All Things End

## *Information*

*"It's like in the great stories. the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lost of chances turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something."*

*I stood at the base of Death Mountain, in the ruins of Kakariko Village. The volcano's cloud ring was no more: replaced with a black cloud of smoke and lightning and fire. I knew that within that cloud was the World-Eater. I knew that there would be no return journey.*

*I scaled the volcano wearing an old, tattered Goron Tunic, a Goron Cap, and one of their circlets, as well as the Fireshield Earrings. I carried the Mirror Shield of the Great Sea and the Phantom Sword. I carried my bow and a quiver of Ice Arrows. I carried the Wind Waker, the Phantom Hourglass, bombs, and a hammer. I was prepared.*

*I passed through the deserted Goron City and saw it choked and scorched by cooled lava. The city echoed with the sound of silence. I was maddening compared to the roar of the mountain.*

*I reached the peak of Death Mountain after hours of climbing treacherous terrain. I knew the World-Eater expected me, but I waited and rested before braving the depths of his dark maelstrom, drawing the Phantom Sword and the Mirror Shield.*

*"Hero of Winds. We meet at last. Ah, but you are much younger than I would have expected. This will be quick."*

*"I know my counterparts have faced you dragon. I know they have failed."*

*"What, then, makes you think you will succeed? Your world will die and fade away. Everything must come to dust. All things."*

*"Yes. It's time has come."*

*"Then why do you resist, Hero of Winds? Why do you wish to fight me?"*

*"Hyrule deserves a better end than the one you will give it. We will not go gently into that good night. Hyrule must fall, but I will make you feel pain as it crumbles. I and all the heroes before me will make bitter taste of this world. When all is snow and dust, you will remember that Hyrule clawed back as you made it bleed."*

*The dragon laughed, and the cloud above rolled with thunder.*

*"So be it. You are different, Hero of Winds. Very few of your* ***zeymah** had such vision."*

*"I come from a time after Hyrule fell. The Golden Goddesses intervened and washed Hyrule away to prevent a calamity at the hands of Ganon."*

*"You expect the Goddesses to save you now?" The World-Eater interrupted, "You are a fool."*

*I glared and looked deep into one of his great eyes. "You are the fool, dragon."*

*He growled and smoke puffed from his nostrils. "No more false gods! I am here now. This world is mine, Hero of Winds. I will see it burn. I will devour every living thing and nothing will remain."*

*"Then do it!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face, "Finish it! Let it end, and take me first!"*

*The World-Eater suddenly leapt from his perch and breathed fire upon me. I repelled it with the Mirror Shield. I swung the Phantom Sword and shining beams cut through the smoke, exploding on his black skin. I pummeled him with beams as I drew the Wind Waker and cast the Wind God's Aria. The smoke around me was pushed away in all directions by a gust of wind. The dragon took flight, knocking me to the ground. He vanished in the smoke, but returned and landed on me, pinning me to the ground with one of his great claws. The Wind Waker was thrown from my grasp, as was the Phantom Sword. With his other claw, the World Eater crushed and shattered the hilt of the Phantom Sword, leaving only the blade intact.*

*"You will be the first," he hissed and began to draw an icy breath.*

*I looked to the sky and saw a break in the smoke. I saw stars and the night sky, and the flow of time seemed to slow. Every night has a moon to guard it. Every star is a spot of light in the darkness. And after every night the sun returns. There's some good in this world. And it's worth fighting for.*

*Instead of cold, I felt warmth. I saw light.*

***"Nid,"** I heard the World-Eater say: **"Nid! Hi fen ni dein daar lein nol fall dov, Hylia! Him muz los ni dein! Zu'u fen siiv niin. Nust fen kos viik! Strun... Bah... Qo!"***

*I saw him fly away from me as dark clouds began to circle overhead and lightning flashed from the clouds. The last sight I remember is a wave of shining light pushing the smoke away. I remember feeling calming warmth and hearing calming silence. I was at peace.*

*Then I heard Her voice.*

*"You have done well, Hero of Winds. Hyrule can rest. You helped Hylia greatly. She is with Nayru now. The world can heal and be reborn. Alduin lives, but fear not. A new hero will emerge. Ours is not to worry, for the land is now in other hands. My sisters and I remain watchful: fragments and shards of our kingdom still remain. Echoes ring through the earth, water, and air. Together we may begin our search for the Hero of Time. I miss him deeply. Have courage. You are with me."*

## Notes:

The book explains the Hero of Winds, originally known as Toon Link from the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, travels to the summit of Death Mountain to confront Alduin the World-Eater. He knew he would not return as many of his predecessors before him attempted to bring the destruction of the dragon, but failed in the process.

*All Things End* is located within a chest at the end of the chamber of the boss room, along with the Shield of Antiquity. They can be obtained after defeating the Stone Talus, located within Malice, which is in the Ruptured Tower of Rage.

The words in Dovahzul that Alduin speaks are translated as follows:

***"*Nid, Nid! Hi fen ni dein daar lein nol fall dov, Hylia! Him muz los ni dein! Zu'u fen siiv niin. Nust fen kos viik! Strun... Bah... Qo!*"*** (No, no! You will not guard this world from the race of dragons, Hylia! Your men are not to keep! I will find them. They will be defeated! Storm... Wrath... Lightning!)

**Strun Bah Qo (Storm Wrath Lightning):** Storm Call Shout

z**eymah** (Brothers)

## Background and Inspiration

The quote in the beginning of the book and close to the end of the story is a reference from the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, quoted by Samwise Gamgee.

## See Also:

Wind Waker

Wind God's Aria

Phantom Sword

Mirror Shield of the Great Sea

Goron Tunic, Goron Cap and Goron Circlet