TWILIGHT PRINCESS NOVEL FINALE
Get the scoop on what's to come when "the end begins" on Nov 7, 2012
There are only a few days left until the release of the Twilight Princess Novel finale (chapters 45-48+Epilogue), and we know we can’t be the only ones counting down the days until Link’s last battle with Ganondorf. To get everyone even more pumped, and to satisfy some curiosity, we sent Stephonika some questions about her work on the Finale and what we might expect to see, and following the article is an excerpt exclusive to this site!
WARNING (Some of her answers may contain spoilers for those that have not played the game, so please read at your own risk!)
WARNING (Some of her answers may contain spoilers for those that have not played the game, so please read at your own risk!)
TPON: We left off on a very intense note from the last chapter, and it’s been hard to wait so long to see the conclusion. How has the wait been for you, especially having written the chapter at least a month ago without releasing it until the 7th?
KAYE: I know! I still feel so awful at having left everyone with Link “at the edge of the world.” I know people are excited to see how Link and Ganondorf face off, and that chapter was a thrill to write. Ganondorf has always been my favourite character, and it’s been maddening to wait so long to see what people think.
What kind of things can we look forward to in the final showdown?
Well, I don’t want to spoil it. It’s a great chapter, and I’m really proud of it. It was fun to arrange. I studied the game, and Ganondorf AND Link’s technique closely with video aid, and I was able to fit in all the major moves and little ticks of each character, I think. The way Ganondorf kicks, or the way he re-balances himself after getting hit in the game. I was able to stick it all in there. I’m really proud of the “chance” moments, where the two lock blades. It was like having to write Zelda and her arrow misses and hits. How often is too often? Striking the balance of how many “chances” to throw in and in different ways was both fun and challenging. There are also some things in the battle that I threw in that are nowhere in the game version and are some of the tensest moments of the chapter, and my personal favourites. Also, I’m pretty happy with having set up such a large scale battle. It’s not just about Link and Ganondorf anymore. The Hylians are fighting Zant’s army, and including him and everyone in this big culmination was just amazing! It’s amazing to see all these people in the same place, and it really gives a better sense of the scope that this is Hyrule’s last stand against Evil. In the game, you know Zelda is watching the showdown, but you never know what she’s thinking or feeling watching them, so that was thrilling to expand upon. I’m excited!
In the game, we never know what’s happened to Ganondorf after the battle or the whole deal with Zant. Do you go into more detail about those things?
The whole thing about Zant is that I think Nintendo’s intention with the cinematic was misinterpreted by a lot of people because they showed Zant dying FIRST. My argument has always been that we see Zant dying first because seeing Ganondorf, the main villain, die after him would be anticlimactic, and they were showing us that Ganondorf was, in fact, actually dying for real and to press that fact, they showed that Zant was indeed dead, who would only live as long as his “god” was around. People who argue that Zant killed Ganondorf or didn’t allow him back into the Twilight to save himself, I personally think are wrong, but an opinion and interpretation are just that. An opinion. I tackled these moments carefully, with that in mind, to try to better explain what happened there, and I think it will make perfect sense, and I truly believe that this is what Nintendo was trying to relate to us. This just goes to show the difficulty of having to deal with two big villains in one story. Which takes precedence?
As far as what happens to Ganondorf’s body? Well, that was a fine line, and I approached it carefully…. I think readers will appreciate the way I handled that delicate matter because that would be a big moment.
As far as what happens to Ganondorf’s body? Well, that was a fine line, and I approached it carefully…. I think readers will appreciate the way I handled that delicate matter because that would be a big moment.
There are a lot of iconic moments in the end of the game, like Ganondorf dying standing up, the reveal of Midna, and the Mirror Chamber sequence. A lot of people are looking forward to moments like these. How did you tackle those?
It’s always important to know which moments are the most iconic and to know how much leverage you have with your creative license when it comes to stuff like this, and it was definitely in the back of my mind. Writing Ganondorf’s death scene was an intense moment for me because he will always be my favourite character, so I just leaned on that in order to do justice to him and the way he was portrayed in the game. Dying standing up is definitely something, and the image conveys a lot of meaning and a lot of character about him, but I’m not comfortable revealing if I did or didn’t stick to it 100% right now. As for the iconic Midna moments … they were pretty tough, especially the reveal. Describing her was a battle because again it was the ‘how much is too much’ problem, so I can only hope that I did that justice, and if not, I have readers that are amazing and give great feedback. I mean, it was because of their outcry that I changed King Bulblin’s whole bit, so I’m thankful for them. And the Mirror Chamber…? Well, that gets you every time, doesn’t it? It’s a moment, that’s for sure, and I was a little bit emotional writing it and all the parts leading up to it.
There has been quite a lot of extended scenes in your adaptation. Are there any scenes that you can share with us? Anything you added that you can reveal now?
