headstone, with his back turned to the others, but it did not help him hide the red soreness in his eyes.

She watched the small family with agony. She understood their lost perfectly, she did. Yet she could not bring herself to walk up to her, take her hands, embrace her, cry with her. She knew she was a coward. She couldn't face her. Maybe because of guilt, maybe because of selfishness. She had one of Prince Marth's soldiers relay the message to the family, and invite them here, to the cemetery bound in within the castle's walls, a job she would only have asked of Impa before. She shut her eyes. Her heart stung. All of the things she had taken for granted…

It was selfish, to have him brought here, she admitted. It would have been better to let him rest on the ranch, or with other valiant soldiers in Kakariko, but she could not bear to part with him again. She wanted to keep him close, even though he was now so very far away.

"You're spying."

Marth's voice almost made her scream, but thank the goddesses her throat was so dry. She wasn't ready for the family turn around and discover her hiding place behind the corner of the wall. Prince Marth's stare was sharp and calculating. Zelda took a swig of the fusty air before she spoke.

"Don't sneak up on me please, my nerves can't take it."

Marth did not reply . His eyes wandered to the three farmers who were now cuddled together. His gaze rolled steadily back to the Princess, and his eyebrow rose inquiringly.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she decided to ignore the prompt.

He did not let her. "I could be asking you the same question. Do you have something you want to say to them, or not?"

Zelda cast her eyes to the ground. It hurt to look at anything but her feet.

"That's his family, isn't it?"

Zelda nodded.

"You and that swordsman were awfully close…weren't you? More than you let on?"

Princess Zelda lifted her head, fury swimming in the freshly sprung tears. She opened her mouth to shout, but she couldn't speak. If she mustered any amount of strength to move another fraction of her body she would break. Prince Marth placed both of his hands on her shoulders and gave her a brief, firm, shake.

"He loved you, didn't he?"

"…H-How—"

"Because he gave his life for you. He must have loved you."

She broke. Tears gushed from her eyes, the outlet for all of the pain to seep through. She hugged onto Marth tightly, who reciprocated. He smelt like the falling leaves. Perhaps one day the pain would writher away as well.

"I don't think anyone would punish you if you joined them. After all, no one should bear the pain of losing someone they love alone."

"No," she gasped, her voice a bit muffled from the blue folds of his tunic, "I want them to have their time."

Marth nodded and patted her back to let her know he agreed. "At least…you'll always remember him."

Zelda pulled away. Her face took on a different expression. Marth became troubled.

"Of course…I'll remember him. I always have…"

"Princess?" Marth reached for her again, holding her above the elbows. Her words greatly confused him. Something he did not expect happened.

She smiled.

"I've been so selfish haven't I?" she might have laughed, or perhaps only sobbed again, "all this time…I've been the only one who has been able to remember him. I kept it all to myself…I robbed him of the glory that he earned."

"Princess…" Marth shifted his hand through his hair, confusion plastered on his face.

Her smile held. She took hold of his hands. "Will you do me on last favor Prince Marth? Send out a message, throughout all of Castle Town. I want to meet the people in the square."

"Of course Princess—but—whatever for?"

"I have a story to tell them," Zelda's eyes were no longer focused on the Prince, instead they were alight with something wondrous and beautiful, "I've been keeping a great legacy secret. But I want all of Hyrule, and the world to know the truth."

This is what I can do for you…I will tell your story to anyone who will listen. I will keep telling it until the day we meet again…for I know we will. It is our destiny.

"Goddesses…" Marth breathed, "what sort of story is this? Who was that man?"

Princess Zelda touched the back of her hand. The mark carved in her skin felt more like a badge of honor now. She started forward, bringing the Prince in tow.

"Won't you come with me Prince Marth, I think out of all people, his family deserves to hear the answer to that question first."

This is but one legend of which the people speak. There existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. One day, a man of great evil found this power and took it for himself, and with at his command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then, just as all hope had died, a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding a blade that repelled evil, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light. This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time.

The Princess' story reached ears far and wide, until every soul in the land of Hyrule could recall the ancient Hero's tale. It lived on as a treasured legend in the hearts of newer generations, and because its origins traced back to the telling of Hyrule's beloved daughter, the people named this tale—The Legend of Zelda.

THE

END

OMG!! The end!!! AAAH! Thank you to EVERYBODY who reviewed and stuck with this all the way through! I had so much fun writing this and I hope you had fun reading it. I tried to bridge some of the gap between Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess and hopefully you had fun reading some of my theories. Now, most of this was of course written for dramatic purposes, I highly doubt Nintendo would have killed off all the old sages, or had Princess Zelda marry Marth. But as far as the MalonxLink thing, it probably happened. (as much as I hate it! XP) After all….TP Link was a rancher….

But anywhoo, let me know what you think! Send me reviews! How was the ending? How was the whole thing, love it, hate it, I wanna know about it!