Author's Note(s): Um... this chapter's long... that's all I have to say... the first part of this chapter may have been better off as a sidestory of a different one and continuing with the battle scene, but I didn't think of it earlier, and I don't know where I would have fit it. I'll make notes on this chapter and the previous chapter in next chapter's set of notes.
The Legend of Zelda: The Demon Within
Chapter 38: Battle of the Forest
A great booming echoed throughout the entire forest. The girl awoke from her sleep, startled. "Wh-what was that...? Was that thunder?"
A small fairy flew around her, worried. "What's wrong, Joan?"
Joan shook her head. "I... I don't know..."
She stood up walked over to her front door, opening it up. A thick fog filled the entire village and a light rain poured down. She glanced around, then headed to the main path and turned left, walking up towards the entrance. Thick tree cover surrounded the entire village except for the front entrance, where a small makeshift gate had been made, intended to keep out the monsters of the forest. Mido's lackeys, Johnny and Urp, stood guard at the entrance, both wielding a makeshift deku spear in hand.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Johnny shrugged his shoulder. "Beats me. Sounds like thunder, but Mido said to stay indoors. Something big is coming, apparently."
"Weren't there two outsiders in here, as well? Did Mido actually bring outsiders into the village?" Joan asked.
Urp shook his head. "Actually, Mido objected. The Great Deku Tree summoned them to him. I don't know what he's thinking, but whatever the Great Deku Tree says goes. If it hasn't been for him watching over us, we wouldn't be here now."
"Joan, I'm scared..." a feminine voice called out from behind.
Joan turned around, seeing the young Kokiri girl walk towards her. "Tracy...? Why are you up so late?"
"Fado didn't read me a story tonight, and there's loud noise all across the forest... where is Fado?" Tracy asked.
Joan walked over and wrapped her arms around the younger girl. "I... I don't know... I haven't seen Nala around recently, either... Where could they be?"
Another booming sound thundered throughout the forest. Suddenly, the earth began to shake beneath their feet, knocking them all to the ground. The earth began to crack beneath their feet and the gateway in front of them crumpled to dust. The shaking stopped, and a lone figured stepped through. Joan stood up and gasped. "Mido?"
"They are coming. Johnny, Urp, are you ready?" Mido asked.
The two Kokiri nodded. "Anyone else who wishes to come with me may, but I cannot guarantee your safety. I also cannot guarantee you will be able to return, for the Great Deku Tree plans to completely seal off this village to protect his children. I do not care anymore. I am leaving this place once this battle is over. There is someone in trouble who I want to save."
Johnny and Urp stood before him, proudly. "We are your friends, Mido. We shall never abandon you."
More Kokiri began to wander from their homes outside, a few coming forward towards him. Joan lowered her head. "Who is coming?" she asked.
Mido lowered his head. "Men from the east... and the beasts of the forest whom have been awakened... they have been called by the dark one's power... I will not stand by and watch my home be destroyed... I will defend it to the bitter end. I won't be a child. My fate is sealed, anyway. I won't be a child much longer."
Joan sighed. She turned back to face the other Kokiri. A few grabbed makeshift weapons, others just stood and watched. She remembered what happened not long ago. For the first time ever, the Kokiri had actually fought in a battle. Many died, but compared to the other forces, they suffered the least casualties—likely because Saria truly did not want to hurt them. Most everyone else left refused to pick up a weapon again.
She still couldn't believe what had happened. It was all a confusing mess. She still did not know why Saria did what she did... what she hoped to accomplish... Still, something in Saria's eyes just didn't make sense. She could tell that Saria was fighting within herself. She had a resolve. Maybe, just maybe... there was still a fighting chance... Saria, a simple Kokiri, sought to make a difference. Perhaps she went about it the wrong way, and Saria realized that, but she pressed on, anyway.
Joan saw this in her, and saw it in Mido, too. Michelle had also left them, because she wanted to look for something more in her life than just this forest. Strength began to fill her, and she decided right then and there what she would do. She turned back to Mido. "I'm going. I will fight with you, and if I live to see the sun again, I shall leave this place and find my sister. I want to start a new life, too. I don't care if I have to learn to grow up. I love this place as much as anyone else... but I want to seek something more. The Great Deku Tree will understand that."
"You're right," a voice proclaimed. Nala suddenly appeared in the center of the village, walked up towards them. "The Great Deku Tree has given you life. He has given you everything you need. And he has also given you the freedom to choose what you want to do with your life. He does not want to see any of his children perish, and he knows that if you leave this forest, you will surely die. But not necessarily immediately. It will be many long years before that ever comes to pass, but it will happen. It is still up to you to decide if you wish to go or if you wish to stay. Saria left, and it got her into trouble... but that is your choice, and even if you fall, you can still find a way to pick yourselves back up again."
