Author's Note(s): Naturally, if you've been reading this fanfiction, this chapter is actually more directly linked to the events of Chapter 34 than Chapter 35, but both are still relevant. I know its kinda like two stories side-by-side, but don't worry, that will change soon and Link will be getting a much more important role.
Random Trivia: The nature of the Kokiri is something that really hasn't been discussed a whole lot in the games, and so I went in and threw in a lot of details to make the story more interesting. At the end of this chapter Fado talks much about some things to Relm, although I'm pretty sure I've discussed this before (just not in as much detail). First, obviously, is that when a Kokiri leaves they do die-just not immediately. Instead, they are no longer protected by the power of the forest, and if they leave, they will become like an ordinary Hylian, where they will age and die. Kokiri are also "born," as is what I discussed over Sheila, and when they are first born they are essentially toddlers and they grow (slowly) to the age of 10, at which point they stop growing.
I haven't fully defined "how" they are born. Perhaps they grow out of the plants of the forest, I'm really not sure... much like humans are born, though, they can have brothers and sisters, too, and likewise, twins, in the case of Michelle and Joan. Typically, after birth a fairy comes to them and leads them to the Kokiri Forest. In Sheila's case, though, she wandered out of the forest before her fairy arrived, and was soon picked up by Ingo, since the Kokiri can really be born anywhere in the forest and she was born right near the western edge of it.
Also discussed is that Kokiri cannot "live" past 100 years. Once they reach that age, they're spirits overwhelm their bodies and they transform into fairies, whom then go and watch over younger Kokiri that are born. All fairies, even great fairies, start off as Kokiri, and Kokiri live in forests around the world-not just the Lost Woods. Typically its one large forest in each major continent, and sometimes they may live on islands, too. Before the events of the Wind Waker, the Kokiri took on a more plant-like form to protect them from the harsh environment forced upon them. Because I HATE the Koroks, that does not happen in this timeline canonically. ^^ Well, based on my standards, of course. xD If Nintendo changes that... I will hate them forever... okay, maybe not, but either way... (The Rito I really like... far moreso than the Oocca. However, I hate how they "evolved" from Zoras. That's the most frickin' ridiculous thing in the world, especially since the Zoras should theoretically be even MORE widespread with the rising of the oceans... -_-)
Cast:
Heath Marlin: Heath is originally from my Sonic fanfiction Legacy of the Lost. However, from the start I knew I would need to include a ship captain, I just didn't know what to name him. For a while I was thinking about naming him Zeke. After reworking my thoughts, though, I finally decided that Heath would be the perfect fit, so I just changed his appearance a bit and adapted his backstory from being a Solstice noble into being a Labrynna noble. Otherwise, he's pretty much identical to his original appearance in Legacy of the Lost.
Michelle: Michelle is actually mentioned during Scepter of Darkness by Joan in the Kokiri Forest. I don't think any of the Kokiri were given names, but Joan is the older sister of the "twins" from Ocarina of Time (by five minutes... do you realize how much I frickin' LOVE that joke? :D). Technically, all the Kokiri except Mido, Fado, and Saria look identical (the males and the females), but in this case, I would rework there appearance if I ever redesigned them. Michelle would basically be to Joan as Cremia is to Romani (although Michelle is a few years younger than Cremia was in Majora's Mask). More information is revealed about Michelle in Chapter 37. Originally I planned to have her leave a couple years after Saria did, but finally decided on her leaving merely a couple days after Saria did, and then following Saria on her way out after wandering about a week (Saria stayed in Hyrule for a short while before setting out, essentially).
The Legend of Zelda: The Demon Within
Chapter 36: Broken Trust
"Archers on the ready!" Maya called out, raising her sword high.
The archers in back aimed high with their bows, readying to strike.
Maya turned to face the enemy as they charged forth. She cast her sword then, yelling at the top of her voice. "Fire!"
