"Who... What are you?" Zelda had a hand on her own blade, the mysterious newcomer between her and the Master Sword. She kept it sheathed as the being had made no move to attack, and Zelda didn't sense any ill intent.
The blue being looked female, based on the curvature of her body, her "clothing," her earlier voice, and what you could call hair. She hovered slightly above the Master Sword as if she was protecting it, though without hands Zelda doubted the being would do much. Her face was expressionless, but Zelda could sense some semblance of emotions. Whatever it was thinking, it silently floated in front of Zelda, making a move to bow to the Princess. It rose back up, finally opening its mouth to speak. "The descendant of my creator. I have been awakened by your touch to the blade you called the Master Sword. According to your social customs, I should provide you with my personal designation. Fi is the name I was given."
"Fi? Fi… Hello Fi, my name is-"
"Zelda. I know your name, Your Grace."
Zelda fought back the urge to call out the rude behavior of Fi, instead continuing on figuring out who this "Fi" is. "You say my ancestor created you?"
"Yes. I was created for a single purpose, long before the recorded memory of your people. I have served that purpose." She turned her back to glance at the dropped weapon. "I was sleeping in the sword, as I was to be once I completed my task, but it seems that your touch was enough to wake me for a purpose I cannot determine. But you are Hylia reincarnated, so as your created, I am to serve you once more."
Zelda apprehensively looked away from Fi. Too much was happening in such short time to comprehend that she woke up an age-old sword spirit. She had to think of a way to free her friends, to free her people, and to fight against the Imperials, to protect herself, and the best fate offers her is Fi? She didn't understand.
"The war that now threatens you and your world. My sudden appearance. Uncertainty surrounding the fate of one you hold dear. Under the circumstances, it is only logical that you exhibit some apprehension. To minimize your uncertainty, allow me to share some information. My projections indicate that this information has a high probability of altering your current emotional state. As I stated, there is a low probability you can defeat Vaati in your current state."
That didn't alter Zelda's emotional state one bit. Matter of fact, it did, but probably not in the way Fi intended. "What do you mean? I have the Triforce of Wisdom and the Light Force. I can beat Vaati."
"You do not have the Light Force and the Triforce of Wisdom. You only possess one of them, while the other is elsewhere in Hyrule, with the woman known as Impa. If it spares your dignity, I won't call out which one." Oh, so the spirit knows how to sass. Zelda bit her lip, wondering just how much emotion Fi can speak while her face remains rigid. "But as I stated, I have information that can alter your emotional state...positively. The one you call Ganondorf is alive."
"What?" That definitely put Zelda in a better mood, but it wasn't her who spoke. It was Oren, who entered the balcony in shock and confusion. She glared at Fi, not wanting to trust the words of the spirit. "How is that possible?
"Hatred." Zelda cupped her chin, remembering Ganondorf's last words to Vaati before he died. "Ganondorf, or more specifically Ganon, is the embodiment of hate and malice. If Ganondorf tapped into it, that could be why he is alive. His own hatred kept him alive. But maybe he did die, but his soul was still connected to his body that eventually he would rise from the dead."
"That all could be true, but where is he?"
"He is in South Hyrule, on the mountain range known as Death Mountain with the one you called Midna. Most likely they are on a mission of their own, but… he is not himself."
"And why is that, Fi?"
The sword spirit once more glanced at her home. "At his present condition, he is not at full strength, and with his former darkness aborted from him, he won't be able to stand a chance to the Imperials. Like you, Your Grace, he has a power dwelling inside him that he does know exists but never accesses it without his ancestor. My calculations have determined that the power he needs will not harm Hyrule, and can be a great asset to Ganondorf. You can aid in finding it because his power is like your power."
Zelda turned back to Oren. "He's in South Hyrule, but is it possible to bring him here?"
Oren shrugged. "Accounting for the distance, under normal circumstances, no. With our power, possibly, but that might alert the Imperials to us."
"So we'll have to wait until he's closer."
