Hey, look. It's chapter nine plus ten. (If you haven't been active on Vine for the past month or two, you won't get that joke.)
Another epic chapter… in my opinion, anyway.
Song suggestions: Beginning- "Ballad of the Goddess [Skyward Sword Main Theme]" (SS OST) / Outset battle- "Face a Crisis" (HW OST) / Koholint battle- "Psychostorm" (HW OST) / Midna- "Farewell Hyrule King" (WW OST) / Misc.- "Dragon Theme" (SS OST)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything regarding The Legend of Zelda. I wish I did.
Thanks to Skyward Scrub for being an awesome beta reader.
PART II - KING OF SHADOWS
Chapter 21: Power
1700 HOURS.
WIND FISH SHORE, KOHOLINT PROVINCE.
DOMAIN: LORULE.
64 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
I stared down at my new blue tunic, tapping my knuckles lightly on the bronze shoulder pads, testing its reinforcement. I smirked to myself, musing about how well the color suited me.
Then I remembered-- it was 1700.
Eyes widening, I looked to my left, where Zelda stood. Our eyes locked; hers were filled with fear, mine with anxiety. "The mask?" I questioned.
She simply lifted her chin, gesturing for me to look behind me. I complied; coming from the south, barreling through the sand, was a convoy of Lorulean military trucks, armed to the teeth in weapons and artillery. Soldiers stood in the beds of the trucks, some mounting turrets, others simply carrying rifles.
What surprised me the most was what lead the convoy: a gray horse, boasting metallic hooves, onyx-dark eyes, a mane and tail of silky white hair, and a silver helm along its snout. However, the gelding did not gallop toward the two of us with its well-toned legs; it flew. Carried by a pair of majestic wings, the pegasus glided southward to us, surprisingly keeping up with the man-made forms of transportation.
Mounted upon this magnificent beast was none other than Robin.
Zelda and I shared a brief glance, confusion and awe contorted in our expressions. Robin, mounted proudly on his steed, slowed his gelding to a stop with a calm "Whoa, there." The military trucks stopped as well; it seemed Robin possessed some authority over the other soldiers.
"Robin…?" Zelda and I asked uneasily.
The wise old man was even adorned in different attire; rather than his traditional beige sweater and brown slacks, Robin opted for a seemingly more regal appearance. A long-sleeved white undershirt was beneath steel breastplate armor, and tied to it was a green cape bearing the Triforce symbol. Chain mail protected his legs over a pair of white pants, covered from the shins down by black boots. He wore no helm for battle, which was ironic, considering he appeared to be well-prepared for an attack.
"Greetings, Link and Zelda." Despite his change of appearance, Robin still offered us his benevolent grin.
I could think of no better way to say what was on my mind than, "…What's up with your clothes?"
Robin merely chuckled. "The outfit was a gift. And I am not to deny any gifts."
When he didn't elaborate, Zelda inquired, "From whom?"
"Old friends of mine," came his vague reply. "They seem very interested in keeping me alive-- hence, the armor. Apparently, I am part of their 'great mission,' so to speak. I am to provide you aid."
"And you have," I said. "So… why the pegausus? Why not just drive like everyone else?"
"Ah, Onox, my steed." He patted the beast's neck affectionately. "To answer your question, I shall never trust the creations of mankind. The world has become corrupt with gadgets and technology; someday, I fear that will be our undoing." As Robin spoke, Onox kicked the sand with its hooves, snorting.
"I have come," he continued, "to bring you the mask. Not only do I not trust vehicles, but I do not trust the men who created them. In our world, in our current situation… there is no reason to take unnecessary risks."
I nodded, understanding his viewpoint; someone could easily become corrupted by the power emanating from the spirit of Majora. It was wise of him to safeguard it personally-- granted, he was called the "Wise Man of Koholint" for a reason.
Robin reached into Onox's saddlebags, withdrawing a purple, heart-shaped relic. "Take it, Link. Take it and rid the world of its evil."
I cautiously walked up next to Onox, who snorted and cocked its head questionably at me. I took the possessed mask, immediately feeling lightheaded at the very touch.
The intense golden eyes of Majora's Mask stared back at me, whispering faintly in my ears words I could not decipher. About to lose consciousness, I tore my gaze away from the mask, and I instead focused on the shoreline ahead. Zelda grabbed my hand, and I turned to look at her.
"B-be careful down there, okay?" she pleaded with concerned eyes.
I wrapped her into a tight embrace, and my lips met hers for a brief moment. After I pulled away, I whispered into her ear, "I promise."
"Hey!" shouted a voice from the convoy. I turned to see Sheik sitting next to Fledge in the bed of the lead truck, armed with Lorulean blasters and combat knives. "Get a move on, Link! We don't have much time!"
Robin, in his divine attire, nodded in my direction. "Sheik is correct, Link. I suggest you make haste."
I closed my eyes briefly, inhaling a deep breath. When I reopened them, a frown of determination was set firmly upon my face. I slid the bronze helm down over the bridge of my nose, gripped Majora's Mask tightly in my gauntlets, and trotted down to the shoreline.