Arrows flew threw the air, cutting down a large portion of the oncoming Gerudo. Still they came, breaking the gap quickly. Maya raised her sword again, calling out once more. "Fire!"
The archers let go of their arrows once more, at the barrage launched far, striking down another line of Gerudo warriors further back. However, the enemy was already upon them. Zelda raised her sword high. "Charge!" she called out.
The Hyrulean army yelled out as they charged forward, the two masses smashing into each other with great force. Steel struck steel as the Hylians and Gerudo fought in a battle to the death. Princess Zelda swung her sword swiftly and gracefully, striking down one Gerudo warrior, then another. Maya fought with all her might, racing across the battlefield upon the back of her horse.
The archers continued to rain a flurry of arrows down upon the enemy, aiding greatly to the cause. However, more archers arrived up in the mountains and starting shooting flaming arrows down below. These ones were actually Gerudo archers as opposed to the traitorous Hyrulean ones from before. Maya raised her sword again and called out. "Shoot them down! Hurry!"
Hylian archers aimed carefully into the skies, then launched their arrows with the sound of a hundred twangs. The Gerudo ducked for cover, several of them collapsing down off the cliff.
Meanwhile, the zoras reached the battlefield and engaged the Gerudo from the side. Zelda pushed her way towards them, fighting off any Gerudo who got in her way, before meeting with the zora army who continued to force their way toward the Hylians.
"Mickaw!" Zelda called out, "what happened to Jasper's Ice Warriors?" she asked.
Mickaw lashed his fins through a Gerudo that attacked him, her body collapsing to the ground, then turned to Zelda. "My princess... we never met them. We followed the path as told, but never came across the Ice Warriors... are you sure that they are coming?"
Zelda raised an eyebrow. She nodded her head. "I know they are... we were played the fool by General Gersh. He was in league with Ganondorf all along, as well as his entire fleet. If you missed them, then they're surely readying to ambush us from behind!"
She quickly turned around and rode back swiftly, this time avoiding the battle all-together save for a few stray Gerudo that tried to slip away and attack her, whom she dispatched quickly. She met again with Lieutenant Maya, calling out to her. "Maya! Send your fleet to the back, now! Keep your archer's firing, but otherwise, everyone else must go back!"
Maya raised an eyebrow, curiously. "May I ask why? The battle is going fine..."
Zelda nodded. "Yes, I know it is, but it won't be when we aren't paying close enough attention to our backs when Jasper Kolanna arrives."
The woman scratched her forehead, contemplating this. It suddenly hit her, and she knew what Zelda was trying to say. She turned her horse around and charged into the masses of Hylian soldiers. "Those of you in the second fleet, fall back! Archers continue to fire, but the rest of you focus your attention on your back side!"
The zora army swiftly managed to meet with the Hylian knights and fend off the advancing Gerudo in the stead of the second Hyrulean fleet. Maya stood by and kept her eyes in the distance, waiting to see if Jasper and his army would appear. They continued to wait, and some of her men became restless. Maya turned around and saw Zelda coming towards them. "He's here," she proclaimed.
Maya raised an eyebrow, looking off into the field. "I don't see anything. Are you sure?"
Zelda nodded. "Can't you feel the cold? The chills running down your spine?"
Maya shook her head. "Are you whack, girl? I don't feel—"
A blast of cold air swept across the field. Maya gasped, pulling her arms closer to her to as a heavy snowfall billowed from the dark clouds in the sky. At the center of the field, a large ice crystal smashed into the ground, cracking all the way up. It broke apart and Jasper Kolanna, the white sorcerer, stepped forth. The shards of the ice crystal he came out of slowly began to piece together again, forming into a humanoid shape. More of the icy flakes gathered together across the field, and monstrous ice warriors spread out all around.
"Stand your ground, men!" Maya proclaimed boldly. "Don't let them get the best of you. Fight with all your might!"
