Ganondorf

Among the passages of The Legend of Zelda, there is a Name deeply rooted to its main events; a Man who coveted the Supreme Power to subjugate all things under his hand and caused all the atrocities done not only in the legendary land of Hyrule but to all living creatures; a Will that stopped before nothing and esteemed no mean so insignificant to achieve his goals; a Being who with his darkened spirit brought Chaos, Sorrow, Hatred, War, Loss, and Pain; the Dark Clouds, the Great King of Evil, the Incarnation of Darkness: Ganondorf Dragmire, the sole son of Man who obtained the Power of the Gods through the sacred relic known as the Triforce. He was a Man born in hardships, hardened beneath the scorching sun, punished by the freezing night, and strengthened in the Dark Arts. He grew up mightier than any other known man before, possessed an evil but terribly cunning mind, ears that heard to no one but his own Voice, and a corrupted heart with love for no one but himself. Yet, in his strive to become all-powerful and rule the cosmos, he brought forth his Doom and awoke the only One with a Destiny strong enough to undo his deeds and cast away him into oblivion. The Hero known as Link. But Ganondorf, consumed in humiliation and maddened by his hatred towards the Hero, released all the Power conferred to him until he exposed his true essence, leaving behind any humanity left in him, and becoming the Immortal Enemy and the most fearsome of the servants of Evil: Mandrag Ganon. Though the Hero defeated his Nemesis, the story does not ends there and continues along almost all the chapters of the Legend, giving us to understand that the Ganondorf that appears from the Beginning to the End of the Legend is the same Ganondorf but what was the True Destiny of Ganondorf and what happened to him at the End remains still in darkness.

In Ocarina of Time
Legend goes among the Gerudo that every hundred years a sole man is born among them and the child by right shall become the King of Thieves. The first chapter of the Legend, Ocarina of Time, tells us that Ganondorf was that man when the Hero set forward his Destiny. Born among the Gerudo, a human race consisting of virtually only women, most of his past is unknown. His only known parents were the Twinrova, the witches Koume and Kotake, who became the surrogate mothers of Ganondorf. Though his age is also unknown, it's probable that Ganondorf was quite old, taking on account the fact that his tutors by the time of Ocarina of Time were almost 400-years-old, this surely achieved through their magic since humans barely reach the centennial age. He was a well accomplished man in the ways of war and battle and his swordsmanship skills along with his dark powers were simply astonishing and he held great power within him, making him a probable and important participant in the Civil Wars that preceded not far from the events in Ocarina of Time as a way to conquer other lands and increase his domain and it's likely in that time that he discovered about the legends of a divine relic said to grant any wish. Ganondorf had plotted to conquer Hyrule from the beginning, since it was a beautiful and prosperous land rich in life, so he became a resolute menace in acquiring that land for himself before anything, but as the War waned, it was clear to him he would not achieve his goal through the strength of armies. That's when he turned his face towards the legends of the Triforce. As the new King of Hyrule ended the War with a truce among the races, Ganondorf saw his opportunity and he soon became an ally and servant of the Kingdom of Hyrule. Studying diligently all the legends, stories and folklore concerning the Triforce not only among the Hylians but within the races around Hyrule and discovering and studying many significant places and buildings, Ganondorf found out the legends were true.

