The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.

The Voice
Chapter 65 - Hungry

Searching Mount Ploymus required the group to split up according to their strengths. The Hylians and Sheikah would take the normal paths and roads that wound their way around the mountain, while the Gorons would climb the steeper, rockier sides, which their physiologies were uniquely suited to. The Zora would ascend using the numerous waterfalls and small rivers that flowed down its sides.

That way, they had every single approach covered, preventing the Yiga from sneaking past them. Once the enemy was encountered, they would fire off special flares to signal the others. These flares would climb high into the air and give off an extremely bright flash, and then hang suspended for some time to mark the location.

Sidon was carrying one, along with Bazz. It didn't look like much; pretty much just a small, wooden tube with cloth covering one opening, and a metal contraption with a thread hanging out of it covering the other. To fire it, one only had to point the cloth-covered opening upwards and pull on the thread.

"Don't point it at your face," Purah, the tiny Sheikah scientist had warned them. "Or anyone else's, for that matter, unless you want to permanently change their looks!"

Sidon took that to heart, keeping the flare pointing down at the ground, just in case it went off by accident.

"Right," Pikango said, standing next to his Hylian counterpart, one Captain Gru...something. Sidon blanched. He really ought to learn these people's names at some point. "Guess this is it." He pointed to the nearest path. "I'll take my people along this footpath right here, while Captain Gruden will lead his spearmen up the main road, so to speak. We'll rendezvous where the path and road merge and keep moving up until we hit the summit."

Gruden, right, that was it. Sidon tried (and failed) to commit it to his memory.

"If either of your groups encounter enemies along the way," Bazz began, but was cut off by the Hylian.

"We fire the flare and engage to keep them from running away," the captain said, nodding. "You'll join us as soon as you can."

"Correct," Bazz said, narrowing his eyes a little at the Hylian. Bazz hated being interrupted, Sidon knew. The Zora turned his attention to the large Goron standing next to them, a confident grin showing off several missing teeth. "Captain Gergo, are your people ready?"

"Ready and rearing to go, brother!" the Goron boomed, knocking his fists together. "We'll show those Yiga that they've messed with the wrong army! They'll think twice about coming this far north ever again, eh?!" He held out one of his huge fists towards Bazz.

"That's right," the Zora captain said with a matching grin, knocking his comparatively tiny fist against Gergo's.

Sidon had to stop himself from proclaiming how adorable it looked...as well as fight down the urge to demand a fist bump of his own. Bazz was running the show here, not him.

"Right, gentlemen," Bazz said, eyeing his fellow commanders. "Remember, there is a lynel roaming this mountain. Descriptions of it seem to indicate it is feral and not affiliated with Ganon, meaning the Yiga will most likely stay clear of it. I suggest we do the same, unless engaging it becomes absolutely necessary. Agreed?" The officers murmured their agreement, nodding. Sidon did the same. "Great," Bazz continued. "Let's get this done, and bring everyone back home alive."

They dispersed, each officer joining their men and beginning to lead them up the mountain. The Gorons made spectacular noise, their footsteps akin to an earthquake as they began to scale the sheer sides of the mountain.

"That was a good meeting," Sidon said, trudging alongside Bazz towards their own contingent of troops. Twenty-five of the finest warriors his people had to offer would follow them up the mountain. They looked eager. "Short and to the point."

"No sense putting off a job that needs doing," Bazz said, eyeing Sidon, like he was weary of the prince's elbow returning to finish the job it had started. "Last chance for you to step off, my prince. I can handle this on my own."

Bazz was worried. Sidon had known the other Zora his entire life and was familiar enough with the captain's abject refusal to admit to feeling something like that. He was worried Sidon would get hurt doing a job he, as the crown prince, should have the good sense to leave to his soldiers. It was touching, really, but if Bazz got to have his way then Sidon would simply be sitting on his arse all day doing nothing of any use whatsoever.

That just wasn't Sidon, or the sort of ruler he wanted to be.

"Did you forget?" Sidon asked him with a grin. "I have credit to steal. You're stuck with me until the job's done."

Bazz looked like he wanted to argue, but he simply shook his head. "As you wish," he said. "Could you at least stay close so I can keep an eye on your back, or is that too much to ask of His Glory-Stealing Highness?"

