So here we were again.
The Powerful King of Evil.
The Wise Princess.
The Courageous Knight.
The Fallen Hero.
And Me.
The Igniter of this Conflict.
The Crux. The Core.
The Shade.
People had gotten the hint, making haste to escape with their lives as Two battles raged around them. The Champions, without their weapons, used their own strengths to aid the guards to help them escape. It was enough as they valiantly fought off the Yiga attempting to cut off the exits.
Soon, they managed to get everyone out, leaving themselves, the soldiers, and the other Heroes to fight off the onslaught of Yiga Footsoldiers and Blademasters.
The Piano struck a sour note as Sparks shrew off the holy blade as Ganondorf parried a heavy swing, the force behind the blow forcing him to his knee. The Fierce Deity he faced spun his double-helix sword into an ice-pick grip, bashing him in the face with the pommel.
Stunned, blood flowing from his nose and into his palm, the evil king watched through his fingers as the hero corrected his grip and swung down in a killing blow. Struggling, he lifted his sword just in time to block the swing before it could connect, the concussive force generated by it blowing him across the floor.
As he back up, he watched his opponent walk towards him. It was a slow walk, with heavy footfalls as his boots crunched on the broken marble floor.
The Yiga attempted to aid their king, but their efforts were dashed when the Deity slashed casually, hot beams of light erupting from his sword and through the Footsoldiers. The wounds black and charred from the blinding hot energy that ripped the Yiga in twain.
A Blademaster swung his own sword, the razor wind from the blade glancing off the deity's armor without so much as a scratch. His second attempt was a more realistic horizontal swipe, which met his target's gauntlet and shattered on impact when he casually lifted his hand to block.
The same hand instantly seized him by the throat and lifted the smaller man in the air, his grip closing on their larynx.
"My part is done." His dark voice murmured, blood seeping down his hand as the Yiga thrashed, his mask falling off and blood flowing from his mouth, yellow eyes wide in fear. "No Reputation to taint. No wide-eyed idealists to impress."
Kraak!
Blood spewed forth as the Yiga's limp body was dropped like a piece of trash, the Deity staring the evil king down with blank eyes.
"My mercy has ebbed, but my courage has not."
Ganondorf raised his hand, the two fused shadows on his belt glowing with a dark magic as he seized out at his opponent. This too, was shrugged off as red lightning bounced harmlessly off the Fierce Deity's body, his calm expression never changing.
"My turn."
His hand raised up, and in a flash of golden light, the Triforce mark on his hand encased Ganondorf. His limbs were locked in place as a 3D barrier of the Triforce trapped him. His jailer crossing the room in a flash, sword reared back.
And laid into him with a series of painful slashes, blue marks criss-crossing his body as the rush continued for several solid seconds, ending with a mighty thrust that destroyed the prison and launched the king of evil through the doors and into the foyer.
A fused shadow separated from his belt just before, clattering onto the cracked marble floor as it's owner went flying away.
The Fierce Deity stopped to consider the artifact, before chasing after his target, hellbent on ending him.
Twilight, still winded from the long fall and massive energy drain that Ganondorf inflicted on him, slowly stumbled to his feet and ascended the stairs, his hand fumbling for his sword.
He drew the blade and began to slowly approach a Yiga Footsoldier whose back was to him.
Only for a figure in Sheikah clothing to leap onto the assassin, knocking him to the ground, and promptly shove a fistful of needles through his mask.
They glanced up at him for a moment, their green eyes studying him for injuries, before nodding. Their face covered by a dark blue face mask, their blonde ponytail swishing as they moved.
It didn't take much for him to recognize her.
It was Zelda under that mask.
His eyes darted to the side as a Yiga screamed for blood, swinging his sickle down on the confused hero. Twilight turned his back, the Sickle sparking off the back of his armor. He promptly spun back and buried his sword to the hilt in his stomach, his tolerance for this cult at it's lowest.
Link was in the same alley, feeling no remorse as he butchered their forces. He was sore and his body ached for a rest, but he was able to keep up with the much healthier Zelda, who's sheikah abilities seemed on par with Impa...
Oh...It made sense now.
The top windows had been shattered and more Yiga poured in, attacking in swarms that Master Sword thankfully kept up with, meeting the demand with it's blue glow and razor edge.
He turned, thrusting the blade out, to find it's edge placed against the side of Zelda's neck. Her own arm was out, holding a needle in an ice-pick grip, the point against his own neck.
"Three on your left." She said.
"Two on both sides." He replied.
They nodded in unison.
Link turned, swiping down sideways to take down one. Dodging a sickle, he cracked his shield across the assailant's face, breaking his neck. Then with a cry, he shoved the blade upwards through the last one's jaw. He found it necessary to let out a battle cry in the very much dead Assassin's face before kicking his lifeless corpse down the stairs.
