Spoiler What the Hell Happened at the End of Twilight Princess?

[PapilioTempesta]

When I ended TP for the second time (the first one I was all like "where are you going, Midna, you and Link are made for each other!!!", so not really focused...), well, I realised there where many things unexplained or that I didn't understand:

- Why does Zant appear in the middle of the battle?
- Ganodorf dies at the end? (I think so, but you never know with him¬¬)
- What happens to Zant? Is he dead, or in twili prison, or forgiven...?
- Why Midna recovers her true form? And hadn't Ganodorf killed her, or injuerd her in some way?
- How will Zelda and Link get out of the prision and the desert if they can't warp without Midna?

I've heard a few versions of the story, and I'd like to know if there's something official about this, or what. Any ideas?

Thank you so much!

 

[Justac00lguy]

Why does Zant appear in the middle of the battle?

The whole Zant snapping his neck was in my opinion a symbolism, Zant was still very much apart of Ganondorf since he housed his power within him. I think the whole neck snapping was a sign that the last of Ganondorf's power was indeed gone, it's as if Zant symbolised the last of his powers ironically going against Ganondorf and thus killing him.

Ganodorf dies at the end (I think so, but you never know with him¬¬)

He returns in the game Four Swords Adventures which in the chronological Timeline takes place after Twilight Princess.

What happens to Zant? Is he dead, or in twili prison, or forgiven?

I think he is very much dead, as I said earlier the scene where he snapped his neck was more of a symbolism, Midna used an ancient and quite frankly a great power to kill a weak Zant, as Ganondorf was reborn in the Light World during his death.

Why Midna recovers her true form? And hadn't Ganodorf killed her, or injuerd her in some way?

Ganondorf was seen clenching the Fused Shadows, this could have been a sign that she was dead, like perceived by many however in my opinion she was just gravely injured. The Light Spirits revived Midna and ultimately returned her to her true form, this could be due to the death of Ganondorf as Zant seemed to reference as long as his master lives she shall never return to her true form, due to the curse set on her by Zant originally.

How will Zelda and Link get out of the prision*and*the desert if they can't warp without Midna?

Lol I've actually never thought about this but this is Princess Zelda, she has shown powers before to teleport, remember the scene in the Horseback boss battle, Ganondorf was rushing at the two but she teleporting the two out of harms way.

 

[Azure Sage]

Yes, Ganon injured her, and broke her fused shadow. If you remember, Ganon turned her into an imp or whatever she is, so that he could become King of the Twili, when Midna was rightfully the leader. But when Link killed Ganon, the spell was broken, and Midna turned into her true form, fully healed and whatever. Then she went back to the Twili and resumed her place as Princess.

No, that was Zant. Zant is the one who turned her into an imp so he could become ruler of the Twili, which is how he usurped the throne. But he did it using Ganondorf's magic, which is why she returns to normal after Ganondorf is defeated. Anyway, on to the questions at hand:

- Why does Zant appear in the middle of the battle?

I don't think ANYONE knows what that was about.

- What happens to Zant? Is he dead, or in twili prison, or forgiven?

He's basically dead. Midna blew him to pieces after the boss battle against him, remember? You could say that when he appears in the battle, it's just his ghost. But that scene was extremely confusing anyway, so who knows.

- Why Midna recovers her true form? And hadn't Ganodorf killed her, or injuerd her in some way?

Refer to what I said in response to Yuki Cross.

- How will Zelda and Link get out of the prision and the desert if they can't warp without Midna?

I assume they just leave normally, and you're simply restricted from leaving normally during gameplay.

 

[HylianHero]

Why does Zant appear in the middle of the battle?

He doesn't. He appears at the end, when Ganondorf dies. His neck,at the exact moment Ganondorf dies, snaps, indicating that Ganondorf can no longer resurrect him as Zant said he could shortly before his death.

Ganodorf dies at the end (I think so, but you never know with him¬¬)

At the end of the battle, the Triforce of Power leaves Ganondorf. Because it left him, he can no longer use it to prevent his death and he dies.

What happens to Zant? Is he dead, or in twili prison, or forgiven?

If you remember, he was killed by Midna at the end of the Palace of Twilight. Like I said, his appearance at the end of the battle only signifies he is no longer going to be resurrected by Ganondorf.

Why Midna recovers her true form? And hadn't Ganodorf killed her, or injuerd her in some way?

Yes, it was heavily implied that Ganondorf had killed her after the second phase of the battle. But at the end, her curse is broken by Ganondorf's death and I am assuming she was in fact not dead, merely wounded and left for dead by Ganondorf. Zant had cursed her using the power given to him by Ganondorf, so it was not his death but Ganondorf's that brought about the end of the curse.

How will Zelda and Link get out of the prision and the desert if they can't warp without Midna?

I don't know. I guess now that Zelda has control of Hyrule she can employ someone to help them get out.

And Yuki Cross, I'm sorry, but I have no idea where you could have possibly gotten those answers from.

EDIT: whoa a lot of people replied while I was writing this!

 

[Castle]

Of course, first and foremost the official disclaimer: Nothing about the narrative in a Nintendo title should be expected to make sense.

Now that we've gotten that business over with.

Presumably the pact between Zant and Ganondorf that keeps Ganondorf living beyond the Twilight Realm is dependent on Zant's existence. Of course, as you said (and as we'll get to later) it is unclear what exactly Zant does or what it means for Ganondorf but presumably it means the pact between them is broken. It appears as though Zant somehow snaps his own neck, which by any shred of sense would mean his death. What that means for Ganondorf, however, is unclear.

... because it is never really shown. Link nails him and he just sort of screams endlessly and stands there until the scene fades out. He never even collapses. Is he dead? Good question.

Zant appears to snap his neck somehow. Does this mean he kills himself? Well, in a world that makes sense yes, but this is Nintendo. So ... anyone's guess is as good as mine.

Midna's true form is restored because Ganondorf and Zant are defeated/dead. Zant's powers derived from Ganondorf so with each of them defeated somehow Zant's power over Midna is dispelled. Yes Ganondorf appears to slay Midna. The entire castle comes down around her and she'd be hard pressed to escape in such time. Then again Ganondorf suddenly appears in the middle of Hyrule Field just moments afterwards so if he can mosey out why not her? He is just seen holding her helmet, so maybe he wasn't even sure if he killed her and just held up her helmet to try to psyche Link out?

LOL that last one's a good question! Let's presume there is some secret way we aren't aware of throughout the game or maybe an escort arrives somehow .... IDK, just use your imagination. Anything will suffice

Another thing that gets me is that Zelda sacrifices her life/light/essence/soul/something to save Midna and yet there she is with Ganondorf again in the end there. Asleep but right as rain. So she doesn't die and how she ends up with Ganondorf is anyone's guess. :S

 

[PapilioTempesta]

Thank you guys! Your comments made it a bit clearer, and you gave me some fine ideas for my fanfic (extra propaganda: The Shadow Within Check it! )

And now you've mentioned the castle, I've thought on a new strange question! But it has nothing to do with this thread, so I'll post it in a new one.

Thanks again! ^^