Hope you all are hanging in out there in March 2020. It's been particularly rough here in Australia. Half the country's been on fire since September. Then as soon as we get that under control, we get hit worldwide with the worst possible subject for a Come On, Eileen parody. And the battles we're waging over toilet paper are just as ridiculous standing over here than they must look from overseas.
As for me, I'm doing my best to keep myself and others safe and healthy; keeping in touch with friends and family online; carpooling to work instead of catching the bus; and getting through my pile of untouched video games instead of going out clubbing. Actually, that last one isn't anything new. I'm a lazy shut-in and at long last that is working to my advantage.
If nothing else, at least we now have more time to catch up on our fan fiction, so here's a little more reading material to help the hours drift by. Stay well and remember: a sword has no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. It's a pretty scary time right now and a lot of people are hurting, but if the NPCs of Twilight Princess could make it through a world where everything is dark and uncertain then we can to.
Chapter 88: War's Twilight
The army assembled outside of the castle gates. Fervour coursed through the troops. Beyond the walls, the monsters howled. It felt as though the two sides were fully aware of each other, like dogs bearing their fangs through the fence between them.
Airships counted the enemies' numbers in the thousands. Reports spread of the varieties of beasts to expect. Some mentions drew worried murmurs among the Allied Tribes. The command line was hard-pressed to ease tensions.
Gorons pushed catapults and trebuchets into position. Auru had declined to use siege weapons during the battle until now, however that did not mean that he did not have them on hand. Twili transported the weapons via portal, bypassing the long and corpse-ridden streets in an instant. Link wondered what the defenders might be thinking. At first, the tribes would have appeared no more than a motley rabble. Moments later, they were now fully equipped to assault the castle.
Gerudo archers atop the walls launched the first attack. Supporters of Ganondorf, Nabooru had warned beforehand; traditionalists who held pure belief in their race's law for a male-born king. The clans on her side pledged to deal with them. Her snipers countered the garrison from the open cabins of oocca airships. Aeralfos responded soon after the first exchange, driving the airships to withdraw to where the ground forces could aid them.
The siege weapons were loaded. Hylians unleashed stones over the walls. Monsters inside screamed in terror. Oocca pilots reported on the volley's effectiveness. The siege operators adjusted their angles and distance. Bombs were used for the second volley. Each had a blast radius of ten metres. They would rain havoc on the defenders until the Allied Tribes could get inside.
A column of gorons marched through the parting in the army's heart. They shared the weight of a battering ram; a thick oaken trunk reinforced with hardened iron bands. Warping a squad to breach the defences wouldn't likely succeed this time. The enemy would anticipate that tactic now. Therefore, brute force was the chosen approach.
At Darbus's order, the gorons struck the castle gate. The impact roared like a great animal. The twin doors shook, holding firm against the blow. A crack split across their wooden surface. Hostile archers tried to fight the gorons off. Their arrows did as much harm as bee stings on rocks. The gorons struck again one time after another. A rhythm formed in their might. Little by little, the cracks in the gate grew larger. Entire fragments broke away. Soon all that held the doors together were the iron bands that reinforced them.
Then at last, the gates fell open. Cheers rose across the tribes. Squad captains shouted orders over the din, shuffling their soldiers back into formation. The gorons dropped the battering ram for a twili to banish it. They drew their clubs and claymores, charging headfirst and bellowing with fury.
Moblins with giant shields intercepted the vanguard. Although they had the advantage of reach, the gorons' weapons quickly shattered the moblins' spears. Archers pecked at the enemy from afar. A few arrows pierced skulls, dropping the monsters like sacks of grain.
As the scuffle raged at the gates, yetis plugged the moat with boulders to stem the water's flow. Together with the zoras, they swam to the base of the walls. The yetis climbed using large pickaxes while the zoras followed with grappling hooks. The rogue gerudo were too preoccupied with their rivals to notice until it was too late.
Once the gorons gained a foothold inside the courtyard, battlemages emerged from their shadows. They cast spells at the monsters while hylians marched across the bridge. Their combined strength overwhelmed the enemy's frontline. The Allied Tribes' momentum bought them more ground as the remaining monsters struggled to counter.