Sidon nodded. "Those are very complicated instructions, my dear captain, but I shall endeavour to follow them!" He even snapped off a sharp salute that had Bazz looking away, a stupid grin threatening to split his face in half.

"But seriously," Sidon added a little quieter, "I'll stay close. You watch my back, I watch yours, like always. I haven't forgotten the Brigade Rules."

Bazz looked a little more placated at that. "Good, because I will personally kick your ass if you get hurt, my prince." He gestured to the waiting troops by the river. "Now, shall we?"

Sidon couldn't remember the last time he had properly scaled Mount Ploymus. Surely not for a decade or so, possibly two, if his memory served. He remembered the waterways and all the little falls, but he'd forgotten just how big the bloody mountain truly was, and how much ground they really had to cover. They'd been at it for several hours now, and they had barely reached the halfway point to the summit.

Of the four groups, the Zora definitely moved the fastest. Their ability to swim up the falls gave them a pretty unfair advantage over the other races, but their weakness was covering the ground between the little rivers and waterfalls. There were so many little nooks and crannies they had to check along the way, places the Yiga could easily hide, and the Zora troops were, quite literally, out of their element when checking the little caves and fissures in the ground.

At least it wasn't raining—Link and Sheik's experience with conquering Ploymus had been a miserable experience thanks to Vah Ruta's never-ending torrent. Climbing had been nearly impossible because of the slippery surfaces, not to mention the ever-present danger of Ganon's minions, who had been crawling all over the place back then.

I really should have gone with them, Sidon thought. Maybe we could have slain the lynel together...

"The river branches off here," Bazz said, pointing to a stretch of water that did indeed fork off into two separate branches. One continued up along the ridge of Ploymus' back, while the other seemed to descend into a copse of trees near the side. Sidon had no memory of this fork—it must have formed recently, possibly because of Vah Ruta. "We'll have to split up."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Sidon asked. Their numbers were already small, and if either group encountered the Yiga on their own they would barely be evenly matched.

"I am not familiar with this path," Bazz said, looking doubtful. "Could be a dead end, but we cannot waste time doubling back in case the Yiga take the opportunity to sneak past us." He looked up at Sidon. "Take one half of the men and keep heading up the main branch; I'll take the other and scout out this one," he said, gesturing to the new branch. "If there's nothing, we'll double back and catch up with you."

"All right," Sidon said, nodding. "Just be careful, all right?"

"That's my line," the captain said with a grim look, taking his men and diving into the water, rapidly swimming down the new branch and disappearing among the trees.

For a while, they were all in good cheer, despite the layer of clouds that had descended upon them, blocking out the warm sunlight. Some of them looked dark and heavy with rain, threatening to give Sidon a taste of the misery his lovers had gone through not too long ago. Not that rain would particularly bother a Zora, but it would make getting down from the mountain a chore, especially if the rivers began to swell.

He couldn't think too much about that now, though, for they had finally found a lead.

One of the soldiers had chanced upon the broken fragments of a Yiga mask further up the river. Further investigation had led to several footprints that could not belong to anyone but the elusive assassins. Spurred on by this fortunate discovery, Sidon led his half of the group further up the mountain, keeping to the rocky rivers to avoid possible detection.

The Yiga were formidable fighters on land, Sidon knew, but they hadn't clashed properly with the Zora in years. They would have forgotten just how fiercely the piscine warriors would fight for what was theirs, to protect their allies.

The Yiga were surrounded on all sides now. There was no way off this mountain without encountering one of the groups looking for them. Any commander with even a smidge of common sense would know better than to keep fighting against such odds. They would surrender. They had to. Otherwise they'd just waste their lives for no reason.

They were coming up on point where the river widened considerably, a ratty-looking rope bridge drawn across it. The water here wasn't particularly deep; it only reached up to Sidon's knees. Impossible to swim in. They'd have to walk along the riverbed and climb up the small set of falls ahead of them.

It was only by chance that Sidon happened to spot something glinting among the rocks above them. At first, he'd assumed it was some sort of crystal catching the sunlight...but today was overcast, with no sun in sight. Then he heard the all-too-familiar crackling sound, and panic struck.

"Thunder arrow!" he shouted. "Get out of the water! Out!"

The others had heard it too, and those near the sides were already climbing onto the banks. Sidon was in the middle of the river, too far from the banks. Instead, he threw himself towards the nearest cluster of sharp rocks that jutted out of the water, climbing it and paying no heed to how the sharp edges cut into his scales and the sensitive skin underneath.

