CHAPTER 11
CASTLE TOWN BARRACKS
Lance was still ashamed that he couldn't draw the sword of legend. He hadn't told Zelda that he wasn't able yet, for that would cause her to worry more. She was already racked with responsibilities and troubles from the situation with Ganon's return; he didn't wish to extend her grievances by also worrying about a hero who couldn't live up to the legend.
He decided he wasn't going to sleep this night, so he fled to the market. The sky was a deep shade of black, but the lights of the quiet market square was a pleasant contrast. Lance wandered through the empty streets, hoping to forget his troubles.
Lance stood in an alleyway, contemplating the momentous task asked of him. The most powerful being in Hyrule wanted to challenge him, and everyone was counting on him to beat Ganon.
"Farore, please grant me courage..." Lance uttered. He closed his eyes to blink. When he opened his eyes again, he was in a blue void.
"This that you request of me is trivial, mortal." An ominous voice boomed. Lance was in awe.
"You have not the wisdom to comprehend us." Another said.
"The weak shall not inherit Hyrule, for this is the fate of the powerful. Power will prevail, and you shall fail." Yet another voice said, this time appearing as a red spirit.
"The courage you ask of is not yours to harness, why do you continue your endeavors?" The first voice said, appearing as a green spirit. Lance realized he was speaking with the three goddesses.
"I… I'm not sure…" Lance replied, still dumbfounded. A blue spirit appeared:
"He has a kind heart. He harbors not the strength of Link, but the essence of a hero." The blue spirit said, defending Lance's actions.
"Nayru, you know who he is! I cannot grant him my blessing, he is not yet worthy of it." Farore yelled.
"Return to Hyrule, small one, return and fight for the hour is nigh that you may prove your worth." Farore commander, hinting at a sliver of hope.
Lance blinked again, and reappeared in the alleyway of Castle Town Market. He held what Farore had said in his heart; for he may require it in his time of need. But what did she say about this Link? Who was that? How could he, the Hero of Legend, not harbor the strength of another?
SOUTHERN HYRULE FIELD
Phantom Ganon matched the Gerudo troops north towards Castle Town. He drove them hard, and expected much out of them for the little provisions they had when they set out. The Phantom Pact had surely began to take its toll on the people of Gerudo Valley. They stopped for a break midway through their march, they were exhausted.
"Five minutes! No longer!" Phantom Ganon boomed. The Gerudo warriors were dehydrated and exhausted. The troops' morale was low.
Suddenly, a rustle in the leaves startled one of the lookouts. A few other rustles began to alert them. The wind would usually be to blame, but the air was stagnant on this day. It had to be something else.
"Attack!" King Titon yelled. Dozens of Zora archers let fly their barbed arrows from the bushes. Gerudo fell left and right from the constant barrage.
Phantom Ganon growled in protest of the ambush. He created dark clouds to cover them, and he swayed his arms left to right repeatedly.
"What's he doing, sire?" A Zora said to King Titon.
"I'm not sure, but whatever it is: it can't be good. Target him!" Titon commanded. The archers concentrated their fire onto Phantom Ganon, but it was no use: the arrows flew right through him.
Stahlkoblins were raised from the earth behind the Zora lines. They began slaughtering the Zora while their backs were turned.
"Help! Retreat, retreat! Send for reinforcements!" An archer cried out before a bone axe came down upon him. King Titon blew his horn, summoning his troops to flee. His forces had suffered great casualties, and would likely not be able to make a followup attack.
"May the goddesses guide you, Daphnes." Titon prayed as he fled with his Zoras.
"Flee like the fodder you are!" Phantom Ganon screeched as the Zoras ran away. The Gerudo had taken minimal damage, as most of them didn't attempt to fight. There were tens of casualties, but they didn't affect the overall numbers of the Gerudo Army. They were strong in number, and would conquer any army that opposed them.
CASTLE TOWN WALL
Now that the Gorons had arrived, they were possibly better off. There weren't many that were sent, as the Gorons were a smaller tribe than most. Still, the aid was helpful. The military leaders in the Hyrulean army had placed what few soldiers they had on the wall to shoot arrows.
Though there would be a ground party who would charge while the archers took care of the bulk of the Gerudo. A mixture of Gorons and Hylians were led by Lance. Lance was expected to strike down Ganon with the legendary blade. Though there was one snag to this plan: Lance couldn't pull the Master Sword.
"Are you ready?" Zelda asked Lance as she tied up her braces on her arm. He looked at her with a worried look on his face.
"I have a confession." Lance abruptly said. Zelda was a bit confused.
"What is it?" She asked.
"When I went to the Temple of Time to draw the legendary blade, it spoke to me." Lance told her. Zelda nodded.
"I've heard that it speaks to some, yes. That's not much of a confession…" She said, focusing her attention to other things. Lance shook his head.
"It disappeared before my eyes. I don't have the sword." Lance said. Zelda looked at him nervously.
"You weren't able to pull it from its pedestal?" She asked.
"And I have no idea where it went." He said. Zelda furrowed her brow to think.
"There have been heroes who have defeated great evils without the sword." She told him. "You will defeat Ganon, you are stronger than him." Zelda assured. Lance nodded, feeling more confident. Zelda smiled and beant over to get her face closer to his. She planted a kiss on his cheek. "I believe in you." Zelda said with a smile.
"Thank you." Lance said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"The Gerudos are here! Everyone at your stations!" The captain of the guard shouted. Lance and Zelda made their way out onto the wall.
Lance gritted his teeth as he saw the hundreds of warriors on the horizon. This is it…