December 19

Princess Zelda stared forward has a band of soldiers charged at her. Men wearing red armor drew their weapons at her however she just couldn't bring herself to move out of the way.

"Stop them! Protect the princess at all cost!"

Men of her own army formed a protective shield around her. It was odd for Zelda, being the only woman on the battlefield. Most of the men were a good bit taller than her so she couldn't see over their heads. All she could do was listen to the horrific sounds of weapons clashing and screams in pain when a man was struck down. Soon the soldiers all scrambled revealing a mess of bloody bodies lying lifeless in front of her. Zelda started down at them and began to pray.

" Goddess Hylia please care for their lost spirits. Let them rest in peace."

Zelda opened her eyes to see Link staring at her with a concerned look on his face.

"Zelda were you just praying? I know you care about everyone but I don't think the battlefield is a good place for that."

"Link they still deserve to rest peacefully."

Link just sighed as her looked over the horizon.

"There's so many of them. No too many of them. Zelda if we keep fighting them like this then we won't last much longer."

Zelda joined Link to look over the horizon. He was right. There were too many. Men of the rivaling army were pouring into Hyrule field and clashing with her men. Over the field all she could see was a mixture of red and gray armored men.

"Link ready the catapult. We'll have to keep them as far from the castle as possible. If they get inside they'll destroy us from the inside out."

"Right. I'm on it."

Link dashed over to the men in charge of the catapult and began giving orders. Zelda ran to the next catapult over and pointed to the far end of the field.

"Aim it there. We need to stop them from coming into the field."

The soldiers aimed the catapult and put a bomb inside it."

"Ready? Fire!"

The catapult shot the bomb out. It flew through the air and landed on the ground with an enormous explosion. Bodies began flying. Zelda watched as the white snow began to grow bright red with the soldier's blood. For the first time in all her battles her stomach began to turn.

"Hyrule and Begnion shouldn't be fighting now. Not at a time like this."

Another bomb flew through the air as soldiers scattered about in an attempt to avoid it. The massive explosion could be heard for miles and shook the ground when each bomb landed. A group of archers were huddled together in fear as another bomb exploded.

"We're all going to die! It's the end!"

The soldiers looked up as their general approached them with a stern look on his face.

"Get up!"

"But General Zelgius we-"

"I said get up! This isn't a free for all. Are you afraid to die?"

"Well yes but who isn't?"

"You should have never joined the army then. Now get up! As your general it is my job to lead you to victory with as little casualties possible. Having you sit here and cry your eyes out is just asking for death so get up. I need you to work on taking out the men in charge of the catapults. The Hyrule army is changing its tactic. They're attacking from a distance so ready your bows."

The men started at their general in silence as his second in command approached them.

"You heard him! Go!"

"Yes sir."

The men headed for the catapults as Zelgius began to follow them with Levail close behind.

"General Zelgius staying out here would be suicidal at this point. Do you think we should be trying to make our way into the castle now?"

"No."

"Why not? It would make the most sense."

"Yes but just think about it. There are women and children hiding in there and I rather not have to kill them too. As a general I try to keep casualties to a minimum on both sides."

"I understand."

Zelgius stared as his men began firing the arrows at the catapults. The men began to scatter while others just dropped dead.

Why are we fighting this war? Hyrule and Begnion have nothing to do with each other. We have enough land so why are we fighting? Is this all about the senate not being ale to handle Hyrule refusing to sign a treaty that would open a trade route? Those goddamn fools just don't know when to stop.

Zelgius was shocked out of his thoughts when he saw a certain figure over on the enemy's side. He couldn't make them out but he did know one thing. They were in a dress.

"A woman on the battlefield? Are they mad?!"

Levail looked over at Zelgius with a confused look on his face from Zelgius' outburst.

"What do you mean? You must be seeing things because to put a woman on the battlefield would be the most desperate and foolish thing to do."

"My eyes don't deceive me. Look over there. She's in a dress."