"There is also more information, though this one is going to return that sour mood, Your Grace," once more Fi rudely inputted. "It has been eight hours since the Imperials have issued their ultimatum to this town. There is a high chance that they will send a warning of sorts, to let the citizens know that they are-" A loud boom resounded to the northeast, and the rebels turned to see smoke rise from the city. Whatever had landed definitely came from the mechanical bird, though it didn't look like it fired on the city as it was still airborne. "-serious."
"Zelda!" Out came Spryte, zipping from the building to the balcony in fright. Behind her was Ravio, who looked quite pissed.
"What the hell was that...and who the hell is this?"
Zelda ignored his questions. "I will answer that later, but for now, we need to get over there." She picked up the Master Sword, strapping to her back to that the hilt was over her right shoulder. "Fi, I'll take your assistance."
"Very well, Your Grace." Fi turned into a small ball of light and flew into the Master Sword. Touching the shoulders of her friends, Zelda chanted a few words before light surrounded them, taking them from their hideout to their destination on the other side of the city. They reformed just a corner away from the pillar of smoke.
Zelda was first to round the corner, slowing her steps as she spotted the object before her. It was immediately recognizable to her as the skeleton of the beast from Midoro, and looking above it, she recognized a person, more specifically a beast, standing on it with the lady she hadn't met before in person but had an idea who she was. Ravio, Spryte, and Oren joined her, and like Zelda, the fairy felt a cold chill down her spine as she gasped at the sight of the mace-wielding beast.
"Zelda, is that?"
"Yes." Zelda looked to the Darunians that stood around them, leaving the piece of the street to the Sages and the Imperials. She could see the realization on their faces, that with the crown she wore, she was the Princess Zelda they were looking for...or it was the sword in her back. It wasn't too long ago for some of the civilians to forget her father and his blade. Facing the Imperials again, she stepped forward, placing a hand on her blade off her waist. "Seems death was not enough for you, Horsehead. And you must be Her Highness, Veran. Heard you did Link a number at the Great Palace."
Veran smiled. "And you are definitely the famous Princess Zelda the Eighth. It is finally great to put a face to the name."
"I can say the same. Now leave this city, Veran. These people are innocent, and have nothing to do with me."
"Then you know my terms. Surrender yourself and the Triforce of Wisdom, and I'll leave. Darunia will be spared."
Ravio stepped up to Zelda, pulling her back. "What are you doing?"
Oren scoffed. "She's negotiating, Ravio. Though it is pointless. They won't keep their word."
Zelda smiled." I know that. But this might be our best opportunity to protect the city and get back our friends. But if not, I'm buying you time Spryte to figure out what the hell that skeleton truly is." She turned away from the Sages, stepping closer to the Queen of Hyrule. Zelda stopped in the middle of the two groups, holding out her hand. "Lady Veran, we are both royalty. How about we settle this like grown women with negotiation?"
Her eyes shining with surprise and interest, the Queen of Hyrule wordlessly joined Zelda on level ground, walking to the middle where the young princess stood. Whispers around them were even more shocked that the two women were going to meet. Zelda could sense their apprehension, seeing the same woman who threatened them step up to the same woman they were tasked to capture, and for those who knew Queen Zelda and Hero Link, they wondered just how the daughter of the queen hid so many years from their king, just to show up 18 years later to claim her throne.
Zelda pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on Veran as the taller, blue-skinned lady stood in front of her, an amused smile gracing the queen's face. "You want to negotiate? Let me guess, you want me to spare the lives of these Darunians?"
Zelda nodded. "That is my priority, but in return, you want the Triforce of Wisdom?"
Veran's smile grew. "You're good at this, so far. But no, not just the Triforce of Wisdom. You and your Sages will be my prisoners, and you will call off your Resistance. You will give us the location of the Hero. You will bow to Vaati and me, and then, only then, will I move my troops out of Darunia."
"And then?"