"Now!" Byrne shouted into the walkie talkie.
Led by the Wardragon, the band of four warbirds, airlifted by large propellers, glided forward in the direction of the Outset Province's "impenetrable" Waker Fort. The fort was more of a barrier, constructing the northern border of Lorule, and it consisted of fifteen-feet-wide walls and five mountainous artillery towers.
Volga, piloting the massive Wardragon, headed toward the main tower. He willed the vehicle forward, gripping the dual-handled steerer tightly. When an artillery launcher shifted toward the Wardragon, Volga pressed his thumb down on the left button of the steerer. Bullets rained down upon the tower, but that didn't stop the launching of six homing rockets. Each curved inward, heading straight for Volga's windshield in attempts to kill the pilot. Frustrated with the aircraft's poor maneuverability, Volga pressed the right button of the steerer, and flames poured out of a front facing pipe, dousing the incoming rockets in a scorching inferno. The rockets exploded out of Volga's range, so he pressed on toward the tower.
Meanwhile, the warbirds were locked into combat with the remaining artillery towers. The eastern tower erupted into flames as rockets collided with the stone surface. Lorulean soldiers persisted, however, attempting to return fire at its respective warbird. Before they could, their tower collapsed and imploded, crumbling to the ground and spewing rubble in various directions. At the sight of the flames, a sadistic grin appeared on Volga's face.
When foot soldiers exited the main tower, pointing upward at the Wardragon with rocket launchers and laser rifles, Volga activated the vehicle's intercom. "Soldiers!" he shouted. "Arm the turrets! Fire downward upon the enemy!"
The port and starboard wings of the aircraft deployed three turrets each, hanging from the metal surface above. Hylians mounted the turrets, firing electric beams upon the enemy. At contact with these beams, Loruleans thrashed violently, then collapsed to the ground.
"Captain!" shouted a voice in the walkie talkie. "Warbird 0024 is hit! Repeat: Warbird 0024 is hit!"
"Descending?" Volga inquired, frustrated.
"Rapidly!"
Volga grumbled, then banked left, swooping behind his airborne allies and out of the enemy's crosshairs. Once near the westernmost tower, he saw the flaming engine, which gradually dragged the warbird down in its direction.
In the middle of the Wardragon's steerer was a red button; he made sure the western tower was in his line of sight, then pressed it. Several bombs shot through the air, striking the tower and crumbling it to pieces.
"Captain!" called the soldier again.
"Hmph," grumbled Volga. "I dispatched your tower, so there is no further use for you."
"…W-what!? Captain, wait! Please-"
Volga easily blew up the nearest engine, which sent the aircraft plummeting to the ground.
"What're you doing!?" Byrne shouted into the walkie talkie.
Ignoring the general, Volga returned to the main tower, where he narrowly avoided another flurry of rockets.
"I've had enough!" Volga roared. He knew that the soldiers had to reload the artillery launcher, so he had a chance to strike. He pressed the middle button again, which lobbed several bombs up into the air, descending toward the tower. With an intense battle cry, Volga sped forward with the Wardragon, approaching the tower at a rapid pace. Then, when he could practically hear the soldiers gasp in terror, he pressed the right button with his thumb, releasing another torrent of flames. The bombs collided with the now-flaming tower, creating an even larger explosion that made Volga's ears ring.
He ascended through the gray sky, noticing that one tower remained-- the tower to the east of the main tower. Volga once again banked left, commanding to his passengers, "We're going to attack it from above! Ready the explosives!"
Gliding slowly forward, Volga stalled, awaiting his soldiers' word. Finally, after nearly a minute: "We're ready, Captain!"
"On my command, then!" The captain willed the Wardragon forward with increasing speed, eventually slowing down once the vehicle's midsection was hovering above the tower. "Now!"
The bomb was deployed, plummeting down toward the roof of the tower. Once struck, the tower exploded in an inferno, then collapsed into ashes and rubble.
The Hylian convoy erupted into cheers, and Volga smirked, reporting to Byrne, "The deed is done. Let us proceed."
"Good work, Captain," Byrne muttered begrudgingly.
"Hmph," came Volga's humble reply.
Byrne continued: "Alright, listen-- every warbird shall now proceed in the water. Dive underneath and head to Koholint. They'd see you from afar if you flew, so this will be a more tactical approach. The convoy of trucks shall continue southward from here. Understood?"
"Aye!" shouted the pilots in unison, excluding Volga.
"Water…" he grumbled. "I hate water."
"Deal with it," replied Byrne. "The Wardragon-- I'm assuming-- will be just fine. Like the warbirds, it probably transforms into a submarine too, right?"
"Of course it does," Volga snapped.
"Then man up," Byrne retorted, "and lead the warbirds to the water."
"I'll lead you to your grave."
"This mission is too important, so I'll ignore that comment. Byrne out."
Volga grumbled angrily; he never liked water, yet he never knew why. He could swim just fine, but something about being underwater made him feel… powerless. In the air, he felt like he was teeming with power, especially aboard the Wardragon.