Wasting no time, silently Ganondorf began to search for the artifacts needed to gain entrance to the Sacred Realm where the Triforce remained since the Goddesses created the world. He had found that the Temple of Time in Hyrule City was the entrance to this holiest of realms but he had to open the Door of Time, a massive stone wall impenetrable to any creature, and in order to do this he had to gather three Spiritual Stones watched over by the Kokiri, the Gorons, and the Zora. But among these ones, the most important artifact was the Ocarina of Time, watched over by the Royal Family of Hyrule. But soon Ganondorf found out many obstacles on his path, as the races showed themselves stubborn into handing to Ganondorf their precious stones, apart from having difficulties finding the royal member who had the Ocarina. Ganondorf tried to deceived them, threaten them and even kill them but was to no use, until his Luck came out of the forest in the figure of a boy. He first met the Boy when he found him sneaking through a window of Hyrule Castle but he didn't gave much care as he had still to find out who had the Ocarina of Time. After some days, he discovered the young Princess of Hyrule, Zelda, was the person he was looking for, but when this happened Zelda escaped from the castle with the help of her guardian, the Sheikah Impa, which forced Ganondorf to chase her. Just as Ganondorf came out of the city walls, cursing the fact the Princess had escaped from him, he found the Boy, this same Boy he had seen before. Just as his eyes met the Boy's eyes, something arose within his mind. He demanded him to tell him where the white horse went but seeing the Boy was reluctant to say any word and even prompt to fight him, Ganondorf, laughing, gave him an example of his terrible power and before galloping away, declared to Link: "Pathetic little fool! Do you realize who you are dealing with?! I am Ganondorf! And soon, I will rule the world!" Just as Ganondorf was out of sight, the Boy stood up and went directly to the Temple of Time. Surprisingly, this Boy, known as Link, had the three Spiritual Stones and even the Ocarina of Time that Ganondorf coveted so much. After playing a mystical song, known as the Song of Time, on the Ocarina, finally the Door of Time was open. As Link approached the place he saw what Zelda had told him before was the Pedestal of Time and inlaid in it, remained quietly the mythical blade of legends, the Master Sword. Link had come to this place to protect the Triforce from Ganondorf but as he pulled out the sacred sword something unexpected happened. The Sword suddenly sealed Link with its power and just on the last moments of consciousness, Link saw a horrible figure: Ganondorf. He had followed Link into the Temple of Time just to see his suspicions were correct and finally, as the Sword sealed Link, Ganondorf told him in a roaring laughter: "Excellent work! As I thought, you held the keys to the Door of Time! You have led me to the gates of the Sacred Realm...Yes, I owe it all to you, kid!" And so, Ganondorf finally went to the Sacred Realm to obtain his precious trophy, the Triforce, and get his wish granted. He stood before the Triforce in the middle of the Sacred Realm. He touched It gently with his hand and wished: "I want the Power to rule the Cosmos". And Ganondorf got what he wanted and the Sacred Realm became the Dark Realm, a world full of corruption and evil. But among the Hylian Lore kept by the shadow folk, the Sheikah, Ganondorf forgot a very important one. It was told that only a Heart that had in balance the three Virtues, Power, Wisdom, and Courage, would gain the True Force. But as Ganondorf hoped to acquire the True Force, since his heart was not in balance the Triforce split up into the three Pieces that shaped It and two of those Pieces went away. Only the Triforce of Power remained in his hand. After this, Ganondorf came back and conquered all the land of Hyrule with seemingly no effort, becoming in the entire world as The Great King of Evil. But nothing could quench his thirst for Absolute Power. He was determined to obtain this True Force.

For seven years, while Link remained sleeping in the Sacred Realm, Ganondorf sent out his minions to find those persons who hold the other Triforce Pieces. It didn't passed much time after he realized that Princess Zelda was one of those holders he sought out. But for seven years he found no trace of Zelda and neither the holder of the other Piece. But one day, Luck went on his favor again. He got aware that finally Link had awakened but not only that. Link now wielded the powerful Master Sword, the Sword spoken very little of in the Ancient Lore. Ganondorf then realized that Link must be the Hero of Time spoken in the legends, the Hero that was supposed would bring Light when the world had fallen into the Darkness. And then, arising on his mind another suspicion and knowing the fate of the Hero of Time, he let Link continue his path, guided by that mysterious, young Sheikah, Sheik. He knew Link would come after him eventually, and he watched as Link chased away the evil inside the temples across Hyrule. After Link received all the Medallions from the Sages, as a proof of his success in awakening the Sages, he sought after Ganondorf in his castle. But he first was summoned by Rauru, the Sage of Light to go the Temple of Time to meet someone very important. There he found Sheik waiting for him but suddenly, a golden light shone on his hand and revealed himself. It was actually Princess Zelda, who had disguised herself as man to fool Ganondorf from seizing her. She declared to Link Ganondorf's ambition for the True Force and that both of them were the two holders Ganondorf was pursuing to achieve this. She then asked Link to protect her as she would help him defeat Ganondorf once and for all and seal him away in the Dark Realm forever, but still was the word in her tongue when the Temple began to tremble and magic suddenly came from nowhere and trapped her, without her or Link being able to do something. Then a voice resounded within the walls of the Temple that froze Link's and Zelda's blood. Ganondorf had finally found what he had looked for all this seven years. He mock at Zelda's pretentious scheme to fool him: "Princess Zelda...you foolish traitor! I commend you for avoiding my pursuit for seven long years. But you let your guard down...I knew you would appear if I let this kid wander around! My only mistake was to slightly underestimate the power of this kid...No...It was not the kid's power I misjudged, it was the power of the Triforce of Courage! But, with the Triforce of Wisdom that Zelda has...When I obtain these two Triforces...Then, I will become the true ruler of the world!!" And after taking away Zelda, Ganondorf mocked at Link and told him to come to his floating fortress and save Zelda.....if he dared.