Joan turned to face Nala. "Wait... where have you been? What are you saying?"
"The door will only be open for a short while longer. Once it closes, there is no coming back. Eventually, the way may open again... but that's a long time off. Until the darkness across the world is destroyed, the Kokiri will forever be separated from the outside world. Future Kokiri born into this forest may still have a choice to leave if they want to, but that's all. You have one chance to make your choice. The fairies will continue to watch over those who remain. I shall return soon, but heed my words, and the words of the Great Deku Tree. Those of you who choose to leave this place... farewell, for we shall never meet again in this life."
A bright flash enveloped them, and the fairy girl was gone. Joan glanced around. Many of the Kokiri who decided to join dropped their weapons. However, others still came. Another Kokiri, Trent, walked up to Joan and took her hand, wielding a wooden sword in his right hand. "Let us go. I will fight, too, for the sake of this forest."
"You may not be able to come back again," Joan replied. "Are you sure?"
Trent nodded. "I am."
She smiled. "Thank you."
She gave him a peck on the cheek and then ran back to her house, grabbing a few personal items, as well as strap that held a quiver filled with wooden arrows and a bow of deku wood. She slipped a small beret over her head and walked back to Trent, whom was talking with another armed Kokiri.
"Geval, you're coming too?" Joan asked.
He nodded. "I'm not about to abandon this forest. Afterwards... maybe I'll try and seek out adventure. Link, Saria, and Michelle all did. We can hunt, fish, and salvage fruits, right? I'm not worried. Besides, I couldn't let a pretty girl like you down. We'll help to defeat this foe and find your sister."
"Joan... you're not leaving, are you?" Tracy asked.
Joan turned down to face the young Kokiri, patting her on the head. "I'm sorry... but I must. I'll protect you, okay? I'm going to prove that the Kokiri aren't helpless. I don't know if I'll ever see you again. Just don't let yourself get hurt, okay? You've still got a long life ahead of you."
Mido nodded. "Its time to go, people. All who plan to leave, come now. I'm sure many of you may be able to continue keeping up residence somewhere in the forest even if you do not return to this village. But this is it. Its our time to shine. There are others who are facing this enemy... but they are being overwhelmed. We cannot possibly hope to defeat them in our state, with our equipment, but we must at least delay them from reaching their objective—the Forest Temple deep within the Lost Woods. Come, let us go."
Nearly one third of the Kokiri followed Mido out of the village that day. Once the last one had gone, roots rose up and closed off the entrance, Tracy watching as Joan waved goodbye. Each of their fairies went with them for now, except for Mido, whom no longer had a fairy by his side, but everyone knew that the fairies would not leave the forest with them.
Despite the great loss, a couple hundred Kokiri remained within the boundaries of the village, some of them wishing that they had made the choice to leave. Those that remained stayed and prayed that the Great Deku Tree would protect their friends.
As the children of the forest gradually made their way through the Lost Woods, heading south path their old home, Joan cautiously approached Mido. "So, uh... who exactly is this enemy we face? Are we merely just walking right into out death?"
Mido sighed. "They are from a land called Ordon to the south... their king seems to be loyal to the Dark Lord, Ganondorf, whom is even now at war with the Knights of Hyrule. Dane seems to be on an alternative mission... he is forcing his way into our home, pillaging and plundering as he goes, in order to steal our sacred treasure from the Forest Temple. After that, he would use its power to wipe out the Kokiri and then proceed to ambush Hyrule's forces to the northwest."
Joan had a hard time taking it all in. "Um... Ordon? Dark Lord? What are you talking about? How do you know all this stuff?"
Mido narrowed his eyes. "I haven't hiding in the forest while other lands suffer around us. This isn't just about us, the Kokiri. This is about the entire world, lands far beyond our borders. This foe is too powerful for any of us... but they are too fast and too numerous for our allies to take them out on their own. We need to distract them long enough for friends to come to our aid. No one is to face this foe head on; we must use our knowledge of this forest in order to ambush them."
After a short while longer of marching Mido put his hand out to his side. "Hold." he proclaimed.
Footsteps sounded in the distance. A great procession marched through the thick depths of the forest. Mido turned around and placed a finger over his lips. He then began pointing people in different directions, forcing the entire group to spread out. Several hundred footsteps continued to echo out, vastly outnumbering their tiny little army. Still, none turned back as the enemy approached swiftly.
After everyone had been placed, Mido slipped behind a tree nearby. He himself was well armed; a steel pole stuck out of the belt on his back, a short sword was sheathed by his side, and he also pulled out several small stars from his pocket and slipped them between his fingers. He listened carefully as the sounds kept getting louder and louder. Soon, he could hear voices.
"Be careful," a soldier proclaimed, "you never know what might pop out of hiding..."