Zelda turned, kicking herself upwards and in the face of the Assassin behind her, stabbing him the chin with her needles before slamming him into the floor. Her knee on his chest, she whipped up and tossed the last three expertly, taking down two more as they closed in on her. The last one charging at her, her hands going outwards to meet his stomach as a blast of holy energy blew him off the platform and onto the hard floor below.
While this battle raged on, the figure in the back only watched, Amber eyes wide with fear and confusion. Agahnim steeled his figure as the attackers noticed him among the shadows, his body numb even as his hands reached for the short-blade on his back.
That was the Fierce Deity, the man who had captured him before...when he was alive. It was impossible, as was the other Hero's presence. Twilight, which he had called himself, seemed only slightly older than the young adventurer who had slain him during the Twilight War.
How were these two monsters who had caused him so much dread and pain still alive? It was beyond even his own power to last that long without reincarnation.
Nevertheless, he sought to ally with them, not fear them.
The hate he felt was gone, he wasn't Ganondorf nor was he Ganon.
He was something better.
Stronger even.
Agahnim breathed out a harsh breath he had been holding, finding his blade in the neck of a Yiga Footsoldier. Yanking it out, he flicked his wrist, his own magic swaying the weak minded Assassins to his side, their red uniforms glowing blue to signify the change in allegiance. They instantly began brutally attacking their own side, as Agahnim walked through the carnage without care.
He had never liked the clan, he preferred the Bokoblins and Moblins. Their wild ways yet refined civilization was something that made him feel welcome when he wasn't anywhere else.
But the Yiga's skills did not go unnoticed by him. They would be useful as allies, but their undying devotion would never turn to him, the failed resurrection of their king.
But all it took was a little magical nudge and their minds were his.
Funny how that works.
As he descended the stairs, he noticed that his counterpart, the successfully resurrected Ganon, had dropped a piece of his power. Agahnim raised his hand, the Fused Shadow flying to his palm. He cupped and observed the artifact, feeling power surge through his palms.
He casually drew his short blade and impaled the Yiga Footsoldier sneaking up on him, kicking the body down the stairs for good measure, all without breaking stride or even looking away from the item in his hands.
Clipping it to his belt, he turned to look at the ground floor. The Champions and Hyrule Soldiers were doing great against the stealth oriented Yiga. The Lieutenant, a newcomer as he heard, had joined them and led his troops in battle, even in an enclosed space.
The Champions had no weapons at first but were given some by the soldiers. He swayed his hand at a Footsoldier about to attack Riju, who was still a bit new to combat. After her attacker was switched to their side, she gave him thanks with a wave.
Returning the gesture, Agahnim looked up the stairs. The Princess and her two knights seemed to be doing fine as well, the swarms of Yiga seemed to be finally thinning out, some even retreating from the slaughter.
Link however, the younger one in green, seemed to be lagging behind his allies, his attacks slow and very readable.
Was he wounded already? That didn't seem right...
Agahnim swiftly took down another assailant, climbing back up the stairs to regroup. With a flick of the wrist, he turned two more Yiga to his side and sent them off. Once on the elevated platform, he held his hand out to Link's back, using his magic to heal him quickly.
Link had to stop his assault for a moment, the soreness in his ribs and body disappearing, the exhaustion that weighed him down all but vanishing. He looked down at his hands, the pale flesh that had slightly regained color in the past day had fully vanished, his skin returning to it's normal hue.
He was all better in a matter of seconds.
He turned around, coming face to face, or face to mask in this case, with Agahnim. His hand was out with a light magic sweeping towards him, a healing type with a greater intensity than Levia's.
"Thank you." He inclined his head.
"No problem, watch out for the blue-colored Yiga, they're on our side." Agahnim said, sheathing his short blade.
"Blue-colored?" Link repeated.
Agahnim forced his hand out, just past Link's face. When the Knight turned, he saw a Yiga about to slash down on him. But the Assassin had stopped, and gradually, his red uniform began to glow blue. He dropped his arms and instantly began to assault his fellow clan members.
"Oh..." Link blinked. "I'll keep it in mind."
The last wave of Yiga poured in, Agahnim and Link going back to back as they surrounded them both.
"You as good with a weapon as you are with magic?" Link inquired.
Agahnim nodded and snapped his fingers to summon his trident, holding it in a his form 3 stance with the points held upwards.
Meanwhile, Twilight was busy absolutely mauling the Yiga who had sought him out specifically. Ganondorf obviously didn't like him especially and must've ordered them to focus on him alone.
It was bad call on his part.
