The Story Must Goron

But first we stop for a quick transition. Also every beverage is on the rocks when you are served by a Goron bartender.

The uncanny resemblance between Ravio and Kishgal was mitigated by, well, Ravio being Ravio. The lack of maniacal cackling helped a lot. When people spent any length of time with Ravio it became near impossible to imagine him as a nefarious villain. In light of the lack of anti-ninja shackles present, a decision was made where one of the few Gorons they could find sat on Kishgal. They chose the smallest one. Video game physics spared Kishgal death by suffocation. The Sheikah which appeared said a few words which Groose did not understand to Ravio before leading Ana away. She looked sideways at Hilda for a moment and motioned for her to come along too. Presumably, they were going to see their grandfather and great uncle. This left Aryll, Groose, Strich, and Ravio there.

Since the threat of the Magnesis was gone, they took the opportunity to rearm themselves with better metal equipment. It was still a bit surprising how well the wood stuff worked. Ashei gave orders to her men and Groose could hear the whispers and sideways glances at Ravio. It was easy to believe that the other three were framed but he was still being watched carefully.

"I'm still not sure why anyone would think I'd ever insult Prince Sidon!" Aryll said as she readjusted her crossbow. "Nice shot, by the way, Strich, that was perfect." Strich preened.

"Um, does anyone else sense that-um stuff?" Ravio said uncertainly. He was looking around and Groose was recognizing the paranoia even if he didn't understand what Ravio was saying. "I feel like something bad is coming."

"Lighten up! We just took out this jerk, we're going to get rid of the Yiga Clan here and go stop the evil witch right? Groose has your back!" Groose said. He was feeling more confident after successfully defending Ana from attackers. Ravio did not relax. He kept peering at the shadows in the courtyard.

"Why wasn't Veran here? She wouldn't miss the opportunity to try and take the Triforce from the king. There weren't nearly as many spiders as I thought she'd summon..."

"You blasted her pretty good at the woods. Maybe she's taking a break or, better yet, dead?" Groose said.

Strich and Aryll looked less certain. In fact, Aryll spoke up. "We can take her! I'm kind of worried about Ana and Ha-Hilda though."

"I'm positive Veran survived and is planning something! I think she only lost at the woods because she used so much magic on burning things." Childhood experience taught Ravio exactly how far Veran would go to spite or destroy people. The feeling shared between the princess and hero of impending doom was growing as the night grew darker.

Ravio jumped again when he heard Kishgal's yelling. "You will die, coward! Veran has lovely plans for you!" Linkle should have done less of a hasty job with gagging the guy. He glared, then giggled. "No one is going to be fooled. Your act is horribly amateurish."

"I-This is the sword! It's real!," Ravio said. He still didn't believe himself to be a hero, but something about other people doubting the sword's authenticity was getting to him.

"Hah, and I'm Princess Zelda!"

Ravio muttered something to himself before asking "What is Veran planning?" He knew his cousin liked to gloat and watch the fear in people's eyes. Kishgal monologued and he monologued with gusto back seven years ago. Ravio doubted that had changed.

"Oh wouldn't yooouuu like to know?" Kishgal snickered. "Tonight is gonna be a beautiful moonlit night."

Ravio jumped away when Impaz appeared next to him silently. He half-drew the Master Sword before calming down somewhat. There had been no rustle of talismans or smoke puffs, just pure stealth. It was freaky. Impaz impassively regarded the real Hero and the fake one. Groose and Strich unconsciously stood up straighter and found themselves wishing they remembered to polish their gear.

"Aryll, Groose, Strich, Ravio. Come." Impaz beckoned.

"I think that was totally worth it."

"It wasn't."

"I know we had like, five fairies help us. I'm getting sloppy. That's more than the past ten years combined."

"You idiot."

This was the argument which the group walked in on in a small secret room. The two Zelda sisters were discussing strategy and the worrying feeling of impending doom while Sahasrahla and Gustaf argued. Gustaf was pale from the blood loss and his brother was patching the King up as best as he could. They were out of fairies and elixirs could only do so much for old men. They refused the supplies which the sisters offered saying the girls would need it more. Hazel protested but had the horrible feeling that her grandpa was right about that.