"Why do we have to get the dirty jobs, anyway?" another soldier asked, just as he passed by the place where Mido stood. "What is so important about this so-called treasure the king speaks of? He's so obsessed with this item, and I don't know why... Has our king gone mad? Perhaps the loss of his departed sister..."
"Shh! Don't speak of such things, or he'll have your head!"
More soldiers began to move through the forest, passing by them. Mido glanced across the way and saw Johnny standing there. He turned to his back and saw Urp, and then looked up above him and Joan sat on a branch, readying an arrow.
After a few more passed by, he finally gave the signal. "Now!" he called out.
The two soldiers in front suddenly fell into a ravine covered with leaves. Soldiers further in back found themselves getting pelted with arrows from all around, some flying out of bushes, others from above. After the initial shock of the ambush wore off, Mido slipped a small piece of translucent leather over his eyes and a nut slammed into the ground nearby, blinding all of the soldiers in the immediate area.
Johnny and Urp immediately jumped up and each stabbed a knight in the side. Mido found another nearby and jumped up onto his back, stabbing the man in the neck with a dagger. He then jumped down as the man fell and launched the stars he had in his hand at another knight running towards them, the three embedding themselves into his neck dead-on.
Trent rolled to the side and slash his sword at the legs of a soldier, then stabbed him under the shoulder blade where his armor was weak. Despite being made of wood, he had sharped the blade quite a bit. It may not be able to pierce armor, but it could still pierce skin.
A soldier rushed into the fray, only to get pelted by arrows from all sides, as several Kokiri children jumped out of bushes and gave each other high-fives.
Joan pulled out another arrow, aiming downward at incoming soldiers, then fired. The small arrow bounced off his helmet. She aimed again and hit him in the shoulder. He gritted in pain, but kept moving. 'Wait for it...' she told herself.
After a few minutes, he collapsed to the ground. She nodded, pulling out another arrow and looking it over. "Seems that the fruit really is toxic... He'll be out for a week, minimum."
More knights still came, running towards them, but Mido knew now that their advantage was lost. "Everyone, fall back to the ridge!" he proclaimed, turning around and running.
The rest of the Kokiri climbed out of their trees and hiding places, racing after Mido. Nearly 50 bodies lay dead, three belonging to Kokiri children.
The remainder continued onward, archers shooting arrows back occasionally in hopes of taking down as many as possible. Joan aimed especially carefully, as well as a couple others whom had tinted their arrows in the mandrake fruit. Mido also aimed when he could, throwing a star here and there, until he ran out.
Once they neared the ridge, Mido began giving orders again, directing the small army into hiding places, with a select few out in front. Mido, Joan, Geval, Trent , Johnny, and Urp all stood at the helm, along with thirty additional children.
"Are you sure this was a good idea, Joan?" her fairy asked, sitting on her shoulder.
Joan sighed, watching as the army approach them. "I do not know... I guess we're going to find out, though."
The army slowly approached, their king marching forward out of their midst. He stepped forward, staring at the children, but mostly, staring at Mido. "Hmph... you're that boy... I thought I killed you, child."
Mido laughed. "Hah! Kill me? You must be joking."
Dane laughed out. "Ah... it was the sorcerer, then, huh? I had received word that Link, too, was still alive... then again, her spirit is very strong... she could surely survive anything, couldn't she? Whatever the case, its time for your demise. I still do not understand how such a small group of children could have such resolve... but it matters not. Knights, take them out!"
After a few minutes, nothing happened. He narrowed his eyes, turning to one of his knights. "I gave you an order... I said kill them! Kill them all!"
The knight stepped back. "You really have gone mad... these are nothing but CHILDREN! I am not about to raise my hand to a-"
"Silence!" Dane proclaimed, pulling out his sword and stabbing the man in the stomach. Joan covered her mouth, gasping in horror as she saw the blade slide right through his body, sticking of of his back, blood pouring onto the ground.
Dane promptly removed his sword and allowed the man fall to the ground, dead. Dane turned around, facing his army. "Does anyone else have any objections? Kill these insolent brats!"
Reluctantly, they started to move. Bowstrings were pulled, and swiftly, one shot was fired after another, in straight succession. Joan closed her eyes as she saw the arrow flying towards her. Suddenly, though, a rumbling noise echoed out and she collapsed to the ground. She looked up and saw a giant rock rolling past just as the arrow was about to hit. After catching the last arrow, it stopped, opened up, and revealed a strange stone-like creature, whom promptly began pulling the arrows out of his skin.
Mido snickered. "Yes, they made it!" he called out.
More of the large boulder-like creatures rolled around the army. One rolled straight into the center, bowling over everyone he came into contacted with. Another one of the creatures rolled up in front of Mido and stood. "Ah, little one, its so good to see you again. Mido, is it?"