His foot was still in the water when the arrow struck. It came out of nowhere, emerging from a bush near the rope bridge, sailing through the air, arcs of lightning crackling around the arrowhead. The sound a thousand chirping birds filled the air as it struck the water, releasing the charge.

Sidon's entire body seized up in agonising pain as the electricity coursed through him, the whole river suddenly saturated with the energy. Several of the Zora had made it out of the water and out of danger.

Some did not.

Dimly, through the haze of pain, he saw their bodies seize up, their faces twisted in agony, unable to even scream, and then tumble lifelessly into the shallow waters. As if to add insult to injury, several normal arrows struck their dead bodies afterwards, ensuring they didn't survive.

"No!" he shouted, fighting through the pain and muscle seizure to drag himself out of the water, reaching for his trident. Looking up, he spotted Yiga operatives on the bridge, bows and arrows in hand, ready to rain death down on the survivors of the ambush. "Shields up!" he shouted to those on the banks, who looked stunned at the carnage that had just taken out half their numbers. "Shields up, or we'll all die!"

"The prince!" one of the Yiga shouted. "Get the prince! Kill him!"

Sidon threw himself aside just in time to avoid the rain of arrows that struck his safe spot, landing in the water only to find that it was now safe again, the charge having gone out of the arrow. He waded through the water, which was now running red from the blood of his men.

He brought up his own shield, felt the impacts of the arrows fired by Yiga. One was aimed low and struck the water, nearly piercing his foot. His shield wasn't big enough to cover all of him, and there was only so many arrows he could block before one got through. The other Zora were in similar positions, pinned down and unable to move. Above them, Sidon saw more Yiga moving into better positions to fire.

There was no fighting the Yiga like this—they had an elevated position to rain down arrows from, and if the Zora even tried to turn their backs to flee, they'd be cut down.

Was this it? Was this where they were all going to die? An ignominious end at the hands of the Yiga, lured into an ambush?

No.

Absolutely not.

He could not face Mipha like this.

He roared and gripped his trident, drawing back and hurling it with all his might at the ratty-looking ropes and planks that held the drawbridge together. The sharp blades cut through the ropes like they were nothing, and the planks snapped under the weight of the Yiga, sending them tumbling through the air and into the river. One landed on his head, his neck snapping with a sickening crack.

"Swords!" Sidon roared, drawing his own and charging at the nearest Yiga, cutting him down before he could even get his head back above water. Red bloomed in the water where Sidon's sword struck, and he did not withdraw until the Yiga stopped moving.

Around him, the others were clashing together, screaming and shouting as they fought. Above, a few Yiga were clinging to the sides of the cliffs, trying to let off a few arrows at the fighters below, but the mixed numbers were making it difficult for them to shoot. Sidon reached into the water and withdrew a heavy rock, throwing it at the nearest Yiga on the cliff. It struck them in the leg, causing them to lose their grip on the bush they were clinging to, crashing down in an undignified heap on the river bank, only for a Zora to run them through with his spear.

A sword cut through the air, scoring a hit on the scales of his back. Sidon grunted and turned, spotting a Yiga whose proportions were completely off. His legs were tiny, and his upper body about three times as broad as his hips. This, combined with a height that reached up to Sidon's chest, was so comical Sidon would have laughed if it weren't for the wicked-looking sword in the Yiga's hands, which was coming in for another strike. Sidon ducked out of the way, lashing out with his own, but the Yiga dodged it.

"Lord Ganon will reward us when we bring him your head, you overgrown fish!" the Yiga snarled behind his mask.

Sidon bared his teeth in a snarl of his own.

"The only head that will roll today is yours, Yiga!" he roared, bringing his silver blade down in an overhead swing. The Yiga deflected it and threw a punch that hit Sidon in the gut, knocking the air out of his lungs. He retaliated with a strike of his sword's pommel to the Yiga's throat. The Yiga stumbled back, choking, but Sidon gave him no time to recover, following with an upwards slash that caught on the edge of the Yiga's mask, tearing it off.

The Yiga regained his balance and stepped back, reassuming his battle stance, keeping his blade pointed backwards with a double-handed grip. It was very similar to one of the styles Sidon had seen the Sheikah sparring with back at the Domain, and looking into the red eyes of the strangely proportioned man, he realised he'd forgotten that the Yiga was really just a different branch of the Sheikah.

