This battle was like none other they had ever experienced. Pure rage is what drove them. They were completely in tune with each other’s body. They sensed every movement the other made. As quickly as one attacked, the other would block it. Link’s technique in battle was to study his adversary, find a weakness or a vulnerable spot, and attack relentlessly. The only thing that mattered right now was killing Ganondorf. Although killing him would be a small victory, nothing could ever replace his two loved ones’ lives. Link quickly charged his sword and performed a spin attack. Ganondorf held his sword stiffly to stop Link in the middle of spinning. He brought his leg up and kicked Link in his chest. This was the first contact that was established by the two. Link didn‘t care so much about making the first move, he was just going to make sure that he made the last.

Ganondorf watched Link as he slowly began circling him. He sensed something and his gut feeling told him to move to the left. Ganondorf quickly followed his intuition and dodged left. Link stabbed at him as he moved out of the way. Ganondorf’s instincts were right. He smiled in his head, knowing that really soon Link was going to slip up. That’s when he was going to kill him.

Link’s mind was blank right now, that’s how he fought-he let nothing distract him. He learned that even if you are distracted for just half a second, that could mean death. However, one thing forced its way into his head. He couldn’t get the image of his dead wife laying in the rubble out of his mind. Ganondorf felt that Link’s concentration was not one hundred percent. This was the time to be on the offensive. He slashed at Link finally and his sword came very close to Link’s face. Link snapped out of his contemplation long enough to prevent another of Ganondorf’s attacks. No one knew how long this was going to last, but they were both willing to fight to the death. Link evaded his attack and tried to retaliate with a spin attack again. He spun on his knee and was about to slash at Ganondorf’s abdomen, when Ganondorf pulled his sword vertically to stop his attack. Ganondorf again quickly attacked him, finding an opening and taking full advantage of it. Link saw Ganondorf’s sword coming but couldn’t pull his sword up in time to impede the oncoming assault. The sword barely lacerated his chest. His shirt was ripped open and a line of blood formed on his chest. For a second, Link lost his concentration, too engrossed with what just happened. How could he have let something as a simple slash make contact with him? His mind was not clear, and that was the only way Link could fight efficiently. He had to win, he had to kill Ganondorf, there was no way around it. He vomited every thought out of his mind and quickly stood. Now he was ready for Ganondorf, hoping that nothing else would take away his confluence.

Link flipped over Ganondorf and landed behind him. He quickly thrust his sword forward, only piercing the air. Ganondorf had already sensed that coming and moved. While Link finished executing his attack, Ganondorf pulled his leg back and then thrust it into Link’s chest. The force from the kick sent Link flying back into a wall. He hit the stone wall hard and fell. Link pulled his head up and watched Ganondorf run at him. Ganondorf raised his sword and came down with it on Link. However, Link rolled to the side. The only thing the sword touched was the floor. Link swung his leg around and tripped Ganondorf. The Evil King fell back, all the while cursing himself for not seeing that. Link jumped up and came down with his sword into Ganondorf’s chest. His sword cleanly sliced into his vital organs. Ganondorf screamed with pain, but quickly recuperated. He grabbed Link by the neck and squeezed, making sure that he could not breath. He stood up, still holding Link, and pulled Link’s sword out of his chest. He threw it to the side and Link looked down and noticed that Ganondorf’s wound was healing at an incredible rate. Ganondorf tore his attention away from his chest and looked Link in the eyes. Link felt Ganondorf’s yellow eyes penetrate his. He felt coldness engulf him as he listened to what Ganondorf had to say, “Link, you are suppose to be all-powerful. What’s the matter with you? Are you losing your touch? I feel almost sorry for you that I beat you this easily. How it must feel to be taken out in a matter of minutes.”

Ganondorf’s words felt like daggers being jammed into his soul. Ganondorf was right, how could he have lost this easily? Link didn’t know what to think anymore, he was going to die and he could do nothing to stop it, but maybe...

“You are a worthless and pathetic creature. You are also the one person who stands in my way of complete domination of this kingdom. I hold your life, literally, in my hands. However, I give you a choice. If you tell me where Zelda is right now, I will make your death quick and painless. However, if you choose to annoy me with silence, I will make sure you die painfully.”

Link’s thoughts now drifted to Zelda, and his baby. He was going to tell Ganondorf about her death, maybe this sad tale would touch Ganondorf’s heart...if he had one.

“Ganondorf...” it was difficult for him to speak, but Ganondorf did not loosen his grip, “Zelda...is...downstairs...in the...basement. She’s...dead. The ex...plosion...killed her.”