With a deep breath, Volga urged the vehicle westward, toward the coast, with the remaining aircrafts in tow. Anger and determination welling up within him, Volga descended the Wardragon from the sky, plunging into the depths of the ocean.
Midna sat at her desk, heart thumping rapidly as she looked out the window at the JumboTron. Daphnes stood beside her, leaning a hand on her desk. "Shad," Midna said nervously into her cell, "please tell me the hack was a success."
There was a pause, some faint shouting, and then Shad responded breathlessly, "Y-yeah… It was… a success."
Relieved, Daphnes smiled at the information, yet Midna remained wary. "What was that commotion?"
"Oh, uh… just some Hylian soldiers who figured out our plan." He remained panting. "Ashei and I… incapacitated them."
Suddenly the voice changed. "He means that I incapacitated them while he stood back and watched," Ashei muttered to Midna.
"Are you injured?"
"Nah. Shad got struck once or twice in the windpipe, but he'll be fine."
Midna thought she heard Shad murmur faintly, "Easy… for you… to say."
"Look out your window, Midna," Ashei said with a light tone. "The world knows."
Midna obeyed, turning to walk towards the Clock Tower's large window. Not too far down, on another building, was a JumboTron. It boomed the voices loud enough, even from Midna's distance, for her to hear.
Ganondorf was shown sitting on his throne. "Agent yellow boy. What brings you here?"
"It's Pipit," replied the boy in an impatient tone. "And I'm here for answers."
"Answers…" Humored, the king placed a gauntlet-clad fist underneath his chin. "You'll have to ask questions, first, boy."
"You know what I'm talking about," he snarled. "How do I know? The only reason I'm still working for you at this point is that you've been denying me access to your quarters for the past week. You're afraid that I know all about your 'secret weapon'."
Ganondorf scoffed. "Afraid!? Bah! Hardly! I could care less if you knew about the weapon. You can't resign, either-- I'd just kill you."
"Nonetheless," said the king, "you likely haven't an idea what my weapon is."
"I know exactly what it is," replied Pipit. "You've been giving the plague to the poor, since they're useless. It transforms them into those demons in the Haunted Wasteland. You're using those… things… as a weapon against Lorule."
Ganondorf simply chuckled, waving his hand out toward the door. "Begone."
"I'm not hearing any denial."
"You're not," agreed the king. "What are you going to do, then, boy? Do you want to send in your 'resignation letter' now?"
"Nope." The camera moved jerkily as Pipit took off the sunglasses. "Remember these glasses you issued your agents? Oh, yeah, they have a recording device in 'em. And what if I broadcast the footage of those demons, along with our conversation we had today, all across the kingdom?"
The JumboTron suddenly shifted to another film strip, where one could see, with the point-of-view of Pipit, a dozen dark, demonic beasts stampeding toward him. The camera zoomed in to one of these Shadow Beasts, and its features were clearly portrayed on the enormous screens. While the footage played, a voice spoke: "Hyrule and Lorule: this is Sir Daphnes, leader of the rebellion."
Midna turned to stare wide-eyed at the former king, who merely shrugged with a small smile. She was quite surprised he'd revealed himself; all of Hyrule thought he'd been killed, and most of Lorule didn't know who their true leader was. The latter was confirmed by many gasps and cheers from the streets below, where hundreds of pedestrians gathered at any JumboTron nearby.
"You think I have passed away-- that I had been killed by the tyrant, Ganondorf. But I assure you: I live.
"What you've seen here on this broadcast is a meeting with the former HBI agent, Pipit, and King Ganondorf himself.
"As admitted by the king, the demonic beasts you see now have been created by him. King Ganondorf ordered his scientists to develop a contagious parasite that slowly kills its host. The parasite grows and reproduces rapidly over time until the body cannot withstand such a large amount, and the host is killed. The parasites emerge from the lifeless body and form together to make one horrifying monster, called a Shadow Beast.
"These creatures are brought under the control of King Ganondorf, who sends them to the land between the two nations Hyrule and Lorule, otherwise known as the Haunted Wasteland. The Shadow Beasts await any form of life to enter their land and kill them, turning them into one of their own in the process.
"So what happens to those who fail, since they don't really get sent to labor camps, as the king had told you? They are infected with the specially-developed parasites.
"Cures have been developed, which enter the body and eradicate the parasites. But these are only available to those who passed their exams-- those who are useful to the kingdom. Treatments are also developed and given to the poor provinces to lengthen life. This is to decrease suspicion of the examination system.
"This is Ganondorf's secret weapon against the Lorule provinces. He is killing his own people, then transforming them into monsters to aid him in the war. He had kept this information withheld from the public, and now, it has been revealed."
The JumboTron shifted once more, to the Lorulean symbol, the golden Triforce. Above and below the symbol, text displayed:
THE MEMORY OF THE GOLDEN KINGDOM HAS VANISHED, BUT ITS LEGEND SURVIVES ON THE WIND'S BREATH.
O, HOLY GODDESSES, LEAD US TO OUR IMPENDING TRIUMPH, THE RETURN OF LIGHT, AND THE EVIL KING'S DEATH!