Mido nodded. "Yes, Link... thank you for your quick timing. I was able to distract them long enough as you requested... with some help, of course."
Link laughed. "I'm surprised you got so many... so, are you ready for a battle?"
Mido nodded. "I am. Joan? Johnny? Geval? Everyone?"
Joan gasped for breath. "I... I think so... Who could you possibly be, though, sir? The Link I know..."
Link turned to the girl. "Ah, you mean our sister? Yes, my father, Darunia, named me after the hero who saved our tribe from starvation! Have you ever seen a goron, little one?"
Joan looked him over. "Um... maybe..."
"I see..." Link noted. "Well, I must get back to the battle. Please, do not let your guard down! You must live on!"
Link curled up and rolled away, again. Mido stood forward and the Kokiri by his side, as well. He removed the pole from his back and held it in his two hands, raising it high. "Attack, Kokiri! Attack!"
Suddenly, nearly seventy additional Kokiri fell down from the trees, all of whom fired openly upon the soldiers without hesitation. A few fell due to arrow fire, but the Kokiri proved that they were not afraid to die for something they dearly loved.
Freya dashed through the forest as fast as her weary legs could take her, Daigo by her side. Relm held on tightly, looking onward into the distance. "Are we going to make it?" she called out.
Baask nodded. "Yes, we have to! Link said he had a plan, right? We're not about to lose this battle!"
As they rushed into the depths, they came upon a pile of corpses in the middle of the forest's floor. Malon glanced around, shaking her head. "Is this Link's doing?" she asked.
Fado gasped from Relm's shoulder. "L-look!" she cried.
Relm turned down to where the fairy pointed. In the midst of the bodies of Ordonian soldiers, she came upon a young girl, likely only ten years old, wearing green garments. Fado flew down and looked over the body. "This is Mira," she stated. "I know every Kokiri under my charge in this forest... why would she be here...?" she cried.
Relm dismounted, picked up the fairy in her hand, and mounted her horse again. "That's what happened," she proclaimed. "Mido convinced a number of Kokiri to join in the battle... He was very determined, I know that much. I do not think the Great Deku Tree would allow them to leave without a good reason."
Romani turned her head away, a tear falling from her eye. Link used to talk so highly of the Kokiri. She couldn't believe they would actually get involved in a battle like this...
Fado sighed. "The Great Deku Tree did not want to hold anyone back... He gave them the opportunity to leave. He knew that leaving meant death, but he never stopped them. Mido liked to send his lackeys to guard the entrance... but in truth, the Kokiri could leave if they wanted to. Most just did not. These Kokiri, they made their choice..."
Relm nodded. "And we shall not let them pay for our failure... Knights, ride onward! Dane's forces are surely just up ahead!"
Relm clacked her heels together and Freya darted off, all the other knights behind her moving along, as well. In the distance, Relm saw gorons rolling around the Dane forces. An axe-wielding knight suddenly took one out, but more kept on going. She also noticed a whole group of Kokiri past them. The Ordonians were unable to reach them, but many bodies still littered the ground.
"All of you, move out! Charge! Take down those villains!"
The army screamed out, racing forward with all their might. Baask, too, charged forward, while Relm held back a bit, waiting a little longer. Malon moved closer to her. "What's wrong, Relm? Something on your mind?"
Relm lowered her head. "Something doesn't feel right... I sense a strange energy..."
Romani glanced around the forest. "I don't see anything..."
A group of foot soldiers ran out behind the mounted knights, racing forward as fast as they could. Suddenly, a ball of light erupting from the center of the clearing, blowing away everyone in its path, and blinding everyone in front. Relm covered her eyes, peering through, before staring down a tall man, a scowling look on his face. Baask turned around after he heard this, gasping in shock. "Agahnim!"
Several knights tried to run around him, but beams of light shot forth from his hands, and they were all burnt to ash. Baask tried to turn around, but Relm shook her head, raising her sword in hand. "No, don't! He's only trying to distract us! Dane is the real target. You've got all the reinforcements you're going to get!"
Baask nodded. "Very well."
Relm turned to face the man. "Hmph... so you're Agahnim, the one who killed Ruto? We meet at last..."
"Indeed, child of the shadow... I shall cleanse your filth from this world with my radiating light!" he cried out loud, raising his hands to the sky. Bolts of electricity shot the ground around them, some hitting the trees. Golden kargoroks flew down from the sky. Mighty trees sprang to life and thrashed about around them. White Wolfos dashed through the inner parts of the forest, racing around the small group of Masan and Ordonian soldiers Relm led.
"Men, and you few woman with us, stand your ground! Destroy these creatures, but do NOT approach the sorcerer! Fight with everything you've got!" Relm called out.
