Bagu, 57 minutes, 14 seconds remaining
"They're relaxing their attack."
"No, something is wrong, King Elegant. Something is horribly wrong. General Bagu, has anything changed for you?"
Bagu didn't answer immediately, but with his eyes on Vah Medoh, he silently agrees with King Komali. The Imperials had indeed lessened their attack on Hylian forces, though the fight is still proceeding. Did Veran fall? Din and Nayru hadn't reported as much. Maybe Horsehead is dead again? Did Ravio finish Yuga? What happened?
Only one side hadn't reported in, and that's the forces of Holodrum and Labrynna, under the temporary command of Daruk, as Gorons make up a section of the army. Worried, Bagu calls for the leader of Darunia Town. "Daruk? Is everything okay over there?"
"They know she's here! They're heading straight for my house, for Princess Zelda!"
Bagu's worst fear is now a reality. How the Imperials figured that out must have something to do with what happened upon Vah Medoh. Yet Bagu didn't take time to figure out his next move. While he didn't expect the Imperials to make the tactical error to throw their full force to the west, he did plan on the possibility that they would find out where Zelda is located. "Your Majesties, you heard everything. We have the Imperials at a tactical disadvantage. We'll surround them, and slow their progress."
"Wait!" Elegant's exclamation spooks the Resistance leader. Is something wrong on the south side of the city too? "Ships!"
Ships? What does that mean? Before Bagu could question, the thunders of cannon fire echo across the skies. Bagu can see the smoke trails lead towards the west, though closer to the city's center rather than the far west where Daruk's home is. Imperial forces would be there… "Elegant, what flag are those ships bearing?"
"Hyrule's."
"Oh, Farore." Bagu drops to his knees. All these weeks, the wait, the worry...they had finally arrived. "Elegant, Komali, move your soldiers. The High General has arrived."
Auru
"Captain Tetra, Error, make landfall at the south side of the city. I'll take the west."
"Yes sir."
Standing at the brow of his ship, Her Grace, High General Auru Lanayru points to the Divine Beast flying in the sky. "All cannons, open fire on that machine." The six ships under Auru's direct command let their cannons roar again, releasing a volley upon Vah Medoh. He didn't think they'll much damage, but if Vaati is aboard the damn bird, Auru hopes he stumbled.
"To the west side of the city we go. I don't know what is going on here, but I hope we aren't too late."
50 minutes 55 seconds remaining.
Agahnim, North Castle
"It seems Veran is losing her battle. Ghirahim is not much better." Agahnim chuckles as he warps the image on his crystal ball between the two concurrent battles of Mido and Darunia. He watched as the Gerudo Prince returns with renewed vigor an hour ago, and now he and the Sage of Spirit prepare to charge Vah Naboris. On the flip side, the Resistance, despite the death of the Oracle of Seasons and the capture of Ages, are rallying. Horsehead's foolishness (though Agahnim really believes Veran is the true suspect) gives the rebellion a chance to counter, and with the ships making landfall, the two forces will fight well for the remaining time allotted. Yuga, now seeing that the Sage of Forest is a capable threat, summons a...Gigabari? What the hell is that mage doing? Something outside of Agahnim's will changes the scene of the sage's fight to the far south, at a small spring in a forest. Curious, Agahnim watches on as a young girl and two males in green appear out of nowhere. The girl waves her hand at the rocks, and a passage magically appears within the rocks. The girl speaks to the elder male before walking inside, the other dipping the younger man in the spring. That's when he got the best look at the elder.
Agahnim looks to the glowing mechanical pod behind him, then back at the crystal ball. There's no way he should be alive. Vaati assured him that he was dead. His body is…
The goddesses have other means apparently. Agahnim senses no life in his former adversary, so while the body is in one place, the soul walks the earth. So what is Link of Calatia doing with Link of Ordon?
"Agahnim." The wizard shoots his head up in surprise towards the dungeon entrance. It is none other than Vaati himself, though the king keeps himself hidden in the darkness. Only the glowing ruby of his left eye and the golden brilliance of Courage and Power are visible to Agahnim.
"Your Majesty," the wizard states with surprise and much-hidden disdain, "you're up earlier than expected."
"What is that you see?"