Veran leaned down, so close to Zelda's ear the princess could feel the heat of the queen's breath as she whispered darkly. "The end is near. When we're done, Hyrule will never see the light again. Perfect payment, for everything you and your hero have done. They will not remember you in legend." Veran chuckled before a bright glow and a painful pulse on her abdomen pushed her back towards the monstrous bones. She felt weak in the moments following, hearing her henchman call for hear while she clutched her lower torso. There was only one power that could make her feel such a way...and Zelda was surrounded by it. "You...brat…"
Zelda reached for the sword on her back, hesitating only to switch her mind to her own blade at her waist. It wasn't time to draw the Master Sword. Her friends joined her, drawing their weapons, ready for combat. "Here are our terms, Veran. You will surrender your army. Vaati, Vatis, whatever he wants to be called, he will surrender the Triforces of Power and Courage. You all will stand trial, and most definitely will die. Or we can do this the hard way, and I have no reason to give you mercy." Her eyes cut to Horsehead, helping his queen to his feet. "I think I still owe you one, Horsehead."
Veran gritted her teeth as she rose up. "Arrrgghh! If you so desire a fight, Princess Zelda, I shall give you one." She placed her hand on the forehead of the skull, lighting it with dark magic. It coursed throughout the skeleton, making it glow and quiver in place before her arm lowered. Momentarily, the skeleton began to twitch at the arms, then those arms began to move on their own. The backbone rose, rising above most of the buildings in the street. Purple light took form in the eyeholes of the skull, and they glared down at the people of Darunia hungrily. The body lowered behind Veran and Horsehead, the former chuckling as the forms of the Imperials began to dissipate. "Princess, Sages, I introduce you to Stallord. Stallord, kill the Sages, and if you must, the Princess as well." As Horsehead and Veran vanished, Stallord roared at his targeted prey. Zelda, the only one who didn't cower back (Oren and Spryte only slightly did, while Ravio jumped a full yard away), raced towards the fossil. She would have instructed Oren and Ravio to get the people away, but luckily the civilians were smart enough to get going.
Instead, she called out to the fairy flying beside her. "Have you figured out a weak point?"
"No, but it is a skeleton. Wouldn't hacking it to bits work?"
One of Stallord's hands came down, the princess flipping backwards at the last second to dodge it. Landing on her knees, she gazed at the huge hand that could've crushed her. "Let me remind you we faced two dragons, a dinosaur, a giant fish, a phantom. Nothing is that simple."
"Well, I don't know, Zelda! I usually need you to fight it first before I see an exploit! That how it works with Link! The weakness is usually shiny, an eyeball, its mouth, or weapon specific. This is a skeleton!"
The next hand came down, Zelda staying in place and using Nayru's Love to hold it off. As the hand landed on the diamond shield, Zelda could see the Sage of Water hop aboard Stallord's paw, waving her hands around and releasing a beam of ice at its face. "Well, Link isn't here, fairy! Get used to that. And Ravio, get your scared ass into battle!"
Behind the women, Ravio was indeed staying from battle, but not due to cowardice. He was searching in his large item bag for something to aid them. "Give me a minute!"
"A minute is all you'll get!" Oren switched to using water, creating a platform under her webbed feet and maneuvering herself around Stallord in the air. She rained ice icicles on Stallord as she zipped around him, doing little to no damage but enough to distract him. "Zelda, can't you just incinerate him with your power?"
Zelda thought about it, but not even she would do it. Not in a populated area such as the city when she herself still doesn't know how to control it. "No. There has to be a safer way to defeat it."
"Analysis complete. Your Grace, would you like to hear my report on the being called Stallord?"
"Fi?" Zelda had totally forgotten about the being within the Master Sword, given how new that information is. With Spryte being useless and Stallord attempting to swat Oren like a fly, Zelda appreciated Fi's knowledge. "Yes. Make it quick. What is the weak spot?."
"Stallord's weak spot is its spine. However, you'll need something hard to break it. Something like a-"
"Hammer." Zelda turned to Ravio, who was muttering to himself as he tossed various items out his pouch. "Ravio! Your hammer!"