But Link didn't thought about it a second time and penetrated the castle and climbed up Ganon's Tower until he reached the top, while listening to a wicked melody. After entering the room Link saw Zelda trapped as Ganondorf played in his organ. Then, the music stopped, and Ganondorf, straightening himself up, said as if he were alone: "The Triforce parts are resonating...They are combining into one again...The two Triforce parts that I could not capture on that day seven years ago...I didn't expect they would be hidden within you two! [snigger] And now, finally, all the Triforce parts have gathered here!" And, turning menacingly towards Link, demanded: "These toys are too much for you! I command you to return them to me!" And showing him his fist, a golden emblem of the Triforce shone in his hand, with the upper triangle of the emblem shining stronger, overwhelming Link with his Dark Power. The proof that Ganondorf was the holder of the Triforce of Power. He was the Forger of Power. And thus began the battle between the Great King of Evil and the Hero of Time.

Strategy: The battle against Ganondorf is not that difficult though he might cause some damage if you're not careful. Navi won't assist you this time so there won't be any Z/L-targeting on Ganondorf. Just as the battle begins Ganondorf will start his attack by hovering over and hitting the floor with a shockwave, causing not only some blocks to fall (creating a "pit" around the main pillar that serves as the battlefield center) but hurting you as well if you're not quick enough to move further away. If you get hit by it and/or fall by accident into the pit, don't panic. You'll end up again in a floor previous to the stairs that led you to Ganon's room which has some jars that may contain magic jars, arrows or hearts. Supply yourself if the need arises and use the "steps" on the central pillar to get back to the fight (it's best to use the Longshot on the top "steps" to get back quicker, since Ganondorf will do another shockwave once you're on the top that will surely throw you back down again if you're not fast enough to avoid it). Ganondorf will attack you with his shockwave if you get near and two magic attacks if you're far. Also he will protect himself with his cape if you try to hit him with any type of arrow. The way to defeat Ganondorf, however, is pretty much the same as it was with Phantom Ganon. Once after the first attack he'll assault you by throwing a magic ball that you just have to be quick to reflect at him until it hits him and leaves him numb onto the floor, then get near him and use the Master Sword on him (this is the only time were you get the chance to Z/L-target him). After some blows, Ganondorf will execute his second magic attack, which consists in gathering magic into one big sphere and then releasing it into several magic balls that you won't be able to counter. Before he achieves this, use a Light Arrow to numb him and leave him open for another attack. Repeat it until you defeat him (a way to know how near are you from defeating him is to watch his cape, the more it looks torn the less life he has).

