Chapter Twenty-Two

Coming upon Hyrule field, finding body after body strewn across the grass, Zelda could feel her stomach turn to ice at the sight. Many soldiers had fallen due to the Calamity taking control of the guardians, word spreading to her ear that there were rumours of the Divine Beasts being taken over by the malice that was Ganon. Thankfully, a missive sent from the Rito explained the Champions had regained control of their beasts and were still able to fight. However, their fighting would be limited to their regions due to a mass of dark energy stilling the mechanics inside these beasts. This was fine, as they had the technology to hit from quite far away.

However, this would mean Zelda was practically on her own despite the array of soldiers at her side. Sidon would remain close, which she was grateful for, but there was bound to be casualties given how many guardians were on the loose.

Zelda shook as she watched the giant mechanical creatures crawl about Hyrule field, the darkness of Calamity Ganon raising to the air and screaming at the sky for all to hear. It would seem it was trapped within the halls of Hyrule castle, the great pillars Zelda had read about revealing their forms the moment Ganon showed itself, but it was still able to throw its malice at others who dared to get too close. This meant anything and everyone could be subjected to its power.

Even Zelda or Sidon.

The large Zora to her right let out a shaky breath, the two remaining far upon a cliff to plan out their attack. He wore a plethora of armour, covering as much as he could while still being able to move freely.

"Princess, we need to find a way in."

"I'm afraid we might not be able to sneak our way past the Calamity." She remarked fearfully. "We will have to face it head-on and make our way through Castle Town."

"I'm not sure…"

"As much as I dislike to think of it, we only have one way through. And that's forward. My father is making his stand at the Great Plateau, and it is there where the guardians will go to fall him. If he draws in enough of them, we will have an opening for attack. I can only pray that he will survive this and we will meet afterwards."

"Yes, milady. I understand. But without the sword to drive the Calamity back…"

"I will have to seal it away." Zelda informed. "At least until someone can fight him. I hope it will not come to that. I hope that Link will find it in his heart to return. But if I get there, and I cannot stop the Calamity, then I will seal it away. That is my job as the Princess. It is my duty to protect my kingdom. You have my word that I will not fail you."

There was a moment of intense silence from Sidon as the guardians raged on below them. The soldiers behind them were nervous at the princess' hushed words to the Zora, none of them able to hear what the two were speaking of. Most were ready to fight, but there was an understandable amount of them who wanted nothing to do with this. They were here to defend their kingdom, though none wanted to lose their lives today.

Zelda could understand this.

The princess turned to the soldiers, each one standing straighter when her eyes met the large number of them.

"Hyrule is under the threat of Calamity. The lives of many have already been taken. The lives of many more are being endangered. My duty as your princess is to stand against the Calamity and to be a shield against this horrid creature. My duty to you is to fight. And fight I shall, even until my last breath is crushed out of me by Ganon. The people of my kingdom mean more to me than anything else, and so I will defend them. I ask that you not think of me when you face the Calamity, nor your king or his castle. Think of your families. Think of your loved ones, the friends you've made, the people you've come to care for, and the homes for which your lives have been led in. Think of this when you raise your swords to the Calamity. Think of this when you stare down the beasts below us, and know that if you perish, if this be the day you take your last breath, that you fought for THEM. Not me. Not your King. But for everyone you love and for everything you care for!"

A loud roar came from the battalion, soldiers raising their swords to the sky in approval. The first battle of morale taken care of.

Now… for the real battle.

Zelda stood taller now, raising a sword given to her by the Zora. "For the people of Hyrule!"

Another roar as the soldiers began running onto the field, Zelda taking up the reigns of her horse to lead. Sidon followed as close as he could on foot, though his legs had him stalling a little. He made up for this in his fighting abilities, felling at least two guardians who went after the princess the moment they stepped out onto the field. He had also taken on a few monsters from afar with his bow, eye trained on everything that went after the princess.