He was, technically, fighting Sheik's people as well.

It gave him just enough pause to let the Yiga make the first move, and he barely managed to raise his sword in time to knock it aside, groaning when he felt something sharp enter the flesh of his hip. A dagger—the Yiga's sword attack had been a decoy. Growling, he yanked the knife out and threw it after the Yiga, who dodged it easily.

"First blood, fish," the Yiga said, grinning. "But not the last."

Behind him, Sidon heard the cry of one of his men, and looked just in time to see the Zora disappear under the water, impaled on a Yiga's sword, his arm flailing around as it tried to find purchase, but the blade was wrenched violently around, and the arm fell still.

"You won't swim out of here alive, fish," his opponent taunted. "Surrender, and I'll make it quick."

"There'll be nothing quick about this," Sidon whispered, realising the Yiga was right. They were outnumbered after the thunder arrow attack, and the water wasn't deep enough for them to take advantage of their natural abilities.

"Come, then!" the Yiga cried, charging forward. Sidon met his blade easily, and they continued to trade blows. Sidon realised he was being forced backwards, the wound in his hip making it difficult to brace himself properly.

If he didn't do something soon, he'd...

Oh, what he wouldn't give for water at waist-height. Even that would him use his agility to overwhelm the Yiga, but...

...well, there was one thing Sidon could do, even in water like this.

He lowered his sword, clutching his bleeding hip with one hand. Gods, it hurt. The Yiga laughed.

"Tired already?" he asked, aiming a thrust at Sidon's exposed middle. It would have been the end for the prince...if it hadn't been exactly what Sidon had hoped for. Grinning, he dropped his blade moved aside just in time to dodge the sword, grabbing the Yiga's arms and pulling him closer.

"Not tired," Sidon said, grinning widely to show off all his teeth. "Hungry!"

He shot forward, using the weight of his own body to drag the Yiga down into the water and keep him there. His jaws closed around the Yiga's throat, and he bit down with all his strength, easily ripping through flesh and tendons. Bubbles erupted from the Yiga's mouth as he tried to scream, his voice muffled by the water. All Sidon saw was red as he bit harder and harder, and only when he was sure he had as tight a grip as possible, wrenched his head backwards...

...and took a big chunk of the Yiga's neck with him. The water turned a murky red as the man's hands gripped uselessly at his now-missing throat, his movements growing weaker and weaker by the second, before ceasing altogether.

Sidon resurfaced, spitting out the Yiga's ruined neck, seeing to his dismay that two more of his men had fallen, leaving no more than six to fend off the dozen or so Yiga that were closing in around them, cutting them off from their exit. It was too late.

"My prince," one of the Zora—Zavi was his name, only fifty years old—said, drawing closer to him. "What do we do?"

"We stand and fight," Sidon said with a growl, spitting out a mouthful of Yiga blood. "We avenge our comrades!"

"Understood!" Zavi said. "We're with you, my prince!"

"How cute," the only Yiga left with a bow said from above them, taking her time drawing another arrow from her quiver, calmly aiming it directly at Sidon. He could probably avoid it, if he reacted quickly enough.

Unless...there was a shadow, just behind her, its owner obscured by the cliff wall. Could it be...?

"Any final words, your highness?" she asked, oblivious to the shadow that was growing closer...and bigger.

Well, as far as last stands went, this could be a lot worse. Sidon couldn't fight the grin that came to his face, showing off his bloody teeth.

"Yeah! Look behind you!"

The Yiga chuckled. "As if I'll fall for that o—"

Her words were cut off as the lynel's huge hand closed around her neck, effortlessly lifting her up so it could study her closely. Her bow forgotten, her hands gripped at the lynel's, legs kicking uselessly at the thing's massive torso. The monster's face was drawn with annoyance, one of its eyes missing and a massive scar pulling one corner of its mouth up in a crooked grin. One of its horns was missing, broken off cleanly.

It sniffed at the Yiga's mask and, with a snort of derision, squeezed until her neck snapped, throwing her useless body aside.

It then turned its attention to the combatants below, as if noticing them for the first time. It might have been Sidon's imagination, but the grin seemed to grow a little just before it jumped down into the water, crushing another Yiga under its hoof.

