14 Jan 2002,

Sorry with the laziness in updating, but I'm a lazy person, that's why it's taking so long to update. If you wonder why I use the metric system, I live in Australia. I decided to contribute a bit of a chapter, then upload it, then when I do a bit more I'll update it. My chapters are a bit long and long chapters don't keep people's attention up. This way I will upload more often. So if you wonder why it suddenly cuts off, that's because the chapter is not over.

The Time War Saga

Part 2

Dramatis Personae

Aidyn Zandoria– Male Elf, Prince of Zandoria

Ankhris – Male Human, ?????

Bane – Male Half Ogre, Leader of all Divided Lands

1 Barbados – Male Human, Captain of Divided Land strike team

2 Byu Bydannos – Male Gnome, Zandoria Technologist

Erdin Andris– Male Human Lord of South Andris

Ifrit Forania – Male Human, Arch-Mage of South Andris Fire Magician Academy

Corin Zandoria– Male Half Elf, Prince of Zandoria

Dynis Whron– Female Human, Leader of Ganduron people

Elany Katarina– Female Human, Wife to Hecto

Hecto Katarina– Male Human, Master Warrior/Representative of Free Lands

Impa – Female Sheika, Guardian of Zelda

Link Hyrule – Male Half Elf, Hero of Time/King of Hyrule

Link (Little) – Male Goron, Link's adventuring party

Malon Zandoria– Female Half Elf, Worker at Lon Lon Ranch/Princess of Zandoria

Morte – Male Human, Lord of Necros

Nabooru – Female Human Leader of Garudos

Oryn Galatia– Male Human Lord of Galatia

Osos Rockbasher- Male Dwarf, Termina General

Raidon Piratearm– Male Half Orc, Pirate Lord

Ruto – Female Zora, Zoran Princess

Skull – Male Half-Orc, Lieutenant to Barbados

Stalkid – Male?, Link's adventuring party

Undine Murasia– Female Human, Arch-Mage of North Andris Water Magician Academy

Tael – Male Faerie, Stalkid's faerie

Tatl – Female Faerie, Stalkid's faerie

Trojan Brenon– Male Elf Termina Minister/Wizard

Yevin Andris – Female Human Lady of North Andris

Zelda Hyrule– Female Half-Elf, Queen of Hyrule

Chapter 2

2.1 Torment

Malon lent forward over the ships railing, willing accepting the sea spray. She had left Corin with Aidyn so she could have a rest from the problems of motherhood. Well needed, with little Corin at just 14 months was not only walking but running around, getting into trouble. Her little boy was an extremely energetic baby, boisterous and mischievous. She sighed, it was a great idea to go back to the Crystal Palace for a holiday, and she was confident that the ranch was in good hands, Ingo might be grouchy and annoying, but he was an excellent worker, and so were the new workers she had hired. Besides, since her father died, who else could do the job?

Malon sighed again, this time instead of a sigh of relief, it was a sigh of sorrow. She was finding it difficult to adjust to the fact her father died. She and Aidyn had hired the greatest alchemists and healers of different faiths to save the kind man from his illness, but it was all futile. Aidyn was starting to get close to her father as well, it pained him just as bad to see him die.

Aidyn had been an incredible help around the ranch, what with his incredible strength and endurance. She would never have thought a prince willing to stoop low enough to do a peasant's work, but there was her husband, toiling away. She never believed she would do anything more than milk cows and feed horses, but here she was, princess of a powerful island nation, with a son that brought much pleasure into her life.

Malon looked yet again to the necklace that hung around her slender neck. She couldn't believe that she would retrieve Din's Legacy again, she believed that Kado had succeeded in hiding the precious necklace forever (1). She was out of training after two years without the precious necklace, but it would only take a couple of weeks to get back to wielding Din's fire like she used to. (2)

She sat back and relaxed, life was good.

* * *

"Barbados, when are we going to board them, I've had enough of saili… erp," poor Skull threw up yet again, the poor half-orc not used to sailing. He didn't want this mission, and he didn't know why Ankharis put so much emphasis on Link anyway, Hyrule might be a mighty foe but Zandoria and Termina were their biggest worry. What's more he wasn't targeting Hyrule, he wanted its king specifically. He was willing to take orders though. The great man managed to strike such an alliance with no difficulties and conquer Lucorin, Korfu and Puron in two years. He held every confidence that Ankhris was doing the right thing.