Gustaf happily waved at Impaz and the group she brought with her when they arrived. Ravio still looked like he wasn't certain Impaz was sparing his life. Yiga/Sheikah relations were infamously awkward. A lot of both clans regarded the other as stubborn, errant extended family that wouldn't see reason. It was like that extended branch of cousins which voted for the other presidential candidate, but with more throwing knives. Sahasrahla looked back.

"I thought I sensed Father's sword..."

"Hey! Good job, you two! You brought a bonus hero too!" Gustaf said happily to Strich and Groose. "Sorry, you got mixed up in this."

"I'm a knight! It's my job! Gotta protect people, you know." Groose said. He had, a day ago, been irritated with the king for sending him out with little preparation. He had forgiven Gustaf over the course of the day. "Um, are you going to be all right? Don't go dying on us."

Gustaf rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. Hazel, shouldn't you be introducing me? Remind me to tell you about sword beams before you go. And get you some armor or something."

"Um, right! So, Grandpa, that's Linkle or Aryll. She goes by either one. I think we already told you that." Hazel gestured to each person as they were mentioned. "He's Ravio, of course. We sensed something earlier. Something bad."

"Well you better get going then!," Gustaf said.

Ana looked at the map on the Sheikah slate. "Where?" Ana asked.

This time, it was Impaz who spoke first. She seemed to want Gustaf to stop talking and rest. "The initial appearance of Like-Likes was at the ranch by the tower. It might be a good plan to check that direction. They might do some other ritual there." She looked sideways at Ravio. "Are we certain this is not another-"

"Impaz. Remember that letter?" Sahasrahla pointed at Ravio. Ravio was still confused but Impaz remembered the messages with Shad.

"I see... Boy, your handwriting is terrible." Ravio didn't quite catch on to what they were talking about until Impaz finished speaking. "Seven years ago?"

Ravio smiled, "You did get that letter! I wasn't sure if Askr delivered it to the right place or got distracted on the way." He and Hazel both looked south suddenly.

"Does no one else sense that?," Hazel asked. She and Ravio were not the only ones sensing the unease. People with magic sensitivity were starting to notice that it was more than the normal unease creeping up on them.

Veran stalked the hallways, she cloaked herself in shadows, and then slipped out the gates to Hyrule Field. The Like-Like summoning had ultimately worked in her favor. It would be much easier to call back the Malice from something weaker, than something with more intelligence. The spread of chaos was also more effective. If those buffoons in the field summoned Lynels, the amount of power needed for Lynels would have heralded an invasion of not hundreds of Like-Likes, but maybe a dozen Lynels at best.

She made it to the farm where the ranchers had decided to call it quits. Riding horses all the time would have solved the problem of getting ambushed on the way to and from the barn, but it was not practical. Veran reached to the nearly-depleted infusion of darkness. She called to it and it came at once. Her potion had worked and she now felt one with the poisonous miasma. To her, it felt exhilarating.

A red light began to illuminate the lands as midnight approached. She concentrated. Where before the power in the air was merely a trickle, this was a full-on torrent. A sinister fireworks display shot out and the fountain sent out four large mortar shells. The rest of the flowing darkness gathered in one point before scattering to infect some Guardians.

Veran continued laughing as she waited for the Blood Moon.

Head mechanic of Tarrey Town, old Rosso, finished disconnecting the last leg with a sigh. They had put so much work into fixing up these Guardians. He loved watching them fry Like-Likes and Octoroks. It felt just wrong taping mirrors over the optical apparatus on each one. It wasn't like the Calamity was coming back tonight. It hadn't even been a hundred years and everyone knew that this sort of stuff happened every century. He wanted to go to sleep at nightfall but the town guard insisted this be done immediately. Something about a message from the King. Rosso, like many people, wondered what the eccentric old King was doing.

Rosso heard a fwooshing sound. Several of them. Sinister fwooshes rushed past him into each one of the Guardians he'd just meticulously dismantled. They hummed to life and spun around uselessly. Gears clicked and ground thin air where limbs had previously been connected. Rosso decided maybe the town guard had a point, and that Darbus deserved a good rock steak for making him do this job. The night filled with the sounds of the town ringing alarm bells and shouting. The town gathered civilians on the more easily defended island in the lake while arming everyone.

Note: Minor edit 9/6