The JumboTron shut off, and Midna put her cell up to her ear. "I'd call that a success."
"Uh-huh," agreed Ashei.
"How is the Hylian public taking the new information?"
"Well," replied the girl, "I'm in the facility, so I can't see anything…"
When Midna sighed quietly in disappointment, Ashei spoke again.
"But I can definitely hear something." She laughed lightly. "They're outraged."
1715 HOURS.
WIND FISH SHORE, KOHOLINT PROVINCE.
DOMAIN: LORULE.
64 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
It was dark. Very dark. The bronze helm I wore only illuminated a small portion in my path; if I reached my hand out all the way I would not be able to see it. Nonetheless, I continued to swim downward at an approximate forty-five degree angle. I tried using the back of my right hand, which bore the Triforce of Courage, for a light source, but it grew dimmer and dimmer as I distanced myself from land.
I swam for another minute or so, until I saw a bright light tear away the darkness of the ocean. Piqued, I made my way toward the light source. It grew larger with every passing second, and I realized that it was heading toward me, as well.
Suddenly my earpiece-- which somehow, probably because of the Zora Tunic, wasn't affected by the water-- beeped. "Link!"
It was the voice of Robin. What could he want? And Robin never sounds distressed; something must be wrong.
"Enemy forces are in the water! Get out of there now!"
Yes, something definitely was wrong.
My eyes widened as I saw three more light sources, most likely projectiles, hurtling toward me at an alarming speed.
Without thinking, I spun and dived deeper into the water, and the rockets passed safely overhead. Looking back up through my bronze helm, I realized with horror that my attacker was an enormous submarine; behind it came three other pairs of headlights.
I didn't waste time looking through the windshield. (For some odd reason, I thought it was Groose trying to kill me.) Instead, I propelled myself backward by pushing my feet off the gargantuan sub's windshield, rocketing back toward land. Explosions from behind me rattled my eardrums, but I never turned my back.
Fortunately, the Zora Tunic's magic made me a lot faster than the submarines.
I leaped out of the water, bounded up the shore, and stole a glance behind me. Four metal vehicles rose from the ocean, the largest one in the lead, and ascended slowly in the sky. Each one had a flattened top surface and four propeller engines in each corner-- similar to LoCrafts, but these were built for war. The cockpits were identical to those of regular helicopters, yet the largest vehicle's cockpit resembled the head of a dragon.
I turned my head back and dashed forward. Ahead of me were the Lorulean forces, the convoy trucks aiming their turrets at the aircrafts, and I frantically searched for Zelda. I couldn't see her anywhere, so I decided to take cover first.
Maneuvering between the foot soldiers, I made my way behind the trucks. I swiveled my head left and right, looking for Zelda. Coming up short, I sagged my shoulders as fear wormed its way into my mind. My eyes landed upon Robin, who was still sitting atop Onox, and I dashed toward him.
"Link!" he called. "You must flee! We mustn't allow Hyrule to take the mask!"
"No!" I shouted back over the clamor of fearful soldiers. "I need to find Zelda. Do you know where she is?"
Robin scratched his chin. "I believe she is under the hospitality of Agent Fledge and Agent Sheik. Search for their vehicle."
"Okay."
Before I could leave, Robin grabbed my arm. "Link, please. You must leave. Zelda will be safe."
A memory resurfaced from within my mind. Robin had said that destroying Majora's Mask would release the spirit of Majora, and it could consume me. According to the legend of the original Termina, Majora's spirit lived within another mask… I could not remember exactly which one, but I figured that because of the existence of the other mask, I wouldn't be harmed if consumed by the spirit. Probably. But I knew one thing for certain: I had to destroy Majora's Mask.
As to not reveal my plan to Robin, I simply said, "I'm going to find her."
"Link!" Robin protested, but I was already gone.
Sure, I had to destroy the mask, but that could be done later. My first priority was to locate Zelda; I had to see for myself that she was safe before my qualms were alleviated.
"Where is the boy!?" Volga shouted into his walkie talkie. "Byrne- I see no green tunic in the entire area!"
"You do not?"
"No!"
"Well, um… he might be wearing a disguise to throw us off. Hang on; we're currently in southern Outset, and I'll help look for him when we get there."
"Until you find him," Volga snarled, gaining altitude in the Wardragon, "I will not land the Wardragon to go and steal the mask. Volga out."
Volga activated the megaphone, and he announced to the Loruleans, "Listen well, you worthless peasants. Hand over the Shadow Agent immediately or we will open fire."
All was silent except for the whirl of the aircrafts' engines and the waves lapping up against the shore.
"You have three more seconds. One…" Volga's thumb hovered over the artillery button on the control panel. "Two…" His thumb now rested atop the button. "Thr--"
Volga roared as a bullet pierced the windshield and lodged itself in his shoulder. A sniper had shot him. He reached out to launch the bombs, but something collided with the tail end of the Wardragon, throwing Volga out of his chair and sending the aircraft into a descending spiral.
The warbirds responded immediately, raining bullets down upon the Lorulean forces.
Clutching his wounded shoulder, Captain Volga struggled to lift himself back up to his chair, gripping the steerer and regaining control of the aircraft.