His question shrugged off, Agahnim drops his head to face the image of the two heroes. The elder Link sits by the spring while the younger floats in the shallow waters. There's no point in lying now, Vaati can clearly see what's transpiring. Yet...his plans requires telling the truth anyway, the whole truth. "Veran is failing, Master. In her arrogance, she's given the Resistance about 45 more minutes to surrender Zelda, placing you around two hours and three quarters ahead of your intended schedule. To her credit, she killed the Oracle of Seasons and captured the Oracle of Ages. Ghirahim fails as well. He and Koume were denied victory by the return of Ganondorf. Any moment now, the Gerudo royals will attack Naboris. Speaking of sages, Ravio fights Yuga now, or shall I say he fights whatever challenges Yuga places before him. In short, your queen is incompetent without you leading." Agahnim moves his eyes up to meet Vaati's, wondering if the great evil will step out the shadows.
To the wizard's dislike, Vaati only narrows his eye. "And I ask, why is the Hero of Hyrule and the Hero of the Resistance, two heroes I hadn't seen in days, suddenly together at a spring? Why is the Hero of Hyrule even around when his body is-oh." The scene in the ball shifts enough to make the land in which the water flows into the spring visible, showing the passage within the rocks. Vaati's eye widens. "I see...Who helped them?"
"A little girl wearing a green dress and-" Vaati vanishes, and with his sense of magic, Agahnim deduces it is via teleportation. Something makes the Dark Wizard so intrigued to witness the upcoming actions of the Wind Mage. Agahnim, of course, knows he just sent Vaati to the Golden Goddesses. In the meantime, he smiles underneath his scarf as he turns to the technology behind him. Within the next forty-five minutes, he will please his master with a new weapon to exploit against the light of Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, and the Resistance. In time, he will flip the script on the shadow of Vaati, Veran, Koume, and the Imperials.
The dark shall rise again.
Ganondorf
They were getting close. Riju and Ganondorf could feel the aura of energy Vah Naboris exhibits even outside the cloud of sand that covers it. Ganondorf himself can feel his hairs stand due to the static electricity in the air. However, he wasn't afraid to venture onward.
The plan is simple in explanation. Using the Thunder Helm, Riju will summon a protective barrier against the lightning attacks Naboris might fire to protect itself. Once they're in view of Naboris proper, Ganondorf will use whatever means necessary-his power or bomb arrows-against Naboris' feet to stop the flow of energy from the ground to the beast. When that step is done, Naboris should cede the fight. That'll allow Ganondorf and Riju to board Naboris and destroy it. If faced with their opposition, they will fight Ghirahim and Koume again.
Though Ganondorf secretly harbors another plan.
Riju turns to Ganondorf, humor glinting in her eye. "We're getting close Ganondorf. I suggest you don't fall off. There's only so many times I can feel sad about you dying."
Ganondorf chuckles as he grabs the reins of Patricia, Riju's sand seal. "Just say the damn prayer and protect us."
Riju scoffs once she puts the Thunder Helm on. "You took on that beam, you might be fine."
"I absorbed it. It took a lot of concentration to do that."
"You've got a lot of explaining to do about this newfound power, prince."
"If we live today, I'll explain."
"I'll hold you to it." Riju turns to face the sandstorm around Naboris, and begins to chant her prayer. "My name is Riju, descendant of the royal line and leader of the Gerudo people! With the power of the heirloom passed down in my family, I shall calm the Divine Beast Vah Naboris. Ancestors of the Gerudo! Answer my call! Aid me in this task!" Riju's answers were immediately answered. She began to glow green, and the aura spread to a radius of 10 feet around them. Not much room for error, but enough to protect them. "Oh wow! I can feel their power coursing through me! Let's move!"
Taking the reins back from Ganondorf, she snaps them to urge Patricia onward. Once they were nearly entering the storm, Riju takes one of her hands and holds it on Ganondorf's, reciting a different prayer. "Mother, Auntie, Uncle… Please grant us your protection."
"Mother, Father, Aveil, give me your strength to face my sisters again."
The passage through the storm is quiet and nearly uneventful. Due to Riju's barrier, their view is clear as the sand wraps around the green projection. Once or twice a stroke of lightning would strike the barrier, leaving its occupants unharmed. The only problem for Ganondorf is the internal one. With every moment within the storm passing, his patience wans. It stays that way until they see a glowing purple orb in the air. Then glowing, moving purple highlights, prominent in four large spots on the ground, then the ominous red glow, and finally the full body of Vah Naboris.
They were here, and Vah Naboris knows it. The sound of electricity charging echoes through the air, and from the orb, a thick, strong current of lightning strikes the barrier. Riju gasps as she tries to maintain it and direct Patricia at the same time. "Oh, this is not going to be easy. You're going to need to strike fast."