Everyone standing their drew their weapons, the slide of metal echoing out as each of the knights drew their swords. Some held lances, a few axes, and others, mostly in the center, wielding bows. Even the bow users, though, all had a sword in hand, including Romani and Malon both had swords.
A great volley of arrows shot out from the group of nights, taking down a couple of Kargoroks. The White Wolfos weaved in and out of the crowds, tripping up knights who stood at the center. An archer struggled for his sword before he was struck down by an attacking White Wolfos. Romani promptly shot an arrow down and the creature fell over dead.
Relm ducked to the side from a swooping Kargorok before pulling out a kunai from her belt and launched it upwards, striking the beast across its neck. The creature crashed down into the deku ent above it, which then proceeded to bash through the eastern line.
"Avoid those roots! Tear it down limb from limb!"
An Ordonian wielding an axe charged through the line and began hacking at the roots of the deku ent as it marched through. It promptly turned to crush the man, but he jumped back, avoiding the strike, and continued to hack away.
Romani shot an arrow down at a White Wolfos that tried to lunge at them, then turned to face the deku ent. "We don't have enough axes to take it down... and we've got two of them! What are we supposed to do, Malon? We don't have any fire..."
Malon narrowed her eyes, staring down into her hands, a small spark flickering. "Actually... we just might..."
Malon glanced back. "Romani, can you take the reins?"
Romani looked around. "How am I going to manage that with you-"
Malon jumped down and gripped her hand around the horses neck, swing her legs up and round the front. Romani scooted forward just as Malon slid onto the saddle again right behind her. The girl quickly put away her both and grabbed hold of the reins, gasping for breath. "You're crazy, you know that? How in the world did you pull that off?"
Malon laughed. "Years of practice. I'm sure you could figure it out after a bit of training."
Romani steered the horse around one of the large trees, trying to make as wide of an arc as she could. Meanwhile, Malon swiped Romani's bow and also an arrow from her quiver. "What exactly are you planning?" Romani asked.
Malon held the arrow in her left hand and the bow in her right. She grabbed the arrow with two fingers from her right hand and then raised her left hand up to the tip of the arrow. "You'll see," she stated.
'Come on... light!' she screamed in her mind.
She concentrated, focusing on creating the spark, as she had learned. A mighty burst of power emitted from her body and a flame appear in her hand, lighting the arrow. She gasped for breath, but finally grabbed hold of the arrow, slid it into the bow, and fired at the mighty tree.
The arrow stuck into the bark, and the flame swiftly began to spread. Malon breathed in heavily, focusing her energy again. She grabbed another arrow and, with some struggle, manage to light and fire it at the tree again, this time up near the creature's head.
The large deku ent tried to shake off the fire, but it only kept on spreading. Several axe-wielding fighters rushed in while it was distracted and tore the creature apart. The beat finally collapsed down as it burned into ashes.
Romani pulled the horse to a halt, staring in disbelief. "No way..."
She glanced back. "How in the world...?"
Malon panted for breath. "I... whew... learned a little bit of magic, it seems... but I'm... I'm not a mage... my spirit isn't as well-equipped for this... I still... managed to pull it off, though... whew..."
"Is that an innate ability?" Romani asked.
Malon nodded. "Apparently... I always had the power locked within me... I didn't find out until recently, and even I didn't quite believe it... but I had the determination to try... that was hard, though..."
"You can't go on like this," Romani remarked. "You'll kill yourself!"
Malon shook her head. "Believe me... its not... possible to drain your mana do exhaustion... I would... I would lose consciousness long before..."
Joan ducked to the side as an arrow came flying her way. She whipped out another arrow and immediately launched it, hitting the person who shot at her in the neck. Meanwhile, two additional arrows hit beside her, both striking Kokiri standing right next to her. She stepped back, watching the blood soak the ground. She looked up, breathing in heavily. The fighting she could take. The resolve, the sense of justice. She wanted to help her people. But this, the death, the destruction, the chaos... is this what Saria wanted to prevent?
She could... almost feel the very same pain that Saria probably felt... This war, they didn't do anything to bring it upon them. It came, and now, the only choice was to fight. There was nothing they could do to convince the Ordonians otherwise. They came to destroy and to kill. The only thing she could do to stop the killing... was to win...
The young kokiri girl jumped to her feet and charged forward, swiping out arrows repeatedly to fire, launching them swiftly through the air. She stepped aside as an arrow flung passed her, then fired another arrow in that direction. She glanced around, but failed too late to notice another arrow flying her way. Mido instantly jumped in front of her and raised a kunai to deflect it, instantly launching it through the air seconds after, striking the archer in the chest, piercing the soldier's chain mail with ease.
Mido turned back to Joan. "You okay?"
Joan gasped for breath, but took his hand and faced him, nodding. "Y-yes... thank you."
"Don't mention it," he remarked, before dashing away.
