Chapter Two Plans

   The Hylian—a heavyset, ugly male with four teeth in his mouth—crumpled to the ground clutching at his throat and gasping for air.  A tall, powerfully built Gerudo woman stood over him, glaring at both the injured man and at the crowd.  "How many times must I beat it through your thick skulls?" she asked.  "No one…not a single mother's son…is to lay a hand on me."  Leaving the man curled in a ball, she made her way back through the crowd towards her fire.

   Nabooru sat within the circle of the flame at her tent at the far edge of the army's campsite.  In the two weeks since she 'joined' Ganon's army, she had made nearly a dozen examples out of men who had had too much to drink.  "I swear to the goddesses," she muttered, seemingly to herself, "It is a wonder Ganon has even managed to conquer the West with this filthy lot."

   "Intelligence is not what one usually seeks when gathering an army of mercenaries," the shadows behind her replied.  "Sheer physical strength is preferable to a thinking fighter any day."

   "I am ashamed to see so many of my people here, Impa," Nabooru went on.  "I had thought I had proven to them the poison of Ganon's leadership.  That I had done away with our superstition concerning males and leadership."

   "Religion and superstition are not so easily dispensed with," Impa said, "If they were, I would not be here today."

   "I am not saying that it is always bad.  Just when said religion leads a people into the servitude of a maniacal despot."  Nabooru sighed heavily and leaned back.  "What news have you been able to uncover today, Impa?"

   "Again, not much.  No one save Rolondrof and Skorn know where Ganon has gone off to.  Skorn spends his days running the men through drills, though he knows that they are an ignorant and crude lot.  The Lizaflos are only kept in line through fear of Skorn and Link's Golden Gauntlets.  Rolondrof has not left his tent since Ganon left.  Some of the men believe he may have died."

   Nabooru nodded, mulling over the information.  "And the women?  Does he still call for them?"

   "Occasionally," Impa replied, "But with no clear pattern, and apparently at random.  It may be a while longer until you are able to be alone with him."

   Nabooru imagined another two weeks of hiding under the make-up Impa had provided her and fending off unwanted advances and shuddered.  "There must be a way of getting his attention.  Perhaps you made my nose too large when you made my disguise."  Indeed, she wore a rubber nose, several more wrinkles, thinner lips, and her hair had been braided into shaggy dreadlocks.  Even to the Gerudo, it would be hard to recognize her.

   "The art of disguise is integral to the Sheikah philosophy," Impa explained, a small touch of wry amusement in her tone.  "If there had been any way to make you more attractive and not blow your cover, believe me, I would have done so."

   The Gerudo chief gingerly reached up and touched her decidedly larger nose.  "I will take your word for it.  In the meantime, we must think of another way of getting Rolondrof's attention."

   "I have been thinking about that," Impa said from the shadows, "And I believe I may have found a way."

   "And what way is that?"

   There was silence for a moment as Impa chose her words.  "Let us call it the more 'round-a-bout' way."

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Princess Zelda sat in the palace war room, going over a list of supplies and personnel her generals had given her.  The armored officers stood on her left, while Saria sat on her right.  Zelda looked over the papers, a look of dismay slowly clouding her features.  "Is this it?" she asked the nearest officer, General Gustan.  "Is this all the defense we can muster?"

   "I'm afraid it is, your highness," he replied.  "Since the king defeated King Avbrellion of the Stygiant, there has been little need for military spending.  We have kept the army at just over the bare essentials for a small invasion."

   "The price of peace," Zelda sighed.  "Have you called in any reserves yet?  Soldiers who served under my father?"

   "Not yet, your highness."

   "Then do so.  We must have every fighter available.  The Gorons and Zoras are bringing us all the personnel and materiel they have, and I do not yet know if Saira and my talks with the Gerudo were a complete success.  Ganon's army greatly outnumbers us, and we must do everything we can to overcome that hurdle."

   "Yes, your highness."  General Gustan thumped his right fist over his heart, bowed stiffly, and led the other officers out of the room.

   When they had gone, she turned to Saria.  The little Kokiri girl had been sullen and depressed as of late, and rightly so.  The shock Link's death sent through his connection with the Sages, Saria and Zelda in particular, had knocked her unconscious for a few minutes.  Since then, she had been a constant presence at Zelda's side, both for her sake and Zelda's.  Both young women needed all the help they could get when dealing with the loss of such a true friend and a brother.

   Brother.  Zelda had just gotten used to thinking of Link as her brother—as her twin, if her guess was correct—and the fact that he was gone…that she had never had a chance to tell him how she felt…

   Zelda quickly turned away to hide the tears forming in her eyes.  She felt Saria reach over and grip her hand.  "I know, Zelda," she said softly, "I know.  But we have to be strong now, for Hyrule's sake.  We've got to finish the work he started."

