Early in the morning before dawn kissed the sky, war raged in the Chamber of the Sages.

Ganondorf had broken through the Sacred Realm, and the sages had tried to stop him. Their efforts had been in vain.

Darunia was the first to die. The Goron king had charged the madman in a rage, only to be cut in half by his vile power. As Ganondorf laughed over the foolish fallen, Saria lashed out with all her might. The sweet, gentle Kokiri girl was sickened by what was taking place before her and she struck with all her strength. It was barely enough to graze the Gerudo, and he silenced her with a mere flick of his hand. One by one, the sages fell until only Nabooru and Rauru were left standing.

Rauru tried to defend the Gerudo woman, but was cast aside effortlessly. Unable to get back up, he watched horrified as the evil king stalked Nabooru. She backed away from the man who had once been king of her people. Her hand rested on the hilt of her scimitar even though she knew it would be useless against him.

"Very foolish, 'Boo." He rasped as he advanced toward her.

The use of her childhood nickname stunned Nabooru and she tripped. Realizing it was the charred body of Ruto; Nabooru fought to keep from retching. Instead, she chose to be defiant to the end and yelled, "You BASTARD! Why won't you just DIE!?"

With a motion honed by years of training, she hurled her scimitar at him. A normal man would have been spitted like a cucco and killed instantly. Ganondorf simply raised his hand and the blade came screaming back at her. For a second, Nabooru was mesmerized by her own impending death. But suddenly, a golden light filled the chamber and a regal voice cried out.

"Ganondorf stop!"

Princess Zelda was still in her nightgown, but she lost none of her noble bearing for it. The golden light of her power surrounded her like a halo of purity and goodness.

Ganondorf summoned a bolt of black energy. "Zelda, this is the end!" He roared. "In my years of imprisonment my powers have TRIPLED! Now watch as I destroy your world, for today is the last day!" The black energy seared the air with its unholy might and Zelda was forced to raise her own magical defenses. Their powers clashed in a blaze of white light. The evil king reeled momentarily and Zelda was thrown to the ground, but she was up in seconds shouting, "no Ganondorf! You will fall again!"

The words never reached the insane Gerudo, for he had leapt the final barrier and was now free in Hyrule.

"Goddess," Nabooru whispered, "oh sweet Goddess." The full impact of what had just happened sank in and she shook. Zelda helped her up, then Rauru, and together they looked upon the carnage in the chamber.

"If only I'd gotten here sooner..." Zelda sighed. Her eyes burned with sorrow. Darunia, Saria, Ruto...and Impa, her beloved childhood guardian. All were gone, slain horribly by a madman with almost unlimited power.

'Goddess assoil them and save us." Zelda thought.

"I'm so sorry," Nabooru murmured sadly. "We tried to stop him, nothing worked. What do we do now?"

Now Rauru spoke, "we must return to the Temple of Time first."

Zelda nodded, forcing her eyes from the still forms of their friends. She called upon the power of teleportation and the three sages emerged from the Temple of Time.

Only moments had passed since Ganondorf's resurrection, and already he was making good on his promise of destruction. Hyrule Town burned again, cries for help echoed in the streets, but the evil Gerudo was nowhere to be seen.

Zelda felt sick, Her powers seemed insignificant now, and she had to grasp Nabooru's shoulder for support.

A battered Royal guard rushed up to her. "My princess," He cried." It is chaos! We are receiving simultaneous reports from Kakariko, Goron City and Zora's Domain. All Hell is breaking lose everywhere! Ganondorf has returned and he is bringing the apocalypse upon us! What can we do?"

Zelda, the sole heir to the throne of Hyrule closed her eyes. All the land was depending on her answer.

"Go." She commanded. "Bring Link to me. Hyrule needs the Hero of Time once more."

Miles away from the carnage of Hyrule Town, Lon Lon Ranch was still peacefully asleep. But that was about to end.