Soon the battle was over. Link was the victor. Ganondorf, then, grumbled as he spat blood: "The Great Evil King Ganondorf...beaten by this kid?! Link....!" And suddenly, consumed by a raging hatred, with his last breath released what was left of his power. The room was destroyed but Link and Zelda were safe. But unfortunately for Link and Zelda, Ganondorf didn't just destroyed the room but the foundations of the castle and soon it began to collapse. So overwhelming was this fortress, so terrible was its ruin but Link and Zelda managed to escape. But an angered pride refused to give up and be humiliated and from the rubble, Ganondorf arose in wrath, Link and Zelda shocked by this as they have thought Ganondorf was done for when the castle fell down. With eyes burning in anger and showing them the golden symbol on his hand for a last time, Ganondorf twisted all his power to the limit. And thus Ganon was born. Wielding two massive blades, Ganon prepared himself to destroy Link and with just one blow, Link lose from his hand the only weapon capable of defeating Ganon, the Master Sword. Fighting with all he had at hand, Link managed to survive but he soon realized that Ganon's fury was waning no inch. But, in a strike of luck, Link delivered Ganon a hit that gave him the enough time to recover the Master Sword with Zelda's help. Now Ganon was receiving real pain but his wrath just kept growing and growing until Zelda intervened with her power as the Sage of the Triforce and the Keeper of Wisdom, the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom, and contained Ganon with her might so that Link would deliver the final blow on him. And so Ganon, twisting in pain and hatred, was finally sealed by the Seven Sages, as they clamored to the Creators of Hyrule, inside the Evil Realm with nowhere to escape. But, as he faded into the darkness he had created, he sentenced: "YOU...CURSE YOU...ZELDA! CURSE YOU...SAGES!! CURSE YOU...LINK! Someday...When this seal is broken....That is when I will exterminate your descendants!! As long as the Triforce of Power is in my hand...." And Ganondorf disappeared into the void.

In The Wind Waker
There's an old legend brought by the wind's pitiful howl that told that ''long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. It was a prosperous land blessed with green forests, tall mountains, and peace. But one day, a man of great evil found this power and took it for himself... This man of great evil'' that the legend talks about is no other than Ganondorf Dragmire, the warlock by whom the events on the chapter of Ocarina of Time took place. ''With its strength at his command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then...just when all hope had died, and the hour of doom seemed at hand...a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding the blade of evil's bane, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light. This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until it became legend... This last part that refers to Ocarina of Time'' is about the young, green-clothed Hero, Link, who, wielding the mythical Master Sword as proof of his Fate, defeated the Man clad in Black and brought down his kingdom of darkness, this with the aid of the Royal Family's artifact, the Ocarina of Time, the item who helped the Hero to travel through Time. However, the Hero didn't stood on his homeland for long, for he went on a quest to find a dear friend whom he parted ways after Ganondorf's defeat. ''But then...a day came when a fell wind began to blow across the kingdom. The great evil that all thought had been forever sealed away by the hero...once again crept forth from the depths of the earth, eager to resume its dark designs.'' Probably after regaining enough strength, Ganondorf broke the Seal of the Sages and began again his schemes of conquering Hyrule. The people believed that the Hero of Time would again come to save them....But the hero did not appear... Perhaps, it is possible that in hoping that the Hero would save them again, the people only awaited for the Hero's arrival. The only thing known is that, however, the Hero never return from his journey. And so, perhaps, when finally the people began to fight back, it was too late. One thing that is not clear is how much time passed from the Hero's departure till Ganondorf's return. ''Faced by an onslaught of evil, the people could do nothing but appeal to the gods. In their last hour, as doom drew nigh, they left their future in the hands of fate...'' Whatever the reason, it is only known that, as inferred from King Daphness, they did (or did not) something that costed all of them to sacrifice their land in order to contain Ganondorf's terrible might. So when the Sages of the Earth and the Wind, conducted by the bearer of the Wind Waker, prayed to the Gods, the only choice, it seems, was to seal Hyrule under a great Flood. And the World was buried within a torrential downpour of rains from the heavens as well. ''What became of that kingdom...? None remain who know.'' Yet all was not lost. For the Gods knew that to seal the people away with the kingdom would be to grant Ganon's wish for the destruction of the land. So, before the sealing of the kingdom, the Gods chose those who would build a new country and commanded them to take refuge on the mountaintops. As the remaining people strove to reach the higher, safer places of the mountain ranges only worried for their survival and of their dear ones, so they left their kingdom forgotten at the bottom of the ocean. And thus, the centuries passed by, like the Wind's flow. Nevertheless, the memory of the kingdom vanished, but its legend survived on the wind's breath.

