Northern Hyrule Field

General Onox's holographic form stepped slowly out the door to the outer deck of Vah Naboris. He paused while looking to the darkened sky, lush dark green fields south of the Midoro Swamp, and the mountains tall and dark to the east. The general sighed into his helmet, then turned to the male standing at the end of the platform, humming quietly to himself. Onox was heading to the king, for sure, but to be called upon by his superior under the king and queen was a different situation. He was here to be embarrassed and mocked for sure.

Why else would the Demon Lord Ghirahim call upon Onox, especially after the general's defeat in Labrynna?

Onox continued his walk, stepping up to the shorter man's side. They stood in complete silence for awhile, the only sounds that of Vah Naboris marching eastward towards the mountains. Onox wondered what the Demon Lord had on his mind, but if he sees the berate the general, Onox had his comeback. It is Ghirahim's fault the Resistance wasn't destroyed in South Hyrule, nevermind that he failed his objective of obtaining the Pendants of Virtue. Also, wasn't it Ghirahim who fled while Horsehead and Zant fought in the Battle of Spectacle Rock? And where was Ghirahim in Clock Town? Right, not there. How is it that the one person who barely fought a battle in this war leads many? To think that all of Onox's years of service to King Vaati and Queen Veran meant nothing… And all the Demon Lord could be right now was loudly silent.

"Even through your helmet, I can see your frustrations Onox. If only you used your frustrations for a good purpose."

"Why did you call me, demon?"

Ghirahim chuckled. "Why, can't old friends have a chat? After all, it was me who told you to rid of Labrynna in one powerful strike but did you listen? Nay, you decided a tower was more important. Now Labrynna is victorious, and you know what that means? You took them out temporarily, and gave the other foreign countries a reason to come to the Resistance's aid. Calatia was meant to put that idea back into the recesses of their minds but you brought it back. Now here we are… We already have the chosen two and the devil's spawn rampant about, now we have more troubles."

Onox tensed. He knew the results of his failure, but he didn't need Ghirahim bringing them up. Nevermind the fact Vaati will as well… "Does it really matter, Ghirahim? We can still crush them."

Ghirahim closed his eyes, snickering, "Ha ha ha, right… The Goddesses favor them, Onox. Legend will repeat itself, the Mortal Goddess and her Chosen Hero will save the day, whether the victory is total or pyrrhic. We have given them too much motivation."

Onox agreed. He should have listened to Ghirahim with Labrynna. But even then, hope can be turned into despair. There was nothing they could do about the foreign countries thinking about joining the Resistance, while the major problem back home with the champions of the goddesses… Wait… Yes… Yes, that could work. "No, now this is where I am right and you are wrong. His Majesty's plan can still be fulfilled, and we will only need to lift a few fingers."

Ghirahim smiled, summoning a dagger between two fingers, spinning it. "You have a plan? Do tell, and say it to the king. But I hope it doesn't fail."

"Believe me, Demon Lord. It is...bound by fate to succeed."


Death Mountain Pass between North and South Hyrule

The rebel group lead by Link had finally made it to the border of North and South Hyrule, Death Mountain itself. The five teenagers, joined by Spryte and the newly acquired Impa, settled themselves on a cliff overlooking the northern part of the country. Floating over said cliff was Midna, gazing out to the dark land before her, while the rest of the camp either went to bed.

Something about the hour of twilight made her calm and relaxed. It could be that her last name was specifically named for this time of day, or it could be because of the story Auru told her when she was a child about the princess of twilight, and how much Midna related to her. It was almost as if the story was of her, written in a different place in time but with the intended events in place.

Midna's powerful warrior was somewhere in the country, on the move. Many times she tried reaching out to him, but some power (Ganon's most definitely) was blocking her. Consequently, it allowed her to track Gan's...Ganondorf's movements, and in some way, read his thoughts. Her former partner was on route to Parapa Palace, just as she intended to tell him to go, but for his reasons, she didn't know. She gave him some privacy.

She was happy to know he was alive and well, but some part of her thought that, if she didn't get to him quickly, he will not be the Ganondorf she knows and love. True, he was different before the war truly began, but war doesn't change a man the way the influence of power can. She was constantly reminded of their battle within the mountain, before the mysterious power of Zant's (she reasoned it was him) that turned her into an imp took full effect. He was still there, as he rescued her instead of killing her, then, along with Link, took on the mechanical Imperial Army and faced the Imperial King. Link didn't know Ganondorf's fate, only that the other warrior got the hero away from what could've been death.