The orc attempted to compose himself. He was a magnificent warrior after all, one of the best there was, and Ankhris demanded the best for this mission. Though the alliance was formed and it seemed strong, but there was no way the different groups would get along well. Skull had no idea why the Divided army needed to aid the Pirates, they could do the job by themselves! Skull saw Barbados' obvious talent, but their leaders ruled that he should lead the strike team and that caused conflict in the group. The human pirate was chosen due to his experience at sea, but Skull (despite being half-orcish) was a better leader, showing charisma not usually associated with orc kin.

Barbados just sneered at the orc and again looked through his telescope at the Zandorian Warship, Darcan. It was a formidable ship, more than 500 meters across, cannon emplacements every 20 meters on each side. He knew that the Zandorians would have at least half a dozen wizards at the very least, which worried him. He countered the size and power difference by bringing a score of Peon ships – fast and light pirate ships – over some of the immense War class ships he had. By bringing many smaller ships he believed that they could confuse the big ship long enough to board, and take the fight to the ship. However, he did not know what to expect from the enemy wizards – wizard being typically unpredictable – he had no real counter measures against them. The stupid orc leader had brought several orc shamans, but what good could ignorant, barbarian orc priests do against some of the most seasoned and well trained wizards on the continent?

"I have an idea about what to do about the wiz. . . erp," Skull tried to say, as if he had read Barbados' mind. The pirate captain waited while the orc spilled yet more of this morning's meal over the ship's edge. When the orc had again managed to regain his composition, he explained his plan. "They always use fire spells due to their 'ancient traditions,'" the half- orc said with sarcasm, "perhaps my men could protect us with Fire Shields, their (hic) fireballs will be negated, as will all their (erp) fire spells." As Skull went to the ship's side yet again, Barbados began rubbing his chin and gazing at the Darcan through narrowed eyes. 'Yes, this orc is quite a strategist, quite formidable,' thought the pirate, his respect for the half-orc growing. 'I will have to watch my back around him, and maybe he will have to watch his.'

* * *

Aidyn would normally be grinning from ear to ear where a fight was concerned, but when the safety of Malon and Corin were concerned, he was a little bit more serious. A little bit. He was juggling his dagger and his sword in anticipation, and talking strategy with the ships captain. The old elven mage who was the leader of the wizard team suddenly piped up, "I am detecting the use of magic on those ships your majesty, I believe they are casting Fire Wards, I don't know how effective our spells will be."

Aidyn cocked one eyebrow and asked, "what does it matter? Just get around them will spells of ice or something." Aidyn resumed his juggling while the wizard shuffled his feet meekly. Aidyn suddenly frowned with realisation, "don't tell me that you only prepared Fire Spells?"

"Uh, Your Majesty, it's like this,"

"Never mind, which of your men have anything else learnt?"

"Um, Nevil has some, he's always saying we shouldn't just use the 'old out- dated spells' all the time, the young fool has no respect for our ancient traditions, I wouldn't trust. . ."

"Good, tell him he has your job. Run along now and tell him to pass me his strategy," Aidyn stopped his juggling, resumed his grinning and went to his wife and son. Malon was throwing a few practice punches, flames jumping at her every movement. Corin was jumping around and watching the approaching ships, cheering in anticipation of the battle. "Malon, I know you can take care of yourself, but try to only join in when everyone else is down, and take Corin with you,"

"I know, I know but I can take care of myself, as you said, and I can handle pirates easily, and we'd better get our deflector shields up soon, before they attack," Malon responded. Aidyn kissed her briefly, and ran to his new Wizard captain to get the magic shielding that would protect him from most conventional and minor enchanted weapons. Malon took Corin's hand and lead him to his room, where two steel golems were keeping guard.

"Mama," the young boy said, "I wan watch dada kick ass." The young boy grinned, thinking himself clever for almost saying a whole sentence. His mother was not impressed however. "I never taught you language like that, and your father is careful not to say such things in front of you, I will tell your father about this and he will not be very happy," Malon scolded, while boxing his ears (which, for an elf, would really hurt).

Malon marched out of the wailing boy's room, looking for his father. Malon knew that her husband swore very often before she married him (fuck and shit taking most of his vocublary), but she detested it and didn't want her baby to learn such despicable language. She found him talking while getting his magic shields prepared by his new Wizard captain. "Fuck me," he started, "I can tell you now I am going to kick a lot of ass today, orc's asses, pirate's asses, you name it, I'll kick it. I'll put my foot so far up people's asses the sweat on my knee will quench their thirsts (raises his hand dramatically). Someone charges me, (dramatic flourish with dagger) I'll kick their ass. Someone comes up from behind, (jumps to stand in a fighting stance in the opposite direction) I'll kick their ass. They come from above (looks above him), from the side (looks to the side), yup, you guessed it, I'll kick their ass, haha." Malon hung her head, 'perhaps he isn't so discreet with his swearing.'

