------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's note: Sorry for the delay – pure laziness on my part
Story so far: -
Tai, a gerudo, summoned the power of her god Nura and used the power to free Ganondorf Dragmire. Ganon captured Nura's power and used it to destroy Hyrule. However, Zelda and Link awake in the alternate dimension of Nurai, the land that Nura created, and also the homeland of the gerudos.
Tai also wakes up in Nurai, but discovers that Ganon who she always supposed to be her king, is actually not that role any more. He has not been for the last 17 years. Instead she decides to join a group of incredibly skilled warriors called the Xi, who may be able to tell her where the real gerudo king is. However, instead she finds that she no longer cares about the Gerudo king and just wants to learn about the Xi ways from her teacher Bren. While completing her second task she finds that for a brief moment that her body seems to control itself without her input.
Zelda is given the new name of Hail as a joke when she is forced to become a pirate. But gradually she finds that she can no longer remember her old life, and her old thoughts and emotions seem invalid. She takes over as the pirate captain and soon her name reverberates around the country as one to be feared. For Hail is the prophesised figure who will appear shortly before the Distile, the end of the world. This new 'Hail' seems to live up to the legacy that had been told of – not even a fleet fifty times bigger than hers can defeated her.
Link is awakened by a priest of the Nuran church who is called Nala. However, while Link is still confined to bed a Kalen (a mysterious group who all the Nuran people seem to hate) breaks in a gives Link a mysterious broach.
Nala reveals that Link's coming is also foretold of in the stories of the Distile. The only chance Link has to stop it is to find the six sages who are somewhere in Nura. Hoping to recruit more help Link and Nala travel to Nurai's capital Asreal where they are due to meet in the Glass Temple. Here Link meets Tai (although he does not know who she is) and the two become uneasy friends.
Nurai's history is revealed to Link in a meeting inside the Glass Temple, however half way through an earthquake (one of the prophesied signs of the Distile) strikes. While trying to evacuate the building a huge D'Ran knife that long ago had been used in sacrifices falls to the floor. To the horror of Nala and Tanya it falls on Link and kills him. Link finds himself in a place beyond death, where those that call themselves gods live. He learns here that his infinite chances have run out, and he has only one left. Here all knowledge is stored and much of it flows into his head. He learns of an old man called Rein who was struck by lightning while being attacked by a wolf, and also of Hail's plans to defend herself against Black.
When Link returns once again into the real world he has lost all his memories, although a witch manages to restore them through Nala at least far back as the two met. He continues to dream of Rein, who became after he was struck by the lightning, a wondering spirit who inhabited people's bodies until they died. He later realises that Rein's spirit is actually now inhabiting Tai. He manages to set it free, but instead it travels into Bren, one of its old companions. It will be impossible to ever split them again.
But there is worse, much worse coming. There is another earthquake and in this one Nurai's worse enemy – the Sadia – is set free. A mysterious metallic people, they can change their shape at will. Within a few seconds they have travelled several miles from what was their mountain prison to Asreal.
Link battles one, but is easily defeated. In the last moment before what would be his death he unconsciously calls on the power of the Triforce and the Sadia are banished back into their mountain prison.
Deciding that the time has come to rescue the sages the church organises two groups to scout out likely areas for where they may be imprisoned. Nala and a small army are lucky, and quickly manage to find and rescue Impa and Rauru. Link, Tai and Bren manage to defeat the temple guardian they are assigned to and rescue Saria and Darunia. Bren gives a potion to Link and Saria which puts them into a strange sleep. Here Link enters Saria's mind and regains his memories. But the temple guardian awakes later, and as a last revenge, he releases the Sadia again.
Hail is met by Ganondorf who tells her of her ultimate destiny – to first clean the Gerudo blood by killing all the man and then to kill Nura herself. She gathers a group of followers and quests around the countryside, killing any men can get hold of. Eventually she also collides with Nala's army. She kidnaps Impa and Rauru and among the others only Nala is able to escape.
Bren gives a potion to Link and Saria which puts them into a strange sleep. Here Link enters Saria's mind and manages to regain his memories. But the Sadia attack their camp, and in the ensuing battle Saria is killed. In the aftermath Link and Tai argue, and end up running away from Darunia and Bren. Later that night they accidentally bump into each other and meet up again.