So to learn Ganondorf survived himself was impressive. If they could get to Ganondorf… Imagine the Hero, Princess, and Thief all united together… The war is virtually in the Resistance's favor.

"Hey, Midna, you alright there?" Midna was joined by the worried Princess of Lorule to her left, still in her normal getup. Midna sighed as she bowed her head.

"No...not really."

"Ganondorf, I suspect?"

"...Am I that easy to read?"

Hilda smirked. "Easy, no, more like predictable. To think that he's out there, doing Din knows what, and that our last memory of him was protecting us to protect you. When Shade told us what he did, Ravio, Ralph, and I branded him a traitor, and in some ways I still do. You battled him, but never spoken of him as such. I know why...and I also want him back."

Midna looked at Hilda, shocked. "Really?"

Hilda nodded, cupping her hands. "I do. You understand as his best friend, and his lover. But as a ruler, I can attest to how he feels now. I know personally how wielding power, ultimate power in fact, can make you do...unexplainable actions." Hilda turned back to the camp, Midna following her gaze straight to Ravio. The princess' face fell as she turned back to the north, tears blanketing her eyes. "I destroyed my own country, Midna. I did it to save them from the Imperials, but you can't justify it to someone who doesn't know what it means to be responsible for millions of people and survive when you should've died. As a royal, I should have taken the fall, but it is me, not them, who lives. For the few moments I was technically Queen of Lorule… I failed my people. I lied to Ravio, my only friend from there, for years, so I won't feel guilt. But... Ralph is now King of Labrynna, and seeing him go to take back his country was motivating. But it is too late for me, and too late for Ganondorf. All we have are the lives of others, those we failed to lead in the sight of adversity, on our feet, their blood on our hands, their cries in our head. So Midna, I do understand why he seeks vengeance, and why he takes his path. But you can make sure he doesn't fall to darkness."

Midna, sensing the Lorulean needed a hand, placed hers on the princess' shoulder. "You did what you thought was right."

"I thank you, but it doesn't matter if it was right or wrong now. Now… I must make my decision worth deciding. That's defeating the Imperials. But Midna, let's be honest, how much faith can we put on… The Triforce? The Hero of Legend beat Ganon who had the full power of the relic, and the king apparently defeated both Link and a powerful Ganondorf. What could… What could ultimate power do?"

"In the right hands, anything."

"What if there are no right hands?"

"...Then we trust the ablest hand."


North Castle

"Come in…"

The chamber doors opened, and in walked a lone man. His long white hair cascaded down his green-robed body, moving like waves as the man entered the chamber. His staff clacked against the stone floor, stopping only when the man paused himself to bow. "Your Highness… General Onox has arrived."

"...Thank you, Ezlo. Master Kohga, make sure the king's package is here promptly."

"It shall be handled. I'll put my best man on it."


General Onox stood quietly in the throne room of North Castle as he awaited the king's presence. He paced back and forth, hearing only his armor echo against the dark walls of the palace. He was nervous, but hoped his plan of dismantling the Resistance would garner the king's favor. It would be an excellent plan...if he lived to see it come to fruition.

The doors to the throne room slammed shut, snapping the General of Darkness to attention. But he immediately sulked in form once he saw who it was. He expected the king to be busy, sure, but not busy enough that he wouldn't want to meet with Onox. No, the other just had to show up.

Queen Veran.

She walked to Onox with a confident, mocking smile on her face. Her walk was mocking… Her entire presence was mocking. She stopped in front of Onox, widening her smile. "Onox, my old friend… You seemed unsettled."

Onox sighed, folding his arms. "Disappointed, to be exact. I was expecting to meet with the king."

Veran feigned hurt as she held a hand to her heart. "My apologies, General Onox. But the king is busy, and so was I. But my task is to make sure the war goes on well, and it apparently is not."

"...I do take responsibility for Labrynna, but victory was ensured until-"

Veran dropped her smile, pacing. "It was ensured. Why isn't it so? You couldn't beat an Oracle and the new King of Labrynna. You disregarded Ghirahim's advice, instead going on your own accord, and look where you are."

"If you want to blame me, fine. But Ghirahim was responsible for the south, and look where we are now because of him!"

Veran turned her head. "Sure… But as I hear, he came up with a better plan. What were his words? 'It is bound by fate to succeed?'"

