CHAPTER 7
Wynn slowly opened his eyes with a moan. "Ugh...Where am I?"
"My best guess is Ganon's Castle. Now, get up, and tell me what we're going to do about her." Link's voice said from near Wynn.
Wynn sat up. The first thing he saw was a window. Link was indeed correct, they were in Ganon's Castle, judging by the close proximity of the cloud level. Wynn turned, seeing Link holding the person in question, who was struggling under his grip. Wynn frowned, giving her a dirty look. "You shouldn't have come," he told her.
"It was my decision!" shouted the Cucco Lady.
"One that might just get you killed," Link admonished.
"I can take care of myself, thank you. And it's not as if there's anyone left to care if I die," the Cucco Lady said coldly.
Wynn looked her in the eye. "You can come, if you want. But I might not be able to help if trouble comes."
She drew at dagger from her side and smiled. "Don't worry. I've had a lot of practice with this."
The eyebrows of Link and Wynn rose, but they said nothing.
They walked together down the long halls and corridors, exploring, searching for the place where their friends were being held. Instead they found an immense pair of doors, guarded by four Stalfos. The skeleton-like monsters didn't notice them until they were right next to them, and then it was too late. Two fell before they could move, and the Cucco Lady attacked another, her dagger heading for its skull. It tried to stab her, but missed, and collapsed to the floor as her dagger found its mark, turning it into nothing more than a pile of bones. The last found itself trapped as two swords sliced towards it. Its mouth dropped as the two swords hit, reducing it to rubble.
"That was easy...too easy. We have to be careful, Wynn," Link warned.
Wynn nodded, slowly going to the doors. He eased them open, wincing as they cracked loudly in protest. He peered through, looking for trouble. What he did see shocked him so much he nearly fell down.
"Wynn! What is it?" Link demanded.
"A sight for sore eyes, that's what it is. Come on, let's go!" he said, beaming.
The three ran into the room. Wynn ran straight for a wall, telling Link over his shoulder to open the doors to the large cages with the captured people of Hyrule inside. Wynn's destination was a wall with large chains dangling high above the floor. Hanging from those chains were four very familiar faces.
"Wynn! You came!" shouted one.
"Did you ever doubt me?" asked Wynn cockily, freeing Fami from her bonds. Freed, she wrapped him up in a big hug, telling him silently how glad she was to see him with a kiss. The two were lost in their happiness.
"Now, why can't you be more like that, Shezarah?" inquired Tane sarcastically.
"Because you're not that heroic," she snipped. Tane sighed, his ego taking another blow.
"Can you two finish? We're being left hanging here, you know!" Nerah said through gritted teeth.
Wynn broke the kiss, his smile even bigger. While he turned to releasing Tane, Fami stuck her tongue out at Nerah. Wynn flinched, hearing the Zora's shouted insults directed at Fami. Some were words he had never heard before, but the ones he knew were bad enough.
When they were all free, Wynn turned back to Link. The Hero of Time had freed all the captives, and most were milling about, confused but grateful. "What do we do with them, Wynn?" Link asked.
"I don't know..." said Wynn.
Leave it to me. I will help them out of the castle.
"How, Zelda? If you hadn't noticed, we are in the sky!" Link said.
With my powers and the powers of the Sages, I can create another portal. They can escape, while you finish off the shadowy figure.
"How did I guess you would say that?" groaned Link.
Before Zelda could offer a cutting comment, doors at the other end of the room burst open. In rushed groups of Stalfos and Tekititons, and a pair of immense Iron Knuckles. This group of monsters was lead by a familiar man, if he could be called that. It was none other than Rosburn.
"Rosburn! You're mine!" came a shout from across the room. Wynn whirled, searching it out. It was Greer. He had a sword, apparently having gone out the door to the destroyed Stalfos, taken a sword from one, and came back. His eyes were lit by his fury.
Rosburn laughed. "Iron Knuckles, take care of him." The two immense monsters started forward, axes held up.
Tane turned to Shezarah. "Not that heroic, huh? Watch me!"
Before she could stop him he ran forward. "Hey, metal-heads! Over here!" he yelled waving his arms. The two metal monsters hesitated, then turned to face the pest that was yelling at them. They charged, axes swinging.
"Whoa, watch it! Hey, that's sharp-looking!" shouted Tane, running and flipping over the blades. He ran to the other side of the pair, and then stood still, looking at them. "Are you just going to stand there, or fight?" he taunted. They roared and attacked again. Tane, unarmed, could only dodge the blades, rolling under them.
Now, he was trapped between the two. They seemed to laugh, axes at ready. They swung back, one aiming high, the other aiming low. Tane knew he had to act fast, or Hyrule would have to deal with the loss of one of its best heroes, or so he believed. As they swung, he dived between the legs of one. The axes hit, shattering metal armor and driving deep into the monsters. Both clanged to the floor, dead, a triumphant Tane walking away from them with a swagger. Wynn smiled as he noticed the appraising gazes the Gerudo population were giving Tane, to Shezarah's thinly veiled jealousy.