Relm clacked her feet together and Freya immediately rushed forward into a gallop. Relm pulled left on the reins, slashed her katana downward to slay a white wolfos as it darted by. Another Kargorok above quickly fell to her blade, crashing into the ground behind her. As she rode past the second deku ent she ducked to avoid its swing, then promptly pulled right to go around the creature's back side, digging her right katana into the monster.
It cried out, before quickly smacking its left branch-like hand left, hitting Relm dead on and knocking her to the ground. She rolled a couple paces, before flipping back onto her feet and grabbing her katanas off the ground. She heard a sound from behind, and promptly spun in a circle, killing several wolfos that dashed on by her. She turned right and saw more gohma coming, shaking her head. She turned to her left again, facing the one behind all the demons—Agahnim.
Romani gasped as Relm fell, and directed the horse up by her. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Relm nodded. "Don't worry about me. I'm going after him. Try and take down that beast! Once its out of the picture, the rest of these creature's are mincemeat."
Malon nodded. "Very well..."
Romani turned back to her. "Oh no you're not... I'm not going to let you even try!"
The young rancher removed her sword and held it high in her right hand, steering as best as she good with her left. She spun back around and slashed down at a few of the monsters on the ground, then struck a Kargorok from above. She continued to circle back until she saw the beasty again—the large tree-like monster. She held the sword in hand and raced underneath it, holding her blade out, wounding the creature some more. A few axe fighters charged it to assist, hacking away at the monsters legs. It swooped its arm down, a couple ducking away, but one of the men was crushed under its mighty grip.
Romani circled around behind the creature now, but wasn't quite close enough to reach it. The deku ent continued to hack away, finally crushing each of the Ordonian fighters underneath its roots. At last, Malon couldn't take it anymore. She pulled out another arrow, much to Romani's objection, lit it, and fired instantly. It struck near the roots of the beast, and it hobbled around trying to put out the flame. Malon grabbed one more arrow, feeling the fatigue slowly overcome her. She tried to create another spark. All of a sudden, she felt her body go limp, and she fell down to the ground.
"Malon!" Romani cried out, jumping down from the horse as it continued to gallop on. A bunch of gohma raced in to try and gnaw at the unconscious woman, but Romani ran in and slashed through one, then another with her sword, ripping them to pieces, green blood pouring onto the ground. Romani spun around and lashed out again, slaying a white wolfos swiftly.
She stood above Malon's limp body, sword in hand, staring around at all of the monsters approaching. She gasped for breath, but fought on. At the opposing battlefield, Joan saw the entire spectacle. She surveyed the scene, and after making sure nobody noticed her, she went and climbed up the nearest tree. She pulled out her last arrow, shoved it into the side of the tree, and spun it rapidly.
A Kargorok dived down from above and Romani jumped into the air with an upwards slash to take it down. She turned back and swung the sword around in an arc with great precision, eliminating a skulltula that had surprised her from behind.
Joan continued to spinning the arrow into the wood, seeing smoke gradually rise from the tip. 'Come on... come on...'
Agahnim continued to shoot out beams of energy wherever he could, summoning more monsters to fight. Relm swiftly rushed past, cutting past the front of the sorcerer. He gasped, collapsing to his knees. He turned his eyes to the left, launching a ball of holy energy towards her. She spun around and slashed across it. Instead of vanishing as she expected, it bounced back and Agahnim reflected it away with his cloak. Relm narrowed her eyes, getting an idea.
A small spark finally began to burn in the arrow, and Joan cupped her hand around the arrow, blowing into it. Finally, the flame began to burn, and she slipped it into her arrow and aimed, hitting an upper branch of the the deku ent across the way. The flame spread rapidly, burning away at the beast, merging with the lower flame after a short while and rapidly increasing.
A large skulltulla lashed one of its front legs out towards Romani. She held her sword out in front of her to deflect the attack, then, slashed left and the right again, her sword slipping through its jaws. It shoved its body into her, pushing her back, and she tripped over Malon, falling onto the ground. Malon groaned, but Romani quickly regained her footing, jumped into the air, and stabbed down into the beasts head. It curled up then and died instantly. She turned to look just as the deku ent burned away.
Baask rode through the midst of the Ordonian soldiers, stabbing his spear down frequently. He tried to make his way to Dane on the other side, whom was currently fighting with Link-Goro. An Ordonian arrow bounced off Baask's armor, after which an Kokiri arrow hit the Ordonian archer. Baask spun his lance around along his right side as he rode past, taking out several Ordonians in quick succession.
Ahead, Dane held his sword with two hands, lashing out at Link-Goro as the goron defended himself with his arm braces. Link-Goro then proceeded with a punch to Dane's chest, but Dane last out with his sword, knocking Link-Goro back and down to the ground. Mido dashed past Dane, shoving his pole into Dane's chest as he briskly ran by.