The front line of Hyrulean knights raised their blades as the frozen army marched toward them. The creatures formed icicle spears and launched them forward, forcing the knights to raise up their shields. Then, at last, the warriors tore through the front lines. The emotionless, animated husks of ice simply marched right through, cutting down the knights as they fought long and hard to subdue them.
Zelda gasped in despair, before turning around to face the other line, currently drawn in a stalemate. They would have quickly been overwhelmed had the zoras not arrived when they did. Everything was just too much to take in. It seemed like this entire plan was falling apart at the seems. If something didn't happen soon, they were going to be obliterated.
The fierce battle continued as Gersh, Katrine, and Ganondorf watched in pure amusement. Zelda stared down her treacherous general, rage billowing in her heart. However, she felt a soothing presence fill her soul. "Never falter, child..." a voice whispered into her head, "do not give up hope..."
The princess stared Gersh straight in the eye, before turning back to her men and calling out, her sword raised high. "Knights of Hyrule, stand your ground!" Zelda proclaimed boldly. "The Goddesses shall not fail us this day! Fight with all your strength!"
Invigorated by the courage and wisdom of their princess, the knights fought back fiercely, tearing through their foes and pushing the lines back. A trumpet then called out, booming loudly. Off in the distance, the great drawbridge of Hyrule Castle swung open and a legion of Hyrulean Knights led by Captain Matthias rode out from the castle. Several warring Hyrulean knights turned their gaze away from the battle just enough to swiftly be struck down by the warriors of ice.
Zelda took a couple swings with her sword, striking down a couple of Gerudo who managed to slip through the ranks, and continued to eye the castle gates, wondering if Matthias would to betray them. As the knights galloped out from the castle, she quickly found her answer—one of the knights held up a Gerudo flag high above them.
The princess sighed. "As I suspected," she mused out loud. "Matthias was close to Gersh... perhaps a little too close. No wonder why Matthias was left behind to guard the castle... they were planning to ambush us from the back."
She was really starting to realize why Sheila did what she did... if Gersh had his army second in line, like he had planned, the army would have been split in two. The ice warriors would have marched down from the front, Gersh's army from the middle, and Matthias would attack at back. It would be a swift and fatal end... and the Gerudo wouldn't even have to lift a finger. That girl was clever... perhaps far more clever than she ever anticipated.
Captain Mattins's army continued to race down into the battlefield, but several of the mounted archers kept on shooting behind them. Suddenly, a ball of fire shot out from the castle walls and enveloped one of the archers, and more magical power launched forth. Swiftly, a whole legion of Hylian knights rode out... raising the Hylian flag high above them. The front lines were led by Sheila, Impa, and another blond sheikah, and more sheikah rode within their midst.
Zelda cried out loud, screaming at the top of her lungs. "Sheila, you're amazing!"
Maya, too, turned around and watched as their reinforcements came riding out of the town, slaying the traitorous band of knights where they stood, and promptly marching down to smash through the forces of Jasper Kolanna. Additionally, another small force rode out from the south, mostly consisting of a separate group of sheikah... but they were led by none other than King Daphnes himself.
The blonde sheikah riding in front of Sheila blew the horn in her hand, and another sheikah in Daphnes's group blew a separate horn, sounding off for the battle to continue anew.
Despite the added reinforcements, the Hyrulean army was still heavily outnumbered. Most of the traitorous Hylians had been slain, but the main force of the Gerudo army had barely been touched, and Jasper continuously summoned more ice warriors as they were obliterated.
Princess Zelda began calling out more orders, hoping to help an already bad situation. "Hold the line! Do not let any escape!" she turned around, facing the opposing force. "Those of you at back, keep up the pressure. Reinforcements have come to help, but of we ever want to win this battle, we must focus on defeating that sorcerer. His power will be the death of us all if we cannot take him down!"
