"Onox...he's...not dead."

"What?" Before anyone else could question Spryte, the ground began to quake. The smoke exiting Onox began to float up to the sky, merging high above the square. The only thing that was left as the last of Onox move up was his armor.

Sheik, Link, and Zelda drew their weapons, shocked by this turn of events. "What the hell is this?"

"That should have killed him. That was the plan!"

"Gah, hah, hah!" The voice of Onox thundered across the plaza, proof that the General of Darkness was not done yet. "Not bad at all! But I'm done toying with you! I will show you my true might!" The smoke in the air began to expand, and a bright light shined across the square. The rebels covered their eyes until the light ceased, then faced the sky to get a glimpse of Onox's "true might." It was a large, dark-colored dragon, with a rocky, white head and arms. A large jewel was encrusted on Onox's forehead, just above the fiery-orange eyes that saw the doom of the rebels. "Gwah hah hah! I was summoned from the Evil Realm by Vaati! See my true form! Feel the might of a dark dragon!" Onox reared his head back, taking in air as a blue fireball began to form in the dragon's mouth, then it was exhaled forcefully towards Link and company.

Zelda stepped forward, channeling her power and the Pendant of Wisdom, threw her hand up and yelled "Nayru's Love!" The blue diamond shield enveloped over her and her allies, holding as the fireball made contact against it. Zelda held her ground as the fireball tried to crush the shield, but the Princess was a little stronger as the fireball dispersed. However, the shield fell as well due to Zelda's exhaustion, the Princess falling on her feet. "I… I won't be able to do it again."

Unfortunately for them, Onox was not waiting for Zelda to recharge. He began to charge another fireball, one stronger than the last, to end the rebellion once and for all…

"Labrynna, Rito, let them fly!" Onox was bombarded with explosions from the exterior, disabling his attack. He roared in fury as a flying blue bear zipped passed him, followed by multi-colored birds, some with riders, others without.

Zelda smiled as chatter emitted from her Gossip Stone, knowing that help had arrived. "Ralph and the Resistance, they made it!"

Bagu

Bagu gazed over the plains surrounding Rauru Town and the ruined city itself, noting the impressive numbers the King of Labrynna, despite the past misdeeds the young man presented, was able to amass. They weren't here with Bagu and his army to save Hyrule alone, but to protect their lands as well.

"General." Bagu turned to Shade, who pointed to the assembly on the plains. "They await the command of the Resistance."

"You should be leading us."

Shade shook his head, gazing at the distant northern horizon. "No, I have my destiny to meet today. You have yours. Give them the call."

Bagu nodded, then raised up his charm. "This is General Bagu of the Resistance of Hyrule. All armies not of Hyrule report in."

"This is Commander Linebeck of the Phantom Isles, reporting in." Bagu turned to the newly promoted commander, Linebeck nervously shaking his legs. "I miss the waters already."

"This is King Ambi of Labrynna and Holodrum, reporting in."

"This is King Elegant of Calatia, reporting in."

"This is Commander Combsly of Hytopia, reporting in."

"This is King Komali of the Rito, representing the Great Sea Alliance, reporting in."

"This is Sheik of the Sheikah Clan, reporting in. Thanks for the save."

"Sheik?" Shade exclaimed, before chuckling to himself. Bagu smiled himself. The Sheikah bastards were still around and kicking.

"This is Princess Zelda Harkinian Hyrule. I thank you all for coming. General Bagu, may I address the army?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Thank you. Everyone, I am sure Ralph briefed you all on what this situation is for coming here. We have a special guest present from the Imperials. To the north, you can see an enormous bird in the air, but that is just a mechanical beast. Within, the King and Queen of the Imperials watch this battle. Now you do not owe me this what you have done, but most of you knew my mother and know my father, so in her place, I ask of you to fight for Hyrule, but if not, fight for the world. Starting with the dragon you see in the sky and the Imperials within the city. Give the Imperials a ride to hell, or take them with you. Make it known that we are done with tyranny, with darkness, and with destruction. Tonight, we may not take the throne, but we will even the odds."

A cheer resonated around the plains, loud enough that Bagu was sure the gods in the heavens could feel it. He hoped Vaati could, and if he couldn't, they'll make this battle loud. "All ground forces, engage the city. We must assist the Sages to their pedestals so that the Hero and Princess can get to the Temple of Time. Charge, for Hyrule… Nay, for the world!"