As he pulled his sword out of an over-zealous Footsoldier's chest, he noticed a Blademaster in the reflection of his sword, he had enough time to tuck and roll out of the way of his wind-cleaver and back onto his feet. The Razor wind clipping his ear and drawing blood.
That only served to piss him off more.
"You're gonna die right now!" He growled, features turning feral. "Like...a Dog!"
He lept forward, transforming into a wolf mid-jump and tackling the Blademaster in a flurry of fur, claws, and sharp teeth. The latter sinking into the flimsy cloth they called armor and into the Blademaster's throat, feeling the warm flow of his blood in his mouth as he brutally ripped the flesh away.
With a savage growl, he turned his bloody maw to the other Yiga.
Zelda felt the flow of combat shift around her, her time spent with the now younger Impa was paying off in full as the flurries of blades and blood didn't even touch her.
Honestly, her training began because she didn't want Link to worry about her when alone or so that if there was a threat, she'd have to stay on the sidelines while they dealt with it because her powers were faded.
It was a complete accident when her powers re-awoke during a sparring session, but it was an opportunity, as Impa called it, to incorporate some of her powers into the training itself.
Which turned out well as she sent blasts of magic into the Yiga Clan attacking Her Kingdom. Her Citizens. Her Friends.
In her scholarly and royal mindset, she felt a bit sick about killing another human being. But Impa had taught her that if she showed hesitation, they would kill her right then and there. It was a sad lesson, but it held a lot of truth these days.
She had bitterly accepted that fact.
Yet, even as she dodged and attacked, she didn't feel like she was in control of her own actions. It was like she was a passenger in the experience, watching through the eyes of a stranger as they did battle and slew countless adversaries.
Her thoughts were shatter when a hand seized her throat and hoisted her upwards, watching through her green eyes as the face of the Yiga Clan Master came into view. Strum, having recovered from being swatted aside by the Fierce Deity, decided to attack the Princess and cripple the Kingdom.
At least then, they would have some victory here today.
Honestly, it was sad to see him barely begin his evil gloating and long-winded speech when he felt the pain of a poison course through his veins. His gaze looking down at the Princess' arms to find that she'd jabbed a fistful of poison needles into his chest, the red cloth he wore wet from his own blood.
He coughed and released her, falling to his hands and knees as the poison did it's work, his vision darkening and breathing becoming shallow. He attempted to push himself up, only to feel a foot on the back of his head, keeping him down. Two spears points were placed on both sides of his neck, those of soldiers who peeled off from the ending battle to aid their Princess.
It was a sight that scared the Yiga and was worthy of a painting. The Princess, her sheikah garb unscuffed and without a drop of blood on it, her golden hair tied back, mouth covered, and green eyes staring down, her foot placed on the back of the Clan master's head to keep him down.
Stuck at two points of death, Strum collapsed into unconsciousness.
Without their leader, the Yiga turned tail and escaped with what was left of their honor. The battle waned and ended, with mountains of Yiga corpses littering the ball room.
The Heroes, soldiers, and Champion's converged on the Princess, looking down at the incapacitated Clan Master.
"Is he dead?" Link inquired, nudging Strum with his foot.
Zelda shook her head. "It's a paralysis poison, he'll be out of commission for a while. Guards, get him to the dungeon and get someone in here to clean up this mess."
"Yes ma'am!" They bowed and carried Strum's motionless body away.
Link finally turned to the Princess and looked her up and down, her Shiekah garb showing off an athletic form that he had no idea she possessed. After all, she was a scholar, not a fighter.
Not that he didn't mind.
"I don't wanna say you surprised me, Princess." He remarked. "But then I'd be lying. I assume Impa had a hand in this?"
"She trained me, yes." Zelda nodded, pulling down the blue face mask. "Since my powers were inert, I decided to begin training with her so I could still help you even without my powers. It was sheer coincidence when they resurfaced during training."
"I would've taken it in stride, combine your powers with your training and you'd be unstoppable." He looked around at the carnage. "As evidenced by the bodies around us."
"Indeed." She frowned, crossing her arms. "While taking a life brings a sick feeling to my stomach, it is sometimes necessary."
"Yes." Link nodded. "I don't take pleasure in it either, Princess."
Twilight walked up to them, in his human form again, blood staining his mouth and hands.
"Him, on the other hand." Link tensed. "I think he has a serious problem when it comes to battle."
Twilight raised his eyebrow, wiping his mouth with his sleeve and looking to the side. "Why the hell didn't the turrets activate?"
Agahnim walked up, eyes behind his mask calculating. "Ganon's magic was able to deactivate them, but he isn't powerful enough to turn them to his side. Same with the guardians."
