Bane of Evil: Partie Trois

Wind Waker presents my favorite "story" to the Master Sword. In many respects the story is similar to that of Ocarina of Time: "-You are not strong enough, so collect these items and get the Master Sword!" At first this tale is strikingly the same, even to the point of the Master Sword being pulled out awakens a legion of monsters. Though the castle transforming from black and white to color was indeed a very cool touch. When Link tries to slay Ganondorf with one fell swoop he fails, leading Ganondorf to scoff at the blade. The ability to defeat evil was seemingly revoked. At this point in the game, the blade's appearance does not fit its archetypal stature as shown in Ocarina of Time: the hilt is not straight. It is bent inwards and pointing up, reflecting a state of rest or perhaps that of a coma. The Master Sword seems to sleep.

If the blade itself is not alive, then perhaps the lives of its two sages give it life of some kind. Laruto and Fado, who prayed night and day for the blade, were slain by Ganondorf; their deaths led to the Master Sword entering an inactive state. The Master Sword has lost its two sages and has lost its might ability to defeat evil due to their prayers giving it strength. At the same time if the Master Sword is a being then it must feel an even greater emptiness due to being utterly dulled and nearly killed. At the same time the blade, like its sages, endures, even in the semblance of death; the sages are dead but they endure as spirits, as does the Master Sword in its current state. it remains the living bane of evil, a benign being with consciousness. If it is indeed conscious as I imply then consider the great pain it and its sages went through at the hands of Ganondorf; he revoked the blade's purpose and inhibited its consciousness. The character finds the Master Sword sleeping but has no idea that the blade has been violently silenced. Veritably the game becomes about restoring the sword's life and awakening new sages.

This idea of the Master Sword having life is a very satisfying answer to my question. Through its many difficulties the Master Sword has handled adversity at the great costs listed above. Link goes to great lengths to  restore its strength and in the process the hilt opens up to its former glory. With the bane of evil Link traverses Ganon's Tower, using the bane of evil to strike down many of the villain's minions. He makes his way to Ganondorf whom he fights. In a finishing blow the Master Sword is embedded in Ganondorf's head; it returns to a rest - this time serene - as the water pours in. After many years of life the blade sleeps for eternity; the Master Sword dies in simultaneous anxiety and serenity as it seals Ganondorf away.

Down, down, down,
the water fell, slowly filling up the tomb,
where the old began to fall asleep as if their eyes closed slowly;
in their land they met their myriad of roles:
a duo that drowned for Hyrule, and one who drowned to capture it.

Together they drowned, resting forever with Hyrule,
where their old spirits departed their earthly bonds, bereft of their keen consciousness,
amidst bittersweet torrents.