"For the Phantom Isles!"

"For Labrynna and Holodrum!"

"For Calatia!"

"For the Great Sea!"

"For Hytopia!"

Bagu turned to his soldiers behind him, drawing his steel. "For Hyrule!"

Ralph

"Alrighty boys and girls from Labrynna and Holodrum, this is your captain speaking. Underneath that giant piece of darkness is the lovely Princess Zelda and her dumb ass hero, Link. We are to get them to the Temple of Time while assisting the Sages to their respective pedestals. I am told only three remain; mine, the lovely Princess Oren's and the elegant Princess Hilda's. Oren, take your squadron and defend your destination. Those assigned to the Oracle, follow her to the northeast to assist the Sage of Shadow. My group, we're taking down the big guy."

"Copy, Ralph."

"Copy, Your Majesty."

"Copy, you asshole."

Ralph chuckled as he redirected Moosh and the flyers behind him towards the center of the city. The dragon was clearly visible now, having been covered by smoke from the first attack by the flyers. The dragon, General Onox's true form, was just as described as in the story of the Oracles in Holodrum's history. That, and the fact Onox led the attack on Labrynna, gave Ralph two good reasons to pop the dragon back to whence he came from.

"Sir, what about the Rito?"

Ralph had temporarily forgotten about the humanoid birds. The Rito were master archers, and Ralph had seen their art firsthand during the first attack run. "Call them in. The more hits we land on Onox, the better chances we got of bringing him down."

Ralph turned to the southwest, where he could spot Oren landing while her group took care of the monsters. Next was to the northeast, where Naryu led an attack around the Pedestal of Shadow. Hilda had to be closing in. Speaking of closing in, the flyers were locked on to Onox, who had recovered from his daze and glared vengeance at the flyers. Ralph chuckled as he took out his bow. "Be prepared for anything. He sees us."

Onox roared, sending spit and smaller blasts of fire towards the Labrynnians, Holodrumians and the Ritos who had joined up. They all did their best to avoid the projectiles, but a Labrynnian and three Rito were caught. Ralph gritted his teeth as he looked towards Onox. "Anyone know if he has a weak spot. They always have one."

"Might I suggest the jewel on his head?" Ralph looked left, seeing a blue and white Rito fly beside him. He didn't like the tone the bird presented him, as if it was obvious the jewel was the target.

"We could try that. Heads up everyone, we're in attack range. Arrows ready!" Everyone, Rito, Holodrumian, and Labrynnian raised their unignited bomb arrows, aiming for the red jewel topping Onox's head. Most, however, began to lose aim as the wind began to pick up in intensity.

"Oh captain, I suggest we hurry up. The wind is going to throw us into disarray if we hold on much longer." Ralph ignored the Rito, instead holding his next order until they were a little closer. However, the worm-eater was right. Ralph believed Onox was controlling the wind, and if he was, the flyers were going to be thrown like leaves in a gale. It was a long way down too.

"Ignium!" Ralph's bomb ignited, and soon afterward, everyone else did the same. The wind continued to harass them, but the rebels were still flying closer, and now were in firing range. "Once you get a good shot, fire!" Ralph let loose first, followed by his Rito companion and everyone else behind them. They turned away from the roaring dragon, whose cries echoed the success of Ralph and his team. The young king raised his fist as he spotted a huge crack on the jewel, knowing that a few more runs like this one would finish him. The celebration continued with a light blue glow in the sky, the source being the Pedestal of Water.

"That's four down! Your Majesties from Lorule and Labrynna, you are the last two."

"Good work, Oren."

"Your Majesty, we got aerial company! Keese and Kargoracs!" Ralph spotted the incoming monsters flying in from the north, then glanced at Onox below him. Dividing his troops' attention would be a costly move, but one man could take on Onox. Two even. Three, if permitted. Ralph turned to the Rito still flying beside him as the king turned for another attack run. "Hey, you stick with me. Everyone else, fight the Imperials, keep them off us. Oren, are you back in the air?"

"...Yes Ralph."

Ralph could sense the low emotions from the Sage of Water, which worried him so. "You alright?"

"Yeah...It's just...I saw Ruto again. We had a Sage to Sage chat."