"Tekititons! Kill them!" yelled Rosburn. The monsters started forward.
"Do you really think you can beat us all?" Wynn asked darkly. The monsters paused, looking at the massive crowd. As one, they dropped their weapons, turned, and ran.
Rosburn growled. "Stalfos!" The skeletal monsters started forward.
Wynn laughed. "These bone-heads are mine." He raised his arms, calling forth his magic. As the monsters rushed at him, he lowered his arms. They were almost on top of him when he released his powers.
After the cloud of dust and bone-chips cleared, Rosburn was standing alone. Without another word, he ran for his life, pursued by Greer.
"Zelda, you get everyone out. We'll take care of the leader," Link said.
Be careful, Link.
"You know me, Zelda," Link said, smiling.
My point exactly.
Link blushed slightly. "Come on, Wynn let's go."
Wynn nodded, and turned to his other friends. "You go with the rest, Link and I will take care of this."
"No way, Wynn! We're a team," Tane said.
"Yes, and we fight together. Live or die, we all go," said Shezarah.
"I'm not leaving you," Fami said, smiling at Wynn.
"I say we ditch the Kokiri, and then go fight. She'll just get in the way," Nerah smirked.
"Why you-"
"Come on, everyone. It's time to end this," Wynn said.
Together with Link and the Cucco Lady, the group set off.
******
The shadowy figure growled. "You failed me."
"I didn't fail! It's not my fault they got here! And it was Rosburn's job to stop them!" the General protested.
"SILENCE!" the shadowy figure roared. "I have no time for excuses! The Hero of Time will be here soon, and it shall be you he will face!"
The General cringed, and then a cold gleam entered his eye. He would win this time. He would not fail....
And then, he understood.
******
Wynn and the others raced through the corridors of the castle, killing monsters along the way. They were nearing the top of the tower, Wynn could feel it. And then, when they reached the top...
Wynn frowned, his curiosity getting the better of him. "How did you get here? Zelda told us-"
"That we were dead, right? That's what we all thought, till we woke up chained to that wall. As Shezarah and I were falling, this portal of dark energy appeared under us," Tane said.
"When Silver Knuckle attacked me, I was forced back, nearly off a cliff. He swung at me, and I fell, screaming. The ground was rushing up, and there was this flash of dark light...and I woke up here," Nerah told him.
"When that monster attacked me, he blasted me. When I woke up, he had obviously brought me here," Fami said, wincing as she remembered the Assassin's powers.
"Wynn, why didn't they just kill us? Why hold us?" Nerah asked cautiously.
Wynn's grimace grew. "You were bait. For me, and through me, my father."
Tane nodded. "This time, the bait bites back."
Wynn laughed, but the laugh was cut short when he spotted something. There, right above them, was a door. The door was huge, triple the height of the heroes. Wynn stopped, as did the others.
"Final battle," Link whispered. The group went to the door, and pushed it open. It was time to fight once again. But who would be the victor? Who would win, the good protectors of Hyrule or the evil invaders? It would be a hard battle, and Hyrule hung in the balance.
******
"Welcome, heroes. This will be your last fight. Surrender now. Join me, and you shall be a part of the army that will finally rule Hyrule!" the shadowy figure said, his voice booming.
"We would rather die!" Link said.
"Hey, pal, are you sure you want to say that?" Tane asked quietly.
"So be it. I shall hear your death screams, and that shall be the music announcing my victory," the shadowy figure laughed. "Kill them."
A figure stepped forward from the shadows. It was the General, his bluish armor glittering softly in the dim light. His red eyes were focused on the group. Wynn noticed that the eyes were not focused on the group, only Wynn.
Suddenly, the eyes went dim. The shadows that had shielded the General's body from sight swirled, leaving his true form out in the open.
"You," Wynn growled. The word was a curse.
"This time, son of Baro, I will win!" crowed Seron.
******
"Rosburn!" Greer yelled as he chased the man down. He was nearly to him when the other stopped.
"You can't beat me! I am the High General, and soon, I will rule over Hyrule!" Rosburn shouted, drawing his sword.
Greer smiled. "You're a blasted fool, Rosburn, and that's all you ever have been."
"Really? Maybe. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have cut your off-time short that fateful day." The cowardly general's voice was oozing with sarcasm.
Greer's mouth dropped as the memories took him.
******
A much younger-looking Greer laughed happily. He smiled as he listened to the anecdote his young bride was telling with enthusiasm. It wasn't really that funny, but he was just happy to be off-duty and with his darling again.
She stopped, smiling at him. She moved up to him, and their lips met. They kissed deeply, enthralled with each other.