Gangs of brightly cloaked wizzzrobes danced on mid-air. Their eerie grins and childish laughter made them to seem less threatening. Then they assailed the vanguard with elemental magic. Ice spells immobilised the gorons. Fireballs disrupted the twili's shadow magic. Lightning brought armoured hylians to their knees. They were quickly slaughtered as order returned to the monsters.
Link was close enough to watch the soldiers fall. The battle's flow had turned so suddenly it staggered him. A sergeant nearby commanded archers to shoot. The man was panicking. His men were, too. Arrows flew one after the other, but the wizzrobes danced too erratically for anyone to aim accurately. A couple were lucky enough to land. However, the wizzrobes endured. Angry, they turned their spells onto the archers, inflicting worse panic and more casualties.
Link had never fought this breed of monster before. Shad had briefed him on their weakness, though; after word reached the command centre that the imps were among Ganondorf's ranks. "Archers! Use enchanted arrows!" Link called. "Altogether on my mark!"
A confident order restored the remaining archers' morale. Those with magic in their quivers rallied alongside Link. He studied the wizzrobes before issuing his next order. "Fire arrows! Draw!" Bowstrings creaked. Heat kissed Link's cheeks. "Ready! Shoot!"
A dozen arrows flew at once. Just more than half found their targets. The fire arrows decimated the ice wizzrobes. Even a light graze was enough to dissolve them into a spray of water. The fire wizzrobes suffered no injuries, however. That was fine with Link.
"Ice arrows! Draw!" The surrounding air cooled. "Shoot!" This time the red wizzrobes vanished in puffs of smoke. As per expectations, the remaining blue wizzrobes were unharmed, even with a sure hit.
Link alternated between the elements until only the lightning-casting yellow wizzrobes were left. That variety didn't have a weakness like their cousins. Yet, they didn't have the same immunity to ice and fire, either. Only a few more volleys were required to dispatch them. Soon, the air was clear of the pests. A new line of gorons fought back against the ground forces. Slowly, they would retake their lost territory.
Water dropped on Link's pauldron. If not for the splash onto his bare cheek, he would have missed it. Link turned his palm upward, observing as other little raindrops tapped his fingers. The heavens wept in a light sprinkle. Cool moisture saturated the air.
The storm would strike at any second. When it did, fire arrows and powder bombs would fail. The earth within the castle grounds would turn slick with mud. Airships would be forced to land and climbing the walls on ropes would become impossible. Link prayed to the goddesses for more time. All that they needed was a stronger grip inside the enemy's territory.
A lucky shot from the catapults landed near the defenders' front line. Fragments scattered from the missile. Soil tore apart under the impact. Monsters were thrown on top of each other, carving a hole in their guard for the Allied Tribes to exploit. The result was devastating.
A thousand shrill screeches came from above. Alongside the aeralfos, more kargaroks swooped into the fight. By now, the yetis and zoras had captured most of the southern battlements. Oocca were using their last chance before the storm hit to unload as many archers onto the walls as possible. Arrows soared. Flying lizards fell. More still made it past unscathed, diving down to strike at the ground troops. This time the soldiers were ready and waiting.
The division between the armies ebbed and flowed. When the area owned by the tribes became large enough, Link made his way through the broken gate. Bodies littered the earth in growing numbers, leaving little room to step without trampling on an arm or leg. At all sides, Link could feel the battle rage as though it was all happening inside his skull. He took a deep breath. Sour air filled his lungs. Focusing, Link pushed the pandemonium from his thoughts and raised his left fist.
The back of his hand shone with golden light. It washed over the soldiers and monsters, eliciting cries of shock and awe. Link looked towards the castle. 'Here I am, Ganondorf. I've got something that you want.'
After a few moments, Link cut the flow of power and his hand returned to normal. With any luck, Ganondorf's attention would fall onto him. Before Link could second-guess the plan, a voice boomed from amid the enemy forces.
"KELDER!"