Maya stayed by the front lines, keeping a close eye on the incoming forces. In the distance, she saw a taller Gerudo wearing heavy armor whom wielded a mighty axe. The woman seemed to be giving the orders at the front line, but Maya did not seem to notice her before. Then, she started moving forward, again, calling out. "For our king, destroy those insolent vermin! We, the mighty Gerudo, shall rule Hyrule forever! I will never forgive them for what they have done! They must be destroyed!"
The brown-haired knight captain shook her head. "This can't be good... That's got to be one of the enemy generals!"
Maya clacked her heels together and rode along the front lines, slashing through any Gerudo that came her way. "Knights, hold your ground! One of the enemy generals approaches! Do NOT try to face her head on!"
She turned back and raced in the opposing direction, turning to her right. "Archers, aim for the enemy general! Her armor is think, but she must have a weakness! Find it! Fire at will!"
A barrage of arrow fire launched at the enemy general, slowing her down. She swatting away at the tiny prickles, shaking her head. "Fools... do you not know who I am? I am Fayza, second-in-command of the Gerudo army! Your measly projectiles cannot defeat me! I shall destroy you all for what you did to my sister!"
Maya rode by Zelda, shaking her head. "Sister? What do they mean?"
Zelda shook her head. "The only time I ever remember us facing against the Gerudo recently... is when Gersh brought his knights to the Temple of Water in order to bring me back to the castle... The gerudo were trying to kill Queen Ruto. I do not know the name of their commander. Most of them fell into Lake Hylia... whether they survived or not, I do not know. Link and the others may have had some skirmishes in the desert, but she seems to think that we are the cause of what happened to her sister..."
Maya sighed. "This makes things even worse... not only does she appear to be incredibly powerful, but she will surely strike out against us in rage. If we can't do anything about this, she alone is going to destroy her front lines."
"Then let's go," Zelda proclaimed.
The captain shook her head. "No, princess... its too dangerous! I cannot allow you to put your life on the line like that!"
Zelda laughed. "Think you can stop me? Who do you think raised me? My father is a warrior, and so is my sister. I won't be afraid. I won't risked the lives of countless troops to protect my own hide. We shall face this new enemy together, and we shall succeed. I can't die... what will become of Hyrule without me? Relm may be able to take it up in my stead, but truly, she would not want to bear such a burden. I won't do that to her, but I won't stand by and watch as my people fall trying to protect me. Come, we ride now!"
Maya bowed gracefully. "As you command, your highness," she proclaimed, riding off after her princess.
Slowly, but surely, the knights and mages from the castle, as well as the sheikah ninjas, were able to smash into the core of Jasper's army. Kasuto jumped down from the horse, allowing Sheila to take up the reins, at which point the blonde-haired sheikah slashed through waves of icy warriors. As soon as an opening had been cleared, Sheila led an assault of arrows against Jasper, whom instantly teleported away and to the enemy base camp.
"Well, my lord, I have done as you asked. I stalled them as long as I could."
Ganondorf snickered, laughing out. "Yes... excellent work. Everything is going according to plan. Our remaining troops on the field will be wiped out, and the Hyruleans will regroup. Then the real battle begins.
Nearby, a Gerudo lieutenant overheard the conversation that her lord spoke of. She shook her head, unable to believe the words that he was saying. 'He sent them all out there... just to die? But... what about Fayza? She's leading the assault... I cannot believe...'
The woman turned to her commander-in-chief. "My lord, send me out in the next battalion."
Ganondorf laughed. "You wish to die? Is that why you came with us, Shyara?"
"We are all going to die, anyway," Shyara proclaimed. "I might as well die in glory rather than die serving a king who cares nothing for his people!"
Katrine stepped down and walked up to the woman, laughing. "You're a fool... do you realize that you have just committed and act of treason?" she removed her katana, raising the blade up to the woman's neck. "I should kill you right now!"
Ganondorf shook his head. "No... she will lead the next assault. Its about as good as dying, anyway. You can't possibly hope to live if you can't even wield a sword!"