Levail stared for a long time. His eyes grew wide as he finally located her.

"What in the world are they trying to do sending a woman into the battlefield?! This is pure madness!"

Zelgius watched as an arrow flew through the air and landed in the woman's arm. Both he and Levial stood in complete silence as she fell to the ground. A man in a green outfit instantly ran to her side as she began to stand back up. She instantly readied a bow of her own and shot it at one of the men. As she shot a bright light came out around the arrow and landed in the man's chest. He light electrocuted him and he fell over dead.

Levail was the first one to respond to this.

"Oh no! She has light magic!"

Levial ran and Zelgius followed soon after. Once they got a good distance away to prevent becoming targets they began to catch their breaths.

" General Zelgius I think its time to start countering with our own catapults."

"Right go get them ready."

Levail ran over to the catapult and pointed at the castle wall.

"Shoot it over there. There's a woman who has light magic over in that area."

The men all looked at him as if he had sprouted another head.

"But sir, you really want us to kill a woman? But that's just wrong!"

"Look she has light magic and in our armor that is deadly so aim it and kill her!"

"Yes sir."

They fired the catapult at the wall and watched as it began to crumble. Bodies began to fall from the wall into the rubble. One of them was in the dress. She held onto the hand of the man in green as the tumbled into the rubble as well. Everyone was silent as the dust cleared out revealing bodies lying on the ground. Suddenly screams could be heard from the other side.

"The princess! The princess is missing! Get her out of the rubble!"

"The princess? That's who that was? Did we just kill her?"

A large mass of soldiers began digging through the rubble in search of the princess. Zelgius nodded at Levial and began to move towards the group with his soldiers behind him. He watched as the princess was pulled out of the rubble along with the man in green. They both began to stand as the soldiers formed a protective shield around the princess. Zelgius called over to the soldiers who protected the princess.

Surrender and we won't bring harm to your princess. If you refuse then I can't ensure her safety."

"You won't dare lay a hand on her! I won't allow it"

The man in green stepped out of the crowd in front of Zelgius. General Zelgius looked down at the man. He was short. He was at most five foot three.

"I stand before you as the General of Begnion's central army, General Zelgius. If you aren't worthy of fighting me then you're wasting my time."

"The name is Link, Hero of Time, bearer of the Triforce of Courage. I accept your challenge general. But be aware that I'll take not time ending this fight. I take no pity on someone who threatens the life of our princess."

"Very well Link. We shall see who the victor of this fight is."

Zelgius drew his sword and pointed it at Link. Link drew his own sword. There was nothing but silence on the battlefield. Link was the first to attack. He slashes at Zelgius' side. Zelgius reacted instantly by blocking the blow. He quickly followed up with kneeing Link in the stomach to get some room. Link stumbled back but quickly regained his footing. He fended of one of Zelgius' attacks. Zelgius put a lot of pressure into his swing. Link's feet budged but to Zelgius' surprise Link's arm didn't give out under the shield. He was even able to force Zelgius back. Zelgius watched as Link sword slashed at him once again. This time he went for his neck. Zelgius blocked it once again but felt his arms giving out under the pressure.

"How can such a small man handle my blows and put out twice as hard?"

Zelgius quickly did whatever he could and kicked Link in the stomach to get some room once again. As Link fell back his sword fell out of his hand. Link suddenly grabbed Zelgius by the waist. Zelgius struggled for a while but was stunned when he felt himself being lifted into the air.

"What in the world?!"

All the Begnion troops watched in shock as their general, standing six foot four and weighing over two hundred pounds without his armor into the air. Link had to hold back a smirk as he looked over all the soldiers' faces. He quickly tossed Zelgius aside. Zelgius fell to the ground with a thud so loud it shook the ground. Link took this opportunity to grab a hold of his sword again. Zelgius sat up with a look of pure shock on his face. Link couldn't hold back the smirk any longer.