A war chant rose around the speaker. Several bodies pushed their way through the monsters. Bokoblins screeched as bulblin trogs knocked them aside. Between the ogres, one rode tall upon a bulbo. Link locked eyes with Ahlkrog Strongaxe. He drew his sword as he proceeded toward the front line.
One soldier tried to stop Link. "What are you doing? Stay in formation!" Link regarded the man before brushing his hand from his arm.
"It'll be fine," Link replied calmly. "I need to deal with those bulblins on my own. Make sure that the monsters don't interfere."
While the soldier fretted on how to respond, the bulblins cleared a wider space free of their allies. The trogs spread out in a half-circle, giving room for Strongaxe to dismount and approach on foot. Link ordered the gorons to move aside. Reluctantly, they permitted him to step past.
"It's been too long, Kelder," Strongaxe grumbled, his axe in hand.
"Been looking forward to this battle?" Link asked. Strongaxe grinned wickedly. Link remained impassive. "Are you sure you want to go through with this? Once we start, there's no going back."
For a moment, Strongaxe turned solemn. "Yes… I am sure." He reached for the horn hanging from his belt and brought it to his lips. One long blow followed by four short bursts.
Then suddenly, all throughout Ganondorf's army, monsters howled in agony as the nearest bulblin turned their weapons on them. Strongaxe's trogs brought swords and axes upon the unsuspecting bokoblins. Kargaroks were shot down. Lizalfos lost their heads to neighbouring swords. Confusion spread like wildfire across both armies. The Allied Tribes stood and watched as their enemies tore themselves apart.
Strongaxe brought a fist over his chest and bowed his head toward Link. "The bulblin clans now fight for you, Orgr. Your enemies are now ours."
Link returned a smile. "Glad to have you officially onboard." He then switched on his communicator and spoke into it. "This is Lieutenant Kelder. The bulblin clans have turned against Ganondorf's forces. I'm moving ahead with the next objective."
"Understood, Lieutenant," Auru answered. "We'll spread word to our soldiers not to attack the bulblins."
"I'd love to see how well that plays out," Strongaxe said with a cynical snort. He pointed his axe towards the castle. "Our warriors will escort us to the throne room. Ganondorf awaits you there."
"You can tell me what to expect on the way," Link replied.
Strongaxe pulled the reins of his bulbo, turning the beast around. He then slapped its rump hard. The boar reared onto its hind legs in savage fury. It charged forward, trampling every monster unable to escape its path. Strongaxe's trogs gathered around him and Link. As a unit, they followed the bloody road cleared for them. In the chaos of the battle, no one noticed Link walk away amidst a band of former enemies.
"That is an interesting little bauble you were talking with," Strongaxe spoke as though they were on a casual stroll. "Ganondorf's spies couldn't tell how your side moved so swiftly during the last battle. I'm surprised they didn't get a hold of at least one."
"The oocca gave the communicators out yesterday," Link explained. "We know about the Yiga, so nobody who has a communicator was left alone without a few guards."
Strongaxe tilted his head with a smirk. "You're alone now…"
Link met his gaze evenly. "Are you going to turn cloaks a second time?"
"No. That just makes for poor integrity. Besides, Ganondorf isn't the sort to forgive betrayal, no matter how brief it be. I've thought long and hard about this since we last met. My mind is made up."
"Thank you," Link said. That surprised the bulblin. "You're risking a lot by changing sides for us. There was a chance that you could have been sniffed out before now."
Strongaxe laughed. "There was no need to worry. Betrayal is an art for my people. Most outsiders think we're not much more than simple brutes. They don't realise how skilled bulblins are at acting."
'After the war, perhaps you should start a theatre troupe," Link joked. Strongaxe nodded, seeming enticed by the idea.
The trogs cut down a team of darknuts guarding the castle entrance. Strongaxe's bulbo had battered through the doors, now rampaging inside the foyer. It came to its master's whistle. The speed in which it calmed impressed Link. He could sense the respect it had for Strongaxe as it nuzzled his awaiting palm.
"Where's the imp?" Strongaxe asked.
"Midna is taking a secret passage underground. We're supposed to meet up in the western wing."
"Then that is where we go."