Shyara shook her head, removing her scimitar with her left hand. "I still have one good arm left, and I shall show you my true strength! I'll show you how a true warrior fights!"
"Be my guest," Ganondorf laughed, sadistically. "It matters not what you do. You're of no use to me anymore. Begone with you!"
Shyara marched off proudly, then Katrine turned back to face him. "Do you not realize what she is capable of? She should be branded a traitor and killed on the spot... if she is true to her words, why would she follow your words any longer?"
"Do not question my judgment, dear. I know what she will do. Watch and see."
Katrine nodded, bowing graciously. "Y-yes, my lord... I apologize."
The arrow volley failed to hold General Fayza any longer. She charged forward and into the front lines, swinging her mighty axe around in a wide arc. Despite this, arrows continued to fly while Princess Zelda and Maya Leudona dismounted their horses and raced into the fray, standing before Fayza. "I am Maya, General of this army! You will not proceed any further."
Fayza laughed. "You? You're the general? You're nothing but a child! And you," she turned to Zelda, "are you truly the commander-in-chief? Don't make me laugh! All I see is a spoiled princess. You can't possibly hope to defeat us with such weak leadership!"
Zelda shook her head. "It is you who shall fall this day. I am not as powerful as one such as your stature, but I refuse to give up hope. The king comes with a whole legion of troops... I suggest you surrender now or face his wrath once that monster you call Ganondorf is defeated once and for all. Any Gerudo who submit will be spared of death, this I swear."
Fayza shook her head. "Death does not frighten me, fool. I shall enjoy smashing you to bits for destroying my sister. Enjoy what little of your life lasts!"
The gerudo general swung her axe around again, at which point both Maya and Zelda jumped back to evade the strike, both splitting ways and standing on either side of her. Fayza turned and went after Zelda, smashing her axe downward toward the princess, but Zelda dodged to the right, stabbing her rapier into Fayza's left side just below the armpit, where the armor was weak.
Fayza grimaced, but continued to swing her axe around in a wide arc, aiming for Zelda again. The princess jumped out of range, and then Maya came in after and stabbed in the same spot that Zelda had before. Fayza bit her lip. This would be tougher than she thought.
Finally, she gave in. The gerudo woman threw off her armor and faced the two females. Zelda grimaced; they had just lost their advantage. Fayza screamed out and charged towards them, spinning her axe around as she ran. Zelda and Maya both jumped away, bewildered at just how fast that general could run.
Zelda sighed. "So much for my plan..."
Maya shook her head. "No, it was a good plan... we were able to wound her, which is exactly what we needed. There's no way we can possibly take her on directly, even if it is two against one. Now we just have to be a little more careful..."
The princess nodded in return. "Yeah, you're right..."
The two held their ground as Fayza turned back again. The battle continued to wage around them as the gerudo general charged forward once more raising her axe high. As Fayza approached, Maya saw an opening and opted to take it. As Zelda ducked away, Maya dived down in front of Fayza, rolling down into her feet.
Fayza was surprised by the move and didn't catch it until it was too late. She tripped over Maya and crashed down into the dirt. Zelda gasped, yelling out. "M-Maya!"
She ran over to where the girl lay, and Maya gasped for breath. "I-I'm sorry..."
"Are you okay?" Zelda asked. "You're not seriously hurt, are you?"
Maya shook her head, sitting up. "N-no... I'm fine... Hurry up and deal with that woman... please... don't worry about me..."
Zelda nodded. "Alright."
The princess jumped to her feet and ran over to Fayza, holding her rapier to the woman's neck. She had dropped her axe when she fell and now lay flat on the ground, barely able to move. "Do you surrender, now?"
Fayza shook her head. "No... I will never submit to you! Kill me now!"
"I could not possible kill an unarmed soldier, be they friend or foe," Zelda proclaimed boldly.
Fayza snickered. "Fool..."