Even unarmed, the lynel was terrifying to behold, easily a head taller than him at the least. It roared, the sound reverberating and amplifying off the cliff walls around them, so loud Sidon felt the sound in his chest.

"Zavi, time to go!" he shouted. "Retreat, all of you!"

It was risky, turning their backs on the enemy, but riskier still was staying in the same confined space as a pissed-off lynel with a score to settle. Clearly, Link's bomb had done a number on the thing and it was not happy about it. Sidon had taken on a giant Octorok by letting the thing eat him, killing it from the inside. He had no wish to try that again with the lynel.

Luckily, its attention was mostly focused on the Yiga, who weren't stupid enough to try and fight it either.

They were stupid enough to try and climb out of the river, though. The lynel easily caught up with them, apparently enjoying scaring the hell out of them before snatching them off the walls, tearing them to pieces with its bare hands.

At this rate, the river would run red for quite some time.

Sidon didn't waste any more time watching the horrific display, making sure Zavi and the others were ahead of him before he followed, pushing them back their feet when they stumbled. If they could only hit deeper waters, they could swim away and leave the lynel to its sport...

Something red and wet hit a rock near Sidon with a disgusting splat, and he didn't even need to look to know it was a head. He chanced a look back and felt a primal terror unlike anything he had ever felt before. The lynel was already done, nothing but shredded pieces of Yiga littering the rocks and water around it...and it was already heading towards the only living beings left.

"Faster! Go! Go!" he shouted desperately.

They were nearly out, just a little further, and they could at least dive off the nearest fall, as long as they got away from the rampaging monster—

"My prince!"

Bazz appeared at the opening, followed by his own contingent of troops. He took in the bloody, bedraggled appearance of his prince and his remaining men, looking confused.

"What is—"he began, but Sidon crashed into him, pushing him backwards.

"No time! Lynel! Run!"

Bazz finally caught sight of the creature and, with the calm of a seasoned commander staring down a cavalry charge, gave one order: "Retreat! Head for the river, get away!"

It was too late. The lynel crashed into the disordered Zora ranks and scattered them in all directions. Some were fortunate and landed in the nearby river, where the water was deeper and allowed them to get away, while others were sent crashing into rocks and trees, or over the edge of the cliffs, where one could only pray that a deep pool waited below rather than a bed of razor-sharp rocks.

Sidon was one of the fortunate (or unfortunate) to simply get knocked aside and into a rock. The side of his head struck the hard surface, and the world spun around wildly as all he could hear was a high-pitched whistling sound, his vision swimming in double.

Something was grabbing at his hands and pulling, a dark shape that was suddenly in his face, slapping his face.

"—up! Get up, you useless lump! Get up!"

Bazz's face swam into view; the captain was screaming in Sidon's ear, pulling uselessly at the prince's arm, unable to even shift his weight on his own.

"Come on!"

In the corner of his eye, he saw the larger shape of the lynel approaching, tossing a dead Zora aside like a ragdoll. It spotted Sidon, its grin widening.

"Sidon, will you move your fucking ass?!" Bazz screamed, finally getting through to him.

"Gods, my head," Sidon groaned, scrabbling to his feet, letting Bazz pull him in the direction he wanted. "What happened?"

"That stupid overinflated head of yours took a hit, now come on!" Bazz snarled, dragging Sidon past a thick cluster of trees and bushes and pricked at his skin, digging into the wound in his hip. "Fuck, the lynel's following us!"

Sidon looked back, saw the trees bending and breaking as the monster pursued them with a single-minded persistence. "Why?!" he asked.

"Presumably because it saw your big, red tail and decided it wanted a bite!" Bazz said. "Now move those stubby legs or we're both going to die!"

He had no idea where they were going, blindly following Bazz as the captain led the way. Honestly, Bazz probably didn't know either. Granted, they didn't have much of a choice with a veritable force of nature stomping after them, but this really wasn't good!

"Down!"

He threw himself to the ground just in time for something to whir past overhead—a huge stone. It crashed into the spot Bazz had just been running, tearing up soil and roots where it landed. Sidon tried to get back on his feet, but the thundering hooves of the lynel were already upon, too close, too—

He turned around and took a massive fist to his gut for the trouble. It sent him flying, rolling along the ground until coming to a stop, gasping for breath.