"I got the idea. Get behind it." Ganondorf bears his mother's blade in his sword hand, gripping Riju even tighter with his left arm as she directs Patricia behind the marching Divine Beast. As they get in position, Naboris fires another attack, just as powerful as the previous one. Riju shudders, not use to maintain a barrier against powerful magic but somehow keeping it up. She didn't know for how much longer. She doesn't let the attack stray them from their course.
Once they were lined up, Riju shouts to Ganondorf, "Now!"
Ganondorf aims his sword towards Naboris' back right leg, firing a sword beam at it. It connects but isn't strong enough to completely shut down the leg. Instead, the intensity of the light seems to halve. Ganondorf gives it another shot and the light vanishes.
Naboris doesn't like that one bit. In response, it sends a stronger lightning attack against the barrier, and had she not fortified herself a moment earlier, Riju is sure it would've broken. "It plans to break the barrier. Ganondorf, hurry."
Ganondorf doesn't plan to die due to being electrified. Being thrown off a mountain and stabbed in the heart were enough. Switching hands, he quickly fires beams at the lower left leg. Two down, two to go. As he aims for the upper right leg, Riju cries out and the barrier flickers. Gritting his teeth, Ganondorf forgoes aiming and fires multiple shots in the direction of the leg. Since they were weak in power in trade for numbers, it took about four or five hits before the right leg ceased functions.
One more to go. Ganondorf hears Naboris charging for its most powerful attack yet. He aims for the upper left leg, and with a roar shoots one powerful beam at it. At the same time, Naboris unleashes its power, breaking the barrier and causing Riju to lose all concentration on her reins, unintentionally yanking them back. That frightens Patricia, and she fights against her reins, throwing Ganondorf and Riju to the sands.
"Ganondorf...wake up you bastard...come on!"
A punch to his lower gut is all that's needed to wake Ganondorf up. He gasps dryly, coughing up particles of sand. A canteen is held in front of his face, to which he rapidly drinks from. Now out of the shock of being abruptly awakened, Ganondorf turns to Riju, unaware of his surroundings. They were high up, for sure. "Where the hell are we?"
"Inside Naboris. I had to drag your heavy ass up here before it started walking again." Riju grasps Ganondorf's arm and pulls him up. "We're still outside, under the belly."
"Ah." Now recovered, Ganondorf follows Riju up the walkway to the opening leading inside Naboris. The interior's main chamber is enormous, large enough to hold a small army if needed. The terminal centers the room on a raised platform, but as the pair steps into the room, they could see the path towards it blocked by two figures. Beside the terminal, the red-caped body of Ghirahim and the split-colored dress of a rejuvenated Koume stands before them.
"Oh, hello there, Ganondorf. I see you're still among the living. Fancy meeting you here." Ghirahim chuckles as he gestures to the terminal of Naboris. "Did you come for this? I can't let you have it but I have a nice substitution."
"I prefer you dead."
"Cannot be arranged." Ghirahim blinks directly behind the Gerudo defenders. "What can be arranged is your punishment. You've fought valiantly against my army and Vah Naboris and you, Ganondorf, had the audacity to disrupt death and destruction. I could forgive and forget, even let you go, if you do one thing for me."
Both Ganondorf and Riju swing their blades, but Ghirahim vanishes at the last second. His laughter is heard back above them. Riju, now angry, glares at the Demon Lord and the Gerudo Princess. "How about you shut up and just-"
"Wait." Ganondorf stops the Gerudo Chief, intrigue by Ghirahim's offer. He had no plans to accept, but with virtually no knowledge of the Imperial's plans, he decides to play along. "What is it you want?"
This time Koume speaks. "Our ancient foe, brother. The line of Hyrule, the descendants of the Princess of Destiny."
"Hylia. Her Grace. The Spirit Maiden."
"Princess Zelda," Ganondorf confirms, "you want Princess Zelda."
Koume smiles. "Yes. You bring us Princess Zelda within the next...40 minutes, and I'm sure Father will appreciate it enough to spare Mido."
"'Father'?" Ganondorf takes a step forward, his tone taking a dark turn. He glares at Koume with increasing malice every step he takes. Many insults he can take about his family from others, even from Auru, Bagu, and Error who knew Malladus and Nabooru personally. But something tells him that Koume did not call Malladus her father. To hear it from her, someone who he once considered sparing, is the greatest insult. "You dare call Vaati father?"