The remaining troops from the castle gathered together and met with Zelda and Maya's army at the center of the battlefield. Newly promoted General Shyara remained on standby, waiting for her chance to show her worth. Once Daphnes arrived, he assumed command of the army, but Zelda remained commander-in-chief. Maya's wound was tended to, but she insisted that everything was perfectly fine.
The battle was halted temporarily, but the bloodshed would soon begin anew. Any Gerudo and Hylian traitors left alive were captured by Hyrule's army and placed under close guard, including General Fayza, whom still refused to surrender. The Hyruleans and the Gerudo pitched camp and began planning their strategy for the coming battles, Sheila once again directing the next plan of attack. Mickaw, Impa, Daphnes, Zelda, Maya, Aisha, and Akiba were all present. Kasuto mysteriously vanished in the middle of battle, to Sheila's bewilderment, but Impa declared that she had other business to attend to, and merely left it at that.
After the briefing, Zelda approached Maya, sitting down next to her. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Maya nodded. "Y-yes... I'm fine... why do you keep asking me that?"
"You've been very fidgety ever since you pulled that stupid stunt... why did you do that? I couldn't bare to lose you, either..." Zelda exclaimed.
"We weren't going to get anywhere just standing around. I saw an opening and took it. Its as simple as that."
"You could've gotten yourself killed! Are you sure you're in any condition to fight?"
Maya jumped to her feet, yelling out. "I am just fine! Please, don't worry about me. Some rest will do me good... I doubt the Gerudo will begin an assault anytime soon after that. I'll be ready for when they strike again. Until then, I'm out of here."
Zelda lowered her head. "I'm not trying to pester you... I just don't want to see you get yourself killed... Please don't do anything stupid..."
As nightfall came, Zelda reluctantly wandered around camp until finally reaching her tent. She slipped inside, collapsed onto the ground, and fell fast asleep. She prayed that the battle would not continue until morning. Evening then, every second she wished that this had never come to pass... that everything could simply go on in peace... Was a peaceful world simply too much to ask for? She wasn't sure she wanted the answer to that question...
The Woods of Ordon were swiftly awash with blood as the battle between the Ordonian Army and the Masan-Goron troops raged on. Sweat poured down Relm's face in droves as she swung her katanas around, slashing through both humans and monsters that came forth before her. The swampy terrain in this southeastern portion of the forest certainly did not help circumstances much, making it hard for horses to move. Clearly the Ordonians realized this, for none were mounted, but Relm herself, Captain Baask, Malon, and several of the ex-Ordonians were indeed riding horseback.
Skulltullas and Gohma both roamed the forest grounds, each horrific in their own might. The giant spiders were difficult to slay by any man. On the other hand, the Gorons rock-hard skin made them nearly invisible versus the creatures. Link-Goro tried to direct most of his troops to face them, hoping to add an additional line of defense for the human forces.
Despite the raging battle, Dane Ordon himself and a number of his strongest warriors continued deeper into the forest. The greater portion of his army, led by his top general, blockaded the passage, preventing any from reaching Dane. As such, the only choice now was to break through the lines.
The dense, thick, almost jungle-like forest was extremely moist, and likewise, extremely humid. The environment itself was almost more threatening to the Masan troops than the enemy itself. Still, Relm and Baask tried their best to provide leadership to an otherwise dire situation.
Relm rode along through the battlefield, slashing through any foes who came near her way. Soon, she found herself riding alongside Baask of Masa. She glanced at him briefly. "How are you holding up, Captain?"
Baask wiped the sweat off his brow. "Considering the fact that I haven't slept in days, racing through the cold night seventeen straight hours without rest, and then into the great humidity of this jungle only to fight in this unbeatable battle... I'm doing surprisingly well."
Relm actually found herself smiling for the first time in a long time. A wolfos then lunged up at her and she stabbed her left katana into its gut, allowing the beast to collapse down into the swamp. "Heh... sounds fun. I wish I had as good a time as you."