Zelda herself managed to fight off a few monsters from her horse, though she hadn't had much training with a sword before. Her father had assumed she wouldn't need to learn much with the blade since Link was supposed to guard her all the time.

That would have to change when all this was done.

They forced their way through the field, soldier after soldier fighting back against the guardians. More than a few of them losing that battle. Most of the way Zelda dodged the guardians instead of taking them on, leaving most of the them to Sidon who was a formidable foe against the mechanical beings. There were moments of worry, such as when a beam had brushed by Sidon's fin, leaving a burn on the Zora, but he kept pushing on ahead. They had to make it to Castle Town, and from there they could take on Calamity Ganon properly. There would be many more guardians there to protect the beast from anyone attempting to take it down, but Zelda was prepared to let her power destroy them if it came to that. The main reason she would not use it now was because she did not want to drain herself of it.

She had to save it up for Ganon.

Just as Sidon fell another guardian, Zelda found herself at the edge of the Sacred Ground where she had knighted Link not too long ago. It was here where she heard a loud buzzing sound overhead of her, the sight of a red light piercing through the smoke and smog towards Calamity Ganon. It was coming from the direction of the Gerudo Desert, meaning Urbosa had taken aim at the castle now. Moments later were a few more lights finding themselves pointed at the same target, proving the other Champions were ready to make their mark on this war.

Zelda stopped her horse on the Sacred Ground, breathing heavily from the adrenaline. Sidon stopped with her, keeping his eyes focused on the dangers around her. It would seem they were safe for the moment, the Guardians having not noticed them duck into this small copse.

Zelda let out a shaky huff. "We're so close!"

"We can do it, Princess!" Sidon replied positively, bringing up an arm to give it a pump.

The princess blanched in horror at the many marks on Sidon's body. He wore enough armour to shield him from the blows, but there were still parts of him that had been burned or sliced at by the monsters and guardians around them. It even seemed like he was missing a tooth after being hit in the face.

Zelda hopped off her horse, hurriedly looking over Sidon's marks. "You're hurt!"

"I am fine, Princess. Nothing to worry yourself over."

"Sidon, you shouldn't have to be here. If the Zora lose you and your sister…"

"Then they will know we fell for a good cause." He interrupted, bringing out a genuine – though pained – smile. "To die for the cause of all does not scare me. To die never having done a thing is the most terrifying. I will stay by your side, my lady. And we will seal Ganon away together. You have my word."

Zelda's eyes began to water, not just because of Sidon's promise – but due to the thought of all that was already lost to her world. And there was a good chance she was going to lose more yet.

Sidon pulled the young lady into his arms, hugging her tightly to give her some comfort in a world of so much destruction.

The sudden sound of mechanical beeping caught their attention, eyes going wide in horror as they looked up to meet with a rogue guardian aiming its beam in their direction, long legs stopping them from ducking away from its attack. They were cornered among the trees, nowhere to hide that the beam couldn't destroy.

Sidon, out of desperation, pulled the Princess behind him and shut his eyes tightly – ready to take on the brunt force of the guardian alone.

The sound of the guardian's beam reached their ears, and the two prepared for the hit.

…

…

…only to find they were safe.

It took a moment for them to realize everything was alright, opening their eyes slowly in order to see what had happened.

Zelda felt her heart quiver, her eyes set upon the familiar blue tunic she had made for a certain swordsman not all that long ago. When her breathing slowed and she could think clearly, she realized it was Link standing between them and the guardian, Hylian Shield up and facing their attacker. It was another moment later before the guardian itself fell before them, the lights of its hull dimming before going dark.

Link lowered his shield, letting out a sigh of relief as he kneeled down out of exhaustion. It looked at though he had ran through dirt, mud, and grime, his face completely drenched in the rain water that fell about them, and he was breathing heavily.

When he turned to look at the two behind him, he lowered his head to them with downhearted eyes.

"I'm Sorry."

The tight hugs the two gave him were enough proof that he was forgiven for his mistake.