"...And what will you do about, big brother?" Ganondorf answers by launching himself in the air, swinging his blade for Koume's head. She blocks at the last second, but her strength doesn't hold a candle to Ganondorf's as they both go flying off the platform to the other side of the central chamber. They both land on their feet and trade blows without hesitation and with fury.
"How dare you call Vaati father! Malladus Dragmire is your father!"
"You defend the man who you hated the most! Let's be honest, Malladus may have been biologically our father, but when was he ever there for us as one? Never. He trained you not as his son, but as his successor, Kotake and I, a damn was never given. Nabooru, that bitch, was no better. The only one who cared about the three of us was Aveil...who protected us when even you didn't."
Ganondorf punches Koume in her face, angered by her statement. She staggers back a few feet, clutching her jaw once she regains balance. Ganondorf just stands in place, glaring at his sister. She is right, he won't deny. Malladus wasn't the best father in the world. Nabooru wasn't the best mother. Ganondorf wasn't the big brother he should've been. He looks away from Koume by dropping his head in guilt. "You are right about them, about me. That I will not deny. But I always loved you Koume. Personally, you were my favorite sister. You had the fire of our people. But make no mistake, Mother and Father loved us. They told me themselves."
Hours ago
"Ganondorf."
"Rise, boy."
Ganondorf raises his chest from under the covers of his bed. First, it seems like a bad dream, to hear the melodic and commanding voices of Nabooru and Malladus Dragmire, yet as his yellow eyes scan the room, it is no dream at all. Standing in one corner is the former Sage of Spirit, her eyes humorously enjoying the scare her son is enduring, while at the adjacent corner Ganondorf spots his father. Physically, Malladus looks like Ganondorf, except the beard of the king is longer and he sports less hair on his cranium due to a recessed hairline. HIs body is large and imposing due to age, but Ganondorf remembers that age was nothing to the skills of the king.
Ganondorf looks to the window. It is still nighttime. "Seems the dead hadn't learned manners."
"And the living is no better." Ganondorf smiles at his mother's quip.
"I'm happy to see you again, Mother. Death cannot claim your beauty." His composure drops as his sight pans over to Malladus, the old king's face lacking any signs of love...or any emotion besides anger. "Father, why bother me in my sleep?"
Malladus' scowl deepens. "Believe me, I rather continue my eternal rest if not the work I spent my life on wasn't jeopardized."
"Oh, then you can go. You have nothing to worry about. The Gerudo are united, the Yiga have been taken care of. What's in jeopardy that the Demon King Malladus Dragmire comes to his..what were your final words to me? 'Disappointing, pathetic, weakling of my seed.'"
Malladus steps up to the bed, and Ganondorf rises to meet him. The prince takes pleasure in knowing that he now towers his predecessor. It must hurt Malladus to look up to his son. "Ganondorf...for once in your life, listen to me without the just hatred you have for me. For once, hear the pleas of your king, or father, or just a man who wants to die knowing what he left is will be completed. If not for me, then for your mother."
Ganondorf faces his mother, then sighs. If it is important to them both, it might as well be important to him. "Speak."
"For thirteen years of your life, I've groomed you to be my greatest work. You are the first birth of a male in less than a century, and the first son of both a Daemon and Sage Gerudo. With it comes our curse, our eternal tie to Ganon, yet it is you who outdone even my expectations. You've hate me for what I've done, but...I had my reasons, reasons that keep you in this war, reasons that now even Vaati considers you an adversary, reasons that now Din recognizes you as her champion. I had my reasons to make you the warrior you are, the leader you've become, the legend you will die as. One of us had to break the curse of our blood, to supersede the whispers that plague those of Ganon's blood. You know how strong I was, but that is just a taste of the power within us. You were named Ganondorf for a reason, because the one who makes the full power of our blood deserves to be the true demon king."
"We may not have been the best mother or father, but given the times, can you blame us? After our failure in Rauru, I knew the danger presented to us. Vaati began his hunt for the Seven Sages, but I couldn't abandon my people. I denied you Riju to protect my sister and my birth sect. In the end, it paid off. But if there was ever a moment that you wished I was a better parent, I ask for forgiveness, because you are my only son. When you see Koume again, tell my daughter the same."