"Captain," spat the voice of King Ganondorf himself.
Volga responded into the walkie talkie, "Yes?"
"I hope you haven't lost the pendant I gave you. I went through a lot of work to steal that from the Ikana Province."
"No." Volga peered down at the necklace that hung over his armor. "It's still on my person."
"Good. Although, if you see the Shadow Agent, engage immediately. I do not care if you lose the pendant to him."
"What?" Volga inquired incredulously; the king was contradicting himself. "Why not?"
"You do not realize it," Ganondorf said slowly, "but that will progress my plan."
"Whatever," he replied rudely. "I see something suspicious."
He caught a glimpse of a person in blue, and Volga smirked, releasing a shower of rockets toward him.
1725 HOURS.
WIND FISH SHORE, KOHOLINT PROVINCE.
DOMAIN: LORULE.
64 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
I released a startled cry after sighting the incoming projectiles, evading out of the way and diving into the sand. The rockets collided with the solid earth, and the force from the explosions propelled me backward. Grunting in pain, ears ringing, I forced myself to rise to my feet, turning to view the enemy. The dragon-headed aircraft was facing me; I was being targeted. I was what they wanted. Noting to focus my attacks on that vehicle, I continued northward, where I'd last seen Sheik's truck.
"Agent Link!" shouted Robin once more, but I did not turn back.
Sheik's truck was on the end; Fledge was aiming a sniper at the cockpits, and Sheik mounted the turret, roaring while sending innumerable bullets toward the aircrafts.
"Fledge!" I called once in his hearing range.
Fledge turned his head, then ducked behind the makeshift barricade they had formed out of scrap metal. "Link, get under cover! They're after you!"
I obeyed, sliding feet-first in the grass and ending up next to Fledge behind the barricade. "Where the hell is Zelda?"
"She's fine," he said; the words still didn't appease my worries. We both grunted and covered our heads with our arms upon hearing an explosion somewhere in the battlefield. "A few soldiers came to pick 'er up. She's most likely in Clock Town now."
Defeated, I sighed solemnly. I trusted Fledge, but I fretted over Zelda nonetheless. No words could quell my growing fears for her wellbeing.
"Oh, dammit!" Sheik shouted over the thundering of the turret. "Link, look to the north!"
I did. My heart sank when I watched a Hylian convoy barreling down the shore straight toward us. There had to be about fifteen military trucks, all bearing heavy turrets and rocket launchers.
As if the giant aircrafts weren't enough.
"Shit!" Sheik exclaimed. "Yo, Viscen! Head toward that convoy!"
A man in the driver's seat poked his head out, yelling toward Sheik, "You sure? That's suicide!"
"Entirely sure, Captain! With this badass turret, there's no way they're taking me down!"
"Famous last words…" Viscen muttered. Still, though, he did as Sheik asked, turning the truck right and facing the oncoming threat.
"Link," Fledge said, "I'm going to that hill up there; it's a good vantage point!" He pointed to a hill east from where we currently were.
"Alright! Be careful, man!" I replied, giving him a quick salute.
Fledge returned the gesture, took a deep breath, and darted out from behind the barricade. He strapped his sniper over his back, and as he ran, he lobbed a grenade toward the Hylian convoy. The grenade landed in the bed of the lead truck, exploded, and flipped the entire vehicle forward until it landed top-down. Fledge evaded a missile heading toward him, then pressed on toward the hill.
Knowing my cover was about to be blown anyway, I leapt out from behind the barricade, knelt on one knee, shut one eye and pressed my open one into my sniper scope. I took aim, pointing the long barrel at the windshield of a nearby truck, and fired. I knew I'd hit my target when the truck spun out of control, ramming into another until finally coming to a halt.
Figuring I'd be able to hit another, I aimed this time at a soldier mounted upon a turret, who was firing toward Fledge. My bullet entered the soldier's skull, and I quickly shifted my aim toward the driver of the same truck. Once without an operator, the truck crashed into its ally and caught fire, eventually exploding.
I ducked back behind the barricade, checking up on Fledge. Fortunately, he had reached the hill, and he was scaling it at a quick pace. But something was off; Fledge kept grabbing at his neck, as if trying to pry something off of it. And then I remembered.
The collar.
I watched in horror as Fledge stopped in his tracks, clutching the collar around his neck and thrashing violently. With a flash of red, the collar released electricity into his neck, and Fledge dropped to the ground.
"No!" I roared, dashing out toward him. I halted when bullets and lasers kicked up sand in front of me, and I was forced to return to my barricade. It was futile; Fledge had been killed, and rushing out to get to him would just kill me as well.
I looked behind me, noticing that Robin had disappeared, and many trucks from the Lorulean forces lay flaming and in pieces. Some soldiers persevered, firing in vain at the giant aircrafts that would soon end their lives.
"Ah, shit!" Sheik shouted. "Fledge's down. Viscen, fall back! We need to band together with the remaining soldiers!"
"Alright!"