"Hammer. Ah yes." The Forest Sage perked up, searching deeper in his pouch until a smile grew on his face. "Aha!" He held up the hammer, the orange metal gleaming with promise. Zelda sighed in relief, until Spryte shouted Oren's name. The Princess turned, seeing her friend in the clutches of the beast, and helplessly watched as Oren was smashed through a building, then as Stallord raised his hand, flame erupted from its mouth, charring the building and the ones close by to ash. Smoke heavy from the fire, Zelda watch Stallord turn its head back to her, swearing that a pleasant grin was on her face. Anger boiled Zelda's blood, and the glow around her seemed to increase to as well.
"You'll pay for that Zelda! Catch!" Zelda turned and caught the hammer from Ravio, jumping aside as Stallord tried to grab her again, then ran for the monster's spinal cord. She sidestepped from the other large hand, then used Nayru's Love while moving to protect her from the flames once she passed under Stallord's head. Using all her boosted strength, she gave the hammer one good swing and hit the side of the bony spine. The recoil knocked Zelda off her own feet, but it was enough to do damage to Stallord. Cracks traveled up through the cord, stopping just short of the cranium before shattering, dropping the beast to its backside. It struggled to get up, then its limbs fell, head turned to the sides, and eyes going dark. Stallord was defeated.
Zelda got back on her feet, panting as she looked at the corpse of Stallord before seeing a light come from the surprisingly not-burning building Oren was sent through. She spotted Ravio and Spryte already heading for the building, and ran after them. She joined them just in time to see their nightmare for the third time in twenty-four hours.
"Ah, the most beautiful of the Zoras, Princess Oren. Same blood as the one I captured many years ago, same beauty, same fate."
"Yuga!"
Holding a painting of the Princess Oren, Yuga stood before Zelda and her friends, chuckling as he turned to them to them. "Oh, you are here too. I thought Stallord would still be busy with you and I'll have to leave a note. Don't worry, she was safe from the fire. I protected her at the last second. Now, she'll be immortalized for eternity."
"Give her back! Hilda and Ralph too!" Zelda could feel Ravio's anger, and was glad that it was nearly nighttime now, or else Ravio could rip Yuga apart if he wanted to.
Yuga smiled, enjoying the Lorulean's anguish. "You miss her, don't you? And you'll fight for her? This Ravio I know isn't the one I knew long ago, but even then...This courage is tasty. I must have a piece of it myself. Next time we meet, Ravio Sheerow, we will paint the world blue with our sweat and tears, red with our blood, and orange with our fiery drive for victory. Then I'll claim the last Lorulean as my own. But if you'll excuse me, I have a place to be...and you have a battle to finish." Yuga vanished as quickly as his appearance had been, but his words were not lost on the last three rebels. At the sound of a roar, they turned around to the large hole on the burned building, gasping as they gazed on the floating head of Stallord.
"'Nothing is that simple,'" Spryte mocked, glaring at the princess. "Next time don't say such things."
"I'll remember." Zelda summoned Nayru's Love, surrounding her and her friends in time to protect themselves from Stallord's fiery breath. "Fi, why didn't you say it wasn't dead?"
"You didn't sense its presence not leave the world, Your Grace?"
"Look, I don't accept smark from the damn fairy, why would I accept it from you?"
"Because, unlike fairies, I actually know what I'm talking about."
Spryte tsked as the flames and Nayru's Love ceased. "Piss off, I know what I'm talking about. Like right now, when I say run!" Spryte, Ravio, and Zelda dashed out of the house, racing back down the street from where they came. Behind them, Stallord soared, shooting fireballs at the rebels.
As they kept running, they came upon the intersection they initially warped to. Zelda began to have an idea. "Split up! It can only chase one of us. Whoever that is, keep running. Everyone else circle back around and come up with an idea to destroy it. When you're ready, call the person to circle back to this street. Shoot up a flare to to help with that."