Baask rode along further, stabbing his spear through a skulltula on the ground mid-stride. "You're a fine you lady, you know. Too young to be fighting in wars like this."
Relm sighed. "It can't be helped. I seem to have found a knack for getting involved in this kind of thing, it seems. You're a lot older than I, though... how many wars have you been involved in?"
Baask shook his head. "None quite compared to this. Truthfully, I haven't been in this army long. The family that raised me clearly noticed that I seemed to age and mature slowly than most other Masans... I never noticed myself until the past few years, and even then, I never knew the full truth until merely a week ago."
"Gerudo are very similar to Hylians... but they age a little slower, huh?" Relm remarked.
Baask nodded. "Yes... The lifespan isn't much different, but Gerudo take a longer time to mature. Naturally, there is no such thing as a pure-blooded Gerudo; they must intermingle with Hylians in order to reproduce. Except for the one hundredth year, of course, when a Gerudo male is born. Even then, it doesn't necessarily mean he will choose a Gerudo wife, and oftentimes, he does not."
Relm laughed. "If you can ever reclaim your throne... will you choose a Gerudo wife?"
Baask shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know... I'm not even sure I like the idea of becoming the next Gerudo King... I do not even know if they'll accept me. I don't particularly look like an average Gerudo. My skin is too light, for one. Honestly, though, I don't know any Gerudo, so it doesn't seem likely to me..."
Relm pulled Freya to a halt and turned to face Baask briefly. "You really don't look that much older than I... you only appear to be in you early twenties."
Baask nodded. "Physically, it seems... I'm actually thirty-one. I'm a lot older than I look."
The girl nodded. "I see..."
She paused for a moment. "If you didn't know of your lineage, how did you find out so much about the Gerudo?"
"Nabooru... my mother... even before she told me the truth, she took me in and mentored me for that first week after Link killed Saria. She truly acted like a mother to me, and I kept on wondering why. She told me much about her past, and about the Gerudo. She did not mention anything about me being her son, though, until Katrine struck her down..."
Baask lowered his head. Relm sighed. "Are you sure that wench is truly your sister?"
The captain nodded. "Yes... I know she is. I can feel it in my heard, and she looks just like me. The resemblance is uncanny... there's no doubt in my mind that the same blood runs through our veins... I just wish there's something I could to for her... to pull her out of Ganondorf's grasp..."
The two said nothing for a little while. Suddenly, another earthquake shook the ground. Malon called out to them. "What are you two doing? We really need your help over here!"
Relm gasped, surprised at the great distance they had traveled. Baask shook his head. "Damnit... Let's go, hurry!"
The two rode back, barely avoiding a patch of roots that spread out behind them. More roots began to envelop the field. Freya and Daigo struggled to find room to place their hooves. Another mighty root rolled up in front of Relm and Freya jumped over top of it. Ahead, most of the Ordonian forces had been decimated by the mass of plants, but the Masan troops had not failed to take casualties, either.
"What happened here?" Baask called out, surveying the scene.
Malon knelt on the ground, gasping for breath. "The battle was actually going well... then that earthquake hit. Turns out, though, it was mother nature trying to destroy us all... clearly, as you can see, the Ordonians took the most casualties, but the very earth itself seems to be going on rampage."
A girl suddenly walked towards them, opening her mouth to speak. "The forest is running wild, out of control... The evil powers rampaging across the world are corrupting all that lives... If the forest is not calmed, then it shall spread out and consume all life. Nothing will survive its menacing thirst for blood..."
Relm dismounted Freya and walked towards the girl. "What are you saying? How can we stop it?"
"The foe before you seeks out the ancient treasure of the forest, buried deep within our temple. He will stop at nothing to lay his hands upon it. You must stop him."
"Yes, but what about the forest? Will the woods continue to haunt our every step?"