Ganondorf found this unexpected. He was hoping that Zelda was still alive, but you can’t plan for everything. Link gasped for air the entire trip down into the dungeon. A minute later and Ganondorf was in the basement. Ganondorf’s eyes opened wide. There it was-Zelda’s dead body.

“Huh,” was all he could manage to get out.

There was a moment of silence for absorption of the sight, until Ganondorf broke it and said, “So, she was pregnant? Well, you must feel awful,” he said with hint of amusement.

Link’s rage ignited again, hearing Ganondorf’s heartless words. He grabbed a small dagger that was in his belt and stabbed Ganondorf in the gut. Ganondorf screamed as he took the dagger out and then threw Link into the wall. At least ten of his ribs broke. He fell to the ground, encompassed with pain. Ganondorf ran up to Link and kicked him in the chest. Link was kicked into the air and Ganondorf punched him in the chest as he floated for a second in front of him. He went into the wall at least a foot. Ganondorf let Link fall to the ground. Ganondorf walked over to his sword and picked it up. He walked back to Link, who was already trying to get up. Ganondorf pulled Link up against the wall and thrust his sword into Link’s chest. The sword went through his chest hitting a lung and his heart. The sword also went into the wall, pinning him to the stone. Ganondorf stood there, watching with true enjoyment as Link’s life-force began to whittle away. He enjoyed watching Link wail in pain. Then, to cause more pain, he reached forward and slowly withdrew the sword. Link’s legs would not hold him up. He fell, hitting the ground hard. Ganondorf thought for a second as an epiphany hit him. Link is very powerful. Even though I want his Triforce, he would be of better use to me alive. That is...if I can persuade him to join me. He just lost his wife and his baby, and he’s about to die. His spirit is broken and he has nothing for which to live. Ganondorf bent down by Link, and in a strange, soft voice, he said, “Link, I can only guess at how much pain you are in, physically and emotionally. I am not some pure evil being. If I had known that Zelda was pregnant, I probably would not have killed her. I did not count on her being in the castle when I attacked. However, it’s done and over, we can’t change what happened. I am offering you something I know you will at least consider. What I am offering you is my friendship. But if you join me, you are to forget everything about your past and rule over the world with me by my side. You can easily decline this, but you will die and I will be left with your Triforce. Either way, it works for me, but you on the other hand, I’m sure this will be the hardest decision in your life. I hope you make the right decision.”

On his back he lay, devoid of emotions and oblivious to everything happening around him. Only his thoughts remained, reassuring him that he was still among the living...for now. Everything that he wished and everything that he fought for was...wrong. He couldn’t deny it, it stood there before him-like a sick and twisted picture portraying his fallacy. It was enough for him to lay back and accept his fate with no struggle. However wrong his consideration was, he still weighed both decisions, against his better judgment Thousands of answers and reasons to it raced through his head. He analyzed every answer and found his final verdict. This was it...no going back. Please, forgive me Zelda. Link had nothing to live for in this world. His wife and his child were gone. There was so much pain inside of him that he would grasp at anything that would stop this torture. It would mean going against everything for which he fought. Joining Ganondorf would let him forget his painful past, of Zelda and his baby. That was the obvious choice...but was it the right one? He closed his watery eyes and said without further thought, “Okay Ganondorf...I...will...join you.”

He couldn’t believe he just spoke those words. His speech was almost directed involuntarily. Like his mind already decided without acknowledgement of his heart and spirit. He didn’t even realize he said those words until Ganondorf placed his hand in front of Link. With all of the strength he could muster, he lifted his heavy hand and sealed his fate. As soon as Link’s hand touched Ganondorf’s, Ganondorf’s Triforce of Power healed him. Also, as part of the deal, Link willingly opened his mind to prepare to have his memory erased. His painful past was something he was looking forward to forgetting. And, for just a second, before Ganondorf erased his past, he saw a memory of him and Zelda.

Ganondorf smiled as he looked into the eyes of his new companion. Link no longer knew any good. He knew nothing of compassion and love. The only thing that pulsed through his veins was the need for power. Link glanced over for a second and noticed a body there. It was a fairly young woman and it looked as though she had died from a fall through the ceiling. He thoughtlessly brushed the image out of his head, not knowing that the empty corpse was his wife’s. They exited the castle and readied themselves to begin their task of fighting for and conquering Hyrule. This was it, Link had done what he thought he would never do, join forces with Ganondorf. He became what he despised the most, just to rid himself of his pain and suffering. Somewhat selfish, but when tragedy like a killed wife and child hits you, grief and the knowledge that you can no longer see your loved ones can drive you to the unthinkable: betrayal. If he knew what he had done, at this moment he would not care as to if anyone would forgive him, not his country, not the goddesses, not his friends, not even his deceased wife.