* * *

2.1.1.1 The first five attack ships came forward in a V formation, their ballistas armed and ready. They had a 400 hundred-meter range, so they needed to get close to actually do anything. The command ship that Barbados brought – Vengeance – was at the rear of the small fleet, the other nineteen in front to protect the leaders. Barbados knew that he was going to suffer loses, but he didn't care, Lord Piratearm allowed for such compromises. He was confident in the superior number of ships armoured with fire shielding would take out the Darcan. Though they might have taken down the immense warship with that fleet, they did not expect the two cloaked medium sized ships flanking the lead ship. Nor did they expect the sudden ice storms that rained upon the Vengeance, going past the Fire Shields that were previously erected.

"Well, there goes your fucking strategy orc," exclaimed an irate Barbados as he and his lieutenant took cover from the spears of hail that were raining down. "Why are they using a different school of arcana? They always, ALWAYS use fire!" a confused Skull shrieked, stopping his constant vomiting to cover his ass.

They ran into the Vengeance's war room, where they watched chaos ensue on the deck. A pirate ran towards the war room, intent on getting away from the onslaught. He banged on the door, begging to be let in, pleading for his life. His cries were silenced when a spear of magic ice impaled him from the top down. "Why did you not let him in Orc?" asked Barbados, inquiring as to why they had just let their man perish. "I was waiting for you to open the door," was Skull's simple response.

* * *

Canon's are typically medium ranged, but not Zandorian made ones. Hours of labour from Technologists, Enchanters, Alchemists, and Engineers allowed the cannons to fire more powerfully and over a longer distance than possible. The accuracy of the first volley of cannonballs as they unerringly sped towards their targets was astounding, most hitting their mark and taking out three of the five leading ships. Meanwhile the two ships that the Zandorians had brought as an escort sped around to not only surround the other ships but also hopefully take out the command ship.

The pirates were totally unprepared for such an onslaught and such tactical manoeuvres, they were hoping to simply overwhelm the ship and board, but all of their planning had unravelled and proved useless. All seventeen of the remaining ships quickly decided on the every man for himself philosophy, some attacking the Darcan, some taking it's escorts, some trying to speed away so they could regroup. The Vengeance was still under the influence of the Ice Storm, so they were put out of commission for the duration of the spell (which was proving to be very long).

Aidyn was eager to board the enemy ships, but looking at them, he realised that there would be no point, they were too small for one, and two, they were being decimated by his fire cannons. They were already down eight ships, either by spell or by cannon. Aidyn's entourage however, had only minor damage from lucky ballista shots. One escort warship had several minor holes on the starboard side, while the other was trying to turn so as to bring its cannons to bare on any ships that tried a desperate attack on it.

He saw that his ship was perfectly lined up with an approaching vessal, so he decided it was time to deploy the ships mightiest weapon. "Unleash . . . The Spoiler," he commanded the captain. They relayed the command to the engineers, who set to work prepping the weapon. The maiden figure that was both decoration and battering ram served a third purpose. It slowly lowered as gears moved the figure down, revealing a giant ruby fully fifty meters in diameter. It shined in the night sky, glowing a magical crimson, as it lit up the seas, nearly blinding people foolish enough to gaze upon the perfect gem. Aidyn's lips curved so that it resembled something partly like an evil smile and a boyish grin. "Fire," he told the captain. A magnificent beam of crimson light sped towards the unfortunate boat. It disintegrated anyone who was in its direct path, and left the boat with mortal damage, the ship sinking fast. A cheer erupted from the bridge of the Darcan, it was down to eleven to three.

By now the Vengeance was free of the Ice Storm, the spell expired. The remains of the crew attempted to regroup and bring the ship back to operational status. The pirates had to abandon their boarding strategy and retreat, no ship could get close enough without the Spoiler or the many cannons dismantling the ships. Though Aidyn should feel elated that he didn't need to engage in melee, therefore costing lives, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. Since he married Malon, he was able to settle down because for some reason he didn't attract trouble wherever he went any more. Most people would've been happy to relax and settle down, (simple minded Malon was more than happy living a peasant's life instead of that of a monarchs), but not so with Aidyn. Aidyn was a man of action, an adventurer. It had been too long since his last swordfight. He needed the thrills of his old adventuring days. He suddenly had a flash if inspiration, and he turned to his old captain of the Mages and asked "have you any teleportation spells on you right now?"

