End of Legend of FIVE #2-Legend of FIVE #3

On this day, Link learned how dreams became prophecies. The storm around him was proof enough. It resembled what he witnessed in his sleep on his final day in the Kokiri Forest; storm clouds cloaking the sky, lightning falling upon the world like condemned angels and the mountain peaks warping themselves to look like gnarled hands reaching out for anything at all. Hyrule went from beautiful to bleak in a moment. There was little time to respond, to react or to even know what was truly happening. Link knew instantly; the Castletown drawbridge bowed toward the moat, prying itself away from the city wall. The storm turned the river into a violent torrent. A rhythm of hooves cracked into his sense of hearing. “Move!” Link shouted as he leapt out of the way, clearing the open space left behind by the drawbridge. The children rushed off to the side. Link saw the next part of the dream coming true–the majestic white horse. Draped in violet garments. Two known riders sitting upon its back. They were now familiar. Impa of the Sheikah controlled the horse by its straps. She still donned the trademark armor streaked with dark purple hues, the same hues that probably helped her blend into the night. As the steed galloped away, Impa’s eyes remained focused on the road ahead. Impa’s fellow rider looked back at Link. Yes–she looked back at him with a haunting stare, the solemn gaze that burning into Link’s very soul. Link didn’t understand the connection between himself and Zelda. He just knew there was an unspoken truth of sorts, as if their beginning happened ages ago. Zelda called it destiny. Link felt a need to say the same. Their connection was powerful and probably always would be–the escape severed the bond as the horse grew distant. Zelda looked back at Link. Another prophecy came true–the sad stare showing helplessness. A flash of change from the nightmare did arise–her face brightened up as if a revelation dawned on her. Zelda shifted on the horse. Link peered at her as she heaved her arm back and seemed to throw something towards the castletown. Before Link could even react, the object zipped over his head and plopped into the river, sinking into the water. Link glanced at the river for just a moment before seeking the horse out once more. When he looked, it was gone. They were gone. He stood in the storm, staring off into the dark empty stretch. Should he have waited? Would there have been a point? Link didn’t know what to do next. The Kokiri Emerald and Goron Ruby felt heavy in his satchel. He was supposed to give it to Zelda and finally end his journey. Now, everything changed. She was gone. What else was there to do. Then Link remembered. The last image of his nightmare jolted his memory. His neck stiffened. A gasp rose from his friends and he knew why. Ominous huffs sounded out from behind. An unwelcome aura loomed. Link shivered from a coldness that didn’t come from the storm, but rather the presence planted at the edge of the drawbridge. Link turned around slowly. A horse towered over him. Its hide looked as if it were made from the storm’s darkness. Sheet iron and sand-colored cloth draped the exterior. Link was more afraid of the rider. The man on the horse sported polished black armor with gold patterning etched into its surface. He had fiery red hair and fierce eyes. These were the eyes Princess Zelda saw evil in. This was the warrior who found a way into Hyrule Castle as a guest. This was the one who caused trouble throughout Hyrule. This man–this haunting figure–was Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo Thieves. “Dammit…” Ganondorf scanned the overwhelming storm, treating the rain as if it were nothing. He didn’t seem to notice his surroundings, let alone Link and the others. “I lost them…” Ganondorf’s gaze drifted to his left, where the children stood. The five huddled together, staying close to one another as a collective wave of fear overwhelmed them. They all knew. Only Rebecca had encountered Ganondorf before, but the group acted as if he once ravaged their lives as well. “You!” Ganondorf pointed at the children. “You must have seen them! There was a woman and a child on a white horse. It galloped past just now. Which way did it go…” The desert thief peered closer at the group. At first, Link thought Ganondorf recognized him from his visit to Hyrule Castle where Link first met Zelda. Then, Link saw how the fierce glare looked past him and over his shoulder. Right behind him was Rebecca, who trembled worse than even Link did. Link saw Ganondorf snicker and sneer. “Ah...my little half-breed outsider.” Ganondorf turned his horse towards the children. “It’s interesting seeing you again. I figured you’d get a domain in the desert after stealing my kinghood from me. What happened? Did those traitors throw you out as well?” Rebecca couldn’t hide her fear, but stammered out her words. “...Go away.” Ganondorf’s expression warped itself into a twisted grin. “Do you think you can protect everyone from me? Even with your meager powers and your feeble friends, you’re no true match for me.” Without thinking, the children drew their weapons. Rebecca’s energy surged from her body. Jerome looked at one of the torches beside the gap where the drawbridge stood and absorbed its flickering flame. Sheila unearthed her slingshot and Trevor trembled as he took out his spear. Link grasped the Kokiri Sword, his eyes focused on the desert king. He waited for Ganondorf’s first move. Ganondorf’s grin didn’t change. He snickered once more. “You want to challenge me?” he asked. “Funny, I’ll admit. Half breed, your friends are as bold and as foolish as you are. And they’ve equally become yoked with the rest of my foes.” When Ganondorf raised a hand, Link already saw what was happening. Dark violet energy swirled within the space of the scarred palm, becoming a raging orb. Electricity crackled around the ball, which dashed from the desert king’s hand towards the children. Link stepped in front of the orb, expecting its full impact. Rebecca let out a shout and an emerald glow emerged before Link. The orb collided with Rebecca’s protective barrier. It spread across the surface and Link thought the attack was successfully block. Then, everything shattered like glass. A strange force pushed Link off his feet as he and the others fell on their backs, facing the darkened sky. Link thought he’d drown in the downpour, or find himself destroyed by Ganondorf now that he was at an advantage over them all. “PATHETIC LITTLE FOOLS!” Ganondorf’s booming voice overpowered the storm’s thunder. “Know who you’re dealing with! I am GANONDORF! I am the true King of Hyrule and soon, the world! If it weren’t for the search for that wretched princess and her Sheikah woman, I’d deal with you now...but I mustn’t waste time. Your powers are nothing to me. Count your blessings.” Link sat up and Ganondorf was gone. Like Zelda and Impa beforehand, he became a blip in the distance, merging with the storm as if to prove he was part of the world’s darkness after all. Or maybe the darkness was part of him, cloaking its master as he reunited with it. Link looked at the others. The attack proved itself to be very powerful; his friends were unconscious, stunned by the dark magic’s might. Even Navi laid sprawled across the field’s dampened grass. Her glow flickered in and out. All four of her wings looked wilted. Link stumbled to his feet. His body ached. He dragged himself towards his friends, thinking of ways to stir them. Then, he remembered the water. Zelda. She threw an object towards Link and the others. She wanted them to have it, whatever this item was. Perhaps it contained answers. Link dragged himself to the moat’s edge. Despite nature going awry, his eyes found the princess’ boon; a hint of light blue, warped by the water’s ripples. Link wondered if a glow rose from the object, or if it was just his senses playing tricks on him after getting dazed from the attack. Link tried to fish the item out of the water. He stretched his arm towards the moat. When it dipped into the river, shivers surged through him. Everything felt icy. The boy from the forest stooped lower. He lost his footing, not considering how weak his legs were. His body limply plunged into the water and now the cold was everywhere for him. The flow almost whisked Link away. His body found its second wind and fought to be anchored. Link swam and reached out to the object. His fingertips touched the polished ceramic before he enclosed his hand around it. His vision blurred and slowly blackened. Link lost his cap and his body couldn’t resist the river’s flow any longer. Before passing out, Link recognized the object’s shape. The mouthpiece stuck out like a stem on a tree branch. Eight holes were drilled into its oval-shaped form. As Link faded, he wondered if he could hear music…