Ganondorf, trying his best to maintain himself, faces his father. The old king places both his hands on his son's shoulders. "Son...destroy the Imperials. Eradicate them with your power that you manifested on the mountain. Be the man I wish I fully molded you to be. Be my prince. Be my greatest warrior. Be my son. Be my final destiny. And know that, through my harshness,I loved you."
For the first time in his life, he heard those words spoken by the king. A tear runs down Ganondorf's face as he lowers his head. "I didn't even mourn you. I didn't care you died. And now...Father, tell me what to do about Koume and Kotake."
"You know what Gerudo law states...but you are now Demon King Ganondorf Dragmire. Your word is law."
"So it is now my decision, Koume. Your fate lies in my hands." Ganondorf sheaths his blade and holds his hand out to Koume. "I know you killed Kotake, that's why I sense her power in you. I don't care if you don't regret it. But I do not wish to kill my family."
Koume glances to Ganondorf's hands, wiping tears from her face. She hesitates to put away her scimitars, but eventually does so. She cautiously takes steps towards Ganondorf, stopping just within reach of Ganondorf. She faces him, eyes wet. "Ganondorf." She raises her hand to reach out for him, and their hands nearly connect.
Koume recedes at the last moment, dropping her arm. She turns to the side, unable to look up to her brother. "I cannot."
"Koume, don't."
"I...I am...loyal to Vaati. Your words will not change that. But...today...I will not stand in your way. Not today." Koume turns her back to Ganondorf, forming a warping portal in front of her. "Today, Koume dies. Remember that...Demon King, for I am Twinrova." With a final look to Ganondorf, Koume jumps through the portal and vanishes. Ganondorf, distraught, stands there, dropping his hand. Though he hates the result, Koume makes her sentence clear. She is dead. Twinrova lives.
"The next time we met, I will kill you Twinrova, to avenge Koume and Kotake." As much as he wish this matter could distract him, his attention turns to the other beings in the room, the battling Demon Lord and Chief of the Gerudo. Ghirahim chuckles as he grabs Riju by her neck, holding her off the platform he stands on, taunting the Gerudo male below.
"So the family reunion ends without bloodshed. That works with me. After all, we began this inside the Demon. I shall be the one to end the bloodline of the demon." He tosses Riju towards Ganondorf, the girl landing hard on the floor. Ganondorf rushes to check on her while the Demon Lord crackles above him.
Riju is unconscious but checks out fine. Reciting a spell, he warps her out the machine back to the Gerudo camp. Standing back to his feet, Ganondorf bows his head in anger. "You're going to pay for that, Ghirahim." Screaming his lungs out, Ganondorf draws out his innate power, feeling the chains of his bloodline break. A beast, much different from the raw evil of Ganon, beckons to be released, and Ganondorf gives in.
A dark aura surrounds Ganondorf, which he sees the Demon Lord doesn't fear at all. He looks...thrilled, excited, hungry. He offers up his white-gloved hand once more. "One final chance, Ganondorf. Give me Princess Zelda, and save your people."
Ganondorf reaches to his left side and redraws the brilliantly shining Blade of the Sages. "No. You want Princess Zelda, you'll have to get through me."
With a sigh, Ghirahim drops his arm and poses dramatically at the side. "Such behavior. An ignorant boy like you needs to be dealt with firmly. I must warn you, I won't go easy on you this time." Cape disappearing, Ghirahim raises both his arms and flicks them. His gloves vanish, and his pale arms turn black as obsidian. The left side of his body, from his forehead to the bottom of his leg, bears a similarly colored scar. "Lovely, aren't they? You'll find the supple skin of my arms tougher than any armor. Doesn't their shape just leave you...breathless? Behold! Such beauty! Such a pure form! Such an exquisite physique! Such stunning features!" As he finishes posing, Ghirahim swipes his hair. "Yes, I've pretty much got it all. Though there is one teensy, tiny thing I lack…" He turns down to Ganondorf, his face darkening from its earlier brilliance. "Namely, mercy."
Ganondorf raises in the air, scowling at Ghirahim. "Then we shall end this, Ghirahim."
"Heh heh heh. Come to me, Ganondorf, son of Malladus. You and I, we're bound by one fate, my former master, the progenitor of your lineage. In many ways, you can say you're him, and if that's so, it is natural for a servant to turn on their master. So come close, blood of Ganon! Meet me in battle, and the fate that binds us will be soaked crimson with your blood. Come at me Ganondorf… or shall I call thee Demise."
28 minutes, 23 seconds remaining.
