Innumerable soldiers of opposing factions clashed in the dim halls of the goron city. The sounds of clashing swords and shield rose from the battlefield, loud enough to half-deafen any unfortunate listener. The sounds of this were mingled with the death-screams of soldiers from both ends of the conflict, dying for their cause. Conquest and defense of home were butting in the halls of the stony city, and defense seemed to be losing.
They had been under siege for well over a week now, and even the powerful warriors they possessed were unable to hold all the ground from the never-ending numbers of Shadow-Link's army. The single goron race fought against all manners of beasts from across the entirety of the land. The majority of enemy forces were tall, heavily muscled, reptilian monsters. They towered over the short gorons like invincible green titans. Some of the gorons had thought them invincible. That was until the ranger woodman had made short work of one, sending it's bright purple blood to the floor in swaths. That had given the gorons the confidence they needed to fight back the against the invaders. While short, the gorons were fierce fighters, and the ground was soon stained purple.
Yet, even with such ferocity, they had been pushed back by the vast numbers. The initial battle to this war had begun in the high ceilinged cavern that greeted every visitor to the goron city. They had been pushed back several hundred yards over the past week, and were proud that that was all they had lost. The three human fighters had proven incredibly valuable, somehow undoing inhuman numbers of foes. It had taken four days until shadow-Link sent forth his powerful elite soldiers, the zora.
They entered the city with a fluid suddenness and washed over the goron forces like a flood of armor and blades. The beings were all of the same form as the human in the tunic, Link. Tall, lean, and powerful creatures with pale-blue skin, like a fish that hasn't seen sunlight in years. Dark empty eyes peered out from hollowed sockets in the long skulls. They wore thin armor, which provided minimum flexibility, yet maximum flexibility and speed. Three schools, 12 zora each, were dispatched in the first attack. They had been gifted with crafting prowess that rivaled even the gorons. Their swords were deep blue, like a sea from Link's world. The blades were three feet long, rising and falling in three arcs on the razor side, like waves, each smaller than the previous.
All in all, they came to the war like grim reapers, powerful and dark. They tore through the first line of gorons before anyone realized they'd arrived. They had that ability. It was as though they could just blend in to their surroundings. Then Narid, the goron military leader, had roared his notice of them, and the gorons suddenly found themselves looking into the emotionless eyes of the zora. Battle had commenced instantly, with both zora and goron taking casualties. The gorons had been driven back, but had finally vanquished what they prayed was the final zora. They had set up camp. Now Link, the ranger, and the dark one, were seated with Narid, and Gaius, talking about what to expect. Somehow, the three humanoids had gained enough favor with the king to attain the same level of trust a general had.
"What can we expect?" Gaius asked, looking at the four fighters in front of him with a look of mingled desperation and pained hope.
"We ain't got a lot to give. The soldiers're losin' morale. We can't take it much longer." Narid said gruffly. He was heavily armored, with his massive sword slung across his back.
"Do you not understand? We do not need to take it much longer." Alnahim said, as though with was an observation anyone could have made.
"Oh? Ya got any news, wizard? 'Cause I'd love to hear it." The militant replied, anger touching his voice. He had disliked the wizard the moment he'd laid eyes on him, disliking the way he hardly ever showed his face. How a genuine smile never touched his lips. Only that damned, patronizing smirk. Narid was of the opinion that magic was for the weak, and that swords and shields were the tools of war for the lion-hearted.
"The Zora are here." Alnahim said arcanely, as if that explained everything. When he saw no one else understood, he sighed in exasperation, and carried on. "The zora are Link's elite soldiers. He would not send them into battle unless he was nearing the end of his expanse, meaning he is. I say that this conflict will end, one way or the other, within three days. Within that time, he will stop sending in soldiers, and will come here himself. That is when we shall see if our strength is great enough. From my gatherings, we aren't."
"Then whattawe do?" Narid asked.
Alnahim looked at Link and Jareth knowingly, and closed his amethyst colored eyes.
"Link is on a quest to take something from this land. He has gotten embroiled in this whole conflict as nothing more than a distraction to his true goal. Three powerful items lie in this land. He already has one. With each one he gains, his strength increases. If he hurries, he may be able to get one of these items and return. With his improved strength, we may end up winning this conflict."
"No!" Link exclaimed, entering the conversation for the first time. "I'm not leaving everyone right before the battle comes. If he comes, and I'm not here..."
"If he comes, and you are here, you'll be too weak to stop him. If he comes, and your gone, the result will be no different. The only true option is for you to get the second piece of the triforce, from the heartless savannah. Trust me, I'd love to go along in a prideful haze, thinking we can take him down with the 'power of friendship!'" Alnahim said, mockingly, "but we can't. My magic is strong, and I may be able to hold my own with him for a while, but he's more powerful. The gorons here cannot beat him. Jareth cannot beat him. You cannot beat him. You need to become more powerful, and then perhaps our concerted efforts can bring about his end."
Link swallowed, feeling hot flames swell in his cheeks. He looked down at the floor.
"I still don't want to go..." He muttered.
"Link, it's best you do." Jareth said encouragingly. "We're all relying on you here. We need you to go do this. It's all riding on you."
"If it can save my people, I have to ask you to do it, Link." Gaius said. "Please...we need you."
"Very well" Link said. Then he looked up, his eyes filled with his characteristic determination. "How do I get out of the city, and back in?"
Alnahim answered him.
"I will teleport you out of the city, out of the kingdom. I will use my magic to send you to the heartless savannah. Then you must travel to the tribal temple, where it's held. I will also provide you with a stone. This stone will allow you to teleport, one time only. Use it to come back to the city."
Alnahim paused shortly.
"If things go bad...it's very important that you still teleport somewhere. Someone with a brain could make devastating use of this magic."
Link rose from where he had been squatting, stretching himself out. He walked over to the rock wall, and picked up his sword and shield, slinging them over his body.
"Well then. Guess I've gotta go." He said. "I'll be back as quickly as I can. Hold everything off until I get back."
"'course!" Narid said, smiling.
Alnahim tossed Link a small black stone, that swirled with an inward darkness. He then waved his hand through the air, and a portal of darkness appeared in front of link. He looked Link in the eyes, and gave a slight nod, which Link returned.
Jareth rose, and walked over to Link, setting his hand on his shoulder. He then pulled Link into an embrace.
"Be careful my friend. We've both lost too much to lose another we care for." He said sadly.
"Of course. Same to you." Link said, suddenly realizing how close he'd grown to the ranger.
"Guess that's what happens when someone saves your life over and over and over" Link thought, making himself chuckle.
Jareth ended the hug, holding him out at arms length.
"Something funny?" He said, smiling. He unhanded Link, and gave a friendly punch on the arm. "Hurry back. We're counting on you."
"Right." Link looked at the four people around him. "I'll see you all soon."
Then, he turned around and walked into the portal, which sucked into itself after him. Five seconds later, no one would have believed that a young man had been standing there.