Hmm…. The funny thing is that with how I restructured the end, with the whole evacuation and the armies fighting, it created the need for a lot more resolution than the game had, more loose ends to string together. I will say that you see the wounded Hylians afterward being tended to and everyone preparing to go home, final goodbyes are said for this, that and the other character, and some stick together, and some get bigger moments than they had in the game. Renado has a nice moment in one chapter, and Link and Ashei finally agree to disagree as it were. There is also a scene I’m most proud of with Link and Zelda, a couple actually, that give promise that a relationship COULD flourish between them. I thought that was important for all the Zelinkers out there, and in that, Ilia and Midna both have their resolutions that hint at possibilities of what they might truly feel. But, yeah, there is quite a bit of new material, or extended material, I guess, to give due justice to the small but meaningful moments in the game. I felt a little weird at times, to be honest, because sometimes writing so much new and expanded material made me feel a little uncomfortable because it felt like writing straight fan-fiction.
Will there be an alternate ending? Or will Link pursue a relationship in your actual adaptation?
Going off what I said with the previous question, I think it’s important to keep something like that implied rather than direct. That’s something I was clear about from the get-go on this project. I think all the readers know I tend toward a Milink shipping, but to respect all shippers out there and to give justice to the game and the relationships, it’s left pretty open-ended. There is room left for expansion if a sequel was ever made and sets things up so that Link could go down any of those avenues. I think fans will be pleased with the way it unfolds and how each relationship ends but also remains a possibility. I wanted to make sure to get that right. As far as an alternate ending, separate from the whole, well, I’m just concerned with finishing it right now.
Why is Chapter 48’s title undisclosed? “Unleash the Beast” was undisclosed for a long while, but that was because you weren’t sure what to title it, right? Is that the reason here?
Well, no. Yes, that was the reason for 42’s secrecy, but for 48, I don’t want to disclose the title because the title would give away a bit of what I’m doing in that chapter. I mean, yeah, the title moment in the chapter is in the game and you’d expect it, but it just seems that some of the magic of the chapter would be lost if you knew what was coming and when. It’s a moment I feel like a lot of people, based on the title, would think would end up in the epilogue, so … I dunno. I guess it’s a little silly cause if it were an actual book, you’d be able to see all the chapter titles anyway, but, meh, it’s online, and I can tackle it however I choose. ^_^
People have different opinions as to where Link is headed in the end. Does your Link have a specific place he’s headed or is it left open-ended?
…My lips are sealed.
What’s the sex of Uli’s baby?!
That’s a funny question. I’ll only say that I think it should be obvious by the colour of the blanket (for those that have played it), but do I explain this in the novel or even give it a name? You’ll have to wait and see.
Lastly, what has been the best thing about finally writing the last parts of the novel?
Oh, boy. Well, the whole experience has been totally bittersweet. I know that while I’m finishing something awesome, I’ll have total postpartum depression because it’s been a part of my life, sitting down and writing and escaping to Hyrule, for 5 ½ years now. Almost 6! But I’ve never felt more proud when looking at this huge work of art and all the hours I’ve put into it. The best part is that fans of the games and others, too, have enjoyed it and are excited for the ending, so I think that will be the best part absolutely. The readers have always been the best part, sharing it with people who love the same thing I do. To that, it’s not really coming to an end because I get new readers consistently, which I think will only continue when it’s complete because people will see and know it’s not just another unfinished fan-fiction that’ll leave them hanging forever.
But seriously … postpartum. I feel it coming already because I only have the epilogue to finish now.
But seriously … postpartum. I feel it coming already because I only have the epilogue to finish now.
TPON EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT FROM CH.45 “THE POWER OF COURAGE”
The weight of Ganondorf’s attacks forced Link to give ground, continually backing as he parried. He did not take his eyes from his enemy as he fought, but when his heightened senses detected a surge in the current behind him, he glanced back. In that moment he felt the energy of the barrier humming against his clothes. Even meters away, it scratched at him, hungering to rip him apart. When Link turned back, the king’s crown glinted through rain-soaked, unkempt tendrils of crimson hair. The curls of his mane had long been washed out, pulling his strands longer to stick to his cheeks and neck. It was then, looking beyond their clanking blades and into the eyes of the devil that Link saw the renewed glee.
Under the pressing attack of Ganondorf, his only avenue of escape was to be consumed in the current of the barrier. Link cursed himself for falling into the ruse just as he blocked another strike and felt the heavy boot of his enemy knock him back. Unbalanced and arms flailing, he was open to attack.
He felt the vicious, scalding sting of the sage-blade cut along his left shoulder.
Under the pressing attack of Ganondorf, his only avenue of escape was to be consumed in the current of the barrier. Link cursed himself for falling into the ruse just as he blocked another strike and felt the heavy boot of his enemy knock him back. Unbalanced and arms flailing, he was open to attack.
He felt the vicious, scalding sting of the sage-blade cut along his left shoulder.
Have some predictions about what we'll see in the adaptation of the finale? Or have a question of your own about the final 5 chapters?
Join the discussion on the FORUM and get your answers from Stephonika!
Join the discussion on the FORUM and get your answers from Stephonika!