"Yo, Link! Hop on!" Sheik shouted. I vaulted over the side of the truck, landing in the back next to Sheik. Viscen drove in reverse, and Sheik and I fired at the oncoming convoy with turret and sniper. I managed to pick off two more drivers, and Sheik killed three mounted soldiers, leaving nine more vehicles. Excluding the aircrafts, of course.
My earpiece beeped. "Agent Link, retreat is our only option!" came the voice of Midna.
"No!" I shouted, attracting the attention of Viscen; apparently, he'd heard Midna's statement as well. I continued speaking. "We're not going to live to see Hyrule take over this land! If Hyrule wants this battlefield, they're gonna have to kill all of us first!"
"They will!" retorted Viscen.
I shook my head. "No, they will not. 'All of us' includes me."
We reached the remaining Loruleans, and Viscen stopped the truck. Sheik turned to speak, averted his eyes to behind me, and yelped, "Link!"
I turned just in time to be met with an iron punch to the face. Roaring in pain as the bridge of my nose collapsed, I toppled backward over the edge of the truck's bed, landing hard on the dirt below. Wiping away a stream of blood that began to leak from my nose, I slowly rose to my feet, but was only clobbered back to the ground when my legs were swept out from underneath me.
I landed facedown in the sand, grunting painfully. My vision threatened to black out, pain shot through my broken nose, and my eyes stung from the sand.
My shoulder was gripped rather strongly, and I was turned over to lie face-up. Squinting up at what seemed to be a de-armored samurai warrior on steroids, I noticed a badge on his shirt that symboled his authority. He was a general, but I'd never seen him in my life.
Next thing I knew, I was being ripped upward by the fabrics of my tunic, being gripped tightly by a prosthetic arm. "I've got you," he said with a husky voice and thick accent.
Still a little woozy from being punched, all I could manage was, "Wha…?"
"Shut the hell up, cretin," he spat, releasing his grip on me. "Where is the mask?"
I struggled to maintain balance, but eventually did so. "Y-you… cannot… have it."
"Take a look around, boy," he growled. "You are surrounded by Hylian forces. Your soldiers, in a total of ten seconds, all laid down their weapons and surrendered."
I surveyed the battlefield. Sheik was being restricted by a pair of Hylians; the remaining seven Lorulean trucks were busted, disarray, and lay unmanned; all Loruleans were on their knees. All of this managed to form a circle around me and the general, who stood a yard away, a triumphant sneer hidden beneath his bandana. When I looked up, I saw the four aircrafts hovering overhead, all eager to blow everything to smithereens.
"Your forces will all be killed by the Wardragon and warbirds if they attempt to aid you."
Still dazed as if drunk, I murmured, "War…birds?"
"I know you possess the mask of Majora. Fight me, puny 'hero of legend'."
With those words, I was cured. Focused. Determined. Anticipating. Poised. I squared off against the general, withdrawing my blaster.
Every Hylian simultaneously drew their assault rifles and pointed them at me.
The general sneered. "Drop your guns, kid."
Grumbling, I obeyed; my dual pistols, dual blasters, and sniper all hit the dirt, and I kicked them to some lucky bastard behind me.
When I reached for my knives, he halted me. "You can keep your blades. I could go for a greater challenge," he jeered, rotating his prosthetic arm in its socket.
"Whatever. It's your tombstone," I murmured, smirking. "'Death by stabbing' sounds a lot better than 'death by beating,' huh?"
The man chuckled."Heh. I like your style, kid. It's a shame you left; I think we would've gotten along well."
"I have a feeling we won't get along well today."
"Instead of fighting me, you may surrender the mask immediately, and your life will be spared."
"Just so I can give Ganondorf the ability to execute me publicly? Hm, no. I think I'll just kill you right now."
"Do that if you please, but remember the army that surrounds you."
"The army, or the slaves?"
"Enough!" he bellowed. "Fight me already, you coward!"
The man charged toward me, his first wound up to punch. "Coward!?" I roared, dashing toward him as well. He swung his fist, but I dodged, raking my knife across his shoulder. When he leaped backward, I raised my right hand for him to see the back of it. "No coward bears this symbol!" The Triforce of Courage shined brightly in agreement, and I was filled with its power.
The general roared in response, charging forward once more. We simultaneously wound our fists up-- he with his left, prosthetic arm and me with my right arm-- and swung. Our fists met; my knuckles split against the thick iron, my elbow jarred within its socket, and every bone in my arm seemed to shatter. But then, somehow, everything in my arm was healed, and to my dismay, the force from my punch sent him flying backward.
In awe, I gawked at the shining insignia on the back of my right hand. It had somehow allowed me to overpower the man with an iron arm.
But the fight wasn't over.
Perplexed, the general flipped back up, snarled, and flexed his clawed fingers. He lunged at me, slicing diagonally with dragon-like talons, and I rolled out of the way. Landing on the sand, he followed up with two hacks just as I rose to my feet. On his second swipe, his claws raked against my chest painfully, tearing through the bulletproof vest and tunic before meeting my skin.
Grunting in pain, I dodged another swipe, hopping backward to avoid his onslaught. As I looked around, noticing that my allies were restrained, the trucks were destroyed, and the four enormous aircrafts loomed ominously above, I came to a realization.