"Er, yes my Prince, but the ward . . . "

"Shut up, OK, listen my soldiers, we are going to board the enemy command ship, and show them the superiority of the Zandorian nation's army and navy, first 40 volunteers only." A loud cheer again erupted the deck, 'hmm 40 is enough,' thought the prince, 'don't want too few and end up getting killed, don't want too many that there won't be enough to go around.'

The old captain started up his spell, when Aidyn put in "put us at the very edge of the ship, if u send us into the centre, they will have the advantage of being able to surround us." The old elf nodded in compliance and returned to his chanting. A portal of fiery energy appeared as he spoke the last few syllables, the starboard end of the other ship visible on the other side. Aidyn shoated "charge!" and his men jumped through the portal and engaged the enemy. Malon appeared at his side in a crouching position, and asked her husband in a soft voice, "How come you never scream at me to stay out of the fray these days? Don't you care about your wife any more?" She looked at Aidyn, a sad look in her eyes, waiting for his answer. He smiled and said, "I know better than to try to talk you out of a fight any more. For one thing you're getting really good, for another, I know we haven't been in a fight for a long time, don't want to deprive you of one now." Malon smiled at his answer, took his hand, and said simply, "let's go"

Together they jumped through the portal, believing that they were going to go through the other side and help their soldiers. Instead, as Malon passed the Fire Ward that the shamans had placed around the ship, she suddenly found her body jolted with energy. Waves of magic pierced through her body, jolts of agony spreading from head to toe. Aidyn didn't even pass through the portal, instead he bounced right off of it, and was sent backward through the portal he entered. As he landed on the Dracan's deck with a hard thud, the portal expired and dissipated into nothing. When he regained consciousness he looked at his astonished crew. One soldier stepped forward and asked his prince, "What happened your highness?"

Aidyn rubbed his aching temples and said "I don't know what could've hap – wait . . . THE WARD!" he said in sudden recognition.

"What your highness?" said the young soldier, "what about the ward?"

Aidyn was too groggy to attempt an explanation, but Nevil, his new captain figured it out and explained for him. "The Pirates somehow put up fire wards on their ships. Prince Aidyn is covered from head to toe with fire enchanted armory, some from the realm of fire itself. When he passed it, I believe he was so flammable that the ward sent him back instead of just repelling him slightly."

He slowly got up and said to his wizards, "Send me back, Malon is hurt over there to. She wears Din's Legacy and the amulet is one of the strongest forms of fire magic that there is on this planet. I think when it passed through the spell, it caused both magic fields to go haywire."

Nevil sadly hung his head and said, "No one has another teleportation spell, but I'm sure your men and Malon can easily handle the Pirates sir." With that he began chanting and a mirror appeared in front of them, showing the deck of the Vengeance. "We can view the fight from here your highness, though I know you'd rather be 'kicking ass' as you so call it, I think you can at least enjoy the fight somewhat from here." Everyone thought they were going to see a complete slaughter of the enemy. They were half right, there was a slaughter, but it wasn't the enemy. No one predicted the presence of minotaurs, orcs and ogres on the ship. Aidyn surveyed the screen a found his wife, unconscious from her ordeal of passing through the ward.

* * *

Barbados blocked another swipe, stepped forward, and drove his sword into his opponent's chest. "This is great orc," Barbados exclaimed in the heat of battle, "The Zandorian prince should fire whoever was stupid enough to sacrifice this legion." Skull finished off a Zandorian soldier, then threw up again, still a formidable opponent despite his sickness. "Have you ever thought that perhaps it was the prince was the one who ordered them in?" asked the orc.

"No one's that stupid orc."

Just then Barbados saw Malon, struggling to get up and help her men. Barbados realised from the sketch given to him that this was the target, thrown right into his lap. Barboados couldn't help but laugh! His job was done for him, she was already incapacitated, and everything. He ran over to her and stood over her mocking the seemingly weak and frail barn girl. Malon suddenly sprang into action, firing an uppercut with maximum fire power behind it. Barbados – who was no novice to battle and who never underestimated his opponents – avoided her fist and the deadly flames that were launched from it. He stepped forward and kicked her hard in the head, sending her spiralling back into unconsciousness. (This chapter is not finished yet!)

As I said, if the saga gets popular enough, I will write down extra stories explaining what happened in all the missing years.

I know, Malon using Fire in hand to hand combat is a ripoff of Kyo Kusanagi and K' from King of Fighters, but I reckon it'd be cool.