A great quake shook the earth as a large, bulking mass rolling down the hill. Several Kokiri jumped out of the way, and another goron pulled Link-Goro out from his pass. The large boulder mixed with steel slammed hard into Dane, knocking him back into his troops. The boulder then split apart, standing up on two hind legs.
"Char?" Link-Goro asked. "I thought you said that this was not 'our war'?"
Char-Goro glared down at the enemy king. "It is the wish of my patriarch, so I shall follow to the bitter end."
The Ordonian knights behind Dane began to back away, not so sure they wanted to face such a foe. Mido turned around, calling out. "Kokiri, do not approach! Get back as far as you can!"
Any Kokiri in the near vicinity complied and ran away from the encounter. Link-Goro followed suit and ordered his men to stand down. Dane stood and faced this new foe head on. "Hmph... very well... I accept your challenge."
Char-Goro removed a great hammer and held it in both hands. Dane held his sword out in front of him, laughing, before charging onwards, lashing out against Char repeatedly. He deflected the attacks with his hammer, then slammed down upon Dane, but the Ordon king was too fast and he sidestepped out of the way, countering with several slashes to Char's armor. Char merely laughed. "Hah! Such measly power cannot hope to stop me!"
Dane repeatedly slashed with his sword, moving so swiftly that Char had no chance to counter. The bulking goron held his arms up and took the beating, not feeling a thing. After a couple more slashed, Dane flipped backwards through the air, raising his sword up towards Char. The goron pulled out his hammer and ran forward, Dane doing the same, and they crossed weapons again, steel against steel, sword against hammer. Char spun his weapon in a wide arc, forcing Dane to duck who then immediately flipped backwards through the air, slicing his sword across Char's armor, cracking it. Char stumbled back a bit, stunned by Dane's strength.
Agahnim swiftly threw several more balls of light towards Relm, whom deflected them swiftly with her katanas. He threw several more, this time just to her left, towards the knights fighting monsters. She quickly ran over and raised her left arm, slashing right through the ball to knock it away. Two more flew through the air, and she rolled right, blade out, cutting through it as she passed by. Instantly she stood and ran to her left again, but the ball of light was moving too fast for her to reach. She pulled out a couple of kunai and shot them forward. The first knocked it off course slightly, but the second shot through and took the ball with it.
Relm breathed in heavily, beginning to feel worn down. Agahnim brought his hands together and charged up more power, focusing it into one intense blast. She turned around, facing the warring knights. "Run!" she yelled, before herself getting up and running out of the vicinity of the blast.
The Ordonians and Masans saw what she was talking about and quickly darted away as a large bolt of lightning shot forward through the center of the clearing. Several escaping fighters caught in the blast were incinerated instantly. Karnak was near the center when the blast hit and he was shoved down to the ground. He turned around, seeing the cries of his people, realizing exactly what he had gotten them into. He turned back and stared down the sorcerer, hatred in his eyes. He picked up his sword in hand and stood to his feet, marching through the charred field.
Relm regained her footing and ran back to the center, keeping her eyes locked on Agahnim at all times. As she came into his vicinity, she began to turn towards him, but suddenly felt herself being shoved down to the ground. "You cannot hope to face this foe," Chief Karnak proclaimed to her. "Leave this one to me."
Relm raised her hand, cried out. "No!" she screamed, as Karnak raced down to face Agahnim. The sorcerer simply laughed, charging some more energy. Karnak raised his sword and stabbed it into Agahnim's chest just as he let loose the magic. Electrical power spread throughout Karnak's body as both he and the sorcerer screamed out in pain. Karnak finally collapsed to the ground while Agahnim staggered back a bit.
The redheaded princess swiftly raced down and slashed her katana across Agahnim's chest, and he vanished before her sword ever hit. She turned around to the Ordonian chief and knelt beside him, turning him over on his back. "K-Karnak! Why? Why did you do this?"
Karnak bit his lip. "I... I'm sorry... I had to... to do something... Please, tell my wife... that I love her..."
With that said, he fell limp and breathed his last. Tears began to stream down from Relm's eyes. With Agahnim gone, the monsters were swiftly dispatched by the remaining knights. The Ordonian fighters grieved the loss of their chief, and even Malon, hanging on by Romani's shoulder, came to grieve, as well. Romani helped her to the ground and Malon stayed to watch over his lifeless body. "Please, go! Defeat Dane once and for all, for all our sakes!"
Relm narrowed her eyes. "I will."
Relm and Romani led the charge down field. With the added reinforcements, finishing off the remaining troops took merely a half an hour more. Dane continued mercilessly slashing through Char, whom could take no more of his onslaught. Baask raced into the fray and smashed his spear against Dane's armor, then Relm tossed her last kunai, where it managed to slip through his plates and into his shoulder blade.