Their kiss was interrupted by a heavy knock on the door. Greer sighed. Ever since Ganondorf had began his takeover, he couldn't have a moment to enjoy his life.
He opened the door. Standing before him was his newly-promoted captain. He inwardly sighed. Not him again!
"Sorry to interrupt, but you're needed, Lieutenant Greer," Captain Rosburn drawled.
Greer frowned, looking back to his wife. She nodded, understanding in her eyes. Greer nodded, telling Rosburn he would be outside after he gathered his supplies.
Greer slipped his armor on, hearing his wife come up behind him. "I'm sorry, honey, but-"
"I understand. Here, take this, to help you remember to hurry home." She pressed her favorite scarf into his hand as she kissed him.
He smiled. "I couldn't ever forget."
The two said their goodbyes, and Greer left the small home. Little did he know, that would be the last time he would see it.
******
"You alright, sir?" asked the young man helping Greer hobble toward his home.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just have to get home..." Greer said, wincing as he felt the pain of his newest wound. He and his men had run into a group of monsters, and he had been injured.
"If you say so, sir," the kid said. The young man was a new recruit. Greer liked the man; he was a fighter. He reminded him of a younger version of himself. His name was Kesler, or something.
"What's that light up ahead?" Kesler asked. Greer looked up. It looked like a fire...
The two rushed forward, coming to the crest of the hill. Greer looked upon what had been his home.
"NOOO!" he howled, trying his best to run towards the ruins. The house was a burning shell of what it had once been. He ran to it, but it was too late, it and any occupants were undoubtedly dead.
"Lieutenant, watch out!" yelled Kesler. A Stalfos that Greer hadn't noticed jumped at him, sword arcing for his throat. Before it could finish Greer, who merely watched it come, Kesler tackled it, sending both its sword and the torch it was holding spinning away. With a quick stab, Kesler finished it.
"Come on, sir. There's nothing left for you here," Kesler said softly.
Greer stood softly, his eyes lifeless. "You're right. There is nothing left for me."
******
As he returned from the memories, Greer snarled at Rosburn. "You lie."
"No, I'm afraid not, Captain. I had a suspicion that your home would be attacked, and I thought you would be useful to me in the future. I was wrong, but, nevertheless, I saved you. You owe me a debt," Rosburn said arrogantly.
"You're right, Rosburn. I do owe you this." Greer leaped at the man, sword meeting sword as they collided. They struggled against each other, trying desperately to overpower the other. Finally, Rosburn ended it with a kick to Greer's chest, sending the older man falling back. Rosburn lunged at him, sword aiming for his chest, but Greer deflected it. Both stood, glaring at each other. They met in a fast sword duel, slashing, whirling, stabbing, parrying.
However skillful Rosburn may have been, it was obvious Greer was superior. Rosburn, furious and sensing his imminent defeat, backhanded Greer, then slammed into him, crushing his sword hand. Greer nearly dropped his sword. Rosburn took advantage of this, sword plunging into Greer's hand.
"Ah!" Greer gasped, dropping his sword.
Rosburn chuckled. "Time to die, Captain."
He slashed, a blow that would behead Greer. But the sword hit only the stone wall as Greer ducked, picking up his sword with his uninjured left hand. The next thing either saw was Greer's sword sinking into Rosburn's previously unscathed chest armor, a bright red spreading across the yellow armor.
"For Hyrule," Greer said, alone in the hall. Rosburn, traitor and betrayer to all of his land, was dead.
******
"Yes, it is I, Seron. Wynn, this time you don't escape," Seron said, the two glaring at each other.
"You are supposed to be dead," Wynn said simply.
"Yes, I suppose so. You sound disappointed I'm not."
"I wonder why," Wynn said, his sword at ready.
"Wynn, you can't win this fight. With my armor, my powers are magnified hundreds of times. You will be crushed."
"Wynn, let me handle him. Against the Master Sword, he doesn't stand a-" Link started.
"No! This is my fight. He is my enemy, and I will be the one to beat him," Wynn said, moving into a battle stance.
"You're a fool, Wynn. Give up, and I will not harm your friends." Seron's armor glowed more intensely, a bright blue.
"Seron, I will save Hyrule. Even if I fall, another will take my place. Evil cannot win!" Wynn declared. His own powers filled him, and he glowed with a soft yellow light.
Seron hesitated. "Brave words. But, they will be your last. I will not dirty my hands on you, Wynn. Instead..." A dark figure appeared near him, and stepped into the light. It was Silver Knuckle. "He shall finish you."
"I live to serve." Wynn flinched. Solan's kind voice was replaced by a heartless, soulless tone. Silver Knuckle was back, body and mind.
"Kill him, and his friends. Leave Fami to me," Seron ordered.