Ravio chuckled. "Best plan I heard today!" He departed for the street going to the right, while Zelda headed off to the left and Spryte going straight. All turned back, just to see which of them drew the short stick.
For the first time in his life, Ravio felt lucky enough he didn't draw it. Unfortunately, that meant he needed to find a way to defeat it, and save the Princess of Hyrule. He turned around as the huge skull ventured farther away chasing Zelda, meeting Spryte back at the center of the intersection. The fairy, not used to coming up with plans, was freaking out. "Ravio, what are we going to do?"
The boy rubbed his chin, looking at his surroundings. The sun was barely over the horizon, but there was enough light he could theoretically draw power from it. He just needed to get up on a building. Next was what he was going to use his power for. Zelda still had the hammer, so she needed an opportunity to use it. With her light magic, she could hit it once and expelled Veran's power within Stallord. Ravio just needed to trap the head to allow Zelda to hit it.
"I have a plan." Ravio took out his hookshot and raised himself to a nearby building and turned to the setting sun. Stretching his hand to the building across the street, Ravio created and fired large seeds, planting them on the building. He did so to the side of the building he stood upon, then lowered his limb. "Spryte, bring Zelda back."
"Are you sure about this, Ravio?"
"I'm no Link, so I'm not sure of anything."
Spryte found that acceptable. She raised her hand up, shooting light into the air. She could see pillars of smoke across the east, where Zelda traveled, hoping that the civilians weren't caught in the crossfire. A minute passed, and Spryte fired another flare, now worried about her friend. "C'mon Zelda. You gotta come back." Ravio stood quietly, waiting for the Hyrulean princess to return. He could sense her presence coming, and prepared himself….
"I hope you guys are ready, because here I come!" Zelda's form appeared down the street that Spryte would've taken, running as fast as she could. Behind her, Stallord drifted into a building, demolishing it before resuming giving Zelda chase. The princess crossed the intersection first, Stallord hot on her tail. "Ravio!"
Ravio threw his arm out. "Grow!" Thick green vines sprouted from the seeds, crossing each other and forming a net across the intersection. Stallord was unable to adjust itself in time, flying straight into the net of vines, ensnared by the thick ropes, unable to move. Ravio did his best to hold Stallord in place as he commanded Zelda. "Now Zelda, use your power directly on the mallet and exorcise the dark power." Zelda nodded, charging the hammer with as much power as she could, then magically leaped to the head of Stallord. With a cry, she landed with a powerful smack to Stallord's forehead, light magic crackling across the skull. Stallord cried out as the power that give it life was expelled, and the heavy skill broke through its prison, dropping down to the road with a thundering crash. Zelda watched as its eyes lost their light, and the skull breathed its last. She sighed as she jumped off the disintegrating monster, joined by Spryte and Ravio.
"Fi, is it gone?"
"...Yes, Your Grace. The being known as Stallord has been 100% exterminated."
"Thank you." Zelda turned to her allies, nodding to them. "Good work."
"Thank you, Princess, but we didn't win today. We lost Oren."
Spryte pointed forward. "Yes, but I think we won a different battle. Look." Ravio and Zelda were graced by the sight of the Darunians cheering for the three rebels standing away from them. Out of the crowd walked a mighty, rock-like creature, and he headed for the rebels.
Zelda, having never seen such a creature, turned to Ravio. "What is that?"
"That's a Goron, Princess."
"And a very happy Goron at that, brother!" The Goron folded his large arms, his enormous smile fading. "However, as chief of Darunia, I must talk to you, Princess Zelda."
Death Mountain
"And so, my child, you have returned... " In a dark chamber in the midst of Death Mountain, a lone presence mused to itself as it sensed two beings in close proximity to its lair. For two months, it had longed for this moment, and with the deaths of the ones who sealed him away, the hour was coming.
In the past, he was the King of Thieves.
In the present, he was the Prince of Darkness.
In the future, he'll be the Great Calamity.
"...I cannot wait to formally meet you, Ganondorf."