"Well, come on, I got something that the Zora Sapphire pales in comparison too. It's big, red, and shiny."

"As long as you aren't proposing, I'll take your offer."

"I would never do such a thing." Ralph and the Rito began to head straight for Onox once more, momentarily joined by Princess Oren. Ralph turned left, smiling at Oren. "Besides, I do plan on being a committed man."

"To an asylum?"

"No, you gill-breather, to a woman."

Oren tossed a water ball at an incoming Kargorac, watching as the ball engulf the monster's face as it interfered with the intake of oxygen. "Unbelievable. The king has decided to settle down."

The Rito lowered his bow after firing a trio of arrows to three Keese, adjusting his flight to be between the Zora and Labrynnian. "Not to intrude, but we are in the middle of battle. It would be wise to stay focused."

"What is your name?"

"Why, thanks for asking! My name is Revali, the greatest Rito archer you will ever see."

Ralph rolled his eyes. "Joy to have you. Prepare to fire. Oren...do...whatever you do."

"Like extinguishing those fireballs coming at us? On it." Oren held her hand up, summoning some water on her hand, then held her arm forward, firing at the fireballs as they came in close. Meanwhile, Ralph and Revali began to fight the wind that hadn't died down from earlier, settling their aim on Onox's forehead.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Fire!" Four shots soared through the dangerous air, making an explosive impact on the jewel. Onox roared as he weakened again, a sizable crack now threatening to break the jewel apart. Too weak to maintain flight, Onox dropped down to the square below, send a cloud of debris and a short earthquake through the city. Ralph chuckled. "Woohoo! We got him! Hey, Link!"

"Good work, Ralph. What's up?"

"I'm coming down for my medallion now. You two be ready to get inside the temple. As a gesture of goodwill towards Hyrule, I'm giving you the glory to end the knight. You are welcome."

"...Thank you."

Hilda

Luckily for Hilda, the Labrynnians and the Sheikah had cleared house around the Pedestal of Shadow, allowing her to make it up to the platform with ease. Awaiting the Princess of Lorule was the former Sage herself, Impa. Sheathing her longsword on her back, Impa faced the approaching Hilda, a small smile of approval on her face. "I see you made it, Shadow. I sensed you used your powers to give you and the boy ease in moving about the city."

"To move with the shadows is my power, is it not?"

"Indeed, it is...but, Princess, some things are best not to keep within the shadows." Turning around, Hilda was faced with a ghostly person, much shorter than Hilda and Impa, but bore the same hair and eye color as the latter. Furthermore, the Sheikah around the pedestal bowed in reverence to the ghost, leaving Hilda confused as to who she was. She looked to Ravio, who awkwardly followed the warriors' motion. Hilda, not in her training as royalty to bow to the knee, used her upper torso to pay respects to the stranger.

Impa raised back up, folding her arms. "Hello, Impaz."

The ghost, Impaz, grunted. "Wow. 18 long years, and my only daughter has the nerve to call my by my name rather than my title of 'mother.' You have not changed one bit, Impa. I shouldn't have left the world the way I did, without making sure you were truly ready."

"Sheik was and is a better leader than I, Mother. That's why I married him, and why I left the Sheikah in his care when I left."

Impaz shook her head. "Too many things kept in the shadows. I told you to live your life as Sheikah and as woman, but apparently you will never live the latter. And you…" Impaz turned to Hilda, noticing the Medallion of Shadow in her hands. "What are you keeping in the shadows of your mind?"

Hilda frowned. She had admitted to Lorule already, what more does the world want? "I have nothing more to tell."

"Betrayal. Deceit. Lies. I was once the Sage of Shadow, and with it, came the power to deduce the truth, to expose what hides in the shadows and bring it to light. I won't out you, but I'll tell you how foolish you are to do this. You interfere, you will bring destruction to both worlds. Do what you plan on doing, and your homeland will just repeat its cycle of destruction."

"But...do I not owe it to my people to bring them back?"

Impaz nodded. "You might, and what you did was hasty. But destroying Lorule, controversial as it is, could have been the right move. Hilda, the truth is that you are a just ruler who cares so much for her land and its people that she would rather destroy them rather than make them suffer. It will be a choice she'll ponder over for many years to come, a choice that no one, not even her best friend could understand, a choice that will change the minds of those around her, but was it the right choice? Is death a better fate than suffering? It is a thought we kept in our shadows, but once in our lives, it must come to the light. But what you plan, if you do it today, it will make your sacrifice for them in vain. There will be another chance, when this war is done, to return Lorule to the light."