   "You're right, Saria," Zelda said, regaining her composure.  "And I am sorry we have not been able to send help to the Kokiri.  I can't imagine the damage the fire must have done…"

   "We'll be fine.  We have a way of surviving."  A faint glimmer of a smile spread across her face.  "Now what did those papers say?"

   "Exactly what we feared; not enough soldiers, not enough weapons, not enough time."  She sighed heavily.  "I am not a warrior, Saria, and I don't know how to fight a war.  What I really need now is Darunia here to advise me.  He at least has some experience."

   "He said he'd come back when he gathered the rest of his army.  Ruto too.  They should be back soon."

   "But will it be soon enough?" Zelda looked down at the lists before her.  "Do you think the Gerudo will join us?"

   Saria shrugged.  "I don't know.  I though your argument was strong.  Hopefully they will too."

   Zelda merely nodded, trying to work out how she would be able to defeat Ganon.  "We won't be able to beat him in an all-out offensive," she said, "And using a defensive strategy will only prolong our inevitable defeat.  But perhaps if we find something in the middle…" She fell silent, the final pieces falling into place.  With a decisive nod, she got to her feet.  "Come, Saria.  We must find Rauru, Gustan, and Balio.  I think I may have found a way to buy us more time."

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   "You must help me Bazillo!  We must do this!"

   "Hmm, no, no, no, what you plan is not right, for there is no way to keep it from the holy trio's sight."

   The glowing ball of blue energy that was Navi floated over her pool deep in her chamber.  The diminutive sprite Bazillo paced back and forth in front of her, anxiously scratching his beak.

   "It does not matter if the goddesses discover us, Bazillo," Navi pleaded.  "If we do not aid the Chosen and the Sages, then Ganon and Necron will surely set their sights on the Sacred Realm next!"

   "Hmm, know this I do, and right you may be, but think of what may happen to you and to me.  Broken too many rules have we for our aid, and I am not looking forward to when the price must be paid."

   "Bazillo, you have lived in this realm since before Hyrule was even created.  Do not tell me that you are so ignorant and selfish as to not have already found a way for us to do this."

   Bazillo glared up at her with his large eyes and resumed pacing.  Things were become too complicated for his liking.  First Navi had gone against edict and provided the Chosen with information on their quest, and he had followed suit.  Now with Link dead in so soon…

   "Hmm, I don't like this business, I don't like it one bit, it's beginning to smell like a large pile of…"

   "Bazillo!  You are still on holy ground, remember…"

   Bazillo bowed low in apology.  He remained silent for several minutes, mulling over the possible repercussions he and Navi might face if they went through with Navi's plan.  Though he may have been annoying and sometimes even downright impossible, Bazillo was one of the few truly good sentient beings in the Sacred Realm. 

   As such, the solution to his moral conundrum was obvious.

   He stopped directly in front of Navi and looked up at her.  "Hmm, very well, sacred fairy, your plan we will do, but the preparation will take at one day or two.  Must magic must I draw to cover our tracks, and keep the holy ones' breath off our backs."

   "Then it will work?" Navi asked, elation creeping into her voice.

   Bazillo sighed and nodded.  "Hmm, yes it will work, as night follows day, but I warn again there will be hell to pay."

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Ganon marched through canyon, standing tall, defying the turbulent winds that tried to keep him back.  The men he had brought with him were hiding in their cloaks, attempting to keep the blowing sand out of their eyes.

   Such storms didn't bother Ganon; he had been raised under such conditions, and they, like all obstacles placed before him, would yield to his will.  "Faster!" he ordered over the roar of the wind.  "Faster, you mewling pack of wolfos cubs!  We will not stop until we reach the falls!"

   He turned to his lieutenant, a tall, menacing Dinoflos.  "How much farther, Razza?"

   "Not much, my lord," Razza hissed.  "We are nearing Twin-Bones Pass, if I am not mistaken, though it is impossible to tell in this storm.  Once we reach that, it should only be a few more miles."

   "Good," Ganon turned back to the path ahead, squinting against the hail of sand.  "I wasted too much time in the mountains, and all for naught.  I am growing impatient.  I want the power!"

   "There are only so many places he could have hidden it, my lord."

   "You would be surprised, fool," Ganon muttered to himself, recalling the difficulties he had had in obtaining the three Spiritual Stones.  But his mood brightened as the thought reminded him of the triumph he had experienced a couple weeks ago.

   Encouraged by the thought, he increased his speed, his men struggling to keep up.  "Onward, you slimy leevers!" he bellowed.  "Onward!  My destiny awaits, and I will not be delayed from it ever again!"