"Still think you can win this fight general? You're a bit mad to challenge the hero of time."

"Don't be arrogant. I'm just getting started.

"You aren't bluffing are you?"

Zelgius glared at Link as he stood up and brushed himself off. The truth was that Zelgius had no idea of how he was suppose to beat Link.

How in the world am I suppose to beat this man?! How is he possible so powerful? He threw me on the ground for god's sake!

Zelgius watched Link for a moment as he began to charge again.

Wait a minute. What is that on his hands? I've never seen armored gloves in a golden color before. Something just seems so different about them. Could that be what is giving him this endurance?

Link slashed at Zelgius once again. Zelgius brought his sword up and blocked the blow. He then backed up to get some distance between them.

If I can get that gauntlet off of his hand then maybe his power will decrease. But how can I do it? That's it!

Link attacked once more. Zelgius blocked again. He followed up with kneeing Link in the upper arm, causing Link to drop his shield. Zelgius took this time to grab onto Link's hand while he was distracted. Link pulled back from Zelgius causing the gauntlet to slide off his hand. Link grabbed his shield and glared back at Zelgius.

"What was that about? Are you trying to win or just playing games with me?"

"I'm not playing any games with you Link. This is what I wanted."

Zelgius waved the gauntlet in the air to see Link's reaction. Link's eyes grew wide as he backed up.

"Oh no."

"Did you take me for a fool? I knew there had to be some twist to the strength you had. So are you so arrogant now without your extra power?"

"Shut it! I still have my other one so I'm perfectly fine. I could beat you without them anyway!"

Link attacked Zelgius again. He was sure to use his hand that was still covered with the golden gauntlet however Zelgius was one step ahead. Zelgius brought his knee up again but this time he aimed for Link's elbow. It bent in an awkward way before a loud snap was heard. Link screamed in agony as he dropped his sword and grabbed his broken arm. Zelgius took this opening to his advantage and slashed Link in the side. Link fell over and the gash bled out turning the white snow red. Zelgius approached Link and stood over him.

"Farewell Link."

Link closed his eyes and waited for the final blow.

"I'm sorry Zelda."

Zelgius readied his sword for the killing blow however he was distracted by a small voice cry out from the crowd of Hyrule soldiers.

"Please no! Don't do this! Please just stop! Stop the fighting!"

All of the Hyrule soldiers had turned their attention to their princess who was on the brink of tears.

"Princess what are you going on about?"

"Please no more of this fighting. It's a week before Christmas! We should be preparing with our families yet we're here murdering one another for foolish reasons! Please just let us hold our fire, just for now. For a week's time."

"Are you mad? This is a war and you're asking me to go against my senates' orders for a week? You must have lost your mind."

"Just think about all of the lives that were lost today! Those men won't be with their families for this holiday or any in the future all because we were too careless about human life! It's completely wrong! Please let us stop fighting for this week. I beg of you."

Zelgius stared around the battlefield at the massive amount of bodies that lie lifeless in the snow. All of those men who had families at home were gone. Many of them he had watched say good-bye to their families and promise to come home for Christmas. The realization began to set in.

"What have we done here? This brutality was never needed. These lives never needed to be lost in such a pointless war."

"And yet we are still fighting as if it was nothing. Do you see what I am saying now?"

"Yes. Yes I do."

"Will you hold the war for a week?"

Zelgius stared around at his soldiers. They looked beat up and depressed. Zelgius hesitated with his answer before turning back to the princess.

"Yes. I will hold off on the war for a week."

"Thank you general. You have a truly kind heart."

Zelgius looked down at Link who was crawling back to the Hyrule soldiers. He looked back at Zelgius with a skeptical look on his face before disappearing into the crowd.

"But general this week will be special. I can see that it will go down as a historical event. Therefore I believe it should have a name. What shall we call this week?"

"A week where we stop fighting, a week of peacefulness. Yes that's it. We shall call it 'The Week of Peace.' "