The Final Battle
Chapter 10: Retaliation
For attacking Windfall illegally, forces from the close ally of Hyrule set sail to the northwest towards the Forsaken Fortress to attack the source of evil. Windfall forces sailed for two days and two nights towards the growing evil. Among the forces was the Hero of Winds, Link. He was coming along to aid the Windfall forces, and fight Ganondorf himself, to end the war.
The Killer Bees, Ivan, Jun-Roberto, Jin, and Jan, had a ship to themselves, and a captain. "What's gonna go on?" Jun asked Ivan.
"We're going to fight," Ivan said, sitting down. Looking at the sea was making him sick.
"That's dumb, what's the point?" Jun challenged. "We'll get ourselves killed."
"Does it matter?" Ivan tested. "Lives are at stake here."
"Look, we're the Killer Bees," Jun reasoned. "We don't do this stuff. We deal with goody-two-shoes on Windfall; pillage the shop, stuff like that. What happened to that, huh? We've become an army."
"Look, Jun, Mr. Wise Guy, if you wanna back down, go ahead and do it," Ivan said, standing up angrily. "We used to do that. Remember how much of an influence Link was to us? We're still the Killer Bees, just for a different purpose. Listen to yourself, Jun-Roberto. You are betraying yourself and the Killer Bees. Sometimes, I think you're going to break us apart. We need you."
Ivan turned and left. Jun stared after him. He then sat down and looked at his sandals. "Maybe it's time."
"Fire at will," the General ordered from a ship through a communicator.
All ships positioned themselves around the fortress. Defense cannons around the perimeter started firing back. Windfall ships were hit. One ship being sunk was the cue for the General to call, "Fall back! Fall back! Send in the second wave."
Griffons flew in. Men were atop, riding on them, holding ready bombs. "Fire!" Bombs were thrown from the height which made it difficult for the cannons to blow. "Let the cannons deal with the griffons. They have no hope. Charge in. Go for the entrance. Blow it down!"
"We'll take it," Ivan said from the communicator. Jin steered the ship towards the entrance. The cannons around it were blown. They fired with ease. "It's down! Everyone in!" Ivan yelled happily. "We're taking the fortress by storm!"
A long line of ships sailed in, cannons shooting from them to the top windows. Soldiers at the dock jumped out to meet the Moblins. Link jumped out with them to take them down too. He then ran ahead, rolling out of the way of a spear. The Killer Bees jumped out next, small daggers and slingshots at the ready.
Link ran through a long hall. He dodged behind a wall. Two Moblins were walking as guards. He took his boomerang out and threw. At the same time, he jumped out. He blocked a spear with his shield, and sliced with his sword. The boomerang hit the other Moblin's head, and his sword stabbed through next. He caught the boomerang and continued through. Across the large, gaps, Link took his Deku Leaf out, and jumped atop it, riding it like a wind surfer, holding the stem.
The fighting going on down at the bottom was vicious. The Windfall soldiers were winning by a margin. The Killer Bees fought down the last of their group before heading inside.
Link ran through an outside hall when he skidded to a halt. The Helmaroc King was atop its perch, gazing at the battle below. Link had to be careful. If the King spotted him, he was done for. He crept quietly through. So far so good. Nothing was happening. He was nearly there. Suddenly, he felt a sharp talon cut into his waist. The giant bird grabbed hold of him. It was gonna feed on him. As suddenly as he was grabbed, he was let go. The bird screeched in pain. A spear was sticking through its belly, but not all the way. It wasn't done for.
Link fell and landed on a high rooftop with a painful thud. He rolled off and clung to a balcony. It was Ganondorf's balcony. Oh, he prayed Ganondorf wouldn't come out. He dangled helplessly over the sharp rocks and hard ground below. If he fell, he was dead. Falling is just what he did. His hands gave way. Before hitting the ground, something grabbed him and flew him up. At first, Link thought it was the Helmaroc King again, but looking up, he saw Prince Komali.
"Komali," Link exclaimed.