Gods, this was embarrassing. He knew he was a little rusty when it came to fighting outside of the water, but he'd thought the training would account for some of it, at least. He stared up at the grey sky, feeling the pin pricks of water droplets as they began to fall.

The rain had come.

He could barely move. The shock from the arrow had sent his muscles into spasms, and this latest blow had sapped him of energy. With a groan, he managed to turn to his side, then to his stomach. There, just a short distance away, was a cliff edge. He had no idea what lay beneath it, but anything was better than taking his chances with the damned lynel.

Where was Bazz? He couldn't tell.

He crawled, feeling as graceful as a hatchling, dragging himself by his arms towards the edge. If only he could get into the water, work up speed, he could...he could launch himself out of it, actually reach the creature, do some damage...

The stomping slowed down. He felt the vibrations through the ground. Mere steps away. Probably deciding the best way of finishing him off. He wouldn't make it to the edge, it was too far.

Mipha...I'm sorry...I guess this is where I end...

Get up!

He blinked. Who was...

Sidon!

"Mipha...?" he groaned.

Only silence remained, and a suspicious one at that. He gave a shout and, with a burst of effort, rolled aside just in time to avoid the hoof that stamped down on the spot where his head had just been. The lynel roared, rearing back and trying to stomp on him again, but Sidon kept rolling until he was out from underneath the bastard. He had lost his word, but he still had claws and teeth. He lashed out with his hand, felt his claws catch on the thick hide of the lynel, cutting it open.

One of its hands reached for Sidon, trying to grab his throat, all it got was Sidon's teeth chomping down on its fingers, ripping and tearing at the digits while the prince's claws continued to dig into its flesh, ripping and tearing at everything could find.

Sidon felt himself being lifted off the ground, his jaws still clamped around its hand, the other one coming up to try and tear him off. He kicked at it, but that only gave it something more to grab onto. He felt a massive hand close around his shin, felt it squeeze, felt it pull—

"Take this!"

The tip of a spear emerged from the right side of its chest, spattering its blood all over Sidon's face and chest. The creature released his leg, and something gave in the hand the prince had in its mouth. Something tore, and then he was falling, his mouth full of blood and...something else.

He spat the lynel's fingers out, taking a moment to watch the sheer insanity that was taking place in front of him.

Bazz was standing on the lynel's lower back, keeping a firm grip on the spear he'd driven into its...upper back?

How did lynel anatomy even work?

It certainly didn't appreciate the foreign presence, neither in or on it, but Bazz had positioned himself just far enough back so the lynel couldn't reach him with its arms. One hand was gushing blood from where Sidon had bitten its fingers off. Its roars were turning wet, blood pouring from its mouth, its movements becoming frantic as its attempt to dislodge Bazz only made the Zora wrench his spear around more violently.

It started rearing, desperate to get the enemy off its back.

"Sidon, get away from it!" Bazz barked at him, his hold slipping, struggling to stay on the lynel's back. "Go!"

Sidon tried to edge around the monster, but its movements were too erratic, and he nearly took a hoof to the head when he made his move. It stomped down heavily, and he nearly lost his footing.

Unfortunately, so did Bazz. He slipped forward, right within reach.

"Bazz!"

The captain tried to twist out of the way, letting go of his spear, but the massive fingers closed around his head fin, yanking him off its back and slamming him into the ground. It then kicked him away with a hoof, sending him crashing into a pine tree.

They were on opposite sides of the lynel now. Sidon tried to get to Bazz, watching with horror as the monster pulled Bazz's spear out of its chest. The weapon looked more like a toothpick in its hands as it stomped over to Bazz, lifted him bodily into the air and, with another wet snort, gave the captain his spear back, tip first.

Bazz let out a blood-curdling scream as the spear sank into his gut, emerging from his back, running him through completely. The lynel seemed to enjoy the sound, twisting and turning, eliciting more agonised sounds from the Zora.

An all-consuming fire erupted in Sidon's chest, and before he knew what he was doing he had crossed the distance between himself and the lynel, claws digging into the thick flanks of the monster hindquarters, pulling himself up, onto its back. It tried to throw him off, but Sidon's fingers were digging in deep; warm, thick blood flowing from the scratches and gouges he was tearing into its flesh.