The next morning Raymus, a priest from the Nuran church, finds Darunia and Bren. Meanwhile, Tai tells Link that his mother was a Gerudo, and encourages him to put on the broach given by the mysterious Kalen when he first woke up in Nurai. When he does so he finds that he can see before him a fortress that was previously invisible. The conclusion is obvious – this must be the long hidden Kalen fortress. As they walk towards it they are confronted by a Kalen named Kaze. He shows them the powers that the fortress holds – to shoot powerful light beams out at a Kalen's command. Accidentally Link says for the beams to stop, and they do.
Tai reveals why – Link is the Kalen's king. They all commit to obeying him, and at his first order find Bren and Darunia and bring him to the fortress (along with Raymus). Bren has strange news – Saria's body has been stolen.
Meanwhile Hail has decided that she has done enough on her first objective, and decides to move onto the second of killing Nura. In the end she decides that the most likely way she will get to her is by following the Sadia.
Obligingly the Sadia leave an easy to follow trail, which en route includes destroying the Xi Headquarters. The Xi have however already moved out and decided to join their formers enemies the Kalen at their fortress. Thus the Sadia too are soon heading towards the once hidden castle...
Twenty-One
It was just after the remains of lunch had been cleaned away that the Sadia finally found the Kalen fortress.
Through the darkened sky came a flying mass of grey; a cloud of power. The metallic flow seemed to gleam as if some light within illuminated it, creating an overwhelming aura of confidence. As they saw the still not invisible again fortress the front part of the mass broke off. The endless shapeless masses flowed into endless eagles, and the sky seemed to be suddenly dotted with silver. To the defenders it may have looked like an infinity of warriors, but in truth in was little more than one hundred. A fifth of the five hundred strong force.
To some of the Sadia carving their way through the sky, the slight confidence on their enemy's faces should have been puzzling. Perhaps they did notice it, but simply disregarded as a last act of bravery. Or maybe it was too late for them to turn now. Whatever the reason none of the Sadia turned around, even as lines along the castle began and shine.
As the Sadian force soared towards the castle, energy was collected in that building, and shot from the collectors to one focal point. For several seconds the light was allowed to flow in unrestricted, and soon a thin metal rod there was shaking as the enormous forces swirled beside it. And then the order came and it was released.
Twenty or so Sadia near the rear of the formation watched in astonishment as their comrades met their end. For out of the castle was flung a light so bright it easily matched the heavens. Where it cleaved the Sadia were lost, and on to the ground below water fell. A rain storm was created as the liquid the Sadia were based on was released. Occasionally to accompany it came a more macabre scene, as the Sadian hearts also obeyed the rules of gravity. But to the defenders they were too hard to see, and too hard to write symbolic meaning into. For the water's purpose and meaning were clear – an oil to anoint the victors with. After all, as many thought, how were the Sadia to even get near the castle, let alone attack it with their defending beam of light? Yes, it was clear in their minds.
The first battle was won.
A huge cheer arose from them at the victory, and some of the especially more naive members shouted in joy. They thought that the battle was over. But standing on the highest tower Link and the other members of the ruling group still looked worried.
"What do you think they'll try next?" Link asked.
His answer was soon given. This time the second wave of the Sadia went in twelve single file columns, each one quickly darting back and forward to try and avoid being shot by the beam. The tactic seemed to work at least partially, for at least six of the columns managed to arrive at the fortress. When the successful warriors arrived safely inside the stone walls they morphed back into their human shapes.
But the defenders were ready for them. Several rows of fighters stood ready with bows and arrows, and on the order fired straight at their enemies. Several of the Sadia managed to dodge the hail of arrows, but those were all met by yet another group of prepared warriors who had been chosen out for their ability with swords.
"Is the guard by the shield ready?" asked Kaze quietly to a nearby guard, who instantly nodded.
Link looked at him curiously, and so Kaze explained that, "The fortress' attacking power is controlled by the power of one of the first Kalen shields. It's hung up in the main hall. If they manage to destroy it..."
The Sadia hanging invisible in the air behind them, the equivalent of his hands still clutching a stolen one of the Kalen's light bending toys, smiled. For a moment he debated whether to stay for the possibility of more information, but the lure of such a target was too appealing. He laughed once to show his confidence and superiority, dropped the pretty broach that had been hiding him, and morphed into an eagle form.
On the tower a guard saw him first, and his shout alerted the others. For a moment Link and his company stayed seemingly paralysed as the revealed creature dived down to the doors that led to the main hall. As he dropped from sight they finally all decided that moving again would be a good idea.
"After it!" Link commanded, and he threw a rope down over the rail surrounding the tower. A moment later and he was climbing, almost slipping, down it. Tai and Bren closely followed him.