What did I have to lose?
If I killed this bastard who stood in front of me, I'd just get shot-- or, better yet, nuked by the aircrafts. My allies were about to be dead. Zelda, from what I'd heard, was safe-- for the time being.
The odds were overwhelmingly against me already, so I'd might as well prevent Hyrule from an incredibly easy victory.
I withdrew the heart-shaped mask by one of its top spikes, raising it upward in the air. The general's eyes widened.
I dropped the mask. With my glowing right hand, I raised my knife.
"N-no!" the general protested, lunging toward me.
But I had already brought the knife down, stabbed it into the surface of the mask, and released the spirit of Majora. The light emanating from my hand mixed with the clouds of unrelenting darkness that swarmed out of the relic, poking at my mind and whispering coaxing, indecipherable words. I released an agonized bellow towards the heavens, noticing that my voice was much deeper, more powerful.
Majora's spirit was, indeed, consuming me.
Suicide, was it? I'd disagree.
I thought I was about to die. But instead, the spirit of Link blacked out, and it was replaced by an unknown entity.
Byrne's eyes widened with horror as he stared at the Deity before him. It had been Link a mere moment ago, but after he destroyed the mask, the Deity manifested.
The humanoid had white hair and electric eyes without any irises or pupils. His face was smeared with red and blue war paint in tribal patterns, his tunic was replaced by scaly steel armor, and he wielded a massive sword with a blade that appeared to be an elongated, sharpened number "8". It stood there, hand glowing, piercing white eyes locked with Byrne's.
As panic clouded his judgement, Byrne shouted, "Open fire!"
The Deity merely smirked.
The soldiers took aim, but were hesitant to shoot it. Before they could, the humanoid was already in motion, striding toward the general with fury in his eyes. As he progressed, his hand glowed brighter, and soon his blade was illuminated additionally.
Byrne backed up, but eventually hardened and stood his ground; he narrowed his eyes, bent his knees, and raised his prosthetic arm in preparation. The blade met his arm with a flash of golden light; Byrne squinted and grunted as he was thrown backward into a wall of horrified Hylians.
The Deity stood there, both hands gripping the hilt of his broadsword, and narrowed his eyes at the enemy before him. He elicited a deep battle cry and charged, swinging diagonally and raking the blade across the general's chest.
Byrne fell, huffed, and clutched his wound. Blood poured through his torn blue vest, and he felt weaker with each passing moment. As waves of exhaustion threatened to black him out, Byrne glared up at the Deity. With his last breath, he croaked, "…What are you!?"
The Deity turned after smiting the soldier that restricted the Sheikah boy, then simply lifted his chin at the general. He did not speak; there was no need to acknowledge the enemy. He thrashed as a flurry of bullets struck his solid exterior, then turned to stare furiously at the perpetrators with wide, unblinking eyes. The band of soldiers faltered, gasped in fear, then turned to flee.
Instead of pursuing them, the Deity simply allowed them to leave. There was no need to attack those who posed no threat.
A cluster of maybe seven soldiers began to drag Byrne away toward their military trucks, and the Deity tried in vain to stop them. They'd already distanced themselves far enough that it would simply be a waste of time to pursue.
And time was needed. The Deity knew not when his spirit would escape the body of Link; therefore, he would make his limited time count.
The Loruleans experienced a glimmer of hope; the Deity was causing many Hylians to flee for their lives. Just as they were about to celebrate, a torrent of missiles came raining down upon them.
The Deity hissed after being struck in the back, then turned and glared with fury at one of the three smaller aircrafts. With an almighty roar, the humanoid skyrocketed through the air toward the vehicle, latching onto a wing and clambering up to the top. His heavy boots thudded heavily on the aircraft as he made his way toward the cockpit, and he lunged upward. He brought his broadsword down through the windshield, shattering the glass and thrusting into the upper body of the pilot. The aircraft spun out of control, spiraling downward to meet its doom.
The Deity waited until at the same altitude of the next aircraft, then leaped off of the crashing vehicle and through the stormy sky. He raised his blade, catching a strike of lightning, and slammed it down through the next windshield after colliding painlessly with the cockpit. The pilot was impaled through the chest, thrashing violently as electricity coursed throughout his body.
As the aircraft descended, the Deity stood atop its wing, peering out at the leader. The dragon-headed vehicle turned toward him, and it released a torrent of homing rockets. Bracing himself, the Deity stood in a stance similar to that of a batter's; when the rockets were near, the Deity spun in a circle and swung his broadsword horizontally at the rockets.
Most projectiles exploded, throwing the Deity off balance, but two were sent flying back toward the lead aircraft.
Grunting, the pilot veered to the left, and the projectiles collided with the right side of the cockpit. Volga glared down with disdain upon the Deity below, noticing with humor that its ride was about to crash.