Not for the first time, Link marvelled at the strangeness of this relationship. As he moved through the grand halls with Strongaxe at his side, Link thought of their first meeting. This man had been the source of so much pain for him and his loved ones. He attacked their home, kidnapped them, and tormented Link with every encounter. Nothing could make Link forget any of that. Yet here and now, with the fate of so many lives on the line; as well as the kingdom, itself; Link was glad to have someone so dangerously strong at his side.
"Did you ever imagine things turning out this way?" he found himself asking.
"No," Strongaxe answered, looking straight ahead. "I don't question this fate, though. I have always followed the strong. That is all that I have ever known. And this kingdom has many strong warriors in it. The way I see it, siding with your cause is the wisest path for my people. Only death comes to those who trail behind the weak."
"That's one way to look at the world," Link accepted. A gang of dinalfos ran towards them. Together, Link and the bulblins raised their weapons and met the monsters head on.
The news from the command centre was beyond belief. Hearing the first-hand accounts bewildered the imagination. When Rusl rode onto the battlefield and saw the bulblins beating monsters with swords and clubs, the reality finally drove home. Link's gamble had paid off. Now the enemy army was in chaos.
"What the devil is going on here?" Jaggle gaped as two groblens clambered onto a moblin's shoulders to bludgeon it to death. "I thought the bulblins were on their side? Why are they attacking each other?"
Bo watched another band perched atop a sniper's post. They shot at low-flying aeralfos with arrows. Any that missed found an unlucky bokoblin to spread across the unkept lawn. "I've heard of bulblins double-crossing their allies, but not without a reason. Why are they helping us now?"
A proud smile pulled at Rusl's cheek. "Bulblins choose their leaders from the strongest warriors they have. It's their law. Last fall, Link helped the gerudo capture a fortress the bulblins were occupying. During the battle, he fought the Orgr in single-combat and won. Since the bulblins were then defeated, many of them accepted Link as their new orgr."
Bo and Jaggle stared at Rusl as though he had grown a second head. "Link is the boss of all the bulblins?" Jaggle spluttered. "And you're only telling us this now?"
"We had to keep it a secret until now. If Ganondorf's army had caught the slightest hint, our plan to attack them from the inside would have been ruined. That, and because not all the bulblins were keen about having a human as an orgr. Link spent the last two months searching for clans still allied with Ganondorf. He challenged their leaders until most of them accepted him as their king."
"That was still a hell of a risk to take," Bo frowned. "What if the bulblins stabbed us in the back, instead?"
Rusl shot at an approaching kargarok before answering. "That was what the previous Orgr was taking care of for us. He knew the clan leaders who would cause the most trouble. I don't know the details, but Link told us those ones aren't fighting for anyone anymore."
His friends continued to watch the green-faced mercenaries drew near to their own soldiers. Rusl imagined what was going through their minds. "Rusl, I've got some choice words to say about all this," Bo growled. "But for the time being, I'll stay alive long enough to get the chance. Both of you do the same until this is over."
Rusl said nothing as the Allied Tribes pushed deeper into the courtyard. Every communicator spread Auru's order that no one was to harm a bulblin unless one attacked first. The factions did not draw too close, though. Rusl hardly expected either side to trust each other so suddenly. Still, clustering together threw greater pressure against the monster hordes. That would help the tribes hold their ground until the catapults broke new entry points into the walls.
Try as he might, Rusl could not see Link anywhere. What he did notice was the gang of bulblins defending the castle's front entrance. Rusl hoped that Link had made it into the castle. He felt his soul travel nineteen years back to a distant field. His closest friend had been out of his reach. Now Rusl's son was beyond it as well.
His heart ached. It urged Rusl to charge forward. If the army could seize more ground, he and Epona could catch up to Link quickly. Duty as a soldier held him back, though. Rushing the battle wouldn't merely be selfish. It could get hundreds of good soldiers killed and place their odds of victory at risk. Thus, Rusl swallowed the sour bile in his mouth and drew another arrow. He caught sight of a Yiga swordsman giving orders.
With one less thinking man among their ranks, the enemy forces became more a rabble of dumb animals.
