The Legend of Zelda: The Missing Link

Chapter 23: Clash of Royalty

"Er, that is, king." Ralis looked uneasy using the title to describe himself. "But I go by prince."

"Prince Ralis," Zelda approached him. "What are you doing here?"

Ralis hesitated, looking over the women before him. Ralis was the very young leader of the Zoras, not even a teenager, forced to take the throne after the death of both his parents. He had met Zelda before, and Midna had seen him from Link's shadow, but Ralis didn't know what to think of this Twili princess before him.

"Oh, hey. I'm Midna," The princess gave a small wave. "Twilight Princess. You know, of the Twilight Realm?"

The prince was skeptical, having only heard rumors of the race of Twili people living in the Twilight Realm--but deep down, he had desperately wished for another ruler in Hyrule that he could learn from and converse with. Finally, he spoke. "Hello, Midna. It's a pleasure." He turned back to Zelda, his voice quieting to a whisper. "I'm here to visit my parents' gave."

"Oh, pardon us," Zelda took Midna by the arm, gently pulling her to the entrance of the graveyard.

"But, um..." Ralis turned, holding out his hand in an awkward gesture, as if motioning for them to stop. "Before you go, Zelda, could I ask you something?"

"Sure," Zelda tilted her head slightly in curiosity.

Ralis stood silent for a few moments, collecting his thoughts. "Is it true? Has Ganondorf really returned?" He swallowed, "And Link...?"

Zelda looked solemnly at the young prince. It was obvious that this boy was wise beyond his years; possibly due to all of the responsibility thrust onto him from such an early age. There was a brilliant sparkle in his spring-green eyes, the kind of shine that showed his burning desire to learn and grow. The young king may have believed himself to be incapable, but Zelda knew that his maturity would allow him to be the best possible ruler for his people--maybe even better than his predecessors.

Zelda sighed; it was such a weary sound, a sure sign that she was beginning to tire of how quickly she had gone nowhere in her quest. Without a word from the queen, Ralis understood.

"Ah, what a touching scene. It almost makes me wish the boy was here to witness it."

The three whipped around at the sound of a deep voice across the graveyard.

"No..." Zelda whispered, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth.

Midna froze at the sight. "Holy shit."

Ganondorf chuckled, his booming voice echoing in the enclosed cemetery. "Such vulgar language, o Twilight Princess. I would prefer you clean up your tongue in front of your king."

"What are you doing here?!" Ralis leaped towards the towering Gerudo man, who stood close to three times the young Zoran boy's height. Zelda placed a hand upon his shoulder, as if silently urging the prince to cease. Ralis ignored this plea and shrugged the queen's hand off. "Give Link back, right now, or else!"

"Or else? What could you possibly do to me, tiny fish-boy? I am immortal! Do you really think you could ever harm a god?!"

"You're no god, Ganondorf." Zelda's calm, strong voice masked the fear coursing through her veins. "You've simply beaten the odds at death. But soon, the hero of Twilight, chosen by the goddesses, will bring you to the grave, where you belong."

"Is that truly what you believe, Zelda? That the goddesses or, heaven forbid, that child could kill me? You've seen it with your own eyes. I cannot die. I have lived thousands of years, fought dozens of heroes, conquered countless lands. I carry the Triforce of Power, gifted to me by the goddesses that you put your trust so willingly in! The gods are not on your side, princess of Hyrule. Those gods have abandoned you."

"No..." Zelda's anger began to boil, something she normally kept locked away tight in her heart. She fought to keep it concealed. "The goddesses would never betray me. They have not gifted you anything; you stole that piece of the Triforce from under their noses, using it to wreak havoc and chaos across the land that they created in the name of peace. You seem to be forgetting that they have gifted my family the Triforce of Wisdom, handed down generation to generation. Perhaps you do not know that I speak to them in my dreams, that they channel their desires through me, the true ruler of Hyrule."

"Ah, princess, so young and naïve. The goddesses never created this land in the name of peace. The Triforce itself was made in complete neutrality, ready to be molded by the hands strong enough to wield it. A hundred years ago, I found the Triforce on my own, I used it to turn Hyrule into the wasteland in my dreams, while the so-called 'hero' hid away in the sacred realm. Seven years, he hid in that realm, afraid of the power that I held. I was the one to rip him out of there so I could take the Triforce of Courage from him--as well as Triforce of Wisdom from Zelda, your ancestor. You know, you two are very much alike. So blind, so smart and yet so, so stupid, falling into my grasp time and time again. Always standing in my way. Which is why, Queen Zelda of Hyrule, I must kill you now."