Then he was on it. He was biting and scratching and clawing at its upper body, its remaining eye, its ears. He wanted to hurt it, to kill it, to make sure it would never see the light of day again. He vaguely felt something hit him in the side, something cutting him open, but he didn't care. The lynel had to die, now.

His eyes caught Bazz's for a moment. Half-lidded, the captain looked gone...

Sidon's thumb found the lynel's eye socket, sinking into the cavity with a disgusting sound. Something went splurt and popped like a grape. The lynel gave off a pained shriek and started thrashing about even more violently than before, forcing Sidon to hang on for dear life. The world lurched sideways...

...and then they were falling.

Sidon wasn't sure how long he was out. Could have been hours, could have been minutes. Above, he saw the cliff they'd been on...far above, and the sky which was practically black. The rain was positively pouring now, drenching him and the ground he was lying on...wait...

...no, he wasn't lying on the ground. It was far too soft for that. With a groan, he turned his head, spotting brown fur.

Oh.

The lynel.

That was...not good.

It took him a moment to realise there was no distinctive rise and fall of breathing beneath him. With another groan, he managed to sit up, surveying his foe.

The lynel was dead. It must have happened during the fall; its neck was twisted at an angle that its anatomy was not meant for, its mouth hanging open, tongue lolling out.

Everything hurt. He tried not to look too closely at the mess he'd made of the thing's eye as he climbed off it, immediately falling to his knees, sharp rocks digging into his legs. Without thinking, he drew the flare and fired it off into the sky. A bright, red light exploded in the sky, a glowing orb slowly descending by some unknown means.

Someone coughed, and for a moment Sidon thought it was him, but that could not be right…

"B-Bazz!" he called out hoarsely.

The rain nearly drowned out the coughing.

"Over...here..."

Other side of the lynel. He made an undignified climb over the huge body and slid down on the other side, spotted the dark scales. What he saw made him freeze.

Bazz was lying on the ground, gasping for breath, a watery pool of red spreading beneath him. The spear had broken off at the shaft, the tip still buried deep in his gut. His hands were clutching at it, like he was trying to pull it out, but unable to find the strength to do it.

No...no no no no no no no!

"Bazz!"

The captain grinned weakly up at the prince. "There...you are...thought I'd...lost you..." He coughed up blood, the flow from the wound increasing. "Cracked your...skull or...something..."

Sidon couldn't muster even a fake smile. "You know my head's too thick for that," he said, flinching as he tried to touch the broken spear shaft. It was so deep...pulling it out would be agonising. "Gods...Bazz..."

"It's okay," Bazz said, his eyes dim and glassy. "This isn't...your fault...mine...splitting up was...a bad...plan..."

"Is anyone there?!" Sidon shouted. "Please! We need help!"

"Should've...realised...there was an...ambush..." Bazz continued, reaching out to touch Sidon's lower arm. "Guess the...lynel saved you, huh?"

"Let's...Let's not give it any credit," the prince said, taking Bazz's hand in his own. "Come on, just hang on a little longer. You're not done yet, Brigade Leader."

"No," Bazz said, shaking his head...or trying to. It was more of a twitch. His eyes were closing. "This is...it for me..." He chuckled, choking a little on his own blood. "Knew I...had to...drag your ass...out of the...water..."

"No," Sidon said firmly. "You're not done, Bazz. You're not! I won't allow it!"

"This...says different," Bazz said, poking at the spear sticking out of him. "Not much...to do...about it..."

"Yes, there is!" Sidon put his hands on the wound, careful not to push too hard. He'd heard so many stories, seen so many illustrations. If she could do it, why not he?

But...how? No one had ever explained how!

"Please," he whispered. Bazz' grip weakened, his eyes completely closed now, his breaths coming in short gasps. Sidon clenched his jaw, closing his eyes. "Mipha...help me...please...I can't lose him!"

There was...something...warmth. He felt warmth. On top of his hands. He opened his eyes. Nothing. There was nothing there.

Wait.

He blinked.

In the split second it took his eyes to focus, he saw them. Hands—small, delicate, on top of his own. They were so warm. He blinked rapidly, following the wrists to a pair of arms, followed them to...

"M-Mipha?" he asked.

Sidon, focus, Mipha's (for who else could it be?) voice spoke, sounding like it came from within his own head. He is dying. You must listen to me carefully and do as I say. Can you do that for me?

"Yes, yes! Please!"