Zelda looked over at him, surprised by his knowledge. The bloody spear on his back proof that he aided in their battle. Nevertheless, Ganondorf was still a problem.
"How did he come back anyway?" She mused, cupping her chin. "I sealed away Calamity Ganon, so Ganondorf should've gone as well-"
"No!" Agahnim hissed. "That man is not Ganondorf, he disgraces that name. He is Ganon, driven and alive only by Malice."
Twilight promptly walked over and slugged Agahnim across the face, knocking his mask off and making him fall to the floor clutching his bleeding jaw.
"Agahnim!" Riju attempted to help him, only to be stopped by the point of Twilight's sword, the former hero giving her a glare that could kill.
Silently, she backed away.
Twilight grasped the mage's chin and lifted his face for all of them to see.
The face of Ganondorf Dragmire.
"What..!? But...how!?" Zelda gasped, looking at the Gerudo chief, feeling betrayed. "Riju!"
"Do not blame her!" Agahnim swatted Twilight's hand away. "If you want me dead, so be it, but leave her out of this!"
"Good enough for me." Twilight growled, raising his sword up.
"No!" Riju yelled. "You...have to stop the other one first!"
"Shade has that covered." Twilight retorted, unmoved.
The blade came down...and flew across the room as Link barged in with his shield, knocking the blade away and bruising Twilight's hands.
"Wild!" He growled, stepping back.
"Enough! He healed me and if he meant harm, he wouldn't have done so." Link shouted. "I say we hear him out and if anyone wants to object, let's hear it!"
Twilight glared at his descendant, before walking off to retrieve his sword. The Champions were skeptical, but intent to listen.
"I agree with Link." Sidon said. "This is a curious situation and we shouldn't act so hastily."
"Seconded." Yunobo agreed.
Teba and Riju nodded and Zelda, while cautious, agreed as well. Riju and Link both helped Agahnim up, he was taller than Riju, around Link's height. His hood had fallen off as well, he did resemble a younger Ganondorf, his hair was messy and simply looked like a shorter version of Link's.
"Now...Ganondorf-"
"Call me Agahnim." The male Gerudo muttered, wiping his bloody chin. "Only when Ganon dies will I take that name again."
"Alright, Agahnim." Link placed a hand on his shoulder. "What exactly is happening?"
The night air was chilly as Ganon was tossed about like a ragdoll, the foyer had been long abandoned by their battle and it poured out into the night air, on an elevated platform that overlooked Castle Town.
"It was always me, wasn't it?" The Fierce Deity mused, heavy footsteps getting closer. "It was I who exposed your plot. It was I who wiped out your army. It was I who beat you down and dragged you to Arbiter in chains."
Ganon struggled to his feet, his strength fleeting and coming in short bursts. This man, if he even was a man, was without a doubt that same person he described.
He hit harder than a Goron, was faster than a Zora, and was lighter than a Deku Scrub. The heavy-set king didn't stand a chance back then and he didn't stand a chance now...
But maybe...
"I am your Grim Reaper." The Deity growled, hoisting him up by the neck. "And I say your time has come, Ganondorf."
Ganondorf looked up, a crimson glow shone off his amber eyes, his bloody lips curled into a smile.
"Not yet..." He chuckled, his body vanishing into black and red particles.
The Fierce Deity dropped his empty hand, staring at the palm he'd held the king with. His blank gaze looking up, the sickly red glow of the Blood Moon reflecting off his white eyes.
"It doesn't matter how far you travel, Ganondorf."
He clenched his fist, sharp teeth gritted.
"I will find you again..."
Dropping his hand, he turned heel and walked back up to the Castle, head low and gaze steeled in determination.
"And I will end your life."
Perhaps, he would stay in this world a bit longer.
A god among mortals once again.
A short little chapter, but still good.
So that's the truth of it, the Yiga screwed up big time and accidentally revived TWO Ganondorfs. One still fueled by Hate and Malice, the other devoid of either.
I wanted to have Shade summon the spirits of the masks when he was the Fierce Deity. The mental image of Ganon being tag-teamed by a Goron and Zora was awesome, but the thought of him being attacked by a Deku Scrub was just too much for me. XD
I did allow him to use the Triforce Slash from SSB. Kinda explains where Wild!Link got his flurry rush from.
Now, Riju was against Agahnim at first. (Remember, his first meeting had him put a knife to her throat and threaten her.) But after explaining the situation, she was more willing to trust him. Him being a Male Gerudo might've had something to do with it.
This is end of the Saga, the name of the next one will be released later this week.
Also, I am changing the name of the Saga since I had planned for it to be more shorter and just have a big epic battle with Ganon at the end, but I've got more plans for this. So this is officially the end of the "Festival Saga" now.