Midna found it funny how she had never once entered Hyrule Castle through the front door. Over the four times this now made, she had always crawled through the sewers to get inside. 'Really should break the habit, next time,' Midna mused, as she followed the light ahead in the tunnel. Nabooru held a lantern high in front of the column of three dozen soldiers. A Sheikah woman by her side carried their map of the caverns.
From time to time, the walls shook. Dust and crumbled brickwork filled the air. Many in their group stopped, worried that the ceiling might collapse. It did not, but people continued forward with the thought 'what if' going through their minds. Midna reckoned they were near the castle now and that the battle aboveground was in full swing. Her thoughts turned to Link, hoping that he would be alright.
"He will be fine." The voice startled Midna, for she did not hear it with her ears.
"You are almost there. The both of you have done so well."
"Zelda?" Midna said aloud. Everyone around her turned with strange looks. Nabooru quickly noticed the murmurs of the squad and brought them to a standstill.
"Is everything alright, Midna?" she asked.
Midna flushed as she replied. "Sorry, I thought I heard someone's voice. It was nothing, though. Must have just been something in the air."
"It wouldn't surprise me if the air was contaminated." Midna almost sighed in her relief as Nabooru moved her gaze away. "All of you take some cloth and cover your mouths. Keep an eye on your comrades. If anyone becomes ill, let me know immediately."
That was a close one, Midna thought. 'Indeed,' replied Zelda's voice. 'It wouldn't bode well for your allies to believe you were losing your senses.'
'I'm not imagining this then?' Midna asked without speaking. 'That's really you I'm hearing inside my head.'
'Yes, and I can hear you, as well, if your thoughts are clear.'
'Why now, though? You gave me your life force months ago. I never knew that you were still here all this time. Why haven't you said anything before?'
'On the night we last met, I implanted my soul into your body. From there, I could then use my power to reverse the damage done to you by the energies of this world, as well as make you immune to them. However, after we merged, I became dormant within your subconscious. I have only been able to communicate with you rarely with faint suggestions. Now that we are getting closer to my own body, I am able to speak with you more directly.'
Absently, Midna stroked the back of her head. 'I remember having thoughts that felt like they belonged to someone else. When I needed to save Link with the Great Fairy's Tears, I suddenly felt calm for a moment. It was like I then knew what to do. That was you, wasn't it? What on earth did you do that night?'
'I used an ancient spell passed down through my bloodline. It allows one to enter a state of hibernation, preserving their body and soul for as long as thousands of years. With a few tweaks, I separated my soul from my body to merge with yours.'
'You couldn't have just healed me from the outside and escaped with us in your own body?'
'By then Ganondorf had revived into a physical form. He watched me like a hawk, even while I was captive. He would have noticed my leaving as soon as we left the tower. So instead, I hid myself inside you. It was the only means I could think of to keep Ganondorf from claiming my power for his own. I'm sorry that I used you for such a selfish purpose.'
Somehow, Midna smiled. 'Let's call us even and leave it at that.' Slowly, her smile faded. 'So… um… How much have you been able to see and hear since you moved in?'
Zelda was quiet for too long to Midna's liking. 'It would be best if we don't discuss this.' Ever, Midna added. 'Congratulations, by the way. You and Link make a wonderful couple.'
Midna's throat tightened. 'Thank you…? This isn't really the time for that, though, is it?' She felt a sense of agreement from Zelda.
They arrived at the base of one of the castle's towers. Midna had half-expected there to be a horde of monsters guarding the room. Alas, all that greeted them was a broken lantern without a candle. Somehow it stirred a vague memory.
It was raining after the squad climbed the tower and broke out onto the battlements. Gerudo and Yiga archers turned in surprise. They either hadn't known about the secret entrance or hadn't expected anyone to use it. Nabooru cut two down before they could aim their bows. Midna launched a spell at foes at the back. The sudden attack decimated the enemy garrison. When it was safe, Midna spared a glance upon the battle below.
The Allied Tribes had broken through to the castle's front entrance. Ganondorf's monsters hammered the invaders from two sides. Siege weapons bombarded the enemy deep within their territory. Already the air was pungent with blood.