As if it hadn't been enough unfortunate, Ganondorf managed to escape from his sealed castle underwater one more time, after ages of imprisonment, using a portal of darkness he had finally achieved to create but not without a cost, for the Seal of the Gods did not failed at all; Ganondorf seep into the world above without his whole power. Emerging from beneath the waves, Ganondorf began to act quickly into restoring his former power by, again, looking out for the holders of the Triforce parts of Wisdom and Courage. He gathered minions and monsters little by little and sent them all over the flooded world to find those holders; they were to find girls with pointed ears, since Ganondorf had more hope into finding the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom than of the Triforce of Courage. With that, he thought to himself, he would have the enough strength to break the seal and release his power. Also, he little by little began to gain more magic power as when he was a mere wizard from the desert before acquiring the Triforce of Power; and even more he hadn't lost at all his battle mastery of the sword. He still had the fierce figure of a red-haired man with dark skin, but now had a quite bulging chest and a neat delicate overcoat instead of his old, black, Gerudo armor. The place where Ganondorf first surfaced was a building built over the rock that long ago served as the hideout of a no-good group of pirates (according to Tetra) that used to compete with Tetra's pirates. However, by that time it was deserted and Ganondorf secretly occupied it and turned it into a sinister, well-protected place known as the Forsaken Fortress. From there Ganondorf commanded all his plans.

One night, as the moon shone high in the sky, a ship showed up among the waves of the Great Sea until it stopped and hid in a crag nearby the Forsaken Fortress. Inside the ship, very uneasy stood Link, a young boy that had come all the way from Outset Island in the southern seas. The vessel belonged to a pirate girl by the name of Tetra and her loyal crew. Tetra had come to this place, much to her displeasure, for she had accepted previously in Outset Island to help Link rescue his sister Aryll, who was held captive inside the Forsaken Fortress, because it was Tetra's fault (or so Quill, the Rito postman, said) that Aryll had been kidnapped by that huge, monstrous bird, after an accident in Outset Island, since the monster mistook Aryll for Tetra (for they both shared pointed ears) when the monster bird attempted to bring a captured Tetra to the Forsaken Fortress. After an not-so-graceful entry into the fortress, thanks to the pirates, Link began to search for Aryll's whereabouts. Finally, and with a little help of Tetra through a magic stone called the Pirate's Charm, Link reached the top of the tower were Aryll remained imprisoned. Link and Aryll's joy to see each other was soon, however, spoiled, as the Helmaroc King, the monster bird that had kidnapped Aryll, appeared from an open ceiling above and landed heavily before Link. Without being able to do much against it, Link soon found himself trapped within the bird's giant beak. But instead of eating him, the bird flew through the ceiling and, surrounding the tower, hovered before a wooden platform that served as a balcony. In it, Link barely notice a dark figure. Without Link knowing it for now, that man was Ganondorf. Ganon stood calmed as if not noticing the presence of his minion and the intruder it had seized. Then he moved his head and the bird, as if it had understood, with a smooth head move, threw Link amazingly miles and miles away into the eastern seas.

It is never said if the Link in this game is the Hero of Time's descendant, but what we do know is that Tetra is actually Zelda's descendant.

Link goes on a quest to find all these shards. The Triforce of Courage joins Link and the Triforce of Wisdom is already with Tetra, as she is the true descendant. In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link's sister Aryll is kidnapped by a giant bird called the Helmaroc, one of Ganon's main minions. This causes Link to have a hatred for the evil man. Ganon searches for the hidden Triforce's, and when he does find them he realises he is sent flying back into the Sacred Realm yet again, after Link finishes him. He fades out saying...

"Heh...heh...The wind...It is blowing..."

In Twilight Princess
It has been confirmed that Ganon, along with Princess Zelda, will make an appearance in Twilight Princess, and that his connection with the Triforce of Power will have something to do with the events in the game. Wether he is the chief foe, or just on the sidelines, has yet to be revealed, however.