Hilda, uncertain if what Impaz said was right, faced Ravio, who had came up to the pedestal. He smiled, nodding his head to the silent question his dear princess asked. She turned back to Impaz, then to the Pedestal of Shadow. "Then let's continue the fight for Hyrule...and for Lorule."

Link and Zelda

After Ralph swooped down and grabbed the Medallion of Fire, Link turned his attention to the wounded Onox, still maintaining his true form. Zelda and Spryte moved behind him (Sheik attended to other business in the city after making sure the teenagers were okay), approaching Onox in case of a surprise. The dark dragon breathed heavily, and Link almost felt pity for the man. Onox was dying, whether Link killed him or not. Onox knew that too for he looked up to the armed Link with a command. "Do it… Grant me a quick death. Or are you one...to let his enemy suffer?"

"I will grant you a death without suffering, but you will answer a question for me."

"What….is it….you wish to know?"

"What did Vaati offer you in exchange for service?"

Onox hoarsely chuckled. "That is what you want? To know my story of...how I returned? It is quite simple, really. Like Veran...and Vaati, I was born into this world...as a normal man. I used to be Commander Onox...when the Queen ruled the land. Three decades...I served dutifully, and when...the general I served under retired...I had hoped to take his place. But...Zelda chose Auru...and I quit not much longer afterward. What did Vaati offer in exchange for my service? My power, my true power, returned...my memories remembered...and my loyalty paid for. But even here, my loyalty was questioned...so I desired to make them pay. Veran...Vaati...even Ghirahim...they are not the last of the Imperials. There is a whole hell who would love to kill you two...and if they believe it will get it done, Veran and Vaati will raise it."

Link bit his lip, cursing the king and queen. Link and Zelda's past incarnations must have racked up a deadly rogue gallery. "Then we'll fight them all if we must."

Onox chuckled, then looked to the sky with the rebels as it glowed purple. "I am sure you will, Hero and Princess. But it isn't enough to take them down. The Imperials aren't your only threat. There is one more, not as deadly now, but just as potent...end him, you end all your troubles. Fate...was our plan, and fate, inside that temple, will play out. Can you...Link, or even you, Zelda, seal fate for whoever opposes you, even if it betrays a friend or two?"

Unable to answer, Link turned to Zelda, who stepped forward to Onox, kneeling in front of him as she held her hand to the cracked jewel. "Anyone who would bring further chaos to my parents' land, to my kingdom, to my world, will be put down, even if they are a friend."

"You...are...her child." The sky illuminated red, and chattering echoed from the rebels' charms. Onox closed his eyes, his death imminent. "Go...to the Temple of Time...where the fate...of blood...of spirit...and of hatred...awaits you…"

General Onox, the man who fought for loyalty, breathed his last. Link took a step back, sheathing the Master Sword as he looked to Spryte, knowing the fairy was double checking to be sure. She nodded confirmation quietly, then both boy and fairy turned to the still knelt Zelda, who whispered a prayer for the dragon as he began to decompose, just as Sheik did earlier. Once she was done, she stood up, nodding to her friends, then all turned to the Temple of Time. Its doors were open, inviting the Hero, Princess, and fairy within.

"Link, Spryte, let's end this."

"Right."

"Let's get that Triforce."

Vaati stood on the back of Vah Medoh, his eyes closed as he concentrated on the events happening in Rauru Town. As expected, Onox would fall...and the doors to the Temple of Time would open. All that was left was for the Doors of Time to open, and Link to insert the Master Sword within its former resting place. The Sacred Realm would open, and Zelda will have her Triforce. Then… "Oh?"

Beside him, Veran birthed a wicked smile on her face. She had sensed the same thing Vaati had and folded her arms as she looked down to the city. "You feel it."

"Indeed. Onox was right. Bound by fate, they would assemble here." Vaati turned to his queen, smirking. "Prepare Vah Medoh. The world wants to fight us, we'll give them the destruction they deserve. The Resistance dies today, and fate will make it so. Heh heh heh heh ha ha ha ha!"