Author Notes: So I don't own any of The Zelda characters all rights reserve to their creators.
Description: Hyrule has been invaded by a mercenary force commanded by Ganondorf. The kingdom of Hyrule now is thrust into violence against the remaining army of Hyrule and the mercenary companies of Ganondorf. Link the young hero is thrust into a power struggle for the throne can he come out alive or will he fall to ash like so many warriors on the battlefield.
The sun peeked over the treetops. The green landscape of Hyrule looked welcoming to anyone's eyes. It was a beautiful country in all rights.
However many people didn't see it the same these days. Six months already passed sense the invading mercenaries under the command of Ganondorf took north Hyrule for himself. And now the south was slowly falling in the hands of the foreigners and monsters that accompanied them.
Boots clashed on the ground as a young man crashed his way through the forest. He came bursting out of the tree line. The sun slammed into his sweat covered face. He spun around drawing his sword from his back.
Moments later a man wielding an ax and shield crashed through the forest right behind him. He wore a plan leather cuirass with an iron helm.
He struck out at the young man.
The young man blocked the strike with his shield and dropped to one knee stabbing out with his broadsword. The blade sunk into the mercenary's defenseless right thigh.
The mercenary stumbled back with a cry.
The young warrior pressed on striking with his sword at the mercenary.
His enemy made a last ditch effort and swung his ax at his foes legs.
The young warrior deflected the ax with his sword before he slammed his shield into the mercenary's face.
The ax fell from the mercenary's hand. He raised his hands up in defeat.
The young warrior lowered his sword. He turned to begin running again. However the sound of a crossbow firing made him bring his shield in front of him. The crossbow bolt slammed head first into his shield.
Another mercenary bursts from the woods carrying a spear. A horse came out right behind him the rider wielding and already reloading the leaver crossbow.
The young warrior kept his shield up as the spear wielder came at him with a war cry.
The young warrior swung his sword making the spear miss his throat by inches.
The mercenary he just defeated was back on his feet and coming at him with ax in hand.
He fought both of them at once but it was hopeless. They pressed in on him making him loose ground fast.
Without warning the young warrior tripped on a rock and fell flat on his back. He could see out of the corner of his eye that the crossbow wielder was aiming straight at him.
Before the mercenary could fire the crossbow a bolt slammed into his chest however.
With another war cry a hooded figure came bursting out of the woods. He wielded a spear as he came charging at the two mercenary's.
The young warrior put his shield in front of him to deflect the spear that came straight for his face.
Before they could attack the young man again, the new foe fell on them. The young warrior was on his feet and attacking the ax wielder.
The two spearmen began to thrust and strike at each other with great speed.
The young warrior pressed on his enemy. With one good chop his broadsword fell on the mercenary's right hand.
The man cried out with shock right before the young man's shield bashed him straight in the chest. The broadsword fell on him ending his life with one powerful thrust.
The young warrior spun around to help the person that saved his life.
Both spear wielders struck with such accuracy that the young warrior couldn't tell who was winning. Suddenly the hooded man's spear fell to the grass below.
The mercenary struck with the final blow.
With a flash of steel the mercenary stumbled back. Blood welled up where he was struck from the hooded man's bastard sword. The young warrior didn't even really see him draw the weapon.
The mercenary came at him again.
The hooded man parried the spear and with speed of a seasoned fighter closed the gap between him and his opponent. The sword entered the mercenary's body and came out of his back.
The young man could see the mercenary cough up blood as the sword was ripped from his body.
"That was a close one," the hooded man gasped, "thought I was going to leave this world for a moment there."
The young warrior couldn't say anything.
He watched as the hooded man cleaned his blade retrieved his spear and crossbow. Was he going to attack him? It didn't seem like it. So was he an ally? Probably not but you could never rule the possibilities out.
"Huh…I got a question?" he said, "who are you?"
The man folded his spear and stuck it in a bag on his back. He pulled off his hood.
The young warrior was surprised to see someone that looked about the same age.
He had dark hair that reached past his shoulders and was tied back in a ponytail. His face was unshaved showing a shadow of a beard. He looked like a rough person to anyone's eyes.
"Damo," he said, "call me that. Saw you running from these bastards, and just thought to myself. 'Why not help the guy out. So what's your name pretty boy?'"
The young man couldn't help but smile. He put his sword back in its scabbard and slung his shield over his shoulder. He didn't seem all that bad to him. Well after all he did save his hide he couldn't really complain.
"Link," he said sternly, "you can call me that."
The two riders rode across the plains of Hyrule. They were heading north already deep in Ganondorf's territory.
They rode hard all day both of them remaining quite as they rode. The villages they passed were grim and no one greeted them as they passed.
Link found himself becoming a little uneasy with Damo.
He wore almost the exact armor as the mercenaries.
The deference was the leather cuirass was dark red instead of brown. He also didn't carry a curved sword with a ring pommel on it. Instead Damo carried a bastard sword with a wicked point at the end. The last thing was he didn't have an iron helm, but instead had an iron headband that came wrapped around his head and under his ponytail.
"Damo," Link said, they were letting their horses drink at a stream, "were you from?" Link knew he needed to start this off friendly he still didn't trust the new comer.
Damo rubbed his chin for several seconds, "a land of war I suppose."
Damo cleared his throat, "Engulfed in civil war for more than seventy years. Thirty or so years sense the fighting stared both sides didn't have much of a military."
"So how was the war still waging?" Link asked.
Damo gave him a dead stare, "mercenaries my friend. Mercenary companies became very common. Quite funny, they will fight for one side then next battle they will go on the other side to fight. They always had enough mercenary recruits. Kids with no parents, quickly learned that killing made money."
Link nodded understanding where he was coming from. The man was surprisingly open with him. Did he already trust him? He highly doubted it.
"So you're a mercenary I figure."
Damo shrugged, "mercenary, you could call me that. I'm part of Crimson Company renowned for their victories. We even played a key role of defeating Hyrule's army six months ago."
Link's eyes turned hard, "you are a man of Ganondorf."
"Mercenary," Damo nearly shouted, "damn do you even know the definition? I fought for his army because he paid my company. After we headed south and now we are working for no one at the moment. I'm not an ally of Ganondorf I'm an ally of coin that's for sure. And were blood and fighting is held that's where the coin is."
"So putting it frankly," Link growled, "you murder people for rubies."
Damo gave him a weird look, "rubies I don't use Hyrule currency. I work mainly for gold and silver like hell I'm going to work for this kingdoms currency."
"What's wrong with our currency?"
Damo shrugged again, "I just like the feel of gold instead of rubies. I can't use rubies in other nations." His voice turned hard, "so Link I was wondering what are you planning?"