"You had my back, now I have yours," Komali said, setting Link down on the balcony. "Now, go get him. I'll back you up here. More Rito are arriving."
Link nodded, and wasted no time. He opened the door and walked in.
Ivan and his friends were near the top as well. Ivan saw Komali grab Link and ser him somewhere. He thought for a bit. He watched the high balcony thoughtfully.
"What is it?" Jan asked.
"Stay here, aid the soldiers," Ivan ordered. "Hm, Jin, if I don't make it back, the group is yours."
Jun-Roberto looked at Ivan quickly, but caught himself in time. He looked away. Maybe Jin could be easier to topple. Ivan ran through the door and up another flight of stairs. He was on his way.
"Heh, Link, my old friend," Ganondorf laughed. He walked slowly towards Link. The Hero of Winds took his sword out and faced him. Ganondorf still walked forward. Link stepped back. "Ah, fear… I smell it. Are you scared, Link?"
"Only of your foul smell," Link said back. "You smell like a dog's dinner."
"You got nerve, but there's use in hiding your fear, kid," Ganondorf said, now close to Link so that if Link reached his hand out, he could touch Ganondorf's waist. "Why don't you forget this whole war, and join me. Together, you and I would make a great combo. We'd be unstoppable. All islands would bow down to us. Then, if and when I am gone, you will take over! How about it Link? Will you join me, or die?"
Link's mind faced two possibilities. Maybe, if he got closer to Ganondorf, he could save himself. He might even find a way to bring his family back. Aryll, his grandma, and maybe even his mom and dad would come back.
"Yes… I can… we can… with your help, we can make it possible," Ganondorf said, reading Link's mind. "You could even bring your island back."
This did not have the effect Ganondorf had hoped for. As Outset snapped back into Link's mind, he remembered as Ganondorf mercilessly destroyed the island, killing all its inhabitants. If he joined Ganondorf, assuming he brought his family back, what would they think of him? What would Daphnes think of him? What would Makar and Medli think? What would Orca, Link's trainer think? What about the Killer Bees? What about Joel and Zill? What about Prince Komali? As he thought of all his friends, and looked up at Ganondorf's face, he said angrily and firmly, "Never. But you may kill me. You'd be doing me a favor!"
"Oh no, I'm not going to kill you," Ganondorf said, smiling. "I'm going to give you the same fate the old hero got! You'll wish for death, but you'll never get it! NEVER!" With that, he reached his hand out. Link stabbed it. He yelled, "Ah! What the"-
Link flipped back. He took an arrow set out and shot. Ganondorf swiped it away. He sent an energy blast at Link. Link rolled away, right into his grasp. "It's too late, hero!" Ganondorf punched Link's face, hard. "Take that!"
Link yelled in pain. Tears ran from his eyes. Ganondorf punched him again. Link yelled again. Ganondorf then looked and saw a window. This was it. Link was gonna die, for real this time. He just wasn't mean to live. Ganondorf walked slowly towards the window. "It's over. You wanna die? You got it! Ten ages in the depths of Death Mountain for you! Have fun, Link!" A purple aura surrounded Link. "One down, one to go!" Ganondorf yelled. He just had to throw him out the window. Be done with him!
He was about to do so when a griffon flew through. Ganondorf jumped back in surprise. Something sliced the side of his face. Ivan jumped off the bird, a dagger in his hand. Ivan jumped up high at Ganondorf. He landed on his shoulder and kicked his face. He jumped up, hitting his head with a slingshot before landing on his other shoulder, away from a clutch. Another slice made Ganondorf scream in pain. Ivan landed back on the ground beside Link. He faced Ganondorf bravely, and full of breath.
"Link, run," Ivan yelled. "I'll hold him off." He rolled out of another grasp, and cut Ganondorf's hand. "It's too late, Ganondorf. Your forces are weakened. Now, you see your end arriving!" Ivan pointed out of the window.
Valoo, ten Rito behind him, faced Ganondorf's balcony again. Komali flew through and took Link and Ivan out. "Déjà vu, isn't it?" Komali smiled.