Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda. I'm just writing about it.

Why do they always leave me? Malon sulked, back at Lon Lon Ranch as she stared out the window. I thought he would be different. Even if he is, he'll probably be dead soon. She sniffled, slowly got up and headed for the horse pen. Riding always makes me feel better.

When Zelda gets back, maybe I'll go talk to her. She always seems to have better luck with men than I do…

"We will make our camp just outside the Verdin Pass." Shouted Captain Cyatan to the troops.

"SIR YES SIR," The response came in unison.

"How far do you suppose it is to Verdin?" Asked Cindrius.

"Oh an hour or two from here, I'd say." Guessed Taylor.

"Good, we'll make it just in time for supper. But we've been marching long after that every day. Why stop there tonight?"

"Gannon's forces must be just on the other side of the pass. They must want us well-rested for battle tomorrow. This is it, Cindrius."

"Yeah, I know. Finally, peace."

"I wonder how much things will change at home."

"What do you mean?"

"Without the constant state of war. What will become of military guys like us?"

"I try not to think about things like that. Whatever will be will be, you know? Besides, what are you worried about? Marry that rich Malon chick and you won't have to worry about becoming anything…"

"I'm not sure how that's going. She was pretty upset when I left."

"Yeah, but it isn't your fault. You're a soldier; you have your orders"

"I know that, you know that and she knows that…but if this fight goes on for a while…a girl like that doesn't stay single for long."

"Don't be so pessimistic. Besides, you always have the princess to fall back on. She's still missing, right?"

"…yeah…Hopefully, they find her soon…"

"Maybe she got kidnapped and is in Death Mountain. You could save her!" Joked Cindrius.

"Like that plumber guy from the cartoon? What was his name, martachio?"

"Nah, that's not it. Marcucio? Matchio? Mario! That's it."

"Haha, just like in the stories but those things only happen in fiction. She doesn't even know I exist and would forget me again by the next day. Besides, I'm no plumber."

"A Princess is always worth saving, Taylor, even for everyday grunts like us."

With help from the gorons, Asher's camp was finally beginning to look and feel truly professional. Quality weapons and armor poured in, replacing the worn-out or improvised equipment the Hylians had been using. Fortified positions and obstacles had been setup on their side of the pass as well.

These positions would be more effective if we had had more time, but they'll have to do, thought Asher as he inspected them. The enemy will break through any day now. Too bad the pass is too wide everywhere else, otherwise we could create another avalanche.

"How much longer?" Asked Sheik.

"Probably not more than a day or two."

"And what if they don't attack? We have to rescue Tera and-"

"I know. I'm worried about her, too, but we can't risk getting more of us captured when they are poised to sweep through Virdin. Atkin and I have organized a strike team of the best spies among our numbers to go in after Tera and the gorons if the enemy doesn't attack soon."

"She could be dead by then, Asher." Sheik said pointedly.

"You don't think I know that, Zelda! I miss her just as much as you do, you have no idea how hard this is for me!" Asher shouted in a rare show of emotion which caught Sheik off guard.

"…I know she means a lot to you, Asher." Sheik said as he walked over to Asher and put his arm around the soldier. "I didn't mean to imply-"

"I know, Zelda. It's just-"

"Sir Asher, there are-" Atkin began as he entered the tent, stopping suddenly when he saw Asher and Sheik and smirked, "oh, um, am I interrupting something?"

"Nah and I told you its just Asher. None of this 'sir' crap." Asher replied as Sheik went back to his seat.

"Yes…sir! Atkin mocked. "Asher, Hylian troops are approaching on the horizon. Link must have been successful!"

"Bought time!" Asher and Sheik said in unison. "How many?"

"Don't have an exact estimate yet, but judging by their wagon trains I'd say a few thousand…and well equipped too!"

The three raced outside and could already see the troops far off in the distance heading in their direction, the Hylian flag waving up above. Boy are they in for a surprise when they break through that debris.

It's all their fault. The wizrobe ranted mentally, I shouldn't be here, forced to run with these inferiors. Being surrounded by stalfos, tektites, moblins, and the like wasn't new to him. Not being able to order them around and blast them for even the most minor infraction, however, was.

The dark sky was just starting to brighten as the sun peaked over the horizon. The army of monsters had nearly made it through the unstable, narrow path which served as the only other way through the mountainous terrain other than the Verdin Pass.

Now let's see what we're dealing with. Thought the wizrobe as he approached the last bend. Peering into the enemy camp, he was shocked by what he saw. These…there were supposed to be a few tents scattered about, maybe a sentry post or two…where did all this come from? This must be some sort of illusion. A full military camp laid out before his eyes. Enough for several thousand soldiers.

The magician attempted to detect magic in the area but noticed no spells; this was no illusion. And yet, there was someone in the camp with a strong magical presence. Young and not fully refined yet, probably an older teen or young adult. And yet, it was shrouded. He wouldn't have detected it at all had he not been concentrating heavily. I've not felt a presence like this except in the presence of-

"Attack! Let's catch them before those weaklings wake!" The commanding moblin bellowed, probably waking the entire camp himself. The monsters charged down the hillside, striking down those in their way.

The sentries on duty had been focusing heavily on the pass itself, ready to awaken the camp if any significant movement came from that area. They had been paying noticeably less attention to other areas where an attack was less likely. Even so, within moments of the monsters' appearance, alarms wailed and the whole camp was awake and ready for action.

The heavy gorons had been positioned closest to the mouth of the pass, the thinking had been that they would be best equipped to slow down the iron knuckles and prevent a sudden breakthrough. Consequently, they were farther away from the actual attack than most units.

"It could be a diversion, brothers. Ready yourselves for a move through the wall! The Hylians can take care of themselves. We move to support only if they begin to be overrun!" Darania commanded. And events showed him to be a wise commander. The monsters had swept into camp and attacked everything in their path. As the Hylians mobilized, the enemy attacked, retreated, and attacked again in an effort to not only weaken the opposition both by killing and maiming but also draw them away from the pass.

I know I asked for an early wakeup call, but this is ridiculous!

"I love the sound of busted stalfos in the morning. Sounds like victory!" Joked Cindrius as he lunged into another enemy.

Looking up, Taylor could see a steady stream of creatures still flowing out of the mountains and into combat. "By the goddesses, do they ever end?"

"2" CLANG WHACK "3"

"Quit showing off, Bani!"

"I'm not sho-4"

Cindrius and Taylor just shook their heads and kept fighting. Small pockets of troops were beginning to advance into the disorganized enemy lines, moving away from the main camp.

"They're trying to draw us away from the pass! Hold fast, boys. Engage the enemy but do not leave this area!" Order Cyatan. Most of the soldiers obeyed, a few either didn't care, didn't hear or both. Achieving early success, they pushed further to their own demise. Eventually, they got so far away from their fellows that monsters were on every side and even the ablest among them was swallowed up and struck down.

I must find the source of that magic. The translucent wizrobe silently floated through the chaos of battle, carefully avoiding combat himself, caring about only one thing. He could feel the magical energies getting stronger as he moved closer to the source. Then he saw it.

Twenty yards away, a blue-clad, agile warrior held two moblins and a mummy at bay. The evil wizard approached slowly so as not to be detected. When he got within ten feet, he blasted the cluster with a powerful dose of magic. The blast killed the monsters and knocked the blue fighter a good twenty feet through the air away from friendlies, landing with a heavy thud.

"Where is the triforce!" The wizrobe raged.

The warrior tried to lash out with its whip but the mage used its magic to phase away for a split second, easily dodging the attack. Then it unleashed another blast of magic.