As the aircraft's descent rate increased more rapidly, the Deity performed yet another mighty leap, soaring through the lightning-torn sky and clinging onto the front-right wing of the lead aircraft. Grimacing, he swung his legs upward, standing upright on the vehicle. He dashed for the cockpit, seeing the flames erupt on the right side of its exterior. Oddly, the windshield was already shattered, revealing the pilot clearly; he was adorned in red samurai-like armor, resembling the scales of a dragon, and a silver dragon-headed helm crowned his head.
The pilot jerked his head backward, black war paint concealing parts of his cheeks and the rims of his eyes, and growled furiously at the Deity that stood atop his vehicle.
The Deity sprinted toward the cockpit, struggling to maintain his footing as the pilot jerked the vehicle in sporadic directions. Finally he reached his destination, reached inside for a red handle, and yanked it upward.
"What are you-- OH, DAMN YOU!" roared the pilot as his seat was ejected out of the aircraft, and he soared upward through the sky.
The Deity commandeered the vehicle, gripping the steerer and veering it toward the final aircraft. Curious as to what it did, the Deity pressed the biggest, brightest button, and shrugged.
Gigantic missiles shot through the air and slammed into the vehicle, and it exploded into a perpetual inferno.
So that was what the button did.
Smirking, the Deity released his control of the aircraft, allowing it to descend toward the ground. He waited patiently, kneeling over the edge of the open cockpit, for the perfect time to jump.
When the Deity noticed it was going to crash on a cluster of Hylian military trucks, he smirked, then leaped out of the aircraft at the last possible moment.
He circled his arms and legs through the air as he fell, propelling himself away. The aircraft exploded behind him, rattling the Deity's eardrums; the force from the blast helped propel him further away from the flames.
The humanoid collided forcefully with the sandy ground, knees buckling beneath him. He grimaced, then looked up at the storming sky. Parachuting down was none other than the pilot of the dragon-headed aircraft.
When he landed, the Deity gripped the hilt of his broadsword anxiously. The pilot exited the chair and growled at the Deity, "You."
No response came from the humanoid.
"You dare oppose me? The ruthless Volga?" He slowly began walking toward the Deity. "You are no mere mortal. The goddesses are interfering, transforming you into this… demon."
How ironic that the pilot called him a demon. Who was the one working for the Demon King's descendant?
"You are manipulating fate. Cheating death. You have no true courage, boy. I do not care if you bear that specific Triforce. True courage is fighting without the goddesses' assistance."
For the first time since possessing Link's body, the Deity spoke. His voice was smooth; deep, loud and imposing, but smooth. "Courage is merely an instinct. It is indefinable. That is where you are wrong."
Volga lost his temper, roared, and charged toward the Deity.
He merely smirked. As soon as Volga was near, the Deity drove his broadsword through the thick, scaly armor of his midsection, driving it through the other end. Volga sputtered as he was lifted off his feet. The Deity noticed a glimmering ruby around Volga's neck, and he yanked the necklace off before dropping the lifeless captain to the ground.
As he studied the necklace incredulously, the Deity's soul suddenly dissipated, and the spirit of Link returned at last.
TIME UNKNOWN.
LOCATION UNKNOWN.
DOMAIN: LORULE (LIKELY).
MODERATE TEMPERATURE
"Incredible…" murmured the voice of Robin. "And here I thought he needed the power of the Master Sword to destroy the spirit of Majora. Clearly, all he needed was the power from the back of his hand. It's just… incredible."
"Will he be alright?" I silently hoped that was Zelda.
"Of course, my dear," said a third voice. If that previous voice was Zelda, than the most recent one better have been her father's.
"How's his condition?"
"Dr. Gero said he had a minor concussion, which was most likely from releasing the spirit of Majora. Aside from that and a broken nose, he's fine."
"He found the third pendant, too."
"Did he, now?"
"The pendant of power?"
"Yeah. Don't you see it? It's around his neck."
"So… that means…"
"It is time to awaken the Master Sword."
With that, my eyes snapped open. I was lying in a hospital bed, an unattractive bandage plastered over the bridge of my nose, head swimming painfully. I surveyed the room; Zelda sat at my bedside, and Robin and Daphnes stood at the far wall.
"Link," Zelda whispered softly, her smile lightening my mood in an instant.
I smiled too-- well, I tried-- and sat up in my bed. The meager act sent spots racing up to my eyes, and I had to blink several times to regain my vision. "…Hey--" I cut myself off when I looked again at Daphnes.
He plastered on a fake, toothy grin when I caught his eye. I saw right through it, glaring furiously at the man. Daphnes' smile was then wiped clean off, and he scrutinized me with a puzzled expression. "Link? Are you okay?"
I clenched my teeth and fists, restraining myself from attacking him right then and there. He was Zelda's father, after all-- well, sort of. But that didn't mean I couldn't be angry with him.
And angry was a major understatement.
"You killed Fledge."
My updates are slowing down a bit because of the increasing length of my chapters, so I hope that's okay with you.
If you want an estimate of how long this story will be, I'm actually now thinking 35 to 45 chapters.
My third story, Counting Stars, will be published sometime this month or in April.
TBC.
Until then, Review, Follow, Favorite, eat sausage, do whatever your heart desires. Just make sure it's legal.
~SausageLink43