Violent pounding on the front door roused link and Malon from a sound sleep. Grumbling, Link stumbled downstairs to find two very young and very scared Royal guards on his doorstep. Even half awake, Link could feel the panic and despair radiating from them.

'Ganondorf's back for sure.' He thought. 'That's all it can be. No one else can inspire that raw terror.'

"Please forgive us sir." The first guard said quickly. "But it is urgent, you must come with us now."

Cold fire stoked in the pit of Link's stomach. He wondered if it was anger, fear or an ulcer. Malon had appeared in the door behind him, she put her hand on his arm.

"What happened?" Link asked, although instinctively he already knew.

"It is Ganondorf sir, the Evil One escaped but an hour ago."

"Right. I'll be half a minute."

Back up in the bedroom, Link quickly changed into a loose shirt and breeches. While he dressed, Malon knelt and opened the chest he'd stored his weapons away in. Carefully she lifted out the sheathed Bigggoron sword and its attached belt. Her face was taut with anxiety, but her eyes glowed with pride as she went through the ritual of girding the weapon upon her husband. When the last buckle was fastened, Malon said softly, "this is what you dreamed of last night, isn't it?"

"It looks that way, Malon."

Their eyes locked, each wanting to say more. Finally they just held each other. Link kissed her, "everything will be all right." She nodded. "Better get your things together and get going. The worlds going to end and we'll still be here." Malon tried to laugh, but it came out more like a sob. They kissed once more, then Link grabbed up his gear and ran downstairs.

Epona had been retired to the pasture months ago to live out the rest of her life in freedom. It was her daughter Macha Link now rode. She had the calm temper of her mother, but the speed of her sire. Talon already had her saddled and waiting for Link.

He mounted Macha and looked down at Malon, they shared a final longing gaze then Link and the guards rode for Hyrule Town.

As she watched him disappear into the distance, the babe within her kicked fretfully. Malon smoothed a hand over her belly. "It's all right," she whispered to her unborn child. "Daddy will be home soon." She hoped her words were true.

********

Link had witnessed Ganondorf's handiwork before, but this was on a completely different scale. Everywhere he saw the Gerudo's mark, and his heart bade him to stop and give whatever aid he could. But that would be futile. All that mattered was finding Ganondorf and ending this before...

"Link! Link! Over here!"

He turned to see Zelda standing on a heap of rubble and waving frantically. Pushing his way throughout the anarchy, Link dashed to her.

"Zelda! Thank Farore you're all right! What happened?"

The princess grabbed his arm; "there is not much time to explain. I'm sure you know Ganondorf got out. He is so much stronger. He...he-" Zelda stumbled trying to find a gentle way of breaking the news. "Link I am so sorry to have to tell you this- but Saria, Darunia, Impa and Ruto all died in his onslaught."

The color drained from Link's face, he felt the pain of loss like a blow to his head. "All dead?" He whispered.

Zelda put an arm around her old friend's shoulders. "I know this is a great loss," she said quietly. "But they can still be avenged. Between we remaining sages, we may be able to repair Ganondorf's prison. But we need your strength. The love of the Goddesses is with you, Link."

For a second, Link felt shock replace his heartbreak. Zelda's words echoed those of the Great Deku Tree. There would be time for weeping later.

He and Zelda ran to the Temple of Time where Rauru and Nabooru waited. Together they stood, Hyrule's last heros. There was no need for speech between them, they all new what they faced.

There was the sound of something heavy falling onto the roof, and then a charge filled the air,Ganondorf had joined them.

There was no time for any strategies or plans, just action. Link ran outside and there he was. Perched on the temple's steeple like a gargoyle from Hell. All bristling red hair, black armor and slitted yellow eyes.

When Ganondorf saw Link, he smiled in a disturbingly cheerful way.

"Link, the Hero. My bane and my pain. So glad you could join us." The Gerudo gestured at the town burning around them, "as you can see I've thrown a little party...but my, my, it looks like you're a little late. How rude."

His smile stretched into a chilling snarl.