He was crying now, but he wasn't sure it was from losing Bazz or finally seeing and hearing his sister. Her eyes were so...gentle, but so intense at the same time. Her crest was less angular than his, but their scales were the same strong red.

Sidon, she repeated. He is beyond normal healing. I must lend you some of my power. Breathe, and let flow into you.

The warmth of her hands increased, and he felt it worming its way inside, creeping up his arms, filling up his chest and stomach, spreading all the way to the top of his head and the tips of his legs. It was...like warm water being poured into him, taking up all the available space. It was a wonderful sensation, incomparable to anything he'd ever experienced before...

...well, expect for what he'd felt when Link and Sheik accepted his feelings.

Now, Sidon, do as I say.

Mipha's words brought him out of his reverie, and he found himself staring into the shimmering eyes of his sister. He nodded.

He let her words guide him, let her show him how to direct the wonderful heat inside him into Bazz's wound, encouraging his body to repair the damage that had been wrought. It was...difficult. Bazz's body was stubborn, convinced it was already finished. Directing the energy itself felt like trying to divert an overflowing river in a storm, raising and lowering levees to the right parts of Bazz.

"It...It won't...it doesn't work," he cried out.

You must convince it, Mipha repeated. Show it that it is not too late, that he can still live. Prove that it is not in vain.

"I can't!"

Yes, you can.

"It's impossible!"

It is not.

She sounded so...certain. So convinced he could do it. Like there was no possible way he could ever fail. It was...

"How are you so sure?!"

Mipha's spirit smiled. Because you are my little brother, and you are far stronger than you think.

There was a flash of light, and Bazz's wound began to glow. The captain gasped, his grip on Sidon's arm suddenly stronger. "S-Sidon...what're...you...?" he asked.

"Shut up," Sidon growled. "Shut up and stay alive, or I'll have Father posthumously adopt you into the royal family! You'll die as Prince Bazz, you hear me?!"

"Absolutely...not..." Bazz groaned. "Don't...want it..."

"Then stay alive!"

It is working, Mipha's soft voice spoke. Continue. Do not stop until every last bit of damage has been repaired. You must remove the spear, or it will not work.

He was afraid to take one of his hands off Bazz, but the light continued to shine anyway, taking on a green tone. He grabbed the shaft, giving Bazz an apologetic look.

"This is going to hurt," he warned the captain.

"More...than your...pining?" Bazz asked.

Right, well, if that wasn't a sign that the healing was working...

He did it in one, smooth movement. The spear refused to budge at first, but then the warmth grew to encompass it as well, and it just...let go, and slid out, leaving behind a gaping hole in Bazz's stomach...but the torn flesh was...knitting itself together? He could see the ragged, torn edges binding themselves back into their original form.

Panting, Sidon dropped the spear at his side, returning his hand to the wound. It was working faster now, the wound almost completely closed.

"Come on, just a little more," he whispered. "Please..."

The flesh was made whole, and the ruined scales were repaired. It was as if Bazz had never been injured in the first place. When Sidon looked up, he saw that Bazz was no longer conscious...but his breaths were slow and even, and his face was relaxed, like he was just...sleeping.

You did it, Mipha said, making him look up. His vision was growing dim, but her form didn't flicker now, almost appearing solid. Her smile was...incandescent. I am so proud of you, Sidon.

He leaned back...and his entire body went slack. He grunted, realising he was staring up at the sky once more...and this time his body wasn't responding. His limbs felt like they were made of lead, refusing to even twitch at his commands.

"Why...can't I...move?" he asked, still breathing heavily.

You are exhausted, Mipha replied, her spirit suddenly sitting next to him, staring down at him with that same smile. The deadlier a wound, the more tiring it is to heal it. It is why you must train with it, Sidon. You must grow stronger, gain more control. Then, you will truly be a Champion. Link and Sheik will need all the help they can get, and they must be able to rely on you.

"Mipha...I'm...sorry."

She blinked, frowning. Why?

"About...Link..."

She laughed at that. It was a soft, beautiful sound.

I am not angry about Link, Sidon. I am just happy he found someone who loves him as much as I. Take care of him, Sidon. Take care of them both. Now sleep...you are safe here. I will watch over you.

The darkness took him before he could answer...but for the first time in years, he truly felt at peace.

Good night, little brother. I will always be with you…