This is more like a prelude to the climax of the novel, however, Link and Fenwick's conflict is resolved here.
Chapter 14: Battle of Pravoka
Link was dimly aware of someone knocking on his door.
Groggily, he got up and opened it. Malon stirred in the bed he had just left and looked at him curiously.
"Link? What's wrong?"
Link didn't answer, but opened the door.
Rytex and Exsan stood there.
"The Hylian Navy is on their way here. Crescent Lake reported a large number of ships, larger than they could ever fight, make their way past."
Link stared blankly at him.
Then it kicked.
"SHIT!"
He ran back into his house and grabbed all of his gear and started donning it as fast as he could.
Malon couldn't hear, but she understood immediately.
"They're coming?" she asked Rytex as Link bustled about.
"Yeah. Crescent Lake dared not take them on. But we have a plan."
Rytex thought.
"We plan on having the women and children hide in Draco Peak, protected by a few of the dragons, until the battle is decided. It is your choice, but I think Link may want you to accompany them."
Malon exhaled slowly.
"I think I'll go. If Fenwick is responsible, me going into the mountain should draw him out. He'll try to take me while everyone's distracted. Is Draco Peak a volcano?"
"No. But the interior of the mountain is large, with a high platform. The main path leads up to this platform. Why?"
"If he comes for me, I may have to kill him."
Silence enveloped the room, except for Link's noises of anger at his gear not being put on fast enough.
"Very well. Sean and Ryet will lead the women and children into the mountains. Meet him at the Tavern."
Malon nodded and set about gathering her gear.
Finally, Link emerged, dressed in his green tunic, but with more leather padding and metal armor in a few places.
He had the Gilded Sword on his back, but the Terminian Mirror Shield was replaced with a Cryonian Shield.
As Malon explained to him what was happening, Link agreed.
"If he does come, you'll have to be prepared. Do you understand? He'll probably bring his guards. They may have given him a second Gossip Stone."
Malon nodded.
Rytex stared at Link.
"Link, Sara mentioned that Master Eraqus left you instructions for completing your training with Cyan Garamonde. Did you collect them?"
"Yeah. I studied them."
"Oh? What was the technique?"
Link indicated that they step outside.
Link pulled out the Gilded Sword and focused energy onto the blade. It began to glow green. Finally, he slashed upward, releasing the energy once it was safe.
A line of green energy shot out of his sword away from him.
Rytex nodded.
"Draw Slash. Very fitting for you to learn this."
Link nodded.
Rytex returned to his house.
Malon started walking toward the tavern, but Link briefly kissed her before she left.
"Be safe." they said together.
"I will." they returned.
Then they laughed and parted.
Rytex returned a moment later, wearing a black cloak. He couldn't fight in armor, as it was too heavy. He carried a blood-red sword and a large metal shield.
"Still using the Blood Sword and the Guardian?" he asked.
"Of course." Rytex answered.
As they grew more prepared for the fight, Link saw that Sean, Exsan, Ryet, Rega, Axel, and Demyx were clothed like Rytex was. Axel carried a pair of chakrams, metal rings that were spiked on the edge. Ryet, Rega, Sean, and Exsan carried a plain metal sword each, yet with no shield. Demyx carried his blue sitar.
Link and Demyx went to the shore of the water to see the advancing ships, which were just a hazy outline in the distance.
"How will you fight with that?" asked Link.
"I channel magic through it. And my manipulation of water is quite good."
"Will you be able to destroy the ships?"
"Probably not, but I can damage them to a heavy degree. Just sit back and enjoy the show." he said as he put his sitar in the water. It floated and Demyx jumped on it. The sitar kept floating. Then Demyx shouted "Adúrna!"
The sitar sped off while Demyx hung on to the neck of it.
He heard it again.
"Adúrna!"
A massive wave sprung up from the water and advanced in front of Demyx as he made his way to the ships.
Rytex nodded as Link turned to return to Pravoka.
As he neared the village, he heard a yell and, acting on reflex, turned and whipped up his sword to block a blow.
His sword clanged as it met a thin blade.
And the holder was Fenwick.
Fenwick's face was arranged in a fierce snarl.
"Where is she!" he shouted.
"Like I'd tell you." Link replied.
Fenwick pulled back and stabbed at his left side.
Link blocked the blow with the Cryonian shield and countered with a slash to the shoulder. Fenwick blocked it also, but Link bashed him with his shield.
Fenwick reeled backward, stunned, but he shook it off. Then he saw the line of women and children moving toward the mountain.
Even at a distance, Malon's red hair stood out in the crowd.
Fenwick then took off for the mountain. Link charged after him.
They raced to the mountain, using magic to gain advantages and cause disadvantages. Finally, Fenwick reached the path and charged up, sending a bolt of magic behind him at Link.
Link growled and whacked the blow back.
Fenwick didn't see it coming and it smote him on the back.
Fenwick yelled as he fell, writhing.
Link passed him and made it up the mountain.
He entered the main chamber to see Bahamut stare at him with a huge eye.