"As you command," came Silver Knuckle's deep voice. He stalked towards Wynn, ax held out. As he neared Wynn, he slashed, his ax flying at Wynn. The hero moved out of the way just in time.
"Solan! Fight it!" Wynn yelled, dodging another strike.
"I am not Solan!" yelled Silver Knuckle. He attacked again and again, trying desperately to kill Wynn if only to silence him.
"I know they didn't kill the good part of you! I know my best friend still lives!" Wynn shouted.
Silver Knuckle stopped. "He is gone, fool. You will not live to see him again."
Wynn knew he had one chance left. Like he had on Death Mountain, he charged his magic. Silver Knuckle charged, crossing the distance between them incredibly fast. At the last second, when it seemed Wynn could not escape, he leaped, landing behind his foe. The other turned, but the beam slammed right into his helmet. He screamed as the evil inside him was burned away. Wynn watched as he collapsed to the floor.
"You may have beat him, but you can't beat me!" Seron laughed, but he sounded nervous.
"Give up, Seron. We will let you live. Maybe one day you can be one of us," Wynn offered softly.
Seron hesitated. "I...I..."
"They lie! KILL THEM!" the shadowy figure bellowed.
Seron stopped, looking Wynn in the eye. "I will always be evil, Wynn. You cannot save me, no one can." The weakness disappeared. "Now, I will kill you."
"Ha! You're weaker than you think, Seron. I think the armor is affecting your brain!" Wynn quipped.
"Is that so?" A blast of magic, larger than any the group had seen before, came from one gauntleted hand. To everyone's surprise, Wynn's magic dispelled it, the hero shaking it off.
"Seron, your dark magic cannot stand the presence of my light, just as shadows flee at dawn to hide," Wynn said calmly, not affected.
"Maybe. But soon you'll be the blacker one. Black and blue!" Seron moved at Wynn, a blur of blue light. Wynn coughed as a fist slammed into his gut, stealing his breath. Another fist sent him sprawling backwards, followed by a kick to Wynn's ribs. As the hero felt something give inside, he knew he couldn't physically match Seron's speed and power.
"Enough!" came a voice as the darkness tugged at the edges of Wynn's vision. He had enough energy left to see Seron get knocked away as if he was a toy. It was Solan!
"Wynn, are you-?"
"I'm fine. Get the apprentice!" coughed the fallen hero.
Solan nodded, facing Seron. The wizard had regained his posture and was smirking at the two.
"Come on, Rusty, let's fight!" challenged Seron. He flew at the other faster than could be seen.
"You're on!" Solan said. He, too, moved too fast to comprehend, sending the apprentice flying back, landing hard a good distance away. Seron stood, glaring at the metal monster, and charged again. Again, he was knocked away.
"This doesn't seem to be working. Maybe my magic will send you back to the scrap heap!" Seron crowed, sending a magic blast his way. Solan let out a loud grunt as he was the one sent flying.
"Solan! We can't beat him and his armor alone! We have to team up!" Wynn shouted.
"Right!" said Solan, standing. Wynn walked over to him, concentrating.
"It doesn't matter! You won't win!" said a furious Seron, charging his own powers.
Wynn's light slowly spread, encompassing both him and Solan. As one, they started forward.
Seron growled, sending off beam after beam of his armor-enhanced magic, but each merely dissipated on contact with Wynn's mysterious sheild. He then charged forward, sending light- speed punches at the two. Each was easily deflected by Solan.
Wynn's eyes snapped open as he sent his own magic at Seron when the opposing sides were within arms' reach. "Nooo!" Seron howled as he desperately tried to dispel the beam. He never saw the flat side of Solan's ax heading for him.
The strike sent the young man flying, the physical and magic attacks destroying the armor. He soared through the air, heading for a stained glass window, the likes of which lined the walls. He screamed as he crashed through, falling out, plummeting for the ground of Hyrule far, far below.
The shadowy figure stood, his fury rolling off him. "You INFIDELS! You will pay!"
He raised a hand, ready to send his darkest powers to eliminate the pests. He never got the chance. A bolt of power slammed into him, knocking him off his feet and away from the throne. He pulled himself up, looking at the figure that had taken his place, slipping into the throne.
"Old, dead man! Our master has no need for your incompetence anymore!" cursed the Assassin.
The shadowy figure gasped. As the words were said, the shadows cloaking him vanished. Wynn couldn't believe his eyes. It was Icarnos, his old foe and the betrayer of his father.
"I have no understanding of why he saved you before! Now, you are too weak to serve him!" The Assassin's eyes glittered. "You shall die with the rest!"
"Where am I? What happened? The last I remember, I was meeting the Gerudo King, Ganondorf, and..." Icarnos trailed off.
"Yes, he brainwashed you to serve his bidding. Too bad you weren't competent enough," the Assassin gloated.
"Then who are you?" demanded Wynn.