Onox tightened his hands. Ghirahim stole his plan as his own? The Demon Lord will pay for this. "Your Highness, I made this plan. It was I who said we should turned the-"

"I don't care who made it. It will be enacted. Ghirahim has his assignment. You have yours. The defense of Rauru Town. You know of its importance strategically and to the king's greater plan." Veran half-closed her eyes, staring down Onox to make sure her point gets across. "You know what failure there will mean for you." She walked passed Onox, returning to the throne room's entrance.

Onox watched her leave, but he wasn't through. "Why is it that I'm under Ghirahim? I was there when Hyrule fell, I was there beforehand, and I have always been loyal to-" Before he noticed, Onox's hands were on his throat, gripping as hard as they could. His armor gave way, crushing his neck under its weight plus the intensity of Onox's grip. He looked towards Veran, seeing that she wasn't there before falling on the ground. Then the pressure disappeared, allowing him to wheeze for air as Veran returned to sight, looking at the general over her shoulder.

"Don't let your aspirations possess you, General."


Fields east of Saria Town

"Welcome back to North Hyrule." Impa turned to the grouped warrior, huddled together in a half circle. This would be the last leg of their journey before they would split, each group lead by Link and Zelda to the Great Palace and Midoro Swamp respectively. Ravio would join Link and Spryte, while the girls would stay together. As she approached them, Impa opened her map. "Zelda, Hilda, Midna, the Midoro Swamp is a dangerous place. Discard the distance to North Castle, it is filled with Octoroks, Mobies, and in some places, Lizalfos make their home there. Be on your guard. It'll be a slow trip to the palace, even slower if something unfortunate happens. Understood?" The girls nodded, and Impa turned to the boys and the fairy. "You guys and fairy will have a similarly as dangerous, if not more, trip from here. Once teleported to the eastern island of North Hyrule, you'll be in the area of the ghost town, Old Kasuto. From there, head to the mountains. You'll be within the Valley of Death, and you must traverse it to reach the Great Palace."

Ravio sighed, coupled with a few shivers. "Why did I choose the path of the Hero?"

Impa ignored Ravio's comment, walking to Link. "Did Link, my Link that is, give you anything?"

Link nodded. "A few things, why?"

"You should have a cross. It'll be helpful, as some enemies will be hidden from sight without it."

"I'll check for it. Thank you Impa." The Sheikah nodded, patting the Hero on his shoulder before stepping away.

"You must move quickly. If this Ganondorf is definitely on route to Parapa Palace, then we must catch up to him. If everything you all say is true… Then we must beat the Imperials to our destination, and be ready when the Resistance lands here in the north. But be careful. Monsters roam the land, and not every monster is affiliated with the Imperials. The paths you take are dangerous and unavoidable. Be cautious at all times. The palaces themselves are a challenge as well. Link barely made it through each one himself, so I do not expect you to have it easier even being prepared."

"Impa," Zelda called out, "what are you going to do?"

"I will be going to the eastern island with the boys and Spryte, but heading to a different location. I have old friends to meet. Don't worry, Zelda. I survived bleeding out and a fire, tackled with the purge at the castle and of the Sages years ago. I'll be fine going alone." Impa finally stepped aside, gesturing for the teens to disperse. "Now let's make haste."

"Yeah….let's do that." Ravio was first to scuttle away, walking beside Impa. "C'mon, Link."

Link turned to the girls, scratching the back of his head. "We'll see you guys later, right?"

Zelda smiled, stepping up to hug Link. "Promise me that you won't do anything out of your league, say, something idiotic? And Spryte, make sure he doesn't."

Spryte scoffed. "You know that won't work."

Link chuckled as he broke free. "I promise. You too, Zel. And you as well, Midna and Hilda."

Midna smirked. "Aww, you care for us too."

Hilda nodded, then glanced at Ravio, who refused to make eye contact with her. As Link began to step away, she spoke. "Link…"

"Yeah?"

"...Keep Ravio safe."

Link turned back and forth between the Loruleans, then nodded. "I will, Your Highness." Link walked to his assembled group, waving goodbye as he saddled upon Epona. He turned to Ravio, who looked elsewhere in the world. "Ravio."

"You have said enough." Snapping his horse's reins, Ravio was first through Impa's portal, momentarily followed by Link and Spryte. Before she stepped inside, Impa turned back to the girls.

"Ladies, all of you, show the enemy what it means to be a princess. Even if you're not one. Give them hell."