The girl nodded. "The forest can only be calmed by the song of the sage... Only then can its wrath be cleansed. You must make haste!"
Relm nodded. "I... I understand."
She mounted her horse again and turned towards the troops. "Knights of Masa, Warriors of Ordon, Goron Brothers... Dane Ordon seeks to strip the ancient treasure of the Forest Temple for his own! That ancient relic must be protected. We must hasten north towards the Lost Woods! Pray that we overtake him before we enter, for if we do not, we may never leave those treacherous woods again. Move out! Grab a rider if you can, and stay away from the trees at all possible!"
Link-Goro approached Relm, looking up to her. "My lady, I shall lead my troops to scout ahead. We will try and hold them off as long as we can until the rest of you can make it there."
Relm nodded. "Thank you. Please hurry!"
Romani ran up to Malon's horse and quickly mounted behind her. "Relm, are you all right?" she asked.
Relm nodded. "Y-yes... I'm a little exhausted, but I'll be fine."
"Don't overburden yourself," Malon remarked. "You must live, Relm. You are strong... I know you can overcome this. Believe in yourself. Don't give up."
Baask turned to Relm and smiled. "I enjoyed talking with you... when this is over, I would like to learn more about you... For now, though, we have talked enough. Death and glory awaits us. I shall like to see you in the afterlife. Please, be strong. Don't give in to the darkness."
As Malon and Baask rode off, Relm turned to the girl. "Come, ride with me. I will take you back to the Lost Woods. You're a Kokiri, aren't you?"
The girl shook her head. "Not anymore... I was, once... a long time ago... But, I accept your offer."
As soon as she finished speaking, she clasped her hands together and spun them in an arc. A great light enveloped her, blinding Relm momentarily. In her place was a small fairy with a yellow aura. She flew over and sat on Relm's shoulder. "Let's go... the forest awaits."
Relm blinked, startled. "Wait... you're a fairy...? How is that possible? You said you were a kokiri once, right?"
"The kokiri never age, but we do die. Kokiri live on for up to several hundred years... when they're essence becomes too much of a burden, they can no longer live in human form and they transform into fairies... All fairies were once Kokiri children... even the oldest of fairies, great fairies, were kokiri at one time. We can still take our original forms, but only for limited periods of time. As fairies gain more power, they can hold their forms longer..."
"Like Navi?" Relm asked.
The fairy nodded. "Yes... I'm not as old as Navi, though... I haven't been a fairy very long. Navi has been a fairy for nearly a hundred years now."
"I see..." Relm remarked."
At last, the redheaded girl clasped her heels together to indicate that Freya should dash on, through the mass of bodies. She didn't care about the surviving Ordonians; they would either die or retreat.
"Why have you come here?" Relm asked, continuing the conversation.
The little fairy sat on her shoulder, nodding. "I have orders from the Great Deku Tree... he does not want this battle to linger on any longer... I was sent to come find you and put a stop to it in whatever way I could. Stopping the battle will not stop the the rampaging forest, though... it will only slow it. Only the power of the sage can stop it."
Relm narrowed her eyes. "The power of the sage...? Then its hopeless! Saria is the forest sage, right? That little witch is dead, and good riddance, I say."
"Saria made a mistake, that much is true... I do not think she deserved such a fate, but she most certainly isn't dead... at least not yet... Her spirit still lingers on, and Nala can channel her power into the forest temple using the Kokiri Emerald. That will allow us to calm the forest. First, though... Dane Ordon must be defeated, for he blocks the way to the temple."
"Nala...? Is that another fairy?" Relm asked.
She nodded. "Yes... Nala is Saria's former fairy... she is much older than I, though still younger than Navi."
"Hang on... if Nala has a name, and Navi does... don't you have a name, too? What should I call you?"
The fairy girl raised an eyebrow. "My name...? Yes... my name..."
She paused momentarily. "Please... Just call me..."
"Fado."