Epilogue

Ganon made his way back to the desert. He was not fully ready to enact his revenge...he was out of the void, yes, but he was still just a phantom. But now that he was out of the void, he was more human than before. He could now stand to meld with a soul--but he knew the moment he did, he would be stuck in the vessel until he died.

Ganon traversed the wasteland he had often spurned in the past. It was not long before he spotted the city of the Gerudo in the distance. With a wry grin, he noted the state of disrepair it had fallen into.

Ganon walked through the city gates, his smile growing each time he saw a starving woman clinging to life. His wish had worked--he had gotten his revenge. But he still craved more.

Ganon entered the palace unimpeded. The once grand building was falling apart. He followed a voice coming from a hall, and began to laugh harshly when he saw who spoke.

It was an old, frail woman. Her hair was stark white, and her skin was extremely creased. Age was prominent in the old hag's features.

"Tera, what has happened to you?" Ganon mocked, knowing she was unable to hear his taunts. "Has your true nature finally been reflected in your senility?"

Tera sobbed, bowing her head.

"Father," she croaked, "why did you have to send all of the men out on a mission all those years ago? You all died, and left the kingdom to me. Now look at what is happening! There are no more men...the women cannot bear children. The last man in our society died a few days ago."

"Where is Ialis now?" Ganon reveled in Tera's misery. "Has he also gone? Left you for a more beautiful woman?"

"Another hundred years, father!" Tera shrieked, sobbing uncontrollably. "Another hundred years before we have another child! What horrible force has placed this curse upon us? When will it end?"

"A hundred years?" Ganon's eyes widened. He had been too late...he would have to wait another century before another male was born. However, this did not anger Ganon. He had waited countless years...what was one more century? He sat back, watching Tera's tears flow.

Ganon did wait those hundred years, and his horrid plan came into fruition the day the male was born. He melded with the baby, who began to cry and thrash at the nurses who tended to him. Tera entered the room, walking with a gnarled cane. She had gone blind many years ago, so she reached out and felt the baby's soft face. The baby drew back, attempting to bite Tera's finger.

It took a few years, but finally, the baby was able talk. Tera watched over him often, since she was the current ruler of the Gerudo. In her years, she had apparently learned how to be a good nanny. She cooed and crowed over the baby, wiggling her index finger where she thought his face was.

"What is your name?" Tera coddled the baby.

"Ganondorf!" the baby cried out, slapping Tera's finger away. Tera gasped and began to shake, bursting into a fit of sobs. She ran out of the room, inconsolable. The next day, she died.

Ganon was treated as a king in the society. He rose in the ranks faster than ever imagined. One day, when he was reaching the midpoint of his life, he overheard two slave women chatting.

"Have you heard the stories about the Triforce?" One of the gabbed.

"Indeed," the other fondly replied. "Eternal life, the power of the goddesses, more power than possibly imaginable..."

"Oh, stop daydreaming!" The first one laughed. "The only way to even get close to that power is to be on good terms with the King. And he doesn't associate with riff-raff."

"You are cruel," the other giggled. "But how would riff-raff know about the Spiritual Stones? That's the only way to really get to the power. The heart of the forest, the passion of the fire, and the serenity of the water...each are contained in the different stones."

"I'm certain that's true," the first replied doubtfully. "But we can't talk about stupid legends all day, can we? Let's get back to work!"

An idea began to hatch in Ganon's head. He took a black horse from the stable, and rode away from the desert. His first destination was the forest...if he could collect the spiritual stones for the King of Hyrule, then he was certain to gain access to the sacred golden power of the Triforce.

The rest, as you know, is legend...