"The Hylians are here. We have to stop their navy from reaching the shore."
Bahamut blinked once, then raised its head and let out a long roar.
Dragons everywhere stirred and shot up into the air, exiting the mountain.
Bahamut raised huge translucent blue wings and flew up into the air also.
High up, Link saw the women and children on the balcony area.
However, before he could exit, he saw Fenwick blocking the path.
"WHERE ARE THEY!" he screamed at Link.
Link met his furious gaze with a cold glare of his own.
"I really don't understand you. You're obsessed with her, aren't you." he said simply.
Fenwick then charged at him and the clangs of metal striking metal sounded as they fought.
"Link!" shouted Malon as she watched everything transpire.
That got both of their attentions.
They looked up.
Link felt renewed hope at the sight of her.
Fenwick then tried to get to the entry to get up to her.
Before he made it all the way, Sean and Ryet stood in the way, preventing him from leaving.
"You aren't going anywhere!" Sean shouted.
Fenwick prepared to strike, but Ryet pulled Sean back and shouted "SKÖLIR!"
A wall of blue magic covered the path Fenwick was trying to exit.
Fenwick's blow bounced off the shield.
He turned to face Link.
"So, I guess it's just us." said Link calmly.
"No. It's just me." said Fenwick as he raised his blade.
He charged and Link blocked the blow.
He countered quickly and pushed Fenwick further along the path.
Soon, Link noticed two burly men appear in the entrance to the mountain. Link recognized them as the two guards he had left alone in Harbor Town the second time he visited there.
"Get them!" Fenwick shouted.
The men stood still.
"No. We won't serve you anymore, Fenwick." said one in a deep yet soft voice.
"Yeah. All you do is treat us like crap and expect us to keep guarding you. And the pay isn't even worth it."
"Solve your own problems for once!" said the first man with finality.
Fenwick grew even angrier.
They continued to exchange blows, but finally, the battle was decided.
Link managed to knock Fenwick's sword away.
Fenwick responded by tackling Link.
Link and Fenwick struggled for several moments before Fenwick lost the battle of strength. Link kicked him off and Fenwick slid across the dirt, to the edge.
Then he fell.
Fenwick managed to grab the edge and clung to it desperately.
Link walked over to him.
"Help me!" Fenwick cried desperately.
Link stared.
"I will never kill a man in cold blood." he said finally, offering a hand.
Fenwick stared disbelievingly at the hand before taking it.
Link pulled him up and turned away.
He remembered Master Eraqus' proverb as he saw Fenwick hang. You destroy your enemy when peace is made with him.
He walked away from Fenwick, who was gasping for air and curled in a fetal position.
Link looked at Malon and smiled. But the happiness was short-lived.
"LINK!" shouted Sean.
But he was an instant too late.
Link felt a knife stab him directly over his heart.
He groaned in pain as he heard Fenwick laugh triumphantly.
Link turned and slashed his sword as he released energy from it.
The Draw Slash's energy smashed into Fenwick and he was sent flying past the edge.
Fenwick fell into the depths of the mountain, screaming in terror, before his screams vanished altogether.
And he was silent forevermore.
Link slowly removed the knife, trying not to do any more damage.
He collapsed and removed a bottle from his belt. It was filled with red potion.
He quickly drank it and felt relief wash over him as his skin knitted back together.
He groaned and relaxed.
The blue shield dissipated as Malon, Ryet, and Sean ran at him.
"Link!" shouted Malon as tears rained down on his hair.
He turned over.
Malon's fearful face was replaced by immense relief and she buried her face in his tunic, sobbing.
"What's happened outside?" he asked.
"The ships have sent rowboats to shore and they've made landfall. Rytex, Rega, Exsan and Axel are defending the town with the Dragons. Demyx has torn the ships to pieces, with some help from the dragons."
Link nodded and got up.
"Malon, I have to go now. Stay here. I'll be back."
Malon nodded as Link strode out to the battlefield and ran back into the town.
To his surprise, many soldiers had been captured. The town was fully intact, completely untouched by the battle that raged within it.
Then Link remembered that Rytex had enchanted the town to heal itself during battle when the town had been finished.
He joined the battle and helped stop the soldiers from entering.
He heard a roar of triumph and looked toward the closer fleet.
Wreckage of ships was everywhere. Not a single intact ship was left.
Link shouted it to the people fighting.
"THE NAVY IS VANQUISHED!"
The morale was doubled.
With a last few minutes of fighting, all soldiers were either killed or captured.
They were kept in Pravoka's prison, which was large enough to accommodate forty people. They captured thirty-two altogether.
When everyone had returned from the mountain, Link had Rytex call those he trusted into his house for a meeting.
When Ryet, Sean, Rega, Exsan, Axel, Demyx, Xemyli and Malon were there, he started bluntly.
"Many of you have been wondering why this is all happening. I called you here to tell you everything. This is why the King has sent everyone after us."
He cleared his throat.
"This is the reason everything is happening to us."
R&R