Two Xi were stationed down there the main doors, and they ran up to try and stop the Sadia. Dutifully it changed back into a warrior form but with the ease it avoided their sword blows it might as well still be a flying bird. Desperately they continued, but this Sadia was a particularly experienced opponent and in a moment soon saw both of them lying cold on the floor.
However the distraction had allowed enough time for Link to catch up with it. In a moment, Link's sword was out and heading dangerously near the Sadia's body. The Sadia uneasily glanced at Bren and Tai running up, and decided to try and settle the matter quickly. Ignoring Link's sword for a moment while he judged it not to be a risk, he swung his own weapon down. While Link was still trying to move away from the dangerous blade, the Sadia quickly kicked out sharply. The foot collided with his stomach, and Link went flying into the nearest wall, his breath totally knocked out of him.
Tai, realising she would never catch up with the magical being now as it started to sprint off again, altered her strategy. She dropped to her knee, pulled out a bow and quickly aimed. Her arrow cut easily through the air, and the weapon found itself embedded in the Sadia's body. But she had missed the heart, and the arrow was less than a scratch to it in importance.
Nervously she aimed again. This was it, there was no time left. If she missed now then it would be all over. The Sadia had already smashed through the doors and dealt with the guards who had been supposed to be defending the shield. Bren was running still, but he was only half way there. She had to hit the Sadia. This would make up for some of her mistakes, if only she could get the shot right. Silently, she released the string on the bow, and hoped.
For a moment time seemed to stop for all those watching. It seemed almost ridiculous to expect that this small insignificant little bit of flying wood could deal with the mighty metal hulk. Yet, the arrow was heading for the Sadia's heart. It was going to hit...
Carelessly, the Sadia plucked the arrow from the air and snapped it in half. Then, knowing that he had done his duty, he pulled down the shield hanging on the wall. Still smiling, he prepared to snap it in half...
Bren's arrow didn't miss. Staring in horror, the warrior's body dissolved and the shield went crashing to the floor. Heavily. Too heavily. In horror the people watching saw the shield crack in half; its old wood deteriorated by the passage of time and finally pulling the surrounding metal apart.
The second battle was lost.
*-*
"They've stopped fighting?" Link asked weakly, as he stared out from the tower which he had just climbed back up to.
"Just when Bren nailed that Sadia," Kaze confirmed.
Realisation flooded in. "They don't realise that the shield is broken," Link realised. "They only know what happened while the Sadia was alive, and they think that he failed in his task."
"Then they must have some other plan," muttered Raymus.
He was right. Shortly afterwards, another group of Sadia broke off from the main party and flew over to the fortress. The group was too small to be an attacking force, and there was something not quite normal about it. As it came closer he could see that instead of being the normal eagle shapes in formation, it was in fact a small greyish blur. It reminded him slightly of the cloud he had seen when the Sadia had first been released. But this one had an important difference – it was dragging along a white flag. Link instructed the defenders to leave them alone, but he did not feel totally confident about the decision. Warily the defenders watched the Sadian group fly over their heads. It crossed the battlements, the balconies and the courtyard and kept going. Finally it descended to within a few metres of the party on the top of the tower.
"What do you want?" Link asked, more boldly than he felt.
In response a head erupted out of the cloud and began to speak.
"We have a deal to make."
The voice was an abyss of icy cold, and Link shivering as he listened to it, thinking that even the cruel laugh was better than the actual speech. It hinted of power, and of death. It was one unified strong force, but reverberated of many. It taunted him for every mistake he had made in his life and every person he had lost. Especially...
"What?" he asked.
"You leave the fortress." It made it sound so simple, a task that one not only could but also should do. There was magic in that voice, and Link did not think that it was magic someone would want to get mixed up in.
"We decline," Darius said immediately. "This fortress is an important asset."
"And," continued the Sadia, its voice unmoved, but then again it sounded as if it had never been moved, "we return you four hostages."
Link stared at the creature's steel eyes curiously; trying not to let his eyes stray onto the rest of the headache inducing swirling cloud. The eyes were bad enough as they were – dark pools that lacked emotion. For a second he did a sharp turn around. No, everyone who was supposed to be here was nearby. There was nobody else in sight. Who were they talking about?
Then at the verbal signal the blur slowly morphed apart. First came five Sadia, and then revealed among them were four extremely worried prisoners. Unconsciously Link let out a gasp – he knew all of them. First there was the wisest women he had ever known, her grey hair drenched with sweat but her eyes still sharp. Then came the man who had awoken him from a seven year sleep and next to him the girl who had first led him to think that there was good in the Gerudos. She looked especially bewildered by her surroundings. Finally there was the princess he had once been engaged to. Impa, Rauru, Nabooru and Princess Ruto.