Nabooru led the squad onward. They took a different route to the one that Midna was familiar with. A few false walls took them to the second floor of the castle. From there, they would reunite with the main force in time to seize control of the interior.
Perhaps the goddesses believed that the battle was going too well for their side. When Midna's squad broke out into the west wing, another stood waiting to oppose them. They were all gerudo women. Their armour donned an emblem that was different to the clans whom Nabooru assembled. One woman in the centre regarded the invading group with an air of casual confidence. She carried no weapon, which struck an uneasy chord in Midna. Steel was not her tool in battle.
"Sav'aaq. Welcome to our castle," the woman greeted in the old gerudo custom. She pouted as she swept her gaze across them. "Hmm… I was expecting more of you to arrive than this. Perhaps we never needed Kohga's blademasters after all."
"You knew about the passage and set up this ambush," Nabooru glared, holding her blade forward.
"It did not take our king long to discover the tunnel below the western tower. If Farore's Hero were to infiltrate the castle, a secret passage would be the most ideal method." The woman eyed Nabooru like a ravenous snake. "You must be Nabooru, matriarch of the blasphemers. I am Veran, King Ganondorf's most faithful vassal. Imagine my fortune that you of all people would come to me."
Nabooru beared her teeth. "Better a blasphemer than a monster's advocate. Where is he, anyway? Cowering in some cupboard under the stairs?"
Veran scowled deeply. "Our king steers the battle's course high above us. A pity that you won't get the honour of meeting him."
She regained her composure. "I do not see the Hero among your group, though. None of your voe carry his weapon." Her gaze focused on Midna's tribespeople. "Perhaps one of your twili is the Twilight Queen, instead?"
"Don't react," Zelda cautioned. Midna held her expression as Veran looked upon her.
"What is your interest in her?" Nabooru demanded. "I can understand why you would hunt down the Hero; but I'd hardly think Ganondorf would care for a single twili."
Veran smiled. "The details do not concern you. The Twilight Queen has something that His Eminence wants. He has proclaimed that she and the Hero are to be brought to him alive. We will take your twili vai captive for interrogation. The rest of your group, however, will not be needed."
At her threat, several of the twili glanced in Midna's direction. Unfortunately, Veran noticed. Her brows danced as she looked closer at Midna's face. Nabooru stepped between them. "Midna," she whispered. "Go on ahead and meet up with Link."
"I'm not leaving you," Midna grit her teeth. "We came this far together, so we'll fight together."
"We can handle this without you. Don't forget that your mission is to defeat Ganondorf. We now know that he doesn't want either of you killed yet. Use that to your advantage."
"She's right, Midna," Zelda weighed in. "Save your strength for the fight that matters most."
Midna stared Veran down. The woman watched them with amusement. "She's likely a mage. You're going to have a hard time against her."
"We have mages of our own, too," Nabooru smirked. "Don't worry about us. If I was worried about dying at the hands of Ganondorf's underlings, I wouldn't have led the charge here."
"Tick-tock, Your Highness," Veran tutted. "What will it be? Will you fight in vain alongside your comrades, or will you run to save your own skin?"
The scales finally tipped. Midna made her choice. She stepped around Nabooru and cast a fierce, sidelong gaze. "Kill the bitch."
Nabooru grinned, nodding. "See you later."
Into shadow, Midna shot forward. Flames sprouted from Veran's fingers. She then cast them across the floor. Midna turned sharply, climbing up one wall and racing alongside it. Veran smirked as she watched her silhouette disappear.
"So, she ran," she giggled. A wild gleam filled Veran's eye as she turned back to Nabooru with fire and ice billowing within her palms. "No matter. My true target was the leader of the rebel clans, anyway. Now pray to the Sand Mother, heretic. I will take pleasure in raising a stalfos from your bones to turn against your allies."
Warriors from both factions shifted their weights. The lust for blood swept through all. Nabooru lifted the silver shield on her arm; an heirloom passed down generations of clan matriarchs; and faced her enemy without fear.
"Take your best shot, bitch."