Dane grimaced, turning around to face them. "Hmph... very well... it seems you may have one this battle..."
He tossed his sword aside, raising his hands up to his sides, laughing out. "But you shall not win this war! You shall all die here and now!"
Mido narrowed his eyes. "Everyone, back away! Far away! Run! I've seen this before! He has been granted inhuman power by the dark lord! He plans to drag us down into the depths of the earth!"
Relm stepped back. "You heard him! Everyone, run! Escape to Ordon Village, now!"
The Ordonians, Masans, Gorons, and Kokiri all made their way out as fast as they could. Romani grabbed at Relm's hand, though, refusing to go. "Relm, Malon won't move! She's too weak! Please, you must help me!"
Relm nodded and followed Romani. Joan, Geval, and Trent also followed her. Baask, Mido, Johnny, and Urp watched as Dane drew enormous power from the surrounding forest.
"What's he doing?" Joan cried out, feeling the vortex trying to pull her in.
Mido gritted his teeth. "This forest is filled with earthly power... he's trying to take in as much as he can in order to create a megaquake!"
Baask raised an eyebrow. "A what?"
"He's going to try and tear apart the earth across this entire forest, destroying everything! This must be his last-ditch effort to kill us, and himself in the process!" Mido proclaimed.
"Char! Char!" Link-Goro proclaimed, pushing at his brother. "You must wake up!"
Char rolled over, onto his side, trying to force himself up. He shook his head. "Its... its no use, brother... I am too weak... death shall overtake me soon... but please, do not trouble yourself... I will take care of this foe... Please, take this," he handed him the hammer he was holding. Link-Goro tried to pick it up, and with a little bit of trouble, finally managed to wield it. "This is our sacred treasure, the Megaton Hammer... your father wished for you to take it and defeat those of evil power that seek to destroy us... please, do not fail..."
Link-Goro nodded. "I promise you, I won't..."
Link-Goro ran from the scene as Dane began to throw his hands down. Before he could finish, though, Char-Goro turned around and wrapped his arms around Dane's body. The ground suddenly shook violently, and the earth ripped apart beneath both Char and Dane. Dane lost his footed and slipped into the hole, but used his hands to keep his leverage. The earth continued to break apart, in other directions, taking a few trees with it, but it soon stopped.
"Char!" Link cried out.
The small group ran to the edge of the ravine. Dane held on as hard as he could, but he could not pull himself back up... because Char was still holding Dane tightly, and the king could not possibly escape his grasp. "Do it! Now!" Char called out.
Link shook his head. "N-no! I won't let you die, my brother!"
Baask gritted his teeth. "We've got no choice. You heard him, didn't you? He's going to die anyway! Let's let him die with honor! Mido?"
Mido nodded. "Yes... let's finish this."
Baask ran around to the left side, and Mido to the right. Dane bit his lip, knowing what was coming. "You people surprise me... I didn't not expect you to live through this... I suppose that's to be expected, though... After all, Mido's done it once... Link, and her little friend, Navi, also did... whatever the case may be... God's will be done..."
"Some god," Mido proclaimed as he stabbed his pole onto Dane's left hand.
"Ganondorf is no god. He is the devil!" Baask shouted out loud, before at last stabbing the tip of the spear onto Dane's hand.
The king was unable to hold on any longer. He fell down into the abyss, right alongside Char, crying out loud. "My lord! My work is done!" he screamed, before his voice faded into the darkness.
Relm knelt beside Malon, whom was having a hard time breathing. "I'm trying to give her as much mana as possible," Fado proclaimed. "She's still weak... but she'll be fine after a little rest."
Relm nodded. "Thank you."
She stood up and whistled. Freya came running towards her. Malon's horse also came. Relm turned to face Baask as he arrived. "The deed is done. He is gone."
She nodded. "Please, take Malon and Karnak back to Ordon Village. Allow his people to give him a proper burial, and let Malon get some rest. I'll meet you there not long after. I have other business to take care of first, though."
Baask raised an eyebrow. "Other business?"
Relm nodded. "This forest is still unstable. I won't be long, I promise."
He nodded in reply. "Very well."
Baask and Link-Goro laid Karnak's body on Freya. Mido motioned to Johnny and Urp, whom agreed to hop onto the horse, as well, in order to steady his body. Malon carefully climbed up onto her horse's back, and Joan climbed up behind to help her along with Trent. Geval climbed up behind Baask, and then they all rode off back towards the village.
Relm turned to Fado flying around her, holding her hand out. Mido and Romani also stood nearby, and the three looked to the north. "Alright, Fado... where is this temple you've spoken of?"
Fado flew out in front of them, turning around. "Follow me," she proclaimed, before darted off to the north. Relm, Romani, and Mido followed suit, running as fast as their legs could take them into parts yet unknown.