"Where did you get them from?" he asked.
"We picked them up in different places," the Sadia explained, but the casualness in the words wasn't linked with the voice.
"Link, don't..." Rauru started, but one of the Sadia covered his mouth. His eyes were still free though, and they held message enough in them.
"They could be our only way out of this mess," muttered Raymus.
For a moment Link stood standing there, picturing the chaos which would happen to them without a strong place to defend from. He knew that he couldn't do just let this place go. But...
But Nabooru was struggling even to stand, and the Princess was taking agonisingly long breaths. But that they were their only chance to save anyone here, or even save those that they could by letting them escape to Hyrule. But they were his friends.
"Your answer?" the Sadia asked.
A moment of silence. Two. And then...
"No."
In an instant his bow was in his grip and his hands seemed to be working by themselves. Three arrows were placed in the bow, and two of the five Sadia were struck down. Following Link's lead, Kaze charged at the Sadian warriors. Struck by surprise, he neatly managed to shove his sword through one on the left, dive under a blade from the right and then sweep round to finish off the attacker.
"You have no honour..." was all the last one could get off before Tai finished it off.
"I value my friends over my honour," was Link's only reply.
*-*
Regi was dead.
Hail had only been gone for a few moments, and when she came back Regi was staring face up at her, her eyes a horrible bland dullness. Her corpse was only marked by a red stain in the left side of her chest. Dead and the two prisoners gone. Perhaps it was better this way, she pondered. Maybe she had to do this alone.
She was so close now, and yet her head had gone a blank. She had found the Sadia, and the fortress that they seemed to be battling and she guessed that was where she should head. But how to get through the battle swirling around her was another matter.
"Look who we have here."
She spun around quickly to be confronted by the face of the man she had been looking for, Ganondorf Dragmire.
"So I did find you here," she replied.
"Yes..." he said, almost lazily. "I've come here in time to be sealed back into the Sacred Realm. Apparently that's the only way to get back to the fun of Hyrule, and some god or something rather insists on it. You never know, maybe sometime I'll get another chance to have some fun."
"Nura," Hail said determinedly, "I want her."
"Have her," was Ganon's only answer, but he hesitated for a minute. "But first you must promise to command her to send me to the boy."
She nodded, and watched nervously as he scornfully threw the sceptre down to the ground. She walked over and picked up, hardly able to believe that she had come so close to her objective at last. So many bodies had littered the way – enemies and friends. But the cycle of death would always claim, and it was time for her to help it for the last time.
Even holding the sceptre made her slightly giddy, but the moment she tried to communicate with she was completely giddy. The ground didn't feel as steady, and even the colours of the objects around her looked really to leap into new combinations at any moment. Breathing heavily she calmed herself, and sent Ganon's wish.
At once a power seemed to leap from the rod she held, and it was if a geyser had gone off. A slightly resentful geyser maybe, but still an almost reckless amount of unrestrained power. At once the man before shot out of reality, and somehow she could feel him instead somewhere in the fortress in front of her.
Hail was blinded for a second, but soon really to finally get it over with. No longer bothering to try keep control she drew deeply on the sceptre and its power. It flooded through her, and once more her senses were overcome. She screamed out her command, and even in the deafening noise it was not lost. Instead it was caught, and amplified until it was now her head screaming, but this time screaming with pain. And then she was there.
And ready to complete her last command.
*-*
Revenge.
The single word floated through the forces as they waited their turn to attack. They should have known; should have expected what had happened. But they had been led aside by their dreams of worthy opponents. They would never, ever sink that low as their enemies always did. If they had to wipe them out by sheer numbers alone, they would do so.
The huge cloud of warriors shot straight to the fortress, half expecting the hated light to strike half of them out of the sky. But it did not come; for some reason it was dormant. The Sadia did not know why; it did not matter now. If anything, it was probably some immortal power taking judgement on the humans' betrayal.
Bravely the defenders, who seemed to gladly give their lives in order to take down only one or two of the Sadia down, met them. In no longer than a minute it was all over, and the grey had in their possession the outer walls and courtyard.
In a moment they would begin their next attack down through the fortress's corridors, and root every last one of them out. But also… Also there was something else they had to deal with. If what they had seen between the pirate and the man was true…
This land would not be stopped from ending – but could the Sadia still survive? Could they carry their vengeance elsewhere? The boy, the traitorous boy, was trying to go back to his own land. Could not